We entered the keep via the spiral pathway and entered the fray almost immediately. Our first encounter wasn't too interesting. If I recall correctly it included an ophidian caster type, a weak melee type, and an avenger. It was relatively easy due in no small part to Kiera, Mordetta's nightmare.We rounded the corner and began heading east where engaged a bit of weaker ophidian types (actually, a lot of them. We were standing on a big, messy pile afterwards), and stopped for a bit. Then things got hairy. An avenger and a knight-errant spawned behind us along with some assorted rabble. Tricky, but far from impossible. We turned around and engaged them with Kiera taking the brunt of the assault. I was busy monitoring that section of the battle when I suddenly noticed John's life bar at half!

I looked for John and found he was fighting a matriarch. Apparently, it had spawned square in the middle of us. I've only once seen an avenger, knight-errant, and matriarch beaten when together, and then we had the advantage of quick healing/curing from some of the MT's best mages. I ran over to heal John and help with the matriarch. I couldn't heal Kiera, and I wasn't taking damage from either of the tough ophidians we were fighting on that front, so I couldn't do much good there. It was rather frustrating watching Kiera's health go down and knowing that I couldn't help. She was getting poisoned often and her life was dropping fast. I don't quite remember the order of things at this point. At some point, I think John and I got the matriarch, and Kiera died. At that point, we were in a bit of disarray with the melee guys on the other side of the battle than the big ophidians. The rest of us started dieing when we couldn't get settled quick enough to heal against a KE and avenger.

The end result was three ghosts and John. We all ran back closer to the beginning of the spiral where we ran into someone whose name started with Bjorn. A caster and weak melee ophidian were trailing behind John (who, being the only one left alive, wisely didn't want to chance engaging without a dedicated healer). Bjorn, upon seeing John running from the weaker ophidians made a comment along the lines of "so, are you guys new?” I was quite pleased when John replied "yeah". Go LSMT newbies! John preceded to res us (Bjorn couldn't res) and we set back in to get our things and continue crawling. The crawl went like that for the rest of the night. We'd always go in with 4, three of us would die, and the last would res everyone. I was dieing so much that it was almost comical. We'd run up to a KE, he'd poison me, hit me a time or so, and I'd fall. We'd talk as ghosts and find that almost everyone was failing cure attempts.

There was one string of deaths that I was entirely responsible for. We were in the middle of a corpse recovery with a KE lingering about, and Mordetta told me to lure it away. I started to take it east, but I ran into a good smattering of ophidian rabble. I decided to take it back west, meaning it'd be close to the group again.A couple points for setup, this particular KE was at about 1/2 because we'd been fighting it when we'd died before. We thought it had a pile of 500 arrows from Mordetta's corpse, so we wanted to kill it eventually. Its life was slowly regenerating. And I, having been away from the crawls for so long, had forgotten how much respect you have to give those KEs! I decided to peck at the thing hit and run while I was leading it. But, I didn't pick just any spot to stop; I picked the spot where the KE would be a close as possible to the rest of the group. Bad move. So of course I'm immediately poisoned when we trade his. I run a few steps and die. The KE targets our archers and wreaks havoc. Three ghosts, one resser.

Ultimately, the crawl turned out fine. Bjorn proved himself helpful when he returned 4k to our party (as we were running out, a KE targeted Mordetta. she ran on a cliff and just about escaped via teleport, but ran out of reagents. One of those speedy new ophidian casters got her and looted her). Bjorn also seemed a bit less willing to call us new when he realized that we were plunging deep into the fray, instead of hanging on the outskirts. So everything turned out fine. Finally, we got out, and like all other crawls, this one ended with a session of "no no, you take the money! please!" We compromised and took an even split of 3.5k each. All in all, a good, fun crawl.

Lessons (re)learned:
1) Always take gcures to an ophidian fight
2) Always always respect those knight-errants!

