His Signet, the sign of his birth, made lowly while on the collar of an overstuffed pig.

Katla decided to go out to the grand promenade, despite Lodo's warning about her safety. She looked at the filth cloaked sky and wished she could see blue.

She took two members of the resistance with her, so she felt safe.

Stradivarius was the former Supreme Slayer gladiator. The half orc was large and menacing. His reputation alone made the denizens make a wide path.

Stradivarius was awarded his freedom after killing over 1000 opponents. He regretted his role in the deaths of so many innocent people. He was a slave then, and had no choice, if he wanted to live.

Stradivarius' daughter, Corinna, was a cleric of Selune. Her mother had been full orc, which made her looks as menacing as that of her father.

She felt good to be away from the over protectiveness of her normal companions, and still feel safe.

"I'm a looking out for that there shadow wizard, so don't you a go worrying." Stradivarius said with confidence as he kicked people aside to keep Katla's path clear.

"I am not afraid of him."

"Well you should be. He is one nasty character that one. Makes the emperor look like a fart. And that emperor is nasty on his own."

"I will take that into consideration."

"You do that. Whoa! There's Fat Black, better steer clear or he will run you right over."

"Fat Black?"

"That's what we call that guy in the flying suit floating around the crowd. Anga Norsa, the worlds fattest Drow."

"That is a Drow?"

"Yep. He's fat enough to make up two orcs out of his hide. Other than his size, and the bit of magic he tosses around, he is pretty worthless. He owns the Billowing Towers. Corinna, you pull up your hood, and hide your robes. I don't want you enslaved by him."

"Yes, dad."

"Fat Black enslaves any cleric he is allowed to get his grubby fingers on. Nobody outside the foundry knows why. You had best cover your head too, Lady Katla."

"I am less afraid of that thing than I am Naurailoki."

"Who?"

"Ty'Aero."

"Well, well. Mister high and mighty actually told you his first name. That may be an advantage you can use. I suggest you use it when you can. Aw, hells, Fat Black is coming this way."

"Good afternoon, Stradivarius. What brings you to the market today." Anga said as he bobbed up and down, floating like an uncontrolled balloon.

"What else, shopping."

"I see, I see. Who is your new friend?"

"She is my client. She's paying me a bundle to be her bodyguard, so don't screw it up. You do, and I will go straight to Ty'Aero."

"Ah, I see. This is the little whore that The Master has his eye on. I will leave you to your shopping then."

"Who are you calling a whore? You fat pig." Katla said as she grabbed the floating drow's foot.

"Fiery. I see why he likes you. "

"You apologise right now!" Katla screamed at the top of her lungs as Stradivarius grabbed her shoulder to try and calm her down.

"Me? I am a member of the Royal Council. I can do whatever I want. I should turn you to ash for touching me!" Anga said as he weaved his bulbous fingers to cast a spell.

"Norsa!" A booming voice said over the crowd, breaking Anga's concentration. "You will keep your magic and your hands off of her! She is of noble blood and you will address her as such!"

Ty'Aero's form made its way through the crowd to the fat male. The shadow wizard gave Anga a hard slap, sending the fat male bouncing around and over the crowd.

"I am so sorry, Lady Katla for that boor's rudeness. If he wasn't so talented at inventing golems, he would have ended up in the slums with the rest of the scum." Ty'Aero said as he kneeled and kissed Katla's hand. "Milady, I had hoped to see you. I would like to ask you to luncheon in my garden. Forgive me, but you have captured my heart. I want to show you as politely as I can what you mean to me."

"Thank you, Naurailoki, but I am busy today. My new bodyguards are helping me shop while I let the others rest. I am afraid my other companions do not have my stamina."

Ty'Aero stood up and made a slight gasp. Her boldness made him want her more than before.

"You did get my message, about proper lodgings?"

"Yes, thank you. I have a very capable wizard in my employ, and a magic fortress at my command. For my own security, I move its location constantly."

"Ah, strong , beautiful, intelligent, wise. A fine catch for anyone. I hope I may be able to be allowed to try." Ty'Aero said with a slight smile. "To whom may I send messages to see if you are free?"

