Surface- Valley of Origins Region
Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night
Palace of Night- Control Room
Jacob looked at the display and the screenshots the scouts had taken, "So we are at an impasse?" Jacob stated as he looked at the defenses.
Nadal had a sneer on his face, "For now. They fortified the only tunnel that leads into Plunging Depths Region until we take that fortification, we cannot proceed with the campaign. The wall is 6 feet tall, only one gate in and out, no archer towers though. Due to the size of the tunnel, they can hold the fortifications for a while with just a few hundred. We will have to overwhelm the defenders to take the wall, once we do, we can tear it down or use it for our own advantage." The Captain-General stated.
"Any recommendations for taking by stealth, subterfuge, anything other than overwhelming numbers?" Jacob asked the General.
Nadal just shook his head, "They will always have at least a few Rogues on the wall just for that contingency, we will never be able to get a stealthed group across the wall easily."
"How about an Immortal Rogue group try with military backup nearby?" Jacob stated
Nadal frowned, "I don't like using disposable units, not even Immortal ones. It might be our only choice though so I will talk to Darren and make a plan with him. We can use a Cohort from the First Legion to back them up."
Jacob nodded as he left the room and toward the rest of the palace. Time to eat then get some sleep, they had a Regional-Boss to down tomorrow.
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Coming into the Dining Hall, Jacob saw several tables of his guildies eating and resting from long days. One such table held a group with some of the newest members. All of them just over level 20 as Jacob made his way over, the Dwarf was the one Jacob wanted to talk too. "Steve right?' Jacob asked him as he walked up, the Dwarf nodded, 'Are you still planning on being a Combat Engineer?' Again another nod with no words, much to the amusement of his companions and nearby tables 'Ok Steve that doesn't talk much. I think you can grow into this." Jacob stated as he handed over the Repeating Crossbow of the Four Mountains.
Steve ran his hands across the overlarge crossbow. It had gold and silver inlaid with the wood and steel, some of it was drawings, others were glyphs of magic. Beauty and danger, two things Dwarves were excellent at combining Jacob thought as he walked away.
Jacob could have easily sold the bow at the Market or Auction House, but since he had given it to one of his fellow Guild Members, it had bought him some goodwill and hopefully loyalty.
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Surface- Valley of Origins Region
Empire of Night- Slopes of the Blue Cap Mountains
Name: Drazaug the Bold
Level: 43 (Regional-Boss)
Health: 700,000/700,000
Abilities: Unknown
Jacob studied the Wyvern, it looked to be close to 30 Feet long, easily weighed a ton, pitch black scales, and bright green-gold eyes that studied everything around it. It was going to take a long time to down the bastard. Jacob checked his quick slots one more time, two Medium Healing Potions, two Small Healing Tonics, two Anti-Venom Potions, and two Small Stamina Potions. Even if the Wyvern didn't have a poison breath, their bite was poisonous. "You ready to go?" Anastasia asked from her perch on a nearby boulder.
Jacob nodded, "Yeah, I am just hoping I don't get eaten today. After everything I have survived the last couple days...it would suck. Are you ready?"
Anastasia smirked, "Not like I do this every day. We got the Regional boss today and the raid later this week to finally clear the last Ancient Dungeon near the Blood Scorched Fort. After that...who knows when I will get a chance to lead a raid." She stated as the remainder of the raid started Buffing and preparing for the battle.
Battle Alert...
You have received...
Blessing of Unconquered Warrior...(Increase Armor Rating 10%, Duration 1 Hour)
Blessing of the Ancient Ancestors...(Increase all Primary Stats 5%, Duration 1 Hour)
Blessing of the Forests...(Increase All Resistances by 10%, Duration 1 Hour)
You have consumed...
Minor Salamander Potion...(Increase Fire Resistance by 5%, Duration 30 Minutes)
Minor Health Regeneration Potion...(Increase Health Regeneration by 10%, Duration 30 Minutes)
Battle Alert...
Jacob nodded absently, "Sure whatever you think." Jacob stated as he started toward the Wyvern, he would be alone for 10 seconds to make sure he pulled aggro before anyone else engaged. Three parties would be making their way around the main fight to watch the cave behind the Wyvern. A small ridge that overlooked the depression where the Wyvern was nested, had a dozen Archers and Mages of various types.
