You gathered your forces and headed back for a fourth foray into The Black. Caernak bravely led Elohwyn, Pachala, Arcus, Dorgon, Tarranyr, Taleo, Chendry Lomori the Humakti, Groloday the Pavic axeman, and Zusimar the dwarf inside the Krarshti maze, where all went well until the ambush hit.
You had just let Caernak and Zusimar down the ropes to the ledge over the stream when Zusimar pondered some things he'd Earthsensed (critically!) up above, and warned the party that the stone around the top of the staircase had been recently modified. Elohwyn and Dorgon decided not to come down just yet, and then the ambush came.
Two krarshtide spirits attacked Arcus and Elohwyn, while four krarshtkids came out from under the staircase, and the walls to either side of the entry were bashed down by krarshtkid broos. A hideous acid-sweating jawed Krarshti came running at Dorgon, and a big shambling monster materialized within the party ranks to attack Taleo.
Things looked very, very bad at first. Dorgon had his head _almost_ bitten off by the Krarshti, and died (resurrectably). Pachala was befuddled by something on the Krarshti. Arcus was gummed by pratzim and netted, then dragged off by the broo. Taleo was injured by the shambler. A SIZ 25 chainmailed monstrous warrior with a glowing sword appeared in the party ranks and dueled with Chendry. Tarranyr and Groloday were gummed up, too. Caernak and the dwarf were left below, almost unable to help those above.
But you pulled through. Taleo DI'd again (1 POW!) to give the party Shields and Spirit Blocks. Yelmalio seemed to be VERY generous to him. Spirit Blocks soon helped nullify the Krarshtide menace, and Elohwyn let loose her semi-corporeal ghost which possessed the krarshtkid broo on her, plus her salamander charred the krarshtkids. Arcus escaped and killed his captor. Chendry maimed the warrior, which shrank from view and couldn't be found.
You pressed on deeper into The Black, but much of your magic wore off as you made it down to the mucky tunnel where you fought black ooze things before. Caernak explored ahead where there was a strangely windy part of the tunnel, and suspected that something was going on down a side tunnel. He, Elohwyn, and Arcus explored. An invisible, semi-physical tentacled windbag assaulted them with burning tendrils that ignored non-magic armor and powerful windblasts that maimed several limbs (even Elohwyn with Shield 5!). A tense battle ensued before the rest of the party showed up, and the corrupt Orlanthi thing was destroyed.
Phew, you're tired already and low on magics. What next?