Permafrost

Mob pathing is buggy in parts of this zone. Enter at your own risk!

Classic Era (added 1999-2000)

Permafrost Keep is an ancient castle buried in the glacial flow that is slowly claiming the northlands of Norrath. Most of the castle lies in ruins, and what is left consists of excavated areas of the old castle and a warren of caves dug out by the goblins who serve their dragon master.

Level of Monsters: 15-50+ Types of Monsters: Ice Goblin, Goblin Mendicants, Diviners, Evokers, Priests, Prelates, Wizards, Sages, Elite Goblin Guard, Giant Wooly Spider, Dire Pup, Young Dire Wolf, Dire Wolf, Large Dire Wolf, Giant Dire Wolf, Icy Terror, a giant polar bear, Ice Giant Youth, Ice Giant, Ice Giant Magi, Ice Giant Priest Notable NPCs: Lady Vox, Priest of Nagafen, High Priest Zaharn, A goblin alchemist (Permafrost), King Thex'Ka IV, A Goblin Archeologist, Goblin Patriarch, Goblin Preacher, Goblin Jail Master, Goblin Scryer, Elite Honor Guard, Injured Polar Bear, Ice Goblin Champion, Ice Giant Diplomat Unique Items: Archeologist Pack Archeologist Pack File:Item 884.png LORE ITEM WT: 0.4 Weight Reduction: 25% Capacity: 6 Size Capacity: LARGE , Barbarian Hunting Spear Barbarian Hunting Spear File:Item 776.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: RANGE PRIMARY Skill: Piercing Atk Delay: 33 DMG: 10 WIS: +5 MANA: +10 WT: 7.0 Size: LARGE Class: SHM Race: ALL , Cold Iron Morning Star Cold Iron Morning Star File:Item 741.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: PRIMARY SECONDARY Skill: 1H Blunt Atk Delay: 35 DMG: 9 WT: 4.5 Size: MEDIUM Class: ALL except NEC WIZ MAG ENC Race: ALL , Crystalline Blade Crystalline Blade File:Item 580.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: PRIMARY Skill: 1H Slashing Atk Delay: 38 DMG: 11 WT: 3.5 Size: MEDIUM Class: WAR PAL RNG SHD BRD ROG Race: ALL , Dented Brass Mask Dented Brass Mask File:Item 772.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: FACE AC: 4 STR: +3 WT: 0.8 Size: SMALL Class: ALL except DRU NEC WIZ MAG ENC Race: ALL , Etched Ivory Charm Etched Ivory Charm File:Item 566.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: NECK AC: 5 STR: +2 WIS: +2 INT: +2 WT: 0.5 Size: SMALL Class: ALL except NEC WIZ MAG ENC Race: ALL , Frost Goblin Skin Frost Goblin Skin File:Item 835.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP Slot: CHEST AC: 7 SV COLD: +5 WT: 3.5 Size: MEDIUM Class: MAG Race: HUM ERU HIE DEF GNM , Goblin Frost Totem Goblin Frost Totem File:Item 895.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP Slot: PRIMARY SECONDARY MANA: +5 SV COLD: +10 WT: 0.8 Size: SMALL Class: CLR DRU BRD SHM Race: ALL , Icy Greaves Icy Greaves File:Item 541.png LORE ITEM NO DROP Slot: LEGS AC: 8 SV COLD: +5 WT: 7.5 Size: LARGE Class: WAR CLR PAL SHD BRD Race: ALL except IKS , Ice Crystal Staff Ice Crystal Staff File:Item 811.