Towns of Aetheria

Founded in the Third Age as a waystation for new arrivals to the continent. The temple was built first, serving as church, shelter, and communal hall.

A council of innkeepers and ship captains. Innkeeper Tomas is the de facto mayor -- his inn is the town's heart.

A frontier town of newcomers and sailors. Simple, practical, welcoming. The temple cellar connects to ancient cave systems beneath the island.

The temple cellar has been overrun by rats and spiders tainted by corruption seeping from below -- the first sign of the Corruptor's awakening.

Captain Reynald provides passage to Thornhaven, the Old City, once adventurers have proven themselves.

Founded in the early Third Age, Thornhaven is the oldest city on the continent -- called 'the Old City' in goblin tablets. Five centuries of history lie beneath its streets.

A military council led by Guard Captain Marcus, with Father Aldric representing the church and Banker Horace managing finances.

A walled medieval city with extensive catacombs beneath. The sewers connect to smuggler's dens and, deeper still, to the catacombs where the dead are buried.

Goblins mass in the southern hills with unnatural organization. A necromancer raises the dead in the deepest catacombs. The Dragon Lord's influence reaches even here.

The catacombs are the deepest dungeon system on the continent. Dragon Scholar Eramus studies dragon activity from here. The Iron Trail leads to Ironhold.

Founded in the Third Age by dwarven miners who discovered rich iron veins in the mountains. The Forge of Binding -- ancient even then -- was found in the deepest excavations.

A guild council led by Foreman Grom. The mining guilds hold the real power; the forge is the heart of the community.

A dwarven-industrial town where everything revolves around the mines. Miners are respected above all others. The forge produces the finest steel on the continent.

The Forge of Binding has been corrupted, used to twist artifacts with dark magic. The Earth Elemental Lord awakens in the deepest excavation, threatening to collapse the mines.

Corrupted artifacts from the forge are trafficked to Saltport's pirate syndicate. The coastal trail leads to the pirate coves.

Founded in the Third Age by settlers who came to harvest the swamp's rare herbs. The corrupted wetland has always been dangerous, but it is now worse.

Witch Agatha is the de facto ruler -- the most powerful person in town. Verdant Lorian serves as the spiritual leader.

A town of herbalists, witches, and outcasts. The swamp people are suspicious of outsiders but fiercely loyal to each other.

The swamp's corruption seeps from the Corrupted Grove beneath. The Corrupted Dryad Queen, once a guardian of the forest, has been twisted by the dark energy.

Witch Agatha's analysis reveals the corruption is spread by a powerful being. She directs seekers to Silverwood, where the elves have records of such plagues.

Founded in the Third Age as a fishing village that grew into a major port. The sea caves beneath the city are a haven for smugglers and, deeper, the Quara.

Harbormaster Eliza controls the docks and trade. Effectively a merchant republic -- wealth determines influence.

A bustling port city where sailors, fishermen, merchants, and pirates mingle. Everything has a price, and information is the most valuable commodity.

The Quara -- ancient sea creatures -- rise from the deep caves, driven by the same corruption that affects the land. Pirate treasure hides behind riddle-locked doors.

The shipping manifest reveals corrupted artifacts are gathered for someone in Mistral. The sea caves connect to the deep ocean and, ultimately, the Sunken Empire.

Founded in the Third Age as a northern bastion against the ice creatures. The Altar of Ascension in its temple is the gateway to the Celestial Citadel.

A military council. Shaman Runic is the spiritual leader; Master Smith Bjorn is the most respected craftsman.

A hardy people who endure the eternal winter. The forge is sacred -- Bjorn works on the legendary Frostfire Sword, requiring ore from where ice and fire meet.

The Ice Witch and her master, Clancriel the Fallen Queen, were imprisoned in the deepest ice caves. The Corruptor's influence has freed Clancriel, threatening eternal winter.

The Altar of Ascension opens the sky portal to the Celestial Citadel with the Key of Ascension. Ships can sail south to Tidecaller's Reach.

