Herald Of The Smoking Eye

All that remains of the creature they slew is a pile of a hot ashes. After letting them cool down for a bit, amidst the ashes a large amulet on a black iron chain is discovered. The amulet's face is a large flat disk with an etching outlining a gnoll wielding a triple-headed flail.

The floating ball of gas that is Tercival collects back up into his unconscious self a few minutes after the end of the fight. Shortly thereafter he comes to, a quick look of sorrow passes over his face, and he thanks the party for saving his life. Alek has no idea who or what the creature is, but upon seeing it he felt a holy wrath fill him, nothing like he has ever felt before. He remembers charging at the creature as if seeing it from a third-person perspective, barely in control of his own actions. As the group goes about their post-battle business, Tercival is happy to help with whatever tasks at hand, offering healing wherever it is needed. But he doesnt say much, or offer much in the way of taking the reigns, he seems to be distracted by his thoughts.

Shortly after the battle, as the group begins to question where they are and what they are going to do, a figure is seen making its way over the flats in your direction. Snake can pick out that the figure is about Salla's height, dressed in green robes and wielding some sort of staff with a white flag tied to it, which it waves every so often as it continues walking in towards them. As it gets closer Snake can pick out that it carries several curious knick-knacks secured in various spots that mostly consist of bones, feathers, and rocks. Stitched in black on the front of its robes is a circle split in half. One half is empty, the other half contains a skull with a smoking eye.

The humanoid approaches the entrance. Its skin appears thick and leathery with black blotches dotting it. A hood is drawn over his face revealing little. The creature raises its hands to show it carries no weapons and says "My name is Kara'fen. I will be your guide through the test of the Smoking Eye." "Welcome to Occipitus", he motions around him indicating the harsh red land behind him.

Immediate reactions are to throw detect spells, Salla detecting Kara'fen as an evil presence and several magical auras about his body. Tercival seems to have realized the same thing, stepping back and shouting at Kara'fen, "What are your intentions evil demon?" He draws his glowing white sword.

Kara'fen steps back as well, raising his hands to show he means no aggression, and says "I cannot control my unfortunate heritage, fiendish blood flows through my veins. I swear that I have come here with no harmful intentions...I only wish to see you pass the test, just as much as you wish to return to your city I am sure."

Anglor, seemingly oblivious to the brewing hostility, blurts out "Occipitus...a holy man once told me an epic of an angel fallen from Celestia into the Abyss. The layer he fell on was called Occipitus I believe. The epic ends with the fallen angel the unholy ruler of Occipitus, left to his own bitterness and regret. Not the most warming of epics...more I suppose a fable to teach against betrayal."

Kara'fen nods as Anglor speaks and follows up, "Yes, part of Occipitus was once Celestia but is now corrupted and consumed by the evil of the Abyss. The fallen angel you refer to is the demon lord Adimarchus, the ruler of Occipitus until he vanished fifty years ago. Now Occipitus desires a new master, it is not just simple rock, Occipitus is a living thing. Adimarchus left behind a test, whomever passes this test shall be the new rightful ruler of Occipitus."

"I was told that I would find ten travelers here, with the power to pass the test, and the motive. As the ruler of Occipitus, it would grant you certain boons, including the ability to shift between planes....to send you back to your city....you come from an area called Cauldron, yes? I know of your home. I met another traveler here at this same spot many years ago. My experiences with him were...unpleasant. He called himself Dyr'ryd, a cruel and psychotic demodand native to Carceri. He forced me to lead him to the first part of the test, but he failed before he could even start the test." A brief smile passes over Kara'fen's face as he mentions this. "He spoke of Cauldron often. He seemed to be fascinated with the city."

More talk of returning home is called for.

"It will require all of your efforts to pass the test." He looks at Tercival and Morgan. "I was not told to seek any individual, but a group of ten, and here you are."

"Will you be coming with me then, or will you hide in this cave until you die from starvation or by the claws of the slaad that inhabit these mountains?"

Salla attempts to target Kara'fen with a hold person but the spell fails. Kara'fen returns the favor, charming Salla.

More questions are asked, and a few interesting bits are discovered. Most notably that Dyr'ryd belonged to an organization called the Cagewrights, and that he was very interested in the setting of Cauldron claiming its unique geography and positioning make it an excellent spot to carry out certain planar rituals.

After a couple days of resting, and encountering one of the Slaad creatures that Kara'fen spoke of, the group begins the 100-mile trek to the Cathedral of Feathers.

The first night in the flats is a harsh one as a creature resembling a demonic lion attempts to drag Salla off in the middle of the night. Salla is saved before the creature can run off with him.

Into the second day, they enter deeper into the flats passing herds of creatures resembling bison. One herd begins to stampeded toward the group. Kara'fen urges everyone to run, and wisely everyone pays heed to his words, running out of the path of the stampede. Two giant hippo-like creatures are charging behind the herd...the cause of the stampede. Kara'fen calls them "thunder beasts" and recommends they are best avoided, while the group is tiny compared to the creatures, the creatures would consider the group "edible".

Later in the day Kara'fen finds a "furrow", a small cliff that runs through the flats. Kara'fen takes the party down into the furrow, explaining that they will avoid the majority of hunters this way.

A night is spent in the furrow, and on the third day of travel a second stampede flings itself into the furrow. Kara'fen continues to advise everyone to leave hastily, which is done. Glimpses of a "vrock" are had, pushing the stampede along. The creature is a gastly humanoid shaped vulture. The group seems to not be noticed, and they continue along the furrow.

The furrow finally comes to an end, and Modisto flies up to find another one nearby. The group climbs out the first furrow and into the second, continuing the journey.

At the end of the second furrow, Modisto flies up again to check out the situation. He just happens to make out some movement in the hair-like "plants" that are growing up around the edges of the end of the furrow. Six demons that Kara'fen had described previously as "babalu" are hiding in the growth, apparently aware of the group below and waiting in ambush.

Modisto reports what he finds and a plan is formulated, involving fireballs, flashes of blinding light from Snake's shield, and Alakast's devastating attacks. The fight is long, but no one is hurt too badly. The creatures are covered in an acidic slime that leaves behind a few scars on Morgan's blade.

Nearby is the "Demon Fields", a forest of bone-like structures. Kara'fen leads the party around the edge of the forest and decides to camp there, before leading the party into the Demon Fields.