Followup 10 - Solo Victory for Hardcore Paladin - Apr/25/2000

When last we left off, Simba, the Hard Core Paladin, had defeated the Vile Countess and had to face the Smith and Andariel to earn the coveted title of "Count." The Smith, for all his work on the anvil, was known to hit HARD, and so Simba waited until he was 12th lvl. Although he would soon want to push Zeal (if he lived that long), Simba reasoned that lvl 1 Charge might be more useful than lvl 2 Zeal, which is all he would be able to muster by the time he would reach Andariel. Charge was of great benefit vs the Smith. The short stun and knockback meant that Simba was virtually untouched. The downside to the skill is very high mana cost, so many potions were used (but hey, it's a tough single boss battle for a HC).

Simba's companion, Elly, had been slain by the Countess, but her good sister, Hannah, agreed to accompany and comfort Simba. It was a very good move actually... on entering the Inner Cloister one game on a resume, he was mercilessly ambushed by a Boss pack of upgraded Quills. Brave Hannah "took the bullet" and saved his life, as Simba escaped up a portal with scant few hit points left. (Safety tip: Don't ever forget to switch to Defiance before entering an unknown area!) The Paladin was delighted that the mercenary Gaile would now join his side, firing elemental arrows. On this next two level ups Simba learned Zeal and Cleansing (for the final battle), and pushed a little on Vitality. I call VIT the lag stat, in that it is the one most likely to save your life when an episode of lag hits - the extra hp are nice. Down finally to Catacombs 4, the abode of Andariel. There were a myriad of fallen ones (much tougher than D1, mind you) and shamans and other nasty beasts outside the main chamber. The wicked shameless monsters slew poor Gaile, and resulted in a very nervous merc with fire arrow being hired. Simba felt great remorse at his inability to protect the sisters, but he would just have to train harder.

The last battle required Simba to steel his nerves, and grip hard on his Deadly Trident of Alacrity. As he opened the doors to the inner chamber he heard a dreaded 'whoosh' (not unlike fairy tales he had heard of the 'CD spin up' beast). Before he even saw her, his health globe was green and falling fast. He sprinted for the portal to regroup - he reached it with *one* hit point left, and Andariel just about to deliver the killing blow. There is nothing like a totally empty health globe to reach out and squeeze the heart of a player with a Hardcore character, especially on what would be his final battle! Fortunately, poison can drain you down to one hit point, but not kill, and he had run just in time. The single point of Cleansing was utterely insufficient to protect him - it reduces not the damage from poison but the length of time it is active. He decided to walk down the stairs again, and not take the portal. He did so with Defiance and Charge ready. Since Andy did not repeat her speech, entrance was much more smooth, and Simba was able to initiate a charge. Now I'm sure Andariel had seen many adventurers slain at her feet before, but she had never quite seen Simba, King of the Jungle, Charging at her with a deadly Trident in hand and a defiant attitude. After closing in, he decided to stay close, to take the swings rather than the ranged poison attack, and so he switched to Sacrifice. (Zeal was too low level right now, but in a few levels would have been preferred) Great drops of his own blood dripped from his brow as he put all his might into the blows (Might aura activated). The damage was oppressive, and in short order Andariel was slain and the monastery itself erupted - with joy or anguish he could not tell.

Long live Count Simba!!
 

Charis