Cusashorn's Tour of Neriak! (image heavy)

[Cusashorn]

<p>So I skipped over to the test server to check out the new evil city. The first thing all of you want to know is: Who are the Arasai. Well here they are in all thier evil glory. Despite the screenshot showing a monk gi, the Arsai can only be evil classes.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/Arasai.png" border="0"></p><p>Notice the Green, Purple, Red, White, Blue skin colors to choose from.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/Arasai2.png" border="0"></p><p><span style="font-size: medium">Now, onto Neriak. ANY EVIL RACE CAN START IN NERIAK. Arasai, Trolls, Dark Elves, Ogres, Ratonga, Iksar.</span></p><p>First thing I couldn't help but notice was the zone's layout. Look at the map. Look familiar to you old-school EQlive players?</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000003-1.jpg" border="0"></p><p>Neriak's Guards are kidding around....</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000004.jpg" border="0"></p><p>You're standard archetecture...</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000005.jpg" border="0"> </p><p>The Indigo Brotherhood, the warrior guild.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000006.jpg" border="0"> </p><p>The Spires of Innoruuk</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000008.jpg" border="0"> </p><p>The Disciples of Innoruuk, the bruiser guild.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000010.jpg" border="0"> </p><p> A familiar site to old players, the waterfall.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000011.jpg" border="0"></p><p> The Magic 8-Ball Fortune Teller. Very humorous.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000013.jpg" border="0"></p><p> The grand library of the Spurned, the mage guild. Sadly, I found no free books laying around with stories of Neriak's history or anything like that.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000014.jpg" border="0"></p><p> Looks like we've got a bit of a debate on our hands here... Remember that scroll that players were sent back in time to recover during the Tunare and Innoruuk preview events? Here it is.... The NPC's here are debating where it should be transported to. They're debating whether the queen owns it or not. She doesn't.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000015.jpg" border="0"></p><p> Behold: The House of the Dead.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000017.jpg" border="0"></p><p>No Star Wars reference here.. nope. not at all.... >_></p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000018.jpg" border="0"> </p><p>I gladly bowed down to my queen.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000021.jpg" border="0"> </p><p>A familiar face appears once again....</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000024.jpg" border="0"> </p><p>The house of the Ebon Mask, the assassin's guild.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000025.jpg" border="0"> </p><p>Some Vampires enjoying the luxuries of the opera house.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000026.jpg" border="0"> </p><p><span style="font-size: x-large">Sadly, the Maiden's Fancy is nowhere to be found. <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span> </p><p>Now then, You folks must be wondering: What about houses? Well, I didn't search around long enough to find the 1 room houses, but I did find a 5 room house that costs about 4 platinum to buy and no status. Unfortunatly, it's small. VERY VERY SMALL. All these screenshots were taken from a doorway or with my back against the wall.</p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000027.jpg" border="0"></p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000028.jpg" border="0"></p><p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000029.jpg" border="0"></p><p>Well folks, thats my tour. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.</p>

[Mwahaha]

Wow very nice!  I played a DE SK for 4 years in EQLive and its nice to see Neriak again.  What a shame not having the Maiden's Fancy there, the girls there used to do this little dance for you if you tipped them heh.

[ZUES]

<p>WOOT EPICS!!!!!</p><p>Awsome screenies thank you!</p>

[Polywogus]

Thank you so much for the tour - & the waterfall pic was just the cherry on the sundae =) /hugs

[Kalyai]

THANK YOU!!!  <3  You rock!  I can't wait to get home and check it out myself

[voiceinside1]

<p><img src="http://www.jedi-academy.com/props/royal_pike.jpg" border="0">hmmmm </p><p> <img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000018.jpg" border="0"></p>

[Pain Divine]

<p>This is cracking me up... the day after I buy LOTRO soe introduces something that might have made me stay...</p><p>Oh well... Luckly LOTRO rocks so I dont feel so bad.</p>

[Cusashorn]

^ Like I said, no Star Wars reference there.... nope... non at all....

[Mirander_1]

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Neriak's Guards are kidding around....<p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000004.jpg" border="0"></p></blockquote>Potential new guild mount, anyone? Also, regarding the Prophet of Hate, has she actually been moved to Neriak from Greater Faydark, or is there like one of her in Neriak, and another of her in GFay? Looking at the character creation of the Arasai, it says that they "honor their <b>goddess </b>through defiling and torturing the inferior races across Norrath".  Goddess?  Do they think Queen Thex is a goddess, or something?

[Kir]

I took some also and figured I would post them, they are big though. <img src="http://legacy.dnsdojo.com/stuff/EQ2_8.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://legacy.dnsdojo.com/stuff/EQ2_7.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://legacy.dnsdojo.com/stuff/EQ2_5.jpg" border="0"> <img src="http://legacy.dnsdojo.com/stuff/EQ2_9.jpg" border="0">

[Silverpaws]

<cite>Mirander_1 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Neriak's Guards are kidding around....<p><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a291/Cusashorn/EQ2_000004.jpg" border="0"></p></blockquote>Potential new guild mount, anyone? Also, regarding the Prophet of Hate, has she actually been moved to Neriak from Greater Faydark, or is there like one of her in Neriak, and another of her in GFay? Looking at the character creation of the Arasai, it says that they "honor their <b>goddess </b>through defiling and torturing the inferior races across Norrath".  Goddess?  Do they think Queen Thex is a goddess, or something? </blockquote>She would want them to think that, yes.

