Good stuff Gate70 - let's hope 13 is lucky for some.
I had another go with a melee sorcerer, who got past the hard part by getting up to level 4. However, when trying to finish off the last few HPs Greywolf had he got beaten to the initiative and Greywolf landed a critical before he could attack with his dagger - doing more than the 21 HPs available.
I'll have one more go ...
Talking to Grond0 here.
If you had used Algernon's Cloak, BG1 is definitely do-able since I have completed it without killing anyone but Sarevok with various solo characters.
In BG2 the cloak is nerfed so more problematic.
I agree Wise - you perhaps remember I've done my own fair share of abusing the cloak! However, I'm confident that my character concept is viable without that - if correctly played ...
Nice to see you safely back from the mountains by the way.
Mordred, a servant & Black Guard of Asmodeus. I’ve restructured my retinue as I sense my lord is leading me to do. My Berserker Lieutenant is now my Berserker Sergeant. In no way is this a demotion but simply a change of title. He remains my most trusted follower & protector. I’ve promoted my Conjurer to third in my chain as I have come to realize his worldview is the same as mine & that of my Berserker Sergeant. I value his service & his connection to the Red Wizards as far as that can benefit my efforts on behalf of Asmodeus, my liege lord. I know he is also the one I must watch most closely therefore, bringing him closer to my inner circle is in keeping w/the adage, ‘Keep your friends close & your enemies even closer.’ My Bard/Herald/Sage is just that. He is my messenger & speaks for me. When we are not travelling he is charged w/designing my Coat of Arms which will include images of my place of origin, Candlekeep, & will be dominated by my lord Asmodeus’ symbol. For now, he is working on ideas & bringing them to me for guidance. He has no role in my chain of command beyond being my messenger & an outstanding Sage (Lore 65). My Illusionist compliments the abilities of my Conjurer & will remain w/me for that purpose. I still petition my lord for a Rogue w/a full complement of thieving skills & for a Cleric. Should he bless me w/both I will likely release the Illusionist from my service.
I led my subordinates to Dryad Falls where I‘d sensed my liege telling me to go. My followers assisted me in blowing through two Dread Wolves, a Dire Wolf & a dozen or so Gnolls. The Dire Wolf lived in a cave & guarded a healthy treasure of >200gp & a Tiger Cowrie Necklace.
Key Event: I tried to rest my company in the NW corner of Dryad falls but we were attacked by a half-dozen Flinds in the night. My Conjurer was killed & the battle was tough. I returned to Beregost, not daring to enter Nashkel now, & had him raised before heading back. The highlight of this battle was the one-two punch of my Conjurer & my Illusionist, attacking my enemies w/combo Blindness (Illusionist) & Melf’s Acid Arrow &/or Flame Arrow (Conjurer). Using their favorite spells from their respective schools they soften my opponents up for me & my Berserker Sergeant to finish off. My Illusionist has four Blindness spells & my Conjurer three each of Melf’s Acid Arrow & Flame Arrow. My Bard/Herald/Sage tosses in a Magic Missile & then pulls out his Short Bow w/Poison Arrows or his Lute to play MY battlesong as he deems best able to serve his lord…me.
DEFEATING THE BANDITS!
On return I waded thru a dozen or so Xvarts, two Cave Bears & a couple of oafs that wanted me to cut down a tree that was supposed to be filled w/gold. I’d just been approached by a Dryad who was seeking protection from them. She had nothing to offer for my efforts & for a moment I thought about letting the two oafs cut the tree down. I got tired of waiting though & decided to cut them down, which I did.
I got a little ticked @ my Bard/Herald/Sage after he advised I help some little brat find her cat. He said it would be good for my image. I told him to do what he thought best & he found the cat drowned in a pool beneath a waterfall. For all his efforts she had 23gp & I’m sure my image isn’t any better. Generally, his advice is good so I’ll let this one slide. Another waste of my time like that & some corrective measures might well be in order.
