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Question for other GMs running this AP. How did your players enter and survive in the occluding field at the Spires of Xin-Shalast without all the PCs protected with Sihedron medallions/rings?
Background:
My group is currently exploring the ruins of Xin-Shalast. Over the course of the adventure, they have saved 2 Sihedron medallions. Last night, they finished off the Hidden Beast, and recovered a Sihedron ring. With their optimized builds, decided to put Gamigin (with 2 summoned bone devils), 2 scarlet walkers, and Ghlorofaex in the same combat (Ghlorofaex showed up start of 4th round). The party destroyed the devils by round 3, walkers in round 4. And when the dragon appeared, the archer dropped his hit points to 120 in 2 rounds! (6 confirmed crits! lucky bastard! lol). The dragon bolted (not going to stick around when the party can kill it in the next round). That gives the party another Sihedron ring. 4 protected PCs out of a party of 5! The dragon is NOT going to return after the beating the party dished out, so they lost the opportunity to acquire his ring.
My players haven't gotten there yet but I'm planning on providing at a shot at 4 rings (my group has four pc's) and the AP even provides the option: Khalib has a sihedron ring and he "periodically" visits the Yeti in the guise of their former chief. Given your group's success against other Karzoug minions - it doesn't seem a leap to have Khalib lead the yeti in hunting down the pc's or for them to find him with the yeti if they have yet to explore the dome (Area H.)
I'd also suggest reconsidering the complete retreat of Ghlorofaex. If he abandons Xin Shalast, he abandons his hoard and a lot of power. He could retreat to his lair to lick his wounds and recover. There are healing potions in his hoard (admittedly cure light wounds) and even a scroll of mass heal (which he might use with Use Magic Device - it's a DC 37 UMD check, but he has a +29...)
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Consider that the AP is designed for 4 players - it looks (to me) like they designed the mountain to be a shot at getting more rings once they figured out what they are for. To that end I believe having more encounters with 'ring bearers' until the party gets their fill isn't really silly - but more what the module expects. They did it that way I believe so a party that sold every ring they came across didn't blame themselves.
To that end if my group is short once they get there Big K himself will arrange the delivery - he's arrogant enough to believe the ability to spy on his enemies is more important than the field. I do believe that if they are short that he'll make sure the 'extra' are for a slot that the players won't particularly like - like a cloak or amulet perhaps.
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My party (hopefully) starts up the mountain next session. They have three rings and one medallion. There are nine players. They had a couple of opportunities to get more rings, but ignored or squandered them. I have a feeling they are going to find the occluding field more annoying than dangerous, but bad saves happen. Dunno what they'll do if it becomes an issue.