I'm in the cult as one of the optional quests. I've just got the first half of the the rod.

I've also skilpped the astral prison for now, since I wanted to push ahead and destroy the cult before I went back up. I also have freed haer dalis, (the little weenie) and have the portal gem. I've talked to sassar, and have been told to find tad near the pit of the faithless. I presumed that was the big pit in the lower half of the cult area, but when I got there, I ended up meeting teh grand beholder. wasted him (hint...spell turning and cloudkill...yes I'm using a hacked character) but I still can't find tad to get me down to the ghoul town. should I complete the astral prison before I can generate tad to open the frigging door? where the heck is the little bugger!

Maybe you killed him with your cloudkill. The unseeing eye isn't supposed to show up until you make it down to his little beholder grotto. Not unless you give Gaal the first half of the rod, that is.