Underdark- Forelorn Depths Region

Unknown

Jacob slowly woke, after backtracking almost two hours after breaking from Jason and the War Band he was a part of, Jacob had set up camp in the dark tunnels of the Obsidian Kingdom. He had found no more Mind Warped Drones or Guardians yet though. Star was still awake and Jacob quickly checked her status, but no negative effects other then Hunger appeared. So either they were too far from the 'One' or he didn't know they were there. Based on their encounter earlier with the Mind Warped, Jacob was betting on the latter and not the former.

Jacob quickly started pulling food out of his inventory and tossing it to the Void-Wolf. She quickly ate everything Jacob gave her before Jacob dismissed her. Jacob could feel her reluctance to go and leave him here alone, but Jacob was not willing to put her in danger, so she disappeared back into the Void in-between places. Jacob quickly broke the camp and tossed everything back into his inventory as he donned his armor. Three hours later, and after many twists and turns, the tunnel Jacob had been following dumped him into a half-finished Hall. Jacob could easily see that the construction done here had been stopped for some reason. Most of the buildings were half-built gutted ruins. Scorch marks marred the surfaces as if a battle had been fought here. Jacob closed his eyes and let his senses drift trying to find out if anything alive was nearby.

Rage and annoyance filled him as the only heartbeat beside his own he heard was coming from behind him. Jacob whirled and shot a half dozen Shadow Bolts out. A loud grunt as Jason dropped out of Stealth turned into a scream as Moonlight pierced the other Immortals shoulder pinning him to the wall. "Why are you following me?" Jacob spit out at the terrified Orc.

"Dude, I spend most of my time with the Locals. The Shaman that was leading the War Band thought you were odd enough to bare watching and I volunteered. I even got a quest to prove it." Jason replied quickly and Jacob started turning Moonlight causing the Scouts health to start dropping again as he sent a copy of the quest to Jacob causing him to stop.

Jacob read the quest and the game log before nodding and pulling the sword from Jason's shoulder. "You want to follow me fine, you do what I say when I say it. You endanger my people or me and I will send you to respawn, am I clear?' Jacob asked the Orc who quickly nodded. Jacob quickly invited him into a party but blocked him from seeing his equipment, quest logs, or any pertinent information. 'You drop the party or whine about the limits I put on you, I send you to respawn. Now follow and stay quiet." Jacob stated as he turned and slowly walked through the ruins. Thirty minutes later they were through the half-ruined hall and back into another tunnel. This one had a slight incline to it for some reason. Jacob quickly pulled map up of the region and looked at the ancient map of the Obsidion Kingdom and his current location. Based on the old map, he was about a mile from the nearest tunnel, but he had no idea if that tunnel was above or below him. No depth had been given.

"So where are we going?" Jason quietly asked from behind Jacob. Jacob took a deep breath and let it out to regain his patience. The other Immortal was clearly younger and had never served in any military and was not taking their situation too seriously.

"Jason, do you realize where you are?' Jacob asked Jason as he stopped moving forward and pulled out some jerky and bread. 'Where are we?" Jacob asked simply as he continued to eat.

Jason narrowed his eyes before looking around, "We are in the Underdark, specifically the Forelorn Depths Region."

"So in an area notoriously known for creatures and monsters that know how to ambush beings with overwhelming attacks quickly, you give away our position to anything or anyone waiting to ambush us. As a Scout, do you think this is wise? To give away your position when at any time something could drop out of Stealth and attack you." Jacob asked as he finished the bread and jerky and pulled out some water.

Jacob could swear the Orc was blushing in embarrassment, "When you put it that way...yeah, it was a bonehead move to talk in a situation like that. Sorry. I just don't have a whole lot of friends in this world or earth, so it's nice to talk to someone." Jason stated as he fiddled with his bow.

Jacob winced and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Listen I assume you want to party up with people and maybe someday join a guild, correct?' Jacob asked and Jason nodded. 'Well, there is no better place then the Underdark, for a Scout to train their skills. Believe me, you can learn a lot down here. You have to take this seriously though. Answers, if they come, will come later." Jacob stated and the Orc nodded as he disappeared back into Stealth. Jacob ducked under the swing of the sword and triggered Shield Bash causing the Mind Warped Guardian to stagger back. A half dozen arrows suddenly sprouted from the Guardians chest causing it to fall over and die. Jacob immediately checked his surroundings before he started looting the corpses. "Better?" Jason asked as they looted each of the bodies of the patrol.

"Yes, pulling a group of mobs doesn't take a big flashy attack. Just grab their attention so the tank of your group, me at this point of time, can grab the aggro and take all the hits. Hell, while pulling, you don't want to even get a critical hit, aim for a leg and piss them off enough to get them to run over." Jacob replied quickly as he pulled up the map.

Luckily they had found their way back to the South Hall, however, it was not either section of the South Hall the Dead Legion had cleared out. So Jacob and Jason were skirting among the ruins and killing the few Mind Warped Drones and Guardians that were within the buildings. Most of the Drones were roaming outside the buildings on the main road leading between the outer most segments of the hall and that led to deeper within the Obsidion Kingdom.

Now they were skirting the huge army that waited for them, but it also gave Jacob some insight on what was coming. Based on the map, if they could keep clear of the main army, they were about one hour away from breaking through to friendly territory. If they could get there...

