Fortress of Midnight

Fortified Hall-Main Hall

Jacob looked out as everyone ate and prepared for the day, he was trying to remember everything and everyone. He would be gone for 2 weeks if everything went as planned. All his War Party and guards were eating as much as they could, they would not stop to camp until tonight, lunch would be on the road. Miss Dotts was coordinating her people when Jacob heard a large crash, a smallish elf had dropped a tray of food. Scattering everything from the tray, and caused the elf to go paler than he already was. Odd, Jacob would almost swear the Elf was sick.

"Sorry mylord, he is fresh from the city. He relieved one of the others so they might go see their family." Miss Dotts told Jacob as he frowned at the new addition.

As the Elf was cleaning he sliced his hand on the broken glass. Bad luck, really bad luck not only to drop a tray but to cut your hand on the glass after...

"Master Elf, does your luck always run this bad? Or is it since you arrived here?" Jacob asked the newcomer.

The Elf responded without looking up "Since I have come to this place, my luck has turned to shit. I have no idea why either mylord. It was a simple job, in and out in 24 hours."

Jigibs and Captains Dulkam and Shadowsteel stopped and stared at the Elf who noticed the added attention. "What?" he asked at Jacobs smile.

"Master Jigibs and Stonehand, I believe your Motif just proved its value above another Motif. Captain Dulkam, I expect you to deal with this, Captain Shadowsteel will be leaving shortly with me. Did you know Master Elf that the Motif over this hall is that of the Royal Executioner, it provides interesting benefits for finding those who are disloyal to the throne. I would suggest you find some way to smuggle him back inside the city and hand him over to the tender graces of the Royal Torturer, he enjoys his trade." Jacob said as he stared at the Elf as he tried to run but two Tomb Guards quickly intercepted him and clubbed him into unconsciousness.

"Miss Dotts, I am sorry but I would request a new batch of food for everyone. I trust you ma'am but I do not trust that person. Snaggletooth and Mug can you go around and make sure no one was poisoned." Both healers nodded as the stood and moved off at Jacobs request.

Jacob took out the Communications Coin and was immediately answered by Talia, "What happened now?"

"I do not talk to you everytime something goes bad, sometimes I do wish just to speak to you, my Queen." Jacob responded which caused everyone to laugh at his statement.

"Really?" Talia asked

"No, ma'am. Someone who is not loyal to the Crown showed up this morning and I am about to leave for the next two weeks. I have requested for Captain Dulkam to smuggle the person into the city so hopefully, you can get some answers. Please let me know what your Torturer digs out of him, please. Before you ask, the Drow is still alive and I have not decided on his fate yet. I will decide when I return. Now, do you need anything from me, my Queen?" Jacob asked while he heard some cursing.

"No, just make sure your ass gets back here intact. What you are about to do is very dangerous, be very careful." with that Talia closed the connection.

Jacob growled as he placed the coin back in his inventory, what was with the women in his life who thought he could not get anything done right without him.

Jacob was halfway done with equipping his armor when he heard his door open without a nock, due to the recent finding it caused him to whirl and draw Moonlight. Eiloma merely cocked an eyebrow at his reaction in response. "Relax Jacob, I am not here to harm you in any way. Just checking to see if you have any last commands before you go?" Eiloma stated.

"Sorry, finding that guy was a big surprise and has made me a little defensive. Have someone price glass in the city, I will compare it to resource prices in Ineford. If it is cheaper there, I will acquire the glass there. Now, do you have anything for me Eiloma that you could not say in front of everyone else?" Jacob stated as he turned back to the Armor rack.

"Why can't Thorgron take care of this? Why do you have to go? This is exposing you to danger that you do not have to expose yourself to." Eiloma stated while looking at the other Vampire.

"I cannot order Thorgron to do this alone without me. Yes, it is a danger and not just for me, I am exposing the Vampire race if I am found or captured...It could be very bad. I also have to go because my Immortal friends will be there, they will not follow someone they do not know into the Underdark." Jacob responded as he finished.

Eiloma was fidgeting and biting her lip while she stared at him, "Will you promise me you will bring everyone back and you will not leave anyone behind?" she finally asked.

Jacob smiled, "You have my word of Honor, I Jacob Longstrider will do my best to make sure everyone comes home. Happy now?"

Eiloma cursed under her breath and jumped on Jacobs back which caused them both to fall on the floor. "This is important for all of us here, that you come back to us. It is not a joke Jacob, you mean a lot to the people here and I have no idea what would happen if we lost you. I know because you are an Immortal you throw yourself into bad situations but we will fight with and for you. Don't forget that." Eiloma stated while looking at him and pressing her face right into his then kissed him, a real kiss that makes you want to jump into bed and forget everything and everyone around you.

After finishing the kiss she winked and left him laying on the ground. An odd woman and now they had crossed that line...Dammit. 15 Minutes later Jacob was outside and strolling up where the Captain was forming up the guards and three carts and 1 Dwarf, "We are ready to leave Sir." Jacob nodded and started walking, they had a long road ahead of them.