"Stradivarius. He knows the Mythal well, and often visits the marketplace. I promise to pay him well for that service. He is a good choice as bodyguard."

"Of that, I can most certainly agree. Until then, Lady Katla" Ty'Aero said as he made his way to where Anga Norsa was being bounced around like a ball among the crowd.

"That was a close one." Stradivarius said, " And, it's more dangerous for you. Lodo may be right. You should not go out without a full entourage. If Ty'Aero wants you bad enough to give you his first name and to ask you out politely, he wants you badder than most. He will not stop until he has you. He tends to get everything he wants."

"Alright. Lets get the kegs of water and the clothing Lodo wants and head back."

##########

"Where in the hells have you been? I told you it was dangerous for you to you to be out of the safe house."

"I have the extra clothing you wanted, Lodo."

"That is not an answer."

"I don't like being cooped up. If you don't like it, you can go back to your wife and son. I am sure she doesn't like you traipsing around all over the place while leaving her at home."

"I was with her." Stradivarius added, " I agree with you, Mister Lodo. She should limit her visits outside. Ty'Aero has more than a passing interest in her. If I could see what color his face really was under all of the shadow taint, I would swear his interest was in more than a tryst."

Kunne started laughing at the top of his lungs. "Ty'Aero has fallen in love? With Katla? That is funny. I didn't think anyone so steeped in evil as that one could ever have a heart."

"Shut up, Kunne. You might make Lodo mad. It was not so long ago that Lodo was known as the Butcher of Brenvar. I think his wife had something to do with his change of heart."

"Thanks for the compliment, Katla." Lodo said sacrasticly, "Still, you need to keep focused on why we are here. We are not here to play with wizards from the Plane of Shadow. We are here to free The Ancient Captive, and liberate this city."

"Yes, and since I have given up most of my leadership to Lodo, that means you have to listen to him." Kunne said.

"Katla, I am going to go get the armor. I have the fee and Walisra assured me she would not be going to the Jagged Palace until this afternoon." Solonund said," Your father wants you back in one piece. Think about Kelarin. Your son is in no way ready to take up your Astral Blade, if you should die. Think of him. Your son is all you have left of your husband now."

"Iasa and I were not married."

"In his mind you were, even if Onaagran refused to allow a formal ceremony. I know you miss Iasa terribly and want to be in Arvandor with him. I know how you feel. I miss my wife, Anaiys, and wished for the same thing for many years. But, suicide, even if you think it is for a good cause, is not worth it."

"You have a good reason to go on, Solonund. You still have not found your son who was stolen from you."

"True, but that is not the only reason. Corellon, and all the other gods have a duty for all mortal beings to accomplish before we die. Mine isn't done yet. Neither is yours, or you would already be dead. I have to go to the brothel. You need to come with me. If the wards around the armor are like those Lodo said were around the cloak, you will need to break them."

"Katla, sometimes, Solonund has his moments when he actually makes sense. As for you, I don't know anyone else who has been able to kill six mind flayers all by herself, and come out without a scratch."

"I suppose, Lodo. I think I have figured out another part of the riddle. The part about an overstuffed pig."

"Where!" Lodo said as he grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her straight in the face.

"You could be a little more polite, Lodo."

"Alright, where, please?" He said as he released her.

"In the marketplace. There was this 'enormous' Drow. He called me a whore, so I got mad and called him a pig. It's ironic. Ty'Aero probably saved my life. The pig Drow's commonly called, Fat Black."

"He is Anga Norsa." Stradivarius said as he filled in the details about the huge drow.

"Do you think he could still be at the market?"

Stradivarius gave a smirk. "He spends a lot of time in the market, searching for the contents of his ten course dinners he has every evening. He should be there until well into the afternoon."

"We should wait until Katla and Solonund get back. If Fat Black floats in the air, a few of Solonund's expertly placed arrows could be an advantage."

"Is he really that good with a bow?" Kunne asked, "He just seems like a womanizing fop to me."

"He practiced bowmanship with Kellindil of the North, and swordplay Drizzt Do'Urden of Icewind Dale. He is an expert bowman and swordsman. Few are better at both than he is, and he knows it. That is why he is so cocky." Katla said.

