MatronNemalzhi decides to spend a few days in her favourite brothel, Footsteps, to recuperate. She leaves the house, giving Xora instructions to tell everyone. Xora, being Xora, forgets to tell anyone at all.
When MatronNemalzhi returns, she announces that she will petition the Council of Eight for a higher position for HouseNemalzhi. If it is accepted, we will rise several tiers on the House scale, but if they refuse the request, HouseNemalzhi will most certainly be obliterated. She informs us that she wants us to make the House as imposing as possible - Zhaunil is to breed warriors instead of sex toys, Zhe'raen is to hire more soldiers, Xora and Zarathustriel are to gain support among the priestesses and Ahriman should reinforce the wards. Zhaunil immediately begins to complain loudly that her breeding is an art, and art can not be accomplished that quickly. Xora recruits a minor horde of young priestesses and turns them into a fanclub for Zhe'raen. Zhe'raen is not amused, since in his opinion, having a giggling bunch of mindless priestess novices follow you around is rather detrimental to your status as a commander.
The petition is given to the Council of Eight, and the waiting begins. Everyone gets rather antsy, with the possible exception of Zhe'raen, who finds the idea of going out in a blaze of glory rather appealing. The light in the Grand Temple goes out one after one, as the Matrons make their decision to support or oppose HouseNemalzhi. Finally, the last light goes out, and the Eight Matron Mothers of the Council join the procession to NemalzhiManor.
By this time, MatronNemalzhi is extremely nervous. She awaits them, Zarathustriel at her side and Zhe'raen a step behind. The Council arrives, and declares that the petition is accepted and HouseNemalzhi are promoted to 50th House from 57th - seven positions higher! MatronNemalzhi almost faints, but recovers and does a florishing bow. Far back, at the head of the procession of priestesses, Xora faints instead.
After having bid the Council farewell and withdrawn into the house, MatronNemalzhi declares that there will be a house orgy to celebrate the decision. She also declares that during the festivities, all her sons will have the privilege to call her "Mother" and Velve will be recognized as a son of hers.
After some prompting by Xora, the whole thing goes out of hand, as orgies have a tendency to do, and everyone gets thoroughly drunk, except for Zhaunil. Velve is caught by Xora's three priestesses and disappears among the pillows with a strangled cry. Xora senses Lolth's presence and, looking around, sees Her in the crowd. Zhe'raen, reclining in a mound of pillows, suddenly feels Her hands on him. The Godess is here....a fleeting touch, then she leaves him, unsatisfied. She walks through the room, lightly touching people right and left. Soon many of the priestesses, even the outsiders, vaguely sense her presence.
Ahriman, being very drunk, decides to experiment, and manages to conjure upp a Devil. Devils are far more dangerous than demons, and this one is no exception. She stands in the middle of the protective circle, surveying the room and waiting for someone to offer her a contract. Ahriman has no idea what to do with her, though, and just stares. Not surprising, since the devil in question is in the form of a beautiful, buxom, and very seductive woman. Black hair, black eyes with a veiled hint of the fire within, and not a stitch of clothing.
Nothing happens for a while, but then Zhe'raen comes by. He has gone through half the women in the room, trying to quench the feeling of unsatisfaction Lolth left him with, and when he sees the devil he goes right through the circle, lifts her up and retires to a corner of the room with her. Furthermore, when Xora meets the eyes of the devil, her mind melts like spider-wax, and she seeks out and undoes the wards on the inner sanctum before she disappears. So much for protection. The outer wards activate, leaving the whole family and their retainers trapped within - together with the devil.
People are finally beginning to realize what is happening, and when a jealous young priestess tries to berate the demon, and is beheaded by a single sweep of her claws, they get worried. The devil disappears in a puff of sulphurous smoke. Zarathustriel and Zhaunil go off to research, commanding Ahriman to stay put in the lab and find a solution. Zhe'raen, once he's finally come to his senses, gives the soldiers orders to inform him if they see the devil (without informing them that the lady in question is a devil, of course).