Underdark

Sisters of the Damned-Outpost

3 Days later

"I do not care what you think, we will have reinforcements within 7 days, we can keep those Hobgoblins away until then. After that, we will attack their settlement and capture or kill all of them, Lieutenant. Now get out there and keep an eye on those slaves. If any of them escape, I will make you work instead." Captain Chasztel snarled at the other Drow. He was understaffed and frustrated, any failures would reflect on him even though he was not the one making the decisions. Lady Amada Illinn was in command of all the forces that were constructing Outposts, 12 Battle Flags spread out over nearly 50 miles and none close enough to each other to support one another. All the Outposts were to be constructed no more than 1 days march. They also had to cover multiple paths through the Underdark, so Chasztel was constructing his at this choke-point where 3 tunnels meet. They had discovered too late that a Hobgoblin tribe had settled nearby and did not like the fact that the Sisters were moving forces into their territory. The Hobgoblins had immediately launched an assault on them, but they had thrown them back and even captured some of them. Now they just had to survive 7 more days.

A scream made Chasztel curse as he scooped up his sword and darted toward the entrance of the tent, he could have sworn the Hobgoblins had been bloodied to much to risk another assault. This time they would take no prisoners, they would kill them all.

Jacob cursed, they had assumed the slaves would keep quiet but they had raised the alarm he thought as he opened the Drows throat with the reverse swing of his blade. Chalxea closed rapidly with the emerging Drow from the only tent in the half-complete Outpost. It was in the direct path between the Tomb and the City of Ineford, if Jacob had been leading the Sisters he would place Outposts on all avenues leading from the Tomb and deeper within their territory, he just had not expected them to move this fast. It was only manned by 12 Drow Warriors and about 30 slaves, none of the slaves had been armed and half the Drow looked like they might fall over if someone had blown on them. All of them had been wounded, proof that this part of the Underdark was already settled and by people maybe not friendly to the SIsters of the Damned and might be willing to help Jacob out.

They had managed to sneak in close and quickly kill 5 of the Drow before the alarm had been raised, and the remaining Drow were worn out and to wounded to put up a good fight and died quickly. Two of the Warrior Drow had been captured with the slaves hopefully, they would provide some intel on the activities of the Sisters. "Shigna will you do me a favor, burn and tear this place down please." Jacob asked the Kobold. Shigna nodded as he started summoning a Golem to tear down the half-complete walls while casting Firebolts and Magma Blasts toward the nearby wood units.

Quest Complete: Underdark Encroachment

Description: You have led a force to destroy an Outpost that would have strangled your burgeoning economic prospects. This decisive action has even impressed the local Hobgoblin tribe and they might be willing to negotiate a treaty.

Rewards: 50 Gold, Intel on Sisters of the Damned activity, Possible treaty with the local Hobgoblin tribe.

Jacob made his way over to the slaves, they now numbered 29 with one having their head bashed in. The Hobgoblin standing over the woman's body gave mute testimony of who had killed her, "Why?"

"She is the one that gave the alarm, do not pity her. She worked for the Drow gladly and would betray other slaves for more food, water, and rest." the Hobgoblin stated.

After a few moments of consideration, Jacob nodded before turning toward Thorgron "Make sure all the slaves are released, we do not have the time to escort them home. Options?" Jacob asked the Duergar.

The Hobgoblin immediately interrupted "They can stay with us until they decide what they want to do. You can leave those prisoners with us as well, we will either execute them or send them back to their Mistress with a warning not to encroach on Darguun tribe territory again."

Jacob looked at the large Hobgoblin "We need any information they might have, we cannot afford to kill them or return them to their people."

The Hobgoblin smiled without humor "We will get any information out of them and will share it with you because you freed my people and me. We might not be friends stranger, but we are not enemies. I am Dolbrug of Clan Darguun and I promise we will not forget what you did today. Send a representative to our people and we will turn over the information and discuss a treaty between your people and mine."

"Jacob of House Longstrider, it will take some time to send a representative to your people. I do not have a diplomat and would normally take care of something like this myself but we are on our way to the City of Ineford and it will be sometime before I will be free to discuss a treaty." Jacob responded.

"Matters of state will always come first and leaders never have enough help. I understand and the offer has no time limit. The new Hold that is under-construction is 1 days march away and if you have a map I can place a marker with the location." Dolbrug offered. Jacob quickly brought out his adventuring map and the Hobgoblin quickly found their current location and drew a small map of where his home was. "announce your name, the guards at my home will know it and let the party pass. Good luck Jacob of House Longstrider." with that the Hobgoblins started corraling the former slaves toward a tunnel and the Underdark swallowed them.

"What do you know of Clan Darguun Captain?" Jacob asked the Duergar after the Hobgoblins left.

"I know they are strong and rumor has it they have 5 Holds, each with 5000 to 8000 people living in each. Now they are building a 6th, having them as a friend would be a boon, but it would be more important to make sure they are not your enemy. Killing those guards and freeing their kin went a long way to secure a non-aggression treaty with them. Their Clan members mean everything to them, and they have no problem going to war with a stronger enemy to protect their kin as the Hobgoblin just proved." the Duergar stated as he moved over to the waiting carts.