##########

Ty'Aero helped Anga Norsa right himself after being bounced around the Grande Promenade.

"You should really try to control that suit better. It is over compensating for your weight."

"Oh Master Ty'Aero, It is just angry because I haven't been in my workshop enough for its tastes."

"Then you should put a spell on it."

"How can I, when it knows my every thought."

Suddenly pain racked the two of them. Anga's screams could be heard bouncing off of the walls of the various buildings. Ty'Aero felt dizzy and fell.

Verien, who was collecting the graft payments of the day, fell while trying to gut a fat slaver. His legs in agony. The slaver made a bolt for the docks to his spelljammer ship.

Emperor Kirisatt, who was near the slave pens, was screaming for the guards to attack whomever was trying to scalp him.

After a few moments, the pain all felt subsided.

Ty'Aero stood , visibly shaken. He took a handkerchief and wiped away the blood from his nose.

Anga lay on the ground, panting. "I thought my heart had stopped!" He screamed as he ordered his suit to pick him up.

"Magic, wave of strong magic. Ooh the end is coming." Anga's suit said in his mind.

"Ty'Aero! What the hell did you Do?! My suit says that strong magic is at work. Are you abusing one of the machines I made for you?"

"I, I was affected just as you were. This is none of my doing."

"Ty'Aero!" Kirisatt yelled as he half ran, half pranced to his Chief Advisor. "I am tired of your spells going awry! I nearly captured a pretty one for my collection, but he got away! The same pain happened yesterday! You had better fix it or I will put you in the arena with the Grand Slayer! I can always get another wizard to run the school!"

"As I said to Master Norsa, I did not do this."

"Well, you had better find out who did! I mean it! Or your death will be the next round of entertainment in the arena!"

"Very well. I will go cast some spell and see what I can find. You had best get back to your palace, Your Majesty. Walisra should be there waiting for you already."

"Why do you push that courtesan on me?"

"Use her to soothe one of your boys. Then, you should try her. I am sure she can make you feel satisfied."

"You are impossible, Ty'Aero."

##########

Walisra kneeled alongside Lokteruost. It was sad for her, but she felt he needed to know what she planned. She stayed silent for several minutes, trying to muster the courage.

"What is bothering you, child?"

"I am going to do something rash, but it is for the best. "

"What are you planning?"

"I am running away. I can no longer stand to be in that brothel any longer. I found some good people who are going to help me. This will be the last time I come to see you for a while."

"That makes me sad as well. I had a memory come back to me, a very sad one. May Corellon grant me the strength to endure this sadness."

"What did you see?"

"My sword master, Heren. In full ceremony in this very temple, he helped me to don holy armor. The armor was a reward from the priests of this temple for defeating a hoard of invading evil drow. Heren died two days later from the wounds he suffered. He should not have gotten out of his sickbed, but he insisted he be the one to be there for me."

Walisra thought for a moment. She knew she had his armor before the warrior priestess touched it with the strange staff so it could be taken from her chambers. She smiled.

"Don't worry, Father Lokteruost, Those who I escape with are here to free you. We will see each other again."

"You had better go, before the Emperor gets here to torture me. I hope to see you again someday."

##########

Solonund, Lodo, Thelvin, and Tharros saw Anga floating around along the edge of the marketplace. Anga ducked into a shaded side alley to rest a moment from the violent heat of the coming afternoon.

The fat drow was sweating profusely. He was making his way back out when Tharros stepped into the alley.

"Are you Anga Norsa? I wish to speak with you sir."

"Who in the hells are you?"

"I am a half orc that wandered into this place a few weeks ago. I was wondering if I could be employed in your factory? I was told it was you I needed to speak to."

"Yes, well. Perhaps after I have had my.." Anga started when he was pelted by four arrows in his chest and shoulders.

While Anga was distracted, Tharros chanted a quick spell that rendered the fat man silent.

As Thelvin chopped at Anga's feet wit his axe, Lodo prepared a spell and cast it.

Anga tried to scream as he slowly withered to nothing but skin and bones.

"That spell was not supposed to do that. I wonder what I did wrong? Lodo asked himself.

Thelvin bent down and found a thick gold chain around the neck of the corpse. On the chain was a finely crafted signet ring.

