Tomb of Eternal Night

Palace of Night-Throne room

The morning was done and 50 petitioners later, Jacob was finally taking a break. The petitions covered everything from building maintenance to request for building a new general store to pardoning a loved one of a crime. The advisors laughed at Jacob when he sighed in relief that they were done for the day. "Is it like this every day?" Jacob asked them.

"Every other day, during the morning the Queen holds open court where anyone can come with requests. Most get turned away in disappointment, like today but some get their requests approved." One of the advisors replied while the others packed up whatever they had brought and left.

"Your thoughts?" Jacob asked Eiloma.

"You would tell them all yes if you could, wouldn't you?" Eiloma responded looking up from her tablet.

"Not all," Jacob responded defensively.

"You need to learn not to indulge every request and give them what they need and not what they want," Eiloma responded.

"Guess that is why I am not King, just a Steward." Jacob smiled as she snorted at his response. "What else do we have on the list of things to get done today?"

"As far as Eternal Night, nothing unless an emergency comes up. At New Dawn the new Gnomes want you to take a look at what they have proposed to build there and they want to take a look at Midnight as well to see what they can construct there." Eiloma responded, "One of the War Parties found a new dungeon between New Dawn and the Narrows, level 35. They have no idea what populates the dungeon though. They also found another Drow doorway."

"Ok, earmark 75 Gold for the War Party that found the Dungeon and doorway as a reward and make sure it gets to them. Do I have any time in the next couple of days to make a dungeon run?" Jacob asked Eiloma who snorted in response.

"Unlikely, but I will find time for you to go adventuring. I know you need to continue to go stronger." Eiloma said as she scrutinized the papers in front of her.

"Ok, I am going to head out. I have to see a couple people here before I head to New Dawn. If you need me, you can contact me through my communication ring or coin." Jacob told her as he left with June, Chalxae, and 10 of the Dawn Guard.

Tomb of Eternal Night

Library

Octavious was happy to see Jacob, but for the first time, he wasn't the only person there at the Library. "So what can I help you with Jacob Longstrider?" The older looking Vampire asked.

"I need any information you can give me about the Cult of the True, specifically what Houses supported them. Second I need to know anything on the Blood Lord and his armor." Jacob told the librarian who whistled at the subject and more than one of the nearby occupants looked up.

Octavious quickly pulled Jacob to his personal office, "Information like that is sensitive, some of the Houses will think you will be going on a witch hunt by looking into the Cult of the True."

"They are a threat to our people, I am not going to accuse innocent people but I need more information on them," Jacob told the Librarian.

"Very well, I will send you all the information I have to the Palace Lord Steward. As far as the Blood Lord though, very little was written about him. He is one of the most revered figures in our society. After his death, the 8 pieces of his armor set and shield were divided by what would become the 8 noble houses. The sword that you wield was kept by what would become the Royal family. Some believe the Royal bloodline were his children but no one knows for sure. I know the necklace was turned over to the Royal family before the end of the War of Survival. I am sure other pieces of the set were taken by some of the surface races, which pieces and where they are I have no idea. I would recommend you go to the House of Remembrance, they might be able to help you." Octavious responded before bowing and leaving.

Tomb of Eternal Night

House of Rememberence

Jacob could smell fire and hear the distant clash of arms, all kinds of beings were fleeing from the fighting as the combined might of the Light and Dark assaulted Onyx Stronghold. They had been under siege for the last year and Third and Fifth Legions were finally almost broken. Jacob could feel the exhaustion and bitterness of the Vampires memories, they had fought for over a year here and the combined assault had finally cracked their lines and troops were flooding into the Stronghold. Lord Black Thorn looked at the shield in front of him, it was as ancient as his race studied with spikes and jewels equally. It was a mix of beauty and brutality, Blood-Steel and had been the Blood Lords before he had died so long ago at the hands that were afraid of his power.

"How long the last of the non-combatants have been evacuated?" Lord Black Thorn as he placed the precious shield in the pack.

"Another hour at least mylord. What remains of the Third and Fifth Legions are retreating in an orderly fashion, but it is only a matter of time until they are completely overrun. The Seventh is 30 minutes away, but even with them we are still outnumbered 6 to 1." The warrior reported.

"Understood soldier, get this pack to my son. He and my personal guard will be leaving with the next group of non-combatants. I left a letter with the shield, he will know what to do with both, do not fail me, James." Lord Black Thorn told the bowing Vampire. Suddenly the memory dissolved into shadows and Jacob stumbled back from the glowing orb as it darkened and withdrew back into the alcove. Dozens of orbs dotted the wall in front of him, all dating from the very founding of the Empire of NIght to the end of the War of Survival.

