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Overview
Setera (sometimes transliterated as "Satara" in certain translations) is the primary setting of Chrono Odyssey. It is one of twelve planets created by Chronos, the god of time. Setera received abundant Arche, the fundamental energy sustaining life, making it lush and prosperous. The other eleven planets have already been consumed by the Void, leaving Setera as the last surviving world. The game's conflict centers on preventing Setera from suffering the same fate.
The open world is fully seamless. Unreal Engine 5's World Partition system eliminates loading screens entirely, so players can travel from one end of the continent to the other without interruption. The full launch map is described as four times larger than the CBT1 test region, which itself covered a significant portion of the Western Continent.
Cosmology
Chronos and the twelve planets
Chronos created twelve planets across the cosmos, distributing Arche unequally among them. Arche is the lifeblood of all organisms and shapes the state of nature itself. Its abundance or scarcity determines whether a planet thrives or withers. Setera received the most Arche, becoming the richest and most prosperous of the twelve worlds. Magellan received very little, becoming cursed with famine and desolation. This unequal distribution is the root cause of the universe's conflicts -- it drove Betelgeuse, the former Emperor of Magellan, to awaken the Void in desperation.
Each planet had a Chronotector bound to a Sentinel guardian. Of the twelve Sentinels, only six appear in the current story. The fate of the other six is unknown.
Arche
Arche is not just a lore concept -- it is a gameplay element. Setera's rich Arche reserves sustain its ecosystems, power its technologies, and enable the temporal abilities of the Chronotector. The Void consumes Arche when it invades, draining the life energy from the land and its inhabitants. Areas near Void Nexus zones visibly show this drain: vegetation dies, colors desaturate, and the environment becomes hostile.
Geography
Confirmed biomes include grasslands, snowlands, swamps, dense forests, deserts, frozen valleys, coastlines, ancient ruins, and pocket dimensions of warped spacetime. The terrain varies significantly between regions, with post-CBT updates promising themed caves and diverse exploration routes connecting different biomes.
Western Continent
Lively and diverse, with dense settlements, road networks, rivers, lakes, and mountain ranges. The Western Continent serves as the primary hub for quests, trade, and story progression. The Frontier's military presence is strongest here, with outposts and garrison towns spread across the region. Most of the CBT1 content took place on the Western Continent.
Eastern Continent (Gulf of Dust)
A stark, fragmented region scarred with blackened voids and muted tones. The crumbling terrain hints at Void corruption or historical devastation. The Eastern Continent likely represents high-level or endgame content zones, given its hostile appearance and the visual indicators of Void presence. The Gulf of Dust specifically appears to be a region where the Void's influence has progressed furthest on Setera.
Named landmarks
Item | Description |
|---|---|
The Citadel | Hidden sanctuary for Sentinels, existing within a rift between time and space. The Citadel is a cross-realm social hub where Sentinels from different worlds gather. It contains gateways to different worlds and serves as the player's home base after the prologue. NPCs Baldur, Kaya, and Velia reside here. |
Ruins of Time | The location where the player discovers the Chronotector during the prologue. This is where Velia appears, destroys the Void forces, and sends the player one year into the past. |
A major settlement with crafting workbenches, merchants, and quest-givers. Is an early-game hub town. | |
Rodinia | Not a location on Setera but a related planet, nearly consumed by the Void. Velia used her Time Stasis ability to halt time on Rodinia before its complete destruction, saving it as a frozen ruin. Rodinia is visitable in-game. |
Cliffs of Mima | A named landmark on Setera. Scenic viewpoints are planned at terrain transitions like this one. |
Murkwater Fishing Spot | A named resource location for fishing and gathering. One of several specific locations tied to life skill activities. |
Environmental systems
Setera's environment is not static. Several dynamic systems affect how the world looks and behaves:
Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Weather and time cycles | Dynamic weather (rain, fog, storms, clear skies) and a full day/night cycle. These are not just cosmetic -- dynamic events change based on player activity, time cycles, and weather patterns. Certain enemies, resources, and quest opportunities only appear under specific conditions. |
Dynamic grass and wind | Added after CBT1, the grass system responds to player movement. Wind visibly moves through fields of grass. This was part of the post-CBT visual improvements. |
Scenic viewpoints | Planned for terrain transitions (e.g., between biomes), giving players natural stopping points to appreciate the landscape. |
No hand-holding | No glowing quest markers or on-screen GPS. Players are expected to explore and discover locations using environmental cues, the Chronotector's Temporal Tuning ability, and their own observation. |
Traversal
Setera supports multiple traversal methods. A climbing and parkour system similar to Black Desert Online allows players to scale cliffs, walls, and buildings. Swimming is available, and aquatic travel via boats provides access to coastal areas and islands. Mounts are available for overland travel. The post-CBT Developer Notes mentioned themed caves and diverse routes connecting regions, suggesting that traversal is about more than getting from point A to point B but about choosing among multiple paths with different encounters and rewards along the way.
Factions on Setera
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Setera's military defense force, born from mercenary roots. Commander Iobis shaped the organization from his mercenary principles. The Frontier's Vanguard unit is the player's starting faction. | |
Twelve semi-divine guardians, each bound to a planet and its Chronotector. Only six appear in the current story. | |
The Chronos Order | A religious organization devoted to Chronos, believed to have existed since time immemorial. Focused on the well-being of common folk during the war against the Void. |
The Broken / World Movers | Void-contaminated individuals and survivors from destroyed planets who fled to Setera. Blessed with extraordinary strength or luck, they take on powerful challenges. Three distinct factions within the World Movers compete for survival and power, creating internal conflict alongside the external Void threat. |