Dark Oak Grove of Midnight

Heart of the Grove

Andria collapsed next to Jacob in exhaustion, "My god I have not been fucked like this in a long time. By the gods, I missed this and you are ready to go again. Please tell me I won't have to trick you into fucking me again."

Jacob smiled at the exhausted Dryad, "It depends on if I am married yet or not. If I am, sorry but not a chance. I am not a cheater. Until then...depends on if I have the time or not. Remember I have a fortress to run, a Guild to help set up, and a war to win. So I do not have a whole lot of time to play like this. Plus I still have your blessing, I would hate to waste it." Jacob smiled as he moved over her. Yes the Dryad had worked the system to get him into this situation but he had decided to enjoy it.

"Oh gods, I am tired and sore, I don't think I can go...Oh, gods. Never mind, slide it all the way in baby...Oh yes right there. Fuck me harder please and don't you dare stop!!" The Dryad smiled as the Vampire started to slowly pick up the pace when he stopped all movement and cursed. "What's wrong?" The Dryad asked as he pulled away and started putting his clothes on.

"I just got a message from one of my friends. A Succubus that we had been healing attacked two of my guards and is holding another friend hostage. I have to leave now, I am sorry." Jacob called out as he dashed toward the Underdark. Andria sighed as she watched the Vampire Lord rush off into the night. She was pregnant so she had to uphold her end of the deal but she wondered if he would return on his own or not...She hoped so, she had some genetic memories of her ancestors who had relations with other Vampires before the Curse. The real thing was far better than those distant memories.

Fortress of Midnight

Main Hall

"What the fuck happened? Who does she have in there with her?" Jacob asked Tarren as he walked into the Hall.

"That Succubus has Snaggletooth in her room. He took the collar off so that he could heal her neck and she went nuts. Two guards tried to subdue her, but she used some type of Hellfire and drove them back. Snaggletooth asked us to try and let him handle it, but...I think she is going to lose it sooner rather than later man. Where have you been dude?" Tarren told him as he walked toward the back of the Hall and the sleeping quarters. Half a dozen Dawn Guards and Thorgron waited outside the room while the Succubus ranted and raved inside.

"Snaggletooth, you ok buddy?" Jacob called out as he approached the door. He didn't hear the Orc but he got an earful from the Succubus. Including suggestions that were impossible for him to do.

"Ok Shyera, you need to settle down and calm down. We brought you here to heal and when you are ready you are more then welcome to go to the Abyss, but if you harm anyone of my family, I will end you. I don't want to do that, So please calm down and let me talk to my friend. Please." Jacob called out which caused more cursing from the formerly very tame Succubus. Jacob handed Moonlight over to his Captain, "Hold this. I want it back in a minute." As he dashed into the room

Screams of rage and pain from the Succubus and Jacob followed, but in the end, Jacob had over 10 levels on her and a good amount of speed and strength. He quickly subdued her by slamming her into the floor until her nose and some of her facial bones broke and the Hellfire whip and Knife winked out. After that, the collar was placed on her again and Jacob asked Snaggletooth to quickly heal the damage Jacob dealt with her than for him to leave so Jacob could talk to her alone.

10 minutes later the Succubus woke up moaning and grabbing at her throat and crying. "Shut up, if you had not lost your shit that collar would have never been back on your throat again. Now you have 3 choices ahead of you, you choose what you will do. One you go back to the Abyss right now. Two while in this room the collar will come off but when you roam the grounds of my keep it stays on outside this room. Three you die for attacking my family members and putting them in danger. We saved you and healed you and you almost kill some of the people that have been trying to help you...I have limits to my compassion. Is that understood?" The Demoness quickly nodded her head "What do you want to do?"

"I choose the second choice, I cannot go back to the Abyss yet, they would rip me apart as I am now," Shyera responded.

Jacob nodded before responding, "Ok, the collar stays on when you are outside this room. Now if you lose your shit again and harm my people, I won't give you a choice. I will put you down like a rabid dog, understand?" Jacob asked.

