Paineel
The hidden city of the Heretics on Odus, devoted to necromancy and the god Cazic-Thule, beside the Hole.
Overview
Drawn from On the Town of: Paineel — official article.EQ1Primary · official
Paineel is the city of the Cazicites, the powerful necromancers who once lived among the High Men of Erudin but were outcast due to their unfailing interest in the dark arts. Referred to as "Heretics" by the Erudites the Cazicites relocated to one of the most powerful and naturally magical areas in all of Norrath.
Buried deep into the sides of The Hole, the dark city of Paineel is seldom visited by outsiders. Most die on the journey down before ever seeing the black spires of the stone that marks the entrance to the city; either from being attacked due to mistrust or from the fall into the pit known as The Hole due to not watching their step. Strangers are never welcomed unless they have something desirable to offer. Regardless of the nature of the visit, a sacrifice of blood is required to gain entry.
The city of Paineel offers a sloping, grassy yard where pupils may hone the first of their fledgling skills. Undead guardsmen stand watch at the outer gates, insuring that those in duress can flee back to the city without their would-be killers following them.
Those who graduate from the slopes and ready for a stiffer challenge may enter the caverns of the warrens which lay wedged into the rocky cliffs that encase the yard.
Background Lore
The Erudites had a problem. Some of their people were beginning to practice the dark, corrupt art of Necromancy. The Erudites labeled these misguided mages as Heretics and drove them forth from the city of Erudin.
Overview
Drawn from The Age of Turmoil (Lore) — in-game book.EQ2Primary · mirrored · best available source
Ages of Norrath It came to pass some years later that a small group of Erudites discovered the lost art of Necromancy.
They were branded heretics and great conflict arose. For the first time in several hundred years, the Erudites fought.
They engaged in a civil war not entirely dissimilar to that which they had loathed and fled from back on the mainland. But there was one very significant difference: they did not use swords and bows, but rather magic, and the result was terrible.
Lives by the hundreds were lost, great buildings and structures destroyed, and eventually the heretics were forced to flee Erudin, to hide and regroup in the southern regions of Odus.
In one final battle, great mystic energies were released and an immense hole leading to unknown depths beneath the earth was created.
Into the sides of this chasm the heretics built their own city which they called Paineel. And while both sides still seethed with anger and hatred towards one another, their fear of what the last battle had wrought has kept any further conflict at bay.
Source: EverQuest 1 manual
Overview
Drawn from Vazaelle Kaleine, The Mad — compiled history.RPGCommunity article · best available source
Vazaelle was once a mortal who lived amid the Heretics outcast
from Erudin. A devout follower of Cazic-Thule, Vazaelle succumbed to her own zeal and prophetic visions and thereby
abandoned all semblance of sanity. Cazic-Thule offered Vazaelle
her own realm of power, which she twisted into the visage of old
Paineel. Occasionally, she experiences the vision of some unforeseen event, watching (in her own madness) as the strands of the
future seek to affect some unsuspecting mortal. Some say that
Vazaelle Kaleine sometimes acts on her visions, imparting some
Maps
2From the EverQuest Atlas: The Maps of Myrist (SOE, 2002).
Official Lore
18Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out.
The Maps of Myrist
Paineel is the city of the Cazicites, the powerful necromancers who once lived among the High Men of Erudin but were outcast due to their unfailing interest in the dark arts. Referred to as "Heretics" by the Erudites, the Cazicites relocated to one of the most powerful and naturally magical areas in all of Norrath.
Read the full sourceknohole3
The trio said not a word to each other, and continued at a dead sprint toward the surface as the sound of an army of creatures rumbled directly behind them.
Read the full sourcePAINHoleBk
Two hundred years after Erud left the continent of Antonica to establish Erudin on the continent of Odus, our own ancestors, who have been known to some as Cazicites, grew in power and knowledge of ancient dark arts. The Erudites, once our brothers, criticized us, persecuted us, and eventually drove us out of the city we had helped to found.
Read the full sourcePAINOldPainBk
The great city of Paineel was created to serve as a refuge and home base for us, the Cazicites. We, the practi- tioners of the dark arts, who were so wrongfully and uncere- moniously ejected from our homeland of Erudin, founded the city in the great hole blasted from the ground during the civil war.
Read the full sourceThe Tome of Ages, Volume III
It came to pass some years later that a small group of Erudites discovered the lost art of Necromancy. They were branded heretics and great conflict arose. For the first time in several hundred years, the Erudites fought. They engaged in a civil war not entirely dissimilar to that which they had loathed and fled back on the mainland.
Read the full sourcePAINPainBk
Having fled from persecution by our own kind, and then forced to flee our beautiful Paineel, we rebuilt our city here, not far from its prede- cessor. New Paineel was designed in the image of Old Paineel, but has come to outshine its namesake over time.
