Soaring Spires
The Soaring Spires are a set of structures constructed by Selys. Each of the spires is a massive dungeon, filled with monsters, traps, and treasure. According to legend, Selys raised the spires when she stopped performing an active role in the world, and has not been seen since. The spires serve as the primary means of distributing magic, specifically attunements on Kaldwyn. There is also an artificial spire being created by Warren Constatine.
Though the names might suggest otherwise, only the Serpent and the Seventh Spire are known to be in the shape of a straight tower, though all spires except the Spider Spire are known to rise into the skies.
Spires are also known to produce ambient mana, making them popular locations to build cities near, despite the threat of monsters breaking out of the spire[1].
Gates[edit]
Each spire has several gates, each of which serves a different function.
Gates of Judgment[edit]
Entering a gate of judgment allows anyone the chance to take a judgment and earn an attunement. This gate has several restrictions. Firstly, one cannot enter a gate of judgment if they have already passed a judgment in that spire. Additionally, one cannot bring weapons into a gate of judgment[2][3].
Access to gates of judgment is usually heavily restricted by the country containing the spire[3].
Climber's Gate[edit]
This is the most commonly used gate in the tower, and is used to ascend the spire in an attempt to reach the top of the spire. You can only enter the Climber's Gate in teams of 6 or less.
While some countries, such as Dalenos, heavily restrict access to this gate, most allow anyone to enter[4].
Arbiter's Gate[edit]
This gate is used exclusively by arbiters, and requires an activated petitioner's coin to be deposited into a slot beside the door before allowing entry[5]. Visually, it appears to be a mundane metal door with a rune-covered pedestal for inserting a petitioner's coin, rather than a more ornate gate, as with the other gates[6].
Unlike other gates, this gate will not allow access to the traditional tower. Rather, it leads to a place where the arbiter can meet with the visage of that tower[5].
Sometimes the visage of the tower is not available, and will not allow access. In these cases, a petitioner's coin is returned to the arbiter to make another attempt at a later time. Note that this coin may not necessarily be the one that was used to request access[6].
Petitioner's Coin[edit]
A Petitioner's coin is a silvery disk inscribed with a carnelian-level arbiter's symbol on it[7]. These tokens can be activated by charging the rune with purified mana. Petitioner's Coins can be obtained by defeating a spire guardian on a floor divisible by 5[5].
Individual Spires[edit]
Each spire has a unique structure and color scheme, is managed by a different visage, and has the top guarded by a different god beast, which it it named and structured after.
Additionally, judgements in each spire grant attunements from that spire. See the attunement page for which spires offer which attunements.
Serpent Spire[edit]
Main article: Serpent Spire
The Serpent Spire is located in the city of Beaufort in Valia[8], and is managed by Tenjin. The top of the spire is guarded by Seiryu, the God Serpent[9].
Tortoise Spire[edit]
Main article: Tortoise Spire
The Tortoise Spire is located in Dalenos, and is managed by Katashi. The top of the spire is guarded by Genbu, the God Tortoise[9].
Tiger Spire[edit]
Main article: Tiger Spire
The Tiger Spire is located in the city of Westbridge in Caelford[1], and is managed by Ferras. The top of the spire is guarded by Byakko, the God Tiger[9].
Hydra Spire[edit]
Main article: Hydra Spire
The Hydra Spire is located in the city of Kassel in Edria[10], and is managed by Melkyr. The top of the spire is guarded by Orochi, the God Hydra[9].
Phoenix Spire[edit]
Main article: Phoenix Spire
The phoenix spire is located in East Edria, and is managed by Kerivas. The top of the spire is guarded by Suzaku, the God Phoenix[9].
Spider Spire[edit]
Main article: Spider Spire
The Spider Spire is managed by Wydd and guarded by Arachne, the God Spider[9]. The location of the spider spire is unknown.
Seventh Spire[edit]
Main article: Seventh Spire
The Seventh Spire is located roughly in the center of the Unclaimed Lands, and also the mainland of Kaldwyn itself. It has always remained closed in recorded history, and thus nothing much about it is known.
Sorcerer's Spire[edit]
The Sorcerer's Spire is the spire being developed by Warren Constantine, the Ascendant Arbiter. It is located roughly to the north of the Seventh Spire in the Unclaimed Lands.
Layout[edit]
Each floor of a spire contains a number of challenges. Some floors contain multiple challenges in the form of challenge rooms which have one or more doors leading to further challenge rooms. These are generally color coded by the type of challenge found in the room. Other floors are "Scenario" floors involving a single, longer challenge that takes up the entire floor. The layout of a spire changes over time, though the reset rate varies from spire to spire.
Notes[edit]
References:
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Torch that Ignites the Stars Chapter 3
- ↑ Sufficiently Advanced Magic Chapter 1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sufficiently Advanced Magic Chapter 4
- ↑ Sufficiently Advanced Magic Chapter 16
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Torch that Ignites the Stars Chapter 6
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Torch that Ignites the Stars Chapter 16
- ↑ The Torch that Ignites the Stars Chapter 15
- ↑ On the Shoulders of Titans Map of Kaldwyn
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Sufficiently Advanced Magic Appendix 4
- ↑ Diamantine Chapter 1