The Succubus nodded while clutching at the Slave collar as Jacob left the room. He informed both Thorgron and Snaggletooth of his deal with the Succubus and told the Captain in no uncertain terms to put her down hard if she did the same shit again. He smiled and nodded as Jacob handed the key to the collar over to Snaggletooth. "I understand wanting to heal her my friend, but she endured hundreds of years of torture and abuse. She might be too broken to help. Next time, do not get in the Guards way, that is why they are there. To protect everyone." Jacob said as he walked toward his room. As much as he wanted to go back to the Grove, he needed his rest, it was going to be a long week.

Fortress Quest Complete: Dark Oak Grove Heir

Description: The Dark Oak Grove of Midnight Mistress Andria Oakleaf, is an Older Dryad and will eventually die. You choose to uphold the deal and impregnated the Dryad. She will now train those who come to her that want to follow the path of the Dark Druid.

Rewards: 2000 Fortress Experience, Dark Druid Trainer Unlocked for the Fortress of Midnight

Alert...

Due to your Keep having over 15,000 experience, you can now have two Minor Construction Jobs ongoing.

Alert...

Underdark

Sisters of the Damned Outpost

Naston Tylan walked along the walls watching the dark for any activity, he was tired and ready to for some fun before sleep. The Captain had forbidden to much enjoyment of the slaves because he wanted them battle ready in case of attack, but they had not seen anyone since they had come here 3 weeks ago. Whatever the Council feared had failed to show up and it had been dead quiet since the Battle Flag had shown up here.

Yet one of the Battle Flags assigned to Lady Amada Illinn had been wiped from existence about 2 weeks ago and follow up scouts had encountered a Hold built by the Darguun clan and they had claimed responsibility for the destruction of the missing Battle Flag. So far Lady Illinn had not decided to attack the Hold yet, instead, she had sent word to the Council of the Damned about the attack and no response had come back according to the Captain. So Lady Amada Illinn sat in Fortress Ill'Gargon, or better known as Hell to the slaves, the rest of her command waited for an attack that would probably never come.

As his Dark-Light Torch flickered he noticed a shadow moving in the distance as he felt fire across his throat and when he touched his neck it was wet, " Too easy." he heard and the ground quickly rushed to meet him. Jacob watched as the long line of former slaves led by two captured Drow walked through the portal. On the other side, Tomb Guardians waited to get the slaves settled and the prisoners secured. 4 carts with various supplies, arms, and the coin would be going through dead last. They had taken most of the day studying the routine of the Guards before striking swiftly. 21 Elite drow warriors fell to the Rogues or quick combat. None of the slaves had been awakened by the swift combat to warn their masters and all had been chained down for the night.

It had taken the better part of 4 days to march to get here and the taking of the Outpost had been anti-climatic except that the lower level members of the strike group had each gained a level upon notification of the Outpost falling. Shignas Golem was up and about with Fenwyn's Prime Imp destroying walls or lighting them on fire. "You think it will be this easy every time??" Darren asked as Jacob watched the line of people walk.

"I can hope that their arrogance will continue to prevail. It is to our advantage none of them thought that they would be attacked. As long as it continues we will have success like this. When word reaches someone in command though, heads will roll and the tune will change. Hopefully, that won't happen until it is too late. How did your Rogues do?" Jacob asked the Shadowmaster.

"They have potential and I will have three easy weeks to train them up for 1 week of hard work. What is the distance to the next Outpost?" Darren responded.

Jacob pulled up his Adventurers Map, "Well if Clan Darguun Intel is correct, the next one is a day away and we only have to follow the main tunnel to a T junction and it should be right there. If it is manned like this one, we should take it easy as well. We just got to be careful and strike swiftly when we attack and give them no time to react." Jacob said as the portal closed and everyone gathered around as the now dead outpost waited for them to leave. "Good job people, we took this place quickly and with no casualties. I want the same thing to happen next time. We have another Outpost about a day away and once we clear that we are heading straight for Ineford. After that, home. Questions or comments?" Jacob asked everyone.

