by Quinn Dallas
Without hesitation, I reached into my belt and pulled up a flask of Rattari wine. I took a sip and watched as the slow movement debuff vanished from my HUD/display. Thanking the gaming gods for small favors I rolled and avoided another monstrous blow from the pack leader.
"You think you can take me on!" The Rattari Leader howled. "I'll squash you like a bug!"
"Catch me if you can!" I taunted the large boss.
The Pack Leader roared and rushed towards me. This time I wasn't able to dodge fast enough. His hard hitting blow knocked me into the wall. I really hated knockback. I noticed the icon for dazed hovering in the corner of my vision. This was another slow movement debuff. It flickered and then disappeared thanks to the Rattari Wine's buff.
In no time, I was back on my feet. I needed to end this battle. I waved my hand in the air and initiated my placate ability. While not a full stealth ability placate would allow me to attempt another Shadow Strike. The air shimmered before me and the Rattari pack leader stopped in his tracks.
There was no time to waste. I lunged forward and plunged my daggers into my target's chest. He growled and batted me away. I flew backwards and landed on my backside. Not wanting to stay down I leapt back to my feet. Ready for another attack. I watched as my poison DOT ate away at his remaining hit points.
The enraged fighter waved his arms and howled. He took two large steps towards me and then collapsed. As his last hitpoint vanished, his eyes widened. Then the bloodied pack leader exploded in a shower of pixels and light.
I couldn't believe my luck. Where the Rat Man had once stood a small glowing ball of light hovered. I approached the glowing orb and touched it with my hand. The light dissolved and then a silver key hit the ground with a metallic clank. I picked up the key and read the success message as it scrolled.
CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU HAVE DEFEATED THE PACK LEADER AND STOLEN THE KEY.
YOU HAVE EARNED THE TITLE RAT CATCHER.
YOU HAVE EARNED 300 XP.
YOUR FIGHTING RANK HAS INCREASED.
YOU HAVE EARNED 100 GOLD.
YOU HAVE EARNED A DAMAGE RESISTANCE GEM!
Dropping the key into my holding bag I faded into invisibility. Next, I pulled up my display map. The fog of war had lifted and there was a glowing point on the map. I realized that was my next destination. Smiling, I stepped into the dark hallway and made my way towards the next adventure.
###
It wasn't long before heard the sounds of a scuffle. Still invisible, I made my way towards the disturbance. The dark and rocky hallway providing perfect cover. Before long, I found what I'd been looking for. Shauna, Leonidas, Cairngorm, and Rolf.
The group was engaged in a fierce battle with a squad of Rattari. Leo was tanking and soaking up attacks. Shauna backed him up with lots of healing and the occasional arrow. While Yvir dealt a brutal amount of smashing blows.
But the group didn't notice a stealthy Rattari flanking Shauna. Wasting no time, I targeted the cloaked Rattari scout. Then I unleashed a massive blow to him from stealth. He instantly dissolved into pixels. Shauna spun around her eyes wide with disbelief.
"We found you!" She screamed.
Leonidas finished off the last of the Rattari. Then he gave me an enormous bear hug. "Sneaky bastard! We looked everywhere for you!"
"I knew he'd be alright," Yvir gave me a thumbs up.
"I've got the key to the final room!"I held it up for them to see.
"Fuck yeah!" Leonidas pumped his fist.
"Let's take down that boss and get the hell out of here!" I responded.
"You know where he is?"Shauna replied.
"Yup, and I'm sharing the mission right now!"
I pulled up my HUD display and clicked the share button. There was a distinctive ring as the mission was immediately transmitted to my teammates.
"Aces!" Leonidas could barely hide his excitement.
Next I summoned the map and attempted to locate where we needed to go next. There was a glowing point on the display, which I deduced must be the next location.
"Are you guys ready?"I asked the group.
"Always!" Yvir held her weapon ready.
We made our way down the hallway. Keeping an eye out for any patrolling Rattari. However, we didn't encounter any. After what seemed like an eternity, we reached a large metal door. I pulled up my display and checked for traps. Satisfied, I closed my HUD display and spoke to the group.
"Okay gang, no traps. I think it's safe to enter".