Piercing Lunge followed by a Reaver Attack got the overly large beast attention. War Cry firmly put its hate-filled eyes on Jacob as he breathed fire down on him.
Battle Alert...
De-Buff Burn: 200 DPS (Duration 30 Seconds)
Battle Alert...
Jacob grunted as half of his health disappeared and he continued to burn, belatedly a Blessed Healing Shield landed on him as Healing Roots and Rejuvenation landed on him instantly taking his health back up to nearly three fourths. At least they knew they were dealing with a fire-based Wyvern, Jacob thought as the magical artillery opened up, arrows slammed into the Wyverns wings, and six Berserkers slammed into the overgrown lizards flank causing it to roar in pain. Golems, Skeletons, Magical Constructs, all sorts of things added to the bedlam and battle that was ongoing.
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Surface- Arathia Basin Region
Empire of Night- Middlebrough
Administration Building- Governors Office
"I don't understand why you cannot pave the road to Anderforge, the Empire has paved nearly every other road in the Basin. Why not there?" Anthony asked.
Governor Hightower pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep slow breath, "Anderforge is a Guild owned town. It does not pay taxes and has no loyalty to the Empire of Night. Therefore the Empire will not pay to pave the road between Anderforge and the main East-West bound road. The Empire has expanded enough resources and money on this endeavor. Now, is there anything else I can assist you with Mister Anthony Cartwright?"
Anthony ground his teeth in frustration, he had requested this meeting nearly three days ago and he had been denied. True Anderforge did not pay taxes and didn't have a garrison of Imperial Legionnaires, but they had constructed roads almost everywhere in the damned Basin. "Is it a matter of money? We can pay."
Hightower frowned, "This is not about a bribe or paying us to pave the roads. You are not Imperial citizens. You wanted to keep your independence, you have it. You cannot complain now that you are not reaping the benefits of not being a part of the Empire. Now since it is obvious why you came here today Anthony, I believe the discussion is over. Guards, please send in my next appointment."
Anthony stood with a huff and left the room, he would talk to some of the Seekers, maybe they could talk to the Governor and change his mind. Imperial roads stretched all over the Basin, all the way to Anderforge, and now they were extending it to the Blue River as well. Anyone with a brain could tell, the Empire of Night was making a strong claim to the region and all of its inhabitants.
Anderforge and the inhabitants of the town were some of the last holdouts within the Empire borders. The Gilded Handz had helped establish it and it was the guilds central operating base and hub for their trade network within the region. Anthony was not looking forward to telling the other leaders that the Empire was not budging on its stance.
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Surface- Arathia Basin Region
Empire of Night- Aramore
Harbor
Captain Nathaniel Pedmont watched as the remainder of the squadron dropped anchor, their patrol had been completed and everyone had come home safely. They had taken out a level 65 Giant Squid today, half the squadron needed repairs but the docks were already full.
The other squadrons were steadily pushing eastward to secure the trade route between the capitol and Aramore. Since that route had been dead for 2,000 years, a plethora of monsters had moved in. The western trade route between Aramore and Anchorhead was far more secure though. Trade was minimal though since the construction of the docks and shipyards was still expanding and the population of the town was dwarfed by the military garrison.
Half the crew would go ashore for a couple of hours while the remainder of the crew started effecting repairs. Once they put into the dock, everyone would be released from duty except the Marines. Legionnaires that were highly trained and lightly armored for combat on water. Each one was trained to use a bow and paired short-sword and long knife. Leather armor and no metal armor what-so-ever.
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Pedmont looked at his belt for the hundredth time that day, the same type of belt every sailer wore.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Name: Belt of the Enslaver (Soulbound)
Durability: 1,000/1,000
Description: This belt signifies that you have been found guilty of being a Slaver within the borders of the Empire. Until you have fulfilled your sentence, this belt cannot be removed. Any attempt to remove or tamper with the belt will result in its destruction and the death of the one wearing it. Leaving the Empires borders will result in the detonation of the belt after 1 hour has passed.