"I think this be what we are a lookin for." He said to Lodo.

"Lodo mused for a moment. He was angry at himself for making a mistake with his spell. He rarely made mistakes with ones as simple as an enfeeblement spell. Something was wrong."

Solonund went and aided Thelvin in looting the body.

"Here is a set of keys," Solonund said, "But they are strange in make. I wonder if Korko can copy them. The rest of what this poor sod had might not be missed, but if these are the keys to the Billowing Towers. He must have an heir to his holdings."

"Right, Solonund," Lodo said, still in thought.

"What's the matter, boss? "

"I still can't see why my spell expanded like that. I did not mean to kill him, just disable him."

Suddenly, the suit Anga had been wearing started moving of its own accord. It stood and shook the remains of Anga out of it. It stood with the inside of it clear to see.

Inside was something that resembled a face. It had a tiny row of sharp teeth, and a tongue that resembled a tentacle. Other small tentacles withered around inside the suit as the mouth spoke hoarsely.

"Hungry, so hungry. Eat more. Need magic. Yes you will do." It said as it tried to float towards Lodo and envelop him. "Strong much stronger, want you."

"Gods! That is made from the skin of an illithid with fiend blood!" Tharros shouted as he pulled out his mace to strike the suit. "Lodo! Concentrate! It is trying to possess you!"

Lodo shook his head and dove to the side as the suit tried to envelop him.

Thelvin ran, jumped on top of it and tried to hold it down, but the suit was slippery.

Solonund continued to pelt it with arrows.

Nothing was working until Tharros got a solid hit on the thing with his holy mace.

"Selune, protect us." he said as he pounded the suit to unconsciousness.

Lodo wiped the sweat off of his brow. He sat and looked at the suit, realizing how lucky he was he had heard Tharros' warning.

"Is it dead?"

"No, I don't think so, Lodo. But it will be asleep for quite a while. If that suit is like the protective ward on the cloak, Katla will need to use her scepter to kill it."

"Your spell didn't fail, Lodo. I think the suit ate its former host to save itself from all the spells. Or it just killed him because you looked tastier."

"Thanks, Solonund. Lets get that ring and that cursed suit back to Katla."

"Your welcome. I'll give these keys to Kunne and Korko. Illithid skin huh, Tharros. Makes me wonder what secret is in that factory."

##########

The group quickly threw the suit on the floor of the safe house. Katla pulled out the blood scepter and touched it to the cursed flying suit. It crumbled to dust.

"Let me see the ring." Katla insisted as Thelvin held up the chain.

"Here ye go, Katla."

"Katla looked carefully at the gold chain. There was no clasp. She set the ring and chain on the floor. As soon as the gold chain was touched by the Blood Scepter it shattered into pieces.

Katla put the scepter away and bent down to pick up the ring. Her hands trembled. She could feel holy power radiating from it.

As she looked at the silver half moon encrusted with tiny moonstones, she cried. A feeling that she had not felt in many years enveloped her. She felt the peace of an undying love. She blushed slightly as her heart raced.

"Katla, please give me the ring." Lodo repeated twice before Katla heard him.

"Oh, yes of course, Lodo. Here, take it and put it with the other things."

"What's the matter with you, Katla? You just looked like you were holding a trinket from a former, secret, passionate, lover." Solonund said slowly and teasingly.

"It may sound strange, Solonund, but somehow, it felt like I was."

"Well now that that's done, I had better get over to the brothel to get Walisra. She has never worn shoes or clothes, so I may need to help her out." Solonund said with a grin. "I will be back shortly."

##########

Kirisatt howled as he was in the middle of his molestation of the Ancient Captive. Lokteruost turned around to see Kirisatt rolling on the grass clutching his head.

Lokteruost started to say something when a vision rushed into his head.

Lokteruost saw himself in the middle of a heated battle against overwhelming odds. A being of light came. Lokteruost knew it was Corellon Larethian. He sat and talked to the diety. Corellon handed Lokteruost a ring and slowly disappeared.

The vision ended, leaving the Ancient Captive in a daze.

"Father?" he whispered as he carefully stood and went to help Kirisatt up from the ground.

##########

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