SweetSpearGirl Returns
Chapter 6
Desert Adventures
Cast of Characters:
- SweetSpearGirl, the Infamous Amazon
- Euyfura, the Magnificent Merc
TAKE HEED AND BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTHS THAT LIE HEREIN, FOR THEY ARE THE LAST LEGACY OF THE HORADRIM...
SweetSpearGirl woke early the next morning to realise the stash in the middle of town had been littered with unusual items. Mostly spears.
She quite frankly squealed with delight on discovering Lycander's Flank was among them, as well as a Horadric Cube, Thundergod's Vigour and some nice gloves...
Donning her current battle gear, she pulled Euyfura out of a heated debate with Greiz and they charged out of the town gate to meet whatever badly-behaved beasties awaited them. As usual in these parts, Huntresses and Dung Soldiers were easy to deal with and Sand Leapers were annoying (although Euyfura deftly targetted and brought down the latter). Doom Maul (cursed) posed a brief diversion before dropping a chipped sapphire; she was followed by a boss pack of Carrion Birds (notable only because of there being no other vultures in the area).
Euyfura was frankly bored and took to wandering off at inopportune moments just when SweetSpearGirl needed the artillery support.
It was the Amazon's turn to roll her eyes.
"You know, you didn't have to come with me if you're this bored!"
"Well it was either this or stay back in town arguing with Greiz."
"What is it with you and him anyway?"
"He's rude and misogynistic... oh, hell. He's a man!"
SweetSpearGirl raised an eyebrow as she slaughtered a pack of Dung Soldiers, passing a small tree-surrounded pool; a little oasis of beauty in the harsh desert.
"You don't like men then? Funny, I could've sworn you enjoyed eyeing up the singles at Atma's last time we were fighting the Minions of Diablo round here."
"Maybe I wasn't looking at the men!" the Rogue retorted.
The adventurers entered the Dry Hills to be met by Spear and Sabre Cats, and Undead Scavengers.
"Least there's none of those pesky leapers," SweetSpearGirl muttered.
"They don't bother me," Euyfura said.
"Oh, shut up."
Monster density was light in the Dry Hills, not much experience gain here! SweetSpearGirl was almost to level 19 as she descended the cliff-cut steps to the lower half of the Hills; Spear Cats lobbing exploding potions were swiftly taken care of before SweetSpearGirl ran across the waypoint; twinking back to town and selling off a couple of nondescript rings and an amulet before returning to the fight and levelling up in short order.
Boosting her Strength again (Lycander's would need it!) and upping her Jab to slvl 14, she felt ready for anything.
...Okay, anything except boss Sand Maggots. SweetSpearGirl hated nasty, ugly bugs with a passion, and bugs this big and this ugly just made her shudder. The boss in question (backed up by squads of Itchies and Death Beetles), Flame Thirst the Dark (cursed) was fortunately also fragile and went splat after a few hits; sadly, its minions managed to hit SweetSpearGirl with a few poison spitballs and those definitely made her feel very sick!
"Oh well," she grumbled after downing an antidote. "Onward and upward!"
More Itchies, more Undead Scavengers, more Death Beetles. The next Maggot boss (Doom Spawn the Jagged, teleportation). The waypoint popped up. SweetSpearGirl was still grumbling to herself.
"What're you complaining about now?"
"Bloody maggot lair coming up, what d'you think? I wish Cain would go find his precious artifacts himself for once."
A few packs of beasties later, they let themselves down the dank tunnel into the Maggot Lair. Rock Worms and Black Locusts were the order of the day on level 1, and Scarabs came out to play too. Due to Euyfura's indiscriminate arrow-firing, even more Black Locusts came buzzing down the corridor, so it was a while before the duo could move on. The Level 2 entrance wasn't too far, and they slid down easily.
Level 2 was much of a muchness with its predecessor, except swap Scarabs for Death Beetles (hardly an improvement, to SweetSpearGirl's mind) and normal Rock Worms for Devil Call the Shade (Unholy Freeze aura enchanted) and minions.
"Ick," the Amazon shuddered. "Let's frag 'em."
So they did. First the boss (to get rid of that chilling aura), then the minions. SweetSpearGirl levelled to 20 during the fight and Euyfura to 18 shortly after. Another point in Jab, some dexterity, and the way down to level 3.
Sigh. Exchange Rock Worms for a few Sand Maggots and level 3 was just the same. A few fights followed and up ahead they found the chamber of Coldworm the Burrower (cold enchanted, magic resistant). The poison was potent and the Sand Maggots numerous, but they won through, snatching the Staff of Kings from the golden chest.
Finally the intrepid pair returned to town for healing, repairs and a well-earned rest.