Surface- Valley of Origins

Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night

"So what do you think?" Jacob asked as they walked through the streets of the city. I new sense of life infused the city after the Founders Day Celebration and it showed in the common citizen's sense of purpose.

"What new responsibilities will I have, if I accept?" Eiloma asked. Jacob could tell that she was nervous with his proposition.

"As far as being my Seneschal? Nothing. Being a Noble, everything. You would have to jump-start your own House, just like I did. You can take it as slow or fast as you want. If in the future you want to move on and no longer be my Seneschal, give me at least 30 days to find a replacement. I would expect you to train them of course in all their duties." Jacob told her.

"So you don't expect me to go out and take over running some far-flung settlement or fortress?" Eiloma asked with a smirk.

Jacob chuckled, "No, at some point in the future I might assign you to check on the various Governors to...Audit them and make sure they are being honest with me. So you might want to train an assistant. Who that is, I leave up too you." Jacob informed her.

Eiloma frowned but nodded. "How long do I have to decide?" She asked.

Jacob took his own moment to think, "Take your time to think about it, but I would want the answer sooner rather than later." Jacob told her.

"Do you mind if I ask why you have not considered Chalxae or June for this?" Eiloma asked.

"Doing this, I have to think of my people more than my personal preferences. You would be the most valuable to promote at this time. Someday, I will probably promote one or both to a Full-Blood, but not at this time. Right now the Empire and I need you to step up and fill a larger role. However it is your choice, I will not force this responsibility on you, you have to make the decision yourself." Jacob told her. Jacob looked at the Strategic Map and the current reports from the Free Cities Alliance and the surrounding areas. "So our people in Athesas made contact with Lord Devinshire, he has been warned of the likely hood the Slavers Union will retaliate against him?" Jacob asked Ezekial and Darren.

Both men nodded and Darren gestured Ezekial to continue, "Our people made contact and while some of them are now keeping an eye on Lord Devinshire and his immediate family, others are watching any known sympathizers of the Slavers Union. If they start moving any money or their assets we will know and be able to warn the Lord or counter their plans."

Jacob nodded as he shifted them map to the south and concentrated it more on Uldon and Ordgan, "What about Ordgan? What word do we have from them? If their representative was willing to do a backroom deal knowing the consequences, I can't believe they are just going to sit on their hands and do nothing."

Darren stepped up first, "We sent out John and his team since they have been seen their adventuring recently, so it won't be suspicious if they are looking around. They are mobilizing their army, we don't know when they plan on deploying them though or how many. Right now, they are just mustering them and equipping them. As far as Uldon, very little activity there, although the High-Lord Gregory Daniels was seen having a high-level meeting with a Slavers Union Rep and our favorite Lord from Ordgan, Lord Sarel Bersk."

Jacob frowned, things were definitely accelerating faster, "Make sure that information makes its way to Lord Devinshire, if the Free City Alliance spies don't already know about the meeting, maybe we can give them a target to check out." Jacob told them as he shifted the map from the Free Cities Alliance to the western edges of the Eastern Desert of Arakon.

"How does the campaign against the Slavers Union trade routes go? Have we made any headway?" Jacob asked.

Nadal pipped up immediately, "The Black Blades have struck four more caravans and two camps, but the Slavers Union is starting to be warier and are traveling with larger contingents of guards and have even started to hire Immortals. We can back off from the raids for now like we planned or continue to persecute them."

Jacob studied the map, and the after-action reports. No losses among the Black Blades and they left no survivors among the Slavers Union. "No, do not persecute the campaign, recall the Black Blades, for now, I am sure we will be using them again soon enough but I will not risk the only Elite Unit I have."

"As you will my king, the army they are mustering at Ordgan will likely target Middlebrough. They know Anchorhead is also part of the Empire, but its to heavily fortified for them to take alone." Nadal stated.

"Do you think they will use one of our tricks, use a Portal Anchor and jump an army close to a target and surprise them?" Jacob asked.

Nadal frowned, "Unlikely because Portal Anchors are expensive to produce and can be countered and if found, destroyed. All major settlements within the Empire have enchantments around them to throw off Portal Anchors and Mages within the Legions are trained to detect and destroy them. All capitols that I am aware of have those same enchantments and I am fairly sure that the Free Cities will use the same.' Nadal started looking at Darren and Ezekial, both men quickly nodded confirming the Captain-Generals assessment. 'The Sisters of the Damned were arrogant enough to think none of their enemies would use such tactics against them. You proved them wrong and used such tactics to destroy them. The same tactics will not work against the Free Cities themselves though."

"So any response we would send, we would have to march overland?' Jacob replied and the Drow nodded. Jacob moved the map to overlook the area between Middlebrough and Uldon. A route he had traveled both ways, it was mainly flat lands with hills to the west until you hit the Marble Mountains that ran from the South-West corner of Arakon to about halfway up the western coastline. To the East of the road lay the Golden Plains and the Southern Orc Tribes.

There were few tactical locations to confront an enemy army if he wanted to face them in the field and on the march would be his best bet. More than likely they would have superior numbers while he had discipline and tactics. Jacob turned to Eiloma, "Inform Governor Goldflint he will be hosting some additional troops for a time. Captain-General, pull five Cohorts from Anchorhead and from Gahlin each and have them move to Ineford. Put two of the Cohorts at Aramore on standby to deploy, the same for Middlebrough. If they decide to march, I want to be able to respond within 24 hours."

