View source for Tower of Eternity

[[File:Tower of Eternity map 2.png|thumb|301x301px|Tower of Eternity map]]
The '''Tower of Eternity''' is the center point of [[Atreia]]. It was said to be the physical form of [[Aion]]. It nowadays stands as two separate bases: the ''Tower of Light'' in [[Elysea]] and the ''Tower of Darkness'' in [[Asmodae]].

For much of the game's history this location only existed in lore, but in the 5.0 update it was introduced as a physical area. During this time it mainly served as an access point to the three '''Artifacts of Eternity''' instances located within. The Iluma/Norsvold campaign added in 5.1 also required the player to travel to this area on several occasions.

Access to this area was revoked in the 6.0 update following the cancellation of the Archdaeva system. The entrance to the [[Cradle of Eternity]] was preserved and moved to [[Lakrum]].

== History ==
=== Ancient Atreia ===
Prior to the [[Millennium War]], all life-giving energy provided by Aion shone forth from the Tower of Eternity located in the center of the planet. [[Daevas]] had been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the tower from the [[Balaur]]. As such, an Aetheric Field was created around the bases of the Tower, giving shelter to those humans in need and acting as the capital of Atreia.

However, a [[Cataclysm|catalysmic event]] during the war shattered the Tower of Eternity. Rifts in the fabric of space known collectively as "the [[Abyss]]" now occupy much of the center of Atreia.

Following the destruction of the tower, the ancient Atreians were separated, creating the [[Elyos]] and [[Asmodian]] races, each occupying a different hemi-shell of Atreia. Sunlight reaches downward inside Atreia, illuminating the lower half in particular, where the kingdom of [[Elysea]] is located. Meanwhile, little light penetrated to the upper half, where [[Asmodae]] was defined.

=== Return to the Tower ===
[[File:Towerofeternity.png|thumb|299x299px|The view inside the Tower of Eternity]]
At the time of [[Aion: Echoes of Eternity|Echoes of Eternity]] (Aion 5.0), the aetheric field that had been preserving the tower and its surroundings for over a thousand years had weakened to the point where chunks of it had begun to fall off, and access to (a part of) it was possible for the first time since the [[Cataclysm]].

Once inside, the Daevas found it to be a largely void area that seemingly stretches infinitely in all directions. Strange pillars could be seen inside, as well as phenomena such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora aurora lights] and spatial rifts. It largely remained a place of mystery.

== Access ==
[[File:Tower of Eternity portal.png|thumb|275x275px|Active portal in Norsvold]]
An access point to the Tower will be active in one of five predetermined locations in [[Iluma]] and [[Norsvold]], with its location changing every hour. This location is either the central base (Ariel's/Azphel's Sanctuary) or in one of the four fragment excavation sites. The presently active access point appears as a big green Tower icon on the player's map (M).

Both races use their own 'instanced copy' of the zone (similar to the post-4.8 [[Idian Depths]]), meaning that members of the opposing race cannot be encountered inside.

== Layout ==
The area is composed of four pillars. The northern one, called ''Reflection of Eternity'', holds the entrance to the Archives of Eternity, Cradle of Eternity and Trials of Eternity instances only. The other pillars remain inactive.

In the center stands the entry point. Guarded by a set of guards and their commander {{npc|Eusebios}} (Elyos)/{{npc|Astride}} (Asmodians), who will welcome the player and introduce them to the situation. Opposite from them there will be a portal leading to ''The Room of the Sage'', a chamber on the second floor of the central structure only accessible during the appropriate sections of the campaign quests in Iluma and Norsvold.

To exit the zone the player may interact with the {{object|Aionic Ward}}, which will send them back to ''Ariel's Sanctuary'' or ''Azphel's Sanctuary'' depending on their race.

== Instances ==
=== Group Instances ===
*[[Archives of Eternity]] [66+]
*[[Cradle of Eternity]] [66+]
*[[Trials of Eternity]] [66+]

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Tower Eternity Art 1.png|Tower of Eternity Concept Art
File:Tower Eternity Art 2.png|Tower of Eternity Concept Art
File:Tower of Eternity map.png|Old Map of the Tower of Eternity (5.0)
</gallery>

== Trivia ==
*Originally, when certain instances had not yet been added to the Tower, their entrances were present as deactivated portals as placeholders.
**{{object|Deactivated Divine Atheneum Entrance}}: Entrance to the [[Cradle of Eternity]]
**{{object|Deactivated Eternal Atheneum Entrance}}: Entrance to the [[Trials of Eternity]]

* Throughout Aion 5.x it was revealed that the phenomenon of [[Rift|rifts]], as well as their frequent appearances in the several regions of Elysea and Asmodae, was in fact caused by a malfunctioning artifact within the Tower. Thanks to the player's efforts in the instances located inside the Tower their erratic behavior was largely fixed.
* In Aion 6.0 the Tower of Eternity is no longer accessible due to the destruction of [[Iluma]]/[[Norsvold]]. The Tower itself however survived, as did the instances within (although only the Cradle can be accessed).

{{World of Atreia navbox}}

[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Asmodae]]
[[Category:Elysea]]