Xykvit's Egress

Xykvit's Egress is the sole means of entry to and exit from the Vykathi Hive. Its noun is EGRESS, not portal. You see nothing unusual if you LOOK at it. It exhibits no discernible magical pattern when FOCUSed on. And, it cannot be PEERed through. You try to peer through Xykvit's Egress, but for some reason you are unable to see to the other side.

The egress serves as a portal between the Chyolvea Tayeu'a, Laboratory and the Vykathi Hive, Upper Air Tunnels. It is summoned by TOUCHing the pale green crystal ORB in either location. After being summoned it remains intact for about 45 seconds and then collapses upon itself and disappears. GO EGRESS transports you from one location to the other.

Xykvit's Egress saps the vitality and spirit of unprotected travelers as they pass through it and leaves them stunned at their destination. As you pass through the threshhold, you feel a disquieting coldness in your soul and a sharp physical pain that quickly spreads throughout your body. Ethereal Shield prevents this. Your ethereal shield crackles with energy as you pass through the threshhold.

[Chyolvea Tayeu'a, Laboratory]
Red mineral streaks in the stone walls give this end of the lab a close, suffocating feel. The floor is spotlessly, painfully clean -- someone spends a lot of time on their knees with a scrub brush and a pail of water here. Iron fixtures hold conventional torches, illuminating a flat bed of stone that lies in the exact center of the room. You also see a clearly lettered warning and a pale green crystal orb.
Obvious exits: south.

READ WARNING:

A clearly lettered warning reads:

ATTENTION! Exercise all defensive precautions before approaching the Egress.

EXAMINE ORB: About the size of a Gor'Tog's fist, the translucent orb rests on a six-legged iron stand. Its center throbs and pulses, reminiscent of a living heart.
TOUCH ORB:

You reach out and touch a pale green crystal orb.

With a deafening explosion, the portal known as Xykvit's Egress appears before you.

LOOK: You also see . . . Xykvit's Egress.

Summoning Xykvit's Egress in the laboratory seals the room until the egress collapses upon itself and disappears (about 45 seconds later). Attempts to go SOUTH will result in: You walk right into an invisible, yet very solid, wall which seals off the north end of the laboratory.

[Vykathi Hive, Upper Air Tunnels]
The floor of this chamber has been leveled, cleared, and even polished to a high luster. Angular, precise markings in searing orange and deep blue-black proliferate on the floor, the walls, and even the larger stalactites above, but are organized into orderly columns and somehow do not give the impression of scribbled chaos. You also see a stone pedestal with a pale green crystal orb on it.
Obvious exits: [VARY]

EXAMINE ORB: You see nothing unusual.
TOUCH ORB:

You reach out and touch a pale green crystal orb.

With a deafening explosion, the portal known as Xykvit's Egress appears before you.

You are knocked to the ground!

LOOK: You also see . . . Xykvit's Egress.

Summoning Xykvit's Egress in the hive immediately knocks you into the prone position. STAND up quick before the vykathi harvesters close in on you!