The Coldain in New Halas

[Thrads]

Sadly, the new lore preview mentions the original Halas was completely destroyed.  Alas, something we shall never see in EQ2.  However, it also mentions that the Coldain are inhabitants of the iceberg, made of ice and velium, that Mithaniel places New Halas on, and that the city on the iceberg was the original home of the Coldain.

Could this be Thurgadin?  Does this mean Velious is still around, and largely refrozen?  With the void storyline being wrapped up, Kerafyrm absorbing Enoxus and Aeteok's powers, the Order of Rime showing up a while back, and now Coldain randomly popping up, the stage seems to be set.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to hop on the Icebreaker again and go explore the greatest continent on the face of Norrath.  Tower of Frozen Shadows, Icy Fingers, Velketor's Labrynth, Kael Drakkel, Wakening Lands, Cobalt Scar, and Skyshrine, here I come!

[Zabjade]

No, Thurgadin was more then a few huts, probably just a group of survivors from one of the melts.  Apparently Barbarians and Froglocks can also start threre so I imagine there are NPC's of both. I do wonder if this means the Dwarves will be given Coldain Pallets for their skintones.

I seem to remember them mentioning changes to TS for Halas, makes me wonder if it comes to rest off the coast? I was hoping for more solid land though my dreams of Halas having Natural Hotsprings is dashed. Ah well! Maybe we will find out more about the Rime as well.

Also hope that we can swim UNDER the icecap.

As for Lore I wonder if Mithanial placed Erolissi's Statue there as a sort of batery to draw in prayer to rez his sister? Maybe we will find out next Febuary

[Meirril]

Thrads wrote:

Sadly, the new lore preview mentions the original Halas was completely destroyed.  Alas, something we shall never see in EQ2.  However, it also mentions that the Coldain are inhabitants of the iceberg, made of ice and velium, that Mithaniel places New Halas on, and that the city on the iceberg was the original home of the Coldain.

Could this be Thurgadin?  Does this mean Velious is still around, and largely refrozen?  With the void storyline being wrapped up, Kerafyrm absorbing Enoxus and Aeteok's powers, the Order of Rime showing up a while back, and now Coldain randomly popping up, the stage seems to be set.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to hop on the Icebreaker again and go explore the greatest continent on the face of Norrath.  Tower of Frozen Shadows, Icy Fingers, Velketor's Labrynth, Kael Drakkel, Wakening Lands, Cobalt Scar, and Skyshrine, here I come!

Definately not Thurgadin. Thurgadin was the newest safe haven for the coldain. Crystal Caverns came before Thurgadin and still had a cut off fragment of the coldain living in it that survived the orc invasion of the upper tunnels. I think there was at least one more stronghold before crystal caverns that the coldain abandoned after being attacked by giants but its been a long time since I dug around velious lore and I could be mistaken.

Too bad it wasn't an iceburg populated with Icepaw Gnolls. The Icepaws were friendly to adventurers and would of made an excellent new race. Or Othmir. <3 Othmir.

[Xalmat]

A few things.

If you ask me, this is a strong hint that the next expansion might involve the continent of Velious.

New Halas is a Good aligned city so good and neutral classes & races will be able to start there (to mirror Gorowyn). A recent gameplay mechanic changed it so that the only race restrictions for starting citys is alignment (Frogloks can now start in Kelethin, Dark Elves in Gorowyn, for example).

Thurgadin was an underground city, most likely created out of a velium mine. In fact the entire city is basically made of velium, ice, and stone. Thurgadin maintained various outposts throughout Velious, including several on icebergs in the Eastern Wastes.

Considering that Mithaniel Marr is the patron saint of Frogloks, it's no surprise that a city blessed by him would attract Frogloks. It does make me wonder how they tolerate the cold temperatures.

It looks like Halas was not only destroyed by the Cataclysms, but by the destruction of Luclin (from the article, " Halas, the city of the northmen was no more, having been rent asunder by the fiery balls of lunar rock that rained down upon the world."). This suggests that Halas was only recently destroyed in the last couple decades.

