Underdark-Black Basalt Region

City of Gahlin- Keep

Regional Alert...

The Stronghold of Gahlin has evolved into the City of Gahlin

Regional Alert...

Alert...

Due to the evolution of the City of Gahlin, a population suitable for the city will arrive in 24:00:00.

Alert...

"Seriously?" Tarren asked as he strode up, General Girmak Ironbreak right behind him with a pair of Legionnaires with him.

Jacob smiled as the ground started to rumble steadily, "An Empire never sleeps and we needed to expand anyway, this will give us another population center, a small one but a population none the less. Based on the information I received the immigrants will be no more than 50% of what this city can contain, so we won't be overwhelmed here. General Ironbreak, you will be the Regional Commander and the Fourth Legion will be based out of the City of Gahlin. Lord Ranyln Do'und will be appointed Regent of the city and Governor of the Black Basalt Region of the Empire of Night. The Dead Legion reinforcements will be arriving within the next couple hours so the Fourth will not be alone. Tarren I want you to stay here for a week to oversee the transition here and make sure Lord Do'und acclimates to being a Vampire please." Both beings nodded as Jacob moved outside, he could distantly see parts of the First and Second Legions guarding the siege engines as the engineers worked to break down the engines for transport. Distantly Jacob could see shapes emerge from the westbound tunnel as the reinforcements of Clan Darguun emerge.

Jacob watched as the Portal tore open and started disgorging the Dead Legion, a little over 2,000 would be coming through. With the conquest of this place, he did not have a choice but to create so many to beef up the garrison forces. The Jacob watched as the First and Second Legions start removing items, chests, and other goods from the keep that would be going back to the Tomb with them. Jacob could see Houses, Wells, Smithies, Markets, and roads all forming from the bedrock of the cavern as the outer wall moved further and further away from the inner wall and keep. Other rocks were flowing like water up the walls patching the breach while the gate Jacob's forces had battered down and breaches were slowly reforming. It was a truly amazing process. Jacob smiled and made a note on his video feed to make sure the activity was posted, but no location data would be included.

Suddenly the mass that was Clan Darguun troops stopped while a dozen or so continued on toward the fortress. General Ironbark came stomping up, "Sir, breaking down the Siege Engines will be completed within the hour. Transferring of both weapons, armor, and whatever was in their Vaults and other hidden areas is ongoing and should take about the same amount of time, maybe a little more. Representatives of Clan Darguun and an allied clan are approaching. They will be here momentarily, do you have any orders for the Second Legion?" Jacob thanked the Orc and dismissed him.

Jacob watched as High-Chief Alog Tor'akon with a procession walked up to the steps of the central Keep, Sosa was nearby but an Orc was hanging off her while he whispered in her ear. She was stoically ignoring him as best as she could while trying to push him off. Jacob looked at the High-Chief before gesturing toward the other Orc, Alog shrugged his shoulders in indifference. Jacob smiled tightly while walking up to Sosa and the Orc that based on the sigils on his armor was not Clan Darguun. The Orc immediately noticed Jacob and stopped but did not move away from Sosa causing Jacob to smile as his talons and eyes changed. The Orc tried to step back then but Jacob's hand darted out and ripped into the offending Orcs throat. The Orc stumbled back, blood pouring from the open wound as he tried to draw the hammer strapped to his back, two of his clanmates started to draw weapons but every Legionnaire and Dawn Guard immediately drew weapons. High-Chief Alog withdrew his people from the immediate area, "This...idiot had clear intentions for my wife. If you have a problem with that, please draw your weapons and I will be sending three corpses back to your people not one." Jacob slowly drawled out as he pulled Moonlight from its sheath.

"He was the elected War Chief of our clan, our people will not be pleased." One of the Orcs stated as he slowly raised his hands in submission.

Jacob put Moonlight back in its sheath, "Well it's obvious he is not the best choice for the position if he thinks it is ok to try and gain a married woman's attention. Much less one that is clearly not enjoying said attention. He was aware you were married?' Jacob asked.

Sosa nodded, "He said he intended to challenge you and kill you. He had no idea who you were."

"He failed in his challenge, your clan is better off without him. He was aware of what threat he faced when he acted in such a way, he was a poor War-Chief.' Jacob stated before turning back toward Alog. 'Do you have a problem with what I did?"

Alog snorted, "No, I would have disemboweled him though. He was warned by myself and several others of our clan, he ignored the warnings. It is done and if the Broken Fang clan have a problem with it, Clan Darguun will stand with the Empire of Night and its King." Alog stated while staring intently at the Broken Fang clansmen who bowed slightly before moving forward to take the corpse away.

"Will they be a problem?" Jacob asked him as he pulled Sosa to his side and gently kissed her cheek.

Alog snorted, "If they become any sort of problem, we will crush them. They have 2,000 warriors...maybe and control one fortress. That is why they were so interested in joining our campaign against the Sisters of the Damned, a chance to expand their clan and territory."

"If their elected War-Chief acts like that, I would offer them a small portion of the loot and no territory," Jacob replied as he watched them Broken Fang clansmen throw the corpse on the back of a nearby lizard.

"I agree." Alog replied as one of the Legionnaires came out of the keep and flagged Jacob down. Time to get back to work he thought.

