“ | This campaign follows Yan Feifeng and the legendary Houyi in their battle against Huang Zhaowu. Huang Zhaowu was once the mightiest hero of China. Seeking even greater power, he was granted immortality, but at a heavy price. He vowed revenge against the gods and began a ruthless war. His objective: to destroy the Pillars of Heaven and end all existence. Against him, the valiant Yan Feifeng is chosen. Can this hero, joined by the other legendary heroes of China, stop Huang Zhaowu and his devious plans? In this campaign, you will play as the Chinese. |
” |
—In-game description |
Pillars of the Gods is the campaign introduced in Age of Mythology: Retold - Immortal Pillars.
Scenarios[]
The campaign consists of nine scenarios:
- Shennong's Chosen (Shennong)
- Houyi's Pride (Fuxi)
- Stronger Together (Nüwa)
- The God Trap (Shennong)
- Overcoming Fixations (Shennong)
- Reality's Collapse (Fuxi)
- Shattered Underworlds (Shennong)
- Divine Intervention (Nüwa)
- Duel of the Deathless (Shennong)
Background[]
Set after the events of Fall of the Trident and The New Atlantis, the campaign focuses on events unfolding in China. The player is put right in the middle of a war waged by Huang Zhaowu, a warlord and former champion of the god Huangdi, who is willing to destabilize and even destroy the world to bring back his beloved Xiaoli. Most of the narration is done by Cangjie, who sets out per the directions of the god Shennong to find the chosen one who will bring down Huang Zhaowu and restore peace.
Characters[]
Cangjie: The primary narrator and sage advisor of the heroes, he serves Shennong who has tasked him to find his champion and guide him.
Huang Zhaowu: The former hero of Huangdi who was granted immortality for his merit, but on the death of his beloved mortal wife Xiaoli, decided to wage war against the gods when they refused her return.
Xiaoli: The departed loyal wife of Huang Zhaowu, she supports his every decision from the next world, even if it will destroy the order of the universe.
Yan Feifeng: A simple soldier in Huangdi's army who died fighting Huang Zhaowu's forces, he was chosen and resurrected by Shennong to restore peace to the realm.
Houyi: The legendary archer Houyi serves among Huangdi's forces, and was captured by Huang Zhaowu to make a show of him. He is prideful and a bit miffed to see others around him being favored by the gods instead of himself.
Chiyou: The god of war relishes in chaos and destruction, and offers his alliance to Huang Zhaowu to exact his own vengeance against Huangdi and the gods for his defeat and demotion long ago.
Nüchou: The witch is a powerful sorceress and is recruited by Chiyou to serve their cause. She wishes to return the world to a state of chaos where she can practice her craft freely. She has a yearning for Houyi, who once inadvertently rescued her from burning when he shot down nine of the ten suns.
Ajax: The prince of Salamis has passed into the afterlife and entered the underworld, finding his way from Erebus to Diyu due to the instability caused by the destruction of the Celestial Pillars.
Brokk and
Eitri: The late Dwarf brothers also find their way from Niflheim to Diyu, where they meet Ajax and lend their aid to the protagonists.
Setna: This wizened priest of Osiris has also passed into the next world, finding himself in the Egyptian underworld of Duat. He is found by the heroes as they scour through all the underworlds for Nüwa's Stones.
Zeno: He leads the forces of good in the Atlantean underworld, making a last stand against Nyx's creatures, where he is found just in time by the heroes.
King Folstag: Awaits the player's help to ready an attack on the Fire Giants in the Norse underworld.
Halogi: Hoards one of Nüwa's Stones with the Fire Giants in the Norse underworld.
Trivia[]
- The campaign story is an original creation drawing inspiration from various Chinese legends.
- Unlike the Chinese campaign in Tale of the Dragon, the events of this campaign features characters and pays story nods to the events of the previous campaigns, viz. Ajax, Setna, Brokk, Eitri, Zeno, King Folstag, and the Fire King Halogi.
- This is the first campaign in Age of Mythology where the player colour is not blue.
Further reading[]
- A Strategic Approach to Level Design: Campaign Breakdown of Immortal Pillars by Martin Kuan, Lead Designer of Immortal Pillars