The path from Umpani Base Camp to Arnika was extremely hazardous. I got caught at the intersection on Arnika Road by a Queen Ant, 9 Soldier Ants and 3 Crimson Poppies, my party was level 8.
The Queen was brutal. My missile shield(5) let all of her ranged attacks in (about 5 a round). Her first shot blinded my bishop, another sent Saxx insane, another knocked out my priest, one of the goon ants paralyzed my ranger. My fighter was all alone at the end of the 2nd round, armed with a twig.
To make a long story short, I gave up fighting when everyone except insane Saxx and my blind fighter were dead. I had to run, and fast. Saxx didn't make it, but I got my fighter out with 10 hit points to spare, but since she was blind, she ran right into 3 more Crimson Poppies that even I couldn't see! Luckily I had chugged a pickmeup potion as soon as I'd gotten enough space between the Queen of Death and myself.
Buy some miracle, my fighter stayed awake long enough to make it to the safe zone just before Arnika-Trynton Road, and the poppies retreated. Just before combat ended, I resurrected my bishop to share the experience points I gained from killing 7 of the soldier ants. I did the resurrection dance, rested and arrived in Arnika without further incident. Whew!
There was something just not right about that Queen Ant, never before have I encountered one so powerful. Anyway, I'm kicking the tin cans in Arnika for a while, I need the break.