Note* Belt of the Enslaver can safely be removed in...79 Years, 279 Day, 8 Hours, 36 Minutes
Pedmont looked at the amount of time he had left, 1 year for every slave he had brought into Anchorhead. It didn't matter that he was a hired hand by the Slaver Union just trying to earn some money, he was still being punished. Every single one of his crew wore the same belt. A dozen Slaver Union ships had been seized by the Empire, each crew given the same choices, live in a small cell for the duration of the sentence, hard labor, or continue being sailors in the new Navy being built up.
Nathaniel Pedmount still remembered the day when all the captains had been dragged in front of a man in the middle of the night. He was about 6 foot tall, 200 pounds, black hair, and blue-green eyes. He had absolutely despised them all and the way his hand patted the hilt of his sword, he was ready to kill them. "So, my people tell me you are all complaining about your sentences, that it is unfair that you all are serving time for breaking the laws of the Empire. Is this true?" He asked looking at them all.
Muttering, head nodding, complaints, and moans filled the air. The main gave a deep chuckle, "Tell me, do you think all the slaves you were carrying to Anchorhead had the same complaints? Did any of you listen to them?"
Dead silence greeted his question, men who had been sailing for the Union for years, maybe even decades were now on the other side of the chain. "You will all serve one year of imprisonment for every life you had on each of your ships. The difference is, you have choices ahead of you and you will not be worked to death. You won't be abused. You will not be whipped for no reason. You will not be disfigured because we can simply do that. You will have your freedom again. Complain again and you will not have a choice, you will simply be put into a cell. In five years time, we will come back and give you the option to join a work crew then." The man had walked out after that and no more complaints had been offered up to their captors.
Most of the former Slaver Union crews had decided to join the growing navy instead of hard labor or sitting in a small cell. They were allowed to write to their families, they were even thinking about paying them eventually. The Marines though were all tried and true Empire soldiers, completely loyal to the Empire. Even if Pedmont wanted to escape, the Marines on the ship would quickly kill half the crew, more then one of his sailers wanted to try though. Idiots.
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Surface- Valley of Origins Region
Empire of Night- Slopes of the Blue Cap Mountains
Jacob watched as the Wyvern continued to get pounded. Tarren and Jacob were currently getting healed by a Shaman/Priest team. The Priest would heal the fractures or broken bones while the Shaman was healing everything else. Jacob had broken his right arm, left leg, and several ribs before Tarren had managed to get the Wyverns attention. Painful to say the least, but he had lived, but the Wyvern had flown off and started strafing the cliffs they were on with its breath weapon when it had reached 50% health.
Three of their guildmates had almost gone down during the Wyverns attacks. Quick work by several Priests and Druids had saved them though. Good thing they had magical healing otherwise they would still be suffering third-degree burns.
After three strafing attacks, the Wyvern had landed again, and another tank had picked up being the damage sponge while Tarren was healed of all the burns he had received. Dropping below 50% health had caused the Wyvern to summon all its babies to swarm out of the nearby cave. All of them were level 40 with health pools in the 80,000 range and the two parties assigned to bottleneck the cave were doing well holding them at bay. Jacob quickly analyzed the Wyvern.
Name: Drazaug the Bold
Level: 43 (Regional-Boss)
Health: 232,749/700,000 (Open Wounds, Broken Bones, Cursed, Burned, Etc)
Abilities: Unknown
Drazaug was in bad shape and his health was dropping like a rock Jacob thought as he stood and grabbed Moonlight and his shield. He quickly pinged Anastasia to let her know he was up and ready to get back into the fight. Jacob saw the Wyverns head dart forward and grab the current tank who started screaming as the Wyverns jaws started crushing him.
Jacob didn't even hesitate, he activated War Cry, Shield Charge, Piercing Lunge, Reaver Attack, followed by Triple Slash causing his Stamina to plunge nearly to halfway in a matter of moments as Drazaug roared in pain. Jacob snarled as he activated Hemorrhage causing the roar to turn into a gurgle as blood filled the Wyverns mouth.