"Use the key and let's get this party started" Rolf readied his shield.
Pulling the key from my holding bag, I slipped it into the lock. I inhaled and waited. There was an audible click and the door swung open. Leonidas took the lead. The rest of us followed. We stepped into a torchlit chamber. Shauna gasped when she realized what decorated the walls. Hanging skeletons of previous warriors were nailed to the walls.
"Holy crap!" The pretty Cleric cursed.
"Let's make sure we're not next!" I replied.
After we entered the room the large cave door slammed shut. Then ominous epic music played. The lights in the room dimmed and a spotlight revealed our target.
[CRITTER NAME: RAT KING]
[LEVEL: BLUE] [HIT POINTS: 1000]
[PRIMARY ATTRIBUTE: STRENGTH +5]
[SIGNATURE ATTACK: HAMMERING BLOW]
[ARMOR CLASS: EXCEPTIONAL +5]
[FIGHTING SCORE: +5]
The Rat King was enormous! He stood at least eight feet tall. The ferocious beast wore dark leather and held a large battle-axe in his right hand. On his left arm was secured a large steel shield with the emblem of a horned skull painted on it. He turned his gigantic head towards us and laughed.
"What have we here?" The rat king raised his battleaxe. Then he gestured towards a large gem hovering in the air behind him. "I take it you want the phoenix gem. Too bad my lord Grymme has commanded me to protect it."
"The gem will be ours!"I yelled.
"Such a brave Warrior-girl!" The Rat King taunted. "You'll make a tasty snack for me today!"
Without warning Yvir let out a battle cry and rushed the boss.
"Holy crap, she's pulling a Leeroy!" Leonidas rushed into battle behind her. The Barbarian's rage meter was full and I realized she wanted to take advantage of that fact.
"Leonidas!" I yelled, "Get in there and help her tank!"
I knew at full rage Yvir could take lots of punishment and deal tons of damage. Hopefully enough to hold and keep aggro from the boss. It was foolish and crazy, but I didn't expect anything less from the impulsive barbarian.
Leonidas wasted no time. He activated his healing aura and waded into the battle. His AOEbuff would keep both of them in good health while also holding the Rat King's aggro.
Shauna followed up by casting buffs on both melee players. Rolf had disappeared and was nowhere in sight. Meanwhile Cairngorm had summoned his two skeletal warriors. He quickly sent his pets into the fray.
The pets benefited from the Paladin's aura, as they hacked and slashed at the Rat King. While the melee attackers landed heavy hits, the Rat Kings hitpoint bar didn't move much.
I pulled up my HUD display and scanned his active buff icons. He had an impressive array of protections from almost every known damage type. This wasn't going to be easy.
I shifted into shadow and crept up behind the occupied boss. Pulling my blades back, I readied for a Shadow Strike. But before I could attack the Rat King made a surprise move. He reared back his head and a cloud of icy fog erupted from his mouth.
The devastating cold attack landed on the group. My HUD display revealed we were under the effect of Frostbite. Which was a strong slow movement spell combined with a cold damage DOT effect.
This debuff instantly took me out of stealth. While the constant tics of damage prevented me from re-cloaking. For a squishy like myself this was debilitating. Without stealth there was no way I could get close enough to use my charged Stealth Strike. I gulped dow
n a another dose of the Rattari Wine. While the wine removed the slow effect it didn't do anything for the DOT. We had just been PWNED!
Shadow Strike was my heaviest hitting move. Without it my DPS was nerfed. The Rat King had maneuvered us expertly. I glanced over my shoulder. Shauna waived her hands wildly in the air. The Elven Cleric was casting some type of long charging spell.
Then I realized she'd summoned two buffs to help us out. Ashtara’s Blessing and Bear Clan Cloak. One granted protection from cold while the other blessed the team with extra hitpoints. This combination mitigated some of the damage from the Rat King's surprise freezing attack
"What the hell!" Cairngorm cursed. "A cold attack from a giant rat!"
"Got anything to toss back at him?" I called out to the Dark Mage.
"Let's see how he likes this!" Cairngorm replied.
The Necromancer held his hands out for a dark invocation. Suddenly a swirling black tornado appeared. The necrotic energy vortex moved quickly towards the boss and enveloped him.
