Cold Vengeance

Overview
Summary
 * Travel through the wurm's lair and destroy Frostmaw the Kinslayer.
 * Speak with Fastulf and discover his findings.
 * Destroy Frost Larvae within the wurm's lair to enrage Frostmaw the Kinslayer and force her to appear.
 * Exact revenge on Frostmaw the Kinslayer for all the Norn she and her offspring have killed.
 * Convince Latham to share the glory of the kill.

Obtained from
 * Latham in Jaga Moraine

Requirements
 * None

Reward
 * 10,000 XP
 * 750 Norn reputation points
 * 2,000 gold
 * chest (random)

Dialogue
 * ''[Difficulty: Master] We were on a hunt, my brothers and I, when the ground shook and heaved beneath our feet. It was as if the earth itself became wracked by a death rattle! I was tossed into the air and slammed against a mighty tree. When I awoke, the smell of blood was thick on my tongue. When i found my brothers, torn to pieces, a giant frost wurm ripping the flesh from their bones. I could only watch, sick with horror, as the beast finished its meal and descended into its lair. I swore I would avenge my kin or join them. My destiny and my honor are linked to that creature, in life or death.


 * Accept:  Revenge is best served with cold, ice cold. 
 * Reject:  Good luck with that whole "honorable death" thing. 

Reward Dialogue


 * My brothers are avenged at last! Many songs will be sung of our deed, [Player name]. I must hunt down the remaining wurm younglings hiding in the mountains. You shared in Frostmaw's downfall. Rest assured that your name will not be forgotten. 

Followup


 * None. Quest is repeatable.

Walkthrough
This quest takes place in the 5-level dungeon Frostmaw's Burrows. Four Norn ( Latham, Hroth,  Kitta and  Gareth) will accompany you through the dungeon, but they will not be part of your party. If they happen to die, they will resurrect once there are no more aggroed mobs (including spirits).

As hinted by the quest text, the Burrows are filled with wurms. The wurms over level 20 are necromancers with Suffering and Feast of Corruption, both of them easily interruptible. These wurms also have the highly damaging Wurm Bile skill that is very important to interrupt. You will also encounter a large number of melee Wurm Larvae that, when aggroed, will run to you underground (causing 16 damage per second each) before popping up and engaging. Occasionally you will encounter a Frost Siege Wurm with the Wurm Siege skill. Unlike in places like Dunes of Despair, these sieges do strike for considerable damage, and should therefore be distracted. (The map will ping whenever a siege wurm fires at you.) Try to have your indestructible Norns bear the brunt of all wurm damage, and remember to bring a good weakness-causing skill.

The fifth and final level consists mainly of the fight against Frostmaw the Kinslayer. Don't be fooled by the apparently sparsely populated lair: there are several Frostmaw Spawn and Frost Siege Wurms hiding. After you kill the visible wurms, they will appear and can quickly wipe your party unless you run back out of the lair. (Frostmaw can also appear if you are near the center of the area, and the net damage with more than one wurm will quickly exhaust your monks; therefore, it is best to retreat first.) When only Frostmaw remains, close in and take her out. She should fall quickly, provided you keep her damaging skills interrupted. You can safely ignore her Dark Apostasy and Deadly Paradox, although, keep in mind that her attacks will almost always remove an enchantment as she has a very high critical rate.

As an Alternate strategy to Frostmaw the Kinslayer, it's possible to become relatively invincible. Drag Frostmaw to a secluded area of the chamber and be sure that the 4 Norn with you are alive. Be absolutely sure you have taken no Wurms other than Frostmaw with you.

Whenever Frostmaw appears above ground, immediately move out of melee range, and keep from standing too near the Norn. Keep melee party members away from Frostmaw if you can, and have the ranged attackers wear her down along with the Norn. Whenever she goes below ground, the game will consider the Norn no longer in an aggro radius, and the dead Norn will revive. As long as you stay out of her attacks, you are unable to wipe. Also note that the Norn appear to have an interrupt ability, if they use it they can prevent Frostmaw from using her siege, making them last longer.