I do have to say, with the exception of Anashti Sul, this is perhaps the first direct divine intervention of a Norrathian God in quite a long time. Though Rhoen Theer is threatening, Mithaniel Marr is not letting the Godslayer prevent him from taking actions.

(Correction: I forgot about the Greenmist heritage quest where Cazic Thule himself directs you to perform actions on his behalf, the Avatar of Below during the Brewday festivals, and of course the Grand Prankster during Bristlebane Day. However this is definitely divine intervention on a large scale)

[Meirril]

Wait...wait...what?

Divine Intervention during the Shattering?!? While the gods were "away"?

/sigh Bad lore devs, bad! No biscuit! 

[Xalmat]

The Shattering has long since been over. Mithaniel Marr's divine intervention with the Coldain happened within the last year (it hasn't even been that long since the Shard of Love was introduced).

[Meirril]

Meirril wrote:

Wait...wait...what?

Divine Intervention during the Shattering?!? While the gods were "away"?

/sigh Bad lore devs, bad! No biscuit! 

Ok, went out and actually found the artical for myself. New Halas has nothing to do with the old Halas.

Good read though!

http://eq2players.station.sony.com/...ad/current/3508

[ke'la]

We where told that Old Halas was gone atleast as far back as last Fan Faire when they first talked about New Halas. I think even V'halen said something about that way back when he was still here.

As for this being "PROOF" that the next expainsion is Velinous, while I know you really, really, really, want that to be the next addtion, but... um... I seriously doupt it.

First, it is WAY to early* for the devs to start dropping clues like this.

Second, {looks at Fens near Kern's Tower} just because something is made of Ice and Velium does not mean it has anything to do with Velinous.

Third, Halas was a Northern City on Antonica, so even IF it was a clue about the next expainsion* it would more likly point to adding another one of the mission Shadderlands Islands to the map, and not a content located at the opposit pole.

Fourth, it is almost certain that Velinous would come with a level cap increase, and as the pattern has been sence KoS alternating Cap increases with horizontal expainsion, that would make the next expainsion one without a cap increase.

Fith, lorewise it makes the most sence for us to take on Kelifrim on Vellinos, and sence he just know showed back up on the stage, I doupt we will be taking him on directly in the next expainsion pack, first we need to find out why he took the powers of the swords, and what his other plans are.

::EDIT::to make the format easer to read and to add the astriked info I forgot to add.

*remember Halas was INTENDED to be released at the same time as SF, so if the lore in Halas had to do with ANY expainsion it is far more likly that it has to do with the current one, then some future one.

[Rainmare]

I'd prefer it be Velious becuase if it's not...well there's really no place left in Norrath to go to. We've 'rediscovered' all the other continents now. so unless they make up some totally new place, ala Taleosia...or we go offworld, ala Kuua or Luclin...there's really no place left to go.

We got some places we ahven't 'found' but now about....the dead isle, the straights of the twelve, highpass hold...but really not a lot. Velious is pretty much all that's left of norrath to find.

[Mirander_1]

Rainmare@Oasis wrote:

I'd prefer it be Velious becuase if it's not...well there's really no place left in Norrath to go to. We've 'rediscovered' all the other continents now. so unless they make up some totally new place, ala Taleosia...or we go offworld, ala Kuua or Luclin...there's really no place left to go.

We got some places we ahven't 'found' but now about....the dead isle, the straights of the twelve, highpass hold...but really not a lot. Velious is pretty much all that's left of norrath to find.

Oh, there are certainly places to go other than Velious.  There's at least four more islands in the Shattered Lands (and considering the content of DoF and TSO, these could just as easily be done as four separate expansions, or combined into one), the Underfoot, Taleosia, that continent on the other side of the world, or even other parts of the Overrealm.

That said, all signs are pointing to Velious, so that's where I'd place my money.

[Zabjade]

There are still parts of the Shattered Lands that have not been opened to adventurers.  The Isle of Kithacor, Highpass (aka Far Seas Headquarters) Higuard, the Straits of Twelve, And a few others not to mention What might be left of Odus and Erud's Crossing. (The part that went extradimensiojnal is probably a vortex in the middle of a ocean possibly with large shards of Luclin sticking out of the water.)

