On the other side of the portal Cinder and Neous found a world of motion and violence. Around them shadar-kai were moving in every direction, disrupting the chamber in their hurry. What exactly they were doing was lost on the newcomers though, with the exception of the three dead bodies, shadar-kai that appeared to have been blown apart as the prophet let loose her rage. Her own gaze moved across the room rapidly until it landed upon the two spirits. As it did her anger only appeared to increase.

“Bind them!” she called out. “I will have to reward them for their selfless actions.”

No mistaking the actual intent behind the words, the two decided that they would rather not be bound and fled. As they did they discovered that they were back in Durzak. Apparently the closed eye had not moved their operation since the last time they had left the city. So, retracing their steps from before they easily moved through the city and returned to the surface.

Once back in Cajra the escalating situation began to unfold before them. They were some form of unbound spirit, but with some work and the help of a ritual they were able to communicate with Ashley and the others. In time they may even learn how to manifest in and influence the physical world. But, for now their priority was the recovery of their bodies which had disappeared only hours before. The masquerade had apparently been successful for a time, but just before they disappeared they had started to act strangely.

Putting her information network to work Ashley learned a great many things over the next 48 hours. All of it pointing to at least a partial success by the Closed Eye. A number of people from all over the city had begun acting strangely at the same time before disappearing. Her best guess was that while most of the soul reservoir had not been drained, enough had passed through for it to inhabit a number of simulacrums, filling those closest to the epicenter first. It was an unfortunately coincidence that the bodies of Cinder and Neous were so close to the gate.

But all was not lost. It was impossible for that many people to disappear at once without being noticed. Ashely and the others had enough information to act. They could only hope it would be possible to reclaim the bodies of their companions from a very unpleasant goddess.