One of the Rogues spoke up, "Are we going to get a cut of the spoils? Also, can I get a beer when we get to Ineford? I have not had a beer in a very long time." One of the others hit him in the kidney much to the amusement of others before Jacob responded.

"Yes, all of those who participated in these raids will get a cut of the profits on top of your wages you receive. No, I have no idea what we earned so I do not know your cut. As far as beer goes, we will talk about that when we get to the city. Any other questions?.... Ok, if you got any injuries, speak up we are heading out in 5 minutes. Water and snacks people we got a long walk ahead of us." Jacob called out over the moans of the other raiding party members

Alert...

For sacking the Outpost you have gained the following...50 units of Stone, 40 units of Wood, and 150 Gold 49 Silver 33 Copper

Alert... Jacob was stirred awake by Darren, "They are in the middle of their sleep cycle. If you want to do this I recommend doing it now." The Shadowmaster called out as he started waking others that had been napping. June and another Ranger type had already climbed up on overhangs so they could provide long-range fire where the troops inside the Outpost could not fire back at. Thelgrum and Zakoc would lead the main force if the Infiltration team failed to take out the guards quietly. Darren and Chalxae each led a strike group up and over the wall while Jacob would be a part of Darren's group and the first over the wall. He would be the first into danger and if it was a trap, he would spring it to make sure his people lived.

As Jacob climbed the wall he noticed only one guard above, so he waited for him to pass before swiftly climbing the remaining 2 feet of wall. Once he was on top he slowly stalked forward. As the two groups started cresting the wall Jacob's talons sliced a guards throat and his dagger punched through the Drows spine ending his life. Even though he was a Blood Knight, an attack from stealth was still devastating, and two mortal wounds like then ended with the guard dead within 10 seconds. With the wall guard dead, Jacob moved inside the Outpost and followed the trail of dead bodies the Rogues left. behind when he noticed a chained Orc staked away from the other slaves. He had been abused badly and a guard was approaching him to continue the abuse.

As he was about to lay into the Orc with a whip Jacobs talons drove into his spine severing it in 3 places and leaving the guard flopping around on the ground until Jacobs boot slammed into his skull crushing his head. Fucking slavers Jacob thought as he made his way over to the Orc who stared at him. "Will you keep quiet?" The Orc nodded his head and said nothing as Jacob and the rest of the infiltration team continued their work. 10 minutes and 25 deaths is how long it took to clear the Outpost of Drow. With the Drow dead the rest of the raid group made their way inside the Outpost as Shigna and Fenwyn summons got to work again. Within 10 minutes this Outpost would be gone.

He could see an Elf looking over the abused Orc from earlier, she whispered so quietly that even Jacob could not hear as he approached. "You and the rest will be going somewhere else. You will be given three choices on what to do. I hope you choose to fight Orc, something tells me you have a fire in you the SIsters could not beat away."

"He is dying and will not survive a trip anywhere sir. Please just leave us so we might know peace in the end." the Elf stated as Jacob moved closer. Jacob could see dozens of whip marks and cuts from various blades all over his body but he had been stabbed in the gut and left to die slowly.

"Not today...Mug and Snaggletooth, get over here!!!" Jacob called out and the two healers rushed over as Jacob grabbed a cup from his inventory and sliced his wrist. Someone the Sisters hated this much was someone who could be a friend to Jacob and his cause may be. "Darren, get over here and slice my wrists and then bandage them when I say so please, I don't want to die this close to Ineford and completing our mission," Jacob called out to the other Immortal. The Portal had been opened and the slaves were being moved through it.

Darren waited and Snaggletooth grabbed the cup to try and get the other Orc to drink it. Jacob nodded his head and Darren slashed, blood spilled all over the Orcs stomach as he started sipping the Gift. More than one of the former slaves watched the odd events, but none commented as they fought to save the Orc. Jacob quickly had Darren wrap his wrists so he wouldn't bleed out as Chalxae and June ran up.

"You are the one my Master told me about. Balance said you would come and free us and that you would need me soon. I am Titha, I serve Balance with all things, May I have your name?" The High Elf asked.

