Surface- Twin Rivers Region

Nation of Ebron- City of Easthaven

With Patch Twelve released, Jacob moved more openly as he threaded his way through the packed city streets. A small escort from the Seekes trailing and pushing forward. Jacob was no longer hiding behind crappy gear and trying to appear as a poorly equipped Immortal, today he was sporting the Blood Lords armor with Moonlight hanging on his hip. The cream of the guild sporting Artifact, Legendary, and Epic gear, previously unseen from Dungeon and Raids never plundered by any other guild or Immortals knifing through the crowds like a hot knife through butter.

No, Jacob and the Seekers were making a statement, and they were here making a point. Join the Vampire faction, get some new toys. Within a couple of days, people would be able to tell they could not get the same equipment outside the Empire of Night and it would create another wave of new players within the Empire. Hopefully, that was Jacobs aim anyway.

Fred and Jax were smiling as Jacob entered the Mercenaries business building. The representative from the Steel Warriors and Amazons wore slightly perturbed expressions on their faces. "So your just a guild leader and nothing else...Yeah and I shave my hairy Irish ass every other day." The Steel Warriors representative stated causing Fred and Jax to chuckle.

The Amazon rep gave him a disgusted look before turning and looking at Jacob, "You should have told us."

"No, I should not have. I don't owe you anything. I also had no interest in anyone trying to turn me into a puppet. Now you cannot. So, are you two done bitching so we can get down to business." Jacob replied as Fred studied him more intently.

"Why are you here?" Jax asked trying to get the discussion on track before the other two mercs completly derailed the whole situation.

Jacob snorted as he pulled out the three NDAs for the three representatives to sign. Jax rolled his eyes but immiedietly signed, the other two started to scoff but at both Jax and Freds encouragment, they signed. "So...what are we facing?" Jax asked and Fred was smiling.

Jacob pulled an information crystal from his inventory and tossed it to Jax who immiedietly put it into a slot on his desk and a Tactical display lit up showing the tactical problem he was facing. "We have to hold that position for four days against four to one odds. If we can hold that long, I will have rienforcements in place to hammer them from behind, but we have to hold the Wall." Jacob stated as the four mercenaries looked intently at the Wall, its fortifications, the troops he had on hand, and the troops he was facing.

"This...this is pretty heavy. What the hell did you do ?" Fred asked as he pulled his eyes from the display and moved them to Jacob.

"I told them I wasn't joining them. Let's just say Chaos doesn't take rejection well." Jacob replied earning a snort and smirk from the Amazon.

"Where the hell did the get Harpies? Those things are rare as hell, yet your reports show at least five hundred are with this army. Giants, Trolls, even some Minotours...fuck dude, this is not going to be fun at all." Jax replied as he drummed his fingers on his desk.

"I am thinking level one hundred minimum, this fight is going to get ugly long before those reinforcements get there," Jacob stated as he sat back.

"Loot?" the Steel Warriors rep asked.

Jacob snorted, "The equipment will be bound to Chaos Alligned, so...useless except for melting it down for mats. Money...the Empire keeps one-third, whoever shows up can split the remainder." Jacob replied causing the other man to nod his head in agreement.

"You want us all on this Wall of yours?" the Amazon asked.

Jacob shook his head immiedietly, "No. Some will arrive with the reienforcements and support them. Listen well, as bad as the Chaos Warped are, the Acolytes are worse and they have two hundred with them. The Acolytes might also be armed with weapons that can destroy our Avatars." Jacob stated causing the four mercenaries to freeze.

"How the hell can they have that?" Fred asked and Jacob shook his shoulders.

"I do not know how they have them, but they do. I am sure the Swords of the Light can confirm this since they have fought Chaos Warped armies before." Jacob replied.

"This changes things. People are not going to take a chance at destroying their Avatars." Jax stated.

Jacob snarled at him, "This is war. The Locals CANNOT win this without our support. It's not possible with Chaos receiving a steady stream of Immortal recruits. Hopefully, as time goes on, we can find some way of negating their advantage." Jacob replied. He did not want the ability to destroy Immortal Avatars, to become widespread. Perma-death added a new edge to this world, one that most Immortals would not like once it became widely known.

"Enough, war has its costs. Our Avatars might be destroyed, but if Chaos wins this war, it will be far worse." the Steel Warriors rep stated glaring at the other Mercenaries before looking at Jacob and nodding his head. "What?" Jacob asked Darren as they walked back towards the main plaza and the Portal Pad there.

"You need to recruit a new War Party. I know yours kinda broke up, but you need one. You need to keep pushing and getting stronger." Darren replied.

"Thelgrum is creating new Chapter Houses in every city in the Empire of Night. Chalxae and June went north with Eiloma, Fenwyn has become the premiere Warlock trainer in Eternal Night, Shigna has gone back to his clan to try and get them to join the Empire, Snaggletooth has become the head healer in the Palace, while Mug, Rory, and Patemal joined the Legions. We all have our duties and responsibilities and once the war with the Slavers Union cools down, I can start questing again. Until then I have more important things to worry about." Jacob replied as he broke the Portal Scroll.

"Doesn't change the fact, you need to start grinding out levels again," Darren replied as he darted through the portal.

Surface- Arathia Basin Region

Empire of Night- Town of Aramore

Broken Sail

Ailis sat down on the stool, her back and ass hurt after being on a horse for twelve hours, she was tired and sore. She had ridden through some of the day and the grueling De-Buffs that sunlight had provided, but it had been worth it to get here today. The local Assassins Guild proxy was supposed to meet her here tommorow and now she had a full day to relax and recuperate before she recieved her target information. What could be here worth the guild's attention, was a complete unknown to her.