[Vanisher123]

Thrads wrote:

 With the void storyline being wrapped up, Kerafyrm absorbing Enoxus and Aeteok's powers, the Order of Rime showing up a while back, and now Coldain randomly popping up, the stage seems to be set.

Uh, got a link to a wrap up? I've somehow missed this fact O.O

On the note of Velinous, i agree sounds like it could be, but if it is it's likly not dragon oriented (just going off the thing mentioned about the dragons having a smaller part)

Also, if its canon, don't forget the frostfell dragon.

Eitherway, theres an icy pattern in the background (remember when the shadowmen were background?)

[Xalmat]

Vanisher123 wrote:

Thrads wrote:

 With the void storyline being wrapped up, Kerafyrm absorbing Enoxus and Aeteok's powers, the Order of Rime showing up a while back, and now Coldain randomly popping up, the stage seems to be set.

Uh, got a link to a wrap up? I've somehow missed this fact O.O

In Search of Lucan discussion.

[ke'la]

Vanisher123 wrote:

Thrads wrote:

 With the void storyline being wrapped up, Kerafyrm absorbing Enoxus and Aeteok's powers, the Order of Rime showing up a while back, and now Coldain randomly popping up, the stage seems to be set.

Uh, got a link to a wrap up? I've somehow missed this fact O.O

On the note of Velinous, i agree sounds like it could be, but if it is it's likly not dragon oriented (just going off the thing mentioned about the dragons having a smaller part)

Also, if its canon, don't forget the frostfell dragon.

Eitherway, theres an icy pattern in the background (remember when the shadowmen were background?)

The void story is over and done with SF, HOWEVER, the end of the Void Story is just the and of the first Act of the End of Days story arc, that includeds the reseading importaince of the dragons, Naggy's Clutch of Prismatic Eggs, the new Ice Dragon from Frostfell, and then now that Theer's powers are in Kryfrm's hands what are the Gods doing about it.

There is just too much going on for the next expainsion being Valinous. Remember everyone talking about Rime "popling up" means that SF "Has to be" Velinous.

All say it again, an addtion that was supposed to be added AT THE SAME TIME as SF, is hardly where the first "clue" of the next expainsion is going to be comming from.

On top of that, the fight was going on UP NORTH just like where the Rime guys came from...last I checked Velinous was in the south.

As for remembering when Shaddow Men where back ground...yeah I do, and it took from launch to Expainsion 5 befor they became in the for front of the game.

[Rainmare]

Zabjade wrote:

There are still parts of the Shattered Lands that have not been opened to adventurers.  The Isle of Kithacor, Highpass (aka Far Seas Headquarters) Higuard, the Straits of Twelve, And a few others not to mention What might be left of Odus and Erud's Crossing. (The part that went extradimensiojnal is probably a vortex in the middle of a ocean possibly with large shards of Luclin sticking out of the water.)

This is what I mean. right now, according to the lore, we're never going to Highpass. the Isle of Kithicor either. becuase the FSTCo keeps both locations a secret, kithicor for our safety, and Highpass for thiers.

the straights of the twelve..I can't see much being done here. there wasn't much in the Rathe Mountains to begin with, and having only 12 mountian peaks left doesn't bode well.

and from what I understand ALL of Odus is in Ultera. not part of it, the whole thing.

So what's really left. Taelosia they can ignore, it was post time split. I can't even think of very many spots of Antonica we don't have. Thundering Steppes is basically the Karanas. We got the commonlands and Ro. we got Qeynos Hills. Highpass is there but hidden as the HQ of the FSTCo. they also keep Kithicor secret. we got lavastorm and everfrost. we got innothule swamp and the feerott. we got the misty thicket and rivervale, Nek forest/darklight woods.