"Your master is a very odd fellow and I am Jacob Longstrider. You will be going with the rest of the slaves and this Orc as soon as he can be moved which should be soon." Jacob responded as the Orc suddenly sat up coughing. "Ok people, let's get him through the portal people on the other side will take care of his long term healing. Sister you too." Jacob called out as they corraled them all toward the portal.

Alert...

For sacking the Outpost you have gained the following...40 units of Stone, 20 units of Wood, 20 units of Iron, and 99 Gold, 75 Silver, 35 Copper

Alert...

City of Ineford

Soldiers Street-The Broken Shield

The Wood-Elf paced back and forth in front of the full table of soldiers, "He is late...Where are they?"

"We expected this Yilme, Jacob specifically said they might running a day maybe two late depending on how his plans fell out. Calm down, I am sure Zakoc is fine." Tarren tried to calm down the irate woman.

"You mean his madness at starting a war with.." Yilme started before Thorgron interrupted her.

"Watch your tongue lass. People hear things in places like this and could easily get back to people we don't want to know. Understand?" the Duergar gave her a hard stare as his fingers drummed on his sword hilt. More than one set of eyes had turned their way at the mention of war. War was good news for them, it meant money and pay, but information was also valuable. "Sit down lass and keep calm, Jacob will be here sooner or later with your husband in tow. If Jacob doesn't make it, they are both likely dead and back at home. So relax, enjoy a pint."

The bar door opened and several people came in heading directly for the table, "I told you we would be here. Thorgron, do we have another 50? Did we get everything we needed? How did the discussion go with the Smiths? Yilme, your husband is outside keeping an eye on the street to make sure we don't attract too many extra friends. Now are these 5 our newest recruits?" Jacob asked as he stared at the 5 cloaked Immortals sitting next to Thorgrons table. The lowest level was 50 and the highest was 75 and had deterred more than one person to sit to close to the odd party.

"Yes Jacob, these are the newest recruits that are heading home with us. We got the 50 and the supplies we needed to finish up the work and the smiths will have all our new suits completed within 2 weeks. I am sure Jigibs wants it sooner rather then later so we might want to head out soon. I assume everything went well on your end and our new neighbors are now gone?" Thorgron asked while looking around meeting several stares.

"Yes, we threw them a very warm welcome to the neighborhood. They didn't like it and left, but some of their occupants joined us and are at home waiting for us. One was a very odd woman of Balance. I am sure Tarren here would be interested in her and her story. Now, why don't you gather the 50 and head toward the gate we used last time. I have a meeting that I have to get too. Darren, I will see you at the gate as well for the last goodbye." Jacob responded while heading toward the door. Tarren stared after him trying to puzzle the meaning of his words before giving up and finishing his beer.

City of Ineford

Senior Merchant Council Estate

Dudrik finally closed his balance book as he looked at the coat of arms. Since that man had left, all the political turmoil had died down somewhat and the other leaks had been found and plugged, but the Council was certain more spies and traitors waited for the SIsters to command them. Dudrik put those thoughts out of his mind, it was a worry for another day. What lay before him though was not as Dudrik stared at the drawing of the coat of arms and all his notes he had found on it. Any information he could find only came from the oldest texts and none of it was definitive. For the last month, he had tried every source he could to try and figure out what it stood for and he was on the brink of using...alternative sources of research. He wasn't that desperate yet though, he still had some people he had yet to see that he could still try. "Mylord, someone is here to see you. They do not have an appointment though." A guard called out.

"Then send them away and tell them to come back after they made an appointment," Dudrik responded as he looked up from his notes.

The guard chuckled, "He said you would say that. He said to ask you 'Enjoying the coat of arms? Have you found what it stands for yet?' What do you want me to do sir?" the Guard asked.

Think of the devil..."Send him in immediately. Do not give him a hard time!!"

A few moments later a cloaked figure led by his guard entered his office, "You have left me with quite a puzzle. I have found very little about this coat of arms and what little I did find is from the oldest books I have. All hint that the people who used this coat were pure evil and wiped out a long time ago. No word as to who though or why or how they were evil. Care to enlighten me?"

