Interesting Find - Maybe

[Tamat]

Last week I was doing the "Dorn" instance in Desert of Flames when I came across this map on a table......<img src="http://eq2.ogaming.com/gallery/albums/Hidden/Map.sized.jpg">I took a screenshot and then sort of forgot about it. This week I found the same map in Nek Forest near the beach. Does anyone know what this could be a map of?<div></div>

[Kindayr]

<DIV>:o</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hmm. I really don't know, but the hills do seem a little Stoutish to me. Other than that, its wooded more, so can't be Lavastorm, EverFrost, Zek, Ro, Feerrot, or Freeport Isle, just Antonica or Enchanted Lands. Good find <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[AgentAce]

<DIV>It reminds me of Jagged Pine/Zek</DIV>

[troodon]

Probably just a generic map they put in a zone whenever they say "there should be a mysterious map here" :smileyhappy:

[Cusashorn]

<DIV>Ahh yes. That map was the debate of a huge discussion in a thread here about 6 months ago, when that same map was found in a river in Nektulos forest, and in Freeport at the scout guild.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Vhalen even got involved and spoke up about it. I can't find the thread at the moment, but dig around for threads about Maps, and you're sure to find it.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Cusashorn on <span class=date_text>04-23-2006</span> <span class=time_text>12:27 AM</span>

[troodon]

<DIV><A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=lore&message.id=5197&view=by_date_ascending&page=1" target=_blank>http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=lore&message.id=5197&view=by_date_ascending&page=1</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Vhalen quote: <A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=lore&message.id=5547&query.id=0#M5547" target=_blank>http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=lore&message.id=5547&query.id=0#M5547</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>"The map is an old one, made sometime after the Age of Turmoil. Why would the all the orc clans be interested in an old map of the Commonlands? The landscape has changed quite a bit since the Age of Cataclysms"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So it's of the Commonlands, my guess would be there's a Tears/Orc plan for invading D'lere</DIV>

[Tamat]

Well this same map was found in Desert of Flames in the instance w/ Dorn B'Dynn. How would that fit in?<div></div>

[Bleedingheart]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Tamat wrote:<BR>Last week I was doing the "Dorn" instance in Desert of Flames when I came across this map on a table......<BR><BR><IMG src="http://eq2.ogaming.com/gallery/albums/Hidden/Map.sized.jpg"><BR><BR>I took a screenshot and then sort of forgot about it. This week I found the same map in Nek Forest near the beach. Does anyone know what this could be a map of?<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>                     -By god I think you found the map that leads to the secret entrance to the Quenos Claymores cheerleaders locker room!!! :smileysurprised:<BR><p>Message Edited by Bleedingheart on <span class=date_text>04-23-2006</span> <span class=time_text>05:08 AM</span>

[Ama]

<DIV>-By god I think you found the map that leads to the secret entrance to the Quenos Claymores cheerleaders locker room!!! <IMG height=16 src="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/i/smilies/16x16_smiley-surprised.gif" width=16 border=0><BR></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Lol why is there always a joker in every part of the forum :smileyvery-happy: .  But seriously I see where vhalen is going with this and indeed it does look like an old layout of the common lands before the shattering took place.  I'm still wondering why the orcs have not advanced to freeport or have been beaten back by the citizens of freeport.  The same could be said of the gnolls being beaten back by the citizens of Qeynos.  The gnolls right now occupy alot of areas that they encroached upon.   </DIV>

[Zh]

Just to add into it I have seen the exact same map in the rooms before the spirits of shin'ree graveyard down in Wailing Caves.<div></div>

[Acoria]

I found this map today in nek, from where you described i think its the same one, found at loc -397, -0.47, -132?When I clicked on it, gave me the quest Noxious Beeswax.It also said it wwas a note, and nothing about the map (graphic) on it. Im rather interested, tho if any of the others are related in some way.<div></div>

[Tamat]

I may be beating a dead horse but this really doesn't look like the Commons to me.....<div></div>

[firemonkey5]

<DIV>It's EQ1 Commonlands. Not EQ2. Evdently intelligence reports arn't 100% perfect in the Orcish world.</DIV>

[DreamerClou]

The map is also found in the Commonlands in the dervish camp to the west on a table.

