Sombdi, day 15 of Summer, 553

31 exiles ventured out today, including 2 Full Mystics and 2 Bloodbladers. Unfortunately, only Zorton had a Strange Stone today.

We advanced quickly to the Pitch Caves in about 45 minutes, which might be a record. Elenis Reyav drove us hard to give us as much time as posible at the Pitch caves.

After the usual set-up, the first Pitch cave seemed fairly empty, and the 4 Crimsons and assorted Olive and Malachite Arachnoids were quickly killed using a circling runners and luring to the assembled fighters.

Since there seemed to be no Arachnoids in the Southwest pit at all, Yor quickly led several pathfinders to the Ruined Library to start or renew lessons with Giayl's Guide to Hidden Ways. About 8 folks made it in and out safely, which will help increase the number of members with high pathfinding skills. I skimmed the book myself, but saw nothing new I might learn.

Caves 2 and 3 had very few web slingers, and we advanced quickly to the end of Cave 3. Entering Cave 4, we have learned to be more cautious, and we took time to carefully clear Cave 4 before advancing further. Things went smoothly today, with no unexpected backspawns at bad moment, and we were soon standing in Cave 5 again.

We took some time in Cave 5 discussing teleport and fighting strategy for what lies beyond. While we were standing about, a Pitch Arachnoid unexpectedly bounded in from Cave 4. It was subdued, but not so quickly, since everyone was standing around randomly. The fighters were not arrayed for battle facing the threat axis, healers were caught in the way by webs, and the Bloodbladers were not charged up (or is it down?). The second Pitch Arachnoid to enter did the same paralyzing damage, but by the time the third one entered, we had learned to protect the doorway and were ready for it. Someone planted a zu wall at the doorway inside Cave 5, which did nothing but lower our working space, since the wall would need to be outside the doorway to prevent entry.

Once things settled down, CJ selected exiles for teleport in "rings" or tiers around Zorton. We all lined up like schoolboys, anxiously waiting to be picked for the team. Natas, Michael, Gurgi, Thuja and Jade were the first tier, and got shares back from Zorton, another 10 exiles were the second tier, who were cross-shared by the first tier folks, and the remaining folks were the third tier, cross-sharing second tier folks. It was hoped that we would beat the impressive 16 exiles that Raldin teleported previously this way. CJ asked that I note that she placed herself at the outermost tier, and she herself was among those not teleported.

It worked, and a record 17 exiles came along this time. But few in the third tier made it along, and apparently some thought to be in the second tier (J'jh for instance) did not teleport due to incorrect share issues.

Clearly the rules for multiple teleport need a bit more investigating. We still hope to bring more at once. In any case, since the cross-shares in this teleport were very organized, and we hope to use that information to understand how to maximize co-teleportation. But better to have 2 Stone-bearing Mystics along.

The 17 exiles who made it into Cave 6 did not find satisfaction. It was a massacre. There were very many Noids in the landing zone compared to other trips, and the luring/zuing strategy was not as successful as we had hoped. With so many more Noids present, targeting so many exiles spread over the landing area, there was simply no way to lure them all out. Yor ran to the Southern pit as a lure, and Elenis and I followed to zu it off, while Natas (I think) was aiming for the Northwest pit. Yor collected a number of Arachnoids, but because of the many Arachnoids still in the landing area, I ran right after him and ended up collecting more too. When I reached the chokepoint, I planted a partial Zu wall but was forced to retreat, and had no choice but to go deeper into the pit. I didn't make it too far before a lowly bat stopped me for a moment for a Noid to finish me off. In the meantime, Elenis finished completed the Northwest pit Zu wall.

In the landing zone, chaos reigned, as so many Arachnoids remained that healers could not dodge them and fighters could not concentrate on attacking one at a time. It didn't help that several fighters were also elsewhere running or zuing, diluting the fighting strength in the landing zone. Pretty quickly, nearly everyone was fallen.

On the plus side, we learned a lot about Cave 6 today and identified where Cave 7 is located due to exemplary efforts by Yor and Jade.

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