Chapter III: The Carnival of Blood

The Acolytes step out of the Red Cages and into the overwhelming sensory overload of the Xicarph festival. With only 48 to 100 hours remaining before the prophesied eclipse, they must navigate a massive metropolis drowning in hedonism, violence, and fanaticism. This open-exploration phase allows the party to gather vital resources, forge desperate alliances, and piece together the grand design of the enigmatic Mask of the Heron.

However, the grand festivities mask a much darker reality. As the Acolytes delve into abandoned workshops and defiled shrines, they will uncover the gruesome handiwork of a serial killer known as "The Widower." Flayed corpses and hidden chaos markings point to a rapidly escalating threat. The tension steadily builds toward a devastating climax, transforming the joyful crowds into a panicked mob fleeing a supernatural storm.