Rathe Mountains is gone, it became the Straights of the Twelve. just water and twelves mountain tops.

adn there's potentially that spit of land in erud's crossing that had pretty much nothing on it, Sister Isle, which we know is there and the Sisterhood of Erollisi come from there. but again...not much there at all.

even if you combined all the places of antonica we know of but haven't 'found yet' you prolly wouldn't even get as much landmass as Odus with all them combined.

and frankly we NEED velious. we need another huge place like Kunark to go running around in again. someplace that'll have lots of things to do. cause Odus didn't cut it...but I wasn't expecting much out of odus. it was a spit of land in EQ1 that had almost nothing on it, adn it's the same in EQ2.

[Jaranna]

Rainmare@Oasis wrote:

Taelosia they can ignore, it was post time split. 

Taelosia didn't just pop up after the time split.  It was there, on the other side of the globe.  Not to mention that Taelosia was a tiny island compared to the massive continent that's on that side of the world.  There's an entire hemisphere of Norrath that's been undiscovered in this timeline.  That makes for a lot of potential content.

[Tyrus Dracofire]

ah, Order of Rime just been revealed, these are survivors of Velious or what left of that faction.

since no one knows where they from, and it is still mystery, but Devs gave us hint years ago with Kunark's cutscene in frozen land area in Fen of Nasthir, i barely explored little of Jasarth Wasteland's coldiest area.

[ke'la]

Rainmare@Oasis wrote:

Zabjade wrote:

There are still parts of the Shattered Lands that have not been opened to adventurers.  The Isle of Kithacor, Highpass (aka Far Seas Headquarters) Higuard, the Straits of Twelve, And a few others not to mention What might be left of Odus and Erud's Crossing. (The part that went extradimensiojnal is probably a vortex in the middle of a ocean possibly with large shards of Luclin sticking out of the water.)

This is what I mean. right now, according to the lore, we're never going to Highpass. the Isle of Kithicor either. becuase the FSTCo keeps both locations a secret, kithicor for our safety, and Highpass for thiers.

Just because they don't want us there NOW, does not mean they will never want us there, If for exsample thier Island is discovered by say the Rime, they almost certainly will open it up to get our help defeating them. As for Kithicor, again, things can change, what if say the only place to find info out about what Kyfrm is upto is on Kithicor, or what if we just go around them, like we did with Moors, and not use the Knowage of the FSTC at all?

the straights of the twelve..I can't see much being done here. there wasn't much in the Rathe Mountains to begin with, and having only 12 mountian peaks left doesn't bode well.

Mountain peaks can be of verious sizes, they could be big enough to hold a Moors size expainsion, or they could be coupled with say Kithicor.

and from what I understand ALL of Odus is in Ultera. not part of it, the whole thing.

Yes, but there must be something in its place of some type, be it just a rift. So they could come up with something to put there.

So what's really left. Taelosia they can ignore, it was post time split.

Except, its lore goes back befor the time split, as it didn't just pop-up out of nowhere, that said EVERYTHING about that land mass and its lore can be completly differant.

I can't even think of very many spots of Antonica we don't have. Thundering Steppes is basically the Karanas. We got the commonlands and Ro. we got Qeynos Hills. Highpass is there but hidden as the HQ of the FSTCo. they also keep Kithicor secret. we got lavastorm and everfrost. we got innothule swamp and the feerott. we got the misty thicket and rivervale, Nek forest/darklight woods.

Rathe Mountains is gone, it became the Straights of the Twelve. just water and twelves mountain tops.

There is Highborn, Kithicor, Serpant's Fang, the North Desert of Ro

adn there's potentially that spit of land in erud's crossing that had pretty much nothing on it, Sister Isle, which we know is there and the Sisterhood of Erollisi come from there. but again...not much there at all.

The sister isle could potentally be Isle of Maria in size, so couple that with Serpants Fang and you got enough land.

even if you combined all the places of antonica we know of but haven't 'found yet' you prolly wouldn't even get as much landmass as Odus with all them combined.

Probly not, as Odus is a contenent and the remaining Islands are just that.

and frankly we NEED velious. we need another huge place like Kunark to go running around in again. someplace that'll have lots of things to do. cause Odus didn't cut it...but I wasn't expecting much out of odus. it was a spit of land in EQ1 that had almost nothing on it, adn it's the same in EQ2.

