Shadow Plane

"Hot dam, you got yourself a Liger, and a male one at that." Dagon crowed out as he approached the recovering Jacob.

"Yeah, I honestly thought I was going to be eaten there for a second," Jacob replied as he stretched out his sore muscles. Being sat on by a large armored cat that outweighed you by at least six hundred pounds, is not as fun as you think.

"Thanks for your help again," Jacob told the Dwarf who had a slight twinkle in his eye.

"Ahh, you are a babe for this plane. You don't know the rules, the dangers, or the advantages of this place. For example, how much time has passed since we have seen each other?" Dagon asked with a smile.

Jacob shrugged his shoulders, "An hour and a half to two hours I believe." Jacob replied uncertainly.

Dagon smiled and laughed before shaking his head, "Thirty minutes, time is compressed here on a four to one exchange. One minute on the Mortal Plane, you get four here. Not too bad if I do say so myself.' Dagon stated. 'Now what do you have to do?" Dagon asked eager to help Jacob.

"I got to find my Primal Self, whatever that is," Jacob replied and the answer caused the Dwarf to pale.

"Listen to me lad, are you sure you want to go down this road. I can get you back to the Mortal Realm and bypass Elaine. I will take the heat from her because once you start this, there is no going back. Are you certain you want to start down this path?" Dagon asked and Jacob nodded in response eliciting a sigh of recognition from Dagon.

Dagon pointed over Jacob's shoulder, "You see those mountains over there. If you head straight towards them there is a small pass, it leads to the Valley of Perdition. You will find what you are looking for there. Know this Jacob, you have to do this alone. You can turn back at any point until you enter the Valley, once you do, you can only leave once you claim your power." Dagon stated before turning and leaving. Jacob considered the Dwarfs words before turning and heading towards the Mountains.

Shadow Plane

Valley of Perdition

The Valley of Perdition was almost a perfect bowl between two mountain spurs, it was bare of any vegetation and animal life. Jacob looked around but found nothing, it was completely bare of anything at all. Jacob shook his head and turned back, but the pass he had entered through was gone. "Yeah, you can't run away this time COWARD!!" Someone cried out from behind Jacob causing him to whirl around but nothing was there.

"What's wrong Kevin, are you afraid?" The voice sibilantly hissed out from behind him again. Jacob jumped forward while turning to face the way he had come. Once again, nothing was there. Jacob was getting angry and tried to call upon his Vampiric half but nothing was there. It was like a cold void filled him where the physical power had once been.

"NO!!! This is between me and you Kevin. You don't get to call upon the monster inside and hide behind it. It's long overdue for us to have this talk, nothing and no one will get in the way this time." the voice hissed out and Jacob slowly turned around. There standing opposite of him was another copy of himself. Except this one was decked out in the Blood Lords' armor and Moonlight was in his fist.

"Oh, this isn't my true form. You haven't earned that yet. So coward are you ready to face me and stop running?" the other Jacob asked. The Real Jacob nodded his head and the other one disappeared and reappeared right beside him, Moonlight streaking for his neck. Jacob barley got his shield up in time to block the sword as he triggered Shield Bash sending the Doppelganger staggering back.

"Good, it appears you do have some will to survive without me." the Doppelganger spit out.

"What are you talking about?" Jacob asked as he circled the Doppelganger.

"I am talking about every time you had a hard time in your life. I was there. When our parents died, I was the one that drove you to survive all those shitty little homes. The military, me. When Ava completely destroyed you, I was the one that prevented you from eating a bullet. ME!!! You are the one that curled up and wanted to die. I am the one that drove you to call Jared. ME. I could forgive weakness, but to turn your back and give up on our child!! I will kill you for that!!" the Doppelganger spit out before disappearing again.

