Surface- Valley of Origins Region
City of Eternal Night
Jacob took a moment to take in the new view before moving, Eiloma was just entering the Master Suite. "Gather every city Engineer and Geomancer, I want every building checked and confirm that all the buildings are ok after what happened," Jacob told her as he walked along the stairs that led to the ground floor he opened up the Guild Officer Chat.
Guild Officer Chat...
'Get every Rogue type out there and start scouting out the immediate area. I want to know of any nearby ruins, roads, monster levels, nearby populations.' Jacob
'What the fuck just happened?' Anastasia
'The City of Eternal Night is back on the surface. Keep everyone calm and collected, the locals will probably be freaking as is.' Jacob
'What about the sun? It will be up in a couple of hours.' Yilme
'I have a plan ready for that. Get people moving, stay safe.' Jacob
Jacob quickly closed the officer chat and intercepted Nadal before he went to the Command Center, "Nadal I want the First and Second Legions put on alert, I want the Home Legion going door to door checking to make sure if we have any injuries." Jacob commanded as they walked through the palace. Jacob broke off from the General and headed into the depths of the palace.
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The Warg whimpered as it died, the rest of its pack either dead or running. The forest around the city was dense and rife with all sorts of creatures of all levels. All the mines, quarries, and animal pens had been transported with the city. Several ruins had been found, they were being cleared of any monsters and from what they could figure out, all were from from the last war or predated the war.
Packs of Wargs, Forest Bears, and Panthers were the most common type of monsters that roamed the woods around the city, usually around level 20 to 30. No Dryads or Wood-Nymphs had been found, yet. Jacob was hoping to find one or the other to open some form of dialogue.
So far all the old roads and paths were overgrown with brush and trees. Jacob had already sent his request to Dudrik to contact the Wood-Elves of the Evergreen Forest, as soon as the replied Jacob would know if they would assist them or not. "The ruins are straight to the North-West, only a couple hundred feet." June relayed as she faded back into the forest.
Less then 5 minutes later they arrived, it used to be a mix between an outpost and lookout. The central tower was easily over 100 feet tall and the wall was 8 feet tall but breached in two places. Half the tower had collapsed in itself and two barracks buildings had collapsed walls.
"How many have we found like this so far?" Jacob asked Darren as he strolled out of the nearby woods.
Darren looked around taking in the place, "8 so far within a mile of the city. Either abutting the mountains or at locations like this, an elevated position." Darren replied.
"So we should repair and repurpose them you think?" Jacob replied.
Darren snorted, "It would be stupid not too, the only problem is all the vegetation. It is going to take weeks to clean them all out and repair them."
"I am working on a plan to see if we can figure out the tree problem. We will know shortly if it will work out or not." Jacob replied as he made a notation on his map. The small outpost could house a Century or two of troops easily.
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Jacob watched as the portal shut behind Oloric, Dudrik, and another Wood-Elf Jacob did not recognize. "Thank you for coming so quickly Oloric. I know you owe us nothing so your peoples' assistance is much appreciated." Jacob told the Wood-Elf as he shook his hand.
Oloric smiled as he shook Jacobs' hand, "Our people were intrigued by your request. This is Arch-Druid Freemont, if the woods have any sentient Treants, Dryads, or Wood-Nymphs, he will find them."
The other Wood-Elf snorted, "They might not want to talk even if they are there, they are living beings just like you or me."
"I understand that that's why I requested those who would have the most experience reaching out and contacting them. I am hoping to save my people weeks or even months of work while possible creating a long-term relationship with my closest neighbors." Jacob replied as he led them towards the outer-city and the forest beyond.
30 minutes later, a young Dryad about 5' 110 lbs petite frame with red hair with green eyes, slinked through the woods toward where Jacob, Oloric, and Arch-Druid Freemont waited with two squads of the Dawn Guard.
"You have called and I have come forest cousin. How may I be of service?" The Dryad stated playfully as she walked toward them.
The Arch-Druid bowed toward her, "Thank you, little cousin. I come before you with a request, this being,' Freemont indicated Jacob, 'wishes to make an agreement with your woods. Will you be willing to listen?"
The Dryad continued to walk forward and around their small party while examining Jacob from head to toe. "Our woods have been asleep for a very long time. Now suddenly we are awake again and a city long gone has been returned. Are you the reason for such things?" She asked as she slowly walked around them before coming to stop before him.
"Inadvertently, yes ma'am.' Jacob quickly replied sheepishly thinking back to what he found and what he had been told. The Dryad giggled before leaning forward and throwing her arms around him and pulling him into a heated kiss and hug. Jacob gently pried her off, 'Thank you for the kiss ma'am, but I am married. I do not kiss, flirt, or do anything with another female without their permission."
