Current Training: Evus.

Donations: Bob (70-80%).

Exploration: Kizmia's Island, Orga Magician's ceremony and Sarra.

Sombdi, day 36 of Winter, 557.

I joined the PTF group and assorted other folks to hunt in Sarra recently. Having decided to try there, we tested 2 Mystics and 4 fully trained pathfinders and were unable to enter by either entrance. Finally, we persuaded Zorton to come from the Library to open the illusion for us, and were able to begin our hunt at last.

Inside, the most interesting thing we saw was this cute little creature called a Wyvern. This is the first time anyone in the group had seen one of these tiny drake-like beasts. I would have loved to have saved this for a trophy, but the hunt was too young to commit to holding it on a chain. We never did see another of its kind.

Although they are awfully cute, they pack quite a punch, and have a poison bite that steals balance from fighters and healers alike. Unlike the spirit poison of Sarra'dons that affects only healers, Wyvern poisoning is something everyone has to be wary of.

We hunted for a time, managing to vanquish many Sarra'dons and even a red Sarra'yrm and several green Lesser Sarra'yrms.

We didn't manage to go very far though, as each snell we entered kept us busy for quite awhile.

As always, the exit from Sarra was the most intimidating part of the trip, since one has to enter a tight passage through a one-way entrance, and run past a mesa with many rock-throwing Angry Mother Sasquatches - while dodging assorted Young Sasquatches, Valley Cougars and such milling about in the narrow passage. If the first person in gets stuck, he gets pounded flat AND plugs up the route for everyone behind him. Nasty.

Yor got selected to be this critical first runner. In he went, and of course got trapped. Thankfully, he made it inside just enough steps that other fighters were able to enter and kill the several Young Sasquatch and Wendecka blocking the way past the entry, and finally some folks were able to run past the AMS mesa to safety.

Once a few folks made it past the gauntlet, the others were able to be chained to safety and raised, and we set about taking our revenge on the Angry Mother Sasquatches. With some effort, we entirely cleared the mesa for this group picture. (By then, Kalian had already left with his Sarra'don trophy in tow).

Lundi, day 31 of Winter, 557.

Last night, I joined a group of exiles to assault the deep Orga Camps to try to obtain a Strange Stone for Rincewind.

We failed.

The group was thrown together hastily as the shadows of the Full Moon evening began to get long, and ended up being a bit underpowered in healing. Larno served as the rod point, but simply didn't have enough cadders backing him up. After some effort, we reached the South Pit in Orga Camp 4 just before Midnight, but with plenty of time left. However, the rod was unable to get stabilized there, as the few cadders began to dip into red health. Quickly thereafter, the rod totally collapsed.

Since I know that the Orga Magician is a pushover if you can reach him, and that with his death he draws the life out of all the other Orga around, I instantly determined to try a direct assault. As I rushed into the ceremonial clearing, I took the full brunt of the assembled Warlocks.

I got pretty close, but not close enough.

Maybe, maybe if I had started with full health, but I was fairly wounded already as the healers had been rightly preoccupied with themselves at that time. Unfortunately no other fighters were behind me to continue the charge at the Magician. And so many exiles fell, while others raced to exit safely to OC3.

What this gave me was a ringside seat as the Orga Magician finished his vile rites undisturbed.

I had never seen such a thing before. The Magician danced among small flames, surrounded by his cadre of Warlocks and Shamans. Every now and then, one of these attendants would burst into flame that did not singe them, and then send a bolt of blue lightning streaking at the Magician himself. I had never seen an Orga Shaman send bolts of any kind, so it was frightening to realize that they have other powers not generally appreciated by exiles.

Rather than being hurt by these jolts, the Magician was, I think, actually augmented in his power. In return, the Magician sent a ring of golden sparkles back to the one offering the lightning bolt. Over time, each one of the attendants contributed to the Magician's store of energy, and apparently refreshed his own link to the Magician.

Right before the stroke of Midnight, the attendants each burst into flame and vanished, one-by-one, until only the Magician was left. Then he did the same.

Where they were all teleporting to, I can only wonder.

I was struck by the difference in the manner of Orga teleportation compared to how our own Mystics have come to understand and use the Strange Stones. Clearly, the Orga Magician can teleport far more than 5 living companions, and without a booster stone nearby (to our knowledge). His companions are teleported one at a time, instead of as a group. They appeared engulfed in flames rather than glowing brightly. O the downside, it seems he requires a very extended time to collect energy from his powerful companions, however. And it is unclear whether the Full Moon itself contributes to this activity in any material way, or is merely a symbolic time for this teleportation ceremony to occur.

Questions, many questions.

