This just in from SOE!  Take a look at some of the zones coming with EverQuest II's highly anticipated fifth expansion!

After teasing the community mercilessly, Kiara brings us the Official Beta Invite !

Since today is Talk Like a Pirate Day (yeah, we totally planned it this way) the rest of our message will be brought to you in pirate speak!

Aye, please remember that registration int' the beta program does not guarantee admittance, but only puts ye int' the pool from which players will be randomly selected t' take part in the program. Also please remember that takin' part in our beta program means that ye accept the terms o' our Non-disclosure Agreement; e'erythin' included within the software and on the beta forums is co'ard by that agreement until otherwise stated. No aspect o' the beta program may be discussed on any public message shanty men; only on the pri'ate beta section o' the official E'erquest II forums. Ye'll ne'er get me buried booty!

If you don't speak pirate, try this link!

Kiara posteth :

The day we've all been waiting for is finally here!

Open beta registration will start on Friday, September 19th, 2008.

Stay tuned for the link and more information. Same ogre time, same ogre channel.

Watch here for more news as it becomes available!

Ah Veksar !  This dungeon is a preview to the launch version that will be available in the upcoming expansion The Shadow Odyssey(TM), scheduled for release on November 18th.  Haven't taken a look yet?  We got our hands on some video!

Spotted on the Network Status Page :

Downtime schedule - 09/03/20087:00AM Pacific Daylight Time

All EQII US worlds will be updated at 7:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time on 09/03/2008.
The estimated downtime will be 1 hour.

- SOE Operations team

Downtime scheduled - Downtime scheduled 09/04/2008 5:00 AM London Time / 09/03/2008 9:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time

This is a notification that UK worlds will be updated at 5:00 AM London Time on the 09/04/2008. The estimated downtime will be 2 hours.

- SOE Operations team

For your reading pleasure during downtime, we present to you the revamped Everfrost , the Guild Hall Construction World Event , and chapter three of the Void Storms world Event, a murder mystery !

note:  none of those links contain spoilers, you'll have to click through one more time!