This first thing Jacob did after walking away from the commanders was to call over Shigna to give him his new staff and armor. The staff might mean the difference between victory and defeat. The Kobold thanked him for the armor and new weapon before moving off. Jacob reviewed all the equipment his companions had and distributed health and mana potions to them. He couldn't do anything else so he sat down and reviewed his equipment and abilities, ate a little bit of food and drank some blood. 30 minutes later Oren lead over lead over a contingent of Orc, Kobolds, and Duergar "My Lord, we cannot come to an agreement so we want you to be the official leader of the raid. We will advise you on what to do but final say will come down too you. Do you accept command?" Oren requested...

"Are you guys insane? I have never lead anything larger than a War Party of 5, how can you ask me to lead a Raid of 700+? I am going to get people killed maybe even all of you. Please reconsider." Jacob pleaded. Oren smiled and looked at his companions before responding "That is exactly why you must lead. We will advise you and we will make most of the small decisions, but all the major decisions such as when to attack, if we withdraw, where our reinforcements will go, will be up to you mylord. No one else will be trusted with the responsibilities of command. Understand??" Jacob nodded his head in agreement.

!!Alert!!

You have been made the Raid Leader of: Fortress of the Damned Raid

"Come raid leader we have planning to do." Oren turned and strode off toward the command tent. Jacob just hoped that Oren had not misplaced his faith with him... Three hours later...

The raid approached the cavern the hostile fortress was located. Jacob had insisted on being with the forward elements of the raid to see what had changed if anything had. They had hammered out a shell of how they would deploy their forces. The forces of the Tomb, mainly Duergar and Orcs would deal with the Undead outside the fortress while the Orcs and Goblins of the Bloodfang Clan and Kobolds of the Earth Splitter would deal with the defenders within the fortress. Once all the undead outside the fortress had been dealt with they would join the assault on the fortress. The Ballista would target any groups of undead that numbered 12 or more and any defenders that mounted the portion of the wall that had been completed. It would take the raid a very short amount of time to deploy its warriors but nearly 15 minutes before the first of the ballista would be brought to bear. The Tomb forces had to hold that long against the undead.

Jacob broke off from gazing at the fortress and headed back to the main body of the raiding force. His forces moved out of his way as he lead his War Party toward where the rest of the raid leadership waited. Draxus, Oren, and Gren saluted him as he approached. "Nothing has changed from what I can see. Hundreds of Undead still wait outside the walls of the fortress but I do not see anyone working on constructing the fortress currently. We should go with Plan Alpha. The Bloodfangs will punch a hole into the undead so they and the Earth Splitters can deal with any defenders within the fortress while the Tomb forces deal with the remaining undead outside the fortress. Speed will be key, so don't slow down to finish any undead just keep going. Oren will lead the Tomb warriors and I will remain with the reserve forces. If I see anyone needing assistance that is where the reserve force will go. Any questions or concerns?? Then let's get this Raid going!!"

Between the Bloodfang Clan and the Earth Splitter Tribe nearly 250 warriors and about 30 Elementalists, Shamans, and Druids were rushing toward the gap in the main wall of the fortress completely destroying and steamrolling the undead in their way. A little under 400 Duergar and Orcs formed up and started marching slowly toward the remaining undead horde. The Tomb forces had about 20 shamans and druids throughout their ranks to assist in the battle against the undead. Jacob had the reserve force of 50 Warriors and two Shamans from the Tomb Guards and 6 Warriors and 3 Elementalists from the Earth Splitter tribe.

As soon as Earth Splitters got within the walls of the fortress the Elementalists started summoning Earthen Golems adding around 30 towering warriors toward their numbers. Each lumbering behemoth crushed two or three surprised defenders. Earthen spikes rose from the earth impaling the defenders, Orc Berserkers Raged, Orc and Goblin Shamans called fire and lightning, dozens died and hundreds more would be dead soon. The raid had completely surprised the garrison. Draxus and Gren were not stupid though, they left 50 warriors and casters to watch the breach and defend their back from any undead that came while the main group continued to push further into the fortress. As the old saying goes though 'No plan survives contact', in other words, shit hit the fan.

The four Liches and the robed figure he had seen before appeared again on top of the unfinished Ziggurat, they 5 robed figures raised their arms and the jewel atop the Ziggurat pulsed with new energy. The undead the Bloodfang and Earth Splitter tribe had destroyed were trying to pull themselves back together and the undead currently fighting the Tomb forces redoubled their efforts. Jacob cursed and began barking orders, "June run back into those tunnels and tell whoever is in charge of the ballista to move their ass or this battle is over. Sergeant form up the reserve we are going in as soon as my companion gets back." Less then a minute later the first ballista emerged from the dark tunnel with June screaming at the crew of engineers to move faster. less then 30 seconds later the second one started to emerge as well and June broke off from yelling at the Ballista crews to get back with her War Party.

"Scuse me ma'am but if ever want to join the regular army, you would be more then welcome." the Sergeant called out. Jacob just shook his head as he buffed his party with his Aura and Blood Pact on Snaggletooth, he got Lifes Endurance (lvl 2) and Firepact (lvl 2), in return from his companions.

