When It Feels I Can't Go On, Let Your Armour Cover Me

Alts and Equipment

Since restarting again earlier this year most of my time has been spent trying to equip various alts. My current avatar characters are:

• Vampires - Vilexur, Sashell, Viledri, Viltrow
• Rangers - Jessyl, Jessel, Germal
• Thieves - Kurrs, Parx, Krayaz
• Warriors - Joydi, Panish, Skold, Skurnis
• Mages - Gnodra, Vodra, Modra
• Clerics - Chacix, Charix, Juxarn
• Paladins - Sacix, Tantis
• Nephandi - Wroth
• Druid - Varlok
• Fathomer - Zenth
• Barbarian - Skarl
• Augurer - Aryx
  

There are some that were under dressed from never being fully equipped after reaching level 50, some from playing with the Deck and others from dying and not being CR'd years ago. I've been spending a lot of time killing easier avatar mobs that can (and should) be solo'd be an average player such as Dracolothis, Zeus, Dracula, Rez, Justice, Horus, Ra, and Sir Pereval just so that they all have a usable basic equipment set up. Doing this is also a good way to get back into the hang of running mobs without the the pressure of letting down other players if things go wrong. 

The most time consuming mobs I've been doing by myself again are Rage and Fury from The Underworld in the hope of popping a Maniacal Tendencies. After spending three weeks on and off there I had enough rage and fury essences for 17 attempts at it. The funny thing with pops in the Realms of Despair is the randomness of it. Out of the 17 tries I popped an MT on the first go which was then followed by 16 failures. Now most of my alts are well enough armoured to be useful, with others able to pack a punch.

 

The Deck

I've had a hard time with the Deck of Many Things since restarting. While I have found it several times, the challenge has been that other players have been getting their hands onto it first. These days I need to be on right after reboot to get the card. Only once have I manged to find the deck with a card in it. I got lucky and gained a rename scroll.

Bridging the Maelstrom
Darkness pervades this area of cold, deep sea. The water churns and boils all around, but for a tiny strait of calm that lies between the Blood and Azure seas, on each side. It is said that the seas are almost alive and, like any who are shunned by the world of the living, they extort a tremendous toll on anyone who would choose to utilize this path. Far to the north, amidst the fog and mist, a small island can be seen.
Exits: north east south west northeast northwest southeast southwest
The Deck of Many Things lies in wait for a brave soul.
The Deck of Many Things says 'If you can find a card within me, you might be lucky enough to draw something of value.
However, once you submit to chance, you put yourself at the mercy of the cards.
The Deck of Many Things winks suggestively.

> exam deck
You take a closer look at the Deck of Many Things on the ground...
The deck takes the appearance of a very finely wrought and veneered wooden card case, yet the strong magical aura surrounding it offers proof that this artifact is not simply what it appears to be.
The Deck of Many Things appears to be full.
The Deck of Many Things contains:
     the Key to the Deck of Many Things

> g key deck
You get the Key to the Deck of Many Things from the Deck of Many Things.
The Key to the Deck shudders menacingly.
You drop the Key to the Deck of Many Things.
Vl'aresch gives you one gold coin for your sacrifice of the Key to the Deck of Many Things.
Be Forewarned : You could lose all that you own.
Panish has been given the chance to draw from the Deck of Many Things.

>  g card deck
You get a card from The Deck of Many Things.
You see that you have drawn the Tower in Ruin.
As you gaze upon it, the scene upon the card comes to life and is acted out.
Ruin stretches out to engulf you, but by some happy fate you evade it.
A warm feeling fills your body and a scroll of fine parchment appears in your hands.
The cold winds of never rush through the void, whipping the card from your hand and  returning you to the mortal realm.

 

Lowbie Quest

I've also been working on levelling a second barbarian. It's up to level 37 now so it shouldn't be too long until it reaches level 50. While levelling around level 20 I found a little quest in the Tower of Zenothir that I hadn't seen before. It involved getting an item from the Coral Depths that isn't too hard to find.

Madame Juneo's Sightroom
Exits: east
A gleaming crystal ball sits here, waiting for you to examine it.
A buxom woman narrows her eyes at you.
Juneo is shrouded in flowing shadow and light.
Madame Juneo's all-seeing eyes turn to stare into your soul
Madame Juneo says 'A seeker! Welcome to the gateway to the Future, traveller.'
A slight smile twists the Fortune-teller's lips.
Madame Juneo says 'I see we are both seeking...perhaps, friend, we can aid each other?'
Madame Juneo says 'I can see in your eyes, you want to say yes.....'

> say yes
You say 'yes'
Madame Juneo nods knowingly.
Madame Juneo says 'I knew a seeker such as yourself would be eager to aid me.'
Madame Juneo thinks briefly.
Madame Juneo says 'I have an illustrious client...I cannot say who, I'm afraid, but he is quite powerful.'
Madame Juneo says 'He has an...interesting, shall we say...curse upon him.
Madame Juneo says 'I have delved into the mysteries, and have found a way to relieve his suffering.'
 