Afterward, I completed reconnoitering the Dryad Falls coming to battle w/a group of four Gnolls that tried to extort 50gp from me for passing. This skirmish was another opportunity to use my methodical attack, i.e. I cast Doom on the target creature, my Berserker Sergeant used his Enrage, my Conjurer cast Melf’s Acid Arrow, my Illusionist Blindness & my Bard/Herald/Sage used a Poison Arrow before switching to normal arrows. I led my group to do the same through all four of them. Overkill for Gnolls, yes, but necessary to engrain this method into my subordinates so that it becomes Standing Operating Procedure for all significant foes. A few steps later, we found four more Gnolls but my Conjurer cast Grease & while they struggled my Bard/Herald/Sage fired his Short Bow w/normal arrows & my Illusionist used his sling. Two of them died before ever moving but a step or two while the other two got close to the edge where my Berserker Sergeant & I met them & finished them off. We tried travelling back to Nashkel & killed two Winter Wolves and two Dread Wolves on the way back, But when I sent my Bard/Herald/Sage ahead of me to see if I was welcome, the Amnish Soldiers fired on him so I continued to the Nashkel Carnival.
Treasure of Note: None
Current Disposition: Resting @ the Nashkel Carnival
Next Steps: I am led to Fisherman’s Lake
Level Up: None
Current Party: (Reputation: 6 – Disliked)
Black Guard of Asmodeus: Fighter (Blk Gd)/5; Plate Mail w/Lg Shld, +1 B/Swd**, Flail* (SSS**)
Kagain: Fighter (Bkr)/5; Splint Mail w/B/Axe*** & T/Axe**
Eldoth: Bard/6; Chain Mail, Sh/Bow* & Brazers of Archery, Dgr* (Arm,Slp,MM,Mir Img)
Edwin: Mage(Cjr/5); Knaves Rove & Q/Staff* (Arm, Grease x2, Ch Per,Lar MD,MelfAA x2,PW Slp,Web)
Quayle: Mage(Ill/5); Mage Rove of FR, Slg* & Dgr (Ref Img, Blind x2,MM,Blur,Inv,Mir Img)
Mods Used: HardTimes-v2; BG1UB_v12; bg1npc-v20; X0black101 (Blackguard); MegaModKits v1.01L; level1npcs-v1.9; bg2_tweaks-v14; Randomizer-v68; scs-v21 (- Tactical Challenges)
Reloads: 0
** Self-imposed restriction: I require my mages to ALWAYS select spells from their school to learn & memorize in spell slots. They can use others, only one of each from other schools, but after writing all the spells they can for their intelligence, if they find one from their own school, they have to choose one to remove in deference to the spell from their school. Same w/memorization, they must learn spells from their school first before others which I only allow them to learn one of. Any extra memorized spell slots have to go to spells from their school. Bards & plain vanilla Mages aren’t restricted in this way.
Mordred, a servant & Black Guard of Asmodeus. Following my foray into the Dryad Forest, I sensed my lord leading me to this place known on maps as Fisherman’s Lake. My subordinates are getting better & combining their skills to effectively destroy my enemies. While my path might seem somewhat random, I sense that my lord Asmodeus is directing me to locations that will gradually increase my own power while simultaneously increasing the effectiveness of those he has given me to lead.
Here @ Fisherman’s Lake my first encounter was w/three Ghouls. While Ghouls are relatively simple, mindless creatures they can be that type creature that leads one into a sense of false security. In this case, my Bard/Herald/Sage tossed an Oil of Fiery Burning Potion in their midst & the fight was won. Further on, as I worked my way clockwise around the lake, I encountered three Ogre Berserkers. Here, my subordinates fired off the SOP package, i.e. I cast Doom; my Berserker Sergeant skipped Enrage & charged in; my Conjurer cast Melf’s Acid Arrow; my Bard/Herald/Sage strung one of his Poison Arrows & my Illusionist cast Blindness. I had him dead in a moment & then moved forward knowing that he was likely accompanied by at least two others. He was & they're dead now too.