I held out hope that the Cairngorm's awesome spell would strip away some of our foes buffs. When the dust settled and the swirling energy disappeared. The Rat King stood unharmed and laughed.
"Is that all you got?" The beast taunted. "My grandma hits harder!"
"Fucktastic!" Leonidas spat. "We got a trash talking rat!"
"Another one of Grymme's upgrades I'm sure!" I replied.
At this Point I wasn't sure what to do. Leonidas, Yvir, and the pets were doing a fine job of holding the Rat King's attention. But the dealt damage was easily absorbed by his significant buffs. While my Shadow Strike remained useless as long as the snowstorm surrounded the boss.
"Can you dispel that snowstorm? I asked the Cleric.
"I've tried it doesn't respond," she answered. "Probably because the caster is chaos aligned."
I opened my HUD and scrolled through my list of abilities. As a Rogue, I was built to sneak in and take out targets strategically. Which meant I was all but useless without access to stealth. As I was lamenting my situation Cairngorm called out to me.
"I have an idea!" The dark Mage smiled.
Then he gestured and pointed. A cloud of darkness streamed from his fingertips and headed straight for it's me. Soon the dark energy had wrapped itself around me. I pulled up my HUD display to read what just happened.
YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED VOID CLOAK.
A SHROUD OF DARK ENERGY NOW SURROUNDS YOU MAKING HARD TO SEE AND PROTECTING YOU FROM ATTACKS.
The Dark Wizards damage shield would provide a layer of protection. The cold aura surrounding the boss would hit Cairngorm's shield layer first. Leaving my stealth intact. However, once that protective layer was whittled away, I'd be vulnerable again. So I needed to act quickly.
I nodded to Cairngorm in thanks. Next, I activated stealth and headed towards the Rat King. Something was definitely wrong. My team's attacks were dealing hardly any damage. I glanced around the room. The Rat King was receiving outside buffs from somewhere. The question was exactly from where?
That's when I noticed them! In each corner of the room stood distinctly colored pillars! Red, green, blue, and finally yellow. I couldn't believe we didn't notice them before. I called up my HUD display to scan them. Then I read the resulting description:
PILLARS OF POWER
THESE MYSTIC TOWERS OF ENERGY GRANT THE RAT KING GREAT POWER. WHILE THEY REMAIN ACTIVE HE CANNOT BE DEFEATED.
It appeared the pillars were buffing each one of the Rat King's attributes. This meant the pillars must be destroyed before the boss could be defeated
Backing out of the rat King's Cold aura. I waited until I watched the Frostbite icons disappear from my HUD display. I could become invisible again. Now was time for me to move strategically.
“Keep him occupied guys I think I understand what's going on here!" I called out.
"It's those damn pillars right?" Shauna called out over her shoulders.
"Yes chances are he won't let us take them out. So, keep him busy."
"Got it!" Leonidas and Yvir said in unison.
With that I went to work. I crept behind the green pillar. This one was buffing his hit points and healing him. Without hesitation, I launched my Shadow Strike attack. My blow shattered the pillar and it exploded spectacularly. Unfortunately the explosion knocked me backwards and shaved off a number of my own hit points. I was dangerously close to death.
I reached into my bag of holding and grabbed a healing potion. I gulped it down, which restored fifty percent of my life. The dark aura buff that Cairngorm cast had also faded away.
Crap! I could still destroy the pillars, but I'd be risking death. I gulped down more of the healing potion and watched as my health restored one hundred percent. With Cairngorm’s buff dissolved, I'd have to play it smart. The Dark Wizard was also fully engaged in keeping both his pets and the melee players buffed.
I needed to face this on my own. Thumbing through my drops, I found the damage resistance gem in my inventory. I hadn't bothered to slot it earlier because I didn't think I needed too.
Summoning up my equipment display I slotted the gem into my chest piece. Hopefully, it would buff my resistance enough to survive taking out the three remaining pillars. I took another swig of the dull pain potion, which buffed my hit points even more. Then I made my way towards the red pillar.
