Celebrating 10 years of EverQuest 2: Looking at 10 Memorable Lands and Counting!

Next month, on November 8, 2014, adventurers across Norrath will be celebrating the 10th Anniversary of EverQuest 2. It’s a time when players can come together and rejoice in their triumphs obtained over the years and celebrate the friendships they’ve made along the way. There have been some epic journeys over the past ten years that have taken adventurers through the most amazing lands in Norrath. As we prepare to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of EverQuest 2, let’s take a look at ten of the memorable lands adventurers have traveled through over the years as well as a look at lands that have yet to be discovered!

Karan and D’Lere

In the beginning, adventurers washed ashore the Isle of Refuge and banded together to learn about the world of Norrath. They made homes in areas of Karan or D’Lere and battled creatures in places like Oakmyst Forest or The Sprawl. As they grew in strength, the adventurers were able to explore other areas. Natives of Karan fought through Antonica and the Thundering Steppes while D’Lere inhabitants battled the wilds of the Commonlands and Nektulos Forest. Foes became friends as these adventurers joined forces to brave the frigid tundra of Everfrost and fiery terrain of Lavastorm. Together, these adventurers worked to reclaim The Shattered Lands.

The Desert of Ro and The Overrealm

Further exploration led adventurers to places like The Sinking Sands and The Pillars of Flame. The harsh terrain of the desert was nothing compared to what lurked in the Celfts of Rujark or underneath the sands in the Silent City. They saw grandeur in The Poet’s Palace and, eventually, discovered more lands in the Overrealm. The great floating islands ranged from splendor to horror. The light beauty of Tenebrous Tangle strongly contrasted the damp dungeons running beneath the land. The everlasting twilight in the Barren Sky was a perfect backdrop for the great Palace of the Awakened, while the darkness of The Bonemire forewarned adventurers of the danger that lay in places such as Deathtoll and the Den of the Devourer. It wasn’t long before adventurers had conquered the Overrealm and turned their attention back on the surrounding lands in the seas.

Faydwer and Kunark

The discovery of Faydwer created a lot of new possibilities for our brave adventurers. New homes were established in the Greater Faydark and memories were made while adventuring through the mountains of Butcherblock and Steamfont. The lush overgrowth of the Lesser Faydark didn’t conceal treasures for very long, and allies worked together to subdue the dragon within the great Emerald Halls. Having conquered Faydwer, adventurers turned their focus on the lands of Kunark and explored places such as Kylong Plains and Fens of Nathsar. They delved deep into the angry Kunzar Jungle to discover the Sathirian capitol, Sebilis, and faced Venril Sathir himself. Veeshan’s Peak was discovered in the Jarsath Wastes and many dragons perished in the pursuit of the great dragon, Trakanon. The epic battles fought within Kunark would become stories of legend, but there was still much more for the adventurers to discover!

The Moors of Ykesha and Odus

After the construction of the skystrider airship, adventurers were able to make the long journey to the Moors of Ykesha. They battled their way through the Ruins of Guk and searched the areas stretching out into the void. It was also a time of rediscovery, as dungeons were uncovered in the lands they thought they already knew. Exploration eventually led to the lands of Odus and the great city of Paineel. The Sundered Frontier was a peculiar land, ranging from barren to lush landscapes, containing traces of Erudite magic. It also bordered the massive Lair of the Dragon Queen. The nearby Stonebrunt Highlands held even more danger, as adventurers confronted the Erudin magic and explored the halls of the Vasty Deep. The adventurers took what they learned from each area and used their knowledge to finally overthrow the Palace of Roehn Theer. But this was not the end, for greater challenges still awaited those brave enough to continue.

Velious and The Ethernere

The frigid lands of Velious were just waiting, ready to be explored. The mighty city of Thurgadin still stood in the Great Divide, but it was up to the adventurers to ensure it would remain under the Coldain’s control. The Tower of Frozen Shadow was an eerie landmark against the snowy terrain and held even more riddles within its walls. Adventurers crossed the Eastern Wastes and eventually made it to the Fortress of Drunder, ready for the epic battles that awaited them. The tough terrain of the Withered Lands and plague ridden Othmirs of Cobalt Scar could not slow down the armed Norrathian forces. Knowing no boundaries, adventurers eventually traversed planes and crossed into the Ethernere. The adventurers did not fear death as they made their way through the Eidolon Jungle and across the Obol Plains, eventually fighting bravely in Harrow’s End. Finally, our adventurers made their way to the majestic Vesspyr Isles. The beauty of each isle is not to be taken lightly, because it is directly influenced by the dragon residing somewhere on the terrain. As they continue to battle in the dungeons of High Keep and the Nexus Core, something else is brewing on the horizon. New threats are brewing and more lands are waiting to be discovered!