My journey continued after a rest. I moved north until I was heading into The Red Canyon’s & then turned east again where, near an old abandoned house, I destroyed a half-dozen Skeleton’s armed w/Warhammers & then shortly afterward, four Half-Ogres w/Bastard Swords & half-dozen Gnoll Elites. Needing a place to rest I took my subordinates to the northeast corner of the lake, where should it be necessary I could retire to familiar ground. Sur enough, my rest was interrupted by 8-10 Gnolls which I beat down w/my Morning Star since my Bastard Sword +1 was out of reach when they attacked. My wizards & Bard/Herald/Sage stayed back & attacked w/ranged weapons & spells.
I finally got that nights rest before moving southwest until I came upon 15 or so Gnolls. As I formed my subordinates up into the ’Reverse V’ attack formation which allows me to see the battlefield clearly before deciding my course of action, suddenly I was approached by a Drow w/wicked blades who asked if I would aid him. My instinct was to tell him he was on his own but then, again, I wanted to kill the Gnolls to acquire what treasure I could. He insisted I take sides & something told me I did not want to meet the Drow in battle. When he announced afterward that he was Drizzt Do'Urden I knew that something that warned me not to challenge him was once again, my lord in Nessus. So I assisted him in killing the Gnolls & he had little interest in their treasure so I collected the gems & gold but was running out of room for the heavier weapons. I let my subordinates take a knee again for a few hours after a tussle w/three more Ogre Berserkers. Victory was mine but we’d exhausted many of our abilities & needed to refresh them.
After the pause my Berserker Sergeant & I destroyed a pack of Wild Dogs & on the north side of the lake about eight more skeletons. Not real sure these weren’t the same ones we’d killed before reanimated.
Key Event: Just as I was ready to wrap it up, I passed around the south side of the lake & was challenged by a bandit w/a Mage & a Chill Hobgoblin. Nothin’ gets my Berserker Sergeant goin’ more than a foe beginning to incant a spell. He used his Enrage ability & charged the mage as she was trying to get off a spell. I cast Aura of Despair, my Illusionist Blindness, my Conjurer Melf’s Acid Arrow; & my Bard/Herald/Sage strung one of his Poison Arrows. Needless to say she was quickly eliminated & I turned on the lead bandit. My Bard/Herald/Sage had to quaff an Antidote b/c he’d been hit by a poison arrow himself. I hollered @ my Berserker Sergeant to deal w/the Chill Hobgoblin so that the Poison Arrows would cease. He did & then joined me in killing the leader. The wench had a spellbook on her that my mages divvied up but the treasure was underwhelming.
BATTLING AND DEFEATING BANDITS!
Treasure of Note: Scroll of Agannazar’s Scorcher (Bard/Herald/Sage)
Next Steps: I feel it’s time to look around the Temple area where that hypocrite Ormlyr resides
Level Up: None
Current Party: (Reputation: 6 – Disliked)
Black Guard of Asmodeus: Fighter (Blk Gd)/5; Plate Mail w/Lg Shld, +1 B/Swd**, Flail* (SSS**)
Kagain: Fighter (Bkr)/5; Splint Mail w/B/Axe*** & T/Axe**
Eldoth: Bard/6; Chain Mail, Sh/Bow* & Brazers of Archery, Dgr* (Arm,Slp,MM,Mir Img)
Edwin: Mage(Cjr/5); Knaves Rove & Q/Staff* (Arm, Grease x2, Ch Per,Lar MD,MelfAA x2,PW Slp,Web)
Quayle: Mage(Ill/5); Mage Rove of FR, Slg* & Dgr (Ref Img, Blind x2,MM,Blur,Inv,Mir Img)
Mods Used: HardTimes-v2; BG1UB_v12; bg1npc-v20; X0black101 (Blackguard); MegaModKits v1.01L; level1npcs-v1.9; bg2_tweaks-v14; Randomizer-v68; scs-v21 (- Tactical Challenges)
Reloads: 0
** Self-imposed restriction: I require my mages to ALWAYS select spells from their school to learn & memorize in spell slots. They can use others, only one of each from other schools, but after writing all the spells they can for their intelligence, if they find one from their own school, they have to choose one to remove in deference to the spell from their school. Same w/memorization, they must learn spells from their school first before others which I only allow them to learn one of. Any extra memorized spell slots have to go to spells from their school. Bards & plain vanilla Mages aren’t restricted in this way.
