Surface- Valley of Origins Region
City of Eternal Night
Palace of Night- Master Suite
Jacob watched as the ambient light die down as the sun continued to settle on the horizon, his plan to counter the sunlight had worked. Clouds enveloped the city diffusing any direct sunlight, but the ambient sunlight from the surrounding area still was there. Jacob finished the last of his tea and let the servant take the last of the dirty dishes away as he prepared to head out into the city.
One hour later he was finishing up an Iron Plate Chest Guard, after pounding and forming it for 10 minutes he set it into the water while checking on the Screw and Nail molds. Jacob finally did hit level 50 Initiate on Blacksmithing.
Alert...
Your rank in Smithing as increased from Initiate to...Novice.
You have gained...10,000 Experience.
Alert...
Alert...
Due to reaching Novice in Smithing, the Smithing Skill tree is Unlocked. You will gain 1 Skill point every 5 levels, this is retroactive from level 20.
Alert...
Jacob dismissed the Alerts and inspected the Iron Plate Chest Guard.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Name: Iron Plate Chest Guard
Level: Common
Armor Rating: 30
Requirement: Warrior, Strength 16
Durability: 60/60
Description: The Iron Plate Chest Guard is one of the most common pieces of armor, worn by warriors and mercenaries all over the world.
Jacob placed the cooling chest piece within the chest with the others. His third for the day and sixth batch of nails and screws. Jacob spent the next hour making more nails and screws thinking of everything that had happened and what he had learned.
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Yesterday...
Jacob ran as through the depths of the palace, his goal was the only thing on his mind as he entered the hidden Vault beneath the depths of the Palace of Night. The Golems were no different, but he could swear they were frowning at him in disapproval as he entered. Further in, the changes were apparent. Two columns had been formed from the ground and the books were on display on each one. Nothing else had been disturbed..."You two little shits...I am going to dump your asses into the nearest volcano or the ocean. Either way, neither one of you is going to see another mortal for a while."
A deep chuckle surprised Jacob as he whirled around and started to draw Moonlight, "Relax Jacob its just me.' Balance called out as he emerged from the shadows. 'We need to talk, a meeting of minds of sorts. All of us. Light and Dark will keep their people inline so we can have a civil conversation."
Jacob studied Balance, "Was all this your doing? Or did Light and Darkness take the initiative?" Balance smirked before ushering him over to the two books. Jacob walked over to the two stands and placed his hands on either book and a wave of energy slammed through him.
When Jacob opened his eyes he could see the robed figures of Light and Darkness and behind them were the Lords of the Abyss and the Lords of the Light were present as well. Balance still stood behind Jacob looking and smiling at everyone, "Thank you all for coming. You have all been informed as to why this meeting has been called, this meeting is paramount and the threat cannot be ignored."
Jacob looked at Balance and waited, "We have called this council together because a threat to our continued existence is emerging from the darkness of our past. We faced her once before, the questions is what we will do now?" Balance stated.
"None of the Lords have been found and the prison although weakened, is still intact." Light stated.
Jacob held up his hand, "I am sorry, but who or what are you talking about?"
The three siblings looked at each other before Light and Darkness nodded and gestured for Balance to respond, "How many Primordial Powers exist?" Balance asked as he conjured another seat.
Jacob studied him and how two siblings, "Three. Light, Darkness, and Balance. At least, that was what I assumed after meeting all of you."
Balance frowned and shook his head, "Four, at the very beginning of everything..we were four. Light, Darkness, Balance, and Chaos. She was the oldest and most powerful of us. Without her...the mortal realm would not exist. However, she is Chaos and endless cycle of death and rebirth. Once the mortal realm was born, she wanted to destroy everything and start over. However, the mortal races were present...we felt it was a better that the world should continue. For a time Chaos allowed the world to continue but then...then everything changed. The Chaos Lords and their armies invaded the mortal realm. War ensued, the Titans came into existence and rallied the mortal races. The Angels and Demons put aside their differences and allied with those of the mortal realm. For the next century, we fought the forces of Chaos on every plane of existence until we managed to weaken her, then we captured and imprisoned her."
Jacob nodded and pulled out the odd necklace, "What is this and how did it get to the mortal plane?" Jacob held it up for the three Primordial Powers to look at. Light hissed and Darkness jerked back while Balance frowned at what Jacob pulled from his inventory. Balance carefully pulled the necklace from his hand before silently studying it and his hand glowed softly before handing it back to Jacob.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Name: Spark of Chaos (Neck)
Level: Legendary
Properties: Increase all Stats by 10%
Properties: Increase Skill/Ability damage by 15%
Properties: Decrease Mana/Stamina cost of Skills/Abilities by 25%
Properties: +10% Increased Experience gained from slaying beings or followers of Light/Darkness
Properties: Ability Unlocked: Chaos Touch
Requirements: Chaos Bound
Description: Chaos is the oldest and most powerful force in existence. With this spark, you can unlock your Chaotic potential and bind your Fate to the Lady of Chaos.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Note* Chaos Touch: Forcibly convert a being to serve the Lady of Chaos. (Cost 1000 Mana, 500 Stamina, Cooldown 1 month)
Jacob gulped and gently put the necklace into his inventory but not before a quest popped up.
