Fortress of Midnight

Main Hall

Jacob watched in awe as Miss Dotts pulled the drunk Dwarf by the ear toward the Mess Hall to sober him up, Jacob had learned too late the Brew Master enjoyed testing his products far too much. He looked at the man's wife as Miss Dotts yelled and slapped the Dwarf afraid what the woman might due, but she only looked on in amusement. She was far more steady and was the Bartender/Innkeeper that would run the day-to-day operations once the building was actually complete. For now, they would both work out of a tent.

Jacob looked at Eiloma who shrugged and made a note on her tablet. The former Drow Swordmasters did have something to say though, "Miss Dotts is...a very determined woman. If she was a Matriarch, she would be an extremely powerful and dangerous one. You gave her a job mylord, now trust her to do it." At first, Jacob glared at him but then sighed and nodded. The advice was sound, even if it was from someone he didn't like.

"Now that woman knows how to handle a man," Chalxae said loud enough everyone in the Hall heard. Jacob glared at the rambunctious woman who simply bit her lip and shrugged.

After the drunk Brew Master was the Enchanter, Leatherworker, Glass Blower, Bowyer, Apprentice Mason, and the list went on as each was introduced to Jacob. He gave them a little encouragement and he asked what they would need to do their jobs and Eiloma took notes. Magrum was happy to have some help finally, having the list of buildings they needed was not good news. The Researcher, an older Gnome named Gaver Spriglesproket, had requested two Apprentice level Engineers to assist him in Research. Jacob was not looking forward to spending more Gold after he had dropped 50 today at the Pit alone. Good thing Darren had brought his stash otherwise he could be hitting up his friends soon for money.

After that, the two Captains, Thorgron and Thardan, reported where he made sure both Duergar knew his expectations for them and the soldiers under their command. Thardan had agreed to his request as well to construct roads within the settlement and to the nearby resource nodes of the mines/grove. He also approved of his request of having a checkpoint constructed at the cavern where the tunnel split and led either to the mines, former pit fiends lair or to the ruins of the Gem'Lock clan. Thardan had advised Jacob to add it to the Defense Enhancement Queue and he would make sure that Sgt. Umurn understood what he wanted. Jacob whinced at the material cost, but added it to the queue. Spoiler: Spoiler

Military Checkpoint: (Cost 30 Stone, 30 Wood, 4 Days Construction)

Jigibs was happy to have the new Blueprint for the Stone Overseers Office but it was a Major Job, but he did eyeball the R&D Gnome and stated he could appreciate an apprentice as well and that work would go quicker if the built a City Administration building. From what Jacob had researched it would require a large number of resources, some of which they did not have like steel and gold, and would require a weeks time. The interesting thing about it was that it would absorb the R&D building once constructed. Jigibs had stated the resources that had gone into building the R&D building would count toward the City Admin building.

Spoiler: Spoiler

City Administration Building LVL 1: (Cost: 40 Stone, 40 Wood, 20 Iron, 20 Steel, 10 High-Steel, 10 Silver, 5 Gold, 5 Platinum, 20 Glass, Duration 7 Days)

The last person he had been waiting for, the wife of the Smith Stroznog Cragforge, Ganeagit Cragforge had come to report if it was possible to plant/harvest crops at the former Pit Fiends lair. "Mylord, I went to the cavern as you requested. It would almost be perfect to build a Greenhouse there to grow herbs, but the soil in the cavern is to shallow and cannot support the growth if anything other then fungus. The fungus that naturally grows there is usually used to feed the lizard herds of the Tomb of Eternal Night. We might want to use the cavern for such an endeavor but I have no idea what impact the Mana Well will have on such creatures. You would have to consult someone with Animal Husbandry skills." with that she bowed and left.

If they did that, they would no longer have to import leather and they would still gain a new food source...if the lizard meat tasted good. He looked at Eiloma who was making a note already. Jacob would ask the Queen who he could make the request of without owing anyone to much. "Ok, Eiloma hit me with the cost of everything and everyone now living here. What is the price tag to support all these people?" Jacob asked the High Elf-Vampire.

