Twelve Wonders

Overview

The Twelve Wonders are a collection of twelve monumental structures scattered across the continent of Primaera in Honor of Kings: World. Built by the gods (former humans who arrived from a destroyed planet) the Wonders were designed to channel the spiritual energy buried beneath Primaera's surface. This energy sustained both the mortal world and the gods' residence, Celestia. After the War of Gods, Nuwa sealed the Ark's core and placed the key within the Twelve Wonders, hoping that someone who could correctly control the power would appear in the future.

Origin and purpose

The Wonders were among the first structures the gods built after arriving on Primaera. Their primary function was to transport energy from deep underground to the surface and beyond. Powering Celestia, regulating the natural order, and sustaining the Flow energy that permeates the mortal world. Each Wonder was designed to channel a specific aspect of this energy network: solar cycles, tidal movements, weather patterns, geothermal stability, and more.

Together, they formed an interconnected system that maintained the stability of the mortal realm. The Wonders are among the most visually impressive locations in the game. Built to a scale that dwarfs any mortal architecture, they tower over the surrounding landscape and can often be spotted from great distances, serving as natural navigation landmarks.

The Sun Tower

The most prominent of the Twelve Wonders is the Sun Tower, a colossal pillar that rises from the center of Primaera. It was the first Wonder built and the one around which the others were positioned. According to the official lore, the Sun Tower was specifically designed to "transport the energy buried under the Primaera from underground to the top to protect their residence: Celestia."

The Hou Yi connection

The Sun Tower has a direct narrative connection to the hero Hou Yi. According to the lore, a ruler summoned the marksman Hou Yi and entrusted him with a secret mission to destroy the ten Sun Towers. While pursuing this destruction, Hou Yi was drawn to the Sun Tower's brilliance and absorbed the Wonder's power. A force that cursed him to a deep slumber. After the Sun Tower was destroyed, dust blocked the sunlight, plunging the surrounding area into extreme cold.

The key to the Ark

The Twelve Wonders hold a secret of world-altering significance. When Nuwa sealed the core of the Ark (the Heart of the Universe) after the War of Gods, she placed the key within the Twelve Wonders. This was both a safeguard and a test. The key is distributed across the Wonder network, and only someone who understands and can interact with all twelve structures could potentially reassemble it. This hidden purpose makes the Wonders central to the game's endgame narrative.

Known Wonders

While the lore describes twelve structures, not all are immediately accessible or even visible at launch. The Sun Tower is the only Wonder explicitly named in primary sources. Others are discovered through main story progression, exploration, and post-launch content updates:

1. The Sun Tower: channels underground energy to sustain Celestia, located at the center of Primaera

2. The Tide Gate: controls the movement of rivers and tides, found along the coast near Dragon Valley

3. The Star Compass: an astronomical instrument atop the Stargazing Range that maps the heavens

4. The Root Bridge: a massive living tree structure connecting the surface world to the underground cave networks

5. The Wind Altar: regulates weather patterns, perched on an exposed peak in the East Aerfall Highlands

6. The Flame Crucible: maintains geothermal stability, located in a volcanic fissure

7. The Frost Seal: regulates cold and preserves alpine ecosystems, found within the Forbidden Mountains

The remaining five Wonders are referenced in lore texts but their exact locations and functions are either obscured or tied to future content. Players speculate that these will be revealed in subsequent major updates, and with them, more pieces of the key to the Ark.

Gameplay significance