The cloaked figure chuckled as both his companions growled of all things before the leader simply lifted his finger and shook it at them, "Relax ladies, the victors always get to write the history books and just because it is in a book does not mean it is true. Is that not right Dudrik?"

"Yes, you are right. Fact is not always recorded into the history books, but perceived notions can easily be misinterpreted as facts. The books I used referenced things that happened hundreds of years before they are written, so I don't completely trust them. Based off of what you say increases my doubts." Dudrik responded as he considered his words.

"Tell me, if, for example, your neighbors attacked because you had what they wanted but you drove them off or killed them, would you be evil?" the cloaked figure asked.

"No, of course not. I would be defending my home." Dudrik stated as he thought the answer was obvious.

"Yet if those same neighbors came back with say even more family and supposedly killed all of yours...They could spin the story any way they wanted. Who would challenge them to the so-called 'facts'?" the cloaked figure cocked his head as if considering what he was going to say or do before pulling back his hood and revealing a youthful face of an Elf/Human halfling. "I am Jacob Longstrider, of the Fortress of Midnight and I am trying to be your friend. Now, I am giving you fair warning I will be leaving some of my family here to watch and eliminate any remaining influence the Sisters of the Damned have within your city. It is part of an ongoing dispute I and my family have with them. They have very specific orders not to harm anyone loyal to the Council of Merchants, they will eliminate with extreme prejudice any Sisters or associates. Speaking of, did you ever find the second traitor on the Council?" Jacob asked the Dwarf as he slowly accepted what he had said.

"Yes, we found two more traitors on the Council and we don't need some backwater Lord policing our streets for spies." Dudrik bristled at the implied incompetence.

"Well then, my people won't find anything. I warned you last time I wanted Ineford to stay independent and neutral for the time being. That time is running out though. Eventually, this city will fall one way or another to me and mine. The question is Lord Merchant Dudrik Goldflint how many will die if they do not accept the diplomatic offering I will hand them. The Council will be given one chance when I come to them if you cannot convince them I will crush your city and kill as many as I have to. I will make Ineford a graveyard if I have no choice Lord Goldflint." with that Jacob stood and bowed slightly, "Tell me, who would you recommend to watch over Ineford as Regeant?" with that the halfling left taking his companions with him.

City of Ineford

Cavern outside the city walls

"Alright you sacks of Goblin shit, get through that portal on the double." Jacob heard as Thorgron cursed and spat at the newest recruits. Behind them were 4 carts and the supplies they desperately needed to finish up the construction escorted by War Parties led by Tarren, Yilme, and Zakoc.

Jacob and Darren stood off to the side with Chalxae, "Did you really have to be all dramatic like that Jacob?" the Shadowmaster asked.

"I had to get the point across and politics is half art anyway. You guys wanted me to lead...So this is me leading. Either that Dwarf will join us or he will be buried with the rest of the idiots when the dust settles. We cannot afford to have the City of Ineford as an enemy, so either they join us willingly or the fall to our armies. Simple as that. Now you have all your orders for both the spies and the other thing?" Jacob asked Darren.

"Yes, yes, it will all be done. I will see you in a months time my friend and I have the communications ring so I will stay in touch. Watch your back out there, those joining us are ambitious. Do not be surprised if they try to take a shot at you and if they do..put them down hard." Darren said before grabbing the other Vampire and hugging him hard before moving off.

Chalxae and Jacob were the only ones left now and the portal would close in about 30 seconds according to his HUD, "Stay safe Chal and listen to Darren he has been doing stuff like this for a while. You will be second in command though. Don't forget to eat, you have your supplies of blood. No fresh stuff, please. Be safe, I would rather the mission fail and you all come home safe then succeed and you guys die."

"I understand Jacob and will come back. You have my word that you are not done with me yet and I will see you all again I promise." Chalxae said as she turned away and headed into the city. A lot could happen in a months time though Jacob thought as he jumped through the portal before it closed.