Surface- Twisting Hills Region

Free Lands- City of Uldon

Sewers

Darren led a small raid through the sewers of Uldon, they were disgusting and nasty. They were even worse than usual since all the blood and guts had been washed down here after the battles above, but it was also the only chance they had to infiltrate the central Keep above.

One of the former High-Lords had several passageways constructed to provide escape routes for the inhabitants of the Keep, why they had not been used yet was an unknown for them. Darren just hoped nothing had taken residence in the tunnels other than weak oversized Sewer Rats, that was between level one and ten, that randomly popped up. One of the guilds Geomancers was there to help bust open the tunnel if one of the Thieves could not crack the lock.

Once they arrived at the supposed entrance the Geomancer immediately confirmed that there was a tunnel present. The Thieves immediately went to work finding and working on the locking mechanism while Darren briefed everyone on the goals if they infiltrated the Keep undetected. Two teams, composed of two Assassins and a Thief each, would infiltrate the Keep aiming for the Master Suite and Main Offices, one of them would hold the High-Lord. The other teams would be hunting down and killing any remaining officers and Mages that remained within the Keep.

Once they entered the Keep, they had twenty minutes before they would meet back up at the tunnel entrance, after that they would have to find their way out. No looting, they were there for targets to cripple the defenses and demoralize the remaining defenders enough to surrender. Suddenly with a click, the door swung open, Darren signaled for the Geomancer to head back. The Mage thanked Darren as he darted off while the two dozen Thieves, Assassins, and Darren entered the tunnel heading directly to the bowels of the keep. Vargaf Mountainthorn watched the city below, he had been in the city guard for twenty years. He had made it to Captain only six months ago and now all his efforts meant nothing with the city on the brink of falling into an invading armies hands. He would be lucky if he kept his head, once the city fell...he and the remainder of the City Guard would be obsolete.

Originally he commanded five hundred men, now he only had fifty left. Most of them had either died or been captured when the Outer Wall had fallen. Of the ten thousand City Guard, only around eight hundred remained. Vargaf was one of the few remaining senior officers, most had been killed at the battles for the Outer Wall or Inner Wall, and the High-Lord and his guards were less than useless.

Vargaf could see the distant armored forms of the invaders of the Empire of Night. Each one was armed and armored in blackened armor. Legionnaires that were better equipped and trained than his men. They were probably still licking their wounds after taking the Inner City. Suddenly alarms sounded throughout the Keep, Vargaf whirled and ran inside to check in with the few remaining officers they had.

Entering the Main Offices he saw two Officers hunched over desks, Vargaf made for the nearest one, "Wake up man, what is that status of the Keep?!?!" he barked out but as he grabbed him he listlessly fell to the floor. Blood had soaked the man's clothing and the floor under the chair. A gaping wound across that mans throat revealed the reason for all the blood.

"Captain, what is going on?" one of Vargafs Sergeants asked as he barged in.

"Have the men lock down the Keep, Assassins are inside and the High-Lord is in danger!! GO!!" Vargafs barked out as he ran toward the Master Suite.

Darren and the remaining members of his team fled through the sewers, they had managed to take out seven officers, a dozen of the personal guard, and the High-Lord himself. His wife and child had been left alive on Jacobs orders, only military targets and the High-Lord if at all possible. They had managed to get to him, but two Assassins had been sent to respawn in the process. Considering how empty the Barracks had been, Darren would be surprised if more then just a few officers were still alive after tonight. Hopefully whoever was left alive would make the smart choice and surrender.

Surface- Twisting Hills Region

Free Lands- City of Uldon

Inner City

Jacob watched as more lights appeared throughout the Keep as alarms went off. Darren had already sent a PM ten minutes before stating that High-Lord Gregory Daniels was dead. An hour later the main gates of the Keep opened and a long line of men started to emerge holding their sheathed weapons above their heads before tossing them aside into two piles. Brox had the FIrst Legion scrambaling to move men into the Keep and sweep it for holdouts while the Sixth Legion took charge of the surrendering soldiers. They would be forced to share the contents of their Inventories, turn over any armor, arms, and valuables before they were processed out.

Very few Nobles had been in the actual Keep, most had been in their own homes throughout the Inner City, so Jacob did not have to worry about them all trying to gain control of the city. Suddenly a mirid of Alerts exploded across Jacobs' HUD.

Regional Alert...

The City of Uldon has fallen too...the Empire of Night.

