Underdark- Unending Abyss Region

Tomb of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Council Chambers

"So what are we going to do about the Myrmidons? They figured out we have a link to the Empire of Night, they have no idea the depth though. What are we going to do?" Jacob asked the other guild officers.

"You can always shut the borders to them," Anastasia replied.

Jacob shook his head, "If we do that, we are going to make a lot of enemies with a powerful guild that might not be able to make any long-term trouble for us, short-term they could cause a lot of problems for us."

"I agree, blackballing the Myrmidons will cause short-term problems. I would rather have them as allies than enemies. Plus they could drag in other mercenary guilds into the mess and we do not want that." Darren advised.

"We also have no idea who they told or if anyone else in the guild figured it out," Yilme stated.

Jacob snorted, "I guarantee you at least one of their analysts figured it out after Anchorhead fell under the Empire of Night shortly after our raid. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the Seekers of the Dawn would have some relationship with the Empire. They just don't know how much of a close relationship we have."

"So we are going to bring them on the campaign against the Sisters of the Damned?" Anastasia asked.

Jacob looked around the room, "I don't think we have a choice in the matter, plus we give them a cut of 25% of the spoils, it will keep them happy. Moving on..."

Yilme smirked, "Yeah, why don't we talk about your ex-girlfriend who you started a bar brawl with..."

Jacob ignored the comment and was going to continue but every single other member waited for an explanation while Darren was trying not to look at him, "Well Darren knows the whole story because he was there to pick me up after everything went to shit. I met Ava O'Conner about three months earth time after I started playing Fate, I was a level 20 something no name Ranger, just playing for fun at that time. She is the one who really got me into Fate as a way to make money. Well, we did a lot of things I would not approve of, I was not as bad as one of those Pkers, but I was borderline. Well about 6 months in with her she gets some intel about this piece of equipment a kingdom was moving and they were trying to keep it low key. So minimal guards, she got the Intel by giving some guard 'favors' and it was very good intel. The piece of equipment would have sold for a good 1,000,000 Gold easily to the right people, well we tracked them and ambushed them and got away clean. No fuss, no muss. She told me she was going to meet the buyers to make the sell, me the dumbass in love didn't think a second about going with her. I just kept my head down and waited, and waited. Next thing I know, the biggest news is that what we stole turned up, she joins the Children of the Light and is made an officer. I get a bounty on my head for a person of interest in the theft and I run. The Bloody Handz find me and 'recruit' me and I don't have a choice if I want to survive short term but to go with them."

"So she cheated on you and sold you out? That is one cold bitch. I know you two had a falling out, but I never knew it was that bad." Yilme stated.

Jacob snorted, "Yeah, sex for info was her favorite way for paying for Intel. I figured that out after we broke up, I earned most of my PK counter grassing people for doing that and not telling me. One of the reasons why I have huge trust issues and why I am so cagey about trusting anyone with everything. So enough poor me moment and move on." Jacob finished.

Darren pipped in first, "Should we be worried about the Children coming after you? Or the Seekers?"

Jacob smiled wolfishly, "No, I got proof that she colluded with me to steal the equipment and I can sink her career and have the Children of the Light blackballed by the Granite Throne if they try anything. I have digital and physical proof she was part of the operation in both worlds." Jacob replied.

"That Granite Throne? The High-King of the Dwarves Granite Throne?" Anastasia asked.

Jacob smiled and nodded, "Dwarves sure know how to hold a grudge and they still have a bounty on my head in the nation of Dark-Iron Thaig. Last time I looked at the wanted posters it was 50,000 Gold for my capture. It has probably gone down since then."

"So we can write off any chance of a diplomatic solution with them," Yilme stated.

Jacob smiled, "That would be a safe bet, but at least we don't have to worry about the asshats of the Light either."

"Moving on from Jacobs personal life, when are we going to send out the next wave of invites?" Zakoc stated.

"We can start tomorrow, but we are going to have to ask for more names after this batch. Also, I think the Shadow Daggers will expect some form of compensation if they continue to do all these checks for us." Darren replied.

"Such as?" Yilme asked.

Darren shifted clearly uncomfortable, "They might insist on one of their guild members being accepted in our ranks. Or intel on what we are all doing, or a free Guild chapter house once we step into the light. I don't know, I just know they will ask for something."

"We take it as it comes, if they insist on one of their members joining..well we will have to reconsider our relationship with them," Jacob replied as their conversation moved on.

Surface- Blue Mist Mountains Region

Mount Othrys Stronghold

Daniel scrambled to pack everything he had hidden away, everything had gone to shit. The plan had been perfect, they had even succeeded in capturing him, but then someone had interfered with the plan and completely destroyed everything. All that money wasted and now the Devs were hunting him and it was only a matter of time until they linked the payments back to him, so he had to run in this world and on Earth.

"Daniel Combes, you have been summoned before the Council of Twelve, come willingly and make this easier for both of us." Daniel slowly turned toward the towering Barbarian and head of internal security. Daniel considered fighting but seeing the hardening of the Barbarians eyes his shoulder slumped in defeat.

Outside his room 6 guards waited patiently and accompanied them as Daniel walked through the corridors, his guildmates refused to look at him or if they did, they looked at him with contempt. Something had happened and he was on the Twelves shit list, one of the guilds rising stars had fallen hard and fast.

