Velious · The Scars of Velious
The Western Wastes
The Western Wastes are the dragons’ country: the northwestern edge of Velious, the last home of a great many of Norrath’s dragons, and one of the most dangerous places on the continent.
Land of dragons
A classic zone atlas calls the Western Wastes the last remaining home of a large number of dragons, which roam the land freely. A player guide places them in the northwestern part of Velious and warns that enemies of the Claws of Veeshan need a decent-sized party, because they will face dozens of roaming dragons and dragonkin.
The Atlas lists them by name, including Klandicar, Icehackle, Linbrak, Makala and Mraaka, and rates the zone 50 to 60 and above.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): Western Wastes · Allakhazam: The Western Wastes (zone)
Why it kills
Almost every monster is a dragon or dragonkin, and very powerful. The Atlas says that even players allied with the dragons should stay invisible, because some creatures attack anyone regardless of faction.
It also complains that movement in the zone is astonishingly bad for an outdoor area: monsters warp, start summoning, and chain together often, so a group can be mobbed when it least expects it.
The rewards
Most named dragons drop a named talisman, which a player guide compares to a Necklace of Superiority, raising every stat and save by four to seven depending on the dragon. Many Velious spells also drop only here.
The wastes guard the holiest site of the dragons: the Temple of Veeshan, the great temple of Veeshan.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): Western Wastes · Allakhazam: The Western Wastes (zone)
Doors in the snow
The Atlas says the wastes are reached by passing through Siren’s Grotto, which links them to Cobalt Scar. Two places open from the zone: a one-way entrance to the Temple of Veeshan, and the entrance to the Dragon Necropolis, hidden in the western mountains.
a player guide lists the same three neighbours, the temple, the necropolis and the grotto, and rates the zone 50 to 65. A community wiki gives the same links.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): Western Wastes · Allakhazam: The Western Wastes (zone) · Project 1999 Wiki: Western Wastes
Lore tied to this zone
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): Western Wastes · Allakhazam: The Western Wastes (zone) · Project 1999 Wiki: Western Wastes