"Costs between wages and the work crew Agreement with the silver mine crew, you are paying out 579 Silver pieces every two weeks. The silver mine is earning 136 Silver pieces a day though. So we are staying ahead right now as long as Edreg Gooldtooth continues to deliver." Eiloma stated.

Having the steady income would save their asses in the long run and with the fortress being Tax Exempt for another 5 months would allow them to build up a War Chest, "Ok, thank you Eiloma. Thoughts or questions anyone?" Jacob asked the Hall.

"When are we going to get a Graveyard, Bar, and City Admin Building?" Darren asked.

Jacob knew that was coming, Jigibs had told him that it was. "Both the Moselium and Bar will be completed within the next two weeks. I would like to complete the Admin building but it requires a large number of resources and we don't have everything we need to build it yet." Jacob responded.

"Well you might want to make it a priority, it is a way for your Fortress to produce quests for Immortals. If you need Mats, send me a list and I will give it too you. We might not be a guild yet, but we will be." Darren responded.

Jacob nodded before he continued, "Ok so I will make that a priority after the current Queue has been built. Now as far as tomorrow goes, before you 4 go off to grind tomorrow you will be getting up early with me to spar. Since Thelgrum will be pretty hands off tomorrow, you guys need to learn to control your Vampiric side and use it for combat. So I am giving you a crash course, after that breakfast and we all go our separate ways. I will be leading a party to do a Dungeon Dive in the Outer City. Thelgrum, Wen, Shigna, and Mug will be covering you Younglings. Now we all had a long day and we need rest, the next couple days are going to be long." with that Jacob stood and moved to the Mess Hall to eat before heading off to sleep. He was exhausted even though he had only put in half a day. Jacob also considered the fact that Miss Dotts and Jason Willows had accepted the positions of Fortress Cook and Carpenter officially. They had liked the increase in experience gain and money the positions provided. The position of official cook had opened after the Mess Hall had been constructed, he wondered what slot would open when they eventually built the War Room.

Fortress of Midnight

Mess Hall

"I cannot believe you broke my nose, fuck that hurt," Tarren whined. All the others snickered while Jacob rolled his eyes.

"Well, if you would learn to control that bloodlust otherwise what will happen if you lose control when you are out grinding, or on a Dungeon dive, or god help us at that dam ball tomorrow?" Jacob asked

Tarren nodded his head in understanding, while Darren looked on in speculation. The Rogue always saw too much, but it was needed and maybe he could explain it better to the former Human. "So I was serious yesterday, Thelgrum is going to be very hands-off with your today. You guys need to learn your team strengths and weaknesses, grinding is a great way to do that. You also need to get to know your Bonded, my Bonded is my family here, dysfunctional and fucked up, but still family. I just don't want you guys thinking of them as food, possessions, or slaves. On that note, I plan on enforcing certain rules in my lands concerning Vampires and how they will act. Right now they are few, but those are some of the top ones. Any questions or arguments?" None of the other Immortals raised any concerns or questions.

Jacob saw all the new War Parties talking to his older War Party members. He saw some of the new males getting very close to both June and Chalxae, a part of him hated the fact they were doing it but another part realized he had no claim to either woman so kept his mouth shut and his temper under control. Who knows, maybe it would be for the best. With that thought, he left and headed to his quarters to prepare for the day.

Jacob looked at his new armor as he considered to place his older Stalwart Plated Steel Leggings and Plated Steel Boots of Endurance. To take them to the Smithy to break down and hope to learn the plans, or keep them and hand them off to Tarren or Zakoc. In the end, he decided it would be better to break down, far more people would benefit from them if the Smithy received the plans of either one. Jacob had splurged a little in buying upgrades that were long overdue.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Iron Chainmail Leggings of Endurance

Level: Uncommon

Properties: 100 Armor Rating

Properties: Increases Life by 200

Durability: 100/100

Description: This iron chainmail has been enchanted to increase the wearers' life to help ensure survival.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Swift Steel Reinforced Boots of Shockwaves

Level: Rare

Properties: 75 Armor Rating

Properties: Increase Movement Speed by 30%

Properties: Unlocks Shockwave Ability. (Trigger a Shockwave that will disorient or stun nearby enemies for 15 seconds, Cooldown 1 Minute)

Durability: 100/100

Description: These leather boots have been reinforced with strips of Steel and enchanted to increase the wearers' speed.

