Chaoge

Overview

Chaoge is an ancient ruined capital located on the Zhulu Plateau in Honor of Kings: World. It was once a thriving center of political power and cultural achievement, predating the rise of Chang'an as Primaera's dominant power center. In its prime, Chaoge was a grand city whose influence shaped the course of the continent's history. Today, it stands as a crumbling ruin whose fallen walls and shattered towers serve as both a monument to past glory and a reminder of the impermanence of power.

The proximity of Chaoge to Jixia Academy is not coincidental. The Three Sages who founded the Academy deliberately chose to establish it near the ruins of the old capital, both to draw upon the area's historical significance and to ensure that the lessons of Chaoge's rise and fall would remain present in the minds of future generations of students.

History

During its era of prominence, Chaoge was the seat of a powerful ruling dynasty that controlled much of the Zhulu Plateau and the surrounding regions. The city was renowned for its imposing architecture, its court of scholars and warriors, and its central role in the political affairs of Primaera. Rulers from across the continent sent envoys to Chaoge, and the city's markets were among the busiest on the continent.

The fall of Chaoge came through a combination of internal strife, external military pressure, and the gradual shifting of trade routes away from the Zhulu Plateau. As the city's influence waned, its population declined and its infrastructure fell into disrepair. The final collapse was dramatic, leaving the city abandoned and open to the elements within a single generation.

The ruins have been weathered by centuries of exposure but retain enough structural integrity to convey the scale and ambition of the original construction. Portions of the city walls still stand, along with the foundations of major buildings, fragments of decorative stonework, and underground chambers that have been partially preserved by the earth above them.

Connection to Jixia Academy

The Three Sages chose to found Jixia Academy in close proximity to Chaoge's ruins for reasons that were both practical and philosophical. Practically, the ruins provided building materials and a cleared area with existing infrastructure that could be repurposed. Philosophically, the Sages wanted their students to study surrounded by the evidence of what had come before, learning from the achievements and mistakes of the old capital's civilization.

Students at Jixia Academy frequently visit Chaoge as part of their training. Archaeological exploration of the ruins is considered part of the Academy's curriculum, and discoveries made in Chaoge have contributed to the understanding of Primaera's history. Some of the Academy's most important artifacts were recovered from sealed chambers beneath the old capital.

Role in the Game

Chaoge functions as an explorable ruin zone on the Zhulu Plateau. Players can delve into the remains of the ancient capital, navigating collapsed structures, underground passages, and open plazas overtaken by vegetation. The ruins are populated by Ferali and other threats that have made the abandoned city their home.

Quests related to Chaoge typically involve archaeological discovery, puzzle solving within the ruins' infrastructure, and confronting the dangers that lurk in the city's depths. Hidden chambers containing ancient artifacts, sealed archives with lore documents, and boss encounters in the ruins' most significant locations are among the rewards for thorough exploration.

The ruins also serve as a narrative bridge between the ancient history of Primaera and the present-day events of the game. Discoveries made in Chaoge can shed light on mysteries referenced in other questlines, making the ancient capital a location that connects multiple storylines across the game's broader narrative.