Founded in the Third Age as a demon-hunting outpost on the volcano's slopes. The deepest caverns hold the Dragon Lord's lair, sealed since the Celestial War.

Demon Hunter Kara is the de facto leader. The town is under constant martial law -- everyone is a fighter.

A town of warriors and demon hunters. The volcano is both their home and their enemy. The deepest caverns are the most dangerous place on the continent.

The demons serve the Corruptor. Demon Overlord Azgaroth attempts to cross through a partially-opened gate. Dragon Lord Pyraxis, sealed since the Celestial War, is the Corruptor's vanguard.

The volcano contains the path to the Sunken Empire's deepest entrance. The Dragon Council in Mistral's caves holds the key to the Dragon Lord's lair.

Founded in the Second Age by elves who refused to abandon the mortal world during the Celestial War. The songstones preserve records of that ancient conflict.

Lady Sylvara rules as the elven lady, advised by Bard Thandril and the elven masters. The wardstones maintain the grove's protection.

An ancient elven kingdom. The elves preserve history in their songstones -- artifacts that produce music and record events when touched. The grove is their sanctuary.

Dark Elf Lord Vaelith, once a prince of Silverwood, has returned with an army of dark elves. He serves the Corruptor by sabotaging the wardstones from within.

The songstones contain records of the Celestial War -- the key to understanding the Corruptor. The Corruptor's next target after Silverwood is Dunespire.

Founded in the Third Age as a smuggler's cove that grew into a town. The hidden coves are perfect for hiding contraband -- or corrupted artifacts.

Loosely governed -- Captain Nemo and the pirate captains hold the real power. Fisherman Jack is the voice of the common folk.

A town of smugglers, fishermen, and pirates. Everything is for sale if the price is right. The hidden cove connects to deeper sea caves.

The pirate syndicate traffics corrupted artifacts from the ancient sites. Pirate Lord Blackbeard built a fleet in the hidden cove.

The cove connects to the deep ocean -- the path to the Sunken Empire begins here. Captain Nemo discovers the portal that leads to the drowned city.

Built in the First Age as the gods' throne -- a fortress-city above the clouds, accessible only through the Altar of Ascension. Hidden for a thousand years.

Archangel Zariel commands the celestial host. The Citadel is under siege by the Fallen One's forces -- martial law is the only law.

A fortress of white stone and golden light. The celestials are warriors of divine purpose. The inner sanctum is accessible only through a teleport maze.

The Fallen One (Azrakael) assaults the Citadel with fallen angels and corrupted celestials. Five shrines within the sky temple have been defiled. The Corruptor's avatar awaits in the Sky Temple.

The abyssal rift below the Citadel is where the Fallen One was cast out. Slaying him severs the Corruptor's celestial bridge. The final battle against the Corruptor takes place here.

Founded in the First Age as a mortal civilization that retreated beneath the waves during the Celestial War. The dome has protected it for millennia.

Princess Atlantia rules as the hereditary monarch. The Oracle, an ancient being who has watched over the empire since its founding, serves as advisor.

An isolated civilization of coral towers and bioluminescent light, enclosed in a protective dome. The people have adapted to underwater life over centuries.

The dome's protective magic comes from the Sunken Temple, flooded by dark water from the trench. The Leviathan -- oldest of sea creatures -- has been awakened by the Corruptor.

The trench descent is the most dangerous journey in the world. The Corruptor's influence reaches even to the ocean floor. The path to the Celestial Citadel leads through here.

Founded in the Third Age around the only fresh water for a hundred miles. The Drowned King's tomb lies beneath the oasis -- older than the town itself.

Sage Kaelen is the scholar-ruler. The Oasis Keeper manages the water -- the town's most precious resource.

A desert town of scholars, traders, and dune sentinels. The caravans are the lifeblood of the town. The Drowned King ruled the first mortal civilization here in the First Age.

The Drowned King's seal is cracking. The Sandstone Scorpion -- never part of the original binding -- burrowed up through the weakened seal. Mummies carry Void Relics from the tomb.

