The Golden Age · Hotspots

The ground they bled for

Darktide’s wars were fought over places that paid.

The great three

Where the banners met

A coastal town of sandstone domes and upswept tiled roofs on a ridge between dark forest and a cold sea at dusk; a glowing blue lifestone crowns the hill above the houses as a raiding party arrives in its light, and an islet offshore is reached by two rows of pale pillars standing in the water.

The Direlands · “AB”

Ayan Baqur

The richest, hardest-to-reach town on the map. The prize of the AB Wars.Walk the ground

A volcanic island: a glowing crater with lava floes, a winged beast's aerie on a second peak, a turquoise lagoon harbour guarded by two lighthouses and coral columns, white ruins in the ash, and a portal on the harbour beach where fighters gather.

Offshore · reached by emissary

Aerlinthe Island

Darktide’s one truce. When it broke, whoever held the ties held the island.Walk the ground

A hidden mountain village of dark timber and tiled roofs terraced above a still grey-blue lake beneath snow peaks, a blue lifestone glowing at its heart, a smithy on the shore and crimson banners on the gate.

Black Rose’s town · Blood’s seat

Kara

A hidden mountain town that became a capital, and heard the oath to Bael’Zharon.Walk the ground

The next tier

More contested ground

An unwalled hill town of timber and stone on a lifestone hill at the edge of a blighted wasteland, its slopes strewn with fallen fighters' gear, crimson banners and smoke under an amber sky, with a smoking crater and two distant spires.

Darktide’s early hub

Arwic

The crossroads of Darktide’s earliest great battles, until the world wiped it away.Walk the ground

A torchlit cave warren crowded with hulking tusked brutes while rival armoured fighters under red and blue banners battle each other over the pulls, with a violet glow in the far chamber.

Three caves · one summer

The Black Spawn Dens

For one summer, the fastest road to power, garrisoned like mines.Walk the ground

A starter town at golden hour: timber-framed shops and a cobbled square beneath a hilltop keep, new adventurers crossing the square past watchful dark-armoured figures and a glowing lifestone fountain.

A starter town · a war capital

Lytelthorpe

The summer a PK monarchy moved into a starter town’s castle.Walk the ground

At night a lone adventurer crouches beside a glowing blue lifestone as hooded hunters with drawn weapons close in from the pine forest.

Where Bael’Zharon walked

Fort Tethana

A frontier refuge, and the night players were thrown into the sky.Walk the ground

At a glance

Every hotspot, side by side

Darktide hotspots at a glance
Place	Why it mattered	At a glance
Ayan Baqur	The richest, hardest-to-reach town on the map. The prize of the AB Wars.	Region: Western Direlands Founded: May 2000 Prize: Rich vendors, fast dens Contested: 2000 – 2001 Record: Strong
Aerlinthe Island	Darktide’s one truce. When it broke, whoever held the ties held the island.	Region: Far north, offshore Opened: July 2000 Prize: Golem hunting Contested: Autumn 2000 on Record: Good
Kara	A hidden mountain town that became a capital, and heard the oath to Bael’Zharon.	Region: Linvak Mountains Type: Sho lake town Prize: Good prices, a hidden home Contested: 1999 – 2001 Record: Strong
Arwic	The crossroads of Darktide’s earliest great battles, until the world wiped it away.	Region: Edge of the Olthoi north Type: Trade town Contested: 1999 – 2000 Record: Fair
The Black Spawn Dens	For one summer, the fastest road to power, garrisoned like mines.	Region: Across the Direlands Opened: June 2000 Prize: Experience, fast Record: Strong dates, partisan control
Lytelthorpe	The summer a PK monarchy moved into a starter town’s castle.	Region: Central Aluvian lands Type: Starter town, small keep Contested: Mid 2000 Record: Fair
Fort Tethana	A frontier refuge, and the night players were thrown into the sky.	Region: Northern Direlands Type: Fortified outpost Contested: More refuge than prize Record: Fair

“Record” is how much rests on official text and both sides, not one voice.