Jacob desperately looked around trying to track the Doppelgangers movements. Again he appeared as if he teleported, Moonlight streaking to cut him from throat to navel but Jacob intercepted the attack. The shield shattered and Jacob was blasted back. Jacob shook his head as the Doppelganger growled at him. "GET UP!! FIGHT YOU FUCKING COWARD!!!" the Doppelganger roared out.

Jacob could see the other's shield was gone now too. Interesting and maybe, just maybe a way to win. Jacob sheathed his sword and cast it aside. Moonlight disappeared from his Doppelgangers fist confirming his theory. "I don't need a weapon to beat you to death coward." the Doppelganger hissed out as he started stalking forward.

"I wasn't running away this time, I was trying to protect everyone. You know what Alexi threatened. How was I supposed to stop him?" Jacob asked the other being who snarled as he sent a barrage of punches toward Jacob before breaking off and circling him.

"Excuses, tell me. How many people had to die because of your choice? How about, what if he was lying and killed them all anyway the moment you left?" the Doppelganger asked before launching another series of punches and kicks towards Jacob.

"We put in safeguards to make sure it didn't happen. You know this. You also know what Elaine told us, they were all followers of Chaos." Jacob replied causing the Doppelganger to laugh.

"Excuses to make yourself feel better, weak. There is a difference in killing someone on the battlefield and killing them with a dagger through the heart, throat, or eye. You feel guilty for killing them. WEAK!!" The Doppelganger roared out before he launched another barrage of punches at Jacob before breaking away.

"So, because I feel guilty, I am weak. It allows me to also feel love and compassion. If I was you, I would never have had a child. The Empire wouldn't be as strong as it is and I would have already killed you.' Jacob replied as he stepped back. 'We cannot win this war alone. I need both sides of myself. Rage and Anger tempered by Love and Compassion. That love and compassion is the reason I am here now arguing with you. My friends, my family completed the plan to get me out from under Alexis' thumb. If I was a cold-hearted son of a bitch like you wanted me to be, those friends wouldn't give a shit about me disappearing. So this is me telling you to stop being a DICK." Jacob replied.

The Doppelganger stopped advancing and smirked at Jacob, "So you are ready to stop running and face the future?" The Doppelganger inquired.

Jacob smiled and nodded, "Yes and to do that we need to face Alexi down and destroy him. I cannot do it without you. You cannot do it without me. So will you help me protect the ones we care about?' Jacob asked the Doppelganger who smiled or smirked before a black cloud surrounded him and something far larger took its place. 'That is not something I expected." Jacob commented before he started screaming.

Jacob came too with Elaine leaning over him smiling, "Look who is back?" She asked.

"Did I succeed?" Jacob asked her as he rolled to his side and slowly stood.

Elaine laughed, "In a spectacular fashion and a completely unexpected way. Most of those that face their Primal Selves, beat them into submission, very few try diplomacy. It allowed you to unlock a powerful side of yourself that most are too afraid to try and approach." Elaine replied as a notification popped up.

Quest Complete: Primal Shadows

Description: After trekking through the Shadow Plane you forged a bond with an Armored Shadow Liger. Then you went on and faced your Primal Self and defeated it through diplomacy of all things. Congratulations.

Rewards: 25,000 Experience, Bound Shadow Creature, Primal Self form Unlocked.

Note* Shadow Creatures cannot be truly killed on the Mortal Plane. If 'killed' they are sent back to the Shadow Plane and they lose all current experience. They have their own abilities and will grow more powerful with time and patience.

Note* Although your Primal Self form has been unlocked until you purchase the initiate rank in Shadow Fusion, you cannot use it.

Jacob dismissed the notifications and stared at Elaine. "So what now?" Jacob asked the being.

"Are you ready to go home?" Elaine softly asked and Jacob nodded his head.

"Its time to face all those I left behind and face whatever situation that has happened since I left. Tell Dagon thanks for loaning me the armor and weapon. It helped me more then he knows. More importantly, tell him thank you for guiding me while I was on the Shadow Plane." Jacob replied and Elaine smiled as darkness claimed him again.

Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- Eternal Forest

Outside the Cave of Trials and Judgement

When Jacob came too, he was outside under the stars in the forest outside the city of Eternal Night. The Wargs all around him ignored him as they slept. Jacob slowly got up and quietly made his way through all the sleeping forms and deeper into the nearby woods. He knew where he was and he war far too strong for the creatures in these woods, but if they caught him in numbers... Unarmed and unarmored, even as strong as he was, he was screwed. The armor Dagon had given him was gone, Jacob just hoped the loaners got back to the Dwarf.

Suddenly the howls of wolves filled the night bringing a smile to his face, although after his encounters with the Shadow Wolves he should be on his guard, he knew the howls. A dozen Werewolves barreled into the little clearing he was standing in. A large black wolf with green eyes stared at him before walking up to him and shifting into her human form. "Hey Alana, how are you doin..OOOFFF?" Jacobs greeting was cut off as she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

Jacob smiled slightly before returning the hug. "That was for coming back.' Alana said before punching him. 'That was for disappearing in the first place." Alana stated as her eyes glowed as Jacob shook his head.

Alana did offer him a hand up and Jacob took it as he blinked the stars from his eyes from the surprising right cross. "Umm, sorry. I did it for the right reason at the time. Was it a stupid choice? Absolutely. However, it was the only way I could keep the people I care about safe. So I did what was necessary. Now if you will excuse me, I am sure Cathrine wishes to do the same thing to me that you just did." Jacob said but before he could walk off Alana grabbed him again and kissed him softly on the cheek.

"Please do not do that again. A great many people care about you and depend on you. Please do not disappear again." Alana said before she turned and shifted back into her wolf form. Jacob made his way through the city, he was mostly ignored as he was dressed in shabby beginners clothing. A few recognized him though, mostly Legionnaires, but they stayed quiet and just smiled as he passed them by as he headed directly for the Palace of Night and whatever awaited him there. Jacob could feel Cathrine's emotions again, which was mainly anger and frustration, she was so distracted by what was going on she hadn't noticed him yet. So Jacob quietly moved through the city until he reached the palace. The Heart Guards manning the gates immediately let him pass inside as he followed his sense of where his wife was, which was the council chambers. Judging from the raised voices a very adamant discussion

Jacob quietly opened the door and slid in before closing after him but not before two of the Heart Guard joined him. His Advisory Council was facing off against Tarren, Nadal, Darren, Ezekial, and Cathrine. Jacob watched on with slight amusement as he was completely ignored. Jacob was just content to sit back and watch his wife, at one point not too long ago he had thought he would be lucky too see her again, and now he wasn't sure how to even approach her. Then one of the Advisory Council shot forward and grabbed her, Jacob went feral in a heartbeat and broke the wrist of the offending hand before driving the Lord into the wall headfirst three times rapidly. His face was a bloody ruin at this point then Jacob compounded his injuries by planting his foot into his chest and sending the Vampire flying into the opposite wall, where he crumpled to the ground bleeding and crippled temporarily.

Jacob slowly looked up and let his eyes roam over the remaining members of the Advisory Council, "If you have a difference of an opinion, I welcome it. You all know this. Do not ever lay a finger on my wife in anger though, the next time it happens I will kill the one who does it. Am I understood?' Jacob softly asked staring at every member until they acknowledged his command. 'Good, get out and take him with you. When he wakes up, relay my warning." Jacob watched as they filed out of the room with their unconscious member. Once the door closed he turned and stared at Cathrine.

Jacob crossed the distance in a heartbeat and just hugged her, too many things were running through his mind with too many emotions. "I understand you, idiot!! Yes I love you and forgive you, but I also hated that you had to leave!!' Cathrine cried out. Once again Jacob was thankful for the Psychic Link between the two. Where words failed him, thoughts did not. 'I cannot believe you left that detailed letter for Nadal, but not one word for me." Cathrine sobbed.

