5-x all complete - not as bad as I remembered, though I left a couple of areas of the Swamp of Sorrow to themselves. Went back to 1-4. Got invaded - obv - managed to kill ’em though! Then died horribly to a dragon / git combo. Got a bit further, then died like many, many times - mostly stupidity. Finally got close enough to the boss battle that I could volunteer and be picked up for the fight and helped them win \o/. With my new found humanity I mooched about waiting for a companion to pull in, missed one because I was at the other end of the bridge.
Then I got the black phantom message.
Arses. Thought I’d wait in the lift for them and blow them a raspberry as I went up to attempt a solo run on the boss. Didn’t quite work out as they were cloaked, I saw them too late, and all I managed was to trap myself in the lift with them 🙁 - surprisingly my button fumbles served me well and I saw them off. \o/. So buoyed with added confidence I had a little peak outside to look for summonees. It got very hot, very quickly. I hadn’t figured on the dragon switching his breath pattern about and got fried … twice. Back to the start again and my world tendency looking a bit off. Decided to tidy up the mausoleum as I just picked up the key from Ostrava.
Spoiler for that little encounter …
Didn’t remember how this went so I’ve gone a bit rogue, killed the red eyed knight outside no problem, then opened the door to find Old King Doran. He said his bit, I chucked a fireball at him - which did fuck all - then a short battle ensued where he handed my ass to me on a plate (pretty sure it was one hit). Read up a bit and remembered you only have to take off a quarter of his health and he hardly fights back (apparently) so went in again old school and tried to hit him. Oh lookie, is that my arse on a silver plate? Damn it. Attempt 3 involved cunning use of my new Death Cloud spell, oh yes, he’s taking damage very slowly but he’s not coming for me. Result! Wait for well over a quarter health to go and stroll on in ready for my present. He gave me the sword right in the stomach along with a now familiar looking plate. Right! Make my way back, Death Cloud and sit pondering the world around me(*). A short while later and one dead Old King Doran, set of armour, a stamina recovery ring and the sword I was promised some time ago.
(*) The conclusion of my pondering was that the world is all a bit black - tendency wise that is. I don’t know if my last kill counted against me - apparently it’s two steps if it did 😮. Oh well. Little bit of grinding to raise my faith to a level to use the sword and we’ll see how it’s all looking for another run on the 1-4 boss.