 -Tor

Kiera attacked the KE on her own. Which moved her far enough that the avenger saw her as well. I didn't even see the avenger, so I didn't try to pull her out. I had one nuisance snake (warrior?) hitting me, for slightly reduced bandage effectiveness. Then I failed a cure. Tor ran off to heal John. Not sure what he was hitting (KE?), but it rapidly went downhill from there. The avenger and KE both went on a poison spree. I cured Kiera at least 5 times, plus a few fails, without managing to get a healing bandage off between any of them. When she dropped, I was standing in a mass of snakes, and already at half-health. Ran the only way I could, farther in (and towards John and Tor). When I got caught, I think Tor lasted just long enough for John to have a clear escape. At one point, Bjorn tagged along with us. When he saw we were recklessly attacking KEs and avengers in frontal assaults, he decided to go back to lurking at the entrance :P

I have no idea how many times I died. At least 10. A couple times I lived off ground scavenged arrows until we killed something with a few more. Got that big pile of arrows back after my first death, but after that never saw them again. Bernardo gave me most of his, and they were recovered from assorted snakes many times as my deaths continued to pile up. That plus the treasure dropped 10-packs kept me from actually *running out* at any point, though I was in single digits more than once.

After the crawl, I recalled downstairs (alone) to attempt to tame a new mare. Didn't get one, but I got my first dragon. Walked him out. Took me nearly an hour (and 200 bandages) to get him out of the keep, and thru the ophidian area. If I hadn't managed to convince him to teleport onto the ridge (bypassing a large portion of the ophidian road), I doubt I would have ever got him out before I ran out of bandages.

- Moretta

  John Cainbridge: *kicks jour*
  John Cainbridge: so are we all here, looks like it, we even have are monster fodder ---->
  Juor Westbridge: John Cainbridge is attacking you!
  You received a concussion blow!
  Int changed to 25, started as 49
  You are dead.
  Baeron is attempting to heal you.
  You have lost a lot of fame.
  Juor Westbridge: WTF?
  You see: a corpse of Juor Westbridge

Needless to say, by the time I had restored my conciousness from this state I was well dead at the hands of John. It seems he is one of the old school to whom AFK means "Available for Killing". I looked around and saw that only three people were left. It was explained to me John decided to run off to town in order to get himself killed grey flagged. I asked where we were going...

  larno: somewhere were john can die
  larno: alot
  Juor Westbridge: That's easy enough
  Juor Westbridge: Here, when I get my hands on him

  Of course, when he arrived, there was only one thing to do:

  Juor Westbridge: You are attacking John Cainbridge!

Alas, he proved rather invincible to my attempts to strike him down, so I soon declared I had taken enough vengence from his hide and let him stand in peace. Then, Skilsaw McGurke arrived:

  Juor Westbridge: Ready to die horribly?
  Skilsaw McGurke: always!
  Skilsaw McGurke: you going to make it happen?
  Skilsaw McGurke: or will it be monsters tonight?
  Juor Westbridge: *laughs*
  Juor Westbridge: Let's go for the monsters.
  Juor Westbridge: I've died enough at allies hands alrady

Unfortunately, at this time when we were all feeling sufficiently suicidal, Teela suggested:

  Teela: Terry keep to all die horribly?

Needless to say, it was quickly aggreed to. No sooner than you can say "Papua in 5" and herd 15 wet cats into a bread box were we off to the Terrathan keep. The colour that day wasn't hot pink due to popular outcry. Instead, we resorted to a rather bright baby blue. It seemed Baeron had decided to take up the study of AFK in my stead, so we left a book at his feet explaining our destination before we took off. There a stream of valiant warriors took off for the Keep by land. They included: Hyggelik (young), Skilsaw McGurke, John Cainbridge, Teela, Eris, larno, and myself, Juor Westbridge. We took the over-the-hill passage to the Terra keep, the first time I have gone that way. This was to be a first time crawl in many ways for me. At the hill we found plenty of Ophidean warriors to sate our bloodlust. We also met a warrior named Bjornaskornavich, who agreed to join our assault on Terra keep, bringing our party to 8. Here Hyggelik got what was likely a first kill against an Ophidean warrior:

  an ophidian warrior: Tis lishsth.
  an ophidian warrior: Good blow!
  Hyggelik: I killed it !!!
  Eris: Yay!

