NRP part II (spoilers inside)

[Xen]

Cool! I have waited for a loooong time to read this. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Leslie]

The Watcher's Keep - Level 3

(Leslie and his party have already finished the first two levels in SOA)

The party entered the third level which was full of teleports. The crazy elf Yakman had a journal which helped Leslie navigate through the maze - which was in the middle of the Blood War - demon war.

The party slowly and carefully advanced and killed many foes on the way, when tragic struck again. When fighting a group of Cornugons who's leader was a deadly Balor, Haer got a little careless and protected only with Stoneskin. He attacked the Balor but forgot, that the Balor has the deadly strike (vorpal hit).

Haer died from a vorpal hit and his body was gone! The party was unable to resurect him! After the fight the party teleported to the Pocket Plane and tried to find a new party member. The Spirit of Fate was ready for their wishes. Leslie decided that Minsc would be a great asset to the team since his positive aura would surely get the team through these tough times.

Minsc was of course happy to join - not to mention Boo!

The party returned to the maze and fought bravely through it. In the last room was a strange demon who wanted to play a game with the Deck of many Things. Keldorn volunteered for the gamble but was unlucky - he got cursed, but nothing too bad that Aerie couldn't heal. He finally got the third gem and the portal to the fourth level was open.

[Leslie]

The Watcher's Keep - Level 4

When party arrived at the fourth level they saw a fascinating scene - a man was trapped inside a strange machine and he was having fun spawning various creatures and had them fight each other. Leslie and his friends actually had to fight some Ilithids that the madman sent out.

They explored the area since there was another exit leading down to the lower reaches and it had to be opened somehow. The rooms to the east were pretty easy - some shadows and a couple of magic golems - who were dispatched by Keldorn and Valygar both wielding normal unenchanted weapons. Valygar took the purple oil that he found - surely there must be something useful that can be done with it.

The north passage led them to the Ilithid lair. Leslie summoned two skeleton warriors, two mordekainen swords and a Planetar, while Aerie protected the party with Chaotic Commands. Keldorn led the summons and helped them hack the Ilithids and Umber Hulks along the way. Jan disabled a couple of traps and soon they obtained another coloured oil. They backtracked to the madman's room and took the south passage.

They were attacked from a group of Githyanki and an Anti-Paladin. Keldor, Minsc and Valygar stepped ahead and fought with them mano-a-mano while Leslie prepared another summoning group. Together they cleared the whole area and found the final oil.

There were still two passages left to explore. Leslie sensed that in one of the rooms was a demilich so he decided to take him on his own. He protected with SI: Abj. and entered the room. One Dragon's Breath later and he picked up a nice dagger and a stash of gold. The other passage led to a dragon named Saladrex. Aerie and both rangers protected most of the party members from fire and they went to meet the green dragon. He attacked the first summon he saw - and then Leslie used his familiar Time stop combo. The dragon survived the magic attacks and while Keldorn, Minsc and a Planetar were attacking him - he even managed to heal himself! The two backup mages decided to help - both Aerie and Jan casted Feeblemind and one stopped the dragon in his attacks. But the Planetars dispelling weapon removed the effect and the dragon attacked with even greater fury. But he was under constant barrage from a Planetar, Keldorn, Minsc and a mordy and he finally fell to the ground leaving an excellent quarterstaff at his corpse.

The party went back and took the western passage where they used the oils to open the last set of doors. The two minotaurs and their salamander friends didn't last long and a magical crystal mallet was found by Jan in one of the containers.

Leslie could use it to break the machine and let the madman go free. In exchange they got his journal where some hints for exiting this levels could be found. The party also gathered a lot of secret messages around the levels so far and they used the machine to gain new powers and finally to exit the level.

