We thought of a different plan: we'd send a super-buffed Kestrel Covalence copy (I even lent my strength-enhancing belt, which made for much fighter-barbarian-monk-duplicant happiness) in alone, since our problem was not so much that we couldn't kill the monsters, but that they'd kill some of us along the way. Kestrel's copy valiantly won the fight (though the big baddie did escape). Kind of an amusing solution, but it also made the rest of us wondering about our role and general lack of relative might (Lord Kestrel and his merry men, etc.). Hmm. Despite some people's protests, it's pretty clear that what we just did is the best way to fight in many situations, since the super-Kestrel-copy can do lots and lots of damage without any risk to us (Vaugner's death was a sobering reminder of same).

We looted the crypt behind the big door, and found what looked to be a promising hoard. Unfortunately, most of it turned out to be BOTH cursed and unusable outside the Underdark. Sadness.

I hear there are lots of dragons out there somewhere. Dragons must have loot, right? Compared to the level-draining wall-walking incorporeal drow with his super-spider friends, a dragon sounds mighty good right now...