Celebration was short lived, however, for Bjorn soon warned us:

  Bjornaskornavich: avenger up there
  John Cainbridge: RUN
  Juor Westbridge: RUN
  Juor Westbridge: RUN
  Bjornaskornavich: works for me tired of huntin alone lately
  Juor Westbridge: RUN
  Skilsaw McGurke: ah
  [John Cainbridge]: t r a i n
  Skilsaw McGurke: there we are
  Juor Westbridge: Holds
  Bjornaskornavich: zealot
  John Cainbridge: T r i a n
  Bjornaskornavich: vcoo
  Juor Westbridge: ON ME
  Bjornaskornavich: they sux
  Juor Westbridge: HEAL JUOR
  Bjornaskornavich: lol
  Teela is attempting to heal you.
  Juor Westbridge: Oh

Apparently, however, the creature we were running wildly from wasn't the least bit dangerous. I don't yet know these new types of ophids so actually trusted John's assesment. Ah well, serves me right. Still, it was good practice for the many truly dire battles that were to come. After accidentally (I swear! Had nothing to do with him mocking me for crying for help against a wimpy ophidean!) attacking Bjorn, and  us recovering from the inevitable grey flagging, we headed farther in. Jackle then joined our party, followed by a demonstration that Hyggelik could indeed attack grey people. I'm not sure if any damage was done, however.

  Bjornaskornavich: u guys all gms
  Juor Westbridge: Nope
  Juor Westbridge: 0 gms

We then reached the entrance of the Terrathan Keep. Two tribal masked mages were already there barding avengers at each other. We left them to it and took on the third avenger. Which would be easy enough for our party. Except another one spawned. Then another. Then another. For variety, we then got a matriarch. In the resulting confusion:

  [Eris]: I was killed by a terathan avenger !!
  John Cainbridge: Noooooooooooo
  [John Cainbridge]: I was killed by a terathan avenger !!
  [Hyggelik]: I was killed by a terathan avenger !!
  (Unfortunately, young status means you are instantly teleported to the
  nearest city. BY the time we realized this, we had lost Hyggelik
  entirely :<)
  Skilsaw McGurke: another one?
  You are dead.
  [larno]: I was killed by a terathan avenger !!
  Bjornaskornavich: damn avengers

Then at the key moment, Zodiac agreed to join our party:

  Zodiac: I'd love to crawl, but not party

  [Eris]: I was killed by a terathan warrior !!
  [Bjornaskornavich]: shit whos still alive
  [Eris]: I am sooo dead.

Finally, after a very long battle against a veritable horde of avengers, we got everyone together and ran through the door. Zodiac's skill as a bard soon proved very useful as we decended the tower. Here Bjorn had to leave us, citing the cruel daemon of Lag. After Teela returned my bag of black potions I handed them out to those in need. When asking where to go, I started chanting for the Star Chamber, having led an illfated expedition there in the past. Soon everyone was chanting in unison for it. Well, everyone being me and Skilsaw McGurke. At the underground exit, Eris showed a clear head and careful attention to detail:

  Eris: Thing on me
  Jackle: thing
  Jackle: !
  Juor Westbridge: Not a THING!
  Skilsaw McGurke: it's a cute little one!
  Juor Westbridge: British frobid you get attacked by a THING!
  Eris: It is so not cute.
  Jackle: I kinda like teh thing
  Skilsaw McGurke: sure it is!
  Eris: *laughs*
  Skilsaw McGurke: kitchy
  Skilsaw McGurke: kitchy
  Skilsaw McGurke: kitchy
  Skilsaw McGurke: see?
  Skilsaw McGurke: it's adorable!
  Eris: Okay, it has a certain charm when it naps.
  Juor Westbridge: Only cute terra is a dead one

The decision to go to the starchamber only met mild opposition:

  Skilsaw McGurke: but it's muddy out here!
  larno: my boots will get dirty

We soon crossed the underground cavern and entered the twisty maze of passages, all different. The good news was that the only other occupant  of the cavern was one of those selfless individuals who braves much danger to bring all the terras back to your party:

  Dream Soldier: you guys ok?
  Dream Soldier: An Lor Xen
  Juor Westbridge: Want to join us?
  Juor Westbridge: We're going fo rthe star chamber.
  Juor Westbridge: HEAL JUOR
  [larno]: dream soldier brought us company
  [Eris]: how.. sweet.

