Always inspired by the PvM section of JSP and decided to start my own again after seeing so many cool threads. For this thread, I'll be playing a bowazon that uses fire and ice bow skills and presenting the journey in a story-like fashion because I occasionally like to try my hand at creative writing.

- Hardcore, players 8 at all times (No exceptions).
- Will predominately use the Fire and Ice bow skills, with the occasional strafe/multi here and there.
- No Plugy.
- Ladder runewords enabled.
- Item restrictions will be as follows: Only 1 runeword equipped max, 2 uniques, 3 rares, and the rest must either be blues, whites, or greys. Sets will be unlimited.

Goals:
- Kill Normal Duriel.
- Reach Hell, then beat it.
- Find Magewrath bow.
- Find M'avina set.
- Use an Act 1 merc in the end-game. Earlier on, Act 2 merc will likely be needed due to Insight/mana heavy build.
- Have fun.

The journey begins...

Hailing from the Skovos Isles, my journey begins in a foreign land after the Askari oracles had a vision from Athulua that evil once again was spreading across Sanctuary. Historically, the Skovos Isles remained safe and devoid of the conflict between angles and demons, far from the destruction of the past. This time, however, was different.

The oracles had a vision of the Skovos Isles engulfed in hellfire and the Askari decimated by hordes of demons. The elders, at first, were in disbelief. The most harrowing and deadly entities that us Askari face have been the beasts in the surrounding forests for generations. Yet, the vision from Athulua, our prime deity, was not to be ignored. With haste, I was sent to the mainland with the mission of confirming the urgency of Athulua's vision. Little did I know how urgent this mission would become, and how quickly shattered the idea that my journey from the Skovos Isles would be short would be. Upon reaching the Rogue's Encampment, I was briefed on the decimation that had befallen Tristram, and confirmed Athulua's vision. Evil was just outside these very hastily-constructed walls. I readied myself for battle, praying to both Athulua and one of our most legendary warriors of all time, M'avina, whom I was named after.



I explored the encampment to learn even more about the situation, and came cross with the military commander of the Rogues, Kashya. Kashya seemed battle-hardened and resolute, the likes of which I can only imagine being the result of persevering through great loss and suffering. I gathered that such loss had been escalating lately, as she warned me of the situation I now found myself in. Us Askari have common ancestry with the Rogues, and I find myself for the first time on this journey to a foreign land feeling reminded of home as I spoke with Kashya. There was something familiar about her, but I could not place my mind on it exactly.



After ensuring Kashya that Athulua protected and guided me, and that I was here to destroy evil instead of succumbing to it, she recommended that I speak with The High Priestess Akara, who could provide insight into just how close the threat of death was to all of us. Even Akara, as clearly intelligent and wise, could not feign confidence in her own encampment. Rogues were dying at an alarming rate, and it was only time before these "rickety walls" became no more. Akara mentioned that they'd been on the defensive for so long, that maintaining hope within the encampment was a new, eternal struggle. Grateful for my presence, and perhaps due to her own connection with the divine, Akara entrusted me in helping restore hope to the encampment by tasking me with clearing a nearby den that was now demon infested.

With Athulua as my guide, I ventured out.



This post was edited by Handcuffs on Dec 16 2019 06:02am

I was surprised by just how close the den was to the encampment. The demons had the encampment surrounded, and there was virtually nothing between the encampment and the hordes of demons at this point. To clear the den would finally retake territory and I hope it would serve as a bastion for inspiration.



These demons, as strong as they were, were nothing compared to the beasts of the Skovos Isles. Slow moving and striking without conviction, I made quick work of them.



As I slayed the final demon within the cave, rays of light illuminated the entire system which had previously been completely dark. I knew this was the light of Athulua watching over me, as there was no way for the sun's rays to pierce through. I was on the right course.

Upon my return to the Rogue Encampment, I was met with a flurry of emotion. On one hand, this was the first major blow to the demons that had been made in quite some time. Yet, at the same time, Kashya had received news from the scouts of an abomination in the nearby Burial Grounds. A previous hero among the Rogues, Bloodraven, had been corrupted by demonic forces and was now using the deceased Rogues as minions. The encampment's joy in my recent liberation of the den was short-lived, and instead a shadow of dread crept through and permeated the encampment. The Rogues had been used to their warriors dying to demons, but this was the first time that one of their own had been corrupted and resurrecting their dead.



I could tell by speaking to the other rogues that this struck fear into them. Bloodraven was one of their fiercest warriors, and if even she could fall to demonic forces, what would make them feel they wouldn't succumb to a similar fate? They were stunned with fear.



I didn't have it in me to expect the Rogues to go out and kill one of their own, even if demonic corruption made them unrecognizable. I knew that I must do it myself. As I set out though, a lone Rogue ran after me and called my name. She introduced herself as Rozene and informed me that she had every intention of accompanying me to slay Bloodraven. It was sacrilege what Andariel had done to one of their own and she was inspired by my success in clearing the den. As it is Askari tradition to allow all who want to risk their lives to do so, I naturally obliged and Rozene and I ventured out together. This ended up being to my benefit, as Rozene knew exactly where the Burial Grounds were at.

As we approached the Burial Grounds, I took time to notice if Rozene was afraid. I admit I was a bit surprised to see Rozene so focused and her rage tempered by discipline. Together I was confident we would free Bloodraven from such wickedness.



