Zone 3, known as Borea, is home to more than just frozen landscapes and dangerous wildlife. It’s also home to the Outlanders—a mysterious human faction with their own culture, architecture, and secrets they’re keeping. This guide covers everything we know about this intriguing faction.
Who Are the Outlanders?
The Outlanders are a breakaway human faction living in Zone 3:
- Formerly part of a larger civilization — They separated for unknown reasons
- Survivors of something — Their history hints at past trauma
- Protective of their lands — They guard Borea fiercely
- Technologically advanced — They have sophisticated structures
Their official description calls them “a breakaway human faction with their own culture and architecture.”
Outlander Appearance
Visual Design
From official artwork and screenshots:
- Furs and heavy clothing — Necessary for Borea’s cold
- Practical gear — Built for survival
- Mixed materials — Fur, leather, and metal
- Weathered appearance — Life in the frozen north shows
Equipment
Outlanders use:
- Weapons — Swords, axes, bows
- Armor — Fur-lined metal armor
- Tools — For survival and construction
- Torchlight — For the long dark nights
Outlander Architecture
Camp Design
Outlander camps are distinctive:
- High walls — Defensive fortifications
- Watchtowers — Constant vigilance
- Thatch buildings — Sturdy, practical structures
- Communal firepits — Gathering places
Building Style
Their architecture reflects:
- Defensive mindset — Everything is fortified
- Resource efficiency — Using what Borea provides
- Communal living — Shared spaces
- Practicality over aesthetics — Survival first
Key Structures
Walls and Fortifications
- Tall wooden palisades
- Reinforced gates
- Watch platforms
- Defensive emplacements
Living Quarters
- Thatched roof buildings
- Insulated against cold
- Central heating (firepits)
- Shared living spaces
Communal Areas
- Central firepits for gathering
- Storage buildings for supplies
- Workshops for crafting
- Meeting halls for decisions
Outlander Society
Social Structure
While not fully detailed, we can infer:
- Leadership council — Decisions made collectively
- Warrior class — Those who defend the camps
- Workers — Crafters and gatherers
- Elders — Keepers of knowledge
Culture
Their culture shows:
- Survival focus — Everything serves survival
- Community bonds — They rely on each other
- Defensive posture — Always ready for threats
- Secretive nature — They don’t share much with outsiders
The Mystery They Guard
What Are They Hiding?
The official Zone 3 blog post hints at something significant:
“Zone 3 is an area of natural beauty that played host to some of the darkest moments in Orbis’ history - there’s a somber sense to the region, even when you’re surrounded by nature.”
The Outlanders “are attempting to keep something at bay - but what?”
Theories and Speculation
Ancient Evil
- Something beneath the ice
- A creature that devastated the past
- The reason Borea is frozen
The Void
- Zone 3 may be closest to the Void
- Outlanders guard against its influence
- Their defenses aren’t just against creatures
Old Secrets
- Knowledge of past cataclysms
- They know why Orbis is the way it is
- They’re protecting others from this knowledge
Connection to Orbis History
The Outlanders remember:
- Darkest moments — They were there
- Past disasters — Shaped their current existence
- Why Borea is frozen — Perhaps not natural
- What’s in Zones 5 and 6 — They may know
Interaction with Players
Initial Relations
Outlanders start as:
- Neutral to hostile — Wary of outsiders
- Protective — Don’t want strangers in their lands
- Testing — May evaluate if you’re a threat
Potential Alliance
Players might:
- Prove themselves — Earn their trust
- Learn their secrets — If welcomed
- Gain allies — Powerful supporters
- Uncover lore — They know much about Orbis
Quest Opportunities
Outlanders could offer:
- Defense missions — Help them fight threats
- Exploration — Investigate dangers they face
- Lore discovery — Piece together history
- Technology — Access their crafting knowledge
Outlander Locations
Confirmed Areas
Outlanders are found in:
- Boreal forests — Among the pine trees
- Mountain bases — Using natural defenses
- Coastal areas — Where ice meets sea
- Throughout Zone 3 — They’re the dominant human presence
Camp Variations
Different camp types:
- Small outposts — Forward positions
- Major settlements — Central communities
- Hidden camps — Secret locations
- Ruined locations — Reclaimed from the past
Combat Capabilities
Warriors
Outlander fighters are:
- Well-equipped — Quality weapons and armor
- Disciplined — Trained and organized
- Defensive — Fight from fortifications
- Desperate — They fight for survival
Tactics
They employ:
- Ambushes — Use terrain to their advantage
- Defensive positions — Let enemies come to them
- Coordinated attacks — Work as a team
- Hit-and-run — When outnumbered
Lore Connections
To Other Zones
The Outlanders’ history may connect to:
- Zone 1 — Where they may have originated
- Zone 2 — Possible former presence
- All zones — They may remember before the zones
To Orbis History
They likely know:
- What caused the current state — Of Orbis
- Why zones exist — Their true purpose
- What happened — In the “darkest moments”
- What’s coming — Threats yet to reveal
What We Don’t Know Yet
Much about the Outlanders remains mystery:
- Exact origins — Where they came from
- Their true purpose — What they’re really doing
- What they guard — The nature of the threat
- Their full history — Complete backstory
The Bottom Line
The Outlanders represent some of Hytale’s deepest lore:
- Mysterious faction — More than meets the eye
- Survivors of something — Carry past trauma
- Guardians of secrets — Protect dangerous knowledge
- Potential allies — If players can earn trust
Whether they’re friends or foes, the Outlanders are central to understanding Orbis’s history and the challenges that await players.
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