Shaking the Heart of Darkness
When did anyone just have some FUN?
-----------------------------------------------------------
As Ranger of level 55, I've been able to hunt the solo areas of HoD, albiet with some care. As you run up a natural ramp, at the base of which is a lifestone for those with "mishaps" inside, on the HoD Island in the Isles of Contention, you come to a tunnel leading into the large circular volcanic crater. Once you enter that crater it's a quick right turn and short run to the HoD dungeon portal.
Packing that crater, fortunately somewhat away from the portal, are a significant number of nasty mobs such as Drones, Nymphs, Burun Rangers, and most significantly Burun Hybrids. I've always made the tunnel run, then headed immediately right to the HoD portal. There is too much opportunity for mass aggro in the crater, but inside more opportunity for single-pulls.
On this trip I had planned to end my day with a short hunting session in HoD to replentish some focus. I had been engaged in a fort raid on Shadow Island, and had lost a duel to Martin Longbow, a level 60 Ranger who enjoys using Exploding Arrow. That death, coupled with the two others during the engagement at the Shadow fort left me with little Focus.
As I approach the HoD lifestone at the base of the volcanic ramp, I happen to see Derol resurrect at the lifestone, turn and run up the ramp again. Gads! Derol is hardly a cheese-puff, and as the Lugian runs up the ramp, his two weapons swinging in his arms, I head up behind him. My first thought is that he's inside HoD hunting with a group, and happened to die at the "hands" of an Olthoi Soldier or two. However, as we both exit the tunnel into the crater, Derol just a bit out in front of me, instead of taking a right to the portal entrance Derol heads straight out into the Crater!
Ah Ha! Derol is up here messing with the mobs, was swarmed, and died! And there he goes back again!
Little did I know.
I sprint after the Lugian, with a toughened Cujo behind me. My thought is to stay behind Derol a bit and deal with any adds that may move in on him. Perhaps provide a little backup. Understand however, I've never moved too deeply into this crater. I had no idea what was on the other side.
As I run across the crater, at about the mid-point my vision clears with the sudden FLASH of a huge, mushroom-shaped, fiery explosion! Before my eyes a scene appears with eight people weaving about and casting spells: Cassandria, Tropicalman, Derol, Titan, Alue, Silverhorn, along with a couple of others not in our allegiance I believe: Obey, a level 58 Raider, and a Tumeok healer by the name of Lightning, level 61. Now, some of these people are level 70 and above, and the entire rear portion of the crater was lit with the flashes and explosions of cast spell, as well as melee sounds from the likes of Derol and tossed boulder from Titan. I found out later Tropicalman was using his newly found, purple-text Vial. Who knows what he was tossing out of that.
And rising above them all where their targets: Mature Slithis Tendrils, level 80.
The bad news is I ruined the heels of my Curiboulli Boots coming to a stop, my eyes bugging out of my head. Cujo slammed into me from behind nearly toppling me over. The good news is I didn't drag any adds to the group following Derol in, and I didn't blunder into a Tendril.
Now, for those who have never hunted Chaos spawn, understand: There are Slithis Tendrils, Slithis Saplings, and apparently, these monstrosities towering about as high as a telephone pole. And are level 80. I'm a fairly proficient Chaos Spawn hunter, and have encountered the "little" tendrils, which are I believe level 60 or 65. They are incredibly potent, with great range, able to burn you to a crisp with a nasty fire DoT that seems to LAST forever, coupled with a decent helping of HP. I had no idea there was a "mature" breed, and I was aghast. I checked its stats, and it had over 100K in hit points!
Frankly, I was expecting members of their fellow to start dying. But as my mind caught up with what I was seeing (while checking radar like a madman for incoming Burun Rangers, Drones, or Hybrids), I noticed the Tendril in question, waving about ominously 2 stories high, was dying. Rapidly. And, within short order that Tendril did die, and the group moved on to another close by. At first there were three. Then two. Then one. Then none. And, no one else was sent to the lifestone during that engagement. Though I believe a couple of deaths did occur on respawn engagements.
Clearly I need a bigger Bow. And maybe a bigger Lasher (petting Cujo affectionately).
This was rather entertaining to say the least. A magnificent display of fireworks and damage dealing and uber-healing! Hmmm, no hot-dog stand though?
I decided to stay and watch this group at work. Who wouldn't? More than one were above level 70, some wielding purple-text weapons, and the opponents were, well, awful would be an understatement. Couple that with an add-filled environment, this spelled FUN! (scanning frantically for adds).
So, all uninvited, I stayed, watching the fireworks and making an attempt to keep out of the way. I was primarily concerned with drawing adds to the group unintentionally. Several times Drones, Rangers, or Hybrids did target the group, and in some small measure I was able to assist from that perspective. Upon occasion I would launch Envenom at a Tendril hoping to combat slow the monstrosity. I was only partially effective here as my to-hit on the level 80 beast was poor. But, I kept at it, and several times I did HEAR the distinctive hit of Envenom. Cujo, on level 54 Toughen Hide actually lasted very nicely, all things considered.
Seeing a hit of mine was entirely another matter. Once the fellow started an attack, frankly, All Hell Broke Loose! I pity the melee'ers in the middle of that fire-storm! To my dismay, someone was actually MOVING the huge tendrils! They'd bounce out of position! Alue I believe? I saw boulders from Titan and Obey I believe pounding away. I think Titan and Obey also took particular glee from nailing pestiferous adds foolish enough to venture near. Can you say "squash"?
Flames! Explosions! (and huge - biggy ones they were). The crater was shaking. Boulders had to be tumbling down the slopes! I saw dual swords flashing, and dancing the dance as well: Silverhorn the Sage and Lightning the Healer, keeping them all alive! Ah, a secret revealed! Don't ask me how they were managing vigor, because over and over again bright pulses of red replaced health, and sparkling blue of Vigor leapt among the fellow.
[Disturbing side note: Perhaps Tombo was imagining things? One did have to wonder about the, uh, "energetic" capering going on. Naw. It's just my imagination. I couldn't have seen Cassandria dancing about the 2 story, pole like Tendril chanting "Ring around the Rosy, I'm gonna flame your posey . . ." FA-BOOOOM!, Alue cheerfully whistling 'Whistle while you work.. . . .Weeeeeeeeeeee!' as she slammed a Tendril backwards, Titan muttering "Heh-heh, yea-baby, you like this ROCK! Here! Here's another one! You like that! YOU LIKE THAT! . . .", Silverhorn singing Lou Rawls songs as he healed. I don't know that I should say what was going on with the others. Lets just attribute it to the "fog of war". They all seemed, uh, "normal" afterwards.]
At one point I was joined to the fellow. I was greatly appreciative of that, as I had the benefit of both healer's ministrations! During their repeated kills of the three Mature Tendrils, adds did move in frequently. I'm able to take down Rangers and Drones with confidence, but Hybrids are extremely dangerous. I've killed them, but it requires care for this level 55 Ranger. I was so engrossed in watching for adds, and the fireworks, I didn't even realize they allowed me to participate in the loot cycle. I received a polite "tap on the shoulder", and a point to the Tendril I was allowed to loot. Yikes! I have a nice Flail and another weapon from that loot that needs to be distributed to someone who can use them. J
And as I left that crater when their time was done, looking back at the smoking walls, tumbled rock, charred, toppled tendrils, I had to think about the poor Olthoi in the catacombs below. We've all been somewhere where a party was going on late at night, upstairs, right over your head?
