Time Ravaged Grove of the Ancient Ones
Jacob stared at the pulsing heart in his hands, it was wooden and grainy, yet it moved as if it was flesh. Pop-ups flooded his view but he minimized them for later as he analyzed the heart in front of him.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Name: Heart of Alderflesh the Ancient
Level: Ancient-Artifact-Unique (Quest Item)
Durability: Indestructible
Description: A Heart of Ancient Treants is even rarer than dragons. They can be used to create all sorts of wonders, but Alderflesh the Ancient gave his heart to the Immortal, Jacob Longstrider, to reclaim the Dark Lands and the grove at the center of those lawless lands.
Note* Although this item cannot be destroyed, it will die in...2 years (730 Days)....if not planted or used. Once the heart dies, it becomes useless for any purpose.
Jacob quickly pulled up the wiki looking up 'Ancient-Artifact-Unique' and since the Fate Online had started, only 2 other items had ever had the same level. In other words, it was an EXTREMELY RARE and priceless item..."FUCKING BULLSHIT BATSHIT CRAZY ASSED TREANT!!!" Jacob started cursing as he paced back and forth in front of the corpse of the Treant that was glowing waiting to be looted. Jacob almost considered walking away and leaving the heart there but all the other Treants were still there just watching him and waiting. FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jacob strode over and touched the corpse.
Alert...
Do you wish to loot...Alderflesh the Ancient? YES/NO
You have received...867 Gold, 37 Silver, 23 Copper
You have received...Acorn of the Ancient One (Legendary-Unique)
You have received...Twisted Branch of the Ancient Ones (Epic-Set Item 1 of 3)
You have received...Wood Unit of an Ancient Treant X 50 (Legendary)
You have received...Life Blood of an Ancient Treant X 10 (Legendary)
Alert...
Jacob dismissed the Alert as he looked around as the Treants moved away toward the nearby trees and the corpse started to dissolve. Jacob shook his head and activated his Ring of Homecoming, time to look at the loot, experience gained, and what fucked up quests he had received.
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Surface- Valley of Origins
Empire of Night-City of Eternal Night
Palace of Night- Entry Hall
As the Teleportation disorientation dissipated Jacob was swarmed by well-wishers, healers, and people congratulating him for surviving an impossible situation which annoyed him even more because he had not survived it. He had been forcibly conscripted into something that he could not do and would fail miserably. "Yes, yes I am fine. Eiloma, call an emergency council meeting, have them there in 30 minutes. Tarren and Darren, have guild officers there as well. Yes, it is mandatory for everyone. Thelgrum make sure everyone gets some food and rest but we are done adventuring for the day. All of you did a very good job for the last two days, I know Dungeon diving is not easy." Jacob stated as he made his way through the small crowd and up the stairs to the master suite as he brought up the Alerts from the Dungeon.
Alert...
For clearing the Time Ravaged Grove of the Ancient Ones you have gained...36,320 Experience.
Alert...
Alert...
You have received the Blessing of Alderflesh the Ancient.
Alert...
Alert...
For slaying Olivea of the Twisted Oak you have gained...20,000 Experience.
For slaying Perdithas Stormcaller you have gained...23,000 Experience.
For slaying Alderflesh the Ancient you have gained...25,000 Experience.
Alert...
Dungeon Quest Issued: Twisted Thought, Twisted Trees
Description: The Grove of the Ancient Ones, was once revered by creatures and Druids of the Eternal Forest. It is now a wrecked and twisted remnant of the past. Cleanse it and hopefully, something new will grow here again.
Deranged Sprites: 200/200
Deranged Wood-Nymphs: 50/50
Deranged Water-Nymphs: 50/50
Deranged Dryads: 20/20
Deranged Treants: 10/10
Rewards: 50,000 Experience, 1,000 Gold
Dungeon Quest Issued: Ancient Specters and Twisted Leaders
Description: The leaders of the Grove of the Ancient Ones have become corrupted by long imprisonment and the warped magic the gods placed on the Valley of Origins. End their suffering at last.
Defeat Olivea of the Twisted Oak: Dead
Defeat Perdithas Stormcaller: Dead
Defeat Alderflesh the Ancient: Dead
Rewards: 50,000 Experience, Heart of Alderflesh the Ancient (Quest Item)
Alert...
You have gained...1 Level (45)
You have gained 2 points to Constitution, Strength, and Agility. You have gained 2 Characteristic points.
Alert...
"What's going on?" Chalxae asked from the doorway as Jacob stood staring at the armor stand, not removing his armor.
