How did I die? (in General)

Play-by-play
Six. Shrike
Ankou cast Vampiric Aura on Ankou (?)
Shrike found no valid targets on which to cast Antimagic Field
enchantment effects that cannot be determined before combat are displayed as '?'
Ranged Combat
Ankou shot Shrike [40]
Shrike undershot Ankou

Ankou hit Shrike [51]
Shrike's shot ricocheted near Ankou

Ankou shot Shrike [44]
Shrike's shot went wide of Ankou

Ankou shot Shrike [48]
Ankou shot Shrike [41]
Shrike's shot went wide of Ankou

Ankou hit Shrike [49]
Ankou hit Shrike [49]
Shrike's shot ricocheted near Ankou

Melee Combat


Ankou lashed Shrike [483]
Ankou draws strength from his weapon! [-240]
Ankou snicked Shrike [271]
Ankou draws strength from his weapon! [-135]
Shrike stumbled swinging at Ankou

Ankou beat Shrike [301]
Ankou draws strength from his weapon! [-169]
Shrike's blow was dodged by Ankou

Ankou lashed Shrike [280]
Ankou draws strength from his weapon! [-165]
Ankou whipped Shrike [264]
Ankou draws strength from his weapon! [-153]
Shrike stumbled swinging at Ankou

Ankou whipped Shrike [420]
Ankou draws strength from his weapon! [-239]
Ankou lashed Shrike [406]
Ankou draws strength from his weapon! [-199]
Shrike stumbled swinging at Ankou
R.I.P. Ankou
-----------------------------------------------------
He never hit me, and the [-x] should be healing me...
so...
How did I die?
Single tank w/ BL and VA

The minus VA is you losing life.

Your VA is too small.

VA and damage works funny with very low numbers. Just don't train it until you're a little bigger.

It's a common mistake. Just untain VA for now. To ease the pain, I just lent you a Halidon Familiar that should give you a boost.

Remove the Vampiric Aura, it's trained too low which makes you lose health instead of gaining it.

So at some point in the future, my VA should be [x], not [-x]?
What dictates this change from hurting to healing? MPR? A stat? Level of VA?

wiki link below to va section, the first 3 or 4 bullets should address your issue.

http://www.carnageblender.com/wiki/Enchant+Defense+Spells#2