Surface- Jagged Coast Region

Free Lands- City of Sholand

Central Plaza

"Why are we here again?" Darren asked as Jacob and the Rogue plowed through the crowd.

Jacob smiled back at the Rogue, "Multiple reasons. First and foremost, I have never been here so anyone hunting for me that knows my habits will never look here, two it is a neutral city, three they have a 24-hour Auction House, four after all the work the last couple days I felt like getting outside of our normal comfort zone." Jacob told him as he made a straight line through the crowds of people.

The City of Sholand was one of the biggest Free Cities in the east. It was both a port and land-based trading hub. Considering its economic and strategic importance, if Jacob was in charge of the growing eastern kingdoms, he would definitely target this city for capture. Based on the number of troops Jacob could see, the cities government felt the same way.

"Plus I just wanted to be Jacob for a little while, not you know, head of a guild or anything else," Jacob told Darren as the finally made it inside the Auction House and stood in line behind a dozen other Immortals waiting their turn to access the various interfaces.

Darren was looking around and keeping his eye on various people around them, Humans, Dwarves, various Elven Species, and Beast Kin that were more common in the eastern regions of the continent. Why they only congregated there, Jacob never knew. "What are you planning on buying?" Darren asked as his eyes continued to roam the crowd.

"Fireworks mainly for the celebration in a couple of days.' Jacob replied as the line steadily moved forward. 'Maybe some alcohol or rare food."

Darren snorted, "Did you get that budget approved."

Jacob gave him the finger, "I am not spending it on anything just for me, it will be for public consumption, use, or entertainment. So I have wiggle room to spend some money. Plus I have earned enough doing all those dungeon runs over the last couple weeks, I am entitled to spend some of it on fun things."

"Why else are we here?" Darren pressed.

"Auction House, food, then home before everyone goes ape shit for me disappearing for a couple of hours," Jacob replied.

"I am guessing you have not been monitoring Guild/Officer chat?" Darren responded.

Jacob smiled, "Nope. I turned on my filters and all my alerts are off except for emergency ones." Jacob replied with a childish grin which earned him an eye roll from Darren.

"Shit has already hit the fan and everyone is asking where you are at. Your wife knows you alive, so that is in your favor, but you are going to have hell to pay when you get back." Darren snickered causing Jacob to frown.

"PM Tarren, Yilme, and Zakoc let them know where we are and why. That should get the guild settled down." Jacob told him as they made their way to the interface and Jacob went to work.

"Not Officer Chat? I am sure Anastasia is worried about you." Darren ribbed.

Jacob rolled his eyes as he continued to scan the interface and started his search for what he wanted. "Fuck you dude, I got enough female problems without adding any from our world. I am sure she thinks it's odd that the only relationships I have are with the virtual opposite sex."

"Well, your earth friends and family worry that you don't have a real relationship from any female from our side of the fence," Darren stated.

Jacob pumped his fist, Lots of 10 fireworks with the launcher, each one costing 1 silver!!! A thousand of those of various colors, a couple dozen of the big mortar type fireworks, a Dragons Head that cost a whole gold by itself, now time for food and alcohol.

"You know why I am so hesitant to get mixed up with anyone Jared, hell you were there with all the fallout from Ava and her bullshit. You know I have trust issues, huge trust issues. If I had a choice I probably would never even have had the women I have in my life. Am I glad they are there, yeah, now. A part of me wonders if they are going to stab me in the back as she did though. So yeah, I am a little hesitant to jump into anything with anyone that can screw me over in two worlds again. Now either help me hunt for some food and alcohol or shut up and just be a friend." Jacob told the Rogue as he went back to shopping. After consulting several guards they were finally pointed to an inn, the Twisted Herring. It was a lively place with plenty of people, music, singing, dancing, and amazing duck platter. They had been joined by Cathrine, that after a glare, started picking at Jacobs' food.

"So you told them and sold me out?" Jacob said to Darren.

"You said I could, I had no idea she would come. You can't blame me for that." Darren tried to defend.

"So why did you run away for a day?" Cathrine asked as she picked at the remains of the duck.

Jacob frowned as sat back against the wall as he turned to face Cathrine, "I just wanted to be me for a little while, to not have responsibilities or people depending on me for a short time. I have been at this for months, I needed a short break, we have some very stressful times ahead of us and I need to clear my head." Jacob told her as Cathrine nodded her head and continued to eat.

"You could not do that at home?" Cathrine asked.

Jacob frowned before glaring at Darren one more time, "No, I could not do that at home. You know why I can not either. Look around Cathrine and what do you see?" Jacob asked her.

The Banshee frowned at Jacob before following his directions and actually took in the surroundings. "They are happy and enjoying life my wife, when is the last time you could see this at my home?" Jacob told her.

Cathrine was slowly beginning to understand, "They are not happy, they are to busy with work and living on the raggedy edge waiting for the headsman to come and end everything. Its one of the reasons why I am so worried about this celebration and why I am spending so much money on it. I want my people to have fun for once, enjoy life and remember what they are fighting for. What they are working so hard for."

"That is why you are building an Arena and Amphitheater," Cathrine stated.

Jacob nodded, "Yes, those are some of the reasons. I need to give my people a reason to fight and to live. I don't want them to just survive." Jacob told her. The long walk back the Central Plaza was supposed to be boring, but then a street gang decided to try and intimidate Jacob and Darren in giving up their money while insinuating that Cathrine would enjoy a night with their company, it didn't matter what she wanted though.

