Surface- Twisting Hills Region

Free Lands- City of Uldon

Outer Wall

Jacob walked among the ruins of the Outer Wall, the last three weeks had been hectic planning. Four Legions had marched a little over two weeks ago, the First, Third, Sixth, and Eighth Legions were camped in or outside the city. After bombarding the shield covering the city for almost a full day, it had finally cracked.

The Legions had flooded in and destroyed any resistance. The defenders had managed to seal the Inner City before the Legions had gotten too far though leaving them in a position for a protracted siege. While the First and Sixth were bogged down inside the city, the Third and Eighth Legions were securing the approaches from the north and east.

"We have scouts more then a day out so if the Free City Alliance decides to interfere, we will have fare warning.' Nadal informed Jacob, 'We have moved Trebuchets into range to strike at the Inner Wall and Keep. We have the First and Sixth Legions on guard for anyone trying to infiltrate our lines to sabotage the Siege Engines."

Jacob nodded his head, "What about the Battering Rams, have repairs been completed on the Battering Rams?"

"The Engineers are still working on them, but they should be operational within two days.' Nadal responded, 'We have already disassembled the Siege Towers, they will be on the road within six hours and back to the City of Eternal Night within eight hours for repairs there. We can expect them back within a week."

"How are the civilians taking the siege?" Jacob asked the Drow.

The man frowned, "They are keeping their heads down. Any Immortals caught within the city are escorted outside the city and beyond our lines. Anyone within the city that wants to leave, is allowed too, but we check their possessions and inventories."

"Good, have we shifted the Ballista, Catapults, and Onagers to defensive positions to the north and east?" Jacob

"Yes, we have a few Ballista around the city in case they launch a counter-attack, but the majority of our batteries are being shifter to the predetermined positions," Nadal stated.

"Good, I am going to sleep. Wake me if anything changes." Jacob stated as he considered the last few weeks.

Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- Eternal Forest

20 Days Ago...

Jacob stared at Alexi, "What exactly would we have to talk about?" Jacob asked as he studied the man before him. This guy should still be under the god's thumb, but apparently, they decided he wasn't worth watching. Idiots.

"My patron wants you on her side, her family was barely able to defeat her last time. This time...the mortal plane doesn't have the Titans to rally them. This world will fall. Why not join the winning side? We will be spared. Join the winning side, I know you have a Spark of Chaos, take it up and join us." Alexi stated.

"You think the gods will give up the mortals so easily? What price would the Lady of Chaos favor cost me?" Jacob asked.

Alexi smiled, "You take up the Spark, foreswear your oaths and join the ranks of Chaos as a Lord. You will be empowered by the Lady herself. As far as the gods go...they almost lost the war against the Titans after the Chaos Lords weakened them, they stand no chance against us."

"What about my people and the Empire?" Jacob asked.

Alexi frowned, "We all make sacrifices, Chaos is coming. It is inevitable, so the question you need to consider is...will you live through the experience, or will you die?"

Jacob frowned thinking quickly, "You ask for much...I need time to think about the offer." Jacob replied.

Alexi smiled, "Of course. Take your time, if you wish to accept my offer, equip the Spark and I will find you again. You won't have forever Jacob Longstrider, but you do have some time." With a simple flick of his hand, a Portal opened and the former King left the valley.

"Dumathoin, Eilistraee, and Thoth!! Get your godly asses here NOW!!!" Jacob roared out as he began pacing back and forth. Suddenly multiple Portals thundered open and the three gods emerged. Dumathoin and Eilistraee were frowning at Jacob but the god Thoth was studying Jacob before moving his gaze to where Alexi had been.

"What? We have many things to do, we are not at your beck and call." Eilistraee stated.

"You know how your brethren swore they imprisoned Alexi Sunstreaker after placing the Curse on the Vampire species?' Jacob asked the gods and all three nodded. 'Funny thing, he was just here. Next time you talk to Moradin, bitch slap him for opening a hole in the prison that held Chaos. That was the place they put him, her prison, and now he is out and Chaos will be joining him soon enough." Jacob stated glaring at the three gods who were looking confused.

"Chaos?" Thoth asked.

"The fourth Primordial that was imprisoned by her three siblings thousands of years ago," Jacob replied. The three gods looked at each other before turning back to study Jacob.

"Why would he want to talk to you?" Dumathoin asked.

