As the party continued up the stairway to the Temple of Vecna they saw that a large overhang was above them and that the stairway continued into the platform. It emerged into the center of the platform where the party saw a large white building covered with carvings of leering faces and fiendish forms. There were red and black banners hanging down from various places. The banners depicted a symbol of a bony, splayed hand with a leering eye in the center of the palm. There were a set of closed double doors on the face of the large building. Also noticed were two archways into the outer skull itself. Melisana crept up to the eastern archway and saw that it continued for some 25-30 feet where it opened up somewhat. Lythandar moved up to the archway and could see some tables, chairs and a sofa in the larger room. Pretis moved to the edge of the large building while Gofin moved to look down the other archway where she saw a similar view as Lythandar had seen.
Suddenly appearing in front of Pretis was a fiendish looking creature who immediately dominated her and then moved and did fire damage and pushed several other party members. The battle was on as the party moved to try and combat the fiend, except Pretis who attacked Mara, but she was soon joined by 3 Shadows coming from the sides of the Temple. These shadows were rebuked by Melisana but they then damaged and weakened the characters that they attacked. When the fiend was attacked she responded by pushing the attacker away, slowing them and causing ongoing damage. The fiend again did damage to several adventurers who then attacked each other. Lythandar threw magic missiles at the fiend and Alhellara tried to turn the shadows. Mara almost fell unconscious but using Bears Endurance recovered quickly. Soon the shadows were dispatched but Threndilla was still causing havoc with her Hellish wrath which allowed her three attacks. Finally being overcome by ongoing damage Threndilla fell after hits by Demin and Mara. Searching the area the group found an Amulet of Aranea and a Kruthik potion and they took a short rest.
Ignoring the doors into the temple Lythandar entered the eastern archway and found that it opened into a larger common room where several "priests" seemed to be studying, eating and talking with each other. Pretis crept down the western archway and entered the common room from the opposite side. Lythandar asked about Bratron and a priest answered that he would be with Hragris. Asking where that was the priest indicated the eastern hallway leading out of the common room. The party moved into the hallway where they encountered another priest and a dark haired, unshaven and muscular warrior. Quietly asking for Bratorn they saw the figure move forward and ask what they wanted. The party explained that Valuriss had sent them and that they needed information about the "Shadowed Room". Bratorn spoke quietly saying to meet him two floors above in the library room.
The group went back to the common room, up the spiral staircase, passing another common room and emerged two floors above into another common room where they went forward into the library. About 20 minutes later Bratorn entered and asked them to move to the middle of the room away from the doors. Bratorn asked again what information they sought. Asked about a place called the "Shadowed Room" he looked around and said.
"You ask a very dangerous question. I don't want to know why. I'm sure there is not time for you to explain, so I will tell you what you must do.
"Below the main temple is a set of secret chambers accessible through a hidden trap door. By pulling down on the third fiend's claw on the left as you enter the temple, you will open the door. Pass trough it and down into the vault.
"In the vault you will find three stone runes. Pass through the vault, find the mirrors within and perform the Mirror Dance. Once this is accomplished, you may then pass into that place which no longer exists, the Shadowed Room. Remember, you can leave with no more or less than what you brought with you on your impossible journey, so learn what you need to while you are there. You must--"
At this point two beings popped into view, an imp and an invisible stalker.
Scorecard: The party earned 436 XP for this session and now have 15005 XP needing 1495 more to reach 9th level. They also picked up an Amulet of Aranea, taken by Pretis, and a Kruthik potion.
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