Underdark- Unending Abyss Region

Tomb of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Master Suite

A priority message woke Jacob from the dead of sleep. The constant ringing of the alarm wouldn't go away until he opened it so Jacob casually brought it up. It took a moment to sink in but when it did Jacob cursed and flopped out of bed before forwarding it to the guild officers and General Ironbark with a GET THE FUCK UP and be prepared to leave ASAP. For the Second Legion, it was a general must call for everyone to be prepared immediately. To General Drexal he told the old Vampire to put all their garrisons in the Unending Abyss Region on alert until further notice.

Opening Guild Officers Chat...

"What's going on?" Yilme

"Large body of troops or people moving through the Underdark near New Dawn. They bypassed the fort and training camp there. They could be moving toward Ineford, Kiera'tan, Bloodfang Hold, Blood Haven, or the Tomb. The Second Legion is mustering as we speak. General call for all Guildies, anyone above 25+ is going, everyone else is staying at the Tomb." Jacob

"Could they be wrong?" Tarren asked

"First time they alerted me to any threat within the region, so no. Tarren you stay there and hold down Gahlin please." Jacob

"It's too early to coordinate!!! " Anastasia

"Aww, did you not get enough beauty sleep?" Darren

"No Bonded, Immortals only." Jacob

"Understood, people won't like it though." Yilme

"Ppl will hate losing a Bonded more." Jacob

Jacob dismissed the chat window concentrated on donning his armor as the countdown timer continued to spin down from when the Second Legion would be ready.

Underdark- Unending Abyss Region

Kiera'tan- Outer Wall

Braxus shoved his spear through the Goblins stomach before kicking him off the wall and spear. All along the wall, the defenders of Kiera'tan fought desperately to keep the horde of the Twin Fang Clan at bay. Great Earthen Golems rampaged through the ranks, Rock Storm spells, Earth Spears, Meteors, all crashed into the oncoming ranks killing hundreds, yet thousands remained swarming forward.

Braxus spit and slammed his spear into the wall and activated one of his Fortress Abilities, Earth Warden. A small army of small versatile Earthen Golems rose from within the city and ran toward the wall. Leaping into combat and for the next 10 minutes, their ranks were bolstered by their numbers. These Golems were just as powerful as their bigger brethren but they were far faster and only the most powerful Geomancers could create them on their own. Hopefully, they would give the defenders the needed edge to throw back the invaders.

"My chief, all the women, children, and older members tribe have been evacuated to the deep caverns and they have been sealed in. All of those who can and are willing to fight are on the Outer Wall or at the central keep." Draxus reported as he strode up. Braxus looked at his son, a budding Elementalist and now they might all die because of a power-hungry horde. Draxus nocked aside a spear thrust before conjuring a dense rock and slammed it into the Orcs skull cracking it open. He then conjured a Rock Storm that summoned dozens of mid-size rocks that slammed into the ranks of the Broken Fang horde at the base of the wall.

"What is that father? More of their troops." Draxus gestured to the far end of the cavern as he conjured at Meteor before it slammed into the packed ranks below.

Braxus studied the distant troops, they were armored in black chain mail and leather armor, heavily disciplined as well. The army was a mix of all races, Human, Elf, Orc, Duergar, Dwarf, even a few Drow here and there. Heavy infantry to the front with ranged support in the back and behind their ranks was another formation of troops, even more disciplined with better equipment, and all were bearing down on the Hordes rear.

Suddenly a great shout came from their ranks as they unleashed a wave of magic and crossbow bolts into the rear ranks of the horde attacking them. Hundreds were killed within moments as the small army slammed into their ranks and began slaughtering them. "No son, they do not belong to the Twin Fang Horde, I do believe those are the Legionnaires of the Empire of Night," Braxus replied before he brought his concentration back on the fight in front of him.

Jacob watched as the Second Legion plow into the rear ranks of the enemy, ax, sword, and mace cracked ribs, crushed skulls, or punched into vulnerable stomachs spilling blood and gore everywhere. The support mages and crossbowmen poured all kind of destruction on their rear ranks.

The Immortals walked among the Legions rear ranks adding their devastating skills and abilities to the mix. Ice Storms, Meteors, Rain of Fire, and War Mage added a Twister wreathed in Lightning that danced among the ranks of the Twin Fang Horde. Archers launched devastating volleys of arrows that sought out their enemies and pierced them through hearts.

Then the ranks of the Legion split open and the Berserker types crashed into the compact ranks of the enemy causing devastating losses within moments and allowing the Legion to advance. The wounded were pulled to the back to allow Priests and Clerics to attend to the most critically wounded while Shamans and Druids cast powerful AoE healing spells on the advancing ranks.

