Surface- Valley of Origins Region
Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night
Jacob walked among the city, hundreds were out in the streets celebrating. Only a few shops were still operating as most places of work had shut down. Those still operating were Bars, Inns, Gambling Dens, and Pleasure Palaces. Places people could celebrate and have fun. Everywhere he looked he could see entertainers of various professions he had hired from Ineford and Anchorhead, minstrels, singers, or gleemen working for the crowds and telling stories, singing, or doing various tricks.
Jacob chuckled as he saw a gleewoman make various bubbles like balloons that would fallow children about and change colors. Yes, he had spent 5,000 gold on food, drink, and other forms of entertainment to increase the morale of the city. He would do it a hundred times to make them happy after all the demands he had made of them these last couple months and what they would face in the coming times.
Legionnaires patrolled the streets as well, although he wanted his people to enjoy themselves, he did not want them unprotected. Considering how many people were drinking from the various kegs of beer and mead and casks of wine he had ordered distributed throughout the Inner and Middle city, Jacob was sure more than one person would be escorted home drunk. Street hawkers had been given food supplies to prepare and give out to those who were hungry. All told, Jacob had probably spent closer to 7,000 Gold on supplies, entertainment, and compensating the various workers of the celebrations.
Already the various Governors were present enjoying the new sights that no one outside the inhabitants of the city, had seen in thousands of years. Jacob had encouraged them to explore and get to know the inhabitants of Eternal Night, not just the nobility of the city. A silent ring of the Dawn Guard and Heart Guard kept pace with Jacob as he walked through the city. Eiloma, Chalxae, June, and Cathrine were with him, snacking and drinking from the various vendors. Jacob had asked Mikeal to make sure the Deathwalkers watch over all the women tonight, not just Cathrine. The young Deathwalker had agreed but he was pretty sure none of them would need protection tonight or any night.
The night was going well, and the fireworks would start in a little over an hour. The only guests that had not shown were the Immortals, Jax, Fred, and Anthony. All of the Seekers were present and accounted for though, their Bonded enjoying the night as well.
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Surface- Arathia Basin Region
Empire of Night- Middlebrough
Jax, Fred, and Anthony waited as the various Legionnaires checked them for anything they deemed dangerous. They had gone through their inventories item, by item, until they had been deemed safe to go ahead. Where none of them knew, but the Legionnaires kept silent after reading the invitations that they had on them.
"Ok Gentlemen, enjoy your night. Your escort will be waiting on the other side of the portal. Remember, don't do anything stupid, you are honored guests but we will not allow you to compromise or damage anything." All three nodded as Portal opening announced itself with a clap of thunder. Anthony was the first to the portal activating it.
Alert...
Do you wish to travel too...City of Eternal Night- Middle City Plaza? YES/NO
Attention!!! Portal will close in 30 seconds!!!
Alert...
Anthony accepted the Portal and with a gut-wrenching twist, he was suddenly elsewhere. His map updated immediately but the Alert was far more interesting.
Alert...
Welcome to the City of Eternal Night, Valley of Origins Region, Capitol of the Empire of Night.
Alert...
Anthony dismissed the Alert as Fred and Jax stepped through and started looking around. The city was large that was certain, but looking closer Anthony could tell that most of the buildings looked fairly new. Yet looking at the plaza itself, the stones beneath their feet were ancient. It had a mix of Gothic and Roman feel too it. All sorts of species walked around, but armed and armored Legionnaires were also present. Two types of troops stood out though, one wore bright shining steel armor and the other wore blood-red armor. Both sets were staring at them, hard as if expecting them to do something wrong.
Jacob came walking up through offering his hand in friendship, "Thank you all for coming, I am sorry but they are a little nervous. This is the first time Immortals outside the Seekers of the Dawn have been here. So I hope you understand that they are a little overprotective. You are welcome here though, welcome to the City of Eternal Night." Jacob stated as he welcomed them each.
Jacob slowly led them to some nearby open casks and offered them mead or beer. The brother Jax and Fred quickly took him up on the offer while Anthony accepted the cup of wine. Skewers of meat were also thrust into their hands, it was packed with sweet-smelling meat and vegetables. "So based on the World Alerts and the Alerts when you got here, you know where we are and what species also lives here." Jacob prompted.
Anthony nodded while looking around, "Yeah Vampires. I had no idea so many existed. I know some ferals existed that occasionally spawned, but I had no idea there was so many." Jacob stopped looking stunned for a moment before he started laughing.
