History Main / TheTower

*** The Altmer (High Elves) would construct the Crystal Tower ("Crystal-Like-Law") in the Summerset Isles in direct emulation of the Adamantine Tower. Little is known of the "Stone" of the Crystal Tower, but it is said that it [[WasOnceAMan was once a person]]. During the Oblivion Crisis, the forces of the Daedra managed to destroy the Crystal Tower. At least, in Mundus (the mortal plane). Per the Altmer, the Crystal Tower continues to exist in planes other than Mundus.

*** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsOnline'' also adds the Doomcrag, an ancient Ayleid tower in the province of High Rock, that was also built with the express purpose of mimicking the Adamantine Tower, much like the Crystal Tower, and could in a sense be considered a prototype for the White-Gold Tower. However, for some reason or another, the Doomcrag was regarded as a failure, and never became a "true" Tower. It is theorised that the Light of Life was intended to be it's stone, before it was corrupted into the Lightless Remnant, but whether or not it's connection to the stone was broken when it was corrupted, it was most certainly broken at the end of the relevant questline, where the Remnant itself was destroyed.

** In the series lore, "Towers" are metaphysical structures built atop the "joint-points" of reality as it was constructed by the [[OurGodsAreDifferent et'Ada]] who took part in creation. The Towers are said to "[[RealityWarper define reality in [their] Aurbic vicinity]]". One such tower, the Adamantine Tower (or "Ada-Mantia") on Balferia Island in Iliac Bay, was constructed by the surviving et'Ada (now Aedra) to hold "Convention," during which they decided to [[GodIsDead punish Lorkhan]] for his treachery during creation. It is also said to be where linear time first began, before spreading throughout the rest of creation. The Adamantine Tower remains on Balferia, and though the exterior is weathered, the interior remains almost exactly the same - a single great, seamless, impregnable spire of ageless metal which is at least half-embedded in the ground. It is entirely smooth, except for one point known as the "Argent Aperture" which is thought to be a door. This door has a lock of thirteen slowly counter-rotating rings and, despite the best efforts of mages and scholars throughout history, has never been opened. It is powered by the "Zeroth-Stone", which is said to cultivate "creatia" indirectly to alter the "terrestrial domain" around the Tower. During the earliest days following creation, the ancient [[{{Precursors}} Aldmer]] (ancestors of all of the modern [[OurElvesAreDifferent races of Mer/Elves]]) discovered a means to construct their own towers at these "joint-points." By building their own Tower, each group could create their own narrative, distinct but equal to those around it. Details on these constructed Towers:

*** The Chimer (later Dunmer/Dark Elves) would claim Red Mountain in Morrowind where Lorkhan's heart fell (known as Red Tower). After the Dwemer discovered the Heart beneath the mountain and [[RiddleForTheAges disappeared mysteriously]] while attempting to use its power, three Chimer would successfully use it to become the {{Physical God}}s known as the Tribunal. Unbeknownst to them, their former ally, Voryn Dagoth, also used the Heart before he was slain and coalesced in the millennia the Tribunal ruled. He returned and cut them off from the Heart, preventing them from recharging their divinity. Following the events of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', the Dwemer enchantments on the Heart would be severed, killing Dagoth and stripping the Tribunal of their divinity permanently. This also stripped Red Tower of its "Stone," depriving it forever of its reality altering powers. (Later events would see Red Mountain violently erupt, erasing it almost entirely from the world.)

** In the series lore, "Towers" are metaphysical structures built atop the "joint-points" of reality as it was constructed by the [[OurGodsAreDifferent et'Ada]] who took part in creation. The Towers are said to "[[RealityWarper define reality in [their] Aurbic vicinity]]". One such tower, the Adamantine Tower (or "Ada-Mantia") on Balferia Island in Iliac Bay, was constructed by the surviving et'Ada (now Aedra) to hold "Convention," during which they decided to [[GodIsDead punish Lorkhan]] for his treachery during creation. It is also said to be where linear time first began, before spreading throughout the rest of creation. The Adamantine Tower remains on Balferia, and though the exterior is weathered, the interior remains almost exactly the same - a single great, seamless, impregnable spire of ageless metal which is at least half-embedded in the ground. It is entirely smooth, except for one point known as the "Argent Aperture" which is thought to be a door. This door has a lock of thirteen slowly counter-rotating rings and, despite the best efforts of mages and scholars throughout history, has never been opened. It is powered by the "Zeroth-Stone", which is said to cultivate "creatia" indirectly to alter the "terrestrial domain" around the Tower. During the earliest days following creation, the ancient [[{{Precursors}} Aldmer]] (ancestors of all of the modern [[OurElvesAreBetter races of Mer/Elves]]) discovered a means to construct their own towers at these "joint-points." By building their own Tower, each group could create their own narrative, distinct but equal to those around it. Details on these constructed Towers:

* The [[EvilTowerOfOminousness Evil Skyscraper]]: The [[CityNoir Black Tower's modern incarnation]]:\\
home of the CorruptCorporateExecutive or MegaCorp in a contemporary or futuristic setting. Don't be surprised if an ExecutiveSuiteFight happens in one.