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: PRIMARY SECONDARY Skill: 1H Blunt Atk Delay: 28 DMG: 5 Effect: Shock of Frost (Combat, Casting Time: Instant) WT: 6.5 Size: LARGE Class: BRD NEC WIZ MAG ENC Race: ALL , Mammoth Hide Cloak Mammoth Hide Cloak File:Item 841.png Slot: BACK AC: 7 WIS: +4 SV COLD: +5 WT: 2.5 Size: MEDIUM Class: ALL Race: ALL , Mammoth Hide Leggings Mammoth Hide Leggings File:Item 635.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: LEGS AC: 6 STA: +3 SV COLD: +5 WT: 4.0 Size: MEDIUM Class: ALL Race: ALL , Runed Circlet Runed Circlet File:Item 523.png Slot: HEAD AC: 4 WIS: +4 INT: +4 WT: 1.0 Size: SMALL Class: ALL Race: ALL , Silvery Two Handed Axe Silvery Two Handed Axe File:Item 1166.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: PRIMARY Skill: 2H Slashing Atk Delay: 48 DMG: 21 Effect: Serpent Sight (Worn) WT: 13.0 Size: LARGE Class: WAR PAL RNG SHD Race: ALL , Silvery War Axe Silvery War Axe File:Item 902.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: PRIMARY SECONDARY Skill: 1H Slashing Atk Delay: 22 DMG: 6 WT: 2.5 Size: MEDIUM Class: WAR PAL RNG SHD BRD ROG Race: ALL , Symbol of Loyalty to Vox Symbol of Loyalty to Vox File:Item 516.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: WRIST AC: 7 SV COLD: +7 WT: 0.3 Size: SMALL Class: ALL Race: ALL except IKS , Throwing Boulder Throwing Boulder File:Item 591.png Slot: RANGE AMMO Skill: Throwingv2 Atk Delay: 35 DMG: 36 WT: 25.5 Range: 200 Size: LARGE Class: WAR SHD ROG Race: BAR TRL OGR IKS , White Wolf-hide Cloak White Wolf-hide Cloak File:Item 839.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: BACK AC: 7 STR: +3 DEX: +3 SV COLD: +5 WT: 0.3 Size: LARGE Class: ALL Race: ALL , Wolf Fur Slippers Wolf Fur Slippers File:Item 666.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: FEET AC: 2 AGI: +7 MANA: +20 WT: 0.5 Size: SMALL Class: ALL Race: ALL , Wooly Spider Silk Net Wooly Spider Silk Net File:Item 782.png MAGIC ITEM Charges: 3 Effect: Ensnaring Roots (Any Slot, Casting Time: 2.0 seconds) WT: 0.1 Size: SMALL Class: ALL Race: ALL , Zaharn's Coronet Zaharn's Coronet File:Item 523.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: HEAD AC: 5 STR: +3 MANA: +25 WT: 5.0 Size: SMALL Class: CLR DRU SHM Race: ALL except TRL OGR IKS Related Quests: Shackle of Bronze, Staff of Temperate Flux, Words of Darkness Adjacent Zones: Everfrost Peaks Name in /who: permafrost Zone Spawn Timer: 22:00 Succor/Evacuate: 0, 0 (Near the zone line to Everfrost Peaks) ZEM Value: 90 (120%) Raised to 144 (192%)