Sounds fun.
13 was not a lucky number. Stupidly tried to deal with 3 sirines using the greenstone amulet and saved against death several times before glugging the only green healing potion. The really stupid part was moving on to the second group and splitting them up. Had one down and a second badly wounded but couldn't react to a dire charm.
a dire charm.
Probably the deadliest low-level spell in the game. Really nice to see so much action here.
I decided to have another go at no-reload.
Weidu:
)
Exciting stuff Aasim - I hope your nerves can stand a long run 
.
I should buy some headgear soon.
I find it pretty simple to acquire helms from various hobgoblins. Have you really not seen any?
I find it pretty simple to acquire helms from various hobgoblins. Have you really not seen any?
Swashbuckler can't wear those. I just need money, Rogue Rebalancing introduces some headgear for thieves/bards.
My next 2nd level spell will be blur. I haven't decided yet on a 5th 2nd level choice.
You may want to consider Strength. Loaded into a Minor Sequencer, it can help the Spider, the Flind, the Jelly and, later, the Flayer.
FYI: Alastria went with Mirror Image, Blur, Strength, Resist Fear, and Web at L2. By the time her fifth L2, Web, kicked in, she was close to GoI. Knock scrolls sufficed for the few locks that she couldn't bust with Polymorph Self: Ogre-> Draw on Holy Might.
I could definitely see skipping Resist Fear in favor of Invisibility. I just happen to have a lot of enemies that spam fear effects with save penalties in my install.
I'm unfond of Stinking Cloud in comparison to Web since sleep immunity is semi-common and an unmodified save v. death to usually much easier to make than a save v. spells at -2.
Best of luck with your melee sorcerer Grondo!
Cheers,
A.
Thanks for the advice Alesia. I had considered strength, but at the moment I'm thinking Geduld will probably wear a strength belt most of the time in BG2 and I assume that would mean he wouldn't need the spell. I've not got a clear idea of which 6th level spells I want yet, but GoI is certainly one of the options and I agree that would then tip the balance in favour of web.
Grond0, well-played... Grynne the WS had serious difficulty at the bandit camp. She might have survived herself, but her companions wouldn't have been so lucky I fear. (See below.) Your Sorcerer's name is the Dutch word for 'patience', this surely can't be a coincidence?
Grynne is back on track, here my latest installment (albeit a brief one):
***
After Gellana Mirroshade had restored Gavin back to life, we rested at the Inn, and travelled back through the Larswood and the Peldvale to see if we could trace the bandit trail again. We succeeded. In the Peldvale we came upon a group of bandits led by a guy named Raiken. Rather than to take them on (and thus to risk losing track of the bandit trail again), I decided to have us try and infiltrate in their ranks. Kagain told this Raiken that that we knew wich way the wind was blowing, and that the opportunities for a good life were with the bandits. Raiken fell for this line of reasoning, and led us to the bandit camp. We were brought before the bandit leader, an imposing half-ogre named Tazok, who challenged us to a fight in order to test our mettle. He was soon impressed by the four of us, and told us that we could stay on, but not before striking down Kagain in one hit. [This seems to be an auto-kill of the party leader, coded in the game.]
