City of Ineford

Slums

Darren didn't mind field assignments, but sitting waiting for some idiot to stick his neck out sucked. Darren had been watching the Necromancer Samuels for the better part of 24 hours and beyond sensing large amounts of magic being used, he had no idea what the guy was doing. The better question was why had the Lord Merchant Dudrik Goldflint sought him out? From what Darren had been able to find, Samuels had been a minor Merchant Lord on the Council when suddenly both his business and Council were lost. Apparently being a hereditary Necromancer was frowned upon, so his career was destroyed. So he had embraced his heritage and was a decent Necromancer.

Their primary mission had already turned up 6 different spies for the Sisters and all were under surveillance. Within a few days, they would have the targets basic lives planned out and could figure out how to take them out withdrawing too much attention. Making examples of them was less important than silencing them. So far all associates of the Merchant Lords that had been turned by the Sisters, were clean but were corrupt in other ways.

Suddenly the hut door flew open and Samuels suddenly stumbled out and he looked around. He looked desperate and scared as he pulled his hood up and started walking down the street with a heavy bag over his shoulder. Interesting Darren thought, whatever Samuels had found made him scared and he was running. What had Dudrik Goldflint asked the Necromancer about...

City of Ineford

Senior Merchant Council Estate

Dudrik hurried out the door as Samuels waited fidgeting and as soon as the Dwarf appeared he cast a quick spell of silence around the two. "What the hell did you get me into, are you completely intent on destroying me?" Samuels asked as Dudrik walked out.

"What are you talking about? What did you find out about that Coat of Arms?" Dudrik asked. He noticed the man had large sackcloth with him. Whatever he had found, scared him enough to cause him to run from everything he had ever known.

"You really have no idea, do you. You stumbled on one of the biggest secrets that the world tried to bury, and you have no idea. Who gave you this?" Samuels responded while looking around.

"An associate that has expressed interest in the direction the City is taking and assisted in dealing with some political problems recently. He has made certain...statements about people he represents and what they will do if we do not support them and their endeavors. Is what he say true or is it all lies and boosts." Dudrik asked while looking at the edge Necromancer.

Hearing what the Dwarf said Samuels stopped fidgeting and stared at Dudrik with fear and sadness, "Whatever he says, just do it. He represents..." before he could continue his head suddenly jerked backward and a knife exploded from his throat and Samuels collapsed at his feet.

A cloaked figure stood over the corpse of the Necromancer while shaking his finger at Dudrik. "You were given specific instructions Lord Merchant Dudrik Goldflint. You can find out anything you can, but you have to do it. No one else. This man is dead because you brought him in on something he should never have found. Now, this is your one and only warning Dudrik, next time we will eliminate you as well and any chance your city will have to be brought into the fold peacefully will die with you." with the threat stated plainly he faded from sight. Looking around Dudrik noticed all 4 guards that had been with him were out cold.

It was time he made a choice, and he wasn't sure what would be best for his people...

Fortress of Midnight

War Room

"So what have you found so far Darren?" Jacob asked through the communication stone.

"From what we can find so far that the Sisters network was damaged by the sweeps the Ineford guard did after we shut down Terry Douglas. We have found 6 agents though and so far all remaining Council members although somewhat corrupt are clean of influence. We have made some inroads in influencing certain members of the Council so if Goldflint ever brings any measures to join you it will receive some support. We have also started your backup plan and we have some support but a lot of those people make homes here and don't want to rock the boat." Darren reported.

"Keep pushing, one way or another Ineford will join us. Keep an eye on those agents and if you cannot find any other associates start the ball rolling on eliminating them. Anything else to report?" Jacob asked as brought up the War map and looked at the strategic map again.

"Yeah, Goldflint reached out to a Necromancer about the Coat of Arms you gave him. We had to eliminate the Necromancer before he told Goldfling anything. He definitely found something because he was freaking out and was ready to run when we caught up to him. We warned Goldflint that only he could do the research and not to include anyone again." Darren reported

"Well, it seems our Merchant Lord is getting desperate, keep an eye on him and try to keep him from doing anything stupid," Jacob responded before cutting the connection.

"You are playing a very dangerous game mylord. The situation could go either way and if the Council decides against you...Taking Ineford would be difficult and would result in the deaths of hundreds. I have no idea how you would take the city if they decided against you though." Tathlyn Hune stated as he looked at the War Table as he enhanced the view on the city in question.

"That is why we make plans my friend, now what do you think about the idea of launching the raids on the outposts early so when we go to face the Council of Merchants, we can immediately concentrate on Fortress Ill'Gargon after. It will also give us more time to train any new recruits before we finally hit the fortress." Jacob responded.