Map

File:Zone permafrost.jpg Permafrost Keep Lair of Lady Vox (see Raid Encounter page for drops) Ice Giant Diplomat who drops Throwing Boulder Throwing Boulder File:Item 591.png Slot: RANGE AMMO Skill: Throwingv2 Atk Delay: 35 DMG: 36 WT: 25.5 Range: 200 Size: LARGE Class: WAR SHD ROG Race: BAR TRL OGR IKS , and Ice Goblin Champion who drops Crystalline Blade Crystalline Blade File:Item 580.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: PRIMARY Skill: 1H Slashing Atk Delay: 38 DMG: 11 WT: 3.5 Size: MEDIUM Class: WAR PAL RNG SHD BRD ROG Race: ALL . King's Room King Thex'Ka IV who drops Symbol of Loyalty to Vox Symbol of Loyalty to Vox File:Item 516.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: WRIST AC: 7 SV COLD: +7 WT: 0.3 Size: SMALL Class: ALL Race: ALL except IKS (Common) and White Wolf-hide Cloak White Wolf-hide Cloak File:Item 839.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: BACK AC: 7 STR: +3 DEX: +3 SV COLD: +5 WT: 0.3 Size: LARGE Class: ALL Race: ALL (Rare) A goblin patriarch who drops Goblin Frost Totem Goblin Frost Totem File:Item 895.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP Slot: PRIMARY SECONDARY MANA: +5 SV COLD: +10 WT: 0.8 Size: SMALL Class: CLR DRU BRD SHM Race: ALL Elite Goblin Guards who drop Icy Greaves Icy Greaves File:Item 541.png LORE ITEM NO DROP Slot: LEGS AC: 8 SV COLD: +5 WT: 7.5 Size: LARGE Class: WAR CLR PAL SHD BRD Race: ALL except IKS , Frost Goblin Skin Frost Goblin Skin File:Item 835.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP Slot: CHEST AC: 7 SV COLD: +5 WT: 3.5 Size: MEDIUM Class: MAG Race: HUM ERU HIE DEF GNM Elite Honor Guards who drop Silvery War Axe Silvery War Axe File:Item 902.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: PRIMARY SECONDARY Skill: 1H Slashing Atk Delay: 22 DMG: 6 WT: 2.5 Size: MEDIUM Class: WAR PAL RNG SHD BRD ROG Race: ALL (Common), and Silvery Two Handed Axe Silvery Two Handed Axe File:Item 1166.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: PRIMARY Skill: 2H Slashing Atk Delay: 48 DMG: 21 Effect: Serpent Sight (Worn) WT: 13.0 Size: LARGE Class: WAR PAL RNG SHD Race: ALL (Rare) High Priest Zaharn who drops Zaharn's Coronet Zaharn's Coronet File:Item 523.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: HEAD AC: 5 STR: +3 MANA: +25 WT: 5.0 Size: SMALL Class: CLR DRU SHM Race: ALL except TRL OGR IKS A Goblin Archeologist (Level 24-27) who drops Archeologist Pack Archeologist Pack File:Item 884.png LORE ITEM WT: 0.4 Weight Reduction: 25% Capacity: 6 Size Capacity: LARGE (Common) and Dented Brass Mask Dented Brass Mask File:Item 772.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: FACE AC: 4 STR: +3 WT: 0.8 Size: SMALL Class: ALL except DRU NEC WIZ MAG ENC Race: ALL (Rare) Well that drops to sub-caverns shown at lower right Goblin Preacher (Level 24) who drops Cold Iron Morning Star Cold Iron Morning Star File:Item 741.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: PRIMARY SECONDARY Skill: 1H Blunt Atk Delay: 35 DMG: 9 WT: 4.5 Size: MEDIUM Class: ALL except NEC WIZ MAG ENC Race: ALL (Common) and Runed Circlet Runed Circlet File:Item 523.png Slot: HEAD AC: 4 WIS: +4 INT: +4 WT: 1.0 Size: SMALL Class: ALL Race: ALL (Rare) "Flag Room" A goblin alchemist (Permafrost) (Level 27) who drops Mammoth Hide Leggings Mammoth Hide Leggings File:Item 635.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: LEGS AC: 6 STA: +3 SV COLD: +5 WT: 4.0 Size: MEDIUM Class: ALL Race: ALL (Common) and Mammoth Hide Cloak Mammoth Hide Cloak File:Item 841.png Slot: BACK AC: 7 WIS: +4 SV COLD: +5 WT: 2.5 Size: MEDIUM Class: ALL Race: ALL (Rare) Goblin Jail Master (Level 20) who drops Wooly Spider Silk Net Wooly Spider Silk Net File:Item 782.png MAGIC ITEM Charges: 3 Effect: Ensnaring Roots (Any Slot, Casting Time: 2.0 seconds) WT: 0.1 Size: SMALL Class: ALL Race: ALL (Common) and Etched Ivory Charm Etched Ivory Charm File:Item 566.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: NECK AC: 5 STR: +2 WIS: +2 INT: +2 WT: 0.5 Size: SMALL Class: ALL except NEC WIZ MAG ENC Race: ALL (Rare) Goblin Scryer (Level 25) who drops Ice Crystal Staff Ice Crystal Staff File:Item 811.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM Slot: PRIMARY SECONDARY Skill: 1H Blunt Atk Delay: 28 DMG: 5 Effect: Shock of Frost (Combat, Casting Time: Instant) WT: 6.5 Size: LARGE Class: BRD NEC WIZ MAG ENC Race: ALL (Common) and Wolf Fur Slippers Wolf Fur Slippers File:Item 666.png MAGIC ITEM Slot: FEET AC: 2 AGI: +7 MANA: +20 WT: 0.5 Size: SMALL Class: ALL Race: ALL (Rare) An icy goblin (Level 24) who drops Book of Frost Book of Frost File:Item 777.png MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM NO DROP WT: 1.5 Size: MEDIUM Class: NEC Race: ERU DEF GNM (rare)

