Dimensional Rifts

Apparently random tears in reality, through which much of the party unwillingly entered Axilla.

The black rifts flicker in and out of existence, vanishing anything unlucky enough to be caught in one. Presumably they transport things away from Axilla in much the same fashion they brought the party here, but that is strictly a theory.

The portals seem to occur in an expanding ring across the landscape, originating from the wizard's tower (or perhaps the wizard himself) in Hallux Prime.