Once I reached the red pillar, I cloaked myself again and launched my attack. As before, there was a spectacular explosion! The resulting backlash knocked me back and took seventy percent of my life. I was dangerously close to death. I quickly drank another healing potion and waited as my hit points slowly crept back up. This wasn't going to be easy! But I needed to keep going.
Unfortunately, I'd also gained the aggro from the boss. The Rat King howled and clapped his hands. The resulting shockwave knocked Yvir and Leo backwards. The giant rat man then made his way towards me swinging his large axe.
There was no way I could survive a hit from such a devastating weapon. Shifting into the shadows I did my best to keep my distance from the Rat King. The swirling the ice storm around him would easily shred my invisibility. Leaving me vulnerable.
"You little bastard!" The Rat King growled. "I'll gnaw on your bones!"
While I'd done it! I'd managed to remove two of his buffs. But now the boss was aggroed on me. I kept moving, avoiding both his swinging axe and the whirling cloud of cold which surrounded him. What in the hell was I going to do now?
CHAPTER 25
It was obvious that I had drawn the Rat King’s aggro. So, using placate seemed like the best way to get rid of it. I waved my hand and the air shimmered before me. However, nothing happened! The angry NPC continued to pursue me. Nothing I did worked to evade him. Leonidas and Yvir followed closely behind, striking the beast with their weapons. But he continued to ignore them. I did my best to stay out his cold area of effect. The DOT from the cold air would neuter my stealth, and make it easy for him to take me out. I waited patiently until the timer on my stealth recharged. Then I activated it once more. This seemed to work! The Rat King stopped in confusion.
I kept to the dark and shadows. If the Rat had stealth-sight, he would easily spot me. Yvir screamed and launched herself at the giant boss. She swung her halberd wide and struck the beast in the back. The monster howled and lashed its tail.
This move sideswiped both Yvir and Leonidas knocking both backwards. I scanned the room looking for the gnome. I had no idea where he'd vanished to. The cavernous room was filled to the brim with treasure. Chances were he was stuffing his pockets full of diamonds and precious jewels.
That's when I heard the explosion. The yellow pillar shattered and fell into a million sparkling pieces. I watched in amazement, as the little gnome was thrown back by the explosion. He'd managed to take them out the giant's damage shield. We only had one pillar to go, the blue. Both Paladin in and Barbarian managed to draw the giant Rat King's attention. Cairngorm made a series of rapid gestures and anothe
r dark tornado swirled towards the creature. The dark vortex of energy struck the beast. Tiny ticks of damage were visibly registering on my overlay. We were finally getting somewhere.
Rolf had really come through and I was somewhat impressed. Now, it was my turn. The blue pillar had to go! It granted him the energy to make his biggest attacks. Once it was destroyed the Rat King would have no buffs it all.
Staying in shadow I targeted the blue cylinder. Without hesitation, I readied my assassination attack and launched it. My blades struck the glowing column. It erupted in a fantastic shower of sparkles. The blast knocked me backwards and I dismayed as my hit point bar rapidly declined towards zero.
At least now we have a fighting chance! I downed my last healing potion, and shifted my attention towards the battle. My group had already taken twenty-five percent of the monster's hit-points. Despite this, he still would remain difficult to defeat.
The beast lifted his leg and stomped. When his foot struck the floor, a massive shockwave knocked everyone backwards. Cairngorm’s skeletal warriors hit the ground and shattered into dust. Both tanks only had a sliver of hit-points left. Realizing this, Shauna and Cairngorm sprung into action. Shauna pointed and a stream of emerald energy bathed both tanks. Their hit points slowly increased. Cairngorm raised his arms and tendrils of darkness traveled to the Rat King. The darkness drained the NPC’S hit points and transferred the power to Yvir and Leonidas.
Realizing it was now or never, I rushed the damaged Rat King. With grim determination, I launched a series of rapid strikes. My blades penetrated his flesh with bleeding wounds. I noticed the sustained damage icon appear on my Hud display. Next the poison DOT notification flickered to life. A wide grin crossed my face. While the poison from my special dagger eroded the King’s hit points. Yvir jumped to her feet ready for battle. Even though she had less than half her hit points, she didn't seem afraid. The Barbarian toggled her berserker ability on again and raised her ax. Her blade struck deep and sliced away chunks of the Rat's hit-points bar.