Need and Want are two differant things, you WANT another Kunark, that does not mean you accually need it. Besides once you hit the level cap how much wandering around Kunark(that wasn't walking to dungons) did you really do?

One addtional place you left out was the large whole in the map at the north end of the Kunark map that we can't currently get to. That also could be a non-level Increase expainsion.

Face it, the next expainsion will NOT be one that raises the level cap, for a couple of reasons first we need to find out what Kryfrm is upto befor we face him, Second we only get a level increase when the lore leads us to face a Greater threat then we face in the current expainsion, Ashanti wasn't really a greater threat then we faced in Kunark, Theer was, and we just beat him, I doupt another threat greater then Theer will show up in the next expainsion...especally with Kryfrm on the horizon.

Sence we very likly won't be getting a lvl increase we won't need a huge land mass to level in, we will instead get something like Looping Planes/Lesser Faydwar or Moors in size, wich would fit one of the remaining Islands perfectly. Velinous will be an expainsion that raises the level cap, cause it is one of the only two remaining places that could be large enough to host a full level range.

Plus with the Huge Geological shifts that came from the rending, it is VERY possable that NEW landmasses have shown up as well.

[ke'la]

Tyrus@Butcherblock wrote:

ah, Order of Rime just been revealed, these are survivors of Velious or what left of that faction.

since no one knows where they from, and it is still mystery, but Devs gave us hint years ago with Kunark's cutscene in frozen land area in Fen of Nasthir, i barely explored little of Jasarth Wasteland's coldiest area.

Just been revealed where? Link please.

Because the In-game cutscean and all the In-game lore referances them comming out of the NORTH, and Velious is in the SOUTH.

[Homeskillet]

The cut scene had the "cold wind of the north" part removed after many of us pointed it out, therefore removing the specifics of where they came from and only leaving us knowing they are a "kill or convert" band of marauders.

[Ascanius]

What im about to say may seem far fetch and just base of what I would do if I was Kryfrm . I just got god slaying power so i know that no god will mess with my plans. so i steal all the prismatic eggs cause they may not be of the same blood/brood as me, but in all essents they are like me and will be more willing to join me in the fight . I would take over the skyfire shrine in Veliuos use this as my base of operations anydragon that join me i would take them and have them help take over  the rest of veliuos. Once that is done I would start to hatch the prismatic eggs, so I can start the true army I will need to take over the world. once I have all of norrath under my claws I would find and kill veeshan.

please keep in mind this is base of what he tried in the past and what new information we have.

[Cusashorn]

Zabjade wrote:

I do wonder if this means the Dwarves will be given Coldain Pallets for their skintones.

The NPC's probably will look like the Coldain of EQlive. It was established that they had been drinking water on Velious for so long that the Velium minerals inhabited their bodies enough to turn them an icy white color. If New Halas has Velium around it, then that might be the case.

If you're wondering whether players will get that option... well, just look at the Erudites.

Xalmat wrote:

The Shattering has long since been over. Mithaniel Marr's divine intervention with the Coldain happened within the last year (it hasn't even been that long since the Shard of Love was introduced).

Correct. The Shattering happened 50 years ago and ended 15. When TSO came out, the game even acknowledged that at least 1 year had passed since the Gods returned to Norrath.

Jaranna wrote:

Rainmare@Oasis wrote:

Taelosia they can ignore, it was post time split. 

Taelosia didn't just pop up after the time split.  It was there, on the other side of the globe.  Not to mention that Taelosia was a tiny island compared to the massive continent that's on that side of the world.  There's an entire hemisphere of Norrath that's been undiscovered in this timeline.  That makes for a lot of potential content.

Right. Taelosia by name was revealed to EQlore long before Gates of Discord came out. It wasn't until that expansion that we found out that it was just a dinky little island located west of Odus. The name can (and IMO, SHOULD) be used for the gigantic continent on the opposite side of Norrath. A continent that dwarfed Antonica when it was still one large continent.

