But first, let's look how our hero gained in power since the last time we've checked.
This is probably the last update in a while when we can enjoy having THAC0 of -1.
Just look at these sweet saving throws.
25% Magic Resistance is nothing we can rely on, but it should make some encounters randomly easier.
Kangaxx the Demi-Lich has assumed the Big Fat Kill throne, and I am guessing he will reign from there for quite some time.
We've been here just a while ago. This is the 'wrong door'.
Yes, except no. It is the 'right door' now. For certain definition of 'right'.
What the fuck...?
I having no fucking clue where I am, but at least it does not look like I will be fighting liches here.
Never mind.
I will just assume that I am here to kill you, because that is what I usually end up doing anyway...
I hate it when they teleport!
Quick, follow him!
Why?
Horrible death otherwise.
I will allow myself to be convinced this time.
There's more of them.
Yes. Thankfully, and completely coincidentally, You still have the magic immunity status from fighting Kangaxx. It should come quite handy here, I believe.
Although it seems that magic immunity does not make You immune to
all spells, with Time Stop being one of the exceptions.
Since magic is not a threat for the moment, I will deal with the melee enemy first.
Done. And that lich just made the top of my black list for his kill-stealing attempt.
I can still cast spells from scrolls. Neat.
Not this time. In this fight you are just a zombie with more hit points.
I hate it when they cast Mislead.
Yes, True Sight is pretty much a must at this level.
Since I'm out of oracles, I might as well kill the illusion to, well, kill time.
Shangalar is out of ideas and has started attacking You with his claws.
That's so cute...
Damn it! How many contingencies do you have!?
Die already!
And that's it for our magic immunity. Still, it was a well invested 3200 gold pieces.
Critical hit just as his immunity expired. Great timing, Lilarcor!
No probs, always willing to chop up someone, even if they taste foul.
And I really hope this is the last lich I had to kill, at least for a while.
And I will take your lunch money too.
You have a feeling You should save Your game before proceeding.
A beholder, a mage and a vampire walk into a bar...
Since there does not seem to be much camaraderie between these guys, I will kill them one at a time. Starting with the eyeball.
Not that I want to complain, but this hurts a lot.
Now I wish we had bought two scrolls of magic immunity.
Death Count: 134
Loading.
Seriously, why is there no saving throw against cause serious wounds?
Luckily, we have that Wand of Fire we looted from Rayic Gethras' house.
No, I am not here. Honest.
I don't seem to be able to backstab your kind, so I will settle for surprise
buttsecks sword-strike.
Once again I am proven to be superior!
Damn, I tripped...
Hands off, lady!
There is only one suitable commentary for this:
I wish I knew what exactly killed our hero here.
Death Count: 135
Load game.
I blame that failed skill check on being exhausted. So it is your fault I died, not mine, if you had any doubts.
Steady...
Assaulting an unsuspecting woman from behind? What a true gentleman You are.
Trust me, she is one of the kind, who treat twelve inches of cold steel thrusted through their back merel as an invitation to dance.
This is becoming a bit too much for a first date...
You know what, there is a reason why modern games only give time-slowing and time-stopping powers to the player character.
Fascinating.
32 is actually our lowest possible backstab damage at the moment, with 57 being the highest. The formula is (1d6+4)x5+7.
The Codex continues to have no luck when it comes to dealing with women.
Death Count: 136
Reload.
I feel like we've wasted an opportunity.
It certainly seems so, because now Shyressa is too close to Layenne. We both know You have basically no chance to succeed in handling two women at once.
If that was supposed to be a stealth insult, your hide in shadows roll has failed.
We manage to combat Shyressa alone, and somehow, this time we win. Probably RNG took pity on us.
This does not seem to be going anywhere.
We decide to provoke Layenne by casting a Fire Ball near her. It kind of works.
And after her protection spells expire, we provoke her again (no Fire Balls this time). For some reason she refuses to budge from her spot, making leaving her sight range trivially easy.
Oh, joy.
Oh, yeah, I wonder where she might be...
Finally, she decides to show herself.
And we decide to end this bullshit once and for all. The newly-acquired Ring of Gaxx allows us to cast Improved Haste, bringing The Codex' number of attacks to 9 per round (with the bow).
Needless to say, she does not stand a chance, even though the haste effect does not last long.
It's not about how long you last, but how well you perform!
And what do we have here?
Oh, baby...
Come to daddy!
I think I missed some loot... What is this?
Oh, great. I always wanted one of these. Except, no.
Ah, a puzzle.
I am so smart!
An exit. Neat. Although this does beg the question: did the beholder know that making a soup out of him is the only way to leave this place?
Of course, we're not done yet. Since we are already in the Bridge District, we might as well attend to some unfinished business.
Oh, yeah, I remember these guys. Didn't I kill them already?
They killed you, actually. More than once too.
Time to fix this.
Ok, so killing them one at a time is clearly not an option.
Boom!
We're out of spells by now, but this is when Wand of Fire comes in handy.
Is that a demon they are summonning?
I guess that answers my question. Boom!
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Enemies turn on Nabassu, and our hero uses the confusion to kill Valeria.
At this rate the wand will be out of charges before this update ends.
At least we are getting some nice screenshots out of it.
This is no challenge if they are not attacking me.
Anyway, Pitre is down.
That does it for Nabassu.
Alright! Bring it on!
Boom!
Damnit! This skeleton hits like a truck!
This was weird.
Death Count: 137
Loading.
I can't believe we managed to fuck this up!
Once more unto the breach!
Boom! I really wish this wand had unlimited charges.
Boo- Fuck, not with the demon again!
Boom! Good thing that loot cannot get damaged when I'm using this.
And Pitre is down, again.
Boom! It is too almost easy if they stand so close to each other.
Alright!
We already were in this spot before, so let's not get distracted just yet.
I guess I might as well use it up... Boom!
Multiple kill, woohoo!
And we scored another nice screenshot.
I will admit that this guy has some
cojones, since he still wants to fight me.
However, no brains.
Time to get some reward for my trouble.
This is quite nice.
And there is even something to read.
But their equipment is total shit, with these bracelets being the only thing even worth picking up, and barely.
-----
[DISCLAIMER BREAK]
I want to note a potential problem we might encounter from now on. In my opinion, Staff of the Magi is THE most powerful item in the whole game. Not only it provides substantial bonuses (+2 to AC and saving throws), as well as being a +5 weapon (at least the THaC0 and damage bonus is only +1), giving immunity to demons (they literally cannot attack someone affected with Protection From Evil) AND dispelling magic on hit, but it ALSO allows to become invisible at will, with no limits to use. You can use this power while being in enemies' sight range. That last ability is enough to cheese through 98% of the fights in the game (the remaining 2% is when You fight enemies who see the invisible and are not demons, like liches). Strike, become invisible, strike again, become invisible, etc. Welcome to Cheeseland.
I want to assure everyone that I will try (and horribly fail the attempt) not to abuse this abilitys.
Or just let me enjoy my new toy and I may spare your life in the end. Maybe.
[/DISCLAIMER BREAK]
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Next time: we will struggle not to abuse Staff of The Magi, resulting in many horrible deaths.
But first, some rest, right? Right?