[Tamat]

This doesn't look like EQ1 Commons either....<div></div>

[Dreadfie]

<blockquote><hr>Tamat wrote:This doesn't look like EQ1 Commons either....<div></div><hr></blockquote>I agree. If the walled city to the east is Freeport, then there shouldn't be extended mountain range running east/west due south of it. That would bar passage to the Deserts of Ro. The mountain range would run north/south seperating the Commonlands from the Deserts of Ro. That's not EQ1's Commonlands.. especially with a lake in the NE corner.

[Bleedingheart]

<P>          -That little lake in the NE corner of the map is where the Queynos Claymores cheerleaders secretly go to swim and sun-bathe!! :smileysurprised:</P> <P> </P> <P>      EDIT: The more I look at it though I keep picturing this a map of the current incarnation of the Feerot......only the map is upside down /shrug</P><p>Message Edited by Bleedingheart on <span class=date_text>04-27-2006</span> <span class=time_text>04:10 AM</span>

[Mary the Prophetess]

This has already been discussed before.  There is a link to that discussion printed in a post (above).  The designers have already confirmed that it is a map of the Commonlands circa EQ Live.  The lake in the NE corner is Lake Nerius.  Read the thread linked above.

[Solj]

<DIV><IMG src="http://www.eqatlas.com/images/westcommons.jpg"></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Look at this map here, upside down.. the Pond or Lake being the same as in your map, and the three stones at Point 1, are the three bumps in that circular area on your map.   Like Vhalen said, from the old world <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[Cusashorn]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Soljin wrote:<BR> <DIV><IMG src="http://www.eqatlas.com/images/westcommons.jpg"></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Look at this map here, upside down.. the Pond or Lake being the same as in your map, and the three stones at Point 1, are the three bumps in that circular area on your map.   Like Vhalen said, from the old world <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Desert on the south side rules out that looking at that map there upside down actually makes it acurate.

[Tamat]

Well then the orcs are stupid.OR MAYBEOrcs are just really understood. Maybe they see everything upside down and are actually really nice. It makes you think.....<div></div>

[Tamat]

upside down version!<img src="http://eq2.ogaming.com/gallery/albums/Tamats-Gallery/EQ2_000388.jpg"><div></div>

[Terabethia]

<P><FONT color=#33ccff>For reasons that I can not really figure out, or justify, it reminds me of Lake of Ill Omen from EQ1. But, that could just be because I am still haunted by the memory of all those Sarnaks.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#33ccff>Speaking of... I sorta miss the Sarnaks. I want them back</FONT> :smileyhappy:</P>

[Geakor]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> troodon wrote:<BR> <DIV><A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=lore&message.id=5197&view=by_date_ascending&page=1" target=_blank>http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=lore&message.id=5197&view=by_date_ascending&page=1</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Vhalen quote: <A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=lore&message.id=5547&query.id=0#M5547" target=_blank>http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=lore&message.id=5547&query.id=0#M5547</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>"<FONT color=#ffff00><STRONG>The map is an old one, made sometime after the Age of Turmoil. Why would the all the orc clans be interested in an old map of the Commonlands? The landscape has changed quite a bit since the Age of Cataclysms</STRONG>"</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So it's of the Commonlands, my guess would be there's a Tears/Orc plan for invading D'lere</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR><A href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/news_archive.vm?id=755&section=Development&month=current" target=_blank>http://eq2players.station.sony.com/news_archive.vm?id=755&section=Development&month=current</A>  <----- Rise of the orcs..... but why? Any suggestions !

[Mary the Prophetess]

<P>Just some musing from a simple Ranger from Surefall:</P> <P> </P> <P>There have been many 'hints' that have been dropped over the last several months.  Some are from NPCs, some are from update notes, some are from designers on forums such as this, some are at fan-fares, some are from in-game documents, etc.</P> <P>The picture that seems to be emerging is one of a vast conspiracy.  It appears as if the elements of the old Rallosian Empire are trying to reform themselves.  They were defeated and scattered in the Rallosian Wars after the Battle of Defiance, but there seems to be enough evidence now I think, to be able to see that the scattered elements of that coalition are not only getting individually stronger, but are starting to attempt to recontact other, (formerly isolated), members of that defeated empire.</P> <P>The gods seem to be putting tentative feelers out too.  Very subtle at the moment, but detectable.</P> <P>From a 'game-design' point of view, I would suspect that the designers are attempting to formulate some overall themes to serve as a backdrop to the EQ2 world.  Several have been floated; Vampires, Mayong Mistmoore, Dragons, Shadowed Men, Nightbloods.</P> <P>I see them trying to find a theme and I think this is a good thing.  I think a MMORPG <STRONG>NEEDS</STRONG> such a underlining, unifying story line.</P>

