Unknown Location

Jacob slowly opened eyes to the silent rocking, his eyes snapped open expecting to continue fighting the last thing he remembered. The unending tide of Undead, but all he saw was a boat he was on, the river surrounding the boat, and the nearby land that was shrouded in fog. "Relax Jacob Longstrider, you have no enemies here." Jacob slowly turned to the man that sat opposite of him. He wore an opulent robe with a staff that absorbed the nearby light pitted with various gems. "Welcome back to the almost land of the living. I knew I would eventually meet you based on the life you have chosen to live, but I did not expect you so soon. A worthy death though." The man was heavily muscled, broad-shouldered, and his eyes were pitch black.

"Who are you if you do not mind me asking?" Jacob spoke as he contemplated the man and his surroundings.

The man snorted, "Come on, I am sure you have a guess based on our location alone."

Jacob smiled, "I have a good idea, but I would rather have you confirm my suspicions then guess."

The man nodded his head in acknowledgment, "I understand your point of view. I was told you were smart and cautious. I am Charon, servant of Thanatos. I thought I might introduce myself since you have been sending me a steady stream of business lately and my boss has his eye on you since your plans are likely to result in more work for us."

"Yes, well that is the way the world works. If I don't do it someone else will. How long have I been out?" Jacob asked as he studied the minor god.

The pale man smiled, "You have been out nearly 6 hours and will be leaving my company shortly. I thought it would be nice to have this conversation real quick before you left my company and to ask you not to overwhelm us too much too soon. Good help is so hard to find." Charon said and suddenly Jacob felt pulling and the world started to be consumed by darkness and the godling smiled and waved goodbye.

Tomb of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Master Suite

Jacob woke taking deep slow breaths as the world came back into focus. He looked around and the room was empty, from what he could hear and feel no one was in the room with him and no one was outside the room. Jacob contemplated his run-in with the minor god as he reviewed his alert.

Alert...

You have died, due to this being your first death you have lost...1,000 Experience. Note this the cost of dying will increase from now on as your level increases and the number of times you die.

You have lost...10 Gold. Note, you will lose more money each time you die.

Alert...

You are suffering under resurrection sickness...

All stats are decreased by 10% for the next...6...hours

Experience gained is decreased by 25% for the next...6...hours

Resurrection sickness duration and effects will increase based on the number of times you die and if you die while still suffering from resurrection sickness.

Alert...

Jacob rolled out of bed and immediately checked his inventory, all his equipment was there including all the drops from the Plagued Ruines. He immediately left his room and headed toward the throne room when he heard shouting in the distance and even though he hurt had put on a burst of speed.

Tomb of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Throne Room

Eiloma snarled at the nobles as they tried to get by her and to the Throne of Night, "The King is dead, someone needs to step up and fill the void. It is only natural that I take the throne."

Eiloma roller her eyes at the nobles blatant power grab, "King Longstrider of House Lightsbane is an Immortal, you idiot. It does not matter that he is dead, it is only a matter of time until he resurrects on his own. Unless he gives up power by his own volition, the Throne of Night is his. Any act to seize the throne is an act of rebellion."

The Noble snarled but then a blur slammed into him hacking into his neck again and again. The other nobles that had entered the throne room started drawing weapons but the Heart Guard and Dawn Guard swarmed them disarming them and holding them at weapons point. The struggling noble tried to fend his attacker off but he was hacking at his neck in a frenzy until his head finally rolled away. "Gentlemen and Ladies, those who wish to survive will leave now and I will forget this little insurrection now. My Seneschal is correct, I am an Immortal and will always come back. If you do this again, you and your Houses will be Purged. Guards release them." Suddenly the former usurpers scrambled to leave while Jacob considered his advisory Council and his War Party, Darren and Chalxae who all looked at him. Studying him and his appearance. "Captain Shadowstrider, can you place this mans head somewhere that will remind the nobility of their mistakes." The Captain smiled and nodded before gathering the head and heading out. "Council members, we will discuss this at a later time. Darren, I expect your report no later then tomorrow and Cathrine can I please have a moment?"

Eiloma sighed in relief as the large group broke up and Jacob led his first wife toward the Master Suite followed closely by June, Chalxae, and after a moment Eiloma followed as well. This meeting is going to be interesting Eiloma thought. Jacob looked at Cathrine who was standing there just observing him and their bond was strangely silent, something Jacob did not like at all. The 3 other women, silently watched him as well and did not say anything. "Cathrine...please say something." Suddenly he felt pure anguish and Cathrine jumped into his army crying and balling her eyes out.

Suddenly Cathrine pulled back and punched Jacob sending him stumbling back and crashing into the wall. A guard looked inside and before leaving and closing the door behind him. "That was for making me leave." Cathrine spit out, "Now how are you doing?"

Jacob sighed while rubbing his jaw, "As well as expected after being torn apart by a bunch of Zombies, Skeletons, and a pair of Reapers. Had a nice heart to heart with Charon, who said Thanatos had his eye on me for some reason. It wasn't fun for me either, point is that I could come back from this and you guys could not. It was an easy choice to decide on who was staying behind." Jacob said as he relived the last few moments before he was torn apart. Not pleasant thoughts, but he was alive again and his people were safe, that is what mattered.