[Wrapye]

From the Producer's Letter, Cristanos created the Arasai in much the same way that Innoruuk created the Teir'Dal.  She therefore essentially is their creator, their goddess.

[Gaelrond]

<p>Screens are nice, but honestly I'm not terribly impressed.  <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Now granted, I haven't seen all the customisation options, but the Arasai just don't look evil enough IMO.  They look like Fae with new color options is all.  Still all goodness and cute.  Also, maybe it's just be, but I never would have associated far eastern style architecture with dark elves.  I don't have a problem with the architecture itself- I think it's beautiful- but to me it just doesn't fit well with the dark elf race.</p><p>And yes, the armored warg would be a pretty sexy mount.</p>

[Velsha]

<cite>Gaelrond wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Screens are nice, but honestly I'm not terribly impressed.  <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Now granted, I haven't seen all the customisation options, but the Arasai just don't look evil enough IMO.  They look like Fae with new color options is all.  Still all goodness and cute.  Also, maybe it's just be, but I never would have associated far eastern style architecture with dark elves.  I don't have a problem with the architecture itself- I think it's beautiful- but to me it just doesn't fit well with the dark elf race.</p><p>And yes, the armored warg would be a pretty sexy mount.</p></blockquote> It's been so long, I honestly can't recall what the old architecture looked like. However, from the outside gates such as Fallen Gate and the entrance to Nektulos, you could pretty much tell the theme for Dark Elves would be far eastern.

[Cusashorn]

<p>Armored wargs as guildmounts? Not a bad idea.</p>

[Cusashorn]

<cite>Velshara wrote:</cite><blockquote>Gaelrond wrote: It's been so long, I honestly can't recall what the old architecture looked like. However, from the outside gates such as Fallen Gate and the entrance to Nektulos, you could pretty much tell the theme for Dark Elves would be far eastern. </blockquote>Nah. The Dark Elves' architecture isn't oriental in design. It doesn't reflect thier culture.

[Raidi Sovin'faile]

<p>EQ1 Neriak:</p><p><img src="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/scenery/neriakc-thedead.jpg" border="0"></p><p>So yeah.. it had some places with oriental overtones.</p>

[Cusashorn]

Kaisoku@Mistmoore wrote: <blockquote><p>EQ1 Neriak:</p><p><img src="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/scenery/neriakc-thedead.jpg" border="0"></p><p>So yeah.. it had some places with oriental overtones.</p></blockquote> I'm not seeing it.

[Themaginator]

Cusa thats definitely a Pagoda which is Asian in Origin.  its obvious especially in most of new Neriak where lots of the guild halls are in the Pagoda style

[Deathblade13]

Cusashorn strikes again! As usual, his amazing knowledge and observation are superior. You guys are all clearly wrong, and he is right. Here is the proof: <img src="http://tiepilots.com/cusashorn_strikesagain.jpg" border="0">

[Dragowulf]

^ lol

[TheKons]

lol.

[Rad]

**is excited to see the image Cusahorn will post in response**

[Dragowulf]

Radun@Oasis wrote: <blockquote>**is excited to see the image Cusahorn will post in response** </blockquote> *is excited as well* side note: in EQ1 neriak had a somewhat western euro look to it, but had a castle-palace that was oriental looking. <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=33" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/....html?zstrat=33</a> <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=34" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/....html?zstrat=34</a> <a href="http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?zstrat=35" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/....html?zstrat=35</a>

[Chay]

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Armored wargs as guildmounts? Not a bad idea.</p></blockquote> That's quite a good idea. And responses to several random statements: I think the Queen definitely has visions of Godhood in mind. I think the I recall only the one building having an oriental feel. I think they needed to leave the brothel in. I think the evil Fae look great. My other Fae are jealous of some of the hairstyles. I think more customization is good!!!

[initoci]

<p>Armored Wargs would strike my fancy...they would prolly be the same as standard 60 mounts now.</p><p> In EQL you couldnt really make things look so perfect like you can with EQ2's Engine. So give the buildings a break.</p>

[Maroger]

Since when did the Disciples of Innoruuk have to look like a bunch of orient Kung-Ful artists -- sorry that doesn't go with NERIAK.; Pull them out and replace them with proper models -- not warmed over ones from Fallen Dynasty -- remember the ones in the CY in Fallen Dynasty -- well just moving them to Neriak does not make them belong there!!

[The_Cheeseman]

Actually, the Eastern-style architecture in EQ1 was originally supposed to be an homage to the dragons. Though I honestly do not recall very much of that style in the dragon-controlled territories, such as the Temple of Veeshan, the designers said that the oriental style was created by the dragons and that the dark elves used it to show their reverence of the great wyrms. For the life of me, I cannot recall what special significance the dragons had in their eyes (dark elves are notoriously hard to impress). However, if you were to look around the original Neriak in EQ1, there were many statues of dragons scattered about, especially near the Halls of The Dead.

[EQ2Playa432]

[Removed for Content] <b>Dragowulf2</b>

[TerabithianWhisperwi]

<p>Darkflower, that is one of the best responses to anything I have ever read on here.</p>

[Squigglle]

<cite>voiceinside1 wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>hmmmm </p></blockquote> haha same thing i thought