The tireless Niami Denmother of EQ2Traders has turned in another great preview, this time New Halas.

A new website has been added to EQ2Players with the skinny on Game Update 56: Halas Reborn, introducing the player city of Halas, as well as a new character starting area with level 1-20 content. Halas is essentially a neutral-good aligned city, as evil-aligned characters can visit and complete most of the same quests.

Game Update 56 includes substantial features and changes:

• Halas Reborn — new player city with new housing options (2, 4, and 6 room houses)
• Frostfang Sea — new level 1~20 starting area leading to Halas
• The Underfoot Depths — A new x4 level 90 raid zone added to The Hole
• Icy Keep: Retribution — A new x4 level 90 raid zone similar in theme to Permafrost and the Icy Keep.
• Storyteller System — Major quest lines within EQ2 which have widespread impacts on the characters and world of Norrath can now be followed in the Storyteller system.
• Druid Ring Live Event — An in-game event to rebuild some of the Druid Rings throughout Norrath which have fallen to neglect. This questline is slated to resolve some of the mysteries regarding the forthcoming Velious expansion.

Visit the EQ2Players GU56: Halas Reborn page for numerous details and
screen shots of this coming update!

Domino has posted some background and lore regarding the new tradeskill society, the Ravens of the North, in New Halas. From the EQ2 Forums:

EQ2Players has a new video showcasing Halas Reborn. Check it out below. And in case you missed it, here are Screenshots of Halas Reborn Housing.