The nock on the door startled him as he considered the new armor, old armor, and Moonlight. "Come."

"So, where is this Dungeon we are going to clear?" Eiloma asked as she walked in. Jacob looked up at his Seneschal, he had been half joking when he had asked her yesterday, but she had taken him seriously. She was wearing leather armor reinforced with chainmail in certain parts. A long-word and hunting knife were attached to either hip.

"Your primary class is Administration, are you sure you will be ok? If so, you are more then welcome to join us." She nodded while rolling her eyes, "The dungeon is in the Outer City, we are going to an Estate to claim some legal paperwork for a noble, anything else of value is ours to claim. I have no idea what is in there so, it will be a slow crawl to clear it. I am hoping it is not a one-off dungeon, but I will not know until we complete it. Now, what can I do for you?" Jacob asked as he grabbed the Moonstone and Diamond to place them into the sword. Both stones were valuable worth over 100 Gold each, Jacob had collected them during his days as a brigand.

Alert...

Do you wish to embed Moonstone of Learning and Diamond Edge to Moonlight? Yes/No

Know this, once stones are embedded into Moonlight, they cannot be removed without destroying them,

Alert...

"I was concerned, all of your Bonded can feel you somewhat. Those of us that have been with you longer can feel more and get a sense of emotions about you. We are worried, you are different today. The only other time I felt this from you was when you fought at the Grove, what is wrong?" Eiloma asked as she continued to stare at him while he ignored her for the most part while gearing up and inspecting the blade.

Spoiler: Spoiler Name: Moonlight

Level: Artifact, Scalable, lvl IV

Damage: 50-65

Properties: Item absorbs 10% of the experience the wielder accrues to grow in strength with the user

Properties: Royal Executioner*

Properties: Ethereal Bound*

Properties: Pit Fiend Binding*

Properties: 20% of damage dealt is absorbed as health by the wielder

Properties: +10% damage to the Living (Lifes Bane Enchantment will grow in strength with the sword)

Properties: Moonstone of Learning (Increases Experience gained from battle by 10%)

Properties: Diamond Edge (Increases the Base damage of the weapon by 25%)

Other properties will be unlocked as the Artifact gains strength

Durability: 1000/1000

Description: Moonlight was forged over 3000 years ago, a gift forged with the blood of every noble line to the first King of the Vampire nation. It has been passed down the Royal bloodline until the defeat of the Vampires at the end of the War of Survival. Due to not being wielded for nearly 2000 years, the majority of the strength of the blade has been lost. Most of the properties have been lost also, who knows what else is hidden that can be unlocked in time

Royal Executioner: After being proclaimed Royal Executioner, Moonlight took on additional properties to assist Jacob Longstrider in his duties. (Deals 10% more damage to Rebels/Traitors, and Rebels/Traitors have a 25% chance at running in terror at the sight of Moonlight).

Ethereal Bound: After being exposed to great amounts of Death Magic and Mana, Moonlight has taken on certain properties that allow the blade to damage and kill Higher and Lower beings (See wiki for further information on Higher and Lower Beings)

Pit Fiend: After Moonlight killed an Elite Pit Fiend, it took on some of the properties of the Elite Pit Fiend to better serve its wielder (10% of all damage is negated and every strike has a 5% chance to summon a Minor Pit Fiend to fight for the wielder for 5 minutes with a cooldown of 10 minutes).

"I am fine Eiloma, just focused and ready to go. Do me a favor and make sure that Chalxae is prepared to leave. I do not want to be delayed because of any antics. Let June and Shigna know, they will be switching roles. June is on babysitting duty while Shigna will assist on the Dungeon dive." Jacob said as he continued to prepare for the dive. Eiloma bowed slightly and departed. She did not believe him in the slightest but she would do as told for now.

Tomb of Eternal Night

Outer City-Outside of House Oberon

The building was three stories tall, had a garden, and was surrounded by walls and a gate. Honestly, the place looked like shit though, half the outer walls were collapsed, parts of the third floor had collapsed in multiple places onto the second, and the entryway was half collapsed. The normal monsters of the Outer City were absent and that made Jacob worry, what was so special about this place that made all the monsters avoid it. "What is wrong Jacob?" Chalxae asked.

