Who would have thought glory would come so easily (NOT!). You prepared to re-enter The Black for the fifth time. Pachala and Caernak went to the Troll Stronglands to make an allegiance with Olag Stonecrusher the Kaarg's Son and his band of warriors in service of Kyger Litor. They had to stop by the Frog Grogge Shoppe on the edge of the Stronglands to win the trust of the trolls and gain entry. There they met the "barkeep" Spooner, an Argan Argar (darkness trade) troll who served up odd drinks. P+C had to drink three drinks apiece to pass the ritual of acceptance. Caernak engaged in some friendly betting with the trolls while Pachala drank his rounds. After a few bad experiences, including one that felled Pachala for a couple of rounds, it was Caernak's turn. Caernak fared little better. Those drinks have odd effects! Days later, Caernak's fingernails were still growing rapidly. You followed a troublesome trollkin guide from the shop to Thunderbreath Gobbleguts restaurant, where you found Olag and spoke with him outside. He agreed to bring his band but warned that he would kill anyone wielding iron weapons. He made Caernak promise to tell the tale of how fearsome Olag is to the people of Pavis, so they would fear the day that he came to crush their heads.
You went to The Black and Arcus opened the gate with the ritual that Taleo taught him. Downstairs you met the trolls and made it through the mazes and tunnels down to the cliff overlooking the Eye. You magicked up massively and charged in. Chendry and mass disrupts killed a gorp that was lurking atop the cliff, then trolls started descending to fight the eye as tentacles attacked. A fierce battle got fiercer when the tentacle-faced monster appeared atop the cliff, but well-placed blows killed it quickly, and the tentacles were easily dispatched by teamwork. A few trolls got tossed down to their deaths 100m below, but Olag made it down and proceeded to whup ass (and get nasty spells thrown at him by the Eye!). You winched your way down and smacked more tentacles as you fought your way to the Eye. As you approached the Eye, you found that it was surrounded by silence and magics would not work near it. Olag was made catatonic by a final Madness spell from the Eye, so Caernak used his undine to drag Olag to safety and Olag's pal Sonook took the magic mace Grim with him to fight. You ganged up on the Eye and smote it mightily. Sonook was the one to fell it, and it silently exploded, spreading powerful acids all over the front ranks and dissolving much armor and flesh! Everyone survived, though, and you rejoiced. A magical blue vortex opened, showing a gateway to The Leaping Place Falls of myth. Some went in, some were tired or uninterested and slogged their way back home.
Rejoice indeed! Well done! You have earned a rest and will gain much fame from your victory.