Current Training: Rodnus.

Circle test this week: The 47th time is the Charm ... and an end to tests.

Donations: Helping Cassia Allin build fortifications.

Exploration: A new path, the carnival comes to town, and a Sarir watches the South Forest Mirror.

Sombdi, day 42 of Summer, 551.

At long last, I passed the Sixth Circle Fighter's test today. This was my 47th attempt!

I did a fair job of avoiding pebbles and blows from the Midnight Wendecka, and by the time both Wendies were killed, I was still a very healthy green. As usual, I killed the Orga Wrath almost without incident, and then turned to face that dreaded Young Sasquatch. I used Urgelt's suggested swing-twice-and-run strategy here, and even with my greatsword, I was missing quite a few times. But today I simply had enough health to start with that I could trade hits with the Sasquatch until I remained and he was defeated.

I was very pleased to trade up to a purple belt at last, although I decided it clashed too match with my el cheapo tan pants, so I dug out a nicer pair of grey pants I had been saving for this occassion.

It seems amazing that I have been struggling to pass this test since the Winter of 545!

Now I am thinking a bit about what new challenges I should work on. I'm somewhat close to a Balthus ledger, somewhere from 60-100 lessons away (although others are much closer, particularly Kishi). I'm enjoying a break from extended Evus by training with Rodnus now, and it would be nice to finish that, and I still hope I might get to the first advanced pathfinding book sometime soon to train that as well. Goodness knows I need at least 100 more lessons with Detha too! No matter how much training I seem to have, there is always a weak spot I can see that needs correcting. I will have to think on this some more before doing anything prolonged.

While roaming the Northwest Forest today, I also noticed a path I had never seen before, nor heard mention of.

I was running near the beach when I saw an opening through the trees and rocks leading to the South.

Naturally, I scrambled right over the rocks, and found myself in the Myrm Highlands quite a bit East of the Hive.

Looking back, I saw that I could pass through the other way as well.

A nice little shortcut between two nice fur-bearing hunt spots!

I have been altering my usual coin whoring ways of late. Many of my days have been filled with sweeping the Passes and Greymyr Village for lumps of ore instead, and collecting Wendecka fur instead of mainly cat fur. I've been trying to help Urgelt with his quest to become a Champion. So far my ores have yielded only some metals (and I am up to 6 chains in my poack, so I'm not complaining). Ore is extremely rare, what with so many folks scouring the passes for any stray lump! Still, I'll keep at it until Urge gets his Earthstone. Kojiro was also recently successful in becoming a Champion, bringing the total now to three.

Of course, I still make the rounds of the best fur hunting areas, since I still have to pay the Librarian. Today I found two logs of wood lying close together in the Northwest Forest. Then it occurred to me: I had not seen a single log of wood since before several Storms ago! I usually found one every day or so, but wood seems to have become very hard to find. I don't now if it is just bad luck on my part, or whether wood really is becoming a scarce resource.

Day 7 in Summer, 551

I joined a group to try to reach the Advanced Pathfinding Training Book in the Foothills yesterday.

A large crowd gathered in the Meadow near sunset last night, and set off with high hopes. We breezed right through the Orga Camp, Snaggywood and Hatred Hollow (I made this quick sketch as we were exiting HH).

But when we reached the Trainer Grotto, none of the pathfinders along could open the path leading quickly to the Dred Passage entry cave.

I spoke a moment with Rodnus as we swept through the Grotto, since I seldom pass this way and thought that if the group failed to reach the pathfinder books, at least I can add some Rodnus training for awhile, to take a break from Evus. It was a good idea, unfortunately.

So, we set out to take the long way through the Orga Outback.

Before rushing along, we were discussing who would be the leader on the run through the Orga Outback.

Callia joked that she was voting for my dear, ever lost Shamhat (who was not present, actually).

I laughed. It was to be one of the few laughs this trip.

Then Babajaga missed a turn. Was SHE following Shammie??

We were running West twice then North, and when I headed North I saw Babajaga still heading West past me. I thought she was chasing some Warlock or such, but she had miscounted crossings. Dumb me for not yelling to make sure she was ok, but I was already North in an instant. Of course, she quickly realized she had goofed, stayed put, sunstoned the group and fell - as she should.