"That is a very good question? We had to fight our way through the Outer City like normal, but about half a block back, all monster disappeared. Either this is a safe zone, which I seriously doubt, or something is keeping them away. That is what is wrong." Jacob responded.

Chalxae looked frustrated, "That is not what I meant. I meant.."

Jacob rounded on her, "We are about to dive into a Dungeon or about to be ambushed. If you cannot get your head into this tell me now and we walk away. Otherwise, shut up and do your job." Chalxae snarled and moved off under stealth. Jacob had pissed the woman off, but he did not care at this point. The only thing that mattered was the Dungeon and clearing it.

A few minutes later Jacob approached the entrance of the house, no ambush had been triggered but he was sure this place would be more difficult than implied. The doorway had runes just like the Cave of Damnation and the Rebel Kobolds fortress had, it was a dungeon!! Jacob quickly touched the tablet next to the door to see the information about it.

Dungeon Name: Fallen House of Thorn

Age: Ancient

Level Range: 25-28

Recommended Party Size: 5

"Ok, this is a Dungeon for Level 25-28 Adventurers, so expect whatever that is in there to be no stronger than level 31. We have no idea what type of monsters are in there, so we are going in slow and steady. We will check every room and clear all the floors. Our objective is to recover some papers that prove mining rights for House Oberon, any other material wealth will belong to us. Eiloma, you are a little low level for this at Level 25, be careful. If you have any beneficial Buffs pass them out people."

Jacob felt stronger as everyone activated buffs, Presence of Malice, Strength of the Legions, Lifes Endurance, Fire Pact, and Blessing of the First Race. Jacob did not recognize the last so he pulled up the information on it...

Name: Blessing of the First Race

Properties: All Party members primary attributes are increased by 10%, all damage is decreased by 5% (Party, Duration 30 Minutes, Cost 500 Mana, Cooldown 30 Minutes)

Jacob looked at the Administrator in stunned silence, she smirked before responding. "I told you I spent some years with my peoples' militia, do you think I did not earn some of the tricks of my people? You know very little about me Jacob Longstrider." Eiloma smirked at him.

Jacob nodded, she was right. He knew very little about any of them, yet he trusted all of them. Spoiler: Spoiler Due to this person being an Administrator first and not a Combat Class, all abilities are weaker

Eiloma Silverleaf-Combat Skills

Class: Mage Blade*

Name: Arcane Bolt (LVL 3)

Properties: Strike a target with a concentrated Bolt of Arcane energy dealing 75-125 damage. (Instant, Cooldown 30 seconds, Cost 75 Mana)

Name: Pyro Blast (LVL 2)

Properties: Throw a condensed ball of Fire and Arcane energy at a targeted area dealing 90-150 Damage with a 25% to cause enemies to burn dealing another 100 damage over 10 seconds. (3 Seconds, Cooldown 2 Minutes, Cost 300 Mana)

Name: Infuse Blade (LVL 2)

Properties: Channel mana into your blade to increase the cutting power (+15% Damage) of the sword you are wielding. (Instant, Self, Lasts 30 minutes, Cost 500 Mana)

Name: Wisdom of the First Race (LVL 2)

Properties: Increases the Mana and the rate at which Mage Blade recovers mana by 10%. (Passive)

Name: Blessing of the First Race (LVL 3)

Properties: All Party members primary attributes are increased by 10%, all damage is decreased by 5% (Party, Last 30 Minutes, Cost 500 Mana, Cooldown 30 Minutes)

Name: Arcane Explosion (LVL 1)

Properties: The Mage Blade condenses Mana and Arcane energy within their body then releases it in an explosive force dealing 500 damage. (Cooldown 5 minutes, Cost 1000 Mana)

"You are right Eiloma, I know very little about any of you. We are going in, Eiloma on my right. Chalxae the left and I will be in the middle. Shigna and Snaggletooth, count to 10 and follow." Jacob called out after reviewing the combat skills of his tricky Seneschal. Time to see what this place would reveal.