[Xen]

Great job. Good luck with WK boss. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[SpongeBobTheDestoyer]

Just a question on the third level - how did you get by the room with the Improved Pit Fiend, Cornugons?, Salamanders and the anti-magic? The one time I faced this I started a straight to WK from Irenicus dungeon party(definately not a NRL game). So I was a lot lower of a level and my only tactic was running right past them to the next portal as fast as I could, which worked only after several tries. I'm guessing the Boots of Preserving were involved somehow, maybe.

[Leslie]

No, actually I had Keldorn with 95%MR, Hardiness + Carsomyr (oh, yeah, he also had Upgraded Firecam Armor, which has resist fear on it) do the most work. I also had Valygar with Celestial Fury in one hand and Dragonslayer sword (to protect from fear) in offhand. Minsc shot some arrows too. I had Leslie, Aerie and Jan at the back. Jan failed his save aginst fear so he was running around but couldn't go too far since I knew about the traps just at the top of the stairs so I waited for demons to come to me. I also used the Staff of elemental mastery and summoned 3 elementals to help me. They blocked the way so Jan was unable to get to the demons.

The problems of that room (if we think of the same one): dead magic, traps and demons who cast fear on you. So it's basicly a melee fight with fighters who have many hit points - and need to have protection from fear. Potions don't work too. (HLA's do though)

I hope I'll finish the fifth level today. I already have the keys so there are a couple of difficult fights ahead. I believe I'll have to use some spiky, spiky for the last fight.

[ 08-17-2004, 05:25 AM: Message edited by: Leslie ]

[Leslie]

Wow, I can't believe it. 08-17-2004 was my last post on this topic.

BUT I still had the save and Leslie the Sorceror still HASN't died so I continue my journey of no reloads through TOB.

The Watcher's Keep - Level 5

Leslie and his friends sat around a campfire and have been telling each other their travel stories and legends that they heard during their adventures. But then Leslie decided it was really the TIME to move on.

When they entered the 5th level they found themselves in big room with 3 seals in the middle and 3 rooms leading out of the main one.

The first one was more of a mental one since Leslie had to manipulate a fighter apparition through some maze and had to win a couple of small fights. He did and they recieved the first key.

The second room had colored balls and towers where they had to be put and everytime a group of eneimes apeared. Nothing too dificult for Lesie and his party. They got the second key.

The third room actually had 3 passages or 3 tests to win. The first was a long fight between horde of orcs, the second was a test of intelligence and the third involved killing a dragon. None of them were too difficult even the dragon fight was a piece of cake for a high level sorcerer AND a full party.

And after a good rest, a long bufing and summoning period (3 skelies, mordy and planetar + the usual buffs) Keldorn inserted the first key.

A group of fighter/mages appeared! Keldorn attacked together with summons while Minsc and Valygar joined their forces on one attacker. They were not too difficult but their leader seemed invulnerable. Only very highly enchanted weapons could hit him and was not overcome so quickly.

Keldorn then inserted the second key and a nasty lich appeared with a group of fire skulls to protect him. "I'll take care of this sucker just get these fire heads off my back!" screamed Keldorn to Minsc and Valygar. They protected from fire and went in. Azamantes had no chances against Carsomyr's dispel although he had many Stoneskins to get rid of. The skulls were destroyed quickly too and it was time for the last seal.

Jan set two Spike traps just in case and Keldorn insterted the third key. This time a group of various enemies appeared. Keldorn and planetar attacked the Hive Mother while Minsc and Valygar attacked the Huntress and her friends. Leslie stepped in too with a couple of nukes (ADHW's) to soften the enemies. Keldorn had no problems with his 100% MR to fight the Hive Mother, but Minsc and Valygar both suffered from Insect Plague that one of the guardians used. But they were too strong for the enemies despite the constant biting.

The way to the final room was open. The party rested one more time before advancing...

[Leslie]

The Prince of Demons

The party found themselves in a big oval room and Aerie sensed a horribly evil thing in there. And it was able to convey telepathic messages to Leslie. He understood that he was being decived and decided to check it out. They left the big chamber to confront Odren and his followers about it.
Odren admitted his lies but presumed that Demogorgon was dead and ran inside the Keep.