My view of the end of the Orga Magician's ceremony can be found here.

Terrdi, day 19 of Winter, 557.

At the most recent Full Moon, several exiles gathered in hopes of wresting a Strange Stone from the Orga for our own uses. Unfortunately, no Full Mystic bothered to come out of the Library to let us into the Camps or to try to claim it, and the Full Moon day and evening came and went. It's a shame to waste such an opportunity, as they come infrequently.

When it was clear that no deep Orga Camp raid was going to occur, this group (also including Yor) set out to hunt Kizmia's Island instead.

Since no one else wanted to lead, I got elected (I think everyone else took one step backward ...).

Since I am not really comfortable with the many passages of the Lyfe Caves, I kept us on the surface, and we hunted through the night over the entire island. At dawn we headed to the North side of the island, and then home.

Near Fat Alice's hut, we ran across one of those unusual Land Sharks. It sure looked like a Megamouth up close, but acted more like a Large Sand Wurm might.

One curous thing I noted was that the hut at the South end of the island was still locked tight.

It was locked during Rowl's rampage some time ago, and apparently no one has managed to unlock or force the door open since then.

That is unfortunate, because it made a convenient resting spot at that end of the island in earlier times.

The Snowy Grove (aka "Holiday Grove" or "Cold & Snowy") has been a busy place these past weeks, as exiles test themselves against winter-hardy creatures not often seen near Puddleby town.

The usual fare here is Snow Vermine, Snow Cougars and Snow Ferals, with Glacier Meshra and Polar Bears, and the occassional Ice Giant or Frost Giant.

Entering can be either very hazardous, or very easy, depending on how long ago the previous group left - and quite often they don't bother to leave but hang around waiting for the next rush of snowy beasts to arrive.

When no one has been there in some time, however, it is all too easy to get trapped among the vermine and ferals and pounded flat by the long-limbed trees. I've done that more than once lately.

I was quite surprised to hear of a Serac Wyrm there, though, since these beasts are usually found only in the Ethereal Planes.

Of course I had to go help kill it.

It was a tough old wyrm, and it took quite a crowd to finally bring it down. It felled quite a few exiles with its frozen breath as we pressed the attack. Most exiles who were awake at the time joined in to help, by the time it was vanquished.

While checking in the Raffle Hall for bargains, I saw this raffle for what appeared to be an ordinary lump of iron metal.

The implied price of nearly 3300 coins is astonishing!

If folks are really desperate for lumps of metal ... I have some to sell too!

While hunting in the Northwest Forest recently, I stumbled upon Icy. Rather, he stumbed right into me, and was otherwise behaving very erratically. He was running back and forth quickly with his sword drawn, but never really heading anywhere. He didn't answer when spoken to or turn to avoid running right into me, and I had to dodge to avoid being stuck on his blade. He seemed to be in the depths of a daze or trance, and I was afraid he would hurt someone, or himself. I steered him toward the ocean, and he ran right into the surf until he fell. I dragged him back to town with the hope that Algernon's Keeper or someone would know what to do to help him recover his wits. I put him in the Zoo to keep him away from other exiles, and wouldn't you know, the moment he was raised he resumed his mad mad rushing about once again. I do hope someone can help him.

Lundi, day 72 of Autumn, 556.

I attended the much-advertised ELF clan auction recently.

I bid on several things, bought a few and just soaked up the crowded party atmosphere.

I ended up with a Ku flower and Red healing potion, and bought an Ethercle from Lorikeet after the auction, that she had won as a door prize.

The highlight of the action was Tin and Gold ore and an Unrefined Gem, which all are fairly rare and difficult to get.

Overall, I was surprised at how little money actually changed hands though, since many fighters complain of always collecting coins but having little to spend them on. A signpost went for a song. I bid on it for awhile, but decided I really didn't have a use for such a thing and let it go, and the price stalled out.

The Bawkmas ("Cold and Snowy") Grove has reappeared, and has been the site of much hunting. Things will seem quiet there, when suddenly a phalanx of Polar Bears and Frost Giants appear out of the snowy wastes and wipe out entire hunting parties. The rescues seem to alternate with the mere hunts on a regular schedule. It makes for interesting action so close to town, which lets off a little of the steam built up by having both ends of the Portal now parked in some blighter's closet.

I have also been spending a lot of time hunting for ore, since I broke two chains and lost all four metals recently. I've made those up already, and am working on adding a chain to my stash in storage. No Champion stones to be found though. I did hear that Garr recently became the fifth Fighter to turn Champion though. Congrats!

Click here for my report on the previous storm.

Click here for my report on the next storm.

Click here to go to the Archive Index scroll.

Click here to go back to the Main scroll.