After leaving the island, Orongorg attempts to pick up the trail of the naga again but has some difficult given how wet and moss-covered the ground is. While searching for the tracks, the Company are attacked by a hideously ugly flying woman with bird-like wings. She carries a powerful bow and nearly brings Uso to the point of unconsciousness before the rest of the Company can react. She stays just out of reach, hovering abofe them and raining down arrow upon arrow on them. She is eventually defeated and the Company discover that she, too, is wearing a bone ring and is therefore a member of the Pactlords.
When attempting to heal Uso, Jeremi discovers that his connection to �ton is still broken and he is unable to channel his divine powers. Si�lara, however, is easily able to call upon her healing skills and combining them with potions and a wand of healing, the Company is restore to near-full strength.
Before they can set up toward the Black Manor, a creature of inhuman beauty and power suddenly appears before them. The creature appears vaguely serpent-like, but it boasts feathery, multi-colored wings and glistening, colorful scales. The Company make ready to defend themselves, but in a melodious female voice, the creature explains that she is an enemy of the Pactlords and therefore friend to the Company.
She announces herself as Xichlan, a guardian creature of an ancient age whose brood was killed by one of the dreaded founders of the Pactlords. She seeks revenge on the founder, and desires to work with the Company to achieve their mutual goal of the destruction of the Pactlords. She briefly explains that, long ago, many felt that magick could actually be controlled by the user, rather than the other way around. In those days, the founders of the Pactlords discovered a way to �fold time� to create an independent �pocket universe�, a place of hiding from which they could plan their takeover of the world of Samoth. Xichlan found a way into the Pactlords� pocket universe and attempted to destroy the founder who had killed her offspring but she failed. The founder lives isolated in a tower on another island in a different lake, south of the location of the Black Manor.
The Company are stunned by the arrival of Xichlan. She is clearly unlike any creature they have ever seen. Even Uso, as well-read as he is, does not remember reading about any creatures like this. The closest comparison he can make is to a mythical dragon-type creature from ancient folklore. Additionally, the concept of a �pocket universe� seems strange and highly unlikely. If such a thing were to exist, could there be more than one? Xichlan mentions that such powerful magick was once used to create extra-dimensional prisons for powerful beings. Could such a thing be true, and if it were, why have the Company never heard of them before?
After sleeping under the perpetual dusk of this strange other-world, the Company struck out toward the tower where the ancient Pactlord who slaughtered Xichlanatlazochtal�s offspring lived. With Xichlanatlazochtal flying ahead as a scout, the Company crossed yet another fetid lake alive with foul, unnatural creatures toward an island.
A tower of jet black stone thrust up from the island�s center like a petrified finger. The tower was smooth but for a wide circular door fashioned of bronze. Both Uso and Xichlanatlazhotal tried many times before opening the enchanted lock on the door, but their arcane powers eventually prevailed. Inside, the Company found a single, circular room with the ceiling lost in the shadows, hundreds of feet above. The ceiling was dotted with another round door. On the far wall glowed a symbol, which Uso surmised was used to convert the raw stone native to this other-world, known as andrecite, into a powdered form. Uso recalls having learned that andrecite powder, when added to liquid and imbibed, has enhancing powers.
The Company rested overnight in the tower.
The 14th of Darkel
To get to the door above the next morning, Sebastian climbed the walls using his magical boots, Si�lara wildshaped into a giant eagle to carry Logan and Jeremi, and Uso cast a spell that allowed Cirend to walk on air as if it were solid; Cirend then carried Uso up to the top. Meanwhile, Xichlanatlazhotal carried Orongorg.
After opening the magic lock on the ceiling door with another spell, the Company ascended into the chamber above. The charred flesh and bone of what was once a blue-skinned creature mar the stone floor. Xichlanatlazhotal identifies the remains as belonging to the Pactlord�s servant, whom she defeated before having to flee when she previously assaulted the tower. An orb with tiny cracks in it sat upon a pedestal, but no one touched it.
