» Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:19 pm Raul's personal quest is about the only thing I've yet to do in the game, as usually I'm not heading to Black Mountain 'till I'm level 20+, by which time I've activated most of Raul's triggers already. So, upon leaving Goodsprings and noticing that I'd acquired four stealthboys, I decided on a whim (and with no realistic hopes of success) to try and rescue Raul from Tabitha's clutches.
In addtion to the aforementioned stealthboys, I had eighteen stimpaks, two doses of Med-X, 1 dose of Rad-X, a 9mm pistol with thirty rounds of ammo, and a single shotgun with about eighty shells. The first stealthboy got me from Sloan to Neil's shack, travelling off-road the whole time in case of deathclaws. After having a little chat with Neil (who must've been amazed at the sight of this seven-stone weakiling making a beeline for Black Mountain), I activated my second stealthboy and proceeded to climb the eastern slope of the mountain, keeping off the road as best I could.
As I worked my way up the mountain, I was able to avoid all the large groups of Super Mutants. I nearly came a-cropper when a lone Nightkin phased into view right on top of me, but I was able to shake him off with some evasive manouvers without attracting any other Mutie attention, miraculously. The second stealthboy ran out just as the irradiated mountain top hove into view, so I popped my only Rad-X along with the third of my four stealthboys and proceeded to creep forward.
Now, my original plan had been to avoid combat at all costs, head for the supply shack and fix Rhonda. No mess, no fuss. However, as I crept past the NIghtkin sniper tower I suddenly remembered Annabelle. If I resolved this quest peacefully would I lose the chance to acquire this wonderful weapon? Would the nightkin carrying it disappear with Tabitha and Rhonda? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I drew my single shotgun, held my breath and climbed the stairs of the tower.
Unfortunately, even with my stealth-field this was a sneak too far; the sniper spotted me trying to creep up behind him and began to take aim with his hunting rifle. Thank goodness he was trying to fight close-quarters with a weapon unsuitable for the task! The shots that did hit hurt like hell, but fortunately they were in the minority. Getting lucky with critical hits, I was able to fell the foul beast, at a meagre cost of two of my stim-paks. Victory! Annabelle was mine! And, at level 3, I was now the proud owner of a hunting rifle to boot.
However, our little battle had not gone unnoticed, and I could hear the whirling rattle of a minigun trained upon me. Spotting an angry nightkin below, I reasoned this was a good chance to try my new missile launcher. I might as well have been throwing wet tissue paper at it for all the difference it made to the creature's health. And if I didn't find a more defensible position soon then I was done for. Panicking more than a little, I made a bolt for the supply shack.
Curiously, the nightkin didn't see fit to follow me. Not that I was complaining. I went to inspect the ruined remains of Rhonda, expecting this ordeal to soon be over, when disaster! My science skill wasn't high enough to fix the robot! Seeing my plans being scattered like ash to the wind, I resolved not to despair. I needed a science skill of 60; my current skill was 28. I had a Programmer's Digest in my pack, and was 100xp away from a level-up. If I leveled up, put all my skill points into science and took Comprehension as my perk I might still be able to pull this off. But where would I get 100xp?
I returned outside to face the lone nightkin for the second time. For some reason he had put away his minigun and was now wielding a sledgehammer, which at least made my life easier. Six shots from my hunting rifle - the sum total of my .308 rounds - followed by a further dozen or so shotgun blasts did the trick, at a cost of three stimpaks. 50xp gained. Still not enough. I was running out of options; taking out one, poorly-armed mutant was one thing, but I wouldn't stand a chance against the larger, better-armed groups further down the mountain. I needed to find a lock to pick or a terminal to hack, and so it was that I entered the prison building.
There were no hackable terminals inside, but maybe I could spirit Raul way without being noticed? He was, after all, my main objective, and Tabitha could broadcast her freaskshow forever for all I cared. I asked the ghoul to join me, thinking we could slink out unnoticed and fast-travel to safety the moment we were outdoors. Unfortunately, there came a terrible, wounded cry of "Raul!" from the radio, which then ceased to broadcast. So much for going unnoticed.
Stepping outside, we were greeted by a furious Tabitha and two of her lackeys. The fight that followed was neither pretty nor efficent; but thanks to my new companion, some manic circle-strafing, Med-X and my remaining stimpaks we were able to emerge triumphant. My armour was almost beyond repair, my healing supplies were exhausted and I'd used practically all my ammunition in the battle, but victory was mine, and after looting the compund (carefully, gingerly, terrified the whole while that I'd be jumped by more Mutants) I fast-travelled with my new travelling chum to the safety of Sloan. Raul didn't seem especially grateful for my heroics, but I felt pretty damn glorious nonetheless. And I still had one remaining stealth-boy. :celebrate:
So that's me. But what about you? Come, regale me with your stories of low-level derring-do!
Thanks for sharing it and good job getting Annabelle. I had posted this one back in November and although it wasn't a low level adventure, I'm not good with guns so it was epic to me. Here it is...hope you enjoy. It was before the patch that reduced the Gobi.