"Anything else Miss?" the Innkeeper asked as he dropped off the bread, fish, and honeyed mead.

"No sir, just the food and room for a couple of days," Ailis replied as she looked around the room.

"Its a silver per day, breakfast comes with the room, lunch and dinner are five coppers a piece. Alcohol is extra." the man replied as he held out his hand.

Ailis dropped four Silver in his outstretched hand and offered two more Silver for any interesting information on what was going on in and around the town. "Keep the Silver lass. This is Aramore, if there is anything interesting going on, it will be on the Quest Board outside the local Mayors house." the man stated as he walked off.

Ailis looked around the room. most of the occupants were sailors attached to ships currently in port, which meant the military for the most part. Some merchants had started the ply their trade between the Imperial ports, but they were still rare. However, the word coming from north stated the city of Stormsurge had joined the Empire as a Client State and they were sending more business southward.

The sailors were broken up into three groups, Marines, and sailers, but one group of sailors all wore some odd belts. The other two groups seemed to dislike the belt wearers for some reason though. "They are former slavers and are not trusted fully like the others." a man stated as he sat down.

Ailis studied him, he was large, six feet tall and heavily muscled. "Marine?" Ailis asked.

The man smirked, "Damned straight miss. Stay away from them. Some of them have bad habits that they are reluctant to give up. Some of them would love to entertain a pretty little thing like you and it wouldn't matter what your opinion was on the matter." The man stated before standing and striding over to the other Marines. Ailis considered the Marines words before she continued to eat her food.

Surface- Wind Swept Hills Region

Nation of Daran'thia- City of Elleshara

Inner City- City Library

Ava was stunned as she closed the little diary and its conclusion. Tabitha had been completely betrayed by the former Dragon King, she had been cast aside for another woman. Lies and half-truths had then led to her families downfall as well. All their holdings and wealth had been stripped from them and given to other families and they had all been cast out of the kingdom.

Most of the Loranan Family had died over the next couple centuries as they were forced to become mercenaries and court mages in other nations. Now the few survivors were far-flung and few. The newest Dragon King had risen to power five centuries ago and three hundred years after the fall of the Loranan Family. He might have discovered the truth behind their exile, but his half measure was small consolidation for what had happened to the family.

The newest Dragon King could not admit the truth and venerate the Loranan Family completely, it would weaken his position and his families hold on the throne. Enough to maybe even start a civil war if enough families voiced their outrage at what the royal family had done."You see child why I said to be careful?" the Lore Master asked as she entered the restricted area.

Ava nodded her head sadly. She also was beginning to understand why the old man had given her the Loranan Family. After what she had done to Kevin...What the Loranan Family had endured was very similar to what she had put Kevin through. "Even if I could bring the truth to light...No one would win. The Loranan Family is scattered all over Arakon, even if the Family was fully restored, I don't think they would return to the people that had betrayed them." Ava responded as she placed the diary back on the shelf it had come from.

The Librarian smiled and nodded her head. "Very true. Perhaps you should continue to read about the Loranan Family secrets. You might be enlightened on what you can do if you decide to do anything." She stated as she pointed to other books and they floated down off the shelves before landing in front of Ava. Ava took a deep breath and pulled the closest one to her before pilling the others on top of each other to read later.

Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night

Jacob was surprised when he received a PM from Nadal, James, and Thorgron as soon as he emerged from the Portal. They all pretty much said the same thing, 'get you ass back to the Palace as soon as you get back'. No reason why though. "What's wrong?" Darren asked and Jacob just shrugged his shoulders as he took off running towards the palace.

The guards ushered him in as he neared the palace and waiting for him in the main entryway was Cathrine, Gloria, a Succubus, and an Angel. Both Celestial beings were heavily armed and armored ignoring each other. Jacob felt along his bond with Cathrine and what he got from her was equal parts amusement and frustration. "Dear wife, who is our new guests?" Jacob asked as he approached.

"Dear husband, these two beings refuse to tell me or talk to each other. I have no idea why they are here or what they want with you." Cathrine replied dryly as Jacob approached.

Jacob nodded his head in acknowledgment as he slowly moved closer to them and signaled for the guards to stay close by. Cathrine frowned as she caught the gist of his thoughts, for them to protect her and not him. "Well, you two are here for some reason too talk too me I assume, so feel free to speak up." Jacob prompted causing the Succubus to frown before turning to stare at her counterpart.

The Seraphim frowned before removing her helm and bowed slightly. "The Arch Angels of the High Heavens and Lords of the Abyss believe you need more protection then what you have. We are here to make sure you do nothing stupid and to keep you alive." She stated as her mouth frowned as if she found the whole thing distasteful. The Succubus smirked at the Angel, causing the other being to roll her eyes.

Jacob frowned, "I do not answer to the Arch Angels of the Heavens nor the Lords of the Abyss. I will do what I think is necessary to keep my people safe and do my best to win the coming war, which seams will start in a couple of days." Jacob replied.

Both Celestials frowned at his response, "What are you talking about." the Succubus asked.

"There is a large army of Chaos Warped creatures marching towards the Valley of Origins as we speak. They will be here in less then three days. So ladies, if you will excuse me, we still have preparations to make." Jacob informed them as he grabbed Cathrine's hand and started towards the Command Center where Nadal and his staff would be hard at work.

"How were we not aware of this? Why didn't anyone tell us this?" The Angel stated as they followed Jacob.

"Well perhaps instead of ignoring my wife, you will introduce yourself and talk. This is not your home Angel. You are a guest, start acting like it." Jacob replied as he pressed on, his thoughts already on other things he had to do before the enemy army arrived.