First we buy a new sword.
So looks like a straight upgrade for Locky's Broadsword. 8 more damage with the thrust - so like a 30% damage increase. While being as likely to hit. Also swing is much more damaging AND more likely to hit.
The upgrade for Gorath is not as pronounced. Since Gorath is an elf, his change to hit with a thrust is the same IF I'm understanding the racial penalty correctly. But extra 5 damage is nice, probably like a 20% damage increase for Gorath. Also swing should be same chance to hit, but also more damaging. So we buy a second sword for Gorath.
Now we head back toward's Hawk's Hollow to try to find Isaac for the Ruby. Somewhere I run into a trap. There were several places where the road split and apparently I took a different branch this time. The traps in this game are interesting - there are 2 types of mechanisms, we only see 1 in this particular trap. The staves have matching colors, if you try to pass between them, lightning shoots between the two and you get hit for like 50 damage.
This trap has an enemy as well. The cloak is yellow - meaning spellcaster. He's behind the staves so only one of our fighters could approach. This is one of the very few places where this particular spell is useful.
We use the minimum cost and it pulls the caster far enough forward so that everyone can hit him. Locky starts - 20 damage. He usually hit for 12-15, so the weapon upgrade is quite visible.
Gorath hits harder too, 25 instead of 20ish that he'd usually hit for.
Since the spellcaster can't cast in melee and the guy must be low on health already I decide to give Owyn some practice, but he misses.
Locky does not. 20 damage again. Surprisingly the caster is still up.
Gorath misses this time.
Owyn does not. 4 damage and the enemy dies! Wizard melee kill!
The battle does not end immediately. Gorath has to walk between the two sets of staves in order for the game to register that we "solved" the trap.
Nice, that's quite the chunk of gold and Owyn finally has some restoratives for emergencies now. Its interesting that our wizard uses a staff but theirs still prefer swords.
We proceed while picking up loot we could not before and eventually reach Isaac.
Isaac is on point.
So is Locky. Why have we been muddling about Codex?
Perhaps we wanted Isaac to feel lucky.
Hmmm, I guess our first exposure to traps opened this topic.
I guess the Orseinnes is the mountain range between two main parallel roads south.
Isaac seems to be quite the strategist. Perhaps they should have kept him at court despite his ignoble birth.
Ok, lets see what he has to say about the ruby.
Locky has a smooth side for sure.
I suppose I would find the question strange as well.
Returning it to Keifer? Seems like a round about way of getting this stone back in Makala's hands.
Damn, he must have quite the expensive sword to require a gem in payment.
Well, we did just get master dwarven training.
All you need is a whetstone son...
You're not the only one who's learned some skillz over the last 10 years Isaac!
Damn, he's making me second guess myself. Think Gorath has the highest skill at like 69% (NICE!!).
Well, we need that ruby. So lets give it a try.
Yes, yes.
Sounds like we succeeded.
Think moss-rangers are the Dark Elf special forces.
Ruby is ours!
This concludes our dance with Isaac. Let's look at our prize. 1% value rating - guess they don't want us to sell it instead of having to leg it to LaMut.
As we proceed further I notice a chest I missed on the way up.
It was unlocked.
We rest overnight at the Hawk's Hollow inn. Then we continue back towards Zun and run into another fight I missed on the way out here.
Just 2 enemies fortunately. We shouldn't have too tough of a time with our new swords. They charge but do not reach us.
Owyn blinds the rear enemy. Locky charges and misses the lead enemy.
Gorath charges but does not reach. Lead enemy swings and misses Locklear. Owyn rests.
Locky misses the enemy again.
Gorath misses him too. Maybe we'll have trouble after all.
Owyn re-blinds rear enemy. Locky finally hits, 20 damage.
Gorath is parried. Enemy swings and hits Locky for ? damage. Rear enemy somehow comes to and moves towards Gorath, but does not strike.
Owyn blinds the guy that everyone has been attacking.
Locky attacks that guy and hits for 20 damage.
Gorath hits the same guy for 29 and that guy goes down. Guess it won't be trouble after all.
Enemy misses Gorath.
Owyn appraises that guy as resting would do no good.
Locky attacks that guy, hit for 19.
Gorath tries a swing, its a miss.
Owyn studies enemy again, damn. That guy is strong!
Locky is parried.
Gorath defends. I want the enemy to attack - not have my strike parried and riposted.
Locky is parried again.
Gorath defends again.
Locky hits through block for 19.
I get tired of defending - Gorath tries a thrust. Its a hit through block for 27.
Owyn moves up. Locky is parried. This guy is just on defense.
Gorath is parried. Enemy repostes - its a miss.
Owyn moves in and hits for 4.
Locky misses.
Gorath does too.
Enemy runs but barely moves, he's close to the edge of the map though.
Owyn hits him for 4 again.
I misclick with Locky and Gorath is not in range, enemy moves away.
Owyn chases and misses.
Locky finishes with a hit for 23.
Just one skill increase from that fight.
Those Lamprey's are not selling, better luck in cities down south hopefully.
Think the rations were good.
There were no more problems on the way to LaMut.
We go up to the Garrison again.
Guess its shiny despite the 1% value.
We don't get a medal. Oh well, lets hope we're on the Captain's good graces from here on out.
We also sell all the stuff we've picked up and are up to 315 gold.
We have some choices of where to head next.
Option A) is to head up to Yabon though there's no RP reason to do so.
Option B) is to head south on the western branch - directly towards Questor's View.
Option C) is to head South East with designs to head towards Krondor via the SE road (via Eggley) - or even to head towards the Dimwood forest in the middle of the map.
Do note that there is a road connecting South and South-East roads towards Krondor - just south of Questor's view and NW of Eggley - so we'll have a way to reverse our decision of either B or C later.
