Velious · The Scars of Velious
The Great Divide
The Great Divide is the spine of Velious: a range of severe, broken mountains that cuts the continent into east and west halves, and hides the Coldain city of Thurgadin behind a waterfall.
Mountains in the middle
A classic zone atlas describes a heavily mountainous area that splits Velious in two, east and west, and a harsh place full of powerful creatures. A player guide lists kodiaks, a nest of crystalline wurms and the Tizmak clan, along with a large Kromrif outpost, the city of Thurgadin, and the tunnel to Velketor’s Labyrinth.
The Atlas lists monsters from about 29 to 45, with named creatures such as Bloodmaw, Icetooth, Shardtooth and the Shardwurm Broodmother.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): The Great Divide · Allakhazam: Great Divide (zone)
Hidden dangers
The broken terrain is the main threat, a player guide says, because it hides monsters until the last moment. The open ground has fairly few wanderers, with three exceptions: near the shardwurm caverns and just south of them; in the northeast, where wolves, frost giants and Coldain roam; and in front of the Tizmak caverns, which the Tizmak patrol heavily.
It also warns druids and shamans: the Coldain know wolves well, yet will attack anyone who approaches Thurgadin in wolf form.
A web of factions
Faction is the other thing to watch. The Coldain and the frost giants are both strong here, and killing wolves always angers one side: drakkel wolves belong to the giants and all the others to the Coldain. The Tizmak have a faction of their own. Visitors start indifferent to them, but a player guide notes how quickly that turns to hatred, which matters because the Tizmak hold the northwestern part of the zone.
The upside is choice. The Atlas says there are several separate hunting areas, so a group can pick one that suits its factions, the exits are easy to reach, and the Coldain will act as guards against the giants and their wolves. Their struggle is told in the Coldain of Thurgadin.
Getting around
Most people arrive from the Eastern Wastes through a small pass. The entrance to Thurgadin is a secret door behind a waterfall, and Velketor’s Labyrinth lies elsewhere in the range; a player guide also marks a druid ring and a wizard portal.
a player guide rates the zone 30 to 50. A community wiki confirms its neighbours as the Eastern Wastes, Thurgadin and Velketor’s Labyrinth.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): The Great Divide · Allakhazam: Great Divide (zone) · Project 1999 Wiki: Great Divide
Lore tied to this zone
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): The Great Divide · Allakhazam: Great Divide (zone) · Project 1999 Wiki: Great Divide