Tyrus@Butcherblock wrote:

ah, Order of Rime just been revealed, these are survivors of Velious or what left of that faction.

since no one knows where they from, and it is still mystery, but Devs gave us hint years ago with Kunark's cutscene in frozen land area in Fen of Nasthir, i barely explored little of Jasarth Wasteland's coldiest area.

It wasn't years ago. It was only a few months. On the Test server, that cutscene revealed they came from the North. It was changed when it went live to say they came from regions unknown.

BTW: The continent is V-E-L-I-O-U-S. Not Velinous. No N.

[LordPazuzu]

Cusashorn wrote:

BTW: The continent is V-E-L-I-O-U-S. Not Velinous. No N.

Thank you, that was driving me crazy too.

[Meirril]

I'd place bets that the next expansion is going to be a content-driven expansion more like TSO than Kunark. Lots of instances, and a new overland zone or two. Maybe a dungeon, maybe not.

The story could take us to Highhold Keep and the headquarters of the Far Seas Trading Company if Kerafyrm raids their vaults looking for artifacts that he needs to complete his plans. Things stolen from the Temple of Veeshan long ago by adventurers. This leads us to delve into the Cult of the Awakened once again and explore revamped versions of the old KoS dungeons. The Dijiin Master is involved somehow and by invading his sanctum once again we pressure from him how he is connected to Kerafyrm's new plot. Our search leads us back to Fadewyr  and into the waters below the Estate of Unrest. Unknown to adventurers, Phingle Atropos survived the cataclysims and now holds clues to the upcomming apocolypse in his underwater castle.

Finally, the adventurers are lured into a chamber where Kerafyrm has several crystals that hold information on secret meetings. Each of the crystals shows Kerafyrm in disguise meeting in secret with each major leader. Lucan, Crystannos, Antonia, Veniril, Rille, Mayong, and many others. The conversations arn't always friendly but a constant undertone is the question: If Kerafyrm eliminates all of the gods, would they be willing to take the gods place and acknowledge Kerafyrm as their king?

[Morghus]

Meirril wrote:

I'd place bets that the next expansion is going to be a content-driven expansion more like TSO than Kunark. Lots of instances, and a new overland zone or two. Maybe a dungeon, maybe not.

The story could take us to Highhold Keep and the headquarters of the Far Seas Trading Company if Kerafyrm raids their vaults looking for artifacts that he needs to complete his plans. Things stolen from the Temple of Veeshan long ago by adventurers. This leads us to delve into the Cult of the Awakened once again and explore revamped versions of the old KoS dungeons. The Dijiin Master is involved somehow and by invading his sanctum once again we pressure from him how he is connected to Kerafyrm's new plot. Our search leads us back to Fadewyr  and into the waters below the Estate of Unrest. Unknown to adventurers, Phingle Atropos survived the cataclysims and now holds clues to the upcomming apocolypse in his underwater castle.

Finally, the adventurers are lured into a chamber where Kerafyrm has several crystals that hold information on secret meetings. Each of the crystals shows Kerafyrm in disguise meeting in secret with each major leader. Lucan, Crystannos, Antonia, Veniril, Rille, Mayong, and many others. The conversations arn't always friendly but a constant undertone is the question: If Kerafyrm eliminates all of the gods, would they be willing to take the gods place and acknowledge Kerafyrm as their king?

Sadly, this sounds far more interesting than what the actual plot/expansion may give us. Especially if past indicators are taken as any sort of sign. What lore there is tends to be heavily skewed toward certain specific events or individuals those in charge have already decided to elaborate on, while anything and everything else up to and including individual NPCS in raid/heroic dungeons, regardless of wether they were major characters in eqlive, is generally ignored and they are kicked aside once killed like Trakanon, Wuoshi, and Opal Darkbriar, unless their name happens to be Mayong, Lucan, or Antonia. If they are an entirely new NPC, also expect for them to have almost 0 lore or history explained like Waansu, Sara Greenheart, Zarrakon etc.