Then a true follower of Vigil rose up and suggested to seal the Demogorgon and Odren inside. Leslie had more fighting ideas and his party agreed that Demogorgon had to die - here and now.

They went in again, summoned their helpers and Aerie buffed the party with Prot. from evil, Chaotic Commands and other useful spells.

Demogorgon had already killed the Vigil followers and when the party showed up he summoned a bunch of demons to help him. Leslie used Improved alacrity to quickly cast spells and hit Demogorgon with a couple of Pierce Magic and then some ADHW's while softening the demons around him. Jan improve hasted Valygar, Minsc and Keldorn who were all under the effects of Hardiness to be able to withstand many hits from foes. Aerie casted one Storm of Vengeance and then an occasional Breach or Holy Smite to help.
Demogorgon was a real heavy weight - he was only Barely Injured even after many rounds of fighting. Leslie then instructed the guys to concentrate on him only while he and the mage support group fight with demons. He summoned one more mordy and kept attacking the demons with ADHW's and other damaging spells. And Demogorgon was slowly getting weaker and weaker. He summoned one more wave of demons and then the guys finally destroyed him! After his destruction the rest of the fight ended very quickly. The party got a lot of XP and they left the bloody Keep to continue their quest.

[Xen]

Well it was about time to move on don't you think? [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Nice job on the Demobaboon. [img]smile.gif[/img] Good luck with more fights in your way.

[Leslie]

The (Improved) Fire Giants

Leslie and his party continued their travels and they reached a swampy area. They buffed just in case and moved on. Suddenly a creature appeared looking exactly like Gorion! Leslie sensed that this was not true Gorion and the creature eventaully revealed itself. It attacked with a group of Poison mists and other horrors. Leslie's Chain Contingeny with 3 ADHW's made short work of them. They went into the ruins of a temple to be attacked with yet another group of undead. They were quickly dismissed.

At the top of the Temple was a strange looking witch - Nyalee. She said that she knew a way to kill Yaga-Shura, who is supposed to be invincible. Leslie must find his and her heart and bring them to Nyalee.

The party traveled 4 hours to the east to enter the Fire Giant mountains. They were soon attacked with two giants. They were incredibly tough and tricky opponents. With every hit or spell against them a "lower fire resistance" was returned to the attacker. Their hits were devastating (especially on Insane) and they supported this with Fireballs and Fire Storms. Valygar was quite successful against them with 100% Fire res. and DoE, Hardiness and AoF for 80% res. to physical damage. And the Giants also had the ability to summon Greater Fire elemental. The combination of these fierce attacks and a little carelessness was deadly for Minsc and Keldorn. They were struck so hard that their bodies dissapeared! Leslie and his friends eventually beat the first group of Giants and returned to Pocket Plane to summon help. This time Leslie called for Korgan and Viconia. They were both annoyed with this but soon realized what opportunity is ahead. They got the best equipment and the party returned to the fiery mountains.

They entered the big cave and were immediately attacked with a group of 6 Fire Giants. Leslie used Time Stop + Hell combo, while Aerie also had a couple of Harm's ready which worked excellent. After a heavy fight no one died and a group advanced further. Jan found some traps to disarm and a couple minor fights were won mostly with Valygar, Korgan and a planetar to help. Eventually they got the four stones which opened the stairs to higher levels.

A couple of waiting Giants never knew what happened to them. Leslie's Project Image followed Valygar and blasted hell around. It took 3 Images to finally clear the level. Jan then found the first heart in a bright fire and they soon found the second one under the BIG bed. It was the time to return to Nyalee.

Leslie and his group were victims of deceit many times so they protected just in case. And yes, Nyalee changed herself to a mean witch. Valygar made short work of her, while Korgan dualwielding Axe of Unyielding +5 and Crom Faeyr destroyed her followers.

The party now had to face Yaga-Shura himself...