Best Options for Surviving the Horrid Shrieker? (4th level Heroes)

[SergeTroy]

Normally this isn't the kind of question I'd like to put out, as my preference would be to build up a team of 5th or 6th level Heroes with maxed class skills and equipement (as well as a number of preferred quirks locked in). However, after a recent run, I *really* want to get my trinkets back from this gawdamnt bird.

The reason I'd prefer not to advance my heroes to 5th or 6th level is because I don't want to trigger the Wolves at the Door quest, regardless of options to game it (raw recruits sacrificed for the greater glory).

So, my question: What kind of party make up is best for purely surviving the damned bird for 4 rounds, and CAN a 4th level party survive it for that time enough to see it retreat and retrieve my trinkets? I'm aware a 4th level group is going to suffer increased stress and lack the resistances, equipment, and class skillls preferred for this, but I'm kinda sorta desperate. My thoughts were a Man-at-Arms, a Flagellant, a guarded/defended Vestal, and *maybe* a Jester. If others have a better line up suggestion along with trinket recommendations or other tips, I would *really* appreciate it, with much thanks in advance.

Background:
As a little background on how I found myself in this mess, I was doing an Antiquarian Dark Run on Veteran in the Weald on a Long Expedition, and with resolve level 3 Heroes. I knew my party comp had to be spot on to have a hope of survival, so I had a Hellion in rank 1, Occultist in rank 2, Hound Master in rank 3, and the Antiquarian in rank 4. The Hellion and the Houndmaster were equipped with Moon Cloaks & Rings, the Occultist had a Moon Cloak & Cursed Incense, and the Antiquarian had the Ancestor's Map and her speed trinket, with the plan to latch on to the Hellion for a guard and to buff the Hellions dodge and protection. Overall, I felt this was solid, but I got greedy. Greedy is running into a Veteran Shambler right before you conclude the mission with the Secret Room stash; Greedy is watching eveyr single hero get afflicted while still fooling yourself into thinking you have a chance, and only retreating when the Occultist is the last man standing (did he die to a heart attack immediately after retreating? Of course he did!).

[Warchild698]

4 HWMs with Riposte and Precision Rings are your guys.

[What The Sigmar?]

Originally posted by SergeTroy:

CAN a 4th level party survive it for that time enough to see it retreat and retrieve my trinkets?

Since you're going for raw survival, I believe you could easily make it with level 4 heroes, but you'd need to do the following:
-Make sure to buff every hero's bleed resist and use holy water on top of that. Bring bandages as well.
-Bring a lot of healers, two vestals in the back and a flagellant up front makes you practically unkillable.
-Buff prot if you can. Perhaps bring one or two man at arms to block for the healers.

[SergeTroy]

Originally posted by warchild698:

4 HWMs with Riposte and Precision Rings are your guys.

Originally posted by •҉Rosy:

Since you're going for raw survival, I believe you could easily make it with level 4 heroes, but you'd need to do the following:
-Make sure to buff every hero's bleed resist and use holy water on top of that. Bring bandages as well.
-Bring a lot of healers, two vestals in the back and a flagellant up front makes you practically unkillable.
-Buff prot if you can. Perhaps bring one or two man at arms to block for the healers.

Hmm, yeah, I don't have the garlic as of yet, so maybe I should wait until I have at least one of those; the stockpiling of holy water, bandages, etc was already on my list, though I intended ot double check the wiki for whether it did blight & bleed, or just one of either. I think I may go with either a tough & hard skinned jester for the 4th hero, or perhaps an Antiquarian constantly guarded by the Flagellant, though buffing dodge may be the better option, I dunno.

@ warchild - I have considered the benefits of an all riposte team before, but I don't think it works well for this instance. I'd almost certainly want the Hwyman's CC set for each and every one if I was to try it, :P

[What The Sigmar?]

Originally posted by SergeTroy:

Hmm, yeah, I don't have the garlic as of yet, so maybe I should wait until I have at least one of those; the stockpiling of holy water, bandages, etc was already on my list, though I intended ot double check the wiki for whether it did blight & bleed, or just one of either.

You could probably get by without trinkets, but you better be sure to use that holy water, don't be forgetful about it like me. Don't worry about blight, his peck attack only deals bleed.

Originally posted by SergeTroy:

@ warchild - I have considered the benefits of an all riposte team before, but I don't think it works well for this instance. I'd almost certainly want the Hwyman's CC set for each and every one if I was to try it, :P

A riposte-heavy team would be great for a boss with a lot of turns, but since you're opting for pure survival, it will do literally nothing to help you. I strongly recommend heals above all else.

[grraf]

OCC+MAA+Whatever flots yr boat... use the dodge removal granted by the OCC curse so everyone can hit the bird & stun/heal people while the debuff lasts meanwhile the MAA can keep up guard&riposte while in the spare turns he spams dodge&speed ability...
Those 2 are pretty much mandatoy to minimize rng/shorten the duration of battle the other 2 slots are dictated by what u wish to focus on dps/defence...

[SergeTroy]

I actually just defeated (ahem, *survived*) the Horrid Shrieker, in part because of a new item I completely forgot I had 5 of in my Provisions: the Aegis Scale! Holy crap was I glad to see those! Went in and barely inflicted any damage at all, but while my whole party pretty much got afflicted and diseased, we survived: we retrieved our trinkets AND my Flagellant, the same one as I use in the Courtyard, received 'Corvid's Eye'! This was really awesome as I was also picking up the Ancestor's map, and could now count on a +33% scouting chance whenever I entered the Courtyard. He also added it as his 3rd locked in positive quirk, alongside Hard Noggin' and Quick Reflexes! I went back later to fight a Cretinous Shrieker (poor guy, what a name) and of all things my HOUND MASTER picked up 'Corvid's Eye' as well! If those two ever go scouting together in the Weald or Warrens, no secret room can possibly hope to escape their notice. xD

[What The Sigmar?]

Nice job, dude!

[SergeTroy]

Originally posted by •҉Rosy:

Nice job, dude!

Thanks Rosy! Have to admit, as with anything, player fatigue came close to bringing me down a little later when I went on a Long Cove Expedition and made it a dark run. Had finally found a quality Abomination in the apprentice ranks - 1st level with 'Hard Skinned' AND 'Natural Swing'! Set him up with a Jester, Occultist, and Shield Breaker, only to abandon the quest halfway in. Having fought a shambler and survived to get the Ancestor's Candle, I decided that - with no more campfires and the lowest stress at 140 - "Discretion was the better part of valor." :( Still, got the haul I wanted. :P

[Krymino Lin]

I made a team with hound masters and MMAs all equiped the best dodge trinkets i got.
Just keep spamming those dodge-buff skills untill the gaint bird get bored.