Only one of the Twelve was present when he entered, "Daniel, Daniel, you should have taken the lesson of Icarus to heart. You were warned to leave Jacob Longstrider alone. You didn't just ignore the Developers...you ignored us. The sad thing is, you were so close to success too. You compounded your mistake by failing and we cannot let you mistake taint the guild as a whole. You are hereby stripped of your status as a Titan. We informed the Developers as soon as we discovered your betrayal and they are very disappointed in you."

Suddenly the sound of a portal snapping open thundered through the council chamber as a Monitor strode into the room. Monitors were the physical manifestations of the Developers in the world of Ithea, their power was absolute. He strode over and grabbed Daniel by his throat and lifted him off the ground and scanned him before nodding, "Thank you, Immortal, for turning over this troublesome insect. Due to your guild having not being compliant with his plans, no sanctions will be placed on the Titans at this time. If our investigations reveals otherwise, your guild will be punished." Daniel tried to do an emergency Log-Out but the option had been blocked, he was screwed in this world and on earth was his last thought as he was dragged through the open portal.

Underdark- Unending Abyss Region

Tomb of Eternal Night

Middle City- Smithy

Jacob finished the blade and quenched it letting it cool, he had finally found his grove in making Iron Short Swords. Jacob was sure a Master would easily make a better common grade sword but he doubted he could do a better job. Another Smith was wrapping the handles of the blades Jacob and another Smith were creating, they had been tasked with creating 30 swords and 10 Shirts of Iron Mail. Another Smith would make the armor because Jacob had not tried to make them yet, Glagor said he could try first thing tomorrow morning.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Iron Short Sword

Level: Common

Damage: 7-12

Requirement: Strength 12

Durability: 80/80

Description: Iron Swords are the most common weapon on any battlefield.

Jacob finished inspecting the blade and placed it on the rack before pulling another unit of Iron in the furnace to heat up. It would take nearly 5 minutes to melt then another in the mold before he could start hammering it into a sword. Once its shape was perfected then the hilt of the blade was wrapped in leather then it was sharpened. The process for one blade took about 30 minutes if he didn't mess up. His Blacksmithing had stopped at 40 and unless he started crafting armor he would have to create hundreds of swords to max out his Initiate level. Jacob downed a Stamina potion and checked to see if the Iron had melted fully and got back to work, the Legions would not equip themselves. A message Alert popped up and Jacob pulled it up.

Jacob Longstrider

King of the Empire of Night

The Council of Merchants has requested some of your time, please let me know when you will be available.

V/R

Lord Merchant Dudrik Goldflint

Regent of Ineford

Jacob frowned before responding, he had not heard from Dudrik or the Council in some time. Had he become too compliant and finally moving against the Empire...He forwarded the message to Darren and Thorgron as he headed toward the Palace. He signaled the smith he had been working with that he had to leave, another smith immediately took Jacobs spot. Time to go get cleaned up and be a king again.

Underdark- Unending Abyss Region

City of Ineford- Merchant Council Chambers

Jacob strode into the chambers for the first time in a long time, from what he could tell the whole council was in attendance. On the floor was Dudrik, but Dudriks face gave away nothing or why he was here. A squad of the Dawn Guard marched behind Jacob and Darren with a squad of Rogues were quietly infiltrating the building and a couple of Centuries were on standby nearby. "Lord Merchant Dudrik Goldflint, you have requested my presence."

"King of the Empire of Night, you have done much for us. You have done a whole lot more for those oppressed by the Sisters of the Damned, and now you assisted the Earth Crackers in defeating a War-Horde of the Twin Fangs. Some of our numbers do not like your Empire, that we would be better off if your people would never have come to our city, but you have done far more good then bad. Through long and hard deliberations, the Council of Merchants has come to the conclusion to dissolve the current treaty with the Empire of Night and apply for full admittance with the Empire." Dudrik finished.

Alert...

The City of Ineford has withdrawn from their treaty with you, they are no longer a Client State of the Empire of Night.

Alert...

Jacob looked at Dudrik and let his gaze wander around the chamber, "You realize the price of such a choice, you will give up your freedom to govern yourselves, your remaining guards will be dissolved, and either admitted to the Legions or sent home. A Regent will be appointed to this city with the power to control and run the day-to-day life of this city.' Jacob asked as he looked around the room. A few frowned and muttered but most just nodded their heads in acknowledgment. 'Very well, choose one to take an oath of allegiance. One to bind you all and your city to the fortunes and graces of the Empire of Night."

Dudrik went down to one knee, "I, Dudrik Goldflint, pledge my fortune, blade, life, and loyalty to you Jacob Longstrider King of the Empire of Night until I die or you release me from this oath."

"I Jacob Longstrider King of the Empire of Night, accept your oath of allegiance on behalf of the Empire of Night. As our fortunes increase, so will yours, your enemies are our enemies. Above all else remember two things Blood, representing our family and life, and Honor above all else. Rise Lord Dudrik Goldflint, I appoint you as Regent of the City if Ineford and Governor of the Unending Abyss Region. Will you take up these responsibilities?" Jacob asked as the Dwarf stood before the clapping of the Council of Merchants. The Dwarf simply nodded, not much would change but Dudrik would employ far more power in Ineford and the region from now on.

Regional Alert...

The City of Ineford has joined the...Empire of Night.

Regional Alert...

Alert...

For capturing a Region Capitol and Level 6 Stronghold-City, your kingdom has gained...500,000 Kingdom Experience.

Alert...

"When I came here, I did not expect this Dudrik." Jacob stated as he strode from the chamber.

The Dwarf snorted, "They surprised me with it as well. It took them nearly a week to convince me, but in all honesty, its what is best for our people in the long term."