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By Root 1580 0

and spent its remaining power keeping the magic gateway closed. Not one to be outdone, Vestress quickly changed tactics, employing her powerful and ambitious Luskan agent to aid in the fall of Ruathym. Only recently had Vestress discovered that the elemental creatures, such as iskor and the nereids, were beyond the banshee's magic, and the illithid had added the efforts of these extraplanar allies to the coming conquest, sending them to the island to quietly decimate Ruathym's fighting forces. But these intrusions had made the elven spirit restive. Vestress, too, was growing restless, and the illithid was eager to see the illusive banshee overcome once and for all. And when the banshee was gone from Ruathym and the portal open, all the armies of Ascarle would pour through. Ruathym would be hers to rule.

The Regent of Ascarle turned abruptly and glided from the scrying chamber tbat linked her to every corner ofher hidden empire. At this moment, tbe frustrated illithid felt need of her loom. The intricate patterns of her tapestries, tbe interaction of warp and weft, was something she could control utterly.

But the weaving room was not unoccupied. Shakti stood in tbe chamber, studying tbe nearly finished tapestry stretched out on the loom. The priestess looked up as Vestress approached.

"An interesting scene," the drow said, pointing to tbe picture of sea elves staked out on the dry ground, writhing in torment in the harsh light of the sun. "it seems to me, tbough, that the human over in this comer was not in tbe picture yesterday. He looks very like one of the slaves." From time to time i must eat, the illithid said calmly.

A weird light flashed in tbe drow's eyes. "Then it is as i tbought! You have found a way to capture the spirits of tbese… creatures upon your tapestry!" The drow reached into the coils of her hair and took from it a stiletto, four inches long but slender as a needle. This she poised over one of tbe tormented sea elves. "May i?"

The illithid nodded permission, and Shakti plunged the weapon into tbe weave of tbe tapestry. The impaled sea elf writbed and twisted, his mouth open in a silent shriek. "Fascinating," murmured the drow as she took a few more experimental stabs. "Such a thing would command a fabulous price in Menzoberranzan!"

Once Ruathym is under the rule of Luskan and your wizard captured, perhaps i shall make you a present of it. Shakti tucked away the stiletto with obvious regret and turned a measuring gaze upon the illithid. "As to that, i know your true intentions, even if that fool Rethnor does not," the drow stated calmly. "You will allow Luskan to conquer Ruatbym, but not rule it."

We are pleased with your acumen, the illithid agreed, honestly enough. It is true that we are using Luskan. It would not do at all for news to get out that the island of Ruathym had been overrun by some mysterious force, and for enterprising adventurers to trace the invasion back to Ascarle. No, let the blame rest entirely upon the humans. We will not risk revealing the location of this city.

"What part in this have you assigned to me?" demanded the priestess. "Do not try to deny it-you would not keep me here, else."

Vestress considered the drow for a long moment before responding. We wished to observe and measure your abilities. When the conquest of Ruathym is completed, we will bid iskor to return you to Menzoberranzan so that the Kraken Society might have a competent pair of eyes in the Underdark. Your service will be rewarded through information. The vast network of spies, thieves, and assassins that make up the Kraken Society will be at your disposal. "This you have said before. But what of the other portion of our bargain? What of Liriel Baenre? Does she yet live, or have you managed to kill her?"

My, my, mused the illithid, perhaps you have abilities we have not yet considered. But rest easy-the wizard lives. "Bring her to me alive, and i will see that you get from her what you need. If she proves too strong of mind and will to yield to your mental magic, i will bring to bear upon her the power