The main group waited a long, long time while a smaller rescue group went after her. At first, Callia tried to teleport the rescue group back to the Trainer Grotto to get her, but her Strange Stone crumbled to dust as she activated it. First use too! So a small group headed out on the ground, through the Orga Village. Unfortunately, it turned out to be far easier for them to try to run Hatred Hollow again with Babajaga than to get back to us any other way, so they tried several times to pass that way. Unsuccessfully.

Eventually, the entire group went back to the Orga Camp and started over, collecting the rescue squad in Bones. In Hatred Hollow this time, we faced 4 Orga Hatreds, and had to slowly plant them behind hedges of kudzu to allow a safe passage. No wonder the small rescue group got stuck!

In the Orga Outback this time there were no mis-steps. We finally made it to the Dred Passage, at dawn.

There was stiff resistance in the Dred Passage, with many large Death Vermine and a lot of lightning. After many fighter runs and many seriously fallens and many potions quaffed (making up for a sleeping Kirth on a chain, who refused to wake up), we finally made a dash for the Foothills flanked by two protective healer rods. Things were pretty stable until we reached the South Pit, then the fighters took a lot of damage while fighting through the crowd of Orga and then chasing down stray Dredlocks and other lightning hurlers. Several folks fell, and I gathered a number on my chain to carry them along to safety.

I failed.

While I was gathering fallens, I lost my way and didn't see exactly where the path was that the others had taken into the Foothills. While looking for it I stumbled East across the Lake, started getting fried, actually made it back West and looked around savagely before all the lightning I attracted felled me.

If I would have gone straight in to the proper path, most or all of us would have been ok. Instead, a number of folks delayed passing through while trying to re- collect the fallens (now including me too), and the path closed up on them. Tyndall was the last standing pathfinder, and he simply could not open the right path. Yor valiantly tried to arrange fallen pathfinders on his chain to push one of us through to open the path ahead of him, but our rod point Tharloch finally fell without enough cadders supporting him. Pretty quickly, bursts of lightning broke through and all were felled.

Six exiles (out of well over 20) made it to the Foothills.

Zorton did get to mark his teleport spot there, so the next group should not have to suffer as we did, but I feel very badly about this mission. When it came down to it, I failed to take the right path and then fell, depriving the group of a much-needed pathfinder as well as the exiles on my chain. Maybe I couldn't have openned the final path to the Foothills (although I could see it), but I never got the chance to try due to my own inattentiveness to where the group was headed and inexperience in this snell. I will NEVER forget where this path is found, that is certain.

We patient fallens were eventually chanted to the Orga Village (although a few exiles rushed home through Purgatory), and rescued by the few who made it to the Foothills safely joined by fresh exiles from town. It was an adventure all right, if an unsuccessful one.

Soldi, day 84 of Spring, 551.

Bailey Barno's Traveling Carnival has stopped once again in Puddleby. They set up their tents and attractions this afternoon in the East Farms. As soon as the gate openned, a rush of excited exiles poured in.

Inside, we found the usual games of skill and chance, and vendors selling a variety of tasty goodies and drinks. I managed to ring the bell on the first try at the strength meter, and also won several colorful shirts playing "Duck Shirt", including the rare bright green one.

The Lands were exceedingly quiet right after the latest Chaos Storm swept through, however. Most exiles seemed to be quite confused and stumbled about in the Library for a long while unable to find the exit. Mani graciously helped me get out, and I thank him for that.

The ore hunting was very good since it was so quiet, and I found 8 in a short time. I also found myself trapped in the Greymyr Village by a gang of Night Wendecka, and quickly was rocked down by Greymyrs. Thankfully, almost every exile awake came to my aid (all 4 of them). I was glad I gave them all something to do instead of moping about in town square. Lanskar was able to chain me to safety, and also ended up chaining Dongle and Mani, who fell while looking for me.

After everyone was raised back in town, I decidd to hunt for ore in the Savanna and Brambles instead, and when I passed by the Mirror, I saw this Sarir chap intently studying the Mirror. He wasn't very talkative, but seemed very intent on discerning the inner workings of the Mirror.

I wish him luck, despite knowing that the Brions are his masters, because he will certainly need it to understand a Mirror. We exiles have examined Mirrors countless times without success in unraveling their secrets.

I still have heard no clear explanation of why that unusual Dark Cloud affects the functioning of the Mirror. Mayhaps we will eventually learn something of the inner magic that powers these odd artifacts?

Click here for my report on the previous storm.

Click here for my report on the next storm.

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