"Yeah well, I could ignore Nadal asking me to stay. You could have kept me here just by crooking your finger. Too much was at stake. Too many lives depended on me going, but this will never happen again." Jacob affirmed as he continued to hug Cathrine.

"So everything went as planned?" Nadal asked and Jacob absently nodded.

"Yes my friend, it did. I owe you, Nadal, if you ever need anything and it's within my power to give, ask. It will be done." Jacob told him as he extended one hand while leaving his other wrapped around Cathrine who refused to let him go. Nadal smiled as he took the hand and shook it.

"Pleasure to serve my Emperor," Nadal replied causing Jacob to frown in confusion.

"Emporer? When did I earn that title?" Jacob asked.

"When the Obsidion Kingdom crowned Glagor Ironbreaker as King and he acknowledged you as his sovereign and swore his undying loyalty to Jacob Longstrider and the Empire of Night," Ezekial replied quickly.

"I got to go through all my notifications. Ezekial, I was held at the Torrential Waves Region on the Island of Sorrow within the Stronghold of Devastation. I never saw the outside, only within the Stronghold. However, I got the sense that the place was extremely old and powerful." Jacob informed the Master of Shadows.

Darren frowned as he pulled up his map, then his interface. "I have never seen or heard of this region. It's not on my map and...I got a total of Jack and Shit on the Forums and Wiki. I will shoot the name over to the Shadow Daggers and see if they can dig up anything." Darren replied before moving over and giving Jacob a one-armed hug.

"You asshole!! You made me Guild Leader...I HATE IT!!" Tarren glared as his eye twitched. Then the Paladin messed with his interface.

Alert...

You have been invited to join the Immortal Guild...Seekers of the Dawn.

Will you join them and tie your Fate to theirs? YES/NO

Alert...

Alert...

You have been appointed Guild Leader of the Seekers of the Dawn. Congratulations!!

Alert...

Guild Alert...

The Immortal...Jacob Longstrider...is now Guild Leader of the Seekers of the Dawn.

Build Alert...

Alert...

As Guild Leader...

You can promote and demote officers

Talk in Guild Officer Chat

Unlimited access too the Guild Bank

Recruit others into your Guild

Purchase property in the name of your Guild

Make alliances with other Immortal Guilds

Alert...

Jacob laughed as the notifications filled his screen as Tarren made his way over and gave him a one-armed hug as well. "Don't ever sneak out on us again," Tarren stated as Jacob smiled as he returned his friends hug.

"So who crossed the line? Which city joined the Empire as a Client State?" Jacob asked as Tarren stepped back. Darren was frowning and studying Jacob right arm. Jacob clenched his fist and moved it behind him so he couldn't see it.

Nadal smiled, "The cities of Athesas, Stormsurge, and Duling all joined the Empire of Night under the conditions you set. 10% gross taxes and their militaries are yours to command. Athesas is still under siege, but with the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Legions being commissioned in two weeks, we will have the strength to capture Cliphis and break the siege around Athesas. You can thank your wife for convincing them to do it." Nadal stated as he continued to smile.

"I was highly motivated to get my husband and the father of our child back," Cathrine stated causing both Tarren and Darren to jerk in surprise.

"What? Do I have to explain the birds and the bees to you two? Ok well, when a mommy and daddy are horny they oofff." Jacobs words were cut off as Cathrine punched him in the stomach.

"Dude...that's crazy. A Local and an Immortal, having a kid. I don't think its ever been done." Darren stated.

"First time for everything, and I will gladly kill anyone who tries to harm her," Jacob stated as he caressed Cathrine's stomach.

Tarren frowned breaking out of his stunned stupor, "How do you know it will be a girl?"

Jacob smiled, "She is a Banshee. They only give birth to more Banshees." Jacob replied quickly and Tarren nodded in understanding.

"You are missing the point Tarren, we are going to be UNCLES!!!" Darren let out a loud whoop!!