The Great Temple of Huanchi
"The Great Temple of Huanchi can only be found by those who already know where it is." -Common Skink AdageAlmost every temple city and Kahoun has it's own Temple Huanchi. The Great Temple of Huanchi is not even technically the biggest Huanchi Temple in terms of square feet, but it is still worthy of the title "Great". The Great Temple of Huanchi is unique for several reasons. First off, The Great Temple of Huanchi is a stand alone temple with no City or Kahoun associated with it. It has no spawning pools either. Second off, the Great Temple of Huanchi represents one of the main arteries of Lustria's mystical ley lines connecting Isthmus of Lustria with everything south of it. Third off, the Great is an upside down stepped pyramid. The top level of the traditional "top" of the pyramid is deep underground. The base of the pyramid has no very tall trees on it but it looks pretty indistinguishable from a hundred other natural forest clearings throughout the Great Jungle of Lustria and it is magically concealed with passive ongoing spells so as to look unremarkable to passerby, so as none could find the secret entrance by accident.
Purpose / Function
The temple serves as a site to glorify the Old One Huanchi, god of darkness. It also serves as a major ley line anchor.
Defenses
By Mazdamundi's orders, this temple always houses at least two Slann at all time, one in the bottom of the pyramid (where the conventional top of the pyramid would be) and one at the top of the pyramid (where the base of a conventional pyramid would be).
The Slann in the lower levels is the called the Shadow Master and maintains and monitors the magical effects powered by the ley line. Usually this is an older Slann, commonly of the Third Generation.
Most Lizardmen temples climb upward for a reason, Slann have better telepathic reception at higher altitudes. This means the Shadow Master cannot extend his mystical senses very far beyond the Great Temple and has trouble telepathically contacting other Slann.
The Slann at the top of the pyramid is the Eclipse Slann, usually a younger Slann of the Fifth generation. The Eclipse Slann's job is to relay telepathic messages and images to and from the Shadow Master.
Most Slann consider assignment to the Great Temple of Huanchi to be mildly unpleasant and Slann are rotating in and out of this duty relatively often, typically serving between 20 and 50 years shifts.
With two Slann present, the site always a lot of Temple Guard and other Lizardmen to guard and attend the Slann, which also by extension guards the Great Temple of Huanchi.
History
Despite Hexoatl being "the City of the Sun" and Huanchi is the god of night and darkness, Mazdamundi claims this temple as a protectorate of Hexaotl.
The Slann and their attendants present here are nearly always native to Hexoatl.
The magic of the site has attracted invaders both during the Great Cataclysm and many times sense.
Given that the site is magically obfuscated by a permanent magical effect that can be carefully aimed and directed by the Slann inside the temple, enemies seeking the temple usually get close to the temple but never quite find it.
Then they end up fighting the army of Hexoatl and losing.
Tourism
Most Slann prefer to avoid this Temple but a few make it a point to visit on or near the Winter Solstice and/or Autumnal Equinox if they need to truly commune with Great Huanchi.
The area also sees pilgrims from around Lustria from among Skinks, Sauri, and Kroxigor seeking to pay homage to Huanchi here for the Winter Solstice and Autumnal Equinox.
It is noteworthy that jaguars also like to visit the temple site in great numbers on the nights of the Solstice and Equinox.
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