Mara nodded, and reaching out put one finger on the edge of the Matriarch's blade, and pushed it away so that it was no longer pointing at her.  The Matriarch seemed slightly annoyed but did not press the issue and let the rapier's tip fall to the ground, still held ready but passively.  Mara stood and moved towards Nirael, her hips sashaying and swaying, emphasizing her erotic nature.  Once she stood before him she knelt again and bowed her head until her forehead was resting against one of Nirael's feet,<strong>"I do so swear.  I will not harm any of the people here, with one exception.  I will not allow myself to be slaughtered or harmed unnecessarily and will take up arms or claws to defend myself.  Is this acceptable?"</strong><br/><br/>When Nirael agreed, she spoke again, her forehead still resting against Nirael's foot,<strong>"Then by my true name, I swear not only to leave all those present from harm, but in fact I shall prove my.... good... intentions by actively working to help the people who reside here."</strong>She looked up at him then, kneeling upwards and letting her hands rest on his thighs as she said,<strong>"Furthermore, I gave my word long ago and while you so cruelly did not keep your end of the bargain, and allowed me to suffer in abstinence, I will make my offer again to you.  See that my needs are met, either by your own body or the attentions of another, and I will serve you willingly and gladly.  I shall call you master if you wish, and aid you in what I believe to be your destiny.  For if you were not destined to be the lord of the tower, to complete the cycle that started when this tower was built, then I do not believe you could have beaten me."</strong><br/><br/>She waited for Nirael's response before standing and saying,<strong>"It is agreed then.  However you should know first off, that violence in this place is... difficult.  The guardian Nephthys can sense any violence that happens across the entire plane we now exist upon, and would react with... hmmm.... ferocity.  I think it quite important that when you are feeling ready, and recovered from all that has happened, you make it a point to seek her out.  For you will need her blessings if you plan on exploring the tower."</strong><br/><br/>Sirana spoke then,<strong>"Mara, you seem to know much about this place.  Tell me, what is happening to me?  Never before have I felt such lustful thoughts.  I feel my body aflame with the need to be touched.  I am having trouble focusing on anything but pleasure, and a need to feel a man's seed filling my womb.  It is like the worst of lonely nights I've ever had all at once and unending.  Is this some sort of left over remnant of the compulsion that caused me to engage in the carnal acts recently?"</strong><br/><br/>Nilari chuckled softly, but Mara shook her head,<strong> "No, I'm sorry Sirana, but it is the nature of this place.  We are in a pocket plane, one that touches the plane of primal.  Imagine a soap bubble with a tiny secondary bubble attached to it, and you might have an idea of the plane we are in now.  But this world is crafted of primal power, feeds off it, fuels it, and mortal races can not help but be affected by it.  Long ago when this plane was created, the goddess Eilistraee brought a number of her drow followers here to help craft this world in a bubble.  They were changed forever for their time here, and their offspring," </strong>she gestured at the elven people around her,<strong>"were forever marked with the touch of primal."</strong><br/><br/>Lunari spoke then,<strong>"The curse?  I thought that was something caused by the humans in days before anyone's birth... save your own Matriarch Nameer.  What of the story of the culling?  I thought that the curse was a mark from those who survived that which killed off so many of our people?"</strong><br/><br/>The Matriarch sighed softly, but it was the high priestess, who had re-dressed in her robes who stepped forwards and spoke in a loud clear voice so that any in the temple could hear her,<strong>"The matriarch is the last of the elven people who once lived in this world.  The secret behind the culling has been kept by her and the priestesses for centuries.  But what the demon says is true.  The story of the culling has been changed somewhat from it's actual truth.  There was a culling, as our people left this world and went to the mortal world.  The loss of our connection to the primal was a blow to the system of our elven ancestors, many did die as they tried to return to the lives of normal elves, and denied the carnal need within their soul.  Only those who accepted the connection to the primal, only those who accepted the need to engage in joyous erotic acts, were able to survive.  Our culture changed to what you all know of it now, in order to survive.  We told the story of the culling, because it was easier to accept than the truth.  In the early days, even after we realized what had happened to us, it was hard for many of our kin to accept.  They fought their nature, and they withered away and died because of it.  We found that the new breed, the youth, would accept the story of the culling if it were not told exactly truthfully.  But now that we have returned home, there is no need to hide the truth any longer."</strong><br/><br/>Sirana seemed shocked but asked,<strong>"So am I now cursed with the same lusts that take hold of your people?"</strong>A question that had likewise sprung to Nirael's mind, as he'd been on the verge of arousal since he awoke.  Not exactly turned on, but almost, as if it would take very little for him to be fully ready.<br/><br/>The priestess shook her head no,<strong>"No, the curse that effects our people would only affect your offspring.  Perhalps not even then, for it was several generations of drow who bred in this place before leaving.  What you are feeling is the constant unending flow of primal energy.  As long as you stay here, you will feel like you do now."</strong><br/><br/>Mara moved to rest a hand on Sirana's shoulder and smiled impishly,<strong>"Don't worry Sirana, it's not so bad, you'll get used to feeling aroused almost constantly.  My entire existence has been like that.  These elves, all of them, have lived in the similar state.  It's not so bad honestly."</strong><br/><br/>The Matriarch nodded at the demons words, but turned to Nirael,<strong>"It has been a long night.  But I'm sure you're tired, as are we all.  I suggest we retire to our beds and after we are refreshed, we may begin to make plans for the future.  All of you assembled, go now, rejoice in the fact that we are home.  If you wish, take your lovers to your beds, but do rest, for we have work ahead of us."  Then she moved to Nirael and said, "at some point when you have free time, we should talk.  But not, I think, now.  You've done much, you've saved our people, and you could have your pick of any man or woman in this village as your doting bedmate.  Go rest and recover, and know that you are now a part of our village and our lives."</strong>