Odus · The Ruins of Kunark
The Hole
Old Paineel: the Heretics’ first city at the bottom of the chasm their war blasted into Odus, lost to the elementals of the Underfoot and their master, Yael.
A city at the bottom of the world
The EQ Atlas tells it: at the end of the war between Erudin and the Heretics, the Heretics used their magic to punch a hole deep into Odus, and inside the shaft they built their city. They dug too deep and touched the Plane of Underfoot, cast onto the earth in ages past. They tried to wall in the enemy below, but when the great Master Yael arrived, the elementals and minions of Brell Serilis swept through the city in one gruesome night. The Heretics fell back to their highest outpost, today’s Paineel.
Allakhazam calls the Hole Old Paineel, long since taken over by elementals, and notes that for years it was rumoured to hold the way into the Underfoot; that is no longer a rumour. See The Underfoot and Brell’s Rest.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): The Hole · Allakhazam: Ruins of Old Paineel 2.0 (The Hole) (zone)
Inside
Most of the old city, front castle included, is full of elementals, many of them casters, mixed with ratman warriors and rock golems, around level 50, some of them summoning. With wandering monsters on top, the EQ Atlas recommends at least one full group of level 50 or more.
Further in stands a tower of undead, many of them necromancers and shadow knights, tightly packed and vertical, and considered the most dangerous hunting here. At the very bottom Master Yael, leader of the elementals, stands before a locked door with no known key, presumed to lead to the Underfoot. He can kill with a touch.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): The Hole
Loot and quests
Many of the Hole’s monsters count as summoned creatures, so spells against summoned beings work well, and most of the rest are undead, good for clerics and paladins. Most loot drops on a random rotation from any monster of the right type, and the named often drop withered leather armour.
The EQ Atlas calls the zone a haven for high-level weapon quests, with at least six classes needing parts from its depths. Its named list includes Bejeweled Elemental, Commander Yarik, Caradon, Dartain the Lost, the Ghost of Kindle, Gibartik, Keeper of the Tombs, Nortlav the Scalekeeper, Polzin Mrid, Stonesoul the Unmoving and Ulrik the Devout. It rates the zone at levels 40 to 60.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): The Hole · Allakhazam: Ruins of Old Paineel 1.0 (The Hole) (zone)
Getting in
There are two ways in, both from Paineel. One is the great hole with the waterfall in the city, which is not safe: levitation is stripped on entry and you fall to your death at Master Yael’s feet. Levitate does not work anywhere in the Hole, and once you step off the first ledge you need a teleport or the key to get out again.
The other is a small locked boulder past Paineel’s newbie area. You must pick the lock, or as an evil race buy the key in Paineel for around 100 to 120 platinum; small races and forms can squeeze through the rocks with care not to drown. Allakhazam dates the original zone to June 22, 2000, in the Kunark era, and a revamp to August 26, 2003.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): The Hole · Allakhazam: Ruins of Old Paineel 1.0 (The Hole) (zone)
Lore tied to this zone
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): The Hole · Allakhazam: Ruins of Old Paineel 1.0 (The Hole) (zone) · Allakhazam: Ruins of Old Paineel 2.0 (The Hole) (zone)