Aldia's Keep #1

Having gotten the Kings Ring I could recall three doors that required the symbol of the king. I decided to visit them in order and visited the Forest of Fallen Giants first only to find a petrified giant whom I couldn't interact with. Second up was the one at the crossroads in the Shaded Woods which proved more useful as it lead to Aldia's Keep.

Despite finding the lore surrounding Aldia and it's mad lord and his insane experiments I didn't really enjoy the area that much. I think it was down to the hippo men! can't stand the hippo men and this place is full of them. I began by beign petrified by a pack of rabid dogs. Then killed (and sent 60 feet in the air in a weird glitch) by a Mimic. I found Lucatiel at the bonfire in the last throws of hollowing and then met her brother in red phantom form. He has quick attacks but was easy to stun into submission. Then killed again by a lurching dragon skeleton. This place wasn't going well and then comes the hippo man! Still haven't gotten the knack of dueling these guys and relied on arrows to take him down, did the same for the giant basilisk behind him.

I went to investigate a treasure when the mirrors in the hallway smashed and out popped 3 heavily-armoured black phantoms. At least with human foes I know where I stand and gradually chipped away at them with the Large Club until they all fell. Released an NPC too from a cell of sorts only to get nothing out of him.

The inner keep required me to spark up a torch to reveal the many caged monsters within which was ominous but set a nice tone. Found a hidden wall and bonfire in one of the labs which was of much relief. The Aldian wizards didn't put up much of a fight, neither dig the dogs in the corrosive pit where you find your key to escape. Then again with the hippo men, this time bursting through walls and leaving me no room to circle them! and if that wasn't enough Navlaan invades with some mega hexes to blow me into last week. Not a good day at the office.