Library of Erudin“…for knowledge is the greatest quest of all.”Erud
Zone

The Commonlands

The broad plains flanking Freeport, a major travel corridor of eastern Antonica.

Canon lens
Connections
Containsnpc:karath-smoothmaneEQ2
At a glance
Type
Zone
Levels
5-40
Inhabitants
Giant Spiders,Will-o-Wisps,Snakes,Dervish Cutthroats,Bears,Cats,Orcs
Notable NPCs
Shady Swashbuckler
Attested in
EQ1EQ2
Sources
72 texts

Overview

Drawn from The Maps of Myrist — Commonlands, The West zone description.EQ1Primary · official

The plains that surround Freeport are known as the Commonlands. The western section of the Commonlands is more rugged and dangerous. The influence of civilization is reduced, but there are people who call this place home. Small clumps of buildings can be found along the road that runs from Freeport through the Commonlands and eventually reaches the mountain citadel of Highpass. Merchants and inns can be found by the weary traveler, but keep an eye on your coin purse.

These western lands are an ideal place of hunting for the mid-seasoned adventurer. Bandits who line the eastern wall with their camps are a plentiful source of weaponry, gold, and repute among the people of Freeport. These bandits make suitable adversaries for young aspiring adventurers of all classes and engaging these rogues will surely aid any to hone their skills of mind, faith, or the sword.

The road that runs through the Eastern Commonlands continues to wind and twist through the western plains and will eventually bring travelers to the Kithicor Woods, which reside in the southwest. It is advised to all travelers that these woods be avoided from dusk until the morning hours, for the horrors that lurk in the forest's nighttime shadows are notorious for slaying many an unsuspecting traveler and their caravan.

In the northern borders of the Western Commonlands, buried deep within the last reach of Ro's desert sands, lies the ruins of Befallen.

Overview

No EQ2 source leads this topic — its EQ2 accounts are listed below.

Maps

2

From the EverQuest Atlas: The Maps of Myrist (SOE, 2002).

East
Map of The Commonlands — East
West
Map of The Commonlands — West

Official Lore

16

Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out.

EQ1Primary · officialPrincipal account

The Maps of Myrist — Commonlands, The East

Zone descriptionSony Online Entertainment · 2002

The mild, temperate plains that surround the city of Freeport are called the Commonlands. Inns are common throughout the eastern part of the Commonlands and adventurers, with the exception of those who follow the darker paths of existence, are welcome to purchase supplies that will be needed for their long journeys.

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · official2 volumes

Fortifying Innoruuk's Realm

In-game book — a 2-part series · Verant/SOE

Volume VI Upon entering the Commonlands, Officer R'nar and her companions got ambushed by hundreds of Teir'Dal forces including Juxta Klawse who was actually Teir'Dal himself. They did their best to fight them off but Officer R'nar and Lyssla Tyslin fell on the battlefield.

EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Teir'Dal Raid the Commonlands!

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…~ Teir'Dal Raid the Commonlands! ~ The ever present shadow cast by the Teir'Dal over the Commonlands and our city has grown darker over the past few days. Many reports of banditry, murder and other vile acts of cruelty have been heard across the Commonlands. These acts are being committed by several seemingly uncoordinated groups of Dark Elves.

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Dark Elven Incursion

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…The Dark Elves of Neriak have been seen attacking Freeport guards and merchants in the Commonlands. There have been no reasons given so far for the recent outburst of attacks, but there have been several hypotheses. One anonymous guard that patrols the Commonlands says that he is concerned with increasing the number of guards in the area.

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Violence Erupts Across the Sea

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…Even while the Commonlands remains besieged by Dark Elf raids, violence has sprung up in the Greater Faydark. The Orcs of Crushbone, who rarely send more than a pawn out of their territories, surprised the armies of Felwithe by leaving the safety of their homes and assaulting the elves on their own lands.

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Dark Elven Incursion

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…The Dark Elves have begun a series of bold attacks against the citizens of Freeport. From their camps in Nektulos and the Commonlands, these dark menaces have attacked and killed anyone that they have come across, from merchants to members of the Freeport Guard.

Read the full source
Show 10 more →
EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Tensions Rise in the Eastern Cities

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…The Dark Elves are still raiding the Commonlands, but their efforts have all proven fruitless. It is very peculiar that they are still attacking the Humans so meaninglessly. Some of our associates in Freeport believe that there is an ulterior motive behind these actions. "We know that the Dark Elves are inherently mad, it was bred into them by their hateful g…

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Dark Elven Incursion

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…The Dark Elves have begun a series of bold attacks against the citizens of Freeport. From their camps in Nektulos and the Commonlands, these dark menaces have attacked and killed anyone that they have come across, from merchants to members of the Freeport guard. Harold, an innkeeper in the Commonlands, told us of an encounter he had with these assassins.

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

AKANews052205

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…The Dark Elves have been seen in Freeport picking fights with the local guards and many of the citizens. The Dark Elves have become ruthless in their attacks, killing all who get in their way. It is advised for all Gnomes to avoid Freeport and the Commonlands at all costs. There seems to be very little motive behind these attacks. After many years of peace be…

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Evil Marches Onward

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…The following has been taken from people stationed around the Commonlands: They didn't swarm out of Nektulos as one might have expected. They moved out of from the dark forest in an orderly and frightening fashion. Hundreds of Trolls and Dark Elves marched in formation making the ground shake with their steady trod.

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Tensions Rise Over Incidents with Dark Elves

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…Raids on Freeport continue from Dark Elven forces stationed in Nektulos and in the Commonlands. While many expected the Dark Elves to retreat after a while, experts are now beginning to wonder if these invaders plan some larger assault.

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

March of Thunder

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…"It was like thunder without the lightning", Crys Windstom told us when asked about the events he witnessed in the Commonlands near Freeport. "There were hundreds of them marching in unison. I don't think I've ever seen so many Trolls and Dark Elves in one place in my life.

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Dark Elven Incursion

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…The Dark Elves have begun a series of bold attacks against the citizens of Freeport. From their camps in Nektulos and the Commonlands, these dark menaces have attacked and killed anyone that they have come across, from merchants to members of the Freeport Guard. Little is known as to the reason for these attacks.

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · officialMajor source

Dark Elven Incursion

In-game bookVerant/SOE

…It seems as though the Dark Elves of Neriak have started to lose their minds as well as the Trolls. They have been seen running wild and attacking everyone and anything in the Commonlands. It is only a matter of time before the Freeport Militia send out more troops to crush the Dark Elven threat. We recovered the remains of a Dark Elf that had been defeated a…

Read the full source
EQ1Primary · mirroredMajor source

Deathfist Slashed Belts

NPC dialogueVerant/SOE

…Cain Darkmoore says 'The orcs of the Commonlands call themselves Clan Deathfist. They have committed many vile acts upon the residents of the Commonlands as well as persons traveling to and from Freeport. They must be destroyed. Go forth to slay them. I shall pay a bounty for every two Deathfist belts.

Read the full source

Further sources

52

Lore that mentions this in passing — the 50 strongest of 52 listed.

Show 38 more →

Community articles

2

Fan-written encyclopedia entries — useful overviews, lower authority than the primary sources above.

Show 2 community articles

Field notes

Adventuring notes from the atlas — what to watch for and what the zone offers. Flavor, not lore.

Show field notes →
Connections
Contains
npc:karath-smoothmaneEQ2
† opens the source text behind a claim.