Regional Alert...

Kingdom Alert...

For capturing a Level 4 City-Stronghold you have gained...100,000 Kingdom Experience

Kingdom Alert...

Kingdom Quest Updated: Imperial Expansion

Description: Due to your neighbor's actions, you can now expand northward with justification in your actions. Conquer. Build. Unite.

Uldon Conquered: Captured

Ordgan Conquered: ---

Rewards: 50,000 Kingdom Experience per City, Unknown

War Quest Updated: They started it, but YOU will finish it!!!

Description: Your northern neighbors have invaded your territory and killed your, troops. Make an example of them by invading their cities and conquering their people.

Uldon Conquered: Captured

Ordgan Conquered: ---

Rewards: 100,000 Experience per city, 1,000 Gold per city, Unknown

Alert...

Through Battle and Conquest, you have gained...148,760 Experience

Alert...

Alert...

You have gained 1 (53) Level.

Your Constitution, Strength, and Agility have increased by 2. You have gained 2 Characteristic Points, 5 Skill Points, 1 Utility Point.

Alert...

Jacob dismissed the Alerts as he started calling out orders. "Darren, I want that Keep searched from the top to bottom. Any correspondence between the former High-Lord and the Slavers Union I want to be seized. Captain-General Nadal, I want the city closed for the time being and as soon as the Portal Pads are operational I want all our critically wounded sent back too Middlebrough, Ineford, and Eternal Night." both men saluted as the went about their business. Surface- Twisting Hills Region

Empire of Night- City of Uldon

Central Keep- Control Room

The Strategic Map was light up with all the information flowing in, "All the Portal Pads have been secured, coordinates for both have been changed so Immortals or former allies of Uldon cannot just pop in. All the critically wounded have been shipped back too Ineford and Eternal Night. Engineers are already making estimates on repairing the city overall, and they think it will take two weeks to repair all the buildings within the city. Repairs to the cities fortifications will take longer. At least a month, but Uldon has the supplies to repair everything." Nadal reported before stepping back.

Eiloma quickly took his place, "Uldon has a population of just over twenty thousand people, mostly human but some other races as well. A general amnesty too free all slaves have been called, over three thousand former slaves have been released over the last eight hours. Anyone caught with a slave knows that they will face imprisonment and fines if caught after the next 24 hours. Food supplies for all the inhabitants are at acceptable levels. Several representatives from other Free Cities have come forward asking if we will uphold Uldons Trade Agreements, I informed them that they will need to make new agreements with the Empire of Night if they wish to continue to trade."

With her report done Ezekial and Darren stepped forward, "We have found several dozen correspondents between the former High-Lord and various members of the Slavers Union. Those that reside within the city have been arrested, their funds and properties seized. They also had accounts at two of the banks within the city, both banks have complied with your orders and turned over any funds they had. At the moment, five hundred mercenaries and thirty officials of the Slavers Union have been arrested. Several Estates near the city have been identified as being owned by Officials of the Slavers Union or close allies, troops have been dispatched to all of the Estates to seize them, arrest the Officials and their allies, and free any slaves found on the premises." Ezekial reported before turning to Darren.

"Over two hundred Immortals are located throughout the city that did not take part in the fighting. Most are waiting for things to settle down so they can turn in various quests. There are six guild outposts throughout the Outer City, they are being watched but we have done nothing to antagonize them. The Quest Board has been updated so those who gained 'Hated' status can earn 'Unfriendly' but I have no idea who will take up those quests. If anyone does though, we can check the information they hand over against what we are finding out on our own." Darren stated before stepping back.

Eiloma stepped up again once Darren finished reporting, "What are you going to do about the former High-Lords wife and daughter?' Jacob raised an inquisitive eyebrow, 'She expected to be killed once we took the Keep. Since she has not been killed...We can always send her home, wherever that might be." Jacob drummed his fingers on the table before looking at Cathrine. Everyone in the room had been up almost 18 hours and was exhausted, the Banshee was already asleep in one of the room's chairs waiting for Jacob to get some sleep.

"I assume the Sixth Legion is camped in the Outer City and the First Legion in the Inner City and Keep?' Jacob asked Nadal who quickly nodded. 'Ok, everyone, get some rest. It has been a long day. I will talk to the former High-Lords wife and the envoys from the other Free Cities after we all get some rest and can thing strait. Yes, that is an order." Jacob finished as he moved to scoop Cathrine up and headed for the Master Suite.