*** The eighth Tower, Orichalc, also has the least known about it. It is believed to have been in Yokuda, the ancient homeland of the ancestors to the Redguards to the west of Tamriel, and it's Stone, fittingly for the homeland of the [[MasterSwordsman Redguards]] was said to be a sword. There, the ancient Yokudans fought a devastating war against the Sinestral Mer (Left-Handed Elves), who were driven to extinction. With Yokuda believed to have been sank beneath the sea, the Orichalc tower is believed to have sank with it.

*** The eighth Tower, Orichalc, also has the least known about it. It is believed to have been in Yokuda, the ancient homeland of the ancestors to the Redguards to the west of Tamriel. There, the ancient Yokudans fought a devastating war against the Sinestral Mer (Left-Handed Elves), who were driven to extinction. With Yokuda believed to have been sank beneath the sea, the Orichalc tower is believed to have sank with it.

-->-- '''Muhammad Avdol, ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders''''

* The entire point, setting and SeriesGoal of ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod''. The Tower is a [[GeniusLoci semi-sentient]], self-contained PlaceOfPower built god knows when, housing billions of people and creatures on 134 conquered and even more wild floors, each the size of North America and several kilometers high[[labelnote:*]] making it most likely BiggerOnTheInside[[/labelnote]]. It has been said that everything and anything people have ever wished for [[MakeAWish can be found]] at the [[ItsAllUpstairsFromHere top of the Tower]]. Therefore, many people wish to climb it, giving up everything they have to obtain their one desire or having only their desires and dreams left. The lucky ones that get chosen to climb, the Regulars, must pass cruel, hard and strongly varying tests, which used to be held by the [[PhysicalGod Guardians]], but ever since King Zahard conquered the greatest part of the Tower, the inhabitants of the place took the Guardians' place. The Tower is a fantastical realm, as it contains a force known as Shinsoo, which can be breathed instead of air and enables those who know how wield it properly to do the impossible.[[/folder]]

*** The eighth Tower, Orichalc, also has the least known about it. It is believed to have been in Yokuda, the ancient homeland of the ancestors to the Redguards to the west of Tamriel. There, the ancient Yokudans fought a devastating war against the Sinestral Mer ([[TheSouthpaw Left-Handed]] Elves), who were driven to extinction. With Yokuda believed to have been sank beneath the sea, the Orichalc tower is believed to have sank with it.

->''"So this is the [[FightingSpirit stand]] that brings calamity! The one they call...Tower of Gray!"''
-->-- '''Muhammad Avdol, ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders''''

* How could we forget ''[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Devil May Cry 3]]'', where the majority of the game takes place in a massive demonic tower that just bursts out the ground? In addition, the challenge levels take place in an ever ascending version of the same tower.

The {{L|ivingLabyrinth}}abyrinth or [[LockedInTheDungeon Dungeon]] is the inverse trope: a more expansive version of the Ominous Castle or Megastructure, with more stuff [[BeneathTheEarth below than above]]. See also BigLabyrinthineBuilding, which may or may not be a Babel-like megastructure. Compare with BuildingOfAdventure.

* ''{{Superman}}'': Lexcorp

*** The Ayleids (Wild Elves) of Cyrodiil would construct the White-Gold Tower on an island in the heart of their country, using the "Chim-el-Adabal" (said to have been created from the crystallized blood of Lorkhan, collected as it traveled across Tamriel to its resting place in Morrowind) as their "Stone." Following the Alessian Revolt (a SlaveRevolt of their human slaves), the tower would be taken by the Nedes ([[{{Precursors}} ancestors to most of the modern races of Men in Tamriel]]). After capturing the Tower, Alessia, leader of the Nedes, would forge a pact with Akatosh, the TopGod of the Aedra and Dragon God of Time. Akatosh gave to Alessia and her descendants the Amulet of Kings (whose centerpiece was the Chim-el Adabal), as well as the Dragonfires of the Imperial City. So long as the Empire maintained its worship of Akatosh and his kin, and [[BarrierMaiden so long as Alessia's heirs bore the Amulet of Kings]], Akatosh and his divine kin would maintain a strong barrier protecting Mundus. This, of course, came to an end during the [[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion Crisis]] when Martin Septim, last in Alessia's metaphysical line, [[spoiler:shattered the Amulet of Kings and sacrificed himself to end the Crisis]]. Like Red Tower before it, White-Gold was left without its stone.

* The Evil Skyscraper: The [[CityNoir Black Tower's modern incarnation]]:\\

* The Ominous Megastructure: like the TowerOfBabel, A gigantic, unimaginably huge "looms-over-everything" structure.

home of the CorruptCorporateExecutive or MegaCorp in a contemporary or futuristic setting.

An old trope that can be either physical or metaphorical in its appearance within a story. In [[UsefulNotes/TarotCards Tarot reading]], The Tower is considered a sign of ill omen or adversity, but can also stand for civilization, or lone, defensive strength when regarding a specific character.

!!In fiction, The Tower may appear as:

* ImpossiblyTallTower: or StarScraper, any structure whose [[AbsurdAltitude height is beyond imagining]].