Jacob noticed June was behind her and both were still in their gear, "Go get changed, you two will be present for the meeting as well. So eat a snack real quick. You can tell the others what's going on so I don't have to repeat the story today. Please." Jacob stated as he removed his helm and started stripping out of his armor and bloodsoaked clothing. Both women nodded before darting off, Jacob sent a pulse of emotion and energy through his Phsycic Bond with Cathrine and hopefully, she would be coming soon. She was within the city somewhere, but not within the Palace.
As Jacob started the bath he brought up the last two golden Alert signifying quests he had received.
Quest Issued: Twisted Hope of a Twisted Mind
Description: Alderflesh the Ancient sensed the Spark of Chaos on your person and forewarned you without reclaiming the Grove of the Original Wellspring, it is more than likely Chaos will gain a foothold on the mortal plain there. Fight your way to the heart of the grove there and deny the Lady of Chaos this Ancient Stronghold.
Difficulty: Nightmare-Timed (730 Days)
Requirements: Level 220, Party of 100
Rewards: 500,000 Experience, 10,000 Gold, Control of Stronghold of the Original Wellspring, Alliance with Alderflesh the Ancient, Unknown
Kingdom Quest Issued: Dark Expansion
Description: Alderflesh the Ancient has charged you and the Empire of Night to bring order to the Dark Lands, an area of the continent of Arakon that is lawless and unclaimed by any city or country. The Dark Lands is composed of seven regions...
Conquer Dark Forest: ---
Conquer Obsidion Flats: ---
Conquer Dark Hills of Scenia: ---
Conquer Obsidion Coast: ---
Conquer Dark Plains of Ostana: ---
Conquer Plains of Aplia: ---
Conquer Coast of Chai Brium: ---
Difficulty: Nightmare
Rewards: 250,000 Kingdom Experience per Region Conquered, 25,000 Gold per Region Conquered, Unknown
"Jacob, what's wrong?" Cathrine asked as she entered the bath already stripping, they had 15 minutes before they had to be at the meeting and he had not eaten anything yet. De-Buffs were already piling on from lack of food, blood, and something to drink but this was more important.
"We have a meeting we need to be at, a council meeting of both my advisors and Guild officers, I want you there as well, please. I will tell everyone, everything at that point in time." Jacob told her as she walked into the bath, her nakedness although obviously apparent, did not arouse him for once. He still absently embraced her and kissed her though as he brought up the equipment drops from the Dungeon.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Name: Staff of the Demented
Level: Rare
Damage: 90-125 (Physical)
Properties: Increase Intelligence and Wisdom by 46
Properties: Mana Regeneration increased by 15%
Properties: Spell cost decreased by 10%
Requirement: Mage, Level 44, Intelligence and Wisdom 50
Durability: 700/700
Description: This Staff has been twisted with time and magic and is although serviceable, hardly worthy of any note.
Name: Ring of the Twisted Ones
Level: Rare
Properties: Increase Intelligence and Wisdom by 50
Properties: Mana Regeneration increased by 20%
Properties: Spell cost decreased by 5%
Description: This Silver and Gold ring was crafted to assist the Ancient Druids of the Grove of the Ancient Ones before the War of Survival and the downfall of the Vampire people.
Name: Bloodsoaked Vestments of the Twisted Grove
Level: Rare
Armor Rating: +160
Properties: Increase Intelligence and Wisdom by 45
Properties: Increase Health pool by 1,000
Properties: Decrease the cost of spells by 10%
Requirement: Mage, Level 44, Intelligence and Wisdom 50
Durability: 700/700
Description: This cloth armor is soaked in the blood of fallen druids and enhances the health of those that wear this armor.
Name: Twisted Branch of the Ancient Ones (Wand)
Level: Epic-Set Item 1 of 3
Damage: 125-150 (Nature)
Properties: Increase Intelligence and Wisdom by 50
Properties: Increases Spell Damage/Healing by 30%
Properties: Increase Mana regeneration by 30%
Properties: Ability Unlocked: Guardians of the Forest (Requires Set)
Requirement: Druid, Level 46, Intelligence 50, Wisdom 52
Durability: 800/800
Description: This wand is almost as old as the Grove of the Ancient Ones, it is part of the set of Leather Vestments, Boots, and Wand that is said to give any common Druid powers to match those of the most powerful Arch-Druid.
Note* Guardians of the Forest: During your hour of need (10% health) summon a Treant, Dryad, Nymph, and three Sprites (Level +5) to fight by your side for 10 minutes. (Cooldown 1 Month).
