Upon rising after a quick bite of food and the magic users memorizing spells the party entered the western room. It was hot, but not too hot, as the party skirted the golden disc in the center of the chamber. Ralom determined that the disc was magic, of type conjuration. Baru stepped closer to the disc and could feel the heat emanating from the area of the disc.
The disc was a golden color, much like the sun, and was set into the floor as if it were a large tile. Putting his hand over the disc had no effect and there did not seem to be any adverse affects.
Seglun and Varrid headed to the door on the western end of the chamber. It was a brass door just like all the others the party had seen in Mahakala, with no handle, ornaments, or locks. It pulled into the room though which took a little ingenuity to accomplish.
Inside was another chamber, with 20 foot ceilings and another set of brass doors at the west end. In the center of the room, a marble pedestal rose up 10 feet into the air. Perched atop the pedestal was a great golden egg. It was easily 10 feet thick and 20 feet long. Light glinted from the polished egg that had an almost hypnotic effect, making it hard to look away from the unimaginable treasure. Arvien sent Summergale to investigate the egg. Summergale flew around and over the egg, but could not approach closer that 10 feet. There seemed to be some sort of protective globe around the egg. Seglun of course headed to the far doors which were brass like all the others. She opened them, again inward, and found that she was looking outside over the ruined city of Bahru. She could hear the sounds of birds and insects. The rest of the party entered the area, spreading out around the egg. Ralom determined that some sort of abjuration magic surrounded the egg, probably a globe of invulnerability of some kind. Drovic detected magic in the door jamb leading outside. He looked upon it as an illusion and determined that it was directed outward. After trying to disbelieve the opening he still saw the outside world. Varrid was happy that they had found an exit.
Varrid and Baru were discussing what to do next. Baru said "I think we have to enter every chamber and defeat it and there are a few we haven't encountered yet. Grunyar wished to explore the balcony area now that the moon was defeated but was overruled. Seglun headed back to the acid pool room, entered, headed to the southern door and as she opened it was again grappled by an unseen entity and consequently dropped in the acid pool again. Clambering out she headed right back to the door, opened it at entered the next chamber.
Unlike all the other rooms that the party had explored, this chamber was open to the sky. The air was cool and refreshing, a nice change from the thick atmosphere within the rest of the temple. Beyond the featureless walls, Seglun could see the night sky and the stars beyond. A bright comet trailing a brilliant blue tail hung almost directly overhead, pouring an unusual azure light down on Seglun as she entered 10 feet into the chamber. Shortly after she entered, Seglun saw a shooting star race across the sky. This was followed by another and another, The sky was soon dotted with a beautiful shower of meteors. Seglun gathered her will and looked away from the display. She noticed that the temperature in the room had begun dropping rapidly. Within a single round, it had become so cold that Seglun breath left steaming clouds int he air. She immediately fled the room and headed back out of the acid pool chamber. Unfortunately as she approached the exit she was again grappled and dumped in the acid pool.
Again she clambered out raced back to the golden disc room and stepped upon the disc. What felt like healing rays of the sun flooded Seglun and all her lost hit points were restored. She stepped off refreshed and announced her findings to the group.
Next was the large room with the tapestry on the wall. Baru and Seglun entered amid the reflection of light from their lanterns. All the party except for Arvien and Minja entered the large chamber. Light reflected from every wall, ceiling and floor, which were covered with gleaming black enameled tiles. As the group walked the sound of the their footsteps, echoed and reechoed around the chamber. Every sound they made was enhanced to a continuous din of noise. As the party move deeper into the room the reflections on the walls became more sinister, taking on the appearance of gleaming eyes. Grunyar noted that the eyes were those of ta great cat. About halfway into the chamber the echoes became more pronounced, now sounding like quiet, sinister laughing sounds.
Seglun moved to within 20 feet or so, of the tapestry could now make out the fine craftsmanship. It was a work of great subtlety and patience, rivaling any similar work seen elsewhere.
The focus of the work was a great woman with four arms, long black hair, skin the color of midnight sky, and eyes that glowed like emeralds int he night. Both of the right hands held curving scimitars, while the left hands bore coiled whips.
An ornate border surrounded the woman, depicting various stages of life, from birth to death to rebirth. This cycle was repeated four times and made an unending chain of images that represented reincarnation.
The watchful eyes and endless laughter suddenly vanished. Twin bolts of fire sprang from the eyes of the woman int he tapestry, struck the southern wall of the chamber and exploded with a deagening blast. Instantly the entire southern half of the room became a great firestorm and threw out searing waves of heat. Grunyar, Drovic and Ralom were caught in the fire and took extensive damage, the others were less damaged but it was still very hot.
With a shrill, grating voice , the Image on the tapestry began to speak, "Trespassers, you have entered the most holy shrine of Kali. Here burn the eternal fires of life and death. You are not wanted in this place."
With that, the image of Kali ripped itself out of the tapestry, assumed a three dimensional form, and attacked. The scimitars burned as if they could even start the armor of the party on fire, while the ships would entangle and trip the victim. Grunyar stepped out of the flames, started an arrow on fire from the flames and fired it at the tapestry. Seglun, Baru and Varrid move up to flank and attack the image of Kali. Drovic and Ralom attempted to disbelieve the flames. Illusions they shouted as the flames and Kali, disappeared for them. They could see that beams of force were flashing from the eyes of the tapestry. Ralom attempted to leave the chamber but the doors would not budge. The rest of the party finally disbelieved and Grunyar used actual fire to start burning the tapestry. The flames quickly started to consume the hanging and the party had to flee the chamber as a firestorm erupted from the burning material.
So the injured party members headed to the golden disc room where Grunyar jumped onto the disc and was healed, Seglun followed and screamed as she was burned for more damage. New scars appeared on her skin and some of her non magical items were consumed in the flames. She was now more terrible to look at than before, even for a Gnome. Drovic was now reluctant to step on the disc but finally was persuaded and was healed. Baru and Varrid followed suit but Ralom eschewed the disc and used spells to heal himself.
The group now headed back toward the elephant room through the chamber of the false Arijani. As they approached the eastern doors tow shadowy fiends appeared and a new battle began.
DM's Note: Once again all XP will be calculated at the completion of Mahakala.
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