Bastion

Bastion, Home of the Kyrian, is one of the ruling realms of the Shadowlands, ruled by the Kyrian Covenant. It is a kingdom of pristine spires, crystalline skies, and elysian vistas, ordered and purposeful.

Souls naturally drawn to service are sent here by the Arbiter to examine their lives, cleanse themselves of their burdens, and work toward a state of virtue so they might ascend to serve the Shadowlands as kyrian—messengers, couriers, and some of the purest souls in the realm of the dead. Fresh arrivals to Bastion will become kyrian Aspirants—wingless beings who train for eons to one day earn their wings and join the ranks of the Ascended.

Bastion is the residence of Uther the Lightbringer's spirit.

''Those who have lived a life of service are drawn to Bastion to assumed the highest duty of all — carrying the souls to the Shadowlands. Amongst Bastion's gleaming spires and sweeping vistas await challenges to test the mettle of the steadfast kyrians.''

''Bastion is a beacon for those who lived a life of service. Souls worthy enough to stand upon its fields soon face challenges in pursuit of their highest calling of all -- sheperding [sic] souls to the Shadowlands. A life of service determines who is worthy to tread upon the golden fields of Bastion. Stalwart commitment to their duties was their goal in life: ascension is their goal thereafter.''

Anima gates can be seen flying high above Bastion.

Bastion wasn't always peaceful. Once, its wild creatures were savage and hostile, but the Ascended Korinna tamed them.

Eons ago, the forces of the Void tried to invade the Shadowlands. The attack blindsided the kyrian, but Agthia, Paragon of Courage of her time, led an army of them to battle. Agthia sacrificed herself to repel the invaders and their commander, Tezulat the Annihilator. Many wrecked colossi still litter the former battlefield.

Bastion was also once invaded by devourers, leading to the death of the first Paragon of Humility Mercia.

• Flight paths from Aspirant's Rest
• Hero's Rest
• Sagehaven
• Terrace of the Collectors
• Kyrian only:
• Elysian Hold

• Cloudrunner
• Cloudstrider
• Etherwyrm
• Glimmerfly
• Larion
• Owl
• Ram
• Terrapin
• Vulpin

• Denizens of Revendreth are not allowed to enter Bastion via Oribos and must use one of their mirror portals to access it instead. According to Theotar, they may even be killed on sight in Bastion.
• A section of the northwestern map had the following caves located below the terrain until late beta testing: Bastion Bones Cave, Bastion Crystal Cave, Bastion Lava Cave, Bastion Snow Cave, and Bastion Vault.

Bastion's themes borrow from various parts of European and West Asian mythos and cultures, in particular Greek, Sumerian, Norse, and Abrahamic ones.

• Bastion shares some themes with the Greek and has even been referred to as "the elysian fields," both in-game and out.
• In the game files, Bastion is called "Babylonzone". was the capital city of the ancient Babylonian Empire, and is described in the as a vast city with palms and hanging gardens, surrounded by plains. Additionally, the only remaining entrance to Babylon, the, uses blue and gold colors and features lions on it.
• The five virtues embodied by the five temples in Bastion may be loosely derived from the and the of Christian tradition, parallel to how the seven sins in Revendreth are analogous to the seven deadly sins.
• In this sense, and similar to Revendreth, Bastion's path of ascension is similar to Dante's , requiring the amplification of virtue in order to literally ascend into the Heavens.
• The owl theme of the stewards may be a reference to the within Greek myth and culture.
• The various centurions are likely based upon the s of Greek myth.
• The Eonian Archives that contain the memories of all mortals may be a reference to the of theosophy that contain all thoughts and memories of all people in existence throughout time.
• The way kyrian are expected to let go of their memories throughout the process toward ascension resembles the way that, in the Greek afterlife, the dead would drink from the river to forget.
• The Eternal Forge may be a reference to the various s across the Mediterranean since antiquity. This, along with the torch-running required to loot the Gift of Devos and Gift of Agthia, may be references to the specifically.

Bastión