In the future, I should remember to reveal such individuals when they're true nature is exposed. We then learned we had to turn right to go to the star chamber, so soon reached the wooden bridge. I decided to claim the island in the center when I chanced to check my tactics...

  Juor Westbridge: I claim this island
  Skilsaw McGurke: all yours
  Juor Westbridge: In the name of Juor Westbridge!
  Juor Westbridge: GRANDMASTER WARRIOR!
  [Juor Westbridge]: I just got GM Warrior!
  larno: yeah
  [Juor Westbridge]: YAY!
  [Teela]: congrats
  [Jackle]: nice
  [Eris]: you GO!
  larno: congrats
  Juor Westbridge: The GM Warrior Juor Westbridge
  Juor Westbridge: Claims this island
  Jackle: :)
  Jackle: heh
  Juor Westbridge: And calls it Tactics Island
  Eris: Heh
  Juor Westbridge: *grins*

We then moved on to the rope bridge...

  Juor Westbridge: * You slipped! *
  John Cainbridge: * John Cainbridge flails their arms about wildly and then tumbles to the ground below!
  [Teela]: WALK, dont run

Fortunately, the ground was the right way to the starchamber. We then fought our way forward to the brazier, where we met Malkyth the Sage. As a ghost.

  Malkyth the Sage: OOOoOO OooOoooo
  larno: did i just see malkyth
  larno: i did
  Skilsaw McGurke: yes
  larno: i did
  Skilsaw McGurke: he's here
  Skilsaw McGurke: seems to be res proof too
  Malkyth the Sage: o oooo ooo
  Skilsaw McGurke: ah
  Skilsaw McGurke: there we are
  Malkyth the Sage: usually are
  larno: does that mean i ahve to stop saying mean things about him?

At the Brazier, Skilsaw explained the super sekrit entrance method:

  Skilsaw McGurke: from the brazier
  Skilsaw McGurke: you need to double click it
  Skilsaw McGurke: about 4000 times
  Skilsaw McGurke: seriusly
  Skilsaw McGurke: it's not once or twice
  Skilsaw McGurke: it's hundreds of times
  Skilsaw McGurke: so just keep clicking

I of course immediately suspected it was all an elaborate joke to make a fool of me, but I concluded the risk was worth the chance of reward. After all, I'm hardly a stranger to being made a fool.

  You must wait to perform another action.
  You must wait to perform another action.
  You must wait to perform another action.
  [.. snipped for brevity ..]
  You must wait to perform another action.
  You must wait to perform another action.
  You must wait to perform another action.

  [Juor Westbridge]: I'm in!
  Zodiac: Music ...this is new
  Skilsaw McGurke: welcome Juor
  Skilsaw McGurke: this is the place you've heard so much about
  Skilsaw McGurke: that, and GM
  Skilsaw McGurke: onthe same night!
  Skilsaw McGurke: wonderful
  Juor Westbridge: Wow!

Needless to say, it was an aweinspiring experience. Being in what can only be described as the "star chamber", a chamber floating among the stars. A teleporter lead back somewhere, but after all that clicking I wasn't going to try it. Instead, we ran around, double clicked on all the braziers we could find, swam in the fountain, and sparred good naturedly until it was time to go home. Back at the Tower we found the split came to 4176 gold. Maybe one of these days I'll buy a real set of armour.

 - Juor Westbridge, GM Warrior, Visitor of the Star Chamber

The Triumvirate

S'roneous the Purple Mage
Twig of Jhelom
Abby Redux