Jacob could see Zakoc and handful of other Berserker types rearing and ready to go. Jacob shook his head at his childish behavior, "Go and ask General Ironbark where you can throw in but you will be placing yourself under their authority for the duration of the battle. Zakoc leave two of your number here though." Jacob told the oversized Vampire who whoopped and trotted off while leaving two downcast Vampire mopping and waiting for their chance.

Thorgron snorted, "When are we going in my king?" More than one of the Dawn Guard was also chomping at the bit and ready to get into the fight. Stars snapping and bark let Jacob know where she stood.

"Captain, we have the hard part. When they start pushing back is when we go in. That will be their breaking point when they start pushing back at us, that is when they are going to be trying to flee the battle. We will be there to push them back and break them. Hopefully." Jacob replied as he watched the lines open up again allowing the tired berserkers to fall back and rest while healing before going back again. Braxus shoved the Orc off the wall, its scream drowned out by the battle as both sides fought desperately. The invaders were fighting to get in now that their escape had been cut off. The defenders were fighting a losing battle to keep them out. If they could only hold long enough the horde would break and they would try to cut their way out or die trying he thought as he activated two other Keep abilities, Rally Cry II and Rain of Devastation.

With a great shout, the defenders were bolstered and they started pushing back at those who had come to attack their home. Rain of Devastation finally started falling into the packed enemy ranks, large boulder-sized rocks fell from the cavern ceiling killing dozens, then the boulders exploded causing even more damage. A large forlorn horn sounded as the enemy ranks turned from their assault from the wall and launched an all-out attack on the forces from the Empire of Night. Jacob could feel it as the horde started to fight for survival and not victory, they had turned their strength against the Legion and were no longer concerned with conquering and sacking Kiera'tan. General Ironbark looked at Jacob who simply nodded, the time had come to pull out all the stops and hold nothing back Jacob thought as he donned the Crown of the Blood Lord. Star was tensing beside him and the other Immortals started buffing and downing any last minute potions.

Horns and drums sounded as the Legion shifted again and the Dawn Guard started marching forward as their brethren opened their ranks to let them pass. The desperate enemy seeing an opening rushed through no even realizing that the Dawn Guard was charging forward and plugging the very hole they were trying to get through. A wave of magic and crossbow bolts slammed into the panicked ranks tripping up the enemy ranks and slowing them down as the warriors of the Dawn Guard slammed into their packed ranks.

Elsewhere other Legionnaires threw Alchemic bombs and Pheonix potions into the packed ranks killing dozens if not hundreds more in a matter of moments. Mages downed mana potions and unleashed their most powerful and devastating spells killing even more while the line of Warriors was holding the horde at bay.

Jacob laughed as he cut into the ranks of Orcs and Goblins, a pair of Berserkers beside him. His Shield Charge ability had carried him and the other two warriors deep into the ranks of the broken horde. Star and the other Immortals were desperately trying to fight their way to them while the Dawn Guard was slowly pushing forward.

Seeing what they were doing Jacob back-peddled a little and had the Berserkers cover him as he started to carve a path back to friendly lines. Jacob triggered Hemorrhage causing the weaker foes to stumble and fall as their very bodies to rebel against them and it allowed an opening within their ranks. Jacob jumped through and pushed forward into the press before triggering Life Absorption. The Red Aura snapped out and slammed into over a dozen enemy bodies crushing the life out of them and opening a huge gap in the line allowing the Dawn Guard and Immortal to flood the immediate area.

Suddenly horns sounded from the Kobold city as they sallied forth from their fortifications. A great wail went up from the Horde, they knew they were doomed the question was how many were they going to take with them.

Jacob slammed Moonlight through the skull of the Goblin as he tried to rise from the ground. The battle had been won, but the losses were still being counted. Jacob withdrew the blade and continued on, the standing order was to execute any survivors. If they lived they would report back what they had found here and bring other hordes down on the Earth Splitter Tribe.

According to the wiki and forums, the Twin Fangs was a huge clan of Orcs and Goblins that roamed the surface and Underdark sacking settlements and cities and the only way to deal with them was to kill them. No diplomatic solutions had ever been reached with the clan and no one knew where they lived. The War Hordes their clan fielded usually numbered between 4,000 and 10,000. No one knew where they were based or who the overall leader of the clan was.

The only real advice was to gather as many as you could to fight and kill them until they broke and ran or died trying. If you had enough numbers to do so. "Thank you for bringing you people and fighting with us against them," Braxus stated nearby.

Jacob looked at the Chief of the Earth Crackers and smiled, he knew his eyes were bright red and his fangs were showing so he wasn't the most pleasant person to look at. "We are allies when my people had nothing you offered us friendship. I won't ever forget that." Was Jacobs reply as he lunged forward impaling a twitching Orc.

"Why are you executing any survivors?" Draxus asked as he shadowed their movements.

