Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Prison Wing

Jacob stared at the prisoner and could not believe what he was about to do, but he could either do this or send someone he trusted to watch over the new city. "Hello Ilmdra Do'und, how are you doing? Have you calmed down yet?" Jacob asked the Drow he had captured so long ago.

The former Fortress commander and a distant cousin of Ranyln Do'und looked up from her book, "Fine. If you are still asking if I am still sore from my cousin kicking me out of our House. No. It is what I would have done to him if he had betrayed me and I was the head of the House. Having not even one of the soldiers under my command fight for me...that truely hurt more than my cousin kicking me out. So why are you here?"

Jacob looked at the Drow considering his choices before tossing the letter in her lap and leaned against the nearby wall. The Drow frowned at Jacob before tearing the letter open and started reading, "Is this a joke or a cruel new punishment. It's certainly not funny."

"Does it look like I am laughing Ilmdra? This is your one and only shot to get out of here before you die of old age. You accept the deal, you work hard, someday you will be able to do what you want and when you want. Otherwise, you will be staying here." Jacob stated.

Ilmdra frowned, "So I become a Vampire, become Steward to a new city on the very edge of the Empire, and Governor of a Region. I will be monitored 24/7, if at any time the Ranking military member feels I have betrayed my oath, they can execute me. How long do I have to make a decision?"

Jacob did smile at that, "Until I walk out that door. Then you stay here for a long time. Maybe someday your cousins' dream of mounting your head on a spike becomes a reality." Jacob told her.

Ilmdra licked her lips nervously before standing and going down to one knee. Jacob smiled as he accepted proferred hand as she started swearing her Oath.

"Look, I am not going to justify spending 5,000 Gold on Food, Alcohol, and Fireworks for a celebration where I want to make sure everyone is having fun. Our people have been living on the edge of extinction for too long. Now they are worried that the gods of the Pantheons are going to come and destroy everything. They need to live a little and enjoy life before they forget what they are fighting for. Morale is in the shitter people, and it's our job to raise it." Jacob told his advisory council.

More grumbling from the six members was their only response, "Ok how else are we going to raise morale?" Jacob asked as he sat back.

None of them responded in a helpful way so Jacob cut them off. "Enough, the Founders Day Celebration is in a couple of days. I expect this to off with your full support behind it. All the Governors will be present as well as a couple of representatives from the Guilded Handz and Myrmidons Immortal Guilds. I expect everyone to enjoy themselves, that includes everyone here as well." Jacob informed them.

Underdark- Unending Abyss Region

Clan Darguun Territory- Darkfang Hold

"Come on, you can get away for a couple of days, its a celebration we have once a year. I understand responsibilities Sosa, but can't you get away for a couple of days?" Jacob asked.

Sosa looked up from her paperwork. Ever since Clan Darguun had captured a couple of fortresses that had been a part of the old Sisters territory, Alog Tor'akon had pushed more responsibilities onto his niece. Jacob understood being heir to the clan also came with responsibilities to her people, but they were also husband and wife as well.

"I am sorry, but I just don't have time to go out for festivities. As soon as I get some free time, I will come to visit." Sosa stated not even looking up from her work. Jacob frowned and was tempted to rip the papers from her hands but just decided to leave. He still had to head to Anchorhead and Middlebrough and drop off the invitations to Governors Saltrake and Hightower.

Dolbrug tried to stop Jacob but a hard glare from the Vampire deterred him from trying. Their friendship only allowed so much and Sosa's continued choice to put her duties ahead of everything had finally pushed Jacob away a little bit. Dolbrug wondered how this would affect their alliance with the growing Empire if the marriage that had forged the alliance fell apart. Dolbrug also wondered if either his sister or his uncle even cared at this point.

Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night

Palace of Night

Jacob threw himself in a forward roll before coming up and deflecting the guards attack causing him to stumble. Jacob ruthlessly took advantage of the guard being overextended and slammed his elbow in the guard's nose causing it to crack and blood to spray. Jacob was already moving beyond the hurt and partially blinded guard swiftly flowing from one stance to the next as he attacked Thorgron and James.

Both men were desperately back-peddling and on the defensive as Jacob fought on with a cold anger. Frustration with everything going on was starting to spill over into his sparring session and the Vampire and Duergar were doing their best to keep Jacob from beating them into a bloody mess.

Suddenly James flowed back even faster and snapped his fingers stopping bringing Jacobs overwhelming attack to a cold stop, as the magic of the sparring area activated at the Captains command. "Enough, you are angry about something. You have broken 3 noses, 2 jaws, 4 arms, and 2 knees since the sparring session started. It's over until you regain control of your temper. You are king, but here I am Captain and I decide who fights and when. Right now you are done.' James said as two of the Heart Guard took Jacobs weighted practice sword and shield. James walked closer until only Jacob could hear him, "Go, Jacob, go get drunk, go get laid, go kill some monsters, but gain control of your anger before it gets someone killed." Jacob eyeballed the Captain before nodding and bowing slightly before leaving.

Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- Eternal Forest

Jacob deflected the Wargs attack and buried Moonlight into its flank. Star snarled as she jumped on the dying monster and ripped into its flesh causing blood to spray everywhere. Jacob ripped his sword out spinning in place but no other Wargs were nearby. He and Star were alone here near the Obsidion mountains. The peaks reaching toward the sky, scratching at the ceiling of this world.

All his friends were away, facing their own trials. Of the top 50 guild members, 12 had hit level 50 in the last week. Another 20 would hit that milestone within the next week. Once the next batch pushed through, they could finally clear the Field of Blood Dungeon Raid. Soon after they could start figuring out the Obsidion Throne questline as well. Soon after, they could bring in the next batch of new recruits as well. The lowest level of a guild member was 17 borderline 18.