Fortunately, Gavin had two scrolls of Raise Dead with him, from the Temple of Lathander. He raised Gavin, we rested for Gavin's sake and because Tazok had said that he would leave with a party that night for a raid. This would mean less bandits at the camp, and better opoortunities for us to take a look around. We saw a big tent and decided to enter, supposedly on Tazok's orders in case we were going to need an excuse. An excuse we did need, as we were confronted by nine hostile men in the tent. They didn't believe our story, and attacked. There was one mage, whom we took on first. My orders.
Once the mage was down it was our steel against their arrows. We prevailed, although Kagain took some severe poison damage.
We searched the place and found two letters that hinted at more bandit activity in the Cloakwood and spoke of the 'Iron Throne'. A name for this bandit organization? I'm confused. As far as I know the Iron Throne is a ruthless yet reputable mercantile group, not a gang of bandits. Nevertheless, a captive of the bandits, an elf named Ender Sai we released in the tent, confirmed my suspicions. We left the tent, only to see how the entire camp had turned hostile on us... I would have gladly tried to teach the scum a lesson or two, and loot the place, but their arrows hit hard. I saw Gavin and Kagain suffering, so we fled the scene. [I sure hope the Item Randomizer hasn't put anything particularlry useful in the Bandit Camp, or I might just have to return that way.].
Thanks for the advice Alesia. I had considered strength, but at the moment I'm thinking Geduld will probably wear a strength belt most of the time in BG2 and hence not need the spell.
Understood. But bear in mind that strength belts don't work when you are shapeshifted, and of course, they crowd out the BoIB.
The disadvantage of Strength is that it works best in tandem with Minor Sequencer, and Minor Sequencer crowds out either Spirit Armor or a Fire Shield.
I've not got a clear idea of which 6th level spells I want yet, but GoI is certainly one of the options and I agree that would then tip the balance in favour of web.
You don't have a lot of room to maneuver at L6 since you'll definitely want Improved Haste, Tenser's Transformation, and ProMW. Contingency is also difficult to pass up on since it provides a way to cast post shift and or post Tenser's. Spell Deflection and Protection from Magic Energy may be tempting, but since L7 and L8 are pretty open for melee sorcerers, I think it makes more sense to get their functionality (and more) via Spell Turning and Protection from Energy. That leaves room for GoI at L6. Ordering is an issue, however, since you'll probably want to get IH+Tenser's+ProMW+Spell Trigger in place as soon as possible and your first L8 kicks in at level 16, while your fourth L6 doesn't come until level 21.
Best,
A.
Displeased with the cowardly way in which my party and I had left the Bandit Camp, I insisted that we return there before going anywhere else. Kagain was only thinking in terms of bandit scalps and their worth to Officer Vai of the Fist in Beregost, so he had no objections. Gavin and Isra weren't swayed so easily. But I was adamant, and told them that thay could stay out of this affair if they wished to.
When we appoached the camp, I told my companions to give me all their healing potions, and t stay back. I donned my Large Shield +1, put on a pair of Boots of Avoidance normally worn by Gavin, and the Crystal Helmet I had looted from Morvin's remains a few tendays before. (The helmet gives some extra protection, +1 AC.)
Admittedly many arrows hit me, a few of them even poisoned, so I had to keep on taking healing potions but by Helm did I feel powerful slaying them all. This is how it must feel to be a God, purging the the land without anyone stopping you. Even when I was surrounded by smaller groups of both swordsmen and archers.
Nevertheless, I shall remain humble and alert. These were no knights nor assassins, trained from a young age to kill if need be. Their strength lay in their numbers, but invidually they were decent fighters at best.
Kagain has counted 77 scalps, so he's about as content as I am.
***
We're going to replenish our stock of healing potions, and the we'll investigate the Cloakwoods.
Grond0, well-played... Grynne the WS had serious difficulty at the bandit camp. She might have survived herself, but her companions wouldn't have been so lucky I fear. (See below.) Your Sorcerer's name is the Dutch word for 'patience', this surely can't be a coincidence?