Suddenly a spike of pain nearly drove Jacob to his knees before it stopped, it took a moment for him to realize it wasn't his own pain he had felt but Cathrines'. Jacob ran from the Control Room and made for the main hall. As soon as he entered to he gave a mental call for Star and the Void-Wolf emerged from some nearby shadows. Jacob immediately jumped on her back as he pulled Moonlight from his inventory while mentally communicating with Star and trying to talk to his wife who wasn't responding.

Alarms suddenly started going off in the city, it would put the Legion, Dawn Guard, and Heart Guard on the alert, but Jacob didn't care about the alarms, he was only trying to get to his wife. Star barreled through any and all following Jacobs mental directions as they rand through the Inner City and out beyond into the MIddle City as Jacob was desperately trying to get Cathrine to talk, yell, or berate him. Any form of response would make him happy at this point.

Suddenly Jacob could see one of the Crafters Hall was on fire, several Hydromancers or Ice Mages, were already working on it. It wasn't out of control yet, but if the fire reached any combustible materials, the building would go up like kindling. Jacob continued on though, Cathrine was further west, toward the main Plaza.

A canvas-covered cart with several figures ere just ahead and his sense of his wife flared as he approached. Jacob snarled as Moonlight flew from its sheath and Star added a hunting howl as she activated one of her abilities and other Void-Wolves appeared and took up the call. The men and women surrounding the cart whirled around and started drawing weapons. Wrong response as far as Jacob was concerned and it confirmed that they did not belong there.

Jacob jumped off Star as she lept for the nearest attackers, Jacob triggered Leap targeting the lead person and man leading the lizard pulling the cart. Moonlight buried itself in the too-pale human as Jacob forward momentum carried him clear of his initial attack causing him to roll forward and into a stance as two more attackers tried to overwhelm him.

The attackers were unnaturally quick, faster then the humans they looked like, but too pale. However Jacob was pissed and almost completely feral at this point, his talons and fangs both would easily tear into Jacob opponents. Instead, Jacob triggered War Cry and Invigorating Shout as he met the attackers' blade to blade. These were not mobs though, so they ignored the Aggro, but War Cry disoriented them and Invigorating Shout increased his speed.

Without Jacobs armor, he might be weaker overall, but without it, he had nothing holding his speed back so he was easily matching his opponents as he continued backpedaling. He could see Star and her little pack had already torn apart 2 of their six opponents and a squad of Legionnaires, were running their way. Jacob gave his opponents a grim smile as he activated Hemorrhage followed by Reaver Attack, one of his opponents managed to avoid most of the followup attack, but his friend was disemboweled.

The survivor's eyes darted to his dying friend and back to Jacob, but it was too late. Jacob darted forward and buried two fingers into his opponent's eyes causing him to scream in pain before hilt slammed into the side of his head and into unconsciousness. Jacob disregarded him and ran toward the cart but all the attackers were dead, either torn apart by Star and her friends or the Legionnaires.

Jacob moved the tarp out of the way and a bleeding Cathrine lay inside. A dagger buried in her gut and an odd collar around her neck. Jacob was furious as he gently ran his hand down her face but she didn't respond. Jacob turned to the Legionnaires, "Check their bodies for a key to the collar, bring me everything on them. Send a runner to the palace, get Ezekial and Darren Shadowstrider down here now!!!" The Sergeant saluted and started barking out orders as several Heart Guard showed up and took up positions around Jacob and the cart.

"GET ME A GODDAMED HEALER HERE NOW!!!" Jacob roared out and several citizens ducked back into shops but some went running off.

"Here my king, this was the only key on any of the bodies. We are still stripping the remaining members." the Sergeant offered a little bone and bronze key. Jacob quickly Analyzed it as he moved to Cathrine.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Skeleton Key

Level: Epic

Charges: 10/10

Description: This Skeleton Key can be used to open locked doors, chests, shackles, and magical locks (Up to the level of the Skeleton Key), once the charges are used up, the Skeleton Key is destroyed.

Jacob dismissed the information and started feeling around the collar, he tried to Analyze it as well but while it was engaged he could not get a read on it. Jacob finally found a small niche where a key might go in, Jacob prayed and slowly inserted the Skeleton Key and turned it. With a click the collar popped open, Jacob immediately threw it into his inventory for analysis later.

"Her guards are dead, the two men I assigned to watch over her. Good men that have been in the Heart Guard almost as long as me. Three bodies were found with them, so they died fighting." James informed Jacob as he ran up. Suddenly an older High-Elf started pushing her way through the Blood Guard that ringed Jacob and Cathrine.

"You idiots, someone called for a damned healer, so either get the hell out of my way or explain to that man why you are keeping me here." She spit out while glaring at the two Guards that were holding her up. Jacob quickly signaled her through and she quickly moved forward and started inspecting the knife and the wound it inflicted,

Cathrines' health was hovering at 50% and when Jacob Analyzed her it revealed that she was poisoned, with what he had no idea with what. "I want to get her out of this cart and off the street, the Healers Hall is not too far or we can transport her to your home." The Healer stated.

"What do you recommend?" Jacob quickly asked, never taking his eyes off Cathrine.

"Take her to the Healers Hall, shorter distance and less chance of hurting her when moving her." the old High-Elf responded. Jacob nodded as he softly picked her up handed her to James before hopping down from the cart and taking her back.

"Lead the way, ma'am. Captain, I want four on her at all times until she is fully recovered." Jacob softly commanded as some of the nearby Heart Guard formed up and pushed the crowd out of their way as they quickly moved down the street. Jacob saw both Darren and Ezekial studying the bodies and their items.