The Seal of Binding from the Drowned King's tomb is the key to binding the Corruptor's avatar. Captain Raheem sails to Glacier Bay and Tidecaller's Reach.

Founded in the Third Age by explorers who found crystal deposits on the ice shelf. An ancient ward was already here -- placed over a Yeti sealed since the First Age.

Elder Frostborn leads the longhouse council. The Ice Warden commands the guards. The community is small and tight-knit.

A community of hunters and ice fishers. The longhouse is the center of life -- warmth, food, and shelter. The ice is both their livelihood and their greatest danger.

The ancient ward is failing. Frost Giants emerge from the glacier's interior, driven upward by what lies below. The Yeti stirs in the deepest ice.

The Frostbound Remnants are pieces of the ward. Captain Sigrid sails to Dunespire and Tidecaller's Reach once the ice is stable.

Founded in the Third Age around the Tidecaller's tomb. The villagers have always known the tomb was there -- they just didn't know what was inside.

Shaman Veyra is the spiritual and temporal leader. The River Warden manages trade and travel. The river is the only road.

A village of shamans and jungle hunters. The spirits are ever-present -- the villagers live alongside the ghost of the Tidecaller, who watches over the tomb.

The Tidecaller was not a king but a guardian -- he sealed Battlemaster Zunzu, the Forgotten Reaper, beneath his own tomb. The binding weakens; the reaper stirs.

The Tidecaller's Amulet reveals the Corruptor's true location. Captain Maren sails to Dunespire and Glacier Bay once the tomb is quiet.

The Primal Forge is the cosmic furnace where the gods forged the seals that hold creation together. It exists at the core of the world, in a space between the physical and the divine. The Corruptor has reached it, and the Forge's wards are failing. Ancient evils sealed since the First Age are breaking free.

The Forge Tyrant - once the gods' greatest smith - rules here now, corrupted by the void. It commands the forge's guardians and the ancient evils that have broken free.

The Forge is a place of creation turned to destruction. Its fires still burn, but they now forge weapons of unmaking. The Forge Guardians still follow their ancient protocols, but the corruption has turned their purpose.

If the Forge Tyrant shatters the remaining seals, creation itself will unravel. The Primal Forge is the last line of defense - if it falls, the void will pour into the mortal world unchecked.

Accessible through the Soul War's citadel, using the Soul Reaver Blade. The Forge Hammer of Creation, taken from the Forge Tyrant, opens the threshold to the Void.

When the Corruptor's avatar was destroyed at the Celestial Citadel, the wound where the Fallen One was cast out tore open. The Abyssal Rift is that wound - a tear in the fabric of reality leading down into layers of existence that mortals were never meant to reach.

No government exists. Archangel Zariel maintains a small forward camp at the rift's edge, coordinating the efforts of brave adventurers who dare to descend.

The rift is not a place of life. It is a place of endings - corrupted celestials, void-tainted remnants, and the echoes of the Fallen One's fall. Those who enter do so knowing they may never return.

The rift is expanding. If not sealed, it will consume the Celestial Citadel and spread across the world. The Abyssal Maw at its center is the source of the corruption.

Accessible through a portal in the Celestial Citadel's inner sanctum, unlocked after completing the main story (Chain MS). The Abyssal Key, obtained by sealing the rift, opens the portal to Goshnar's Domain below.

Far below Thornhaven's catacombs, in the deepest darkness, Goshnar's necropolis has festered since the First Age. Goshnar was a lich-god who predated the Drowned King, and his seven aspects have slumbered here for millennia. The opening of the Abyssal Rift has awakened them.

Goshnar rules as a lich-god, his seven aspects acting as his lieutenants. Each aspect embodies a different facet of his power: Hatred, Cruelty, Spite, Malice, Greed, and twin Megalomanias.

The necropolis is a city of the dead. Bone palaces, flesh libraries, and soul forges fill its halls. The dead here do not rest - they serve, eternally.

