Igles is X-TREME.
So, here we are. The dreaded desert. We're very likely to find our death here.
The journey goes without any disturbances, but then... We're ambushed by a flight of bats!
Repulsive creatures. I avoid them whenever I can.
Level 2 spiders.
A level 2 troll...
FOUR LEVEL 2 TROLLS...
FIVE MOTHERFUCKING LEVEL 2 TROLLS.
WHOA
WHOA!!
Fortunately, though, the passage is pretty narrow and they can only attack us one-by-one, which is pretty much lethal for them.
And soon, they all hit the dirt.
And we get epic loot.
Well, no shit, sir Clueless. We've been near the swamp for like an hour now, and you've only noticed it just about now?
During a routine fight with turtles, the mages are ambushed by...
A goblin. Say hi.
Of course, Dina decided to die. Don't ask me how, but apparently, the AI thought it's a great idea to stop healing itself while under attack.
Proceeding, we meet a level 2 ogre. Not much of a challenge.
During this fight with spiders, both our mages almost kicked it. The spiders were swarming from all directions, and Dina even fell to the ground with negative HP, but KC managed to heal her in time.
A promising mountain pass.
This looks familiar.
Damn greenskins.
Some generic ghosts. A few steps behind them was a magic well...
... that exploded with poison clouds when approached!
Another level 2 ogre.
Okay, two level 2 ogres.
FOUR?!
HOLY MOTHER OF BUTTFUCK, FIVE.
Oooooookaaaaaaay. This will require a different approach.
Not far from the ogres' position is the crash site. We'll try using the trees to our advantage.
Mages will hide among them, while Igles lures in the ogres and takes em out one-by-one.
And what do you know, it's working!
Igles cuts through all of them eventually.
Then, we meet this lovely undead horde.
What the hell is this? The Desert of Horrible Monster Mobs?!
Durrrrr.
Another try...
Doesn't really give any better results... The combined efforts of our mages can't outheal this mob.
Well, and this time, we're pretty much in the middle of nowhere, with almost no cover, so we'll have to improvise.
We'll hide Igles among these trees, so not all skeletons can hit him at the same time, and position the healers as far as possible and pray no skeleton changes targets on them.
Whoa, it actually works.
This is one of the rare games where skeletons take
no shit.
Some art deco.
At this point, we hear sounds of battle!
Apparently, the creatures are fighting amongst themselves! Particularly, they don't like this archer dude.
Shit. Guess we need to protect him.
So, we rush in, and we automatically get everything's attention.
This is a level 2 orc warrior. Level 1s are green, but I don't think they are even present in single player. The yellow goblins we've seen before are also level 2 - level 1s are kinda brownish.
Level 2 orc archer.
And level 2 shaman. Asshole uses magic shield that decreases damage dealt to him. Also shoots stone missiles and an occasional fireball.
The whole mob isn't really any challenge, and they die fast.
You saved me now, I thank-thank you, but it does not make-make much sense. The orcs want to kill-kill me!
Oh, great. A stuttering faggot. Drop it, if a scatman can do, so can you.
Tell me, why do your kinsmen hate you so much?
Huh, I not know. Name's Ginsush, I did not want-want to kill humans for nothing. Told all orcs that we can live in peace and Bugur-Shaman told the other way around. For that, Bugur-Shaman ordered to kill-kill me.
Tell me, please, Ginsush... have you heard anything about the star the fell in your land? We are looking for it but can not find it.
Everybody here heard-heard about it. Shaman Hosh-Yelooy found-found that star and told everyone that the Great Jackal has given him the Stone Eye, wrapped up in gold. This stone now hangs on Hosh-Yelooy's neck, and Yelooy-Shaman is now the boss in Brown Beetle Sands.
An unpleasant name... Where are those sands? Can we get there?
Sure you can get there. Not sure if you can get out-out of there. If you really need-need that, I show you the way. Then I not know where to go-go. Here, the orcs will kill me, in the plains soldiers will kill me, in the woods-woods the Druids will kill me.
I don't think that the Druids will harm you at all. They wouldn't mind you staying, so long as you behave yourself. Try going to the woods, we may see you there later.
Great. But before we go, we need to collect the lootz.
Also, there was this goblin hiding among the trees. This is a goblin slinger. FACT: they are rather worthless.
Selling time!
Buying time!
Morphing time!
Now Igles is the master of homo armour. And it'll only get worse.
Some pointless banter in town.
Our mercenaries leveled up.
There's also this guy.
He's a mage hireling. Pretty useful fellow, since he has prismatic spray (chain lightning, basically).
There's also this fancy-ass old git.
IGLES! You lazy bum! Are you still wasting your time and effort on senseless women and shady ventures?!
They aren't senseless, uncle. In fact, my new friends and I found...
It doesn't matter what you've found! This time I'm giving you a chance to distinguish yourself in real action. Orcs have started to raid our villages again! The peasants are desperate. A detachment is being sent to end the orcish raids, and I have ordered the commander to take you along. They can use another fighter for this battle.
There's also this peasant girl.
Hello, Dina! Do you remember me? I lived in Ushut when you were little. Your grandpa, the Astrologer, used to buy bread from my parents, and I often helped him carry it. We then moved to a town in the south of the Plains, and I have heard nothing about you since then. How are you doing? How is your grandpa?
Some outlaws hired by the Necromancers guild have killed my grandpa. Now the members of the guild say they were scoundrels and renegades... not that it's a relief.
Oh, I'm so sorry. I hope the thugs have been punished. Our town is in trouble too! Evil monsters have besieged us! There is no one to hold them off. The royal army seems to have more important tasks than helping a small village under attack. We hoped that our local female mage, Talena, would be able to help. It turns out that mages are not all that powerful. Talena actually had to abandon her tower and seek refuge in our town.
I suppose that she's not qualified to become a mage yet...
You tell her, KC.
Oh, no no. She is a very nice person. It's just that she studied more about ancient tales and legends than battle magic. She can tell you astonishing things about the old times. It's too bad her tales can't help us now.
And then, there's Igles.
What's happened? What's making you so upset?
Oh Dina, I just learned some disappointing news. It was all my mistake, I should have listened to you when you tried to persuade me not to take that man through the Ancient Woods! He's actually a known felon, a gang chief. He was brought to Kaarg for trial, but managed to escape. If we hadn't taken him through the woods, he would have been caught again. But now, he has his gang back, and they're preparing to terrorize again!
Damn, I should be blamed as well! I must have lost my mind when I saw all that money!
One way or another, we must correct our mistake. Especially since we know where the outlaws' camp is located. We must have left that gangster not far from the camp.
So, in case you're dense and didn't notice, this is about the traveller guy we escorted through the woods before. Quality consequences, eh?
Anyway, here are our options:
Punishing the outlaws for using us,
Helping the village under attack and its mage,
Following Igles's Uncle's orders,
Main quest, hunting orcs for fallen stars.
And there's also the second main quest - the fallen star in the woods.
DISCUSS!!