"Relax and breath Lord Longstrider, the memory of those that have passed into the nights embrace are graphic. We take in the emotions as thoughts of those we interact with. It will pass with time Lord." the robed figure told Jacob as he stumbled away from the alcove. "I would recommend you only do 1 memory a day otherwise you risk damaging your mind."

Jacob considered the acolyte's words as he read the Mind-Warped De-Buff. Yeah, definitely not going to go into long-dead Vampires memories very often. "Where to next?" June asked.

Kingdom of Zeren'Gor

Aymeneas

Queen Llollin Elpryn looked at the assembled Matriarchs, "So you all know the request the Matriarch Zelpassa Cormrael made, shall we render assistance or not?" The council made a resounding negative vote.

"Then the Sisters of the Damned will continue to stand on their own. What do we know about their opposition?" Llollin asked.

The Matriarchs knew nothing and those that worshiped Lolth said the Goddess had written the clan off as a loss for the Drow people. Llollin would miss the income from all the taxes they levied on the clan, but she must first look to her people's well being first. "Whatever our assets within that clan can tell us, I want to know. If they have found an enemy that is a threat to our people, I want to know about it sooner rather then later."

Tomb of Eternal Night

Palace of Night

The alarm bells ringing brought Jacob out of a dead sleep, it was just before midnight and it had been a long day. Jacob scrambled out of bed and running to the nearby window. He could see the Tomb Guardians running around and could see the gates at the Inner Wall closing and sealing the city. What the hell is going on Jacob thought as the door burst open and 6 of the Heart Guard burst in looking at him, "Report?" Jacob barked out.

"You need to come with us!" the lead guard said while pulling a robe from the nearby closet and handing it too him. Jacob shrugged putting the robe on and followed the 6 Heart Guards out of the room. 15 minutes later he was outside the Master Suite, a dozen of the Heart Guard was there with acting Captain James Shadowstrider.

"What is going on Captain?" Jacob asked the stunned Vampire, he just opened the door and pointed inside.

Jacob slowly walked inside the room, the Queen lay in bed peacefully with a dagger buried in her throat and blood drenching the bed. "How did this happen, who did it?" Jacob asked.

"The room is sealed magically, no one could have gotten in without us knowing it. Someone brought her tea about 3 hours ago before she went to sleep, I checked myself, she was alive. No assassin could have infiltrated the palace and gotten inside that room." James said, "What are your orders?"

"Summon the council, they will have to appoint a new ruler," Jacob told him but the former Sergeants eyes went hard.

James slammed Jacob against the nearby wall, "It is time for you to stop running from your responsibilities Jacob, we both know she named you her heir. She made sure the every one of the Heart Guard knew that. If you hadn't been so intent on running, you would be our first suspect in her death. You are the future King of our people, act like it."

Jacob nodded at James statement, "Summon the council James, they must be informed and I am sure they will voice their opinions, but without them, it could easily turn into a civil war. Keep the city on lockdown though and the Tomb Guardians out in force, I don't want people to think they can use this time to grab power or destabilize the city. I will be summoning the remaining Dawn Guards to reinforce the Heart Guard, but they will answer to me, just like you. Understand?" The Vampire nodded as he started barking orders to the nearby Heart Guards while Jacob contacted Eiloma about what had happened and to let her know that he wanted the Dawn Guard here ASAP. After cutting communications with his Seneschal he brought out the letter Talia had left him.

Jacob,

I am sure you have a million questions and even more doubts, but I have faith in you. You proved to me early on that once you put your mind to something, you always figured out how to get it done. I believe you will be a good king when I die, but do not let anyone control you. Do not make the same mistakes I did.

When I first gained the crown after my father died, I was a weak ruler. I compromised and insured my rule by allying with the Cult of the True. They wanted me to poison the council, but instead, I poisoned all those that had joined to Cult with me. The Council members should eventually recover from my betrayal.

Our people have been stuck in the past too much and you are the future, you will need to bring them into the present kicking and screaming. Trust your instincts Jacob and be a better leader then I was. As a last gift and to help ensure your rule, I have collected something for you and it is locked in the Royal Vault. You can access it at any time. Good luck Jacob Longstrider of House Lightsbane and King of the Empire of Night.

With hope,

Talia

World Alert...

The long forgotten Empire of Night, once thought destroyed, rises again. A time is coming when Immortals will have to choose a side in the coming conflict as the Vampires rise once again. See the new trailer and faction info on the Blackrock web site.

World Alert...