SweetSpearGirl Returns
Chapter 9
A Giant Slug Stuck So Full Of Holes You Could Call It A Swiss Cheese
Cast of Characters
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SweetSpearGirl, the Swiftly-Levelling Jabazon
Euyfura, the Still-Mostly-In-The-Closet Merc
Duriel, a Giant Slug
TAKE HEED AND BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTHS THAT LIE HEREIN, FOR THEY ARE THE LAST LEGACY OF THE HORADRIM...
SweetSpearGirl thumbed through her notebook. Seems the mark of the True Tomb was an upside-down crescent moon. Sadly, the Canyon of the Magi was crawling with Steel Scarabs and Hell Slingers, both of which hurt and required her and Euyfura to take frequent healing. The odd Crusher served only as a distraction.
"I want to hit 24 and cast Decoy," the amazon groused as she and Euyfura reached the doorway to the Tomb. What was left of her sanity implored her not to enter, but that voice was only a whisper now.
As they worked their way down into the crypt, they encoured Apparitions and Ghoul Lords, then further on huge packs of Burning Dead and their Unraveller overlords.
"Gah!" SweetSpearGirl shouted over the sounds of combat. "I'd almost have preferred the beetles!"
"Tell me about it!" Euyfura shot back, firing off another volley of arrows.
"When all this is over, we are going to get drunk at Atma's, rogue!"
"Sounds like a plan to me!"
Unfortunately, as they soon found out, the only thing worse than an Unraveller, was a boss Unraveller. Stone Break the Flayer (stone skin) spewed poison into SweetSpearGirl's face, busying her while Euyfura had to contend with his resurrecting Unravellers and Burning Dead and Ghoul Lords alike. His drop was a typically non-descript pair of rare Heavy Boots and a +8 to life charm. SweetSpearGirl sold both to Fara for repairs money and moved on.
There were lots of Urns in this tomb, containing everything from chipped gems and mana pots to fiery traps. Kicking them became almost as commonplace as stabbing monsters; the only variation came in the form of a Mummy Sarcophagus spitting out Dried Corpses in one chamber (although they had three Unravellers and friends to deal with first!).
"Damn undead," SweetSpearGirl muttered.
"Damn ghouls," Euyfura responded, still a little singed after her last encounter with Ghoul Lord firewalls.
"Damn undead," SweetSpearGirl re-iterated as another horde of skeletons and their Unraveller masters hove into view. She swore as an Apparition drained her mana, and hastily downed another blue pot. A pair of Flying Scimitars spawned from a trapped urn and she put them down. In the next chamber some nameless beastie dropped a Greater Mana pot which was much appreciated!
SweetSpearGirl picked up an experience shrine, muttering in annoyance as the Apparition she'd just killed, got raised up again. The Burning Dead were clustered so thickly it was difficult to get past them to their masters, and this one was Pulse Tongue the Unclean (mana burn), whose minions swarmed the duo. He did, however, let fly another Greater Mana pot, and an urn coughed up a rare Breast Plate which, while being utterly useless, did pad SweetSpearGirl's nest egg by almost 10k.
They turned a corner and - oh crap! the floodgates have been opened! A huge pack of Apparitions led the way, followed by several fire-raising Ghoul Lords and masses of Burning Dead. SweetSpearGirl and Euyfura fell back, the former madly downing pots. If it wasn't for the purple she drank while pulling half a dozen Burning Dead away, she'd have been doing a corpse-recovery run right there. Finally the packs thinned out enough for them to target the Unravellers, and then the chamber was empty.
Another room, another pack of trouble. This tomb was huge; SweetSpearGirl was wondering why, quite honestly.
"I mean - this place could've housed several live kings, the size of it, let alone a single dead one!"
"Well, maybe the Horadrim enlarged it for Tal Rasha," Euyfura said, firing a volley into a pack of Apparitions.
"Maybe - but I doubt it," SweetSpearGirl said.
A long hallway lined with ornate columns led them to a derelict burial chamber filled with the remains of ancient offerings - and a Mummy Sarcophagus on the wall, and more Unravellers... then a doorway leading to another Unraveller and - finally - the Horadric Orifice!
Avoiding the unsavoury one-liners Euyfura was about to come out with, SweetSpearGirl slotted the Staff into position and watched the light show.
"LOOKING FOR BAAL?" snarled a giant slug with shoulder-blades in response.
"Nah. I'm here to kill you!" SweetSpearGirl yelled.
Easier said than done, though! She used up all four of her purples in the space of three hits from Duriel and several corpse-recovery runs followed before he finally bit the dust! And that only thanks to an itinerant paladin who dropped by to help, too! The bastard hit far too hard and SweetSpearGirl knew she'd have to invest a little in vitality soon. Or find some better armour!
Meshif was ready to go by the time she got back to town. It was time to go to Kurast...
TO BE CONTINUED...