"Well aren't you in a particularly foul mood Jacob." Jacob whipped around surprised that Star had not given any warning to an approaching being and saw Nila sitting in the nearby grass. A squad of Wood-Nymphs and Sprites nearby eyeing him, Star, and the nearby Wargs.

"Yes I am, it has been a stressful couple weeks and the problems keep piling up," Jacob replied as he cleaned Moonlight before shoving it into its sheath.

Nila frowned at him before signaling her escort to fade back into the nearby trees, "Talk, bitch, whine or cry. Spill it boy and get it all out now."

Jacob turned and stared incredulously at the Dryad who laughed so hard she fell over, "What you think you are the only leader with problems?' Nila asked when she regained her breath. 'Every leader since the very first mortal race that started thinking has had problems that seem overwhelming. So, feel free to share the burden, I know you don't consider me a close friend so I will be honest with my response if I decide to respond."

Jacob looked at Star who snorted, for anyone else it would have been shrugging their shoulders, so Jacob started talking and spilling his frustrations and worries. Nila was pinching the bridge of her nose by the time Jacob was done. "Ok, so Alderflesh should never have put that much pressure on you. It will be challenging to fulfill those quests, but it can be done. Not easily, but it can be done. As far as Chaos goes...take it one step at a time, secure your Empire. Gain the support of the Orcs of the Golden Plains, this will strengthen your position. You are right as far as a war with the Free Cities and the Slavers Union is coming, you built your whole military on the abolition of slavery, it's outlawed within your Empire. The Slavers Union cannot let that stand, it gives anyone who wants to weaken their guild strength and backing. I guarantee they won't let this Lord...Devinshire, get away with ousting them from his city without responding."

Jacob nodded as he laid out everything, "Not too mention they have to respond to the Empire creating all the taxes at the Greater Harvest Market. I kicked out their representative with the representative from Ordgan. I know they will eventually strike back, the question is how? Will it be a knife in the dark or will it be an army? I don't know. We are already expanding and recruiting a whole new spy network in the Free Cities, but they cannot be everywhere and watch everything."

"Prioritize, what do you want your spies to watch most currently? What are your vulnerabilities there right now?" Nila asked.

Jacob walked back and forth considering her words, "If I had to pick and choose and not casting a wide net...Lord Devinshire, his immediate family, and the Cities of Ordgan and Uldon. All three need are high priorities, while we do that we continue to hammer the Slavers Union trade routes weakening them and their holdings. They might suspect our involvement with that, but they cannot prove anything." Jacob finished as he lay down.

"As far as your second wife goes, you need to confront and figure out what you both want. If it was just a political marriage for her...find out either way. If it wasn't, she needs to learn to prioritize you and you need to learn to prioritize her as well. Marriages are not easy, figure it out." Nila stated as she rolled to her side and looked at him.

Jacob was breathing deeply, he could hear everything around them. He could smell the wet grass, Star, and the leaves and wood of the nearby trees. What he heard put him on edge, he could hear the heartbeats of Nila, her escort, and Star, plus one more nearby deeper in the woods but separate from Nilas escort. "We have someone monitoring our conversation. Is it one of your people to the south, but separate from your escort?" Jacob murmured softly so that the Dryad could only hear, as he opened his eyes.

Nila frowned and closed her own eyes, using other senses that Jacob did not have even if he concentrated. Suddenly the Dryad frowned and thrust a green glowing hand forward. "My apologies King Longstrider, I must deal with this interloper. I enjoyed our conversation, next time though, I get to spill my guts about my problems." With a wink Nila dashed away, her escort forming up around her.

Jacob looked at Star as they disappeared into the dense forest, "Yes, I agree that was weird, but everyone is allowed their secrets. Let's go home, I am hungry and need to eat." Jacob told the Void-Wolf as he stood and stretched his arms before walking away. Analisa approached the entangled wolf that was nearly the size of the Kings Longstriders Void-Wolf. This one was completely pitch black with bright green eyes, "Shift now or die." Nila spit out as she approached the entangled Ware. Ware and Beast Kin had come into existence after the last Celestial War, they were very territorial and prideful. During the Vampire Kingdoms original expansion back before the War of Survival, several cities and small nations had been populated by both. However, their unyielding pride had led to their downfall. Both species had been scattered to the winds, although some of both species had fled during the great exodus and never returned to Arakon.

Nila watched in fascination as the giant Wolf changed into a young woman that was forced to kneel before her. "Why are you here girl? You and the rest of your families wanted protection from the Vampires, but you are here snooping not even 200 yards from their king!!! Why?"

"My father was wondering why you are spending so much time with the blood drinker, so was I. So I decided to take a look. I am not impressed, he whines and complains like a pup. You should have put him down while he was vulnerable." The girl spit out.

"And what would happen in 6 hours?" Nila asked causing the girl to frown.

"You fool, the king you wanted me to kill so easily is an Immortal. He would have come back in 6 hours and led his army scouring the woods and killing any sentient wood creature in response to my breach of the Compact we made. All your kin would have been exposed. That boy, that welp, faces more life and death decisions in one day then you have faced in your entire life. Tens of thousands of peoples lives are riding on his choices. Whole countries and maybe the ending of slavery on this whole continent. So instead of judging him for his whining, maybe consider his worries from his point of view, or consider helping him, you stupid little child. Never, ever, do this again." With the last Nila released the girl who tumbled away and shifted into her wolf form immediately before running off into the forest.