ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

I was just using the farportal for the first time (in that game), which was at energy level 89. It sent me to some weird fortress, brought my health down to just 39, and plopped me in front of a living sher'tul, who told my character to get out and apparently erased my memory of the event.

What the hell?
Does this mean something, or is it just flavor?

flavor, and important lore