Underdark- Forelorn Depths Region

Fallen Obsidion Kingdom- South Hall

Fortress of Thongulor

Darren looked out at the South Hall, it was almost a glare. After what had happened yesterday, he was pissed. He had failed as both a friend and as the Guilds leader of everything covert. Letting that Illithid that close with the Drones had been a stupid mistake. Their victory had made them arrogant though, and Darren was thankful it was only Immortals that had been caught in the Mind Bomb.

The high-level Ability had killed the Illithid, but the Drones had been immune to the blast. Everyone had been recovering when Jacob had gone berserk and torn the some of the Drones apart before the few survivors had driven him into the tunnel they had emerged from. Darren and the other Rogues had not figured out how to get the secret entrance open and none of them knew where Jacob was currently.

They only knew he was alive, he had not respawned back in the City of Eternal Night, so he had to be somewhere down here in the Underdark. Ever since Jacob had disappeared the two Bosses the Dead Legion, Ailniur and Nizyl, had stared off into the distance. Darren could swear they were statues except they were tracking something in the distance and he was pretty sure it was Jacob.

Suddenly Nizyl bellowed something out and several formations of the Dead Legion started to move. The Reaper was organizing the Mage types as well. Most of the Dead Legion was staying in their current position, but at least two thousand were moving out and toward the last segment of the South Hall, they had not conquered. Others guild members came running as the Dead Legion formed up and marched out of the northbound gate. "What's going on?" One asked and Darren shrugged his shoulders as he rushed to catch up with the Undead that were marching out of the Fortress.

After fifteen minutes of marching through a darkened tunnel, they emerged into the last segment of the South Hall that lay unconquered. Two figures were fighting back to back against dozens of Mind Warped Drones and Guardians. One of the figures let out a shout and slammed their shield into the ground. Dozens of the Mind Warped were affected by the skill. Darren smiled as the Skeletal Archers started to fire into the ranks of the enemy and Skeletal Mages and Lich's started casting spells and curses slaughtering even more as the Skeletal Warriors charged in.

Jacob took a deep breath and nearly collapsed but Darren was there next to him propping him up. "Hey, we can't have our fearless leader collapsing in front of the troops." Jacob glared at the Shadowmaster before nodding.

"Want to enlighten me on what the fuck happened. The last clear memory I have is charging toward the Fortress of Thongulor, after that...It's like trying to remember a dream. It is all hazy and fragmented." Jacob stated as they walked through the lines of the Dead Legion that we reforming up around them to escort them back to a more secure area. Jason was acting like a kid in a zoo looking at all the Undead that were not attacking them.

"Mind Bomb, it is a high-end Ability that can only be used by powerful Mind Mages and Psychics. I only know of five one-off bosses that have ever used that ability and they are all dead. Once you get the Mind-Fragment back, you will be alright. Who is the Orc?" Darren asked as they walked toward presumably where the fortress is.

"Jason Tombstone, a Scout and level 32. He is a kid so use kid gloves for now. He has not asked what I am yet, but I am sure he knows I am not just a halfbreed Elf/Human. Watch but don't act...yet." Jacob replied as they walked along. Alert...

Through Battle and Conquest, you have received...262,380 Experience

Alert...

Alert...

For Slaying Solthor you have received...20,000 Experience

For Slaying Itvog you have received...20,000 Experience

For Slaying Selnursich you have received...20,000 Experience

For Slaying Slusbaren you have received...20,000 Experience

Alert...

Kingdom Alert...

For conquering a...level 3 Fortress...you have gained 25,000 Kingdom Experience

Kingdom Alert...

Quest Completed: Ancient Secrets of the Obsidion Kingdom (Stage 3)

Description: You conquered the forces of the One and captured your first Fortress in the Obsidion Kingdom, cementing your foothold.

Capture the Fortress of Thongulor: Captured

Difficulty: Hard

Requirement: Level 50, Party of 50

Rewards: 100,000 Experience, Ancient Secrets of the Obsidion Kingdom (Stage 4)

Quest Issued: Ancient Secrets of the Obsidion Kingdom (Stage 4)

Description: Your forces have conquered the Fortress of Thongulor, now it is time to show this 'One' who the true master of the Obsidian Kingdom is. Rally your forces and push the One's forces out of the South Hall permanently.

Difficulty: Hard

Requirement: Level 50, Party of 50

Rewards: 100,000 Experience, 1,000 Gold, Ancient Secrets of the Obsidion Kingdom (Stage 5)

Alert...

You have gained 1(54) Level.

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

Alert... Jacob cursed and moaned, "BRAIN FREEZE." He screamed out as all his fragmented memories fixed themselves. He remembered everything now from the desperate fight to take the inner Keep as the Beholder and Illithid had unleashed powerful abilities on the invading Undead. The feeling of joy as the One's forces were finally crushed and they started to explore the Keep and then the ambush. The desperation he had felt to protect his disabled guildmates from being slaughtered.

"Yeah, believe me, everyone felt that as we all absorbed the Mind-Fragments. It is brutal, but you got your memories and all the experience you lost." Darren said as Jacob sat down. They were in the Control Room of the Fortress, but due to the state of the kingdom, it was not operational.

Jacob nodded his head as he pulled the skull he had gotten from the underground lake a slammed it down on the table. Darren immediately started studying it. "I found that at the bottom of a lake. It looks like the Dwarves dug into a place and messed with something they should not have. The old adage of curiosity killed the cat, definitely applied to this situation." Jacob stated as Darren continued to study the skull.

"This thing must have been huge," Darren said.

Jacob snorted, "That was a baby. So an adult would have been huge for sure. Pretty sure whatever this thing was, one of its siblings was what took over the Obsidion Kingdom." Jacob stated.