Dangers

Permafrost Keep is similar to other goblin dungeons in that there are always a large number of goblins either standing or wandering around anyplace that you are. This makes it a very challenging, some would say impossible, area to solo in, although there are certainly a couple of places where soloing is possible. Most adventuring within requires a group so that you can survive the constant onslaught of the goblins, many of whom are casters and can see through invisibility.

It should be noted that one of the two dragons on Antonica resides in the depths of Permafrost. Lady Vox herself holds court deep within this dungeon. She is guarded by Ice Giants who attend to her, and who are highly aggressive. Her lair is also protected by pit traps, which can drop you into a dangerous underground area filled with dire wolves, polar bears, and icy terrors. Do not attempt to take Lady Vox or the Ice Giant Castle by yourself or even in a small group, to kill Vox requires the coordinated efforts of several well-balanced groups. There is also usually a server-wide list for who gets to attack Vox when she spawns.

Benefits

This zone, despite being far off in the north, actually does get some travellers from afar, seeking out the goods that lie within it. There are many rare items that are highly prized elsewhere in Norrath that can only be found here.

Lady Vox herself typically draws the most attention these days, as the players become more and more powerful. Although she herself is godlike in power, the items that she typically drops are equal to the risk, and many guilds and groups vie for the chance to fight her.

There are a couple of specific areas that are relatively safe to hunt in for large periods of time. One is the Flag Room, named such because of the flag hanging on an ancient pole in the middle of the room. A group of the appropriate level can stay up against the wall and pull from the flag room and the room beyond for quite some time. This requires a powerful and well-coordinated group, however, as you can accidentally pull as many as five spellcasting goblins at once.

It is also possible to solo relatively safely in two areas, one in the area of the Goblin Alchemist, and you can often find rangers from afar in this room waiting for him to appear. The other area is the King's Room, where a brave person can sit along the front wall and pull the spawns carefully.

Travelling To and From

There is only one way in and out of Permafrost Keep, through the tunnels leading in from the ancient castle ruins along the eastern border of Everfrost Peaks. There are, however, two ways to get to the tunnels. If you pass directly through the castle, you have found the shortest way, but also the most dangerous, as there are usually several ice giants in that tunnel standing guard. The other route lies through a small tunnel that can be found nearby along the northern wall of Everfrost. This winds its way through ancient tunnels and eventually into the main exit, past the guards through a secret door. Through this way, Permafrost Keep can be safely entered.

Travelling To the Bear Pits

You will want to cast Levitate and Invisibility on yourself before you zone into Permafrost; SoW is useful but not necessary. You will want Bind Affinity and a port spell memorized (not Gate).

No mobs see through Invis until you get to the south side of the King's Room (#3 on map). The Elite Guards there will see through Invis. Travel *high* along the east wall of the room until you get to the north side. Don't approach the wooden door if you get aggro and decide to fight it out, as you will aggro the Giant behind the door.

You need to drop Levitate before opening the wooden door at 717,n180. The Giant behind the door may see thru Invis depending on the spawn. Run to the drop if he does.

Take the first right at 776,n43. You may see a Spider in the corridor at 845,n46. At the T-intersection past the Spider turn right and follow the U-turn corridor. You will now see 3 ramps, two on the left and one straight ahead. You may aggro a Giant standing at these ramps. Take the first ramp on the left. You will drop down a trap at the top at 1025,50. You will aggro the Tenticle standing beside that trap.

You now fall a short distance to the Bear Pits. You will also have aggro'ed a bunch of mobs that are heading toward you.

Videos mention you should not bind immediately below the trap as a Spider may spawn there now. Move beside the big rock in front of you, cast Bind Affinity, then port/evac away ASAP. I have successfully camped instead of porting but YMMV.