Indeed not - I had the German word in mind, rather than Dutch, but the meaning is the same.
Understood. But bear in mind that strength belts don't work when you are shapeshifted, and of course, they crowd out the BoIB.
I hadn't realised that - although I did suspect after reading your previous email 
.
Mordred, a servant & Black Guard of Asmodeus. After my work @ Fisherman’s Lake I spent a few days unloading my loot & exchanging the gp received for equipment needs. I’m sensing my next direction toward the Temple of the Morning, to explore the land around it. Asmodeus is upping the ante on my challenges b/c word in the Red Sheaf is that the place is swarming w/Hobgoblins, Gnoll Slashers, Bears, War Dogs & Wild Dogs, Worgs & Wolves, including Vampiric Wolves that require magic weapons to harm them. It’s the latter that I worry about b/c not only do they require enchanted weapons to harm them, they can also Hold a victim w/a successful bite, similar to undead. This poses a problem b/c while I have a Bastard Sword +1, that’s about it. My Conjurer has a Quarter Staff +1 & my Bard/Herald/Sage has a Short Sword +1 but neither has a competitive AC for close-in melee. My Berserker Sergeant has only normal axes & will be ineffective against them – although he will want at’em nonetheless. In preparation, I’ve bought 30 Arrows +1 & 30 Sling Stones +1 from the Thunderhammer Smithy. I’ll have to be ready to evacuate if things go south. I leave after a few more hours rest.
As is my custom I worked my way clockwise around the Temple area. I took another reputation hit when I killed a drunk that came up claiming to be a Lich & demanding all my $. He was too worthless to live so I helped out I thought but as usual news got out. I continued east toward Mutamin’s Garden until I encountered & killed two wolves. From there I continued east for a bit before turning south toward Ulcaster.
Key Event: The first of two Vampiric Wolves leading a pack that included two Dread Wolves & three Worgs appeared. My Bard/Herald/Sage started things off w/a critical hit w/an Arrow +1 into the lead Vampiric Wolf. My Berserker Sergeant, Enraged, waded into the fray to kill the ‘other’ wolves. My Conjurer lead Vampiric Wolf w/either Melf’s Acid Arrow or Flame Arrow causing further damage but my Illusionists Blindness spell was ineffective as the Vampiric Wolf shook it off. My Bard/Herald/Sage then tossed a Oil of Fiery Burning into the midst of the wolves, warning my Berserker Sergeant @ the last moment so that he only scorched his butt as his evacuated the impact area. This panicked Vampiric Wolf #1, essentially leaving him for mop up which my Conjurer did w/one of his favorite Arrow spells. Meanwhile, my Illusionists Blindness spell was effective against the second Vampiric Wolf leaving him wandering aimlessly w/ my Bard/Herald/Sage shooting Arrows +1 @ him & my Conjurer firing off more Arrow spells I’d Doomed the first Vampiric Wolf & followed up w/Larloch’s Minor Drain when he was near death. I decided to engage the second Vampiric Wolf w/my Bastard Sword +1. I landed a critical hit before my Conjurer finished him off – his second Vampiric Wolf of the battle. Killing the remainder of the Dread Wolves & Worgs was just child’s play.
IF YOU THINK IT'S HOT HERE...YOU AIN'T THE 1ST LAYER OF HELL, AVERNUS!
Continuing south toward Ulcaster, my group encountered & killed three Hobgoblins, two Dread Wolves & six Wild Dogs before turning back towards Beregost. I found a petrified woman in a rock enclave but like the one @ Nashkel Carnival, I’ve no interest in turning their Stone to Flesh. Moving onward a ways before turning back toward the Temple proper where I encountered & killed one pack of War Dogs & then another. I finished reconnoitering the area around the temple after a fairly easy battle w/a Chill Hobgoblin who called himself Cattack & his group of Chill lackey’s. I whipped ‘em good & headed back to Beregost. Not much richer for my effort around the mines.
