Sombdi, day 32 of Autumn, 557

From last week's high, we crashed to another low today. Then, more or less accidentally made what may well be our greatest advance.

The trip started well enough, since we reaqched the Pitch Caves quickly and immediately set up Pitch Cave 1 and moved in.

Unfortunately, we took too long clearing PC2 of Pitch and Crimson Noids using lures, and more Noids began appearing on our flank in PC1.

One of these backspawns overwhelmed the fighters and forced the remainder of the group to retreat upstairs.

We finally got PC1 under control, and moved on to PC2.

On the first lure from PC3, however, Yor and I ran into 3 Crimson Noids right away, and brought them back toward PC2 to be killed.

However, they had friends just beyond our sight, and 5 Crimson Noids jumped into the tiny fighting zone we had waiting in PC2.

We were utterly overwhelmed.

I tried to lure some back into PC3 away from the rest of the group, but with so many juicy targets nearby, none followed. I fell deeper in PC3, after running a couple other Crimsons away from the entrance to PC2.

In a matter of moments, only CJ parker and Natas remained standing. they managed to grab many others in the group on their chains, and retreated all the way back to the Malachite caves. Unfortunately, CJ was unable to raise any of the other healers, so that was the end of the trip.

With some other fighters raised, they fought their way back up through Malachite caves, and waited for the rest of us to come help them from the Dredwood side. Those of us who fell deep in the Pitch caves departed, and formed a rescue team in Camp Dred to clear Dredwood and the Orga Barricade for the chainers coming from the Malachite caves.

We met up at the Orga Barricade snell, and took all the fallens into the Barricade cave to heal everyone.

While we were there, a couple of us asked to peek at The Tao of Trillbane, so we headed downstairs.

We got the surprise of our lives when Kiriel and Michael and I were able to comprehend the lessons written there!

For weeks I and all the other pathfinders from our 70th trip have been exhorted constantly to re-visit Trillbane's Commentaries on Ways to renew my lessons. All our efforts since have been to do just that. And all that time we could have been learning from this book instead!

At this time, I have read 21 pages in The Tao of Trillbane, for a total of 160 pathfinding lessons. Already, previously unopenable paths are openning for me. Soon, all 12 of us should reach the end of this book. Undoubtedly, that will allow us access to the pathways that we have been dreaming of for so long!

I have to imagine that Trillbane's Commentaries still has more knowledge to impart too, and I look forward to another day of success at reaching that worthy tome.

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