* The WizardsTower: or MageTower usually contains telescopes, orreries, [[InexplicableTreasureChests hidden artifacts]], [[SecretPath secret passages]], [[TomeOfEldritchLore tomes of eldritch lore]], and [[{{Magitek}} dangerous devices]] PoweredByAForsakenChild in a terribly-cramped [[BiggerOnTheInside footprint]].
* The HauntedCastle: Ominous, foreboding and perched on a cliffside, [[GraveClouds accompanied by lightning]] and haunted by [[{{Transylvania}} ghosts and monsters]] or {{mad scientist}}s and [[TheIgor their assistants]].
* The [[OminousFloatingCastle Floating Castle]]: maybe ominous, maybe not, but always important.
* LighthousePoint: Exactly what it says on the tin.

* WorldTree: The [[WombLevel Living]], GeniusLoci version.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has [[AwesomeButImpractical Harrenhal]] -- and its very ostentatious ''five'' [[EvilTowerofOminousness towers of ominousness]]. Yup, It made up for not having the tallest of the tall by going for bulk. Built by the Ironborn under Harren the Black as an impenetrable, siege-proof fortress with which he could subjugate the Riverlands and (attempt to) impress the Iron Isles. But... just as it was fully completed, [[OneManArmy Aegon Targeryen]] arrived in Westeros with his [[GameBreaker dragons]], and [[WeaponOfMassDestruction burned it to the ruin it is now]] from the Air. With Harren and his family still in it. Harrenhal was passed down to many Houses since, almost all of whom have been driven to ruin, much as Harrenhal itself was. It's so huge and damaged, it cannot be defended, maintained or repaired easily on a regional lord's income, and that's ''without'' suddenly coming into an important title going to people's heads in predictable ways. Also, the castle is apparently cursed, with everyone who holds Harrenhal undergoing tragedy, often unrelated to running the place.
** An even better example is the impressive lighthouse that is the Hightower of Oldtown, from which the ruling family derives the name and motto of their house. It's the tallest structure in all of Westeros, currently surpassing even the Wall in the North in height. Note "currently" -- the Hightower has fallen several times, only to be rebuilt stronger, brighter and better each time. Also, although they don't live in the Hightower itself, the wizard-like Maesters are based in the nearby Citadel, so the sigil of the Hightower is associated with them as the emblem of Oldtown. They light the way, each in their own way.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has [[AwesomeButImpractical Harrenhal]] -- and its very ostentatious ''five'' [[EvilTowerofOminousness towers of ominousness]]. Yup, It made up for not having the tallest of the tall by going for bulk. Built by the Ironborn under Harren the Black as an impenetrable, drive-proof fortress with which he could subjugate the Riverlands. But... just as it was fully completed, [[OneManArmy Aegon Targeryen]] arrived in Westeros with his [[GameBreaker dragons]], and [[WeaponOfMassDestruction burned it to the ruin it is now]] from the Air. With Harren and his family still in it. Harrenhal was passed down to many Houses since, almost all of whom have been driven to ruin, much as Harrenhal itself was. It's so huge and damaged, it cannot be defended, maintained or repaired easily on a regional lord's income, and that's ''without'' suddenly coming into an important title going to people's heads in predictable ways. Also, the castle is apparently cursed, with everyone who holds Harrenhal undergoing tragedy, often unrelated to running the place.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has [[AwesomeButImpractical Harrenhal]] -- and its very ostentatious ''five'' [[EvilTowerofOminousness towers of ominousness]]. It made up for not having the tallest of the tall by going for bulk. Built by the Ironborn under Harren the black, who wanted an impenetrable fortress with which he could subjugate the Riverlands. But... just as it was fully completed, [[OneManArmy Aegon Targeryen]] arrived in Westeros with his [[GameBreaker dragons]], and [[WeaponOfMassDestruction burned it to the ruin it is now]]. With Harren and his family still in it. Harrenhal was passed down to many Houses since, all of whom were driven to ruin, as Harrenhal was. It's so huge and damaged, it cannot be maintained or repaired easily on a regional lord's income, and that's ''without'' suddenly coming into an important title going to people's heads in predictable ways. Also, the castle is apparently cursed, with everyone who holds Harrenhal undergoing tragedy, often unrelated to running the place.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has Harrenhal. It was built by the Ironborn under Harren the black, who wanted an impenetrable fortress to which he could rule the Riverlands in. But by the time it was finish Aegon Targeryen arrived in Westeros with his [[GameBreaker dragons]], and burned it to the ruin with Harren still in it. Harrenhal was passed over to many houses, all of who were driven to ruin, as Harrenhal was so huge, it could not be maintained so easily. Also the castle is apparently cursed, with everyone who holds Harrenhal undergoing tragedy.
** An even better example is the Hightower of Oldtown, from which the ruling family derives the name of their house. It's the tallest structure in all of Westeros, surpassing even the Wall in the North. Although they don't live in the Hightower, the wizard-like Maesters are based in the nearby Citadel so the sigil of the Hightower is associated with them as the emblem of Oldtown.