Jacob was wearing his basic Adventuring gear that didn't add many benefits to his stats, Cathrine and Darren were in their regular armor. Jacob placed Blood Pact on Cathrine as he placed himself in between the bulk of the thieves and his two friends, "You guys really don't want to do this. You might have numbers, but you don't have the strength to take us down." Jacob informed them.

The leader, a level 24 Dwarf sneered at Jacob but a diminutive figure next to him was pulling at his arm until he turned toward it, "What?!?! We are busy and about to earn a payday and get some entertainment for the night unless you want to take her place."

"He smells wrong. He doesn't smell like a halfbreed, and the two behind him smell off as well." the Cloaked figure stated.

The Dwarf backhanded the cloaked figure, "SHUT UP BITCH, I will take care of you later. GET THEM!!"

Jacob smiled as he launched a barrage of Shadow Bolts at the oncoming thieves before triggering Leap slamming into their packed ranks sending half a dozen tumbling too the ground before he triggered Hemorrhage causing more than one of the Thieves to stop as the clutched their chests before keeling over and vomiting blood.

Jacob laughed as he danced among their ranks, his short sword slashing and stabbing. His shield deflecting a few feeble thrusts or slashes as he fought his way free of the press to put his back to a nearby wall. Cathrine and Darren were easily dealing with the six thieves that had come from behind. Jacob analyzed the nearest thief as he triggered War Cry and Invigorating Shout as they rushed him.

Name: Tommy 'Two Finger' Jones

Level: 16

Health: 1,479/3,000 (Internal Bleeding, Open Wound)

Abilities: Backstab, Stealth, Gouge

Since they were sentient Locals, War Cry would not cause aggro, but they still got the De-Buff associated with the skill. A dozen bleeding thieves though could still cause problems and damage as Jacob blocked, stabbed, and slashed at Jacob until he triggered Battle Stomp followed by Shield Charge slamming through their packed ranks and adding even more damage to them.

Three of his opponents did not get back up as Jacob slammed one of the thieves into the opposite wall. The Thief coughed up blood as his ribs were shattered and he tried to curse Jacob as he died but failed. "You idiots, pin him in and hamper his movements. Then go for the kill!!!" The Dwarf yelled as he drew his own daggers and prepared to enter the fray.

Jacob looked at his Health, Stamina, and Mana pools, with his passives, his health was sitting pretty at 85% despite all the knicks and slashes he had accrued. Stamina was the lowest at 63% and climbing steadily and Mana was the highest at 91% but the slowest regeneration.

"MARCUS!!! What the hell do you think you are doing??' Another armored figure entered the street. The Dwarf had paled as soon as he saw the armored figure. 'You were warned to stop. You were told, the next time you attacked anyone out in the open like this, you would be banished from the city. Moving out in the open like this is too dangerous, it attracts too much attention to the Guild. You have an hour to leave, take your pets with you."

The Dwarf thief was staring defiance at the larger armored human, he was fiddling with something around his neck. "I think I am going to do...whatever I want and when I want. You, my dear old friend, can tell the guild to shove it up to their collective asses." Marcus sneered as his determination firmed and an Aura started to grow around him.

Name: Marcus 'Two-Face' Silvertongue (Chaos Acolyte)

Level: 22

Health: 3,300/3,300

Abilities: Stealth, Backstab, Gauge, Teleport, Dash and Slash, Smokebomb

"DARREN, HE IS AN AGENT OF CHAOS. HE HAS TO BE KILLED!!" Jacob barked out as he slashed his sword across the eyes of the nearest thief as he started fighting his way free. A crazed look had entered the eyes of the thieves around Jacob, but of the original twelve, they were down too five.

Jacob activated Reaver Attack sending his blade scathing through three of his opponents causing them to scream in agony as their blood and guts started spilling onto the ground. Their last two compatriots didn't even flinch as their friends died as they continued to engage Jacob.

Darren darted past the ongoing fight to engage Marcus who was going toe-to-toe with the newcomer. Cathrine, on the other hand, had no problem attacking Jacob last two guests from behind. Jacob watched as Cathrine danced in and out of range of their counter-attacks, her knives stabbing and slashing causing massive damage with a few hits and leaving the two thieves gasping for breath and bleeding out on the ground.

"Show off, you already stole my heart love. You don't have to impress me with your killing skills." Jacob quipped as he moved to help down the Chaos-Acolyte, but Jacob really didn't have to do anything. Between Darren and the newcomer, Marcus was bleeding out despite the Spark of Chaos helping him.

Jacob slowly walked up, the newcomer was having a silent conversation with Darren. "Of course we do not hold all these deaths against you. These young thieves had fallen under the influence of Marcus, the guild will not demand recompense for your actions. Still, I would recommend that you and your friends give the City of Sholand a wide berth for a few weeks. Let cooler heads prevail. He used to be a man in good standing and one of the best trainers for the newbies, but something changed a couple of months ago. I guess we know now what changed." The man stated as they studied the body of the dead Dwarf and the necklace still on it.

"We need to do something with the necklace. Does your guild have any way to contain it or someplace to hide it away from anyone." Jacob asked announcing their presence.

The man frowned as he turned to face Jacob, "What do you know about it?"

"It warps minds and influences those near it. I encountered one in a Dungeon, so don't think you can just throw the necklace in one and it will be safe. It can augment its wielders abilities and skills, but as I said, once you start down that path, you are not really you anymore." Jacob informed him.

The man frowned but nodded, "I can think of a couple of places. You three need to leave if the guards find you here, there will be hell to pay." Jacob nodded as he made sure to take a couple of screenshots of the body and Spark before Darren shook the Thiefs hand and they darted off.