This post was edited by Handcuffs on Dec 16 2019 06:41am

I could tell from my battle with Blood Raven why she was one of the Rogue's fiercest warriors, as the battle raged on for some time. It was a reminder to stay vigilant and placate any feelings of arrogance, because even the strongest of warriors could be bested by demonic corruption. In the end, Rozene and I took solace is being able to liberate Blood Raven from this demonic corruption, as her will erupted in a blaze of lightning once the final blow was struck.



Afterwards, our journey continued in the Stony Field, where we came across a curious stone monument, guarded by some vile Fallen warrior whose name the lesser Fallens would often scream out.



I knew not what these stones were for, but I knew that if anyone were to, it would surely be Akara. I would seek out her wisdom upon my return to camp.

Akara's wisdom guided me to a path where I need to locate the Tree of Inifuss in the Dark Woods. On this path, I passed numerous former shelters and homes, but in one in particular could I hear a soft, groaning voice call out. I hadn't seen any other humans in these corrupted ruins, but I could not shake the sense from me that the voice may have been human. Was someone in distress and hiding in this home? As I entered, I could see that someone was hiding underneath the covers in the bed, and I as attempted to approach and console them, a hideous undead lunged at me from under the covers. I dispatched it quickly, but was shaken by the experience. This was the first time that a demon had been cunning, unlike all the others which shambled after me with unhinged bloodlust.



Shaken but undeterred, Rozene and I ventured onward. And, upon reaching the Dark Wood, we found that the Tree of Inifuss was guarded by towering, beast-like creatures. Rozene was surprised by my lack of fear in the face of such beasts, which I in turn reassured her that these beasts were nothing compared to those found in the Skovos Isles.



Upon reaching the Tree of Inifuss, I recovered from it some rune-inscribed bark in the form of a scroll. Both Rozene and I could not make sense of the scroll, and would again need to consult Akara's wisdom back in camp. We could not, however, help but take a moment to be in awe of such an ancient tree, especially one that showed such remarkable tenacity in being the last living thing of great stature in these decimated woods.



This post was edited by Handcuffs on Dec 21 2019 04:42pm

Akara's wisdom was seemingly boundless, as she knew exactly how to decipher the Scroll of Inifuss and instructed us that it would help us access Tristram through touching of the Cairn Stones.





Entering the portal into Tristram put the full destructive capabilities of Diablo in our faces, as Tristram had been leveled by demons. Would this become the same fate for the Rogue Encampment, or worse, the Skovos Isles? Fleeing now would only guarantee that outcome, but at least humanity stood a chance should we continue on, which we did. Even in the face of fallen, great heroes such as Griswold.

It was also here that we were able to free and recover the revered Horadrim scholar, Deckard Cain.



It seemed, even if just for a moment, that humanity was finally striking back at the demons. There was, I had realized, a sense that humanity was wholly good and the demons wholly bad, but a lone, moldy tome in the middle of the Stony Field set me on a journey where I realized how foolish I was.

As vile as demons were, it was expected that they be the embodiment of evil due to their nature. However, to learn of The Countess' wicked and cruel ways filled me with an intense rage. Humanity had long guarded itself from the threat of demons by erecting massive cities and towns protected by walls, but how disturbing to learn that one of the biggest threats had been within the very walls all along. I knew that I must find these ancient tower ruins, because I could not be at peace with such a monument celebrating the depravity and betrayal of humanity.



Rozene and I navigated every level to these ruins, symbolic of the near-endless level of The Countess' brutality, but invariably we reach The Countess. Even though I knew that she was formally human and that what stood before me was a bastardization of her former self due to demonic resurrection, I could not help but feel that this was actually the core of who The Countess was all along.



Rumored as a location for great treasure, there was nothing worth more to me in the entire tower ruins than the feeling of killing The Countess and achieving vengeance for all those she had murdered during her life.

To slay The Countess was no easy task, and Rozene and I needed to return to camp to rest and resupply. I took the time to visit Charsi upon our return, a woman of great knowledge in the discipline of the forge. She expressed a desire to assist Rozene and I in the way she best knew how, but confessed that she was not able to offer the quality of services that she expects of herself. This was in large part because she had left behind her Horadric Malus when she had to flee the Monastery. If, however, the Horadric Malus could be recovered, then she'd be able to properly forge the highest-quality gear to aid us in our battles. Being that I am more cautious than I am arrogant, I knew it would be foolish to not benefit from the abilities of those in camp. After all, Kashya's leadership and Akara's wisdom had already proved to be infinitely beneficial, and I could tell by the conviction in Charsi's voice that she was not embellishing her skills.



Rozene and I promised to retrieve the Horadric Malus from the Monastery, as it was along our path to Andariel. Reaching the Monastery gates would prove to be no easy task or short journey, but after we finally reached them, I was in awe of the size of the Monastery. It spoke to how devastated the Rogue's population had been by the demons, as the encampment was nothing more than a camping ground in comparison. An architectural wonder, the Monastery was beautiful, and I could tell that Rozene was eager to take back her home.



Beyond these walls, Rozene and I eventually sought to recover the Horadric Malus, which was guarded by a demonic Smith. Slaying him would be two-fold, as we recovered the Malus for Charsi, but also killed a strategic member of the demons' army.