[Phylok]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Mary the Prophetess wrote:<BR> <P>Just some musing from a simple Ranger from Surefall:</P> <P> </P> <P>There have been many 'hints' that have been dropped over the last several months.  Some are from NPCs, some are from update notes, some are from designers on forums such as this, some are at fan-fares, some are from in-game documents, etc.</P> <P>The picture that seems to be emerging is one of a vast conspiracy.  It appears as if the elements of the old Rallosian Empire are trying to reform themselves.  They were defeated and scattered in the Rallosian Wars after the Battle of Defiance, but there seems to be enough evidence now I think, to be able to see that the scattered elements of that coalition are not only getting individually stronger, but are starting to attempt to recontact other, (formerly isolated), members of that defeated empire.</P> <P>The gods seem to be putting tentative feelers out too.  Very subtle at the moment, but detectable.</P> <P>From a 'game-design' point of view, I would suspect that the designers are attempting to formulate some overall themes to serve as a backdrop to the EQ2 world.  Several have been floated; Vampires, Mayong Mistmoore, Dragons, Shadowed Men, Nightbloods.</P> <P>I see them trying to find a theme and I think this is a good thing.  I think a MMORPG <STRONG>NEEDS</STRONG> such a underlining, unifying story line.</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>That makes since.  One thing that I have not seen pointed out, was they could be using the map as a reference point to find something that was lost.  This is a map of the commonlands, but what was once in the common lands that is now lost to us.  I can think of two things, they could be looking for in the common lands.   One of them is the tunnel to the desert, it's very unlikely that it survived, but they could be looking for it to rebuild it all the way to Ro, the other is befallen.  Befallen is the where the knights of truth were entombed by Lucan.  So they could be looking for a powerful artifact in there, I don't think we have all the information as to what happened when they were entombed, or what all they carried with them.  There are many possibilities of what the map could mean, and what the orcs need it for.  My guess is it has something to do with an ancient location, and that they are searching for something.  I also beleive that the orcs are building something, something that requires alot of wood.<BR>

[Mary the Prophetess]

<DIV>One of them is the tunnel to the desert, it's very unlikely that it survived, but they could be looking for it to rebuild it all the way to Ro, the other is befallen.  Befallen is the where the knights of truth were entombed by Lucan.  So they could be looking for a powerful artifact in there, I don't think we have all the information as to what happened when they were entombed, or what all they carried with them.  There are many possibilities of what the map could mean, and what the orcs need it for.  My guess is it has something to do with an ancient location, and that they are searching for something.  I also beleive that the orcs are building something, something that requires alot of wood.<BR></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Given those two possibilities, I would tend to think Befallen.  Ships require a lot of wood.  Fleets require forests.  Just a thought.</DIV>

[Trepan]

<div></div>The orcs have got their grubby little blue fingers in all kinds of pots out there.Who knows what the master plan is for them, or if there even is one.  They may just be grasping at every straw they can find to gain and hold power.  Mysterious maps... orc Generals gaining possession of dragon's souls... stealing artifacts from Giants... Some of their schemes are far too dangerous to be mere whim or idle scheming.Those little short, squat, smelly, base miscreants are up to something.   I know it.  I can feel it in my soup.<div></div><p>Message Edited by Trepan on <span class=date_text>04-28-2006</span> <span class=time_text>11:08 AM</span>

[Vhalen]

<P>One thing that may help Norrathians reveal secret orc plots is to understand the relations and hiearchy of the orc empire(s). If you can see how they are organized and how they work together, you may get a better idea of what they are up to in the Age of Destiny. There are many orc clans, but how many orc empires are there? One clan that constantly gets misunderstood are related to this legendary orc: </P> <P> </P> <P>Thudbrow the Merciless is one of the recent legendary orcs of the Deathfist Empire. He was a great commander of a fleet of war ships. He was framed for crimes against the empire by an orc general who saw him as a threat. Thudbrow was then exiled to the Commonlands where his legendary status was well known by the other orcs exiled there on D’Lere. Thudbrow has begun to organize the scattered exiled orcs of the region and formed the Bloodskull Orcs in hopes of finding a way to earn his way back into the Deathfist Empire and exact revenge upon the orc generals who framed him. </P>

[Dasein]

Sounds like there would be ample opportunity for players to involve themselves in orc plots and politics. Perhaps an adventure pack dedicated to orcs like Splitpaw was for gnolls is in order?

