I'm in the lower level of the Ice Temple and I've done everything except get past the Shadow door to Auril's Altar. I get the lightning gun and mirrors all lined up and I can see the lightning bolt hit the door, but it doesn't open. I still get the same old shadow message when I click on it.

Three things come to mind that might be significant:

1. I've only complete up to rank 6 in battle squares. Do I need to finish them all to unlock that room?

2. When the lightning bolt aimed at the door hits the mirror/prism right before the door, it splits into two bolts. One slams into the door (to no effect) and the other continues down the corridor. Is there something I'm supposed to do to stop it from splitting and get "both" bolts to hit the door?

3. Speaking to Nickademus was about the last thing I did on this level before shooting the lightning gun to open the treasure room south of the Mirror of Life Trapping and to apparently *not* open the shadow door. I asked him to share his wisdom and then he wandered off after giving about 5000 XP. Now I can't find him, though if I loot his dresser he shows up in the gun room and is hostile (I was a little surprised that I "lost" the game by killing him).

So, did I miss something or is this just a glitch?

Getting into that door has nothing to do with Battlesquares.

As Harbourboy said, it's not necessary to finish the battlesquare to open the door (heck i didn't do the battlesquare thingy at all ;P).

As for Nickademus going MIA, yikes!!! You could hit him with the bolt and go hostile... same thing happened to me once. Best go look for him until he returns to his bedroom and trap him there or at least make sure he's not standing on the bolts line of fire.

And for opening the door, IIRC let one party member stand on the shadow before firing the bolt.

For more info, here is a little walkthrough from gamebanshee:

Before you begin this section make sure all of your party members are rested. Return to the Kuldahar Painting and speak "Lysan". You will be transported to the room outside of the alter. Have one member stand in the "Shadow" while the others open the hallway door. The member that stands in the "Shadow" will take considerable damage, so open the door and move out of it quickly.

In the hallway to the north of the Prism room you will find a charred mirror that you need to turn to face west (left). You now need to decide if you wish to have Nickademus' help with Aeij-Kllenzr't. If you do he will give you some spell protection, if not take the spells or experience. Return to the Prism and face it north. After making sure your party is out of the way, fire it. Now return to the alter room. Whoever enters the room first will speak with Aeij-Kllenzr't. As soon as possible speak his true name, Caged Fury. The door will close trapping the member inside with a wind vortex. You can not damage the vortex so it's best to try and stay out of its path. The door will open upon it's departure. Have a member step into the returned "Shadow" and open the hallway door again. You will be attacked by Polar Bears, Aurilites and Barbarians.

OIC. I was waiting for the "Embrace the Shadow" door to open. Didn't know that you could port into that room first. Thanks for the info.