Question for the Devs about Malas

[Crysta]

Please note, I said the Devs... that's because I don't want the typical idle speculation for an answer to this, i'm looking for something straight from the source.


Basically.. I found myself wondering today.. was anything ever written down about what specifically Malas is supposed to be? Out of every land that has ever been added to UO, it is the only one where we have gotten next to nothing aside from "paladins and necromancers are there, and they hate each other; also, the place is falling into the void".


Was it intended to be another "corrupted" version of the original lands in the vein of Ilshenar? Was it supposed to be a twisted UO version of one of the other classic Ultima landmasses? Was it meant to be the UO version of Ultima 5's Underworld? Someone had to have put in writing exactly what it was somewhere (like that damn Hanse), and I think it's about time for a real answer and maybe some actual background fiction for the place (seriously hoping for the Underworld one.. would explain Doom being there perfectly).

[Kiminality]

I actually know at least a part of the answer to this.
But, I'm not a dev...

*Shrugs*

[Syrus of Gahd]

There's some written history on Malas. Let me know if you want me to link you there.

[Crysta]

Maybe, but only if its really official, since there's almost nothing.

Stil holding out on a dev answer though.

[Old Man of UO]

I am not a Dev, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.

[Stupid Miner]

http://www.uo.com/ageofshadows/fiction.html

The message "More Coming Soon..." makes me think it's incomplete.

Nice to have my necromancer's alignment vindicated by the official fiction, if not in practice.

[WarderDragon]

I've always had a theory that Malas was based on some of the continents from Ultima I (just as Ilshenar seems to be Serpent's Isle and Tokuno Isles seem to be Rondolin and Barataria, the Land of Feudal Lords).

But beyond my speculation, you're right. There is absolutely no lore for the Age of Shadows. They've begun every expansion with some sort of story, but by the time the expansion rolls out it is dismissed or forgotten. We still know next to nothing about Ilshenar and Tokuno. Who was Ilshen? How did the continent come to be like that? Where is Exodus? Where is the Empress of Tokuno?

[Syrus of Gahd]

lol