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This page contains spoilers to the plots of Age of Mythology. |
| “ | This pillar holds up the sky, separating heaven and earth. | ” |
| —In-game description | ||
| “ | This pillar has been damaged and is in need of repair. | ” |
| —In-game description | ||
The Celestial Pillar is an unconstructable building in Age of Mythology: Retold - Immortal Pillars. Various types of Celestial Pillars are available in the Scenario Editor, and are a central theme of the Pillars of the Gods campaign.
Story[]
The Celestial Pillars are one main themes of the campaign, serving as an earthly representation of the Celestial Court of Huangdi, as seen in the prologue cinematic where Chinese Peasants are praying at one of the Pillars. In his quest for vengeance against the Celestial Court, the antagonist, Huang Zhaowu, attempts to destroy the Pillars, forcing Yan Feifeng and his companions to embark on a mission to stop him.
Campaign appearances[]
Celestial Pillars appear in the following campaign scenarios:
Pillars of the Gods[]
- Houyi's Pride: The Pillars are first explicitly mentioned in the closing cinematic, where Huang Zhaowu demonstrates his might to Chiyou by destroying the Western Pillar that Holds the Heavens.
- Stronger Together: The destruction of the Western Pillar is witnessed by Yan Feifeng, Houyi, and Cangjie in the opening cinematic. Cangjie explains to Yan Feifeng that the Pillar is one of the "Four Pillars of Heaven", and that their collapse in ancient times threatened reality itself. The goddess Nüwa had been able to repair them using Five Colored Stones and the legs of a tortoise. Cangjie then tells Yan Feifeng that they must prevent the remaining Pillars from being destroyed. The ruins of the Western Pillar can later be seen in the center of the map. When discovered, Cangjie emphasizes that the other Pillars must be saved or "both heaven and earth will be jeopardy".
- The God Trap: In the opening cinematic, the heroes observe the Northern Pillar surrounded, but not attacked, by Huang Zhaowu's forces. They must then fight their way though enemy lines to the Pillar which appears on the far side of the map. Once there, Yan Feifeng observes that neither Chiyou nor Huang Zhaowu are at the Pillar, leading Cangjie to suspect there may have been a diversion.
- Overcoming Fixations: Yan Feifeng and his allies must save the Southern Pillar from Nüchou's forces, who are besieging it and its guardians with giant Siege Crossbows. The heroes manage to protect the Pillar and confront Nüchou.
- Reality's Collapse: The heroes rush to save the Eastern Pillar, which lies across a river, under assault by Huang Zhaowu's Lightning Storms. In the closing cinematic, the attack on the Pillar is revealed to be diversion to allow Chiyou and Huang Zhaowu to secure the God Trap, intending to use it to dominate the Celestial Court. After imprisoning Chiyou in said artefact, Huang Zhaowu proceeds to destroy the remaining Pillars. Observing their failure to protect the Pillars, the heroes set out to collect the Five Colored Stones that Nüwa had previously used to repair them.
- Divine Intervention: The ruins of the Central Pillar can be seen near the player's town in the far west of the map. They are seen again in the closing cinematic looming over Yan Feifeng's tomb, where Cangjie beseeches Nüwa to honor the hero's sacrifice by restoring the Pillars. This she does as one the Colored Stones can be seen floating from Mount Penglai to the Central Pillar, instantly repairing it. The restoration of the Western Pillar is also shown.
- Duel of the Deathless: In the opening cinematic, Huang Zhaowu expresses indifference at the restoration of the Pillars. The Central Pillar can then be seen near the player's town in the far west of the map.
Mythology[]
| “ | After Pangu separated Heaven and Earth, the Celestial Pillars were formed to uphold the heavens and prevent the worlds from collapsing into one another. Each pillar stands at one of the cardinal directions. The Northern Pillar – Located in the far north, amidst vast pine forests and towering mountains. The Eastern Pillar – Positioned along the coastline, surrounded by deciduous forests, fertile farmlands, bustling urban centers, and mighty rivers. The Western Pillar – Situated on the empire's western edge, in the driest region of China, characterized by deserts and arid vegetation. The Southern Pillar – Found in the south, encircled by numerous waterways and expansive, lush bamboo forests. |
” |
| —In-game help section | ||
Trivia[]
- Celestial Pillars have Old Chinese logographs on them.
- Celestial Pillars appear in the Scenario Editor as four buildings: Broken Celestial Pillar, Celestial Pillar, Celestial Pillar (CS), and Celestial Pillar Raising (SPC).
- Celestial PIllar (CS) and Celestial Pillar Raising (SPC) appear in four forms each, where the logographs are coloured gold, blue, purple, and green. Celestial Pillar only appears with blue colour, while the broken one has no glow.
Gallery[]
Huang Zhaowu destroying the Western Pillar
The ruins of the Western Pillar, as seen in Stronger Together
The Northern Pillar, as seen in The God Trap
The Southern Pillar, as seen in Overcoming Fixations
The Eastern Pillar, as seen in Reality's Collapse
The ruins of the Central Pillar, as seen in Divine Intervention
The Central Pillar, as seen in Duel of the Deathless
A Celestial Pillar
Huang Zhaowu with the God Trap
A town containing a Celestial Pillar is besieged, while Chiyou fights a Titan
Yan and Houyi on horseback