Name: Acorn of the Ancient One (Trinket)
Level: Legendary-Unique
Properties: Increase all primary Stats by 5%
Properties: Increase all experience gained by 10%
Properties: Ability Unlocked: Forests Rebirth
Properties: Ability Unlocked: Summon Guardian Treant
Description: This item was crafted and created by Alderflesh the Ancient. Such a small item, with so much potential.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Note* Forests Rebirth: A blow that would kill the wielder, instead brings them back to 25% health (Cooldown 1 Week, Does not share a cooldown with other life-saving Abilities/Skills/Perks)
Note* Summon Guardian Treant: Summon a Guardian Treant (Level +5) to fight by your side for 10 Minutes. (Cooldown 1 Week)
Jacob dismissed the list of items they had acquired, it didn't even cover Common or Uncommon items or Gold, but most of the items were useless Rare that most Mage types would not touch unless they had no choice in the matter. It was balanced out by Acorn and an item part of a Druid set that would see any Druid to the low 50s. Jacob absently washed himself and Cathrine as he continued to think about the future that looked so much grimmer now.
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Palace of Night- Council Room
Mutterings and musing met Jacob as he entered the room, everyone was present including Eiloma, Chalxae, and June as Jacob and Cathrine entered. "So glad you could join us, my King, now what was so important that could not wait until the next council meeting tomorrow?" one of Jacobs advisors asked. Jacob smiled at him as if he was a child before pulling the Heart of Alderflesh the Ancient and placing it on the table in front of all those present.
Dead silence from all those present was the first reaction, wonder from his advisors, while caution, tentative wonder, and worry from the Immortals. The Locals could not see the subtle gold glow around the heart signifying that it was a quest item. "How bad is it?" Darren asked softly, the Advisors looked between Jacob and the other Immortals now, understanding everything was not as simple as it seemed.
"Let's see...' Oh god, oh god, we are all going to die, Fuck me sideways, and we are so boned,' are phrases that begin to cover the problems ahead of us," Jacob responded deadpan as he took screenshots of the two quests and sent them to all present while pulling up the strategic map of the Dark Lands.
Stunned silence from the locals then cursing and muttering from them ensued, Darren just slammed his forehead over and over into the table while Yilme giggled a little. Tarren was glaring at Jacob and Zakoc was laughing so hard he was crying. "This was NOT, repeat NOT, my fault. The guy who gave me those quests did not give me a choice in the matter...So, do not blame me, please." Jacob stated as Cathrine and the other women in his life patted his shoulder or squeezed his hands.
"It does not matter, no one can do this. I am not talking about should not, it's simply impossible. The Dark Lands, are called the Dark Lands for a reason. It's a high-level area that is used for farming needs of high tiered Immortals. It has dozens of small factions, it has Dragons, and at least one World Boss no one has even come close to defeating and the Titans tried three times to down that monster. The other Immortal guilds will not allow us to try and conquer those lands, all the top 25 guilds have at least one guild built fortress on those lands to support their more powerful Immortals in their leveling needs. Its the Wild West of this world, and cannot be tamed. Not to mention...NO ONE CAN GET YOU TO LEVEL 220 IN 2 YEARS!!!" Darren screamed out.
Jacob nodded his head, "I told and yelled at Alderflesh the Ancient and argued with him but he ignored me, in the end, I was conscripted and not given a choice in the matter. So...I am entertaining ideas, we have two years to figure out a plan and implement it. So let's take the time to figure it out because we are going to have one shot at this." Jacob stated as he took out a cup and poured some blood in it from his inventory. Next, he took out some wine and more cups offering them to everyone present. Funny thing like alcohol and impossible tasks bring people together.
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Jacob waited for all the people to leave, they had been planning and strategizing for hours on end when Jacob broke up the meeting with the agreement they would pick up planning again at a later date. Jacob held Glagor back though as everyone else left, the old Dwarf looked at him inquisitively but Jacob waited until everyone else had left and pulled out and pulled out the banner he had acquired in the Ruins of Khul Darum.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Name: Banner of the Forgeborn (Quest Item)
Level: Artifact-Unique
Description: Unknown---See a Dwarven Loremaster for details.
Glagor froze at the sight of the banner before slumping into a nearby chair before he started muttering in the Dwarven tongue, "I have no idea what you are saying my friend, I only know I need to see a Dwarven Loremaster and I am hoping one came with your clan." Jacob stated trying to regain Glagors attention. The older Dwarf shook himself and nodded and gestured for Jacob to follow him out of the palace and into the Inner City.
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Surface- Valley of Origins
Empire of Night-City of Eternal Night
Inner City- Library
To say the Library had changed since the last time Jacob was here, was an understatement. It was clean, Octavious was no longer working alone, repairs on the facing of the building had been completed...it looked even better now than before. Glagor led him through the various shelves and stacks of books winding his way through the building and toward the back. Creacher waited for them, leaning over some old Tome absorbing the words inside at a rate few could match, "You old goat lean any closer and you will go blind. The King has brought something for you to look at and hold on to your glasses when you go look at it." Glagor stated as they walked up.
