Everquest 2: Lore Q&A with Moorgard!

Tamat - In EQLive there was a zone out in Blackburrow that lead to Everfrost however the world map as show here makes me believe that this new Blackburrow is not where it used to be. Why is it that the zone is built mostly the same and even has a zone out to where Everfrost used to be when the map clearly makes that impossible? View EQlive / EQ2 Map Overlay.

Moorgard - Blackburrow is a massive series of caverns built into a mountain range, and over the years some entrances collapsed while new ones opened. The Age of Cataclysms had a profound effect upon the geography of Norrath. Picture thousands of years of tectonic shifting and continental drift distilled down into the span of a few decades. The world was violently ripped apart and twisted into something new. Due to this shifting and moving, certain locations you may be familiar with in EverQuest may not be in exactly the same spot.

As for the interior of Blackburrow retaining its old design, let's just say that gnolls are sticklers for tradition. No matter how many cave-ins and other disasters they suffered, the gnolls tend to rebuild in a way that is familiar to them.

Regarding the pass to Everfrost, the way the journey was presented in EverQuest was not how it was originally envisioned. According to Tony Garcia, one of our designers who wrote a lot of EQ's early lore, they had intended to build a mountain pass leading out of Blackburrow to Everfrost. For various reasons that zone was never made, hence the illusion that Blackburrow was right next to Everfrost.

Tamat - It was rumored awhile ago that Befallen would still be apart of the game and that there was a dungeon in the game that was Befallen. Is that Stormhold? If so how is it that it's now near Qeynos when it used to be in Commonlands?

Moorgard - Stormhold is not Befallen, although if you follow the storyline of the zone you will see that the two dungeons share a dark link. Stormhold would not be what it is today were it not for Befallen.

Befallen's entrance was sealed after Lucan used the dungeon to trap the Knights of Truth within it. Perhaps someday another entrance will be found. I for one would love to revisit that place.

Tamat - What happened to some of the more popular landmarks like the Commonlands Tunnel?

Moorgard - Many landmarks are buried or gone, mostly due to the effects of the Age of Cataclysms. Let's all hope our favorite swashbuckler made it out unscathed.

Tamat - What can you tell us about Odus or Faydwer? Did anything survive the rending?

Moorgard - The Erudites don't speak much of Odus. Some believe this secretive people know something they aren't revealing about their homeland.

There are elves who claim to have a spiritual tie to the Faydark, and they insist it is out there somewhere. Now that the seas have calmed, ships will no doubt start venturing farther out in their explorations.

Remember that it wasn't just the Rending that made the seas impassible. Some scholars believe the absence of the elemental gods is what threw the earth and oceans into chaos, making long-range travel all but impossible.

Tamat - Can you tell us anything about Nektropos Castle? About what time frame was this castle built? If it was built before the Rending, can you tell us where it was in the old Nektulos Forest we knew?

Moorgard - Nektropos Castle was built long ago by wealthy landowners from Freeport. The family was well known for being the proprietors of a curio shop of rare and mysterious artifacts in the city. This all took place well before the rule of Lucan.

The castle was built in a secluded area that befit the family's desire for privacy. As the years passed Nektropos has been rediscovered, though its current residents are not exactly known for their hospitality.

Tamat - Now that we know more about what happened to Lady Vox can you tell us some of the events leading up to her death? Also can you hint on what her offspring may be up too?

Moorgard - Dragons tend to look unfavorably upon mortals who gossip about their affairs. Perhaps another dragon might be willing to discuss such matters with you. That is, if you're willing to do what is required of you.

Tamat - Before the cataclysms shattered the world of Norrath, Freeport and Qeynos were both on the continent Antonica. What inspired the development team to call the area surrounding Qeynos Antonica?

Moorgard - Qeynos was long ruled by the Bayle family, within which the name Antonius was passed down from generation to generation. It was due to the influence of Antonius Bayle that the name Antonica first came into use.

After the effects of the Age of Cataclysms, the old continent of Antonica was broken into many smaller pieces. The Overlord no longer recognized the legacy of the Bayle family and so renamed the fragment on which Freeport stands. Other subcontinents either retained regional names or adopted new ones. The residents of Qeynos, however, chose to maintain tradition and refer to the lands closest to their city walls as Antonica.

Tamat - Thank you for your time Moorgard, and safe journeys!