"Ok Sergeant we are going to reinforce the assault forces within the Fortress. If we do not take out that crystal on top of the Ziggurat this raid will die. Once we get to the wall detail 15 warriors and 1 shaman to reinforce the breach defenders the rest will assist in the assault. Am I understood?" Jacob called out. The Sergeant just saluted and started barking orders toward his men and started marching the reserve toward the breach. "Well people whatever happens its been an honor. Thanks for standing with me." Jacob told his Bonded before striding off after the reserve force.

5 minutes later they were within the walls, it was pure madness. The assault for had been slowed to a crawl. The dead had risen inside the walls as well and were trying to cut off the assault force from the breach. Draxus and Gren were too far forward and were unaware that they were about to be surrounded and cut off. So, of course, Jacob decided to lead a counter charge.

Death Knight

Name: Samuel the Damned

Level: 17

Abilities: Cleave, Death Aura, Deaths Command, Dark Embrace

Health: 2500/2500

"Ok, people I am going to target the Death Knight, help me take it down quick and their counter attack will be stalled. Give me 10 seconds to grab his attention before you guys jump in." Jacob called out to his party before he engaged Charge Ability followed by his War Cry to make sure Sammy was concentrated on him and not the Kobold he had been trying to behead. "Come on Sammy, we can work this out right?? I promise if you jump on the pointy end of my sword I will kill you very quick and no one will judge you I promise." Jacob taunted the Death Knight. Samuels only response was to snarl and trigger his Cleave ability which cost Jacob 500 life and nearly his head. In response, Jacob released an Aura Blast and Power Slash which caused Samuel entrails to spill on the ground. Samuel snarled and barked a few Eldrich Words and two of nearest undead dissolved and Samuel glowed as his health was restored and his wounds sealed shut. Shit, Dark Embrace could heal him quickly and Jacob had no idea what the cooldown was. He triggered Energy Storm and all the nearby Undead screamed in pain as the raw energies tore through them.

That is when Brox showed up, he was already glowing from Enrage and from his glowing eyes his Bloodlust had also triggered. A Fire Arrow and Magma Blast slammed into Samuel as well causing him to scream in pain. Jacob chuckled as he triggered Double Slash on the Death Knights arm which gave him a crippled and bleeding status and without any undead around to drain he would soon die. Three minutes later this proved to be a fact as Samuel died screaming and the Undead counter attack was stalled. Jacob turned from the Undead to check on the attack on the Ziggurat to see that the allied assault had stalled out at the base of the stairs and it was turning into a war of attrition. Dozens of Drow and Undead guarded the stairs leading to the top and until they were destroyed the Allies could not destroy the crystal. Jacob had to find another way into the Ziggurat.

After sneaking around the main battle at the stairs and around the Ziggurat, Jacob and his companions found another entrance guarded by six undead and a Drow. "Ok people give me 15 seconds to grab their attention before you jump in." Jacob called out. He triggered Energy Wave followed by his Charge ability before the Drow ran off. He then used Battle Cry to get all the Undead attention on him so his companions would be free to engage. A basic Tank and Spank until they got to the center of the Ziggurat. That is when things changed again. A boss with two elites and four skeletal Warriors surrounded a glowing crystal.

Necromancer

Name: Olorina Orcslayer

Level: 18

Abilities: Command Undead, Aura of Necrosis, Dark Command, Elite Summoning, Curse of Damnation

Health: 1500

Elite Lich

Level: 17

Abilities: Necrotic Blast, Raise Lesser Undead, Life Leech, Sacrifice

Health: 1000

The skeletal warriors had only 700 health each, it was the Elite Lichs and the Necromancer that was the real threat. Jacob had no idea what Curse of Damnation did or Dark Command. Both would be a surprise in this fight.

15 minutes later Olorina died screaming with my fangs in her throat. It had been a close fight and without the constant healing Snaggletooth, the whole party would have been wiped out. If any other defenders showed up they would die, Jacobs whole party was exhausted and running low on mana and stamina. Jacob had one more thing to do, destroy the crystal that was floating there.

Name: Crystal of Binding Death

Level: Artifact

Properties: Binds Undead in Service to wielders control

Description: This crystal is broken into two parts, the focus (this crystal) and the projection crystal (Crystal Above). If either is destroyed both are destroyed. User beware, Undead that was enslaved will become enraged and will lash out if the crystal is destroyed

Attention: Jacob Longstrider

Do you wish to take control of Focus Crystal? Yes/No

Do you wish to destroy Focus Crystal? Yes/No

"Everyone gets back, I am going to destroy this thing and I have no idea what is going to happen when I do. If anything happens to me Stormcaller gets everyone out and back to the raid group, understand??" Jacob asked the Orc shaman. Cracks were appearing all over, energy was thrumming throughout the room as the whole Ziggurat shook. Jacob raised Moonlight and braced himself behind his shield, the last thing he saw was a flash, then nothing...