Surface- Iron Hills Region

Free Lands- Outside the City of Mabus

Jacob watched the distant walls of Mabus, the forces of Chaos had gained two footholds from what he could see from his point of view. The north and eastern sections of the city were too far away to determine if they were under assault as well. The defenders of the city were fighting valiantly and were slaughtering the Chaos troops almost as soon as they crested the wall, but they had managed to gain a foothold in two places, one on the south side and one on the west side.

The south gate was secure for now though, the invader had only brought ladders and Siege Towers, no battering rams that Jacob could see. Jacob looked back at his forces, the First, Second, Fifth, and Sixth Legions with the Dawn Guard and Heart Guard were mustered. Two batteries of Siege Engines were being deployed as Jacob watched the assault on the city. The cavalry units they had were already deployed to watch for any flanking forces and scouting out the ongoing assault on the eastern and northern sides of the city.

The initial plan was for the Sixth Legion, with the support of one of the batteries of Siege Engines, to assault the nearby enemy camp while the First, Second, and Fifth Legions bore the brunt of the counter-attack. Standing orders were to take no prisoners, this battle would be too fluid to try and take captives and it would be safer for his soldiers if they just concentrated on killing the enemy, not capturing them. Suddenly Nadal came riding up on his lizard, "Everything is in place, my king. All the Legions stand ready for your orders."

Jacob nodded and gave the order, "Begin Captain-General!!" Jacob told the Drow and the man started manipulating his interface. The Siege Engines immediately ignited their ammunition before it got sent toward their distant targets. A dozen Ballista Bolts and ammunition from six Catapults, four Onagers, and a Trebuchet slammed into the packed ranks of the Chaos Warped killing hundreds. The creatures roared and screamed in pain and anger at the unexpected assault from behind. Whoever was in charge of the invading army responded rabidly redeploying the Chaos Warped toward the Legions and setting them loose, but it was too late. The Sixth Legion slammed into their camp and was already slaughtering their reserve as the First, Second, and Fifth Legions deployed to receive the Chaos attack head-on.

Surface- Iron Hills Region

Free Lands- City of Mabus

Outer Wall

John ducked the swinging sword before slamming his shield into the Gnolls face causing it to yip and whimper as the bones in its muzzle broke. The Rogue next to him darted out and slammed his blades into the Gnolls stomach before hopping backward. "See, we are working as a good team, John," Irene stated and John just grunted back as he moved forward as he analyzed the Gnoll.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Chaos Warped Gnoll

Level: 30 (+10)

Health: 6,220/12,000

Stamina: 4,580/6,000

Mana: 1,800/2,000

Armor: 500

Note* Although this was once a Gnoll Warrior, it was twisted by Chaos Magic and now serves the Lady of Chaos and her Lords.

John deflected the Gnolls counter-attack and cut into the Gnolls wrist causing it to lose its sword as it suffered massive blood loss as well as its weapon. Irene laughed loudly as she slid under the Gnoll as her daggers lashed out causing every man to wince in sympathy for their enemy as it collapsed. "See John, we can be partners. I know you ditched that bitch Anna. So why not join up with me, I could use a good man like you." Irene quipped causing one of his Ranger teammates to snicker nearby.

"I am already employed and I enjoy my work for the most part Irene.' John replied as he chugged down a Minor Health Potion to speed up his recovery before rejoining the fight. A message hit his inbox bringing a smile to his face. He quickly read it, 'Get ready boys and girls it's about to get interesting!!!" John yelled out as he watched the distant fires light up and arc towards the compact ranks at the base of the wall. Then explosions rocked the Chaos Warped ranks as hundreds died and even more were crippled, the Empire of Night had arrived.

"Who the fuck is that?" Irene asked as they watched the Chaos Warped turn and start charging toward the distant tree line, the city of Mabus all but forgotten due to the new enemy.

"Like I said Irene, I am already employed. Sometimes the jobs can be extremely dangerous, but it's well worth it." John replied as he gathered up his party and headed out to help clear out another section of the wall.