Tomb of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Council Chambers

"So, the Black Basalt Region capital is now under the control of the Empire, we have another direct link to Clan Darguuns' territory, and the Sisters of the Damned have been weakened even further. We also now have housing and support facilities for the new population infusion we received recently, I think we can transfer 3,000 people to the City of Gahlin once we finish off the SIsters." Jacob informed the Advisory Council.

"Who was appointed as Regent?" a Councilman asked.

Jacob smiled, "Lord Ranyln Do'und for all his service to the Empire of NIght, was appointed as Regent of the City of Gahlin and Governor of the Black Basalt region. General Girmak Ironbreak of the Fourth Legion has military command of the region." Jacob informed them. Jacob saw Glagors chest swell slightly with pride at his grandsons' appointment.

Councilwoman Richards frowned, "Do you think it wise that General Ironbreak was appointed to such a position."

Jacob frowned at her, "He is more than qualified for such a position. If I questioned the appointment I would not have made it in the first place Councilwoman. It is a war zone and we need a competent battlefield commander to hold the gains the Empire has made in that region. Any other questions?" Jacob asked.

"Anchorhead? What are your designs for that city?" Glagor asked as he pointedly moved the discussion on.

Jacob smiled tightly, "Plans are in motion to deal with that city permanently, one way or another it will fall under the banner of the Empire of Night."

"What about this new port, Aramore? How goes all the construction and our endeavors there and the Arathia Basin in general?" Another councilor asked.

Jacob smiled, "Aramore is an ongoing project and if it develops the way I hope, it will take a long time to fully bear its fruit. As far as the basin goes, we plan on settling 5 more small logging and farm villages within a week all along the west-east road. Once all the outposts have been constructed it is my plan for the main roads to be paved to decrease travel time and increase security. Now, I have to finish reading some reports if you all do not mind, enjoy your evenings." Jacob stood and left the council chamber.

Tomb of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Master Suite

Jacob was reading all the reports Nadal had written since getting back from the City of Gahlin, everything from evaluations too spent arrow or ammunition. What interested him the most was casualties and loot gained from the former stronghold. "She is begging still, but refuses to answer," Cathrine said from the doorway of the bath.

"Does she know why?" Jacob asked.

Cathrine nodded, "Yes she knows why, but she refuses to admit it out loud to us or herself."

"Was I right?' Jacob asked and Cathrine nodded, 'Continue her punishment then. All of you can tease her as much as she can stand, but until Sosa admits it to herself and you four she is not allowed to cum."

"If you do not mind if I ask, why are you punishing her?" asked Cathrine.

Jacob closed out the latest report before turning and looking at her, "I do not mind the fact that someone was flirting with her. It is a given considering how beautiful she is, it will happen more than once. I mind that she didn't do more to stop him. If that had been me before we got married, I would have been lucky to get just a black eye or broken jaw. I know a part of her liked the attention, she has to accept that. She also has to accept the fact she didn't do enough to stop it once it got to the point where it became uncomfortable for her. Any more questions?" Jacob asked and Cathrine shook her head and went back to the bathroom. Jacob could hear Sosa begging as June, Eiloma, and Chalxae worked her over. Jacob put her from his mind as he brought up the casualties and loot from Gahlin. Spoiler: Spoiler Jacob Longstrider

Leader of House Lightsbane

King of the Empire of Night

We sustained a minimum of casualties from the Siege of the Stronghold of Gahlin. Names are omitted but numbers by Legion are included.

First Legion...

Dead: 22

Severely Wounded: 40 (Recovery time 3-7 days)

Walking Wounded: 35

Second Legion...

Dead: 34

Severely Wounded: 60 (Recovery time 3-7 days)

Walking Wounded: 22

Fourth Legion...

Dead: 27

Severely Wounded: 50 (Recovery time 3-7 days)

Walking Wounded: 35

Dawn Guard...

Dead: 0

Severely Wounded: 30 (Recovery time 3-7 days)

Walking Wounded: 50

The Vaults/Arms Rooms/Armories contained 1,378 pieces of Uncommon, Rare, or Epic weapons or armor. All common weapons or armor remained at the City of Gahlin.

250,378 Gold, 83 Silver, 29 Copper Coins were removed from Gahlin, 50,000 Gold was left in the Vaults for the purposes to pay workers, soldiers, etc... 860 Units of Gold and Silver, 400 Units of Platinum, 200 Units of Titanium, 150 of Elementium, 8 chests of cut gems, 20 bags of uncut gems. (Estimated worth exceeds 500,000 Gold)

An assessment of the facilities and resources of Gahlin will be provided by the Regent once the city has been fully explored.

V/R

Nadal Despval

Captain-General of the Empire of Night

Jacob whistled at the sheer amount of material worth they had stored there, but it also made him wonder what would be contained at the Stronghold of Oblivion, their home, and greatest fortress. Suddenly Jacob heard Sosa start to cry and real anguish and it almost made him get up and go into the bedroom but he knew it would make it worse for her. She had to come to terms with it just like he had. He had failed her just as much as she failed him allowing the situation to deteriorate as much as it had.

They had both learned something today and neither one would ever forget what had happened. Jacob got out of the bath and grabbed a robe, a bottle of wine and a cup before walking out onto the terrace. It was going to be a long night and he needed a moment alone. His only company would be a pair of Heart Guards silently watching and protecting as he took the stairs down to the main gardens below.