City of Ineford

Council Chambers

"My brothers and Sisters, I have come to bring you grave news. We stand upon a brink of change and it will be decided here how we will proceed here in this place. As most of you know, our ranks were infiltrated by agents of the Sisters of the Damned led by Terry Douglas. What was not revealed was that a third party was involved and they were the ones that provided this body with all the evidence to see him and his conspirators jailed or executed. The same person that saved us from the Sisters influence has shown interest in our city and where its allegiance lays. Something is changing in the Underdark and this person who once saved us now is on the brink of demanding our allegiance. I believe that this person does not only have the power to conquer this city through martial might but intends to do so if we do not submit to his will he will force us to his will. So...brothers and sisters I now put it before this body to help determine what we will do and leave the floor at this time." Lord Merchant Dudrik Goldflint finished his speech. The roars of various voices quickly drowned out his steps as he made his way toward his seat. He didn't state what path he supported, for now, he would sit back and watch and based on the heated shouts the discussion would last for hours if not days.

Fortress of Midnight

Mess Hall

Jacob watched as Zakoc and Yilme duel two of the new recruits, "Bitch" had gotten his ass handed to Yilme very thoroughly. Jax, aka "Bitch", was as arrogant as he was stupid and how he had attracted Tarren attention as either trustworthy or potential for the new clan. "What is your problem with Jax," Tarren asked as he sat next to him.

"The guy is an arrogant know it all and stupid enough to think he can do whatever he wants. He is going to get his Bonded killed if not others, so what exactly do you see in him that you would want in our new Guild?" Jacob asked as he continued to watch the newbies.

"Your right, he has a big mouth, but he is a damn good tank and he knows how to train others on that path. You might even learn a thing or two, but whenever he goes out in the field all of that gets put away. He takes it seriously and is actually pretty cautious." Tarren responded.

Jacob grunted as he brought up the pop-ups from the morning.

Construction Complete...

Spoiler: Spoiler

Minor Construction...

Cistern (LVL1)

Durability: 1000/1000

Description: This water storage facility can house up to 1000 Units of water and unlocks your fortress ability to have a Bath House which increases your settlements Health and Morale.

Training Yard (LVL 1)

Durability: 800/800

Description: The Training Yard addition to the Barracks is used to assist with the training of guards and help maintain their martial skills and abilities (This addition to the Barracks will decrease training time of new personnel by 25% and will unlock the Warrior Trainer for your fortress).

Barracks (LVL 2)(Amount 2)

Durability: 5000/5000

Inhabitants: 100/100 Tomb Guardians

Description: As long as there have been organized militaries, there has been Barracks buildings to house, feed, train, and arm soldiers. This basic Barracks will house your soldiers, everything else still has to be built. The Barracks will increase the and Morale (Fair) and increase the rate at which they gain experience (+7.5%). Building additions and upgrading the Barracks will increase these and have other effects upon your troops.

Bonus: Having Captain Thardan Dulkamlead the troops increases the Morale of troops to (Good) and increases their Armor Rating by 5%. Sgt.Umurn allows you to enhance the fixed defenses of your Fortress and lands.

Quest Complete: Barracks Basics

Description: Construction of the Training Yard addition has been completed and the Dawn Guard will now be able to train more proficiently and faster.

Rewards: 500 Keep Experience, Decrease training time of your Personal Guard by 25%

The new training yard was a nice and needed addition for the Barracks, it included two dueling rings several melee dummies, and a small fenced in yard where small unit tactics were currently being worked as the new Dawn Guards were being trained up. The only thing it was missing was target dummies for archers, but those might unlock at the next level...

"Well, I hope you are right and not overstating his skills and abilities. As soon as they are done sparring take them out and get them started on grinding. They need to be leveled up so they can get some Bonded." Jacob said as he made his way outside the Fortress walls and to check on the new army recruits. City of Ineford

Council Chambers

Lord Merchant Dudrik Goldflint watched the madness for the second day in a row. The Council had broken apart for 8 hours just to allow the Council members to sleep and now it was back in full session and yet nothing was being done. Arguments and fights broke out and the proctors had waded into the Council chamber more than once to ensure outright war did not break out within the Council chambers, but it had been a close thing. "Silence, this chamber and its Council will come to order!!" The Mediator called out as he strode out on the floor, he was flanked by 2 squads of Council Guards to make sure his will was done. "A lot of opinions and angry words have been voiced over the last day, yet nothing has been decided. I would ask and require the vaunted Lord Merchant Dudrik Goldflint to add his opinion to the discussion. He brought this...situation before all of us, yet he has failed to give his opinion on the matter and as Mediator I call upon Lord Merchant Dudrik Goldflint to give his opinion on this matter now so we all might now know what his opinion is." Well played old man, Dudrik had no choice now but the Mediator was following the rules and enforcing his power on the Council.

"Thank you, Mediator, for bringing the Council to order. That is the question, what shall we do? Submit and be ruled, fight and commit our people to an unknown number of deaths. What shall we decide...I am certain that we will fall, but do we have to submit and have these people at our throats or could we form a partnership with them and usher in a new age for our people. My opinion is that we submit, but as a client state to this foreign power. We will maintain autonomy, but we will ultimately answer to them. This Council will maintain its power, the foreigners will be happy, and it will keep our people alive. If anyone can think of a better way to placate them and keep our people alive please enlighten me." with that Dudrik sat down and the Mediator smiled and bowed slightly to the younger Dwarf. This time when the crowd erupted it was much tamer and controlled and more than one of the Council member was looking at Dudrik in consideration.