Introduction to the World of EQOA
EverQuest Online Adventures (EQOA) takes place approximately 500 years before the original EverQuest (EQ) and well before the events of EverQuest II. Set in the Age of Adventure, EQOA features a younger, more volatile Norrath—a world still shaping itself under the influence of gods, ancient pacts, and the ambitions of rising civilizations.
The Cosmology of Norrath
The Gods and the Planes
The pantheon of Norrath consists of powerful deities who govern specific aspects of existence and maintain planes reflective of their nature. These include:
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Tunare – The Mother of All, goddess of growth and nature.
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Rallos Zek – The Warlord, god of war and conquest.
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Mithaniel Marr – God of honor, righteousness, and valor.
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Innoruuk – The Prince of Hate, god of malice and corruption.
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Quellious – Goddess of peace and tranquility.
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Bertoxxulous – God of disease and decay.
Each god's followers influence the moral and political direction of Norrath, often clashing through ideologies, proxies, or direct warfare.
The Planes
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Plane of Growth (Tunare)
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Plane of War (Rallos Zek)
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Plane of Hate (Innoruuk)
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Plane of Tranquility (Quellious)
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Plane of Disease (Bertoxxulous)
A critical metaphysical location is the Zaoran Plateau, a war-torn extension of the Plane of War that becomes the centerpoint of EQOA’s late-game lore.
Pre-EQOA Timeline: The Foundations
Before the Age of Adventure, Norrath saw the rise and fall of empires like:
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The Combine Empire: A powerful arcane empire that united multiple races through magic and politics. Its fall marks the dispersal of magical knowledge and political fragmentation.
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Takish`Hiz: Once the elven capital and heart of the Elddar Forest. Destroyed by Solusek Ro’s intervention and later overrun by the Teir'Dal (dark elves).
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Elddar Forest: A vast magical woodland that covered much of Tunaria, lost due to desertification and divine curses.
The Age of Adventure: EQOA Era
The Rise of Factions
EQOA introduces multiple divine and political factions, including:
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The Truthbringers (Good-aligned heroes under Marr and Tunare)
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The Lieutenants (Forces working under the gods of War and Hate)
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Neutral Orders (Such as the monks of Shon-To Monastery and enchanters of Klik`Anon)
Players interact with and influence these factions through epic quests, regional politics, and class-specific trials.
Portals and the Zaoran Plateau
Massive planar portals begin to open across Norrath—in Lake Rathe, Hazinak, Forkwatch, and Halas—allowing corrupted forces and giants to invade.
Theories of Origin:
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Rallos Zek is initially blamed.
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The Akessan, shadowy saboteurs, are revealed to be weakening the barriers between planes.
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The Agents of the Gods offer conflicting solutions:
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Tunare seeks to heal and reinforce the portals.
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Rallos Zek encourages militant readiness.
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Innoruuk promotes chaos through self-empowerment.
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Quellious urges internal peace and diplomacy.
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Mithaniel Marr calls for honorable resistance.
Key Locations and Their Lore
Klik`Anon
The steampunk capital of the gnomes. Built in the Burnflow Valley beneath Redspit Mountain, it features:
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The Drawbridge of Spectacular Impracticality
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The Church of Brell and secret temple of Bertoxxulous
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The University of Andelfoof
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Clockwork rebellion sparked by Klockizar Sizzick and a virus of mechanical corruption
Takish Hiz and Holciel Rowen Dal
Unkempt Woods and Lycanthropy
Rivervale and the Great Pie Crisis
Highpass and the Goblin Siege
Epic Quests (Epic-sodes 1–3)
Timeline of Major Events
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Fall of Takish`Hiz – Solusek Ro burns Elddar
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Rise of Teir'Dal – Dark elves conquer the ruins
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Clockwork Rebellion – Klik’Anon suffers internal sabotage
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Portal Crisis Begins – Interplanar rifts open across Norrath
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Factional Responses – Gods send agents to rally mortals
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Epic Campaigns Commence – Players undertake class-based trials to prepare for the Zaoran invasion
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Zaoran Plateau Unleashed – Final battles occur in the Plane of War’s shadow realm
Conclusion: The Legacy of EQOA
EQOA enriches EverQuest’s timeline by exploring the centuries before the Age of Turmoil. It shows the origins of divine conflict, technological innovation, and the heroism of mortals in shaping the destiny of Norrath.
Whether you're a Truthbringer, a Shadowed, or a chaotic cook with a clockwork pie obsession—EQOA ensures that your story matters in the legend of Norrath.
Bibliography & Source List
- Prima Official Strategy Guide – EverQuest Online Adventures: Frontiers. Prima Games, ISBN 9780761542520.
- EverQuest Online Adventures Game Manual (USA Release) – Official pack-in manual with race/class origins and game world setup.
- EverQuest Online Adventures: Frontiers Handbook – Expansion content and city lore.
- EQOA Lore Archive (Project Return Home) – https://www.projectreturnhome.com/prh-lore – Preserved stories from SOE’s official lore entries.
- The Norrathian Times – In-game player-contributed roleplay news archive. Includes:
- Mayor Diggs Pie Scandal
- Clockwork Invasion in Klick`Anon
- Factional Interviews (Growth, War, Honor, Spite, Tranquility)
- Lycanthrope Origins & Special Reports by Yorkiedruid & EQDiren
- EverQuest (PC) – Original game setting and lore canon.
- EverQuest II (PC) – Continuity reference for events ~500 years after EQOA.
- EQLore.com – Fan site used for cross-referencing pantheon lore and EQ/EQOA timeline alignment.
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