In the Altar of Despair quest 4: Mists of Time there is the special rule for fissures:

"At the start of the your turns, roll a yellow die for each of the two fissures shown on the map. Move the fissure to the location indicated by the range on the yellow die."

All of the marked locations are 1X2 spaces going across the corridor in area 1. This rule is really only affects Area 1. There are two pits shown on the map. One is a 1X3 pit in area 1, the other is 4 1X1 pits arranged in a square in area 3. I don't see any other pits.

1. Are there other pits that I am missing?

2. If these two pits are the fissures, can you place them in any position/orientation as long as part of the fissure touches one of the target locations?

2a. Does this mean you can place the pits with part of them going off of the map?

3. Can the 4 1X1 pit tiles be rearranged or do they have to form a square?

4. Why would you put a pit in area 3 that gets used in area 1? (Mostly a rhetorical question)

My gut is telling me to just pull out two 1X2 pits and use them, leaving the other pits where they are.

I was actually unsure of this also when setting up this quest once so I just skipped it. I know my reply is of no help but maybe the bump will help.

Yeah that quest was terribly worded. I had no idea either, good thing I bought RtL at the same time and ignored those quests.

Your guts are right

I've only played the German Version, but the wording seems better. What we did was, put 1x2 pits on the numbered locations in area 1. Occuring first once the first overlords turn starts. Next time they might be rearranged. The normal pits on the map are not moved at all. And as soon as someone opens the door to area 2, the rearranging stops.

Greets

Tero