Western Wastes
The last remaining home of a large number of dragons in the frozen continent of Velious, a desolate wasteland roamed by powerful dragonkin.
- Type
- Zone
- Levels
- 50-65
- Inhabitants
- Wyverns,Dragons,Drakes,Giants
- Attested in
- EQ1
- Sources
- 26 texts
Overview
Drawn from The Maps of Myrist — Western Wastes, The — zone description.EQ1Primary · official
Containing objects of worship to the Wyrm Queen, these grounds are considered holy lands by the devout followers of Veeshan, and are inhospitable to all but dragonkind. The lesser races found on Velious do not dare traverse these sacred grounds, for fear of the dragon's wrath and immediate, violent reactions to such disrespect and defilement.
The dragons breed exclusively in flatlands protected by the Iceclad Ocean to the north, south, and west. Enclosed by the sheer, jutting mountains to the east, they have nothing to fear in that direction, for no manner of creature would even attempt such a climb. The only entrance to the wastes lies in a cavern connected to Siren's Grotto. The entrance from the grotto inclines greatly, met by the first scar housing the necropolis.
The incredible Temple of Veeshan is located on the north side of the northernmost scar. Sculpted from the scar itself, the holy temple is a breathtaking and awe-inspiring sight to behold. The southwestern corner of the scar holds a path leading down to the scar's floor; treacherous at best, the path allows a beautiful view of the chasm as there is no wall on the north side. The scars themselves hold mighty columns showing images of Veeshan in all her glory. Oftentimes, dragons can be found in prayer at the columns and it would rather be unwise to disrupt their worship. The dragons that reside in the chasms have been granted the most powers of all the dragons of Velious, excluding those that have been granted residence in the temple.
Dragons believe in guarding the remains of the departed. The Dragon Necropolis was constructed over the course of time to honor and protect those that have passed on to Veeshan. The necropolis lies in the southern scar, protected from the elements.
Dispersed throughout the flatlands, one can find many dragon breeding grounds. Small holes have been dug out of the ground to hold their eggs. Adventurers must approach the breeding grounds with caution, for if any of the young were to be chanced upon alone, their ensuing shrieks are sure to be heard for miles – and the parents can never be far away.
Also found in the flatlands are the monoliths which tell the tale of the creation of life on Norrath as passed down through dragon lore. Illegible to all but the children of Veeshan, these tablets are considered sacred and are guarded at all times.
In addition to the constant threat of the children of Veeshan, the giants of Kael have recently come here to rouse the ire of the dragons and expand their domain.
Map
From the EverQuest Atlas: The Maps of Myrist (SOE, 2002).
Official Lore
4Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out.
Into the Depths of: Western Wastes
Overview of the Western Wastes Western Wastes confers quite a challenge, with its enormous expanse of snowy and icy desolation. Many powerful creatures roam this land and present exciting opportunities for even the most experienced adventurers. Background Lore These grounds are considered holy lands by the most devout followers of Veeshan.
Read the full sourceThe Fusibility Study By Al'Kabor, Vol. 2
…Although he is usually a bothersome individual, the dwarven warrior Thubr Axebringer has assisted me with obtaining samples of velium ore. He managed to find a few rare pieces of it in the Western Wastes of Velious. Velium ore is the most unique ore I have found so far. Its composition relies heavily on the coldness of the area it is found.
Read the full sourceThe Loss in Western Wastes
…They then initiated an unprecedented act of defence – The Upheavel, successfully cutting off Eastern Wastes and Great Divide from Western Wastes and Cobalt Scar. Intended to make the dragon lands within Velious less susceptible to attack, it also served to isolate the land in case the battle were to escalate.
Read the full sourceFrosty Hot Summer Game Update Highlights!
…Western Wastes - The Western Wastes are inhospitable to all but dragonkind, holding nothing but objects of worship to the Veeshan, Mother of All Wurms. The lesser races found on Velious do not dare traverse these holy grounds.
Read the full sourceFurther sources
14Lore that mentions this in passing.
Community articles
7Fan-written encyclopedia entries — useful overviews, lower authority than the primary sources above.
Field notes
Adventuring notes from the atlas — what to watch for and what the zone offers. Flavor, not lore.