What’s to Come?

In addition to celebrating the 10th Anniversary of EverQuest 2, we’re also excited about the upcoming expansion Altar of Malice. The Tranquil Sea and the Phantom Sea hold mysterious islands teeming with new dangers. Will you face the urzarach of Death Weave Isle or go face-to-face with the Pirates of Brokenskull Bay? Are you brave enough to face the horrors that are hidden in Castle Highhold or the Ossuary of Malevolence? Altar of Malice is scheduled to launch on November 25, but All-Access Members will have the opportunity to play two weeks early, beginning Tuesday, November 11, 2014. Amazing new lands await you!

Do you have an epic tale to tell about your journey through Norrath so far? We want to hear it! Feel free to share some of your stories, videos, or photos from your own adventures. What were some of your favorite lands along the way?

Some grand memories to be sure. And it looks like more will be forged in the future too!

One recent grand journey we were upon, above and under the Sinking Sands. It's an oppressive place, but the rewards are definitely there if one persists.

Desert of Ro sunrise.

Tarnorili: "I wonder if that dragon's going to eat that elephant..."

Tameran: "Better it than us!"

Enjoying the sights in the depths of Ahket Aken.

My first shiney, I had to give to an NPC for a quest... the first ever play it forward for me, even though the one i was giving it to was as i said just an NPC. That was 9 years ago, just shortly after DoF came out when you still started on the boat.

Bring back the boat and the island! Loved it!

What lovely memories! Thank you for sharing those images

Wait, there are quests that make you part with your shinies?! I suppose we do technically turn in massive amounts of them as complete collections.... but I prefer holding on to my shinies tightly while muttering the words "my preciousssss" instead.

Long ago memories.

Aaaaah, "crude" crafted items! I remember

My first character was a Wood Elf Ranger on the Bazaar Server. Late one night I made an animated gif (before they were all the rage) and posted it to the guilds website with the caption - Rangers: More Dancing Per Second.

Pilates with the guild on the newb island.

Boy, how I miss the old starting zones. They need to bring those back to celebrate ten amazing years!

EQ2 was my first MMORPG and still ranks as the best MMORPG I've played so far. Probably my favourite memory was when I first encountered Giants in the Thundering Steppes. They were enormous and I remember thinking you'd need an entire raid force to take one down - then I solo'd one and thought I was the toughest kid in the Steppes!

Lingering memory of those early years - when the NPC with the most player kills was the Forge. Could always tell the people who tried to AFK craft by the corpses.

I very much miss the island starter zone, and the intro onboard the ship. I do not miss the progression through commoner-archtype-class-subclass - my first fighter became a brawler at lvl 10, and immediately could not use any of the gear or weapons she had on her!

The quests to pick your class/subclass, however, were fun. Those I miss!

The first i remember from starting game was that my pockets was full of copper and i had no strenght. Was moving in slowmotion.

Claymore best questline ever

Flashbacks ahoy!

Great memories, I left the game some years ago and coming back so much has changed. Where's the noob island I'm use to? Where's the Jade Tiger Inn?! I can change city citizenship so easy? There still so much to see with the last and next expansion but I'm glad to be back. I'll always remember have to take several boats to get somewhere or having to do class and subclass quest <3

nice article with a lot of attached memories

french translation in progress at http://www.guerrier-celeste.fr

I started playing in 08. I can still remember needing a group to kill rats in Antonica right off the docks....LOL! Anyone remember the Graveyard in the Common lands? My 1st toon was a Erudite Conjuror. It used to take quite awhile to get to level 20..LOL! Oh yeah...if you carried too much weight...you could hardly move, so you had to build your str. and or get that sack from the quest in EL... Firemyst Gully, Blackburrow, Fallen Gate, and Stormhold stand out as memories for me. The main thing I miss from back then is people being out in the zones like EL docks and Sinking Sands...just hanging out and meeting new people. Other than that...Great job SOE!!! What a great game...I plan to play it until the servers burn up LOL!

I remember running back to pick up my corpse where I died to retrieve my possessions. Good times indeed.