Surface- Iron Hills Region

Free Lands- Outside the City of Mabus

Jacob threw up Shadow Shield just before a half dozen Chaos Bolts would have slammed into the Dawn Guard. He dismissed the shield and deflected the ax blow before activating Shadow Strike and Power Slash as Moonlight lashed out and slammed into the ribs of the Chaos Warped Orc. The large creature crumbled as he kicked him off Moonlight before activating Shield Charge driving further into the Chaos Warped ranks before activating Shield Slam.

More than one of the Chaos Warped stumbled and collapsed as Jacob activated Hemorrhage devastating the surviving Chaos Warped. Jacob gave them a feral smile as the Dawn Guard quickly joined him and slaughtering the crippled Chaos Warped as he fell back behind their ranks. A messenger came running up and saluting. "Sir, Captain-General Nadal reports the forces that had been assaulting the eastern wall are reorganizing and heading this way. The initial count is just over three thousand are coming, but the siege batteries are already bombarding them." Jacob nodded and thanked the man as he ran off. Jacob immediately pulled the Dawn Guard out of the press of battle to reorganize and heal up.

Pulling back far enough Jacob could see the swarm of Chaos Warped pressing hard against the ranks of the First, Second, and Fifth Legion as the Sixth Legion turned to intercept the charge from the Chaos Warped that had looped in from the east. Jacob checked the time, already thirty minutes had passed since the battle had begun. So far the Legions were holding, but the body count was climbing. From what he could tell they had already lost three hundred Legionnaires, twice that number had been pulled out of the fighting and being worked on by the healers.

The Legions had easily inflicted triple those casualties on the Chaos Warped and any time their leaders pulled them back, the siege weapons hammered their ranks dealing massive damage to their packed ranks. Whenever it appeared the Chaos would break the ranks, a flurry of AoE spells and crossbow bolts would slam into the area and break up the attack long enough for the Legions line to reform and firm up. This battle was turning into a battle of attrition and Jacob did not like that at all. Jacob signaled a messenger for Nadal to report to him immediately, it was time to change the battle plan. "So can we do it?" Jacob asked the Drow who was frowning at the picture he had drawn into the dirt.

"Yes we can, but if the force attacking the northern wall pulls away from Mabus, the Second and Fifth Legions flanks will be exposed to counter-attack. We will have to reposition most of our reserve to make sure that does not happen." Nadal stated as he made some modifications to the dirt picture.

Jacob quickly studied the modifications and nodded in agreement to the Drows suggestions. Immediately the Drow wheeled around and manipulated his interface and sent off messengers to make sure the orders were followed. Jacob looked back at the Dawn Guard and Heart Guard, both were prepared to join the battle again, depending on how the fight went they would have too.

Surface- Iron Hills Region

Free Lands- City of Mabus

Outer Wall

John watched as the Chaos Warped continued to assault the distant Legions. The soldiers of Mabus were looting the corpses on the wall and throwing their bodies outside the city. The Legions were maneuvering and changing their formation forming what looked like a U in shape.

The Chaos Warped rushed forward not even thinking, into a killing ground between three Legions. "It seems your friends showed up." Gregory Hammersplitter mused out loud and John nodded to the Captain's comment. John looked at the Dwarf, he was covered in blood and gore, his armor was dented in multiple places, but he was still alive and unwounded.

"Is Mabus going to join the ongoing party out there, or are your people going to stay walled up after the Empire put her soldiers in danger again for your people," John asked the Dwarf who frowned and looked away.

"Our orders are to stay at our defensive positions." The Dwarf responded causing John to frown.

"You know what the Empire will do, correct? They will take this city by force and they will hold those that stood by and did nothing responsible." John stated, putting the truth out there bluntly.

The Dwarf nodded, "I understand that and I agree we should not be just standing by and doing nothing, but we have our orders." Gregory stated while refusing to look the Immortal in the eye.