Jacob sighed, "It was a recruitment speech. He didn't come to see me to compare cooking recipes.' Jacob replied causing the gods to frown at his flippancy. 'Its time for you guys to start getting the Pantheons in line, a war is coming, and Chaos intends to destroy everything." Jacob stated as he walked off leaving the three gods thinking and wondering.

Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Control Room

18 Days Ago...

Spoiler: Spoiler Captain-General (Your Second in command in overall military forces)

Nadal Despval

Level- Legendary

Benefit 1: Decreases Training and Recovery time by 10% of all forces

Benefit 2: +10% Increase experience gained by all forces

Benefit 3: +15% increase to unit Survivability

Benefit 4: +10% to the mobility of all forces

Benefit 5: Unbreakable Morale (Units under Direct Command), all other units are less likely (-10%) to break

First Legion

General- Brox

Benefit 1: Increased base morale of all units

Benefit 2: +5% Armor

Benefit 3: +5% Mobility

6,267 (Primary Deployment- Middlebrough)

Second Legion

General- Garnog Ironbark

Benefit 1: +10% Damage of units

Benefit 2: +5% Charge damage to all units

Benefit 3: +5% Recovery time

6,138 (Valley of Origins Region)

Third Legion

General- Tathlyn Hune

Benefit 1: -10% casualties sustained

Benefit 2: +5% mobility

Benefit 3: +10% Damage of Siege Weapons

6,138 (Primary Deployment- Middlebrough)

Fourth Legion

General- Girmak Ironbreak

Benefit 1: +5% Experience gained per battle

Benefit 2: +10% Armor

Benefit 3: Morale is increased within Empire of Night territory

6,128 (Primary Deployment- City of Gahlin)

Fifth Legion

General- Adrian Riptide

Benefit 1: +10% Mobility

Benefit 2: +5% Recovery Time

Benefit 3: +5% Charge damage to all units

6,455 (Primary Deployment- Middlebrough/Aramore)

Sixth Legion

General- Derdic Stonehand

Benefit 1: Siege Tactics Unlocked

Benefit 2: +5% Recovery Time

Benefit 3: +5% to Morale

6,318 (Primary Deployment- Middlebrough)

Seventh Legion

General- Draga Runesetter

Benefit 1: +5% to Mobility

Benefit 2: -5% to Casualties Sustained

Benefit 3: +5% Armor

6,213 (Primary Deployment- City of Oblivion)

Eighth Legion

General- Terrisa Oakbeard

Benefit 1: +5% Attack

Benefit 2: +5% Charge

Benefit 3: +5% Experience Gained

6,127 (Primary Deployment- Middlebrough)

Ninth Legion

General- Ajax Hardbottom

Benefit 1: +10% to Mobility

Benefit 2: +5% Attack

Benefit 3: +5% Armor

6,342 (Primary Deployment- City of Anchorhead)

Home Legion

General- Lord Drexal

Benefit 1: +5% Armor Rating

Benefit 2: +5% Damage

Benefit 3: While defending the Empire of Night territory, Units are Unbreakable

8,420 (Primary Deployment- City of Eternal Night/Ineford)

Heart Guard

Commander- James Shadowstrider

Benefit 1: +5% Damage and Armor

Benefit 2: +5% Mobility

Benefit 3: Unbreakable

800 (Primary Deployment- City of Eternal Night)

Dawn Guard

Commander- Thorgron Shadowsteel

Benefit 1: +5% Experience Gained

Benefit 2: Increased Morale

Benefit 3: +3% Damage and Armor

400 (Primary Deployment- City of Eternal Night)

Dead Legion

18,005 (Primary Deployment- 400 Garrisoned to each Fortress in the Underdark, 2,000 at Gahlin 11,000 at Oblivion, 2,000 at the Wall)

Elite Units...

Name: Black Blades

Description: The Black Blades are legendary in certain corners of the Underdark. They have developed hit and run tactics that defy belief and can hold even armies at bay given time, planning, and the right terrain.

Benefit: Perfect Ambushers (+5% Damage when attacking from Ambush)

Benefit: Stealth Unit (When moving behind enemy lines, decreased chance of being detected)

Benefit: Hit-n-Run (Mobility increased by 25%)

Unit Size: 200/200

Training...

12,642- 5 Weeks (including Urban Combat training) "So the First, Third, Sixth, and Eighth Legions are mustered, how long until all the supplies and Siege Weapons are ready and marshaled at Middlebrough?" Jacob asked Nadal.

