Splitpaw
Splitpaw is a gnoll dungeon in the Southern Plains of Karana, sacred in gnoll legend as the place where their god set foot upon the earth, now contested between the original Splitpaw clan and the invading Pickclaw tribe.
Overview
Drawn from The Maps of Myrist: Lair — zone description.EQ1Primary · official
Dug within the very earth of the Southern Plains of Karana, this underground lair was built and originally inhabited by the Splitpaw tribe of gnolls indigenous to the area. For decades, the Splitpaw gnolls had thrived in this region, causing little havoc to the other inhabitants of the southern plains and posing only a minor annoyance to Qeynos and its surrounding outposts in the Karana plains.
In recent times, however, an unheard of clan of gnolls calling themselves the Verishe Mal, migrated to the region and slaughtered the entire Splitpaw tribe. Some speculate the Verishe Mal are from the nethermost regions of the unexplored Underfoot, while some believe them to be from the re-discovered continent of Velious.
The Verishe Mal are exceedingly more powerful than any other gnoll tribe to ever prowl the face or known underground of Norrath. Cunning, malevolent, and highly intelligent, they were not only able to vanquish their foe, but also to quickly revamp the Splitpaw complex, establishing their new stronghold in an amazingly short period of time.
Splitpaw Lair can be identified from the surface regions of the southern Karana plains. It's marked by a small copse of earthen dunes and gnarled spires, now coated in dried blood from the ferocious and short battle that was waged between the two gnoll tribes. Several Verishe Mal warriors and scouts can be found patrolling the dunes that mark the tunnel entrance to the lair.
The lair itself is a maze of twisting caverns and oddly shaped chambers. Verishe Mal scholars from all four arcane schools of magic, highly skilled warriors, and dark shaman of Serilis inhabit every corridor and chamber of the subterranean complex.
Overview
Drawn from Stories of Sarchel the Storyteller — compiled history.EQ2Community article · best available source
Stories of Sarchel the Storyteller
Sarchel the Storyteller says,"Many years ago, long before the sky fell, these lands were lush and green."
Sarchel the Storyteller says,"The proud race known as aviaks ruled the skies and large beasts called elephants shook the earth above us."
Sarchel the Storyteller says,"It's said, that late at night, cries of joy and anguish from mighty warriors battling for honor and glory could be heard coming from the great arena."
Sarchel the Storyteller says,"The world has changed greatly since those days, but the glory of the Splitpaw Gnolls lives on forever!"
* * * *
Sarchel the Storyteller says,"Gather 'round and hear my tale! I speak of ages long past, and heroes long turned to dust!"
Map
From the EverQuest Atlas: The Maps of Myrist (SOE, 2002).
Official Lore
3Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out.
Splitpaw Down Under, Part One
The Splitpaw gnolls proved to be a more dangerous adversary than the Rallosians had suspected, although not exactly for the reasons one might suppose. In Part One, we meet Gippy, a Splitpaw gnoll scout. Sort of. It was Gippy’s turn to watch that day. Gippy had paid Flemm to take his shift. Flemm forgot.
Read the full sourceSplitpaw Down Under, Part Two
The Splitpaw gnolls proved to be a more dangerous adversary than the Rallosians had suspected, although not exactly for the reasons one might suppose. In Part Two, Gippy tries to play both sides. “So General Urduuk arranged a guide through Splitpaw, eh?” The Rallosian lieutenant considered this thoughtfully and for so long that Gippy thought the trick was up…
Read the full sourceKnow Your Gnolls
My name is Pearl Honeywine and I am studying gnoll habitat and society to better understand these creatures. Through my work, “Know Your Gnolls,” I hope to increase the body of knowledge regarding these beasts and thereby also increase our ability to reduce their numbers. “Know Your Gnolls,” by Pearl Honeywine — Being an exhaustive study into the habitat, soc…
Read the full sourceFurther sources
3Lore that mentions this in passing.
Community articles
4Fan-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.