"You and I both know those orders are wrong. Have the damned Seneschal arrested and wake the surviving Lords from their sleep and have them confirm the orders. Then you decide to do the right or wrong thing." John told the Dwarf who was looking back towards the cities keep. The Dwarf nodded and left marching toward the city. A large group of armed and armored men following him.

Surface- Iron Hills Region

Free Lands- Outside the City of Mabus

Jacob cast Dome of Darkness and retreated behind some Dawn Guard as his dangerously low health recovered. It had been strobing at ten percent as Jacob and the Dawn Guard and filled the breach in the First Legions line. The Chaos Warped were getting frantic trying to push through the Legions battle line, but the slaughter was absolute. Spells, crossbow bolts, and even the siege engines were slaughtering the concentrated ranks of Chaos.

The arrival of the Dawn Guard and Heart Guard had relieved the pressure on the beleaguered First Legion. Although the First Legion was full of veterans of many battles, the superior equipment and training of Dawn and Heart Guard made a noticeable difference in the ongoing battle.

A sudden cheer off to the side drowned out the sounds of the ongoing battle in front of him. Jacob glanced over and saw the forces that had been assaulting the Sixth Legion were breaking off and running. The Sixth Legion did not give pursuit although Jacob was sure they wanted too. Horns sounded from the city wall and the large southern gate was thrown open as the soldiers of Mabus finally sortied out from the fortified city. It wasn't many troops, only a few thousand but the effort was noticed by the Legions and the Chaos Warped.

The Chaos Warped leadership broke and their soldiers tried to pull back, but their troops had to run a gauntlet of fire from every direction. Every second another Chaos Warped soldier died under a hail of fire or to swinging blades. The carefully harbored berserkers of the Legion were unleashed further slowing their retreat and allowing the Legions to extend their line and let the First Legion close the distance.

"We appreciate the assistance, Captain Hammersplitter, so you want to tell me what exactly had been going on inside the city?' Jacob asked the Dwarf who frowned and stepped closer causing more than one of the Dawn Guard to reach for weapons causing the Captain to freeze in place. 'I would suggest you just say what you got to say, Captain. You people have pushed their luck to the extream already with refusing a meeting the first time I was here."

The Dwarf visible tried to relax but with being surrounded by hundreds of men looking for one excuse to kill you, can be disconcerting. "I apologize King Longstrider, you are correct. As you know their was an assassination attempt that killed two of the five lords that ruled the city. The three that were wounded were later murdered as they were trying to recover. The Seneschal refuses to cooperate so I arrested him and suspended his government. The city is leaderless currently. On behalf of the city guard, I wish to surrender control of the city to you King Longstrider." Gregory managed to get out despite more than one of his companion glaring at him.

The Fifth and Sixth Legions were already marching toward the city as the First and Second were dealing with cleanup from the battle. The Generals of both Legions were told to gentle but firm with dealing with any problems. "Don't worry about the Seneschal, he will be transferred somewhere else and will be interrogated. If he knows anything, I have people that will find out." Jacob told the Captain as they walked through the corpses on the battlefield. Jacob brought up the Alerts from everything going on.

War Quest Complete: A tale of...Three Cities and an Empire

Description: Through intrigue, manipulation, and force the armies of Niamphis, Yhieburg, and Chaos were slaughtered. However, the leadership of Mabus was assassinated, leaving no senior political leadership intact. The Guard Captain, Gregory Hammersplitter, has surrendered control of the city too you after arresting the Seneschal of the city.

Rewards: 100,000 Experience, 100,000 Kingdom Experience, 500 Gold, Control of the City of Mabus

Alert...

Through battle, you have gained...134,280 Experience

Alert...

Kingdom Alert...

For conquering a Level 5 City Stronghold and Region Capitol you have gained...150,000 Kingdom Experience

Kingdom Alert...

Regional Alert...

The City of Mabus has joined...the Empire of Night.

Regional Alert...