SweetSpearGirl Returns
CHAPTER 10
Ruff In The Jungle Bizness
Cast of Characters:
- SweetSpearGirl, the Smartass Spearazon
- Euyfura, the Riled Rogue
TAKE HEED AND BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTHS THAT LIE HEREIN, FOR THEY ARE THE LAST LEGACY OF THE HORADRIM...
The rain was never-ending in Kurast; a continual, humid drizzle paired with the oppressive atmosphere of the far eastern jungles. Outside the docks, in just a few short years the jungle had reclaimed much of the mostly-abandoned cities of Kurast, surrounding and covering the works of mankind with trees and vines and undergrowth along the fetid rivers.
And within those jungles and rivers lurked all manner of vicious beasts and Hellish minions...
Across a small stagnant stream from the dockside, the intrepid duo (getting moving straight away, as Cain had been insistent!) encountered a Dark Wanderer moving slowly but purposefully towards the interior. He beamed away, summoning in a pack of Flesh Beasts to hamper SweetSpearGirl's progress; sadly, they dropped nothing but a quiver of arrows. SweetSpearGirl kicked them aside, already sweating in her armour.
"It's too damn humid here!" she complained.
"Take your gear off then," Euyfura shot back.
"Oh, yeah, you'd love that wouldn't you? At least, till I got killed by the first boss we run into!"
As it turned out, that first boss was very close by. Rust Fest (fetish, extra fast - a needless enhancement on a jungle pygmy!) dropped a blue falchion and a Jade Figurine, which SweetSpearGirl carted back to Meshif. That worthy passed her a gold bird, the contents of which Alkor brewed into a nice potion of extra life for her. She downed it with thanks.
"Onward and upward, eh Rogue?"
"You said it boss. Although I could so do with a cold shower in this weather."
"I'm hurt, I thought it was me having that effect on you!"
Euyfura blew a raspberry at her spearazon.
More Fetishes, mixed in with a few Jungle Hunters. No exciting drops to speak of, although SweetSpearGirl did level to 23 and put a few stat points into vitality. A Fetish Shaman, standing on the head of one of his friends, briefly blocked their path, and then they were at the entrance to the Spider Cavern.
"Bosses first," Euyfura said with a smug grin on her face.
Feeling irritable, SweetSpearGirl let herself down into the cave.
Down in the depths, it wasn't the spiders that bothered the couple of adventurers. Sure, they hit hard (especially Sszark the Burning, extra strong, cursed) but they weren't disgusting icky creatures - unlike the Giant Lampreys who kept them company, evidently distant cousins of the Sand Maggots of the desert. However, there weren't many of these, and SweetSpearGirl soon had herself a glowing chest and an Eye of Khalim. She did however elect to continue and fully clear the Cavern, reasoning that the more beasties she fragged, the sooner she'd be able to hit level 24 and re-learn her Decoy skill.
Back and forth they went, up and down the jungle, SMing and then slaughtering Jungle Hunters and gangs of Fetishes. Some nameless beastie dropped a three-socketed Superior Maiden Spear, and on seeing that two perfect skulls and a perfect sapphire would make it a significant improvement over her current Bloodthief, our hero promptly switched weapons. Now doing 76-104 damage with her Jab, SweetSpearGirl was able to tear through her foes. Jungle Hunters went down in droves, as did a pack of Champion Cloud Stalkers. This was the first time she had had any mana leech, and she was very grateful for it!
A portal shrine, an El rune and a great many troublesome troublemakers later, SweetSpearGirl and Euyfura stood at the Spider Forest waypoint.
"Want to take a break?" Euyfura suggested.
"Let's clear the Arachnid Lair first. I'm close to levelling."
"Well, bosses still go first!"
Waiting for them were more Giant Lampreys and big green spiders, as well as a pack of Fiends led by Soul Lust (mana burn). Down you go. Someone dropped a 1-17 lightning damage charm, which SweetSpearGirl thought a good trade for her +8 to life one.
Sadly, even after fully clearing the Lair, SweetSpearGirl was still not quite level 24. So the duo pressed onward through the rest of the Spider Forest and into the Great Marsh, and finally, a few Drowned Carcasses and Storm Call (fetish shaman, cursed) later, SweetSpearGirl levelled to 24 and could re-learn her Decoy.
"NOW can we take a break?" Euyfura said.
SweetSpearGirl only grinned and fired off a Town Portal scrool.