Jacob stopped moving and turned toward the younger Kobold before responding, "You know Immortals have access to the same system the locals have, we also have access to what we call a 'wiki' and 'forum'. These are places where we share information with other Immortals about everything in this world. This War Horde was part of a huge clan, the Twin Fangs. All they ever do is go around pillaging and killing. It doesn't matter what race you are, if one of their War Hordes comes across your people, they will attack. If any survive and report what they found here, they will come again and again until they have sacked your settlement. So, any survivors die." Jacob replied before moving on. The Kobolds considered his words before joining him. Jacob walked among the broken, dead, and dying and scanned the alerts that had popped up.

Regional Quest Complete: Twin Fang Terror

Description: Working with your allies, the Earth Splitter Tribe, you managed to defeat a War Horde of rampaging Twin Fangs. Take caution though, this is but one of their War-Hordes, others exist on and under Ithea.

Rewards: 50,000 Experience, 100,000 Kingdom Experience, the Earth Cracker Tribe now considers the Empire of Night Honored Allies

Alert...

Through battle, you have gained...12,873 Experience

Alert...

Achievement Unlocked: Horde Breaker

Description: When fighting a War-Horde or enemy army, you deal 5% more damage to enemy troops.

Alert...

You have gained a level (43)

You have gained 2 points in Constitution, Strength, and Agility each.

You have gained 2 Character points.

Alert...

Jacob dismissed the alerts and checked his mail from the new Regent in Anchorhead and Brox. They had both dropped when they were fighting. Jacob could see the Legion was slowly starting to comb through the dead, looting the bodies while piling what was left in heaps where anyone with Fire-based magic was doing their best to destroy the leftovers. Spoiler: Spoiler Jacob Longstrider

Head of House Lightsbane

King of the Empire of Night

It is my honor and privilege to report that all the Slavers Union personnel surviving in the city have been rounded up and either has been killed, imprisoned, or removed from the Empire of Night. Communications with the Union has been sent to inform the change of status of Anchorhead and the new laws here.

Civil unrest is at a minimum and overall the population is happy with the Legions presence and the evection of the Slavers Union. However I must caution you, the Union does not take rejection well, they will respond in some manner, how I do not know. The following information is everything on the resources and infrastructure of Anchorhead.

Forever faithful,

Eadwin Saltrake

Regent of Anchorhead

Governor of Storm Break Bay Region

Name: City of Anchorhead

Level: 6 (Stronghold-City)

Owner: Regent Eadwin Saltrake

Kingdom: Empire of Night

Experience: 0/600,000

Population: 23,384/25,000

Morale: Good

Health: Good

Defenses: Fortified Curtain Wall, Mage Shields

Resources: Iron, Gold, Stone, Fishery

10X Master Smithy MAX LVL

8X Crafters Hall MAX LVL

6X Chemistry Hall MAX LVL

2X Shipyards LVL 2

2X Shipyards LVL 1

Iron Mine MAX LVL

Gold Mine MAX LVL

2X Stone Quarries MAX LVL

2X Marble Quarries

Faithfull my ass, only as long as a Legion is crawling up his ass and the people like us. Jacob snorted in amusement of how the governor had finished the letter. Jacob dismissed it and moved onto General Brox's report.

Spoiler: Spoiler Jacob Longstrider

Head of House Lightsbane

King of the Empire of Night

I gladly inform you that we have arrested 8 Slaver Union personnel and 223 mercenaries. 8 Ships have been seized, their crews and captains detained until further notice. The former Slavers District reconstruction is underway and will be a new Ship Yards soon. In relation to the ship seizures and district collapse, we have freed 728 slaves from bondage. They are aware of other opportunities within the Empire, some will stay and make a future within the city while others will probably wish to move to one of the growing settlements within the Arathia Basin Region.

In the course of our investigation of corruption, collusion, of city officials we have seized 8 properties that were purchased or direct bribes of Union representatives to Anchorhead government employees. In addition, we have seized numerous assets worth in excess 100,000 Gold pieces. Finally, from the private stores of Regent Saltrake and his advisory Council members, we have seized 217,348 Gold that was transferred to the coffers of the Tomb of Eternal NIght. The sale of seized properties and items will commence and the profits will go to the Tomb.

Take note, an influx of Immortals to the city continues as the status of Anchorhead comes to light. The Portal Pad coordinates have been changed per mandatory instructions. However, this does not block Portal Scrolls, just other Portal Pads. Simple curiosity and questions about the Empire is the most common occurrence before they rush off on quests.

On a personal note, I would highly recommend that the Regent be kept under constant supervision, I have no doubt in my mind that if he could, he would turn on the Empire as soon as he could.

With all respect and honor,

General Brox

Commander of the First Legion

Jacob smiled, the funds would go far in helping resettle all the people and funding new communities.