Creacher frowned as Jacob pulled the Banner of the Forgeborn out of his inventory and laid it before the other Dwarf who looked at it stunned amazement before gently picking it up with reverence before turning to Glagor and started talking in Dwarvish which Jacob did not know and had no skills or abilities to translate. "Use the Common Tongue you old goat!!! Our esteemed King does not speak our language." Glagor interrupted him.
Creacher rolled his eyes before turning and addressing Jacob directly, "I was asking if this was real and wondering where you found it?"
Jacob smiled in amusement, "I have no idea if it is real or not, I found it on a Dungeon dive through the Ruins of Khul Darum. The description of the item was to see a Dwarven Loremaster for any further info. That's why I assume we are here?" Jacob responded while looking at Glagor and Creacher. Both Dwarves nodded their heads as Creacher continued to study and mutter in Dwarvish before placing the Banner back on the table before turning to study Jacob.
"What do you know about the ancient history of the Dwarven people?" Creacher asked.
Jacob frowned before rolling his eyes, "Only the basics, that four great mountain kingdoms once ruled by the original four clans of Dwarves before something happened and three of the Kingdoms fell. Only the Dark-Iron Thiag survived, but your people were never the same and those clans that did not swear loyalty too the High-King were cast out and dozens of other little Dwarven Kingdoms were founded all over Arakon. Beyond that...nothing." It was bare bones and only those who won the favor of the Granite Throne would ever discover the truth.
Creacher nodded, "Aye lad, for the most part, you are right that is what happened. Three great Dwarven Kingdoms fell to ruin through war, disease, and internal fighting or that's what the stories say. Our people became fractured due to the hunger the last kingdom had to control everyone after that. What was worse, no one knows where these cities are located or what truly happened because everyone was trying to survive and those that did survive refused to say what really happened, it frustrates us to no end. Artifacts like this are extremely rare and sought after by our people because its a remnant of a time of when our people were more united and powerful, it also reveals hints at where those cities were before our fall. If the Dwarves that founded Khul Darum found one of the ancient paths to one of our lost cities...it could provide us information on what happened, it could also rally more Dwarves to your banner."
Creacher then went back to muttering in Dwarvish as he started running his hands over the Banner as his hands started glowing. Jacob looked at Glagor who shrugged and looked on as well, Loremasters were not rare in Fate Online, just a few Immortals followed that path because unless you had a really old obscure piece of equipment or items, they were almost completely useless. They had basic spells, but almost every other Mage class was more combat oriented then Loremasters were, but if you did find an unidentified item or ancient piece of equipment you wanted to figure out...Loremasters had no peer in finding out ancient secrets or wisdom.
Suddenly Creacher pulled a Portal Scroll from his inventory and opened it. All the magic dissolved from it but Creacher was doing something and creating a new scroll while he took another piece of parchment out of his inventory and started creating a map on that, all while he continued to work on the banner. Opening his eyes, Creachers' eyes were glowing white at this point of time, he continued to work until he suddenly slapped his hands down causing the new Portal Scroll to seal shut and the map to slam down on the table. 'Water!!' Creacher croaked out as Glagor rushed to him pulling a tankard full of cold water from his inventory and thrusting it into Creachers hands. All three items now had a soft golden glow around them as Jacob looked at them.
"That banner did not want to give up its secrets but considering how old it is...It's not surprising. Well, my King, you have a chance to figure out what happened to one of the Ancient Dwarven Kingdoms of old, if I am right one of them is located under the Obsidian Mountains to the East. This Scroll and Map will get you there, I have no idea what you will find, but whatever happened there...it was bad." Creacher stated as he handed the scroll, map, and banner back to Jacob.
Quest Issued: Ancient Secrets of the Obsidian Kingdom (Stage 1)
Description: Long ago, four great Dwarven clans ruled over the four great underground kingdoms. Three fell, although no one is really sure who, why, or how this happened. On your travels, you retrieved an Artifact of the Forgeborn, the clan that ruled the Obsidian Kingdom, and the Loremaster Creacher of the Thunderhammer Clan revealed its secrets and charged you with rediscovering this lost kingdom.
Difficulty: Hard
Requirement: Level 50, Party of 50
Rewards: 10,000 Experience, Ancient Secrets of the Obsidian Kingdom (Stage 2)
Kingdom Quest Issued: Reclaiming the Obsidian Throne
Description: The Obsidian Kingdom was lost to time, war, disease, or something else. Explore the depths of the Obsidian Mountains and assist the Dwarves in reclaiming their lost history and heritage and you will gain a powerful ally to the east.
Difficulty: Hard
Rewards: 1,000,000 Kingdom Experience, Unknown
Jacob sighed as he made his way out of the library and decided to head to the nearest place that had alcohol, time to have a drink he thought as he made his way through the Inner City.