He laughs in his high boyish voice and bows.  "I promise you Naiobe Percivan, this matter is not pointless at all.  Though I cannot promise that you will like it."<br/><br/>He turns and starts to shuffle along, moving with an uneven gait and using the staff to lean on as he hobbles along.  "Before these lands were tamed and civilized by humans, men came to what was a wild place on the edge of the great forest for lumber and to dig into these mountains for ore."<br/><br/>Down he leads her then, down to the lower levels where the torture chambers and dungeons lie.  But he leads her past these and down a hallway to a large metal gate which he draws forth a heavy key to unlock.  "They dug here, in this very place.  High above the rivers and land below.  They sought the riches of the mountain..."  The gate swung open and he shuffled past, waiting for her before closing it back and once again locking it behind them.  He struck his staff on the ground and the tip began to flicker with a smokeless green flame that seemed to draw heat from the air rather than radiate it to light their way.<br/><br/>"A man led them to this spot.  He tricked them with false divination and promises to dig deeply in search of treasure."  He guided her down what was a far more primitive and unfinished passage than any above.  Wooden beams were set to support the winding and uneven mining tunnel.  From the darkness ahead came the sounds of shuffling and animal grunting.  "But there was no treasure here and when they found what he was truly seeking, he killed them all..."<br/><br/>The tunnel suddenly opened up into a large cave.  A four sided rise of black stone rose up from the floor, alien and out of place.  It was taller than two men, and on the side facing them was a set of steps leading up.  An obelisk of the same uncanny black stone sat at each corner, the tops burning with more of the green witchfire  that lit her guide's staff.  Around the edges of the large chamber were smaller caves and from them monsters large and small watched them.  "What he sought remains atop the altar," the guide explained, "His name was Maximilien Percivan.  He tamed this wild place and made it a part of the kingdom, and ruled it as the first Baron of Desidera.  He sealed the pact for himself and all of his lineage.  But in accord with laws more ancient than man or elf no innocent soul can be bound or taken.  The Lord of Pain has watched over you, but now Naiobe Percivan, you must ascend to the altar to affirm your agreement to the blood pact if you wish to be a true Percivan.  You must go to Him alone now Niaobe Percivan, ascend the steps and embrace your heritage and claim the full power of your bloodright."