The Mark of the Beast

Fred sighs. "These corporations will stop at nothing to market their products to the troubled youth! It is appalling!" The fine print at the bottom of the advertisement catches his attention. Underneath the Aqualarian Foundries trademark is this ominous note: "A wholly owned subsidiary of The Dragon Enterprises, LLC."

The Mark of the Beast! Sir Fred is incensed. Not content with pillaging and kidnapping, the dragon is now attempting to corrupt the very fiber of Allarian civilization with this drivel. Now a number of small, apparently unconnected, but disquieting incidents start to make sense. The surly youth who yelled, "Yo, Emry," instead of the proper "Your Most Sacred Majesty" at the king during celebration of the Bronze Jubilee. The two strangers on horseback behind him banging on bass-heavy tambourines while he was riding through Droopy Branch. The unpleasant noise made just after the playing of the Hymn of Allaria during the last tournament.

"There can be no doubt about it, the contents of this magazine are another manifestation of evil. And it is apparent that the invisible empire of the dragon has spread far beyond the Southern Caves. This menace has to be stopped and stopped soon. But where should I begin?" Fred then makes his decision. He will eradicate the evil by attacking

1. the editorial offices of Weapons Monthly. Their headquarters are located in Hespan, already at war with Allaria, and the diplomatic fallout would be minimized.
2. the Sales and Marketing Division of Aqualarian Foundries. Aqualaria is warmer, and he might get a chance to meet the woman on the white stallion.

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