Roguelike
Page 16
I’d go through them all later, but I took note of what I got.
You get a Red Spell Book
You get a Scroll of Visions
You get a Scroll of Darkvision
You get a Scroll of Knight Armor
You get a +10 Mace of Disarming
You get a +10 Bow of Flames
You get Boots of Teleport
You get Boots of Water Walking
You get Amulet of Water Breathing
You get Amulet of Sleep
You get a glass Wand of Light [145/155] charges remaining.
You get a marble Wand of Create Monster [13/14] charges remaining.
You get a forked Wand of Speed Monster [144/144] charges remaining.
You get a Ring of Stealth
You get a +5 Ring of Charisma
You get a +5 Ring of Intelligence
You get a +5 Ring of Dexterity
You get a magic flute.
I also threw in the potions and other items I’d identified. Just as I finished, three armored Keystone Kops ran into the room with their swords drawn.
“Thief!” the Sergeant Cop yelled, pointing an accusatory finger.
“He attacked me first,” I lied.
“Get ‘em boys!”
All three pushed the tables and glass cases aside as they moved toward me.
You are no longer speedy.
Not a problem.
I slipped on the Boots of Teleport and the Ring of Teleport Control.
Where would you like to go?
I grinned, quickly finding Gloria and the stairs down.
My surroundings changed instantaneously as I activated the item.
“What happened?” Gloria asked after I appeared next to her.
“Don’t worry about it.” I walked toward the staircase leading down. “We should go. Ready?”
“Are you evil now, Alex? I’m not sure I want to be with someone who is evil.”
“Things happen,” I said. “This is just a stupid game. Lighten up.”
“You’re making no sense,” Gloria said.
I stepped onto the stairs, glancing over my shoulder.
“Stay here if you want, but I don’t recommend it,” I said.
Gloria sighed then followed me to the next level of the dungeon.
We’d come so far. The new items would help me win the game.
Once I defeated the Wizard of Yendro, I’d leave the roguelike.
()xxxx[:::: Chapter 19 ::::>
Best Weapon Ever
You are on level 80 (-4200’)
You are a Level 78 Valkyrie.
You are a wanted man.
“Another boss level,” I said. “Keep your eyes open.”
Gloria nodded her head, looking around the room.
“Two exits,” she said. “Which way do we go?”
“Left,” I said, going with my gut.
“You’ve got us this far.”
I walked over to the door. My two-handed blade had been nice at one point, but I needed to start looking for a better weapon. Excalibur would’ve been nice if it hadn’t been tied to good aligned characters. I turned the handle and saw a torch-lined hallway. Gloria followed me as I walked, wondering about the boss on the level.
The next room impressed me with the intricate carved wood around the doorways. Four on the same wall led to hallways. I smelled fire and brimstone in the distance. Dragon? Behind me, I heard several Keystone Kops yelling. As their voices drew closer, I slipped into one of the hallways leading deeper into the level. Gloria clip-clopped beside me.
We emerged a few minutes later in a throne room. The vaulted ceiling rose at least a hundred feet above the floor. A dark red dragon lounged on a marble platform across from us. It raised its scaled head, eyeing us as we entered the room.
“You dare disturb me?” it asked in a deep, thunderous tone.
“Guards are after me,” I said. “Can you help?”
The red dragon laughed, smoke coming out of its nostrils.
“Die, puny human!”
It opened its mouth, spewing fire in my direction.
The flames bounce off you.
I grinned as the dragon sat up, stunned at my fire resistance. Gloria cast a Dome of Protection to save herself from the blast. Several Keystone Kops, including a Kop Captain, ran into the room as I attacked the ancient, red-scaled beast with my sword.
Your slash DISEMBOWELS the red dragon for 114 damage.
Your pierce EVISCERATES the red dragon for 145 damage.
Your slash MAIMS the red dragon for 54 damage.
Your slash DEVASTATES the red dragon for 45 damage.
The red dragon is not concerned.
“Get the thief!” the Kop Captain said.
The dragon attacked with its claws as several of the Keystone Kops surrounded me and did the same. I ate the damage while deciding my best course of action.
The dragon claws MUTILATE you for 98 damage.
The dragon claws MAIM you for 58 damage.
The Keystone Kop MAULS you for 24 damage.
The Keystone Kop WOUNDS you for 19 damage.
The Keystone Kop WOUNDS you for 16 damage.
The Keystone Kop MAULS you for 21 damage.
You have [1,236/1,472] health remaining.
Not too bad. Time to clear out some of these pests. I turned to the Keystone Kops and went to work. With four natural attacks, I took two of them down.
Early in the game they’d been terrifying mobs to stay away from at all costs, but I’d become powerful enough to take down two in a single round of combat.
The dragon rose, sitting on its haunch and observing the scene. I ran through the line of Keystone Kops, attacking along the way. Two more died, dropping to the floor.
“I’ll kill all of you!” the dragon roared.
He blasted his breath weapon, filling the entire throne room with flames. My ring protected me, but the rest of the Keystone Kops all burned, even their commander.