[Kaitheel]

Homeskillet wrote:

The cut scene had the "cold wind of the north" part removed after many of us pointed it out, therefore removing the specifics of where they came from and only leaving us knowing they are a "kill or convert" band of marauders.

Actually, the words were changed because they were being misinterpreted to indicate the direction from which the Order originated, as opposed to a general phrase meaning "cold wind" which was intended.

~Kaitheel

[Rainmare]

ah so 'cold wind from the north' simply meant 'north' in relation to Kunark. So the Order coudl very well have originated in Velious, the route they took just happened to put them up on the northern side of Kunark?

and honestly, I never heard any mention of Taelosia before the GoD expansion. which was also after the split. adn people mentioning the Serpent Spine Mountains....again, after split that anything was there. (they didn't delve into the serpents spine until they introduced the Drakklin) and Ro is all there.

and some npcs don't need big histories atached to them. Sara Greenheart, adn the Hooluk ghost, to me are just researchers, assistants that just got caught in the labs after Perah locked it down and were killed/died from his experiments. either being one or being killed by them.

Now Zarrakon, and Woushi I would love to know more about. and Waansu. and we know what happened to Opal. she was assassinated on the way to Neriak. that event in the Assassin epic is official. Cristanos made mention of it on one of thier lore updates. not much more you can do with a dead Opal. or Trakanon. Woushi though I'd want to know what happened to the Bloom after his 'death' or did Tunare not allow him to die.

and the same thing happened in EQ1 to. like for example, does anyone know anything signifigant about any of Fironia's companions other then Al'Kabor? how about Kane Bayle other then his involvement with the Bloodsabers? Opal Darkbriar was never talked about in EQ1, heck players were the ones to figure out she was playing both a leader in the dismal Rage and the Academy becuase they noticed she was a human chanter and a de wizard/necro I think.

people that aren't major to the storyline yes probably do get sidelined to flesh out those that are.

[Xalmat]

Kane Bayle recently attempted to assassinate Antonia Bayle (see: Will of the Tyrant live events).

[Nevao]

Something to think about. It took how many expansions before things become completely Void centered?

1. At launch we had vague hints in Obelisk of Lost Souls.
2. With DoF we were introduced to Anashti Sol, though we had no idea of how big a deal she would become,
3. In KoS we had our first hints of El'Arad and that Odus was potentially back in play and learned a good deal about the Qeynos Claymore. All of this on top of the more pressing (at the time) news that Kerafyrm was still active if not present.
4. In EoF we got more direct void hints with the Obelisk of Blight, but more importantly learned more about Soulfire
5. RoK introduced to "End of Days" or at least made it more prominent and had a few more brief Void touches (Oh Fiddy where art thou?)
6. TSO slammed the gauntlet down bringing the void front and center and tied Anashti back in, then gave us our first inkling of Theer. In the background we learn about the Order of Rime (which we still have no idea how or if they tie in)
7. SF now pulls Odus, Theer, the Void, the Swords of Destiny and Kerafyrm together, but we're given the impression that this only the closing of the opening act for "End of Days".

I'm sure I missed a few things but my point in this is that it took 5 expansions (or 6 "story sets" depending on your point of view) just to lay the ground work for the close of Act 1 in expansion 6/story 7. If Velious is intended to be the show down with Kerafyrm (which I think is what many want) then it could easily be two to three years away given the pace of events. Or it could just as easily be next year. My bet is that they are going to keep drawing out the story in the same fashion as above, which once I see how everything ties together I think is pretty cool and would not mind. We definitely have a lot road left in front of us, and I just don't see Velious being the next off ramp.

[Maergoth]

Even for a good while after launch the quest dialog said they were from the north.. as well as the little cut scene. I'd find it believable that the coldain originated outside of Velious.. but the blatant sloshing together of the everfrost area and the continent of velious into a grey mass of confusion is both annoying and scatterbrained.

I understand wanting to maintain a certain level of suspense.. they can't say what's next this early in the expansion. However, they can't flip flop until launch day next year either.

I also don't understand why  New Halas would be in a completely different continent than old Halas, but I guess it will all fall together.