The Dryad bit her lip before nodding, "Love and commitment...interesting. I assume you wish to speak to the leader of this forest?' Jacob nodded his head in reply, 'Then please follow me. Only you though, no guards or companions. Will you come?" Jacob looked at his companions before telling the guards to escort their guests back to the city safely before signaling the Dryad to lead the way.
She laughed and darted forward and grabbed his hand and started walking further into the forest and away from the group. Jacob just hoped that this was worth it.
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Surface- Valley of Origins Region
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Heart of the Eternal Forest
Jacob and Nila, the Dryad, walked into the heart of the wood. Jacob doubted he would be able to find it again if his life depended on it though. Other Dryads, Wood-Nymphs, Treants, and Sprites walked, worked, patrolled, the area. All of them were armed and armored in one way or another. For the most part, they ignored Jacob, but the few that looked at him and Nila looked on with curiosity.
Towering trees as large as the Redwoods surrounded the area. "So, what is this place called?" Jacob asked her.
Nila smiled, "The forest is called, the Eternal Forest and it is one of the oldest in existence. Few of its trees survived the last war, but between the few survivors and the Heart of the forest intact we were able to bring everything back even though the gods cursed these lands. All this growth exploded when the god's curse was lifted off the land."
Jacob nodded, "It is very beautiful here. I can understand why you would want to protect it from all outsiders Jacob responded.' Nila smiled at him and squeezed his hand before prancing forward into the Heart. It looked like the base of a tree, but it was a large hall with guards lining the room and a throne at the far end. 'So, may I ask who is your leader?" Jacob asked as he looked around the hall.
Nila smiled, "Well I might have been holding back some." Suddenly Nila waved her hands as if she was wiping her face and she gained about 8 inches in height, 20 lbs in all the right places, and ornate armor. Jacob quickly analyzed her after her transformation.
Name: Analisa 'Nila' Silverwood (Unique)
Level: Unknown
Health: Unknown
Abilities: Unknown
"I am the Queen of the Eternal Forest and its heart. My full name is Analisa Silverwood, and please feel free to keep calling me Nila. We have a long history with the Vampire people, and not always peaceful. So the question in my mind is what type of relationship we will have between our two people?" Nila stated as they walked among the pillars of the hall.
Jacob considered her question, "A mutually beneficial one if at all possible Nila. I don't want to make you do what I need to happen, but things need to be done, so I am asking for your peoples' assistance."
Nila studied him before smiling, "What assistance would you need?"
"The roads and ruins cleared of all trees, areas of the forest we can harvest. Assurances that you will not kill people traveling through your woods, just because they are moving through them." Jacob replied.
Nila pondered his request, "That is all possible, what do we get in return?"
"What do you want?" Jacob asked her.
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Surface- Valley of Origins Region
City of Eternal Night- Docks
Jacob looked at the ruins of the docks and shipyards, dozens of peers and slips for ships were present. Even crude drydocks were present. All of the facilities were in disrepair or broken down from time and age. "How long would it take to repair everything?" Jacob asked Eiloma
The harbor was partially artificial, defenses and light towers were located on the far side of the harbor opposite of the docks and other facilities. The same path the Blood Lord had collapsed so long ago, reopened sometime in the past, led to this place. "Two to three months, if our construction crew work on this place exclusively. Working with partial crews, it will take longer." The High-Elf Vampire replied as they continued to walk among the ruins of the docks.
"The harbor reconstruction is low-priority, we need to finish construction within the city so any work teams here will be half-crews. We need the facilities reopened eventually, but not yet. So is it true that all the ruins within the outer city were swept away?" Jacob replied.
Eiloma looked at him before nodding, "Yes all the ruins in the outer city districts are now gone. The Greater Mage Towers are still there intact, and the outer wall has been repaired. The city Engineers stated they will check they towers and the wall after they have completed checking the inner and middle districts of the city." Eiloma replied.
"A lot of cleanup work needs to be done here, have the crews that were cleaning up the outer districts start working on the harbor instead," Jacob told her as they started back toward the city the Archmage waited nearby.
"Everything is in place King Longstrider, and the towers are prepared to activate the enchantments as soon as the sun starts rising and will disperse as soon as the sun sets." The Archmage reported before teleporting away.
Eiloma didn't ask but the question was apparent on her face, "The Mage towers throughout the city can be used to bolster the defenses. I asked the Archmage if they could be used to summon clouds and fog to surround and envelope the city from direct sunlight during the day. If everything works out correctly, we should be protected from the worst of the effects of the Curse." Jacob stated as they made their way through the ravine and toward the city. It would have to be widened and paved, defenses established at both ends as well Jacob thought as they entered the narrow gulley that cut through the mountains.