Listratha Bailiwick and Mengara Atopoi were escorted, not into the throne room of the Gnome Queen as they might have expected, but out of the citadel entirely. The surly sentinel pointed to the top of the riven mountain, a treacherous zigzagging path hewn through the rock and said,
"Climb, present yourselves to the Warlock of Firetop, he will decide if you're worthy of an audience, he'll decide if you're dangerous and ought not descend again."
Given water but no food, they spent the entire day navigating the path, the heat growing more and more oppressive until they arrived at the summit. Once there, they could see the crater where the mountain erupted, flames still wreathing the shattered peak.
A man walked out of the smoke and haze and regarded them quietly. His eyes glowed with a baleful light.
"You seek.. that which shattered this peak. The koan. A tool that can be a terrible weapon. As is evidenced here. Why should I allow you to leave this place?"
Lis took a defiant stance.