[Mary the Prophetess]

<P>/edit: triple post, sorry</P><p>Message Edited by Mary the Prophetess on <span class=date_text>04-28-2006</span> <span class=time_text>03:31 PM</span>

[Mary the Prophetess]

<P>/edit:  triple post--sorry</P><p>Message Edited by Mary the Prophetess on <span class=date_text>04-28-2006</span> <span class=time_text>03:30 PM</span>

[Mary the Prophetess]

<P>Hmmm, let's see:</P> <P>1 Cushbone Orcs, (had a [self-proclaimed?] Emperor in EQ Live, and a Teir 'Dal ambassador)</P> <P>2 Bloodskull Orcs</P> <P>3 Deathfist Orcs</P> <P>   3a Tallon Zek</P> <P>   3b Vallon Zek</P> <P>   3c Sullon Zek</P> <P>4 Rujarkian Orcs</P> <P>   4a The 'desert' Orcs of EQ Live?)</P> <P>5 Snow Orcs (only in EQ Live)</P> <P>    5a Icy Orcs?</P> <P>What other Orc clans/tribes/empires are there (in ANY of the EQ worlds)?</P>

[Cusashorn]

<DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Mary the Prophetess wrote:<BR> <P>Hmmm, let's see:</P> <P>1 Cushbone Orcs, (had a [self-proclaimed?] Emperor in EQ Live, and a Teir 'Dal ambassador)</P> <P>2 Bloodskull Orcs</P> <P>3 Deathfist Orcs</P> <P>   3a Tallon Zek</P> <P>   3b Vallon Zek</P> <P>   3c Sullon Zek</P> <P>4 Rujarkian Orcs</P> <P>   4a The 'desert' Orcs of EQ Live?)</P> <P>5 Snow Orcs (only in EQ Live)</P> <P>    5a Icy Orcs?</P> <P>What other Orc clans/tribes/empires are there (in ANY of the EQ worlds)?</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>Ry'Gorr Orcs of Velious<BR></DIV> <DIV>Blackhook Orc pirates of Zek and Feerrott</DIV>

[troodon]

<DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Mary the Prophetess wrote:<BR> <P>3 Deathfist Orcs</P> <P>   3a Tallon Zek</P> <P>   3b Vallon Zek</P> <P>   3c Sullon Zek<BR> <HR> <P></P></BLOCKQUOTE>Derris too</DIV>

[SpryYoungE]

Drunder? Not sure if this is an orc clan or merely a caste of elite orcs.

[Cusashorn]

<DIV>Drunder is the name of the Fortress of Rallos Zek, located in the Plane of War. There are no orcs, goblins, or giants located there. Just Diaku, which are 20 feet tall Ogres.</DIV>

[Decerto]

<P>It would be nice to think that there is an underlying reason for this map but as it goes i dont think so.</P> <P>Its unlike SoE to put somthing like that in and follow thro on a compleat story line. i aslo fail to see any reason why that old map would prove any use to any one....including those dumb orcs.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P>The Underlying and unseen goal in life seems to be an immortal fight for supremacy</P>

[Wilin]

I thought the Rujarkian Orcs were from the Legacy of Ykesha expansion. They were the orcs from Rujark...I could be wrong though.

[Cusashorn]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Wilin wrote:<BR> I thought the Rujarkian Orcs were from the Legacy of Ykesha expansion. They were the orcs from Rujark...I could be wrong though.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Lost Dungeons of Norrath. Came out after Ykesha.

[Skratttt]

<hr size="2" width="100%">True but...but they could also be looking for the caves that the ratongas used to aid freeport when they were under seige........<hr size="2" width="100%"><div></div>