Treasure of Note: None
Next Steps: Asmodeus bids me travel to Ulcaster
Level Up: None
Current Party: (Reputation: 4 – Despised) (-2/killed ‘LICH’ near Temple of the Morning)
Black Guard of Asmodeus: Fighter (Blk Gd)/5; Plate Mail w/Lg Shld, +1 B/Swd**, Flail* (SSS**)
Kagain: Fighter (Bkr)/5; Splint Mail w/B/Axe*** & T/Axe**
Eldoth: Bard/6; Chain Mail, Sh/Bow* & Brazers of Archery, Dgr* (Arm,Slp,MM,Mir Img)
Edwin: Mage(Cjr/5); Knaves Rove & Q/Staff* (Arm, Grease x2, Ch Per,Lar MD,MelfAA x2,PW Slp,Web)
Quayle: Mage(Ill/5); Mage Rove of FR, Slg* & Dgr (Ref Img, Blind x2,MM,Blur,Inv,Mir Img)
Mods Used: HardTimes-v2; BG1UB_v12; bg1npc-v20; X0black101 (Blackguard); MegaModKits v1.01L; level1npcs-v1.9; bg2_tweaks-v14; Randomizer-v68; scs-v21 (- Tactical Challenges)
Reloads: 0
** Self-imposed restriction: I require my mages to ALWAYS select spells from their school to learn & memorize in spell slots. They can use others, only one of each from other schools, but after writing all the spells they can for their intelligence, if they find one from their own school, they have to choose one to remove in deference to the spell from their school. Same w/memorization, they must learn spells from their school first before others which I only allow them to learn one of. Any extra memorized spell slots have to go to spells from their school. Bards & plain vanilla Mages aren’t restricted in this way.
@CKT, man I love your writing! You're doing evil so well. Brutal, cruel evil normally isn't my thing, but I really enjoy your Dark Knight who sure is cruel and brutal...
We bought some healing potions from Gellana, Keldath and that odd wizard Thalantyr who for some reason charged me more for his potions than the others did - I guess the distrust is mutual. Anyway, we headed for the Cloakwood where upon arrival we slew a troop of Tasloi and found a magical cloak on one of them. We also met a merchant from Baldur's Gate who had gotten into a conflict with a number of druids when he was out hunting with his friends. I tried to resolve their dispute peacefully as I had no idea who had done what, but to no avail. The druids attacked us. They paid for that with their lives. The merchant thanked us with a potion heroism, one of the many magical potions I've no use for.
We trekked deeper into the forest until we reached an area infested with spiders and ettercaps. Gavin (despite his arachnofobia) and I made short work of the vermin and managed to reunite a young man with his brother. Unfortunately the latter was dead, the work of a witchlike creature who somehow co-existed with the spiders. We ended her wretched existence as we had done with her pets. In a treasure cove in woman's lair we found an enchantd twohanded greatsword we'll have to get identified when we get the chance. It might serve Isra.
...
The Cloakwood houses a community of druids who weren't happy to see us at all until they found out that we were after the Iron Throne. Apparently they've been having their own problems with the bandits.
In a giant treehouse we met a barkskinned or ironskinned oldtimer who chided us for trespassing on druid territory whilst a Shadow Archdruid looks on. Slightly annoyed by these druids' incessant alpha male territorialist tendencies, I asked him 'What's an Archdruid?' He took offense, but I managed to prevent a fight. These particular druids, Shadow Druids, apparently desire to cleanse the woods of all humanoid activity or even existence, except for themselves of course. We've become temporary allies in combating the Iron Throne. The Archdruid, Amarande, referred me to one his community, a fierce young Avenger druid named Faldorn. She's going to guide us toward the Iron Throne base and I have no doubt that if we succeed, they'll want to get rid of us as soon as possible. We'll see how things evolve.
...
On our way toward the Iron Throne base, we almost lost our new party member in a fight against a hamadryad and her animal companions.
