Sombdi, day 60 of Winter, 556

Today's trip was quite eventful and in the end, very frustrating.

Things went smoothly all the way out through the Orga Outback, Foothills, Dredwoods and Arachnoid caves until we finally reached Pitch cave 5.

Drablak then teleported the small runner team into PC6 to clear the Landing Zone for the rest of us.

Hepta then teleported the bulk of the group to PC6.

With a good clean start, we were able to kill many Noids in a controlled fashion and finally advance into PC7.

Just as we were preparing to move up, J'jh unexpectedly vanished.

We entered PC7 anyway, and began clearing that area slowly. After quite a fierce battle, we emptied the cave of Noids except for the many trapped in the West pit. Just as we were on standby to move up to the North chamber to begin attacking PC8, J'jh reappeared. Behind us, in PC6. And promptly fell there, all alone.

We delayed while Natas and Yor ran back into PC6 to try to grab her. They were successful, amazingly enough, but that delay cost us dear. As we started to move through PC7 to the North, Crimson and Albino Noids appeared in the midst of the group in the middle chamber while we were most vulnerable. Several folks made it North, but were wiped out quickly by webs and Noids. Others retreated back South, and tenaciously held on. Slowly, the remnants of the team killed many many Noids and began to chain fallens back and raise them. After a very long time (and for me, several potions too), everyone was retrieved and raised.

Once again, we cleared the cavern and moved to the North. Quickly!

Natas and Yor rushed into PC8 and managed to trap many Noids in the South pit using a Kudzu wall.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and gladly left PC7, after having been fighting there for what seemed like an eternity.

In the PC8 entry, things were deceptively calm as we gathered: no webs, no milling Noids to fight.

On the first lure from the pit, however, the calm was broken in a rush of Crimson Noids. A very large number of them poured out to attack us, felling many and chasing the rest back into PC7.

Of course they followed the retreating exiles, over a dozen of Crimsons, and quickly finished off the last fleeing group members.

Despite recovering from the brink of disaster in PC7 to finally reach PC8, we just couldn't manage another miraculous recovery today. After over 4 hours of near constant battle, it is little wonder why either. Everyone was exhausted!

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