The Wyvern spit the other tank out as it glared hatefully at Jacob before taking a deep breath and spitting fire directly at him. Jacob rolled out of the direct path but was still burned as he ran around the Wyverns bulk. The beast could continue to spit fire or cut off its breath weapon and reengage at a physical range with its claws and teeth.
The Wyvern did neither, its tail lashed out Jacob's eyes bulged as he was running directly into the blow. If he jumped he would sacrifice his mobility, he couldn't get around the tail, through it then Jacob snarled as he triggered Power Slash as he met the tail head on. The Wyverns attack, trying to corral Jacob had also left it vulnerable as Moonlight slammed into the appendage and started cutting through it. Normally it would not have worked but since the Wyvern had unintentionally worked with Jacobs attack, it lost nearly 5 feet of its' tail and nearly 15,000 health points in one hit.
Jacob could see the blood spewing from the gaping wound as the Wyvern nearly went berserk from the pain, it spewed blood and fire everywhere. Its blood was like acid, eating through armor and flesh alike.
Battle Alert...
De-Buff Wyvern Blood Poison: 100 DPS (Duration 5 Minutes)
Battle Alert...
Although Jacob armor was Artifact level, he was wearing common gloves that had no benefits and the Wyvern Blood ate right through them. Jacob was more worried about Moonlight but with a small pulse of energy, the blood was absorbed or disappeared. Jacob quickly downed an Anti-Venom and the damage and time were halved from the blood poisoning. Jacob quickly told Anastasia so she could get the info out to the other infected Immortals.
Drazaug glared at Jacob and its head darted forward whip-quick, Jacob barley deflected the Wyverns attack but his counterattack slashed across the Wyverns mouth and eye-opening up another huge cut and partially blinding the beast.
A handful of Earth Golems rushed the wounded Wyvern jumping on top of the wounded beast and mercilessly pounding its back and wings. Each of the summoned creatures easily weighed half a ton, but the Wyvern was larger then them, even combined Drazaug was bucking them off. Earth Spears and arrows slammed into the Wyverns wings pinning it to the ground and limiting its mobility as it continued to try and buck the Golems off while assaulting Jacob. The battle was over, it was just a matter of time until the Wyvern died. Drazaug knew it, Jacob knew it, everyone on the mountain slopes knew it.
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Jacob looked at the corpse of the Wyvern, he had finally died to a salvo of magic and not steel. Either way, he didn't care, the bastard had been difficult as is, Jacob couldn't imagine taking down a Dragon. From what others had said, even the smallest Dragons were twice the size of this Wyvern.
Regional Alert...
Drazaug the Bold has been slain by the Seekers of the Dawn.
Regional Alert...
Guild Alert...
For Slaying...Drazaug the Bold...guild members will deal 3% more damage to Dragons, Wyverns, Dragon-Kin.
Guild Alert...
Alert...
For slaying Drazaug the Bold, you have gained...20,000 Experience
Alert...
Alert...
For consuming the blood of an Elder Mountain Wyvern, poison deals 5% less damage too you.
Alert...
Spoiler: Spoiler
Officers of the Seekers of the Dawn...
Downing the Regional Boss of the Valley of Origins has earned us the following items, materials, gold...
Gold 12,873
Wyvern Scales X100 (Rare)
Wyvern Venom X50 (Rare)
Wyvern Blood X25 (Epic)
Formula- Medium Sized Anti-Venom (Rare)
Formula- Large Healing Potion (Uncommon)
Plans- Wyvern Chest Piece of the Mountain (Rare)
Plans- Wyvern Boots of the Mountain (Rare)
Blueprints- Spiked Longbow of the Mountain Wyvern (Epic)
Note* 50 Potions of various strength, 30 Common and Uncommon Weapons/Armor pieces were recovered in the nearby caves. 400 Monstrous Bones will be added to the Bone Barracks for production of Dead Legion Units
Jacob dismissed the Alerts and activated his Ring of Homecoming. All the other Tanks were already back in the city getting repairs done and getting drinks, food, and baths. He had been the last officer on the mountain. Tomorrow was going to be another 50 man raid, this time on an Ancient Dungeon.