Finding out that Mara was actually the fiendess was a surprise, and yet it had momentarily given him hope things could turn out more peaceful and that a true battle would be unnecessary. Yet at the same time the end that was approaching fast appeared to be different from what he had briefly dared to hope. Grateful for the kiss from the Matriarch, Nirael had pulled back a bit more while thankful for the clarity coming over him. The desires were there, but not so strong they'd control him, and at the same time Nirael looked upon Ah'mie's servant, Mara'adaki'zain, with a thought occuring as he moved to retrieve the wooden staff that had previously been carried by the man responsible for keeping the artifact half safe, while he found himself gazing at the woman before him at her remarks of his actions.<br/><br/>He had pursued Lunari with desire for the beautiful woman who seemed unwilling to partake in those pleasures yet, while not taking the time to show her what life could offer by freely partaking in them with Mara. Perhaps her curiosity could have been awoken. Perhaps he had let himself become too fascinated by Lunari and acted so different that it had taken away what might have been, yet it had brought them where they were in that night.<br/><br/><strong>"The Imprisoned God was ruled by his passions, and caused a great amount of harm in his thoughtlessness. I became so enamored with a woman that I failed to embrace another close by to show both what pleasures could be found in life. Yet at the same time, I find myself wondering. I let my desires guide me, but they were bound to one person to the point of blindness."</strong>He gazed upon Mara'adaki'zain and bowed his head slightly.<br/><br/><strong>"Like Gaius and the origin of the lineage, I have allowed passion to blind me, in a different way, but still. Pleasure and passion are free in this world to be enjoyed, yet one has pursued them reckless and uncaring, and another has taken a singular focus that blinded them to the other beauty about."</strong>He smiled quietly for a moment, tapping the staff to his cheek and gazing at Mara's face seriously, thoughtful but prepared for a battle. This could be his last night, this could be his end, but he would fight if it came to that. Yet at the same time he felt there was more to it, even if his words would not convince her, at least a thought remained that if nothing else was gained, he would learn from this, and remember.<br/><br/>He intended to win, there was a chance he would not, but he intended to give it his all. As she had said the guardians to the south had been attacked, and that meant that time was of the essence. If he won, he would do his best to protect the people and take them home, renew the protections and keep them safe. If she won, he did not know if she'd care for more than the piece of the key and perhaps her lover. Leaving this place behind and allowing the elves to fall to the foes would be a fate too cruel. If not for himself, then for the village, he would have to be ready to fight with all he had.<br/><br/><strong>"I don't think there's anything wrong with love, but in the past days, I found myself fooled by another taking her form, to lay with them. A stranger, a mystery woman able to assume the form of another. At the time I realized I had lain with another and worried she would look poorly upon me for it, only to be taught a lesson then and there. Being so captivated by her and afraid to lose her if laying with another, I allowed myself to be blind to the fact that here, another lover is hardly a shameful thing, and indeed my life previously should have been enough to remember that."</strong>He let the thought wander along his mind that Mara herself may have played the part of the seducer, and if the line had to carry on directly, then perhaps a lineage could easily be preserved by a fiendess able to capture a man's essence for a later time. It was a wild thought, but a possible one.<br/><br/><strong>"I am ready to fight you if you wish it, but it is to make sure that the people here will be safe. The elven folk, your new lover, and the promise made in past ages being kept. I am mortal and I've erred, but I am also a man of my word. If you believe I am so different, unworthy, as I have committed mistakes as have those before me, then come at me and strike me down if you can. I shall seek to defeat you in order to show that a mortal as well as immortal both learn and grow through mistakes both their own and those of others, to avoid making them again. In the name of the Primal... I shall know no fear."</strong><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">I considered a variety of options for a while, things that might or might not be right, things that seemed too farfetched, things that seemed plausible and yet I do not know for sure. I considered a variety of ideas. I considered him hoping to listen to reason, I considered her accepting his soul and willingness to die in order to keep others safe and take them along... and then considered this. <br/><br/>He has erred, he's seen the path along the way. He became obsessed with Lunari, and while pursuing her was hardly in question he chose a strange method for a man of passions, a choice that left Mara with the unhappy state. Actions and consequences indeed. Lunari might be different if things had gone another way, and so might Mara, but <em>ours is not to reason why, ours is to do or die</em>. The die has been cast and the battle looms ahead.<br/><br/>He's spoken his thoughts on the mistakes made, of the choices taken. He'd still hope to make things right if he could, not sure if Mara'adaki'zain will remain alive even if she became defeated here, if she would be able to return in time not truly dead when fought on the material plane, yet having been there so long perhaps she is indeed manifest and the threat is very real to her there. Nonetheless, Nirael's actions have lead here, and while he's made his words known, and his thoughts hopefully cleared, he's going to fight her then. <br/><br/>I feel a measure of sorrow on not finding a way to try and make Mara agree to hold and work with him, but at the same time it feels a very compelling event forcing him to think back at things and keeping things very interesting. Sad, at a level, but also understandable and intriguing. Now, he'll just have to try and win despite the fact he wished he did not have to harm her.<br/><br/>Holding the wooden staff that encouraged him to make enemies into allies rather than believing in killing others in his path, I don't know if he'll be able to convince Mara otherwise anymore, but he will at least hope that if she is defeated then it will not be the final end for her, and that in time things may prove different.<br/><br/>Ok, that's turning too much into a rant, sorry about that.</div></div>