Goshnar's awakening threatens to spread undeath across the entire world. If his seven aspects are not destroyed, his power will grow until death itself becomes his domain.

Accessible through the Abyssal Rift's core, using the Abyssal Key. The Lantern of Souls, obtained by destroying Goshnar's Heart, illuminates the path to the Soul War below.

The boundary between the mortal world and the plane of death has fractured. Ancient souls - warriors from every era since the Celestial War - are drawn here to fight an eternal war. The Soul Devourer feeds on their suffering, and the Corruptor grows stronger with every soul consumed.

There is no government - only war. Death Knight Commanders lead legions of fallen soldiers, and the Soul Devourer oversees it all from its citadel.

The souls here know only battle. They fight, die, and are reborn to fight again. Some remember their past lives; most have been consumed by the war until nothing remains but rage.

The Soul Devourer is the reason the war never ends. It consumes the combatants' souls, forcing new ones to be drawn in. If not destroyed, every soul who ever dies will be trapped here.

Accessible through Goshnar's Throne, using the Lantern of Souls. The Soul Reaver Blade, forged from the Soul Devourer's essence, cuts the boundary to the Primal Forge.

Beyond the physical world lies the Void - the formless darkness that existed before the gods shaped reality. At the threshold where Void meets creation, seven ancient entities - the Forgotten Seven - have guarded the boundary since before time. The Corruptor's awakening has disturbed them.

The Forgotten Seven do not govern - they guard. Each of the Seven protects a section of the threshold. Arbaziloth, the eldest, guards the final gate to the Heart of the Void.

The threshold is a place of endings and beginnings. Here, reality is thin, and the void presses against creation like water against a dam. The Forgotten Seven are not evil - they are simply the end of all things, and they have been disturbed.

The Forgotten Seven seek to unmake reality entirely - not out of malice, but because that is their nature. If they breach the threshold, creation will dissolve back into the void from which it came.

Accessible through the Primal Forge's anvil, using the Forge Hammer of Creation. The Threshold Key, taken from Arbaziloth, unlocks the final gate to the Heart of the Void.

At the center of the void lies the Heart - the Corruptor's true form. It is not a being but a force, the antithesis of creation. Here, reality dissolves into nothingness. The Voidheart Crystal is the only thing that can unmake the Corruptor, and it must be forged from the key items of all five layers above.

The Corruptor does not govern - it simply is. Its most powerful servants, the Void Gods, guard the approach. Bakragore the Devourer is the Corruptor's final avatar in the mortal realm.

The Heart of the Void has no culture. It is the absence of everything - no light, no sound, no time, no existence. Those who enter must carry their own reality with them or be unmade.

The Corruptor is the ultimate threat to all creation. If not destroyed, it will eventually consume everything - every world, every soul, every god. This is the final battle.

Accessible through the Void Threshold, using the Threshold Key. The Voidheart Crystal - forged from all the key items - is the only thing that can unmake the Corruptor. This is the end of the journey.

The Cursed Isle materialized in the Shattered Sea during the Sundering, when the Veil between worlds tore open. It is not a place that was built - it is a place that was condemned. The isle exists outside the natural order, anchored to the mortal world only by the weight of fallen heroes who cling to life after their final death.

None. The isle has no rulers, no laws, no order. The banished walk its shores as ghosts of their former selves, bound by the curse that keeps them alive but strands them here forever.

The banished hardcore heroes who dwell here call themselves the Veilbound. They share a grim camaraderie - each has died once, and each remembers the world they can never return to. They trade stories of their past lives around the central shrine, where an ancient tombstone marks the isle's heart.

The isle itself is the threat. There is no escape - no captains sail here, no teleport spells reach the mainland, and no portals connect to the living world. The water surrounding the isle is cursed and impassable. The banished can walk, talk, and receive mail, but they can never leave.

None. The Cursed Isle is utterly isolated. It exists in no shipping lane, no trade route, and no map of the known world. Only the Veil channel - a magical communication link - connects the banished to each other.