Thrundering Steppes Combine Spires

[Zabjade]

<font color="#66ff00" face="Comic Sans MS" size="2">I know they are no longer "In Game" I've just been trying to puzzle out where their location likely is now. I've narrowed my guesses to a few locations. • Shattered  in the  multiple impact  zone over the  Varsoon's underground fortress. ( It is north of the  the riverbed) • The Impassable  mountains next to Tower 3 • Off the Coast and Juuuust "Out of Zone" underwater next to the Dead river docks. by comparrasion KFC is easier just off shore near splitpaw and coldwind station. </font><div></div>

[Cusashorn]

<DIV>But there are currently 6 combine teleportation devices we would be looking for.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A Pyramid in West Karana and Spire in North Karana would be found in Thundering Steppes.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A Pyramid in Commonlands, Nektulos Forest, and two somewhere in the area of the Sinking Sands.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>We've seen no evidence that any of these structures even exist anymore in EQ2.</DIV>

[Zh]

the question is "where would they be if they still existed"<div></div>

[Cusashorn]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Zhek wrote:<BR>the question is "where would they be if they still existed"<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Indeed.

[Zabjade]

<font color="#66ff00"><font size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS">I think the West Karana Pyramid is underwater and a checkpoint of the Thundering Steppes J-boot run. </font></font></font><div></div>

[Cusashorn]

<DIV>The Shrine of the Sirens?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>hmmm...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You know... That just might make sense.</DIV>

[Saroc_Luclin]

I always thoguht the Quellithulians often (but not always) used the old spires to rebuild into their attempts at a teleportation network; so the spire ruins that were rebuilt for KoS were built on the remains of the old Combine spires.Considering the wizard pyramid in West Karana was very close to the North Karana spires, given the location of the KoS spire (in the Griffon plains), the Siren temple does make a kind of sense.<div></div>

[ganng]

I think that I recall reading that the ones we rebuild were made by a different group and that they are NOT the Combine... Could be wrong as I often am.

[Vhalen]

The spires in Karana have not been forgotten. We may hear about them in the future, when knowledge held within the titanic device becomes more important than ever. The spires' origins have never been fully divulged. Norrathians, even the greatest intellects, know less than what they would have you believe.

[Saroc_Luclin]

Hmm... with Faydwer rediscovered, the Great Spires in the Greater Faydark would be available again, for intellectuals to examine. Perhaps the Erudites, after studying the GF spires, and the spires in Toxx (which the Erudites on Odus can study, even if we can't get to them), they'll be able to track down the Karana spires and dig them out. With the 3 Great spires discovered, they can reactivate those ones eventually, and be pulled to the Largest of all spires on Norrath.... the Greatest Spires in the Dreadlands of Kunark.Of course once the Dreadlands spires are discovered and studied, maybe the long lost frozen connection cna be restored too, eventually reopening the way to the Great Divide in Velious, not to mention Toxx forest on Odus (if the Erudites allow that)<div></div>

[Eriol]

On the topic of spires, has there ever been a mention of those that used to reside within Cazic-Thule? Those have been around just as long as the others mentioned, and the Temple itself is there... but what about the spires?

[Terrak]

Actually, if you do the quest "Stranded!", the guy that you gather teleportation research for says that he's teleporting to Odus so something must exist to act as an anchor.<div></div>

[Zabjade]

<div></div><font color="#66ff00"><font size="2">Thank you Vhalen, is the event you discribe something related to Faydwer or for your much desired Odus expansion? </font></font><div></div><p>Message Edited by Zabjade on <span class=date_text>06-12-2006</span> <span class=time_text>11:02 PM</span>

[Sarago]

<div><blockquote><hr>Vhalen wrote:<div></div>The spires in Karana have not been forgotten. We may hear about them in the future, when knowledge held within the titanic device becomes more important than ever. The spires' origins have never been fully divulged. Norrathians, even the greatest intellects, know less than what they would have you believe.<hr></blockquote><font size="-1"><b>Al'Kabor comes to mind</b></font></div>

[Zabjade]

<blockquote><hr>Vhalen wrote:<div></div>The spires in Karana have not been forgotten. We may hear about them in the future, when knowledge held within the titanic device becomes more important than ever. The spires' origins have never been fully divulged. Norrathians, even the greatest intellects, know less than what they would have you believe.<hr></blockquote><font color="#66ff00"><font size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS">Hmmm, perhaps one of Vhalen's lore quest for the Kara side of Old Antonica is in order? <span>:smileywink:</span> Hearing about them in the future.... I just hope they use diffrent graphics from the Uterian Spires they were taller grander and white. and there were 4 of them. </font></font></font><div></div>