Nadal continued to study the Strategic Map, "Within 12 hours, after that, we can march on Uldon as soon as you give the orders. I worry about the Free City Alliance or one of the other Free Cities sending a relief force once Uldon falls under siege."

Jacob nodded as he panned the map out to cover Uldon and the surrounding area. "Once we have taken the outer city, we can shift one Legion to the north and one Legion to the east to cover the landward approaches. The road west leads only to the coast and a few fishing villages and we will control the souther approaches. My concern is if a relief force comes, whatever forces we send too the north will be bottlenecked by the Misty River that borders the city to the north." Jacob stated as he highlighted the waterway.

Four bridges crossed the river at Uldon, two of them outside the city and two within. Both Jacob and Nadal had agreed that when they assaulted the city, they would never attack from the riverside. It was a killing field for any defending force. They would still put a blocking force on the northern side of the river so the defenders or leadership of the city could not run away. "The Free City Alliance should not interfere, but if they do...once we take the Outer City, any forces we put on the northern side of the Misty River will have four places they can cross the river safely," Nadal responded.

"How long will the city last do you think?" Jacob asked the Drow.

The Drow frowned at this, "It all depends on how quickly we can take the Outer City, how hard the soldiers of Uldon fight if any relief force comes. Once we take the Outer City, the defenders will be cut off. Food and rioting will weaken them further, we have to make sure that we have a steady stream of supplies for both our forces and the inhabitants of the city when we do take Uldon." Nadal stated.

"Once we have the city, we can use the Portal Pads to bring in food, healers, or anything else the people would need," Jacob stated as he thought of the possible problems of a protracted siege.

Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- Outside the City of Eternal Night

Jacob watched as part of the mountainside crumble, the explosions had been impressive. The Mana Cannons would be impressive defensive weapons. "As you can see, the shots from the Mana Cannon can tear through even solid rock, Magical resistance and shielding is the only real protection from Mana based weaponry. Even then the protection is limited and easily overwhelmed." Glagor stated as the Mana Cannons recharged.

"How long will the Mana Cores last though? The weaponry is useless without them." Jacob stated.

An Engineer immediately answered, "Each shot is different, the Mana Cannons can charge their shots to a maximum of 10% of what the Mana Core can provide, any more then the cannons risk exploding. However the more the shot is charged, the longer the cooldown between shots. So for a fully powered blast of 10% like we showed you, the cannon has to cool down for thirty seconds. The minimum shot is 3% with a 10-second cooldown." The Engineer stated and Jacob thanked the Dwarf.

"What will the battery size be?" Jacob asked Glagor.

"We are thinking six Mana Cannons per Battery and once we work out the kinks with the Mana Mortars, those will be deployed in Batteries of four. The current designs call for Iron as the main component to build the weapons, since the Empire has an overabundance of Iron, it's not a problem. Fueling the weapons is the problem, so until we find another Mana Well, we can only support a small supply of both Mana Cannons and Mortars." Glagor responded.

Jacob was crestfallen as his dreams of surrounding every fortress and city of the Empire with Mana Cannons disappeared, "How many batteries of Mana Cannons and Mortars could we support at this time?" Jacob asked the Dwarf.

Several of the Engineers were talking quickly before Glagor glared at them, "Once we have slowed Golem production down, we can support ten Batteries of Mana Cannons and four of the Mana Morters probably. Once we have upgraded the Mana Refineries or find another Mana Well, those numbers will go up." The lead Engineer stated. Jacob shrugged his shoulders as he Analyzed the Mana Cannon. Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Iron Mana Cannon

Damage: 500 at Target (For 10%), AoE Explosion

Range: 50-300 Feet

Rate of Fire: Varies based on Power of Shot (1 shot per 10 Seconds to 1 Shot per 30 Seconds)

Crew Size: 3

Durability: 800

Description: Mana Cannons are a rare mix of Science and Magic that has been perfected by the Dwarves.

"Do you plan on taking any of the Mana Cannons on your campaign?" Glagor asked softly. Jacob shook his head minutely.

"No, due to the limited amount and the fuel needed to keep them operational, I want them only deployed defensively at the Wall and the City of Eternal Night for now. Talk with Nadal about how many batteries each location will receive." Jacob told the Dwarf as he walked away.