Qeynos Catacombs
The Qeynos Catacombs is an ancient underground water system beneath Qeynos, now a haven for smugglers, thieves, undead, and worshippers of Bertoxxulous in their hidden Temple.
Overview
Drawn from qeynoscatacombs — zone description.EQ1Community article · best available source
The Qeynos Catacombs is the vast ancient water supply to the city of Qeynos. The area was long ago walled off when it was no longer used, but then became the haven of the seedier elements of area, including the beggars and thieves, smugglers and thugs, and up to the members who worship the Plague Bringer himself.
Dangers ------- The Qeynos Catacombs can be considered to be an early exercise in factions and how they play a role in the safety of an area. Many of the creatures here (in fact, most) start out ambivalent to most people, and this includes everything but the undead and the people in the Temple of Bertoxxulous, who will both kill anyone that doesn't pass as "evil" very quickly. Then, depending on who and what you decide to pick battles with, various members of the surroundings, be they the guards of Qeynos or the rougher elements, will become aggressive to you. Be aware that killing guards down here, where they are very weak, can lead to you being attacked by the vastly stronger guards in the city above.
Otherwise, the only wandering monsters that are aggressive to all are the large piranha, which can hit fast and for quite a bit of damage to a relatively new adventurer. Take a look in the water before making a long swim through a corridor with no exits, especially if you are not a good swimmer, or you could be trying to get your corpse out of the bottom of the water down here, while avoiding the same piranha.
Recently, the catacombs have become much more dangerous, and several powerful undead spectres can be seen in various areas, as well as wandering septic rats that are very powerful and aggressive. It is therefore wise to be much more careful when travelling around the catacombs than in days past.
Benefits -------- This area is a pretty good area for low level adventurers to hunt in and fight in, with lots of readily available creatures that, for the most part, don't group up when you fight them. There is also a good progression up through the levels, and you could fight here from level one through to level ten or so without leaving for anything other than supplies. This is especially true if you are an evil character, for there is a bank located in the Temple of Bertoxxulous as well as merchants that sell all manner of goods.
The additional benefit, in my book, is that this zone is always very uncrowded. There are never more than ten people in the whole zone, and often many many less. This means that you will likely never have to deal with kill-stealing and the other annoying things that happen in the more crowded newbie areas up where the sun is. It is also nice down here if you are evil, because it gives you the feeling of being truly evil, wandering through the sewers beneath the city above.
Travelling To and From Qeynos Catacombs --------------------------------------- There are multiple separate ways into the Qeynos Catacombs, all are through tunnels that lead into them, and most of these are underwater ones. It is also possible to pass completely through Qeynos from the outside to where the ship lands by travelling through the Catacombs. The first entrance is located outside the city gates through a secret opening in the walls. Look for the heavy ivy clinging to the wall and the moisture that comes up from the well inside. This is the only entrance from outside the city. Next you are able to enter through the pool outside of the Monk's Guild Hall, by swimming down through a shaft inside. There is also an entrance from underneath Crow's Tavern in the Thieves Guild Hall, but this is unsafe as secret pits will drop you into the shark pit.
Overview
Drawn from A Bloodsaber meddler note — in-game book.EQ2Primary · mirrored · best available source
A bloodsaber meddler
Humans have returned to these catacombs. The hands, once exiled, have secretly returned. The coin with the eye has been taken by a hairfoot. He was sneaky, nothing but a pen wielder. He should have perished at our claws and fangs. It is most valuable. It will help us find their new hideout among the tunnels of the undercity. We must have it back! We cannot have our resurrection stopped by the meddling of former Qeynosians. For the Plaguebringer they must be stopped.
Official Lore
7Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out.
Qeynos Catacombs Creature Catalog
The city of Qeynos is built over a series of ancient aqueducts. In slightly more recent times, parts of these aqueducts were converted to catacombs in which the city’s fallen have been buried. Therefore, one will find an intriguing mixture of ancient waterworks and burial crypts beneath the city’s streets.
Read the full sourceStained Cloth Note
The tide shall turn, as will the light. Your talents could reward you greatly. Follow the shadows down, deep into the darkness. The filth and bile that flows silently underneath Qeynos shall become this city's deadliest enemy. Secretly enter the underworld from below the Grounds of Fate. The passage lies behind the bones, but watch your step, and your back.
Read the full sourceGuide to Collecting Crypt Plates
A Beginner’s Guide to Crypt Plates,” by Poola Thackery. Poola has been a crypt plate collector for many years and currently owns the finest collection of these funerary relics in all Antonica. You may be asking yourself why bother collecting crypt plates since I, Poola Thackery, have already got the largest collection in Norrath.
Read the full sourceA Bloodsaber meddler note
A bloodsaber meddler Humans have returned to these catacombs. The hands, once exiled, have secretly returned. The coin with the eye has been taken by a hairfoot. He was sneaky, nothing but a pen wielder. He should have perished at our claws and fangs. It is most valuable. It will help us find their new hideout among the tunnels of the undercity.
Read the full sourceshadow01
The tide shall turn, as will the light. Your talents could reward you greatly. Follow the shadows down, deep into the darkness. The filth and bile that flows silently underneath Qeynos shall become this city's deadliest enemy. If you value what little life you have, be sure you are not followed. S'ragg calls for you now.
Read the full sourceA Collection of Epitaphs
The poetry and stories have a homey simplicity about them, especially those written during times of great stress throughout the world. The frayed edges of the pages upon which these verses are copied is a mute testament to those who read this book before, several times. The epitaphs are grouped roughly by race. Not all Norrathian races are represented, althou…
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Blood Stained Note (Guild Summons)
Shrine of Bertoxxulous Enchanter Your fate lurks in disease and bile, the blood of Bertoxxulous. Beneath the Grounds of Fate Arena, the rotting bones of fallen warriors mark the entrance to the underworld. In these shadowy depths, lurk the Bloodsabers and other minions of the Lord of Disease.
Read the full sourceFurther sources
7Lore that mentions this in passing.
Community articles
2Fan-written encyclopedia entries — useful overviews, lower authority than the primary sources above.