Read the full sourceShow 12 more →
Ognit Eznertob, Dabner
Ognit Eznertob, Dabner Drednever and Dagda Icefury had spent the last several days spelunking in the Hole and the ruins of the old city of Paineel. The ruins were an eerie, dusty and dark place. Strange and terrifying sounds echoed throughout the once splendorous city, like wails of torment from souls suffering in eternal agony.
Read the full sourcePNFellNt2
Take this note to Coriante Verisue. She is perhaps the oldest 'living' resident of Paineel. She will, with the aid of her many henchmen, guide you in the perilous craft of Necromancy. Together, combined with the Power of the Heretics, you will grow in power, and one day exert your will upon the common races and take the place that is rightfully yours.
Read the full sourceVazaelle Kaleine - The Mad
Vazaelle Kaleine - The Mad An Erudite by heritage, Vazaelle lived among those who were ousted from Erudin for necromancy. During her lifetime, she was a dedicated devout Cazicite, though a combination of religious zeal and prophetic visions stripped from her any semblance of sanity. Lifted up by her deity and given her own domain, the power of her madness sha…
Read the full sourceFrom the Library of Norrath: The Hole Uncovered
This storyline comes from Norrath’s past when the Hole was uncovered by Ognit Eznertob and his friends. The Hole Uncovered Part 1: History Repeats Ognit Eznertob, Dabner Drednever and Dagda Icefury have spent the last several days spelunking in the Hole and the ruins of the old city of Paineel. The ruins are an eerie, dusty and dark place.
Read the full sourceknohole2
Finally, the inevitable happened. Ognit channeled just a small amount of energy into the Hatch. It wasn't much, not even enough to kill a moss snake. However this time, the Living Wall began to shudder spasmodically and took on a pale, sickly color. The earthquake that resulted was truly terrifying.
Read the full sourceAssistant Researcher’s Notes, Vol. 3, The High Council of Erudin
Indeed,” was El’Arad’s response. I could see his face clearly now, and admittedly, it was hard not to look at him in awe. This was the man who had proposed the rebuilding of the Nexus, and it was through his guidance that the two cities were now cooperating, and working toward a common goal.
Read the full sourceAssistant Researcher’s Notes, Vol. 1, Halls of Erudin
torn hand-written note – This note, which is written in elegant, learned handwriting, appears to detail the removal of a book or journal from the vault, with the intention of getting the book to “the keepers of knowledge.”) I have been Zal’Urid’s apprentice for several years now, and have witnessed his ingenuity and enlightened insight first hand.
Read the full sourceAssistant Researcher’s Notes, Vol. 2, The High Council of Erudin
I will never forget the chambers of the High Council of Erudin. Never have I been in a place where I felt such scrutiny, and indeed, such oppression. I knew that it was here that the Council banished Miragul for practicing the art of necromancy, thereby cutting an entire sphere of knowledge and learning from their studies.
Read the full sourceThe Redeemer
You say, ‘Hail, Irak Altil’ Irak Altil says ‘Ah ______, it is so good to see you again. I hope my sword has been treating you well. What [brings you here], friend?’ You say, ‘What brings me here?’ Irak Altil says ‘Yes, what is your purpose here? Perhaps you are curious as to how I’ve gotten here? Would you [like me to tell you]?’
Read the full sourceHouse of Thule Preview – Miragul’s Nightmare
There are lots of great new zones and features coming with the House of Thule expansion! Here's a sneak peek at one of the zones. Miragul's Nightmare In this zone, adventurers level 85+ will explore the dreaming mind of a madman. Miragul, having made the choice to become a lich, is locked within his phylactery. The dream keeps the waking horror at bay.
Read the full sourceRoad to Underfoot: Breaking the Seal
Greetings! For our third and last Road to Underfoot event, protect Norrath and quell the threat of invading Cliknar soldiers with Breaking the Seal! Many remember the tale of Ognit Eznertob and his friends when they discovered the Wall of Living Stone in the ruins of Old Paineel.
Read the full sourceThe Age of Turmoil (Lore)
Ages of Norrath It came to pass some years later that a small group of Erudites discovered the lost art of Necromancy. They were branded heretics and great conflict arose. For the first time in several hundred years, the Erudites fought. They engaged in a civil war not entirely dissimilar to that which they had loathed and fled from back on the mainland.
Read the full sourceFurther sources
30Lore that mentions this in passing.
Show 18 more →
Community articles
30Fan-written encyclopedia entries — useful overviews, lower authority than the primary sources above.
Show 30 community articles →
Field notes
Adventuring notes from the atlas — what to watch for and what the zone offers. Flavor, not lore.