Quest Issued: Path of Chaos
Description: After finding a Spark of Chaos, you have been offered a chance to join the growing ranks of mortals that will serve the Lady of Chaos upon her return. Will you join her in her ascendence, or will you be ground into dust with all her enemies.
Rewards: Permenant Class change, faction change
Accept: YES/NO
Jacobs eyes nearly bugged out as he read the quest and quickly declined it. Based on this information, other Immortals could get the same quest if they found a similar item. "I found this in a dungeon. The dungeon bosses were doing some sort of sacrifice and a portal opened and a hand emerged. The dungeon bosses became twisted...different. Both became more powerful. I have no idea how they acquired the necklace though." Jacob told them. It was an odd occurrence, dungeon monsters were not fully sentient.
Balance nodded as he scanned the logs and pics Jacob sent him and his siblings, "Well we inspected her prison and it's been weakened to the point she has been able to influence the mortal plane. She might have been able to contact the last of the Chaos Lords. At the end of the last war with them, only 6 of them had survived and fled with the remains of their armies."
Jacob nodded, "How tough were these Chaos Lords?" Jacob asked as he looked around.
Darkness leaned forward, "Lets put it this way. We created 36 Titans to rally the mortal races. Besides the lords of the Abyss and Arch-Angels, they were the most powerful beings in creation, 12 survived. Chaos Lords could fight multiple Titans at the same time and win."
Jacob whistled, "Ok, so the Chaos Lords and Primordial Chaos are the biggest threats to creation. Why are you telling me this and why did you guys bring Eternal Night back to the surface?"
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Present...
Jacob dismissed his thoughts and brought up the Mining and Smithing Skill Trees.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Mining Skill Tree...
Tier 1
Name: Ground Pounder (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)
Description: You can mine Ore Nodes and dig through earth faster (+10%).
Cost: Passive, N/A
Cooldown: N/A
Name: All that Shines (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)
Description: Increase the chance (+5%) that you will find precious jewels when you mine nodes of minerals.
Cost: Passive, N/A
Cooldown: N/A
Name: Earth Sense (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)
Description: Sense nodes of minerals while out adventuring.
Cost: Passive, N/A
Cooldown: N/A
Smithing Skill Tree...
Tier 1
Name: Hot Handed (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)
Description: While Smithing, increase your heat resistance by 90%.
Cost: Passive, N/A
Cooldown: N/A
Name: Hammer Time (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)
Description: Decrease time (-10%) required to produce items.
Cost: Passive, N/A
Cooldown: N/A
Name: Gifted Touch (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)
Description: 5% Chance that your products will receive an additional random property.
Cost: Passive, N/A
Cooldown: N/A
Interesting perks for professions, but Jacob would consider his options more indepth later as he developed his professional skills. He put his tools away and headed toward the Palace for breakfast and to check in with the Council and Guild meetings.
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Jacob looked around the council member and guild officers, "Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all for coming today. This is an odd session, usually, I keep my Immortal and kingly duties separate but today's meeting is to apprise everyone of a growing situation.' Jacob removed the Spark of Chaos from his inventory so that everyone could inspect it, 'I recently did a dungeon dive. Those Immortals here you are receiving screenshots and my logs from the fight. Non-Immortals, my War Party encountered Chaos warped beings. This is more than likely a prelude to something more. Feel free to inspect the necklace but do not touch it." Jacob stated.
Over the next several hours they discussed both the item and Jacobs meeting with the Primordial Powers and the leadership of the Abyss and Heavons. "Right now we have time, I think we should continue as we are." One of the Councilors proposed and Jacob agreed for the most part.
"Finishing our war with the Sisters of the Damned and securing the Valley of Origins are my top two priorities. This threat is on the horizon though, when it gets here...it might be too much for any one nation to handle." Jacob replied. Both groups rumbled as they talked and plotted as Jacob leaned back and wondered what was going on with the world.
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Surface- Valley of Origins Region
Heart of the Eternal Forest
Nila watched as they approached, her closest allies and friends for so long. Dryads, Wood-Nymphs, Sprites, and other beings, "So we are to live under the yoke of servitude again after being forced to sleep for over 2,000 years?" one being asked.
Nila shook her head, "No, I did not make an agreement like that with the Vampires. Their King wished for trees to be moved and wanted to know what trees they could clear so they may use the wood. No demands of servitude were made. He also warned us of the coming of the Immortals and War from those pesky Light and Dark Siders. He also informed me of another threat on the horizon, Chaos." The last statement brought rumblings to the people. The forests had a much better memory of the distant past. Far better than the mortal races.
A large man, nearly seven feet tall and easily weighing 300 pounds of solid muscle strode forward, "What of us and our people? You expect me to accept that the blood-drinkers will leave us in peace without making any demands of my people?"
Nila studied him but did not flinch from his challenging gaze, "He made no mention of you or your clans Kormac. I would suggest you and your people give them a wide berth and they will not bother you."
Kormac studied her before nodding and slightly bowing toward Nila and fading back into the surrounding crowd his golden-eyed gaze never leaving hers.