by Jeff Woleslagle on Aug 18, 2005
Of the two cities, it's obvious that Freeport got the rawer deal in the days following the shattering. Much of the Commonlands outside the city gates bears the scars of years of prolonged orcish siege. From the broken down equipment and baleful cemetary grounds to the gutted towers and foresaken outwalls, your first glimpse of renewed civilization won't come untill you've reached The Crossroads, a fortified merchants' and travelers' waystation. To the northwest you'll find the Wailing Caves, a Shin'ree orc stronghold, and a highway deemed the "Road of Sorrow," that led the first waves of refugees to Nektulos Forest. Zarvonn's tower rises above the Forest gates, the dark achievement of a one-time famous necromancer.
Southwest of the crossroads, more ruin and decay awaits you in the Ruins of Val'Marr, an area lorded over by the undead. Nature abhors a vacuum, as they say, so as you work your way further westward you'll find a savannah-like haven to the Commonlands beasts. Closing in on the fallen Dark Elf city of old, what was called Neriak and now is called "Fallen Gate," you'll enter the "Yapping Maze," home of the deadly Dervish Cutthroats. The whole of the vast Commonlands is thankfully linked together with three griffon stations.
Commonlands serves newly sprung adventurers, roughly levels 11-23, from Freeport well. Opportunities for soloing and grouped combat abound, and the Commonlands serves as the hub for a number of dungeons and instanced zones (see below) that offer great prospects in experience and loot for a well-coordinated group.
Collection quests (Details in our collection quest guide):
The Commonlands Shrub Leaf Collection yields a nice 12-slot bag. Try working on this one while you're waiting on Rama'nai to spawn for the Greater Lightstone Heritage Quest. There are also the standard bone collection (wasn't that a movie?) quests too.Lore and Legend Quests:
Examine a shield inside the tower at the Crossroads to open the Legend and Lore: Orc quest.Access quests:
Bloodskull Valley access - Details on this access quest, dubbed The Search for Bloodskull Valley, are available in our TTH access quest compendium. Eternal Gorge access - The access quest is called Zarvonn's Legacy though only one member of the group needs to complete it to enter. There is no minimum number requirement to enter this zone, so you can enter it solo if you're brave like that. Inside are level 12-13 group mobs. Vault of the Fallen access - This epic sub-zone inside Fallen Gate requires completion of an access quest entitled Searching the Depths of Fallen Gate .Normal quests:
Sargent Borus a little ways outside the West Freeport gates gives kill tasks to destroy the various and sundry Bloodskull orc types via the questProgressive Quests
From Ferink at the Crossroads (at level 15) you can get this series of seek-a-mob-and-return quests: A Rat Divided Can't We All Just Get Along Love Will Find the Byway A Hard Man to Please (kill 4 level 14 orcs at the end of this one, final reward is a nice +5 INT necklace) At level 13, Captain Vertas at the Crossroads gives you this series of kill tasks Trouble About More Than Meets the Eye Proving Your Worth Confusion is the Key One Final Task (reward is a +STA, +AGI ring which is very nice for the level) Brandus Levine at the Commonlands Docks has a set of quests for Freeportians level 10+ The Mysterious Missing Shipment (do in conjunction with Nethet's A Friend in Need quest at the West Freeport gates) Collecting on What is Earned (level 20 solo mob to kill at Crossroads, bring a group if necessary) Starting the Negotiations Finishing the Negotiations A Meeting Interrupted Mooshga at the Crossroads gives this set of quests, great to do solo (the first 7 anyway) as the third quest will raise your harvesting (min. 20 skill in harvesting to complete this step, however). The end reward, as in most long progressive quests, is nothing to write home about, so this one is for true questers only! Hyena Jerky Seafood Surprise Crack Pot Wisp-er Sweet Nothings Rhino-rific O' Mugwump Where Art Thou Overlord's Omelet Pachyderm Punch Mushroom MadnessSabotage Missions
This quest, which you'll get from the book awarded to you when you complete Freeport citizenship, grants a 12-slot bag upon completion. You'll be running all over Commonlands and through some very dangerous areas for a low-teens player. If you're not willing to wait till your mid-to-late teens, remember to buff yourself and sprint! The toughest parts come when you'll have to climb Lucan's Mount and the dervish Captain's Deck, stealth / invis if you can, and if it breaks sprint like you know what. I drew a recommended path as I believe you must progress through the quest steps in order.
Keep an eye out for the following rare harvests around the Commonlands, which can be crafted for some great items or sold for large amounts of coin:
Ore - Blackened Iron Stone - Rough Coral, Silver Cluster Pelts - "Average Quality" (not sullied) Pelts Wood - Severed Bone Roots - Sisal RootLow Teens
Ghostly and Fallen Orcs near the Commonlands docks Some ghosts at the Turmoil Cemetary (avoid heroic con enemies)High Teens
Vulrich near the Ring of Nature Bloodskull orcs, especially the lumberjacks west of their towersThe Commonlands is rife with opportunities for groups! Check out the map at the top for some suggestions, but also check out Wailing Caves (low teens) and Fallen Gate (high teens).
Thanks for reading the TTH EQ2 Commonlands zone guide! Have an suggestion or addition for the TTH Commonlands zone guide? Want to see us do a guide for one of your favorite zones? Send it to me and you'll get the credit! Share what you know (or want to know) for everyone to enjoy!