Sythemis passed down through the tunnel of hand smoothed stone until it opened into a chamber that centered around a large pool of dark water that shone like glass under the light of bowls of burning oil. A great statue of Ishtar stood above the pool wrought of gold and naked. This was not the tame Ishtar that the priests of Mitrha bleated about. This was the primal Goddess her hips and bust swollen, her face contorted in ecstasy or agony, her eyes terrible. The chamber had obviously been a natural cavern one, but the walls and roof had been polished and shaped by patient labor. Niches had been caved out of the walls, each glittering with small statues of Ishtar each bedecked in gold and jeweled highlights. The Stygian paid no mind to them, walking with slow gravitas into the pool sinking to her waste in the dark cool water. She raised her arms over her head and met the eyes of the statue.

"Bikania Ishtar, emadazu nire senargaia Set," she began to chant, her body began a graceful dance, fingers cutting the top of the water in showers of droplets which set up rippling waves of glittering light.

"Bikania Ishtar, emadazu ikuspegia," she chanted, her dance growing more estatic. The lamps began to flicker and writhe weirdly, the light dimming as she moved. Something slid past her in the water, brushing against her leg, but she ignored it continuing the chant and the dance as she beseeched the Goddess