The two injured thorks miners were back on their feet behind the barricade. The miners had a small stockpile of health potions they were using as well as one healer. The healer was only level ten and was fairly limited in what she could do. Her skill increased regeneration of health by 10%. I sat down next to Camile and watched the injured ghoul try to drag itself towards us.
“How are you holding up?” I asked her.
“Terrified and trying not to show it. I’ve been using Inspire so often now it's up to level 10. It increases primary stats by 15% now. I know it’s not much but everything helps right?” She said not expecting an answer.
We let the silence linger for a moment before Arthur started speaking to Gerald. “We need to get your non combat members some experience fighting as well. We have to kill 800 more of these things and they may get a class that can help us later. Anything they do to inflict damage will lead to experience gain, even if it’s throwing rocks.” Arthur had more experience with this part so I let him handle it.
The first hallowed lantern was down to about half of the golden liquid, we had one more to spare for later. When I got out of here I was going to craft as many as possible to stockpile for future attempts at the dungeon. I watched Camile strum her bowstring and another idea popped in my head.
“Hey let me see your bow.” I told her.
She held it up and I grabbed it and rubbed some of the golden liquid on it. I turned to her and said, “when the next wave starts, shoot one of the ghouls with your bow and check the combat log. See if you get a bonus multiplier.”
She just nodded and took the bow back, she looked exhausted so I left her alone. Rocks was resting with his eyes closing, leaning against the mine wall. Arthur was still talking to Gerald and the human miners. Marci was resting on top of the barricade on what looked like it used to be a great chest. Van was edging his way towards the ghoul, impatience rolling over the bond. Thankfully he had let me cover his fists with the golden liquid after he saw how well it worked for Marci.
The framework made the decision for him as the ghoul stopped crawling and died. Fifteen ghouls spawned immediately, including to my dismay one overseer, and I triggered Identify. I shortened the description to just the important parts this time.
Ghoul - Beast - Common Miner - Level 16 - Health 150/150 - Armor 30
Ghoul - Beast - Mine Overseer - Level 22 - Health 220/220 - Armor 60
“They are stronger but not by much.” I told Arthur as he came to stand beside me.
“Good. We need to let them come over here and get near the barricade but not in numbers that will overrun it. I have been speaking with Gerald and we have a plan to get his people involved. Rocks, myself and Camile will stay here with the miners and defend the barricade. You do as you feel best, whittle them down before they can reach us.”
Grunting in agreement, I headed towards the newly spawned ghouls with my two companions. I mentally let Van know the plan and after a frustrating series of attempted conversations we settled on Van and Marci keeping the overseer occupied while I trimmed down the common miners. It only took me a few minutes with my spear to take down thirteen of the ghouls. Marci and Van had nearly taken out the overseer, it was down to one third of its health.
“Camile! Take the shot!” I shouted over to her while letting Van and Marci know to back off for a moment. It took Van a second too long to be convinced to disengage, we needed to work on our communication before he bit off more than he could chew.
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Camile let her arrow fly and I watched her gaze off into the air as she checked her combat log. “It worked! It worked!” She shouted back.
We made quick work of the overseer after that while avoiding the common miner. We tried to lure him back to the barricade but the next wave spawned before we could get it in position. It seemed that strategy wouldn’t work again or would only work before they powered up at the hundred mark.
Arthur gave a shout of frustration and changed tactics. “Let them come this time, all but the overseer. We will fight them in front of the barricade.”
I relayed the plan to my two companions and Van charged the overseer with Marci in tow. I killed the ghouls that came near me and let the rest filter through to the barricade. I couldn’t focus on what was happening behind me, Arthur would have to hold. After I cleaned up a few more I helped finish off the overseer and was happy to see Camile had shot this one too. The experience would be great for her, the overseer was almost 10 levels above her.
The counter neared 700 and Arthur shouted out to try the same plan as last time. To everyone's surprise it worked again and we had a few more moments of respite. The plan to lure the ghouls to the barricade had worked well. Once they got in range the miners threw stones, shot them with slings, anything they could do to cause damage. Several of the miners had leveled enough to trigger a class change and hopefully be able to contribute more. Gerald and Arthur were trying to guide the changes to help us survive.
Camile was level 16 now, Rocks level 18. Van was nearly level 19 and Marci was even at level 15. I was closing in on level 31 the next few waves would push me over as the beasts rose in level. The mood was subdued by the fact that we were only a third of the way through the level.
When the ghoul died and the next wave started it wasn’t common miners that spawned but five overseers all at once. They spawned in the same spot and started running at the barricade. There were panicked shouts as the defenders arranged themselves.
“Abandon the plan. Kill them however we can! Quickly! If they get past the barricade it will be a slaughter!” Arthur was shouting now and running to meet the overseers. Rocks, Van and I all followed on his heels. I triggered Identify.
Ghoul - Beast - Mine Overseer - Level 25 - Health 280/280 - Armor 80
Three or four direct hits with my spear to bring these down. The overseers were fast enough to dodge and make it harder to get a direct hit. Van and Marci took the overseer to the far left, they had a good flow in their paired combat. I took the next closest one as I quickly outpaced Arthur and the rest.
I scored a direct hit right off as the ghoul overseer blindly charged me. I skewered it in the neck and my spear got stuck on its spine. It closed the distance and landed a blow with the iron stave across my shoulder. Gasping with pain and ripping my spear I lept backwards to create space. The overseer charged right at me, not willing to let me reset. There was no technique in the fighting, the overseer attacked with mad abandon. It took another minute and several hits to bring it down.
Marci and Van had moved on to their second overseer and their health bars were mostly full. Arthur was already at half and Rocks was at three fourths. I turned back to the barricade and saw a desperate fight taking place. Camile was standing on the barricade shooting arrows in rapid succession as she used Inspire off cooldown. Arthur was bellowing his rage as he struck the overseer again and again with his hammer. Rocks was keeping the last overseer occupied while the miners struck it whenever they could.
I arrived in time to put my spear through the one battling Rocks back and turned to help Arthur but they had finished it off. More overseers spawned and charged from across the mine, there would be no breaks this time. I dipped my dagger down in the hallowed lantern and slathered the liquid on my bow. I had time to fire four shots before the overseers closed to melee range. Van and Marci had joined us at the barricade, the fighting was thick, the overseer having no regard for pain or injury. There was no time for thoughts other than stab, dodge, stab, and stab again.
The rest of the wave of overseers passed in the same manner. Each time we gained levels we became stronger and the fighting got easier. There was no overpowered overseer at the half mark and we made it to 605. The plan was the same even if harder to pull off this time. We successfully crippled the last overseer and I sank to my knees in exhaustion. If I was this tired with my high stamina the rest of them should be ready to fall over.
“Go over levels and class changes, any skill upgrades. This was close, the next wave will be...we will hold. We have no choice.” Arthur said in his quiet yet intense voice.
Almost halfway done with this dungeon level, so far we had survived.