“Why do you resist my fiery death?” the dragon asked.
I didn’t answer as I rushed forward with my two-handed sword held over my head. The blade came down on the dragon’s tough hide, barely doing any damage.
“Won’t catch me off guard twice,” the dragon said then cast a spell.
A lightning bolt zoomed from his clawed hands and hit me.
The lightning DISMEMBERS you for 156 damage.
You have [1,080/1,472] health remaining.
Your slash MAULS the red dragon for 25 damage.
Your slash WOUNDS the red dragon for 17 damage.
Your pierce DECIMATES the red dragon for 35 damage.
Your slash MAULS the red dragon for 29 damage.
Did he cast a protection spell or something? None of my hits were doing near enough damage to take him down. The dragon roared then swiped at me with both sets of his massive, sharp claws.
The dragon claw MUTILATES you for 69 damage.
The dragon claw DISEMBOWELS you for 115 damage.
You have [896/1,472] health remaining.
I thought about teleporting out, but I resisted. We needed the experience from the kill. Good dragon-loot would be helpful too.
“A little back-up?” I yelled, not seeing Gloria.
The dragon roared. I attacked. Four more hits with minor damage followed by two more swipes of the dragon claws across my armored chest. Ouch.
The dragon claw DISMEMBERS you for 151 damage.
The dragon claw MUTILATES you for 72 damage.
You have [673/1,472] health remaining.
I drank another Potion of Cure All Wounds to top myself off. The dragon got in an extra attack while I drank, casting another lightning bolt.
The lightning MASSACRES you for 203 damage.
You have [1,269/1,472] health remaining.
Great timing on the potion, but I need to take this beast down.
I yelled and targeted my attacks on the soft underbelly of the dragon.
The tacti
c worked as I scored a critical hit when I needed it most.
Your slash MUTILATES the red dragon for 62 damage.
Your slash MAIMS the red dragon for 58 damage.
Your pierce DEVASTATES the red dragon for 42 damage.
CRITICAL HIT!
Your pierce MASSACRES the red dragon for 242 damage.
The red dragon has noticed you.
I grinned, hopped up on adrenaline. The dragon moved to cast. Gloria interrupted with a spell of her own—flashing lights that blinded the massive reptile.
With a final battle-cry, I rushed the dais where the red dragon sat hunched up. Four more attacks went right for its soft underbelly. All of them hit. Yes!
The red dragon is dead! (+150,000 xp)
You get +360,000 xp
You have [29,010,000/29,000,000] xp.
LEVEL UP! I grinned as I saw another forty-two health points and fourteen mana added to my character. After looking around for traps, I searched the room and found a huge chest that wasn’t even locked. Cocky dragons.
You get a Potion of Gain Level.
You get 1,003,391 gold.
You get 12,000 gems.
You get a Potion of Speed (2x attacks for 20 rounds).
You get a Potion of Triples (3x attacks for 30 rounds).
I stuffed the gold into my sack of holding then drank the Potion of Gain Level right away since I’d just leveled up.
Level Up!
+34 hp
+11 mp
So close to the end of the dungeon and escape.
I found the staircase down behind the dragon’s throne. Gloria followed by my side. One more boss before the Wizard of Yendro. Am I ready? How do I make sure I can defeat her? As I descended the stairs, I pushed the questions aside to concentrate on finding answers.
* * * * *
You are on level 81 (-4200’)
You are a Level 80 Valkyrie.
You are a wanted man.
Another city-level, I thought to myself as I surveyed the main road through the throng of buildings, some three stories high. Gloria stood next to me, shaking her head. Had stealing from the shop been worth it? She’d been treating me differently since it happened.
“Let’s find the stairs down first,” I said then cast Advanced Magic Mapping.
A map of the entire city hovered before me. The stairs were on the opposite side, but the main street would take us right to them. I saw markers for many humanoids and items between us and the exit from the level.
“Don’t get sidetracked again,” Gloria said.
She amazed me with how close she resembled Tabby sometimes.
“We’re doing good, but you’re right,” I said, stepping forward.
Two steps away from the stairs leading into the vast, open cavern, a man in chainmail covered with white cloth stepped in our path. He tilted his head back, staring down his nose at us as he held a bloody steel mace aloft.
“You’re under arrest,” he said. “Don’t give me any trouble.”
I shook my head as I drew my weapon.
“That sword’s all you have?” he asked then laughed.
“Correction,” I said. “This sword’s all I need.”
I screamed to throw him off as I rushed forward. Two other men dressed the same ran toward us, weapons drawn. My first four attacks hit the first knight.
Your slash EVISCERATES the white knight for 129 damage.
Your slash DISEMBOWELS the white knight for 112 damage.
Your pierce MAIMS the white knight for 59 damage.
Your pierce EVISCERATES the white knight for 134 damage.
The white knight is battered.
As I finished my attack, the two others arrived, swinging a flail and broadsword.