[Nocturnal Aby]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Saragoth wrote:<BR> <DIV><BR><BR><FONT size=-1><B>Al'Kabor comes to mind</B></FONT><BR></DIV> <P><BR></P> <HR> <P> </P> <P>Since you mentioned it, why not fill the others in, eh?</P> <P>This was taken from story leading up to the Shadows of Luclin release in EQ, it was penned, as you will see, by the legendary arcanist and scholar, Al'Kabor, who's spells really sucked, but that's a different story altogether:</P> <P>Journals of Al'Kabor, Entry 3</P> <P>Remarkable, truly remarkable...Written amongst pages of the ancient tomes of the Combine Empire, I discovered something that contradicts what has been theorized about the Combine ruins. For years, it was believed that the Combine Empire created the structures that facilitate teleportation for wizards, however, I found evidence in the ancient tomes that proves these theories to be incorrect.<BR><BR><STRONG><FONT color=#66ccff>Within their manuscripts, scientists of the Combine Empire made notes of the discovery of sets of four tall spires found in several areas across Norrath. The spires emanated a magical energy that was unexplainable. After years of extensive research and experimental studies of the structures, they came across a method of using this power for teleporting to several locations. In order to use this power to its fullest, they built the pyramidal structures in the middle of each set of these monuments.<BR><BR>As I study the Combine spires... no... as a man of knowledge I can not continue giving credit to the Combine Empire for creating something they did not. The quadroliths, as I see more fit to dub them, contain a tremendous amount of power. Some time ago, I sent my assistant Sorko Talvazon to scrape some fragments off the portal in the Dreadlands. I hope this will be possible. Before I continue with my research, I must study this magical energy closer.</FONT></STRONG><BR><BR>Recently, I intercepted a letter from one of my former assistants, Terblyn Zelbus, that was addressed to Sorko Talvazon. This letter was sent by a messenger and delivered to my laboratory so I was well within my rights to determine the nature of it. In between the usual gibberish that gnomes tend to use, Terblyn seemed to be making arrangements for meeting Sorko to get more information and to pay him for what he had already received, including new spells that I had been working on. I asked myself what information had Sorko sent to this little beast? I had not authorized any additional scrolls to be sent to him.<BR><BR>Blast! Why do I always end up surrounded by incompetent chuckleheads? While searching my laboratory to make sure everything was in place, I noticed a scroll hidden behind a few bottles on a dusty old shelf. I opened this scroll and it was a detailed list of the experiments my assistants and I have been working on.<BR><BR>In order to confront Sorko, I decided to continue my planned journey to Kunark and wait for him at the outpost of Firiona Vie, near the area where he was supposed to meet with me. After he did not appear, I selected, from those pleading for a chance to assist me, a wizard of no particular standing, to assist me with my task in the Dreadlands. Once in that location, I spotted Sorko Talvazon kneeling down picking away at the portal collecting the fragments as if he was innocent of any wrongdoing.<BR><BR>"Fool!" I addressed him. "Did you honestly think that I would not find out?" He stood before me and pleaded that he didn't know of what I spoke. After silencing him, I told him that I knew of his selling that gnome both the spell scrolls and documentation of my enchantment process for the portal fragments.<BR><BR>Sorko Talvazon has been one of my assistants for several years. I put forth a great deal of trust in having him assist me with my research in confidence. I have warned him many times what the consequences of betraying me would be. All the skill in wizardry that he possessed was gained under my tutelage. Betrayal of my trusting and congenial nature proved to me that he was not worthy of having such magical forces at his fingertips. To preserve the secrecy of my work, I knew that I had to strip him of all knowledge of my research and of all the wizardry I have taught him over the years. Sadly, this dreaded act is one that I have performed before and, despite the betrayal, it was not something that I was looking forward to doing again.<BR><BR>As I have written in past journals, this may be accomplished by the simultaneous impact of a shocking blow knocking one's target unconscious, nullification of any magic surrounding them and finally, blurring their memory. While it is not a perfected process, I have had success with in the past. In order to safeguard the process, I misled the young menial aiding me on what was about to be done. Once the deed was done, I informed Sorko that he was no longer one of my assistants and that he was banned from my laboratory. Why I was merciful with him, I do not know. It is merely another of my many endearing traits, no doubt.<BR><BR>After examining the portal fragments, I brought them back to my laboratory. Just as I projected, the power from the portals remained in the fragments but in order for that energy to be amplified for usage, they needed to go through enchantment. By submerging the small fragments in a solvent made of mushlett acid and haze panther bile, then subjecting them to immense amounts of heat, they became enchanted sources of energy.<BR><BR>Once enchanted, the fragments did not produce enough power to reach the dragon portals, but did manage to provide enough magical energy to translocate to the weaker portals of Antonica - the dark forest of Nektulos, the western half of the Commonlands, the western plains of Karana, the most northern portion of the Desert of Ro, and even the temple of Cazic-Thule. With the stolen spell scrolls and documentation of my enchantment process, no doubt Terblyn Zelbus will be selling the spells and fragments in his puny shop. Perhaps somehow I can discourage him, but meanwhile, I have more urgent things to tend to.<BR><BR>My research continues...</P> <P> </P> <P>You can read the entire story at <A href="http://lorenorrath.free.fr/" target=_blank>Lumena's History of Norrath</A>,  under Journal of Al'Kabor, on the left side of the page, with the rest of the original EQ lore.  All of the information on this site is taken directly from game (either EQ or EQ2), and is therefore reliable as cannon.  It truly is a shame that Lumena lost interest in EQ, and has since stopped updating her site, but I'm glad she has left it up, since it is a favorite source lore for me.</P></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>

[Zabjade]

<font color="#66ff00"><font size="2"><font face="Comic Sans MS">I remember reading bits on that Lumena's site, perhaps if a Dev would talk to her she might be perswaded to return? </font></font></font><div></div>