The Core

The Core at the start of the game, powered down

The Core is a mysterious entity whose name is referred in the game's title.

Dormancy

At the start of the game, after touching a strange relic while exploring a forest, the player is teleported to a mysterious underground world, right in front of the Core. One of many unique world Scenes.

Upon inspection (interact key), the player character says that it "Looks like it needs energy". Powering up the core is the first phase of game progression (guide).

This is done by placing each essence, from the first 3 defeated Bosses, into each of the connected statue effigies: Glurch Eye, Ghorm's Horn, and Heart of the Hive Mother. The powered Boss Statues additionally function as special Workbenches.

Beyond the wall

Once powered and glowing, a bright pupil-like light on The Core appears to follow player movement around. Interacting (default E) steps through a monologue:

Thou hast awakened us...

Never have we seen a creature such as thee.

There once was a thriving civilization here, but it seems all of it has been lost.

We must have been dormant for aeons.

We wonder...

[Sends out a scanning pulse]

We must ask something of thee.

Seek the ancient titans still roaming beyond the Great Wall.

Destroy them and collect their souls.

With their energy we can restore what once was.

In return, thou shalt be able to go back whence thou camest.

By the power with which we now imbue thee, the Great Wall shall be opened as thou layest a hand upon it.

It asks the player to seek and destroy the titan bosses in the outer biomes, beyond The Great Wall. Their souls will empower it further, to restore things and return the player to wherever they came from.

It imbues the player with the power to open The Great Wall, found encircling the outside of The Clay Caves and The Forgotten Ruins (stone) biomes. Simultaneously unlocking the player's Souls tab. In multiplayer, each player must talk to The Core separately, to unlock their own Souls tab.

Interacting with the Great Wall will now drop it, opening access to all the infinite outer biomes and beginning the second phase of progression (guide).

Returning to talk to The Core again, after dropping the wall, will describe the next biome and tell the player the approximate compass direction (randomised in each world). Then the next one, after each titan boss has been defeated in succession:

1. Azeos' Wilderness, where Azeos the Sky Titan resides.
2. The Sunken Sea, where Omoroth the Sea Titan resides.
3. The Desert of Beginnings, where Ra-Akar the Sand Titan resides.

The Core area with boss statues powered up, decorated with boss Figurines and Base building items from The Forgotten Ruins and Azeos' Wilderness.