Kissing the Lifestone(The Persistent Method to Victory)

This encounter occurred back one level, when I was a level 54 Ranger. It's one of the times I buckled down and insisted to myself it WAS NOT impossible to take an opponent that was spanking my booty the first couple of times.

Tombo, lvl 54 Ranger & Cujo, lvl 56 Lasher vs. Raider Leader & 4 Minions.

I had a good weekend, all told. A few ups and downs, some missed targets. I had lost a duel with a Ranger Leader as a result of an Olthoi grub swarm nearby, so, I was in something of a "pouty" mood.

So, I'm doing some hunting and I've just ported to the Arramora Star, running over to the grassy area just past the 3 ringways for some quick pickings. I hit a Thornling Torturer, turn around and get five steps when, POOF! A Raider Leader spawns behind me with his 4 minions, I get hit on his FIRST SHOT with Mudball, and I'm dead in 2 shots. Geez!

Death #1.

Ok, Ok, easy now. You hold the title of "Grand Hunter". Go back and kill the sucker.

I port back, laying plans. Unfortunately I don't have the services of Fafnir my Tyrant on this one. He's asleep for 18 hours. But, I figure I'll make out.

I run over just past the three ringways. I put Rabies on Cujo, sneak forward, lay Crushing Jaws and Fire Trap. I'm going to try and lure the Raider forward into the trap, or catch one of his Minions.

Man! This Raider is on the ball, because as soon as I come into radar range he's active, tossing flaming racketballs or something! Whack! Geez! 600Hp hit! I dodge, loose envenom, dodge again! Cujo goes out and is nailed almost instantly. Uh, yep, here come the Minions too. And, with another hit by Mudball, Tombo dies again.

Death #2.

Ok, Ok, easy now. You are the Tough Ranger. Go back. Surely I'm wearing him down.

(By the By: My lifestone was at Ikeras during this engagement. I think the people there were entertained by my repetative resurrections, as they loitered about trying to form FETS fellows)

I'm really thinking now. Clearly I have to dodge much better. I'm not going to win in a ranged slug-fest. Too many of my shots are flat out missing, and he's hitting with nearly all of his, and they are hitting HARD. I am noticing however that he can be pulled forward of his Minions. Hmmmm. I sneak forward, see my two traps still in place near the cobbled path, and lay another because I expect the first set to time out shortly. The Runic Bow is doing nicely, when it hits, and I'm hoping I can snag him in my trap.

I lauch Envenom, and it actually hits! Woot! Sinew Snap misses however. Cujo immediately runs out to attack, but again dies almost instantly. The Raider Leader and all his minions are sprinting my way, and I'm dodging like crazy, getting hit once, but avoiding several mudballs and fire-balls.

I backpedal, trying to lose the interest of the Minions, but retain the interest of the Raider Leader. It acually works (almost), the Minions return to their lurking spot. Man! The Leader stops THREE FEET from the trap he's about to step into, turns, and goes back to his Minions! Gah!

However, as I run forward for him, I notice a Minion straggling behind a bit. I go for him instead. Once I've hit him, he reverses course and comes back for me. These guys are fun, and fairly tough. I admit to getting a kick out of the sharp "PANG!" my arrows make when connecting with their armor. The Runic Bow is putting out enough damage to make a difference, and after stepping into my traps and eating a few arrows he goes down. However, as I move forward to loot him, the Raider Leader comes running back. I manage to loot the Minion, but in the next few seconds of dueling I get Mudballed AGAIN, and with one, no more than two hits, I'm dead.
However, he is down by one Minion now.

Death #3.

Ok, Ok, he's got to be getting REALLY tired now, right?

(Also, I'd swear there was betting at the Ikeras LS as to how long it'd be before I showed up again. Umm, was that picnic blankets out? Popcorn?)

I'm down to 85%, but I'm flat out irritated. I go back for the sucker. I think I even asked on /a if there were any healers around. If memory serves Xena said she could come out in bit.

Evaluating what was going wrong, I kept coming back to two things: A) Too many of my shots are simply missing, and B) Too many of his are hitting, and it takes but two, no more than three of his to kill me.

So, back I go. I lay two more traps, leave Cujo in neverland for the moment. I need to pull the Raider away from his Minions. To my utter surprise, few people are at the Star area during this time, and no one has appropriated the target during my resurrections.

I begin the duel again, totally focussed on dodging his attacks. I actually hit him a few times, taking him to about 60%! I get hit, and, WOOT! some generous soul hits me for heal! I now realize I've got a Tumerok near me, hitting me for Vig and Heal! Now it gets fun! I'm running back and forth, launching arrows when I can, watching mudballs fly off that Raider in rapid succession along with occassional fireballs. I'm almost spending more time studying what the heck he's doing than fighting.

And, when he's drained his Vigor he turns around and runs the other way. Doh. You stinking mudslinger.

I pursue, but note he's nearing his Minions. Some shots are hitting! He's down to about 20%! He's got no Vig! Cujo tangles him up for a moment (good boy, good Lasher. You get a nice, big, juicy Drudge Bone tonight), and, lucky for me, the Minions focus on the Lasher. When Cujo goes down, they return to their spot. I guess the Raider targets more rings out than the Minions, because he's ranged (??).

He manages to regen some Vigor, and I'm trying to hit him while he's low on that. He comes back for me, pegs me for a 600 or 700Hp shot, and I start dodging. The minions do start coming in, but my Tumerok backup takes them on. During the engagement I get hit with a heal from him once, and I'm now trying to pour it on. The Raider is almost dead! Will I do it?!

Sinew Snap, then Flame Arrow! Sinew Snap misses, Flame Arrow hits, gads, he's about done . . . . I get hit. I'm dead.

As I'm going down, I hear/see the Raider Leader moan, and die as well. Nothing like a flame DoT.

Death #4

Ok, Ok, easy. He's dead! Toast!

(It's gotta be popcorn I see out at the Ikeras lifestone.)

I go back, and lo, the Tumerok doesn't want to loot any of the corpses. He just wanted to help out, congratulated me on a good fight, and went off into the forest for his own hunting.

I'm tickled pink, and am dancing an insane jig upon his muddy corpse.

On the Raider Leader was a Purple Text Meteor, up to 350 damage if I recall, and a 400-600 hp explosive bonus!!!! Gah! That's what I was getting hit with? Geez.

If at first you don't succeed, die, die, again. . er, try, try, again?