A dozen installments with this one, can't believe covering a run through this game would take so much space!
Anyway, recap. Kangaxx was dead, the Ring of Gaxx was mine, and saving the world from Irenicus still wasn't priority number one, for the first time since Chapter 2 I wasn't really sure what to do next. Dundee to the unexpected rescue!
Quote:
Originally posted by Dundee_Slaytern
The following is my personal opinion, successful attempts must include the following besides the main plot in order to be credible.
1) Defeat the Twisted Rune and the Guarded Compound.
2) Defeat the entire Watcher's Keep (you may end the last fight peacefully).
3) All the Major Quests must be completed (De'Arnise Keep, Tradesmeet, etc...).
4) Defeat Kangaxx.
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Major quests? [img]graemlins/check.gif[/img]
Kangaxx? [img]graemlins/check.gif[/img]
Watcher's Keep? Later...
The Guarded Compound and the Twisted Rune had thus been singled out. So I rested, made my way to the Temple District, and busted down the door. Why, I haven't the slightest roleplaying justification for, call it a hunch if you will. The people inside fortunately seemed to be at least a bit villainous, and retreated upstairs to give me some kind of surprise. I gave chase, but just by the staircase, a whole slew of various monsters appeared. How fortunate that I already had HRDS activated eh? Started with the Demon and worked my way down to the Ogre. Hmm, I was in doubt as to if that was *the* surprise. Cast some Energy Blades, some additional buffs, and finally a Sanctuary, before I went upstairs. Holy Helm, up there, the whole family was apparently waiting for me, complete with the overgrown half-breed twins and slightly psychotic sword-toting teenager. I quickly ran into the nearest room so as to not have to face them all at once. One of them had a True Sight triggered the moment I came up the stairs and so they all saw me sneak in. The Ninja wannabe came in first, so I started pelting him with my blades, but then somewhere out in the great hall, someone cast Time Stop. It was apparent who when a thin fellow came in and started to lob ADHW's and a RM at me. When time started, I dodged that RM for a few rounds, just to unload all but 1 blade before it hit me (didn't know those magically created weapons acted as anti-dispel shields, but I've never had my buffers removed by one when I've had energy blades or the seeking sword active) and then cast a new set of blades. Pumped half a dozen more into the Kensai before he died, and then summoned a Deva to split the focus of my enemies somewhat. The twins had also joined the fight, and all the spellcasters now stood in the doorway, seemingly not doing much but casting defensive spells. I started to blast the place with Holy Smites
and everything that wasn't dead after 3 castings I finished off with the remaining blades. With the family dead I moved out into the hall again, only to find all their pets packed in the middle, a couple of leopards and some skellies, made the Deva take care of them and left the building.
Twisted Rune next, I had acquired a Rouge Stone in the compound that directed me to the place, and so I stepped through the door and was teleported someplace, I guess, pretty damn far from where I entered. I attempted to explore the place, but as I took my first step forward, probably about at least a dozen Skull traps magically shot out of nowhere and lined up by the doorway. I took it as a warning, and so buffed up with everything I had, conjured up some blades, and summoned four servants and a Deva. One of them I summoned right under the doorway to remove those skulls. The servant surprisingly absorbed them all, only becoming badly injured. Anyway, with that barrier gone, I moved out with my minions and placed them right by the doorway. Now a line of flames began to pop up, leading to the raised circular platform in the middle. Shangalar the Lich made his entrance. I got a bit lucky with the TU timing, and popped him right after his dialog, before he had a chance to teleport away. Never the less, he brought all his friends with him. I had placed my minions as close to the spawning spot of the Beholder as possible, hoping they'd attack him first, since I didn't dare to go within the Beholder's sight range. One Anti-Magic ray would mean instant game over. So you can probably gather that I was on the other side of the room, and I just had time to get one Storm of Vengeance off before some big mean-looking fighter reached me and started to swing. Layene, the mage, had also teleported to me, and I only had time to sling a few blades at the fighter before she cast Time Stop. She didn't do anything more lethal with her time than to cast RM and summon a pair of Mordies, but it did remove my blades and forced me to cast a new set. Did so and continued to work on the fighter. He was dead before Layene cast Time Stop once more, accomplishing even less this time around with some anti-spell protections. I threw another Storm of Vengeance to the other side of the room, where the numerous Rune Assassins were now beginning to drop like flies, and two rounds later, my Deva, being the only summon still alive, delivered a killing blow to the Beholder! I immediately headed across the room to turn the vampire, and when the last of the Assassins died that round, only Layene was left. She didn't have any SI: Abjuration, so she was just begging for a Dispel Magic. Without her PfMW, she couldn't resist the energy blades for long.
And that concludes today's report. I've finally entered the Watcher's Keep, and so accounts of how things went with the Ritual, the Red Badge, and the fight with Pontifex's more prominent alter ego, will hopefully all be up tomorrow.