Madame Juneo says 'Alas, my otherworldly sources say that the success depends'
Madame Juneo says 'upon locating a very rare regent... a dark black pearl.'
Madame Juneo says 'Bring me this pearl from the depths where it lies, and I shall aid you in return.'
Madame Juneo makes a mystical gesture of farewell.

> give pearl june
You give a dark black pearl to Juneo.
Madame Juneo looks over the pearl's shining surface.
Madame Juneo says 'A perfect pearl...you have done myself--and my client--a great service today.'
Madame Juneo says 'I must reward you. Be calm, this shall not harm you.'
Madame Juneo chants briefly over her crystal ball.
 
Power flows through you! You gain 50,000 experience!!!
 
Madame Juneo sits back, exhausted.
Madame Juneo says 'I must rest now. Thank you again for your help.'
Madame Juneo turns away.

 The quest isn't too difficult and most people go levelling in Coral Depths so collecting the pearl isn't taking you too far out of the way.

Home Ownership

I have managed to snag myself an apartment. It was a bargain for only 30 million gold coins. As a bonus it is on board the Meridia meaning I can use it for free transport around the various ports of the Realms of Despair. It's not much but it's home:

Vilexur's Apartment
A room surrounds you, filled with the dirt and filth of previous tenants.
A spray painted frame of the last tenant can be seen on the floor in a far corner.
Exits: northeast

I have been considering starting my own sect for my various alts but at the same time I need to save my gold coins for when I have enough glory for a prestige class.

 

Bug Hunting

Speaking of trying to make gold, one of the newer quests I've seen has gold coins as a reward. Basically it involves hunting down golden bugs with a nice gold reward. I've found vampires work well on them:

DYING>A golden bug's deathrattle fills the air as you drain its life...
Your suspiric grasp jars a golden bug!
A golden bug is DEAD!!
A golden bug screams furiously as it falls to the ground in a heap!
You get 5090000 gold coins from the corpse of a golden bug.
The corpse of a golden bug holds:
     Nothing.

You can never have too many gold coins in this game.

Levelling

Been working on levelling a cleric for the last month. One thing that has amazed me is how many experienced players don't realise that there are mini quests available for levels 2-5 in the academy from the Spirit Guide. The level 2 quest I got was this:

You raise your hand in response.
The Spirit Guide says to you 'You believe yourself to be ready for a test.'
'Since you are level 2 we will keep this one easy.'
'In the garden of The Halls of Knowledge is a fountain. The
'fountain features a statue of a couple. The couple's names are
'inscribed on the fountain's plaque. So, Charix. What is her name?'

You say 'Mariyah'
Spirit Guide Selmanovic nods in agreement with you.
Spirit Guide Selmanovic tells you 'Good, you've seen it. You're able to notice m
ore than the casual explorer.'
You gain 400 experience.

Easy 400 experience points. I was a little disappointed that my level 5 quest did not involve receiving any equipment but it's always worth a shot. A bit later on I tried out another quest I'd never done before in the northern trade route starting at Mayera.

Inside a Small Chapel
Made from logs and painted a white color, this small chapel was built to aid
the sick and dying as they traveled through the forest. A few cots have been
set up around the room, each with a thick grey blanket and a small pillow. A
barrel filled with water rests in one corner of the room, with strips of cloth
in a neat pile beside it. A fireplace at the other end, provides both warmth
and comfort.
Exits: northwest
A woman tends to the wounds of the sick and dying.
Mayera is shrouded in flowing shadow and light.
A small girl lies in one of the cots, her face deathly pale.
Mayera smiles at you.
Mayera says 'Are you the one sent here to help me?'
Mayera says 'That poor child is dying, I can't leave her alone'
Mayera wets a strip of cloth and places it on the girl's forehead.
Mayera says 'We must hurry if we are to save her, she's burning up.'
Mayera says 'Just nod if you are able to help me'

You nod solemnly.
Mayera breathes a sigh of relief.
Mayera says 'To make a remedy to cure the girl, I need 5 items.'
Mayera says 'bay leaves, beholder candy, black cohosh, a head of
Mayera says 'lettuce and basilisk salve. Please hurry and bring all'
Mayera says 'of these back to me. If you aren't sure of a certain'
Mayera says 'item, just ask me about it.'
Mayera gives you a hug and wishes you good luck.

You give a small bottle of basilisk saliva to Mayera.
You give beholder candy to Mayera.
You give bay leaves to Mayera.
You give a head of lettuce to Mayera.
You give black cohosh to Mayera.
Mayera puts all the ingredients into a large bowl and mixes them.
A flash of blinding white light fills the room for a moment.
Mayera turns to the girl and applies the ointment.
Mayera says 'I have something for you in return for all your help'
Mayera drops a thick, white salve.
Mayera says 'A little something to aid you in your travels.'
Mayera thanks you again and returns to watch over the girl.

It was quite an easy quest to do though I did not know where a couple of items came from off the top of my head but I managed to find track them down without too much effort.

In the end my cleric reached level 50 and ended up with a 620hp and 379mana base - not too bad. Next job is equipping it.

V.