Now, the new official title of one who has slain Diablo in ironman competition is "Demigod." Please try to get used to it - I like it very much, thank you. It really rolls off the tongue.

Hehehee now onto the good stuff :-) You guys are going to love the stories here’s a starter:

Were on 16 and we have it cleared except for Diablo’s den. I am set at the entrance, and Gumby is at the levers and Kshira is hiding in the northwestern most corner - the ref is of course upstairs so we don’t lose the game.

The idea is to lure the big guy out and maze trap him of course - only the deal goes bad - he won't come out. So, yours truly (the mage) is running like hell from 4 black knights - to the maze, and simu- ltaneously trying to message the backup to meet me north of the maze. Ok the situation gets handled.

At this point we are a bit frazzled and kind of forget to have any kind of plan - we are going to hold at the north entrance to the southern half of the map - that’s the plan. Well, we go in and burn some Advocs and BKs and Diablo decides to come out oh shit!

I decide on the spot to run to the maze - where I already have a TP set up to escape to. If the mage runs - we all run - or so I am thinking. Well, Kshira gets my new revised plan about 2 seconds too late - as I am busy running to the maze and frantically typing. I lose track of Gumby at this point. Kshira dies in the demon's grasp.

I lure Diablo to the maze and he is stuck whew. Pant, pant..wheeze..

We finish off the level without incident - mostly stone curse and rogue shoots em - a few at a time. So, then its time to do Diablo. Of course we are fresh out of res - having used 2 or 3 - maybe 4 of them on the level already. So, its rogue and mage vs a big pissed off demon.

THE KILL
Ok, so the plan is rogue goes and gets Diablo and we make him walk through some fire before standing him up at the entrance to the maze. I await Gumby bringing him out.

Well, ole apoc-breath runs mighty fast - none of the FWs touches him, or barely at all. We stand our ground - and I open fire with the HB stick I have been hauling along with me since like level 2 - with scant, but ever-strengthening hope I might actually get to use it.

Bad news - I only have a level 2 HB - so this is going to be tough. I also have 5 full potions on my belt - and that’s it. Gumby gave me an additional potion he had on him before we went to take him on - the critical potion - but that’s later.

Well, I seize him up with my first barrage, but he recovers after a few hits and strikes at Gumby. Gumby valiantly stands his ground with the last of his Heal scrolls grasped in his arrow hand. I seize him up for about 5 - 6 HBs and then he hits about 3 4 times, undaunted by the HBs.

Gumby goes down and Diablo closes on me. We trade, me seizing him up then he to me. I go through a potion every time his turn comes around. I have a good amount of mana - 250+, but I’m taking a beating. What’s worse, by my best gut instinct my HB stick is going to run out.

So, I make a run for it - to try and get space to recharge the stick. I get 3/4 around the maze before I have my space. He closes and hits me. I am at 2 pots left now. Meantime Gumby is imploring me to leave the level and regroup.

Problem, this fat sucker regenerates if I do that - and I have no backup potions. So, there is only one choice, him or me. I back off bit during this calculation - I am almost back to the entrance to the maze.

I stand my ground and fire away. As I use my 2nd to last pot - its looking bad - he is really shredding me, and there is blood all over the place. I am still locking him up - but there just doesn't seem to be an end to it.

I am resigned to die. I have been playing with these guys - trying to get to this point for a year - and I am going to be taken down by this big fat jerk. I am sure I’m just not doing enough damage to him.

I use my last pot - the one Gumby gave me before we went to extract D. I lock him he locks me, I lock him. This is it, my last time, last chance, On his next attack he will hit me once, then twice, and I will have failed yet again to achieve my long sought after goal.

Boom - blood all over the damn place, he’s spewing like a stuck pig in heat - I can’t believe it - I jump back out of my chair and commence to giggle maniacally at 3 am. In my solitude, here at home, yet knowing my mates are doing the same thing one hundreds and one thousands of miles away - I revel in the moment. I am giggling and pumping my fist like some sort of defiant serial killer - really off my rocker, raving mad!!

Click Here for Story and thread at the DSG - posted Nov/11/99

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