The white knight DISEMBOWELS you for 104 damage.
The white knight MUTILATES you for 98 damage.
You have [1,346/1,548] health remaining.
You feel protected!
“Thanks, Gloria!” I shouted after her buff then attacked.
Your slash EVISCERATES the white knight for 127 damage.
Your slash DISMEMBERS the white knight for 152 damage.
Your pierce MAIMS the white knight for 56 damage.
Your pierce EVISCERATES the white knight for 134 damage.
The white knight is dead! (+30,000 xp)
I saw the knight with the flail quaff a potion. He glowed purple, screamed, then attacked with a rage I’d never seen before.
The white knight DISMEMBERS you for 154 damage.
The white knight MANGLES you for 254 damage.
The white knight MASSACRES you for 201 damage.
You have [737/1,548] health remaining.
Ouch. I need some of his potion.
Gloria ran forward and head-butted the knight, startling him
I used the moment to gain an attack of opportunity.
Your slash EVISCERATES the white knight for 129 damage.
Your slash DISEMBOWELS the white knight for 112 damage.
Your pierce MAIMS the white knight for 59 damage.
Your pierce EVISCERATES the white knight for 134 damage.
The white knight is dead! (+30,000 xp)
The last remaining knight tore into me with his flail.
The white knight EVISCERATES you for 127 damage.
The white knight DISEMBOWELS you for 114 damage.
The white knight DISMEMBERS you for 157 damage.
You have [339/1,548] health remaining.
Not many Potions of Cure All Wounds remained, but they wouldn’t help me if I died. I grabbed one out of the Sack of Holding and gave up my attack to drink it down.
You feel better!
You have [1,548/1,548] health remaining.
Still raging, the knight attacked again.
The white knight MASSACRES you for 212 damage.
The white knight DISMEMBERS you for 154 damage.
The white knight MUTILATES you for 99 damage.
You have [1,083/1,548] health remaining.
Your slash EVISCERATES the white knight for 143 damage.
Your slash DISEMBOWELS the white knight for 110 damage.
Your pierce MISSES the white knight.
Your pierce DISEMBOWELS the white knight for 114 damage.
The white knight is dead! (+30,000 xp)
Combat is Over!
You get + 90,000 xp
You have [31,090,000/32,000,000] xp.
Such a long way to go. The grind is real.
I searched their bodies. Only one of the items dropped excited me—ultra-rare Gauntlets of the Barbarian Oath. They gave me a +30 STR bonus, which pushed me to a natural 103. An extra fifteen damage per attack would add up, especially with the Potion of Triples I’d found. I grinned. This game can be beat, and I’m going to do it.
I slipped on the gauntlets.
“Let’s get going,” I said, walking down the road through the city.
Gloria cautiously stepped forward.
“I feel so bad for them,” she said. “They were only trying to enforce the warrant for our arrest. I bet they had families.”
“You can’t arrest someone in a dungeon,” I said. “That’s just dumb.”
“Do you think I’m dumb, Alex?”
I sighed. “No, but you can be a bit too literal sometimes.”
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“Exactly,” I replied as we kept walking.
Most people averted their eyes as we passed, but a brave few stared us down for our dastardly deed at the edge of the city. I didn’t care.
“Shame!” someone yelled.
Another person threw a rotten tomato that landed a foot in front of me.
“Don’t let them antagonize you,” Gloria said.
She was right. Once again, I thanked the game for my companion. I stopped at a few shops in the city, but none of them had anything of value. Frustrated, I continued to the other side of the city and the stairs leading down to the next level of the dungeon
.
When I reached the edge of the city, I saw a dark tunnel leading out of the main cavern. Outside the cave entrance, I saw a couple stone statues of people in weird poses. What’s all this about? I wondered.
“These are the strangest sculptures I’ve ever seen,” I said.
Gloria laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”
I glanced down at the unicorn. “What do you mean?”
“They’re not carved statues,” she said.
“Oh?” I raised an eyebrow. “What are they?”
“People turned to stone, Alex.”
I frowned. She was right. Again.
“Crap,” I said, glancing into the cave. “Might be a cockatrice or a medusa. I’d prefer the former. Or maybe it’s a wizard with a wand or spell.”
“We should teleport down to the next level,” Gloria said. “It’s safer.”
“I’ve got a score to settle if it’s a cockatrice.”
“No, Alex,” Gloria said.
I ignored her and drank all the Potions of Cure Serious Wounds.
“Stay alert…” I stepped into the tunnel, sword drawn.
With each step, my heart beat faster. I expected a chicken-headed lizard to jump out at any moment. Better that than a medusa. If a medusa appeared, I’d teleport to safety.
“Gloria, be ready to teleport if needed.”
“Will do, Alex.”
I continued forward, following the twists and turns of the tunnel. Was I making yet another stupid mistake? If I could win, I could keep the cockatrice corpse as a weapon. With the power to turn enemies to stone, I’d be able to descend to the final level of the dungeon without any problems. I took another few steps. Something squawked further down the hall.