The increasing presence of Black Talons and guards tells me that we're nearing the Iron Throne base. They are no match for our party. More imposing were the Wyverns, though these too fell to our physical might.
Right in front of the Iron Throne base, a mine to be precise, we were stopped by a druid, of all people. Another self-pronounced Archdruid to be precise. Strangely, Faldorn's presence in our group didn't make a difference to him. He was convinced that we were allies of the Iron Throne. Our enemy wreaked havoc in our group with his Insect Plague spell, and a few Call Lightnings.
Meanwhile we had no way of breaking through the druid's defenses. As brave young Isra fell, we saw how the druid had a couple of bears and at one point, and this I really don't understand, even Iron Throne guards coming to his aid.
Surrounded by hard hitting bears, Iron Throne guards and this cursed druid with a summoned Woodland Nymph, I activated my Shatter Magic ability and managed to breach the druid's defenses. I commanded my comrades in arms to focus all our efforts on the druid now that he was at his most vulnerable. The Nymph had a blinding beauty ability which seemed to have blinded us permanently.
My breach of the druid's defenses however proved misleading as none of my band managed to hit the druid. These cowardly tricks made him look no better than the average mage in my eyes. Where we failed the druid managed to kill Faldorn and charm Kaigan. The latter was a blessing in a way as Kagain, whose health had suffered greatly, remained where he was without having to fear any further assaults by the bears or the guards.
Gavin and I managed to kill off all the bears and all the guards except one, and then we split up. I would be fighting the druid, and Gavin the last remaining guard, a man named Lakadaar. I wasn't advancing much, but at least I managed to hold my ground against my foe, who decided to test my morale, casting a Heal on himself, but I just kept on hacking and stabbing. Meanwhile Gavin had great difficulty with the Iron Throne guard, partly caused by another swarm of the druid's Summoned Insects and in part by the guard's velocity (could it be that he was wearing a pair of the fabled Boots of Speed?). When the charm on Kagain wore off, he came to my help, but I signalled him to help Gavin with the guard. Unfortunately he couldn't, as he got stunned by the druid's blade.
In a desperate attempt to save the dwarf's life I tried to spirit the druid away from my stunned companion, and with succes, blessed be Helm. Before I knew it though, it was my turn to get stunned by the druid's weapon. That my life didn't end there and then was thanks to Gavin, who distracted and occupied both Lakadaar and the druid.
The stun on Kagain wore off. He used the occasion to try and charm Lakadaar with the help of Lord Foreshadow's Ring of Human Influence, but this didn't work. Gavin tried to Hold both the guard and the druid, but both remained unaffacted by the spell. When I found my bearings again, the three of us managed to strike down Lakadaar in a joint effort.
We surrounded the druid, but simply couldn't touch him. While he was occupied with Kagain, Gavin cast a Dispel Magic in the hope that this might end our blindness, but it didn't. Gavin's second spell, Call Lightning, did only minor damage. When we got in a few scarce hits, our hopes revived. [Only critical hits did any damage for some reason.] However the druid had greater healing potions with which he undid the damage we had caused him, and managed to stun Kagain a second time. Two more (critical) hits, one of which with my offhand Dagger of Venom, depleted our opponents' health again. Kagain, released from the stun effect of the druid's scimitar, got in a hit as well, bringing the druid at the point of dying. Gavin then scored a good hit toe, but the druid still wouldn't fall. Thankfully we didn't see him quaffing any healing potions either, so that we still had hopes of soon ending the fight once and for all. At long lst, another stab with my venomous dagger did him in.
Time to gather what loot we may find, and decide whether we shall continue without Isra and Faldorn, now that we're so close to our destination, or travel all the way back to the Mirroshades to try and get the two of them raised.
Have acquired a game similar to this where the weather is much colder. Does anyone know of a thread similar to this one for that game?
Congratulations, Grond0! Best of luck in Amn...
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