Antonica · EverQuest (original release)
Lavastorm Mountains
A small, shattered volcanic land north of Nektulos: lava pits and broken rock, fire drakes and rock dervishes, Solusek’s Eye on the northern edge, and doors to four dungeons.
Shattered ground
The Lavastorm Mountains are a relatively small zone, but a hard and dangerous one to cross. Some cataclysm has wrecked the land, and here it was plainly volcanic: lava pits everywhere and shattered rock jutting from the ground. A massive lava pit known as Solusek’s Eye lies in the centre of the northern edge. Its smoke drifts south and keeps Nektulos Forest in darkness.
Monsters run from about level 10 to 19, with a few from 25 to 30: fire drakes, fire elementals and sprites, lava crawlers, rock dervishes, fire imps, lava basilisks, firescale crocodiles, fire goblins, shadowed men and the thoughteater. Named figures include Eejag, Hykallen, Nightmare, Sir Lindeal and the Warbone monk and spearman.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): Lavastorm Mountains · Allakhazam: Lavastorm Mountains (zone) · Project 1999 Wiki: Lavastorm Mountains
Dangers
Few creatures are aggressive: the goblins, fire elementals, the fire imp and the shadowed men. The fire imp cons far lower than it is and throws a powerful fire spell; the guide’s writer, a level 17 ranger with strong fire and magic resistance, died to a green one. The shadowed men come in a large group that does not wander, move fast, are around level 30, and regularly tear apart groups stronger than themselves.
The ground itself is a hazard: outcrops and ravines hide damaging drops, lava pits and monsters. Go slowly and carefully, or quickly under levitation.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): Lavastorm Mountains · Project 1999 Wiki: Lavastorm Mountains
A hunter’s crossroads
Lavastorm is a good stepping stone through the teens. Nothing here can really be fought before about twelfth level; sixteenth to eighteenth level is the sweet spot. Creatures are scattered, so you choose your fights, and everything drops something worth money. The guide’s writer, an outdoor ranger, prefers it to most dungeons for that, and for the sound of a rock dervish slamming into your armour.
Good races can sell to the gypsies along the west wall; evil races can sell to the druid merchant at the druid ring in the northwest, where high-level druid spells are also sold. With four dungeons opening off it, the zone is a crossroads for higher-level characters.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): Lavastorm Mountains · Allakhazam: Lavastorm Mountains (zone)
Four dungeons and a forest
The way in from the south is through Nektulos Forest. In the southeast corner, behind a massive set of shattered doors, is Najena. The entrances to Solusek’s Eye (Sol A) and Nagafen’s Lair (Sol B) lie along the southern edge of the great lava pit, and the Temple of Solusek Ro along its northern edge.
The mountain belongs to Solusek Ro, the Burning Prince, and to the red dragon in its depths, whose story is in Nagafen and Vox.
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): Lavastorm Mountains · Allakhazam: Lavastorm Mountains (zone)
Lore tied to this zone
Sources: EQ Atlas (eqatlas.ca): Lavastorm Mountains · Allakhazam: Lavastorm Mountains 1.0 (zone) · Allakhazam: Lavastorm Mountains 3.0 (zone) · Project 1999 Wiki: Lavastorm Mountains