Cathrine nodded before walking closer and hugging Jacob again and yanking his head down for an angry kiss before stepping back, "Don't ever do that again."

"So, did you figure out what to do about that stupid shield? Did you update the Nine about Xin being put down?" Jacob asked her

Cathrine slowly strolled over and sat down, "I have been waiting for you to come back. I sent a message to my family with the broad strokes of what happened at the Plagued Ruins. They are not aware of the existence of the shield and I do not trust the Nine or anyone with its existence. We have to find a way to destroy it safely without a chance of unleashing the plague it contains."

Jacob smiled, "I think I know a guy who could probably help us out. I just got to reach out and talk to him and see if he is willing too."

Suddenly someone started knocking on the suits door, "My king the Immortal Darren Shadowstrider is requesting admittance. He says his report cannot wait until tomorrow. Will you allow him entry?"

Arathia Basin

Captain Arlan Strongarm and Lieutenant-Commander Ironbark poured over the plans for the outpost, the base of the walls were stone for the first 5 feet then the remaining 5 feet were wood, 6 feet wide, and archer towers at every corner and on either side of the main gate. Combat engineers were building Scorpions every 30 feet along the length of the wall.

A 4-foot ditch was being dug around the wall and scouts had been deployed a days ride to the north to watch the incoming approaches from Middlebrough. It should give them at least 12 hours notice before any force approached the new outpost that was only half complete.

"We should lay down traps between the road and main approach for the outpost every 10 feet. Alternating elemental types to maximize damage. Place ditches and stakes as well to break any incoming formations." Lieutenant-Commander Ironbark pointed to the indicated areas on the map of the local area.

"Once primary construction of the outpost and support buildings is complete, yes." Captain Strongarm responded. Arlen studied his counterpart, he was cold and professional but there was something about him that had seen to much. "Construction should be complete within 48 hours at this rate, and the Mage shield will be deployed 24 hours after that. It's only a basic unit but it will provide some protection from siege engines."

Lieutenant-Commander Ironbark nodded in agreement, "The Scorpions are basic units and do not require Engineers to use. The trees we are clearing to the west and south will provide us with the resources for ammunition and stakes for the ditches. Once the primary construction is complete, I think it will take the better part of 5 days to build all the traps, both magical and mundane. We will leave one path to and from the road that is safe that locals and our troops can use to get to and from the outpost."

"Do you know when we can expect any relief from the Empire?" Captain Strongarm asked as he studied the map and Lieutenant-Commander Ironbark ideas for additional defenses for the outpost.

Lieutenant-Commander Ironbark, "At least a month unless we have an emergency. We received a large infusion of new recruits recently and they have to be trained up to standard before they can be deployed into the field. You see us as professional soldiers, but it takes time to train people up to that standard." Ironbark smiled as he remembered his own strenuous training.

Tomb of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Master Suite

"Well that Intel hand-off situation escalated quickly. Let's not use that Garen guy again if he cannot figure out he is being tailed for an ambush. We are sure the information is solid though?" Jacob asked Darren after he recounted the tale of the ambush.

Darren immediately nodded, "It lines up with what we already knew and fills in some of the gaps we were blind too. We can also confirm the Weighted Chance usually only has 50 members present at any time, while their allies no more than 12. For some reason, they don't trust each other." Darren finished with a snort. That is what happens when you deal with PKs though.

"So, 1,200 regulars with 300 local mercs in support are the confirmed troop count. Any of the mercs have ties to the mercenary groups based in Ineford?" Jacob asked Darren as he continued to read over the information Garen had provided after forwarding copied to be Cathrine and Eiloma. June and Chalxae were snacking on food Jacob had ordered.

Darren shook his head, "First thing I asked and whoever was recruiting for Middlebrough avoided any group that had ties with Ineford. Even independent mercs with ties to Ineford were turned away." Darren replied as he brought out the detailed map of Middlebrough Garen had provided that included troop locations and dispositions, inspections of the wall and static defenses, and an assessment of the locals and how they view the current government.

Jacob nodded and sighed as he leaned back, "Ok, get all this information down to the Strategic Planning and make sure it gets sealed away. Get some rest, I think the next couple weeks are going to be hectic." Darren smiled as he stood and left the room and closed the door behind him.

Jacob studied Cathrine as Darren left, she studiously ignored him until he pulled her out of her chair and into his lap making her pay attention too him. "What?" she asked, irritated that he had interrupted her studying the information that Darren had brought.

"I am sorry, but if the situation had been reversed, you would have done the same for me," Jacob told the still annoyed Banshee before he pulled her gently in for a kiss. "Now I know we have had a busy day, but what have you guys thought of about the various perk trees?" Jacob asked referring toward the kingdom tab and the perks within.

"Are we going to have a lazy day today?" June asked while munching on some sort of fruit.

Jacob nodded immediately, "I am. With the resurrection sickness, I am a liability in the field unless I have no other choice. In about 6 hours or so, I will be back up to full strength, until then..."

Chalxae smiled, "So you are at our mercy, this could be fun ladies." Chalxae responded with a Cheshire grin while Jacob blushed.

"After work, I need to study the intel about Middlebrough and figure out my Perks," Jacob responded quickly.