"I apologize, my friend, I am not trying to laugh at your ignorance but very little of these people are Vampires. Most of these people are former slaves actually starting a new life here. I have to remind myself, none of you know the truth, only the Lore of the world. I am going to pull the curtain back tonight and be honest as much as I can be.' Jacob stated as he made his way over to two Drow, a High-Elf, and a Human. He gave them all light hugs and kisses causing all three guests a surprise. Anthony slowly studied them and recognized them from the Spring Tide Festival that Anchorhead had several weeks ago. 'Gentlemen, I would like to introduce my wife, Cathrine On'tel-Longstrider of the Hollowed Tombs, Eiloma Silverleaf, Chalxae Freath, and June Moonshadow. Ladies, allow me to introduce Anthony Cartwright of the Gilded Handz, Jax and Fred of the Myrmidons."
Anthony took his time shaking their hands and chatting a little bit while trying to figure out what he wanted to ask first. What he wanted to ask about was the small silver circlet on his head. It hinted without saying anything, but while they were making small talk, it would be extremely rude too ignore them and start asking questions. Based on the smirks the Myrmidons had, they already knew something and Jacob had probably confirmed it with his actions.
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Jacob tried but failed to keep the shit-eating grin off his face as his three guests were forced to be polite while he could see them wanting to explode with questions. Finally, Cathrine interrupted everything, "I am going up to the palace. At least one of us should be present to remind the nobility to stay in line. I expect to see you there later Jacob, I am sure they will expect some words from their King sooner, rather than later." Cathrine stated as she moved off with the others. Jacob saw several of his guards breaking off to escort them back.
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Jacob smiled as he could see all three men connecting the dots, hindsight was 20/20 though. "Gentlemen, let's walk and talk. I want to view the fireworks from the wall and it will give us more privacy to talk and answer questions." Jacob stated as he started walking the three men trailing behind as he wound his way through the crowd.
"So you are king, yet you are winding your way through the crowd without having your guards pushing your way through?" Jax asked causing Jacob to turn back and smirk at him.
"This is the Founders Day Celebration, a holiday. It would be a dick move to push all the people out of the way just so I can get somewhere quicker." Jacob replied as they cut toward an alleyway, several of the Blood Guard and Dawn Guard cutting through the crowd to secure the area. Although Jacob was sure Eternal Night had a Thieves and Assassins Guilds, before the infusion of all the new people he was sure their populations had been small. With all the new people, he was sure they had grown with everything else and the guard was there to make sure they stayed away.
Fairly soon they were climbing the stairs leading up to the top of the 30-foot wall, guards ahead and behind. The soldiers of the Home Legion bolstered by the 2,000 new recruits, were patrolling the top of the wall. ignored them and kept their attention on the Valley beyond. All three gasped when they saw the empty Outer City, "What happened to everything?"
Jacob raised his eyebrow at Anthony's question, "You already know the answer to that question Anthony."
Jax and Fred looked at each other before answering, "War!" they said in unison and Jacob nodded.
"I know you noticed the state of the buildings when you first appeared in the Plaza Anthony. When I first appeared in this city, the Middle and Outer portions of the city were gutted buildings and ruins overrun by monsters. Then again, that was when this city was in the Underdark. All the buildings in the Middle Districts are new construction, a good number of the Inner city buildings are new construction as well." Jacob stated as he watched Darren and Tarren approach from the stairs. They were there for moral support and to help field any questions they would clear with Jacob first though.
"So why are you in a sharing mood?" Jax asked as he leaned against the wall.
"Things are accelerating faster then I thought they would. I pushed the Slavers Union at this past Greater Harvest Market. I put rules and laws in place to make them bleed money out the ass for making purchases from the farmers of the Basin. I expected them to push back at some point, but within 24 hours they had already broken the new laws and I kicked them out with the representative of Ordgan. I expect some sort of backlash within a months time from either party." Jacob informed them.
"So you guys are Vampires, right?" Anthony asked.
Jacob glanced at Darren and Tarren, both nodded their heads slightly. Jacob shrugged his shoulders before he let his Vampiric side come to the front. All three men flinched and stepped back, "That is soo creepy." Fred stated causing Jacob to chuckle as he pulled it back.
"So are you the guys that randomly create the feral Vampires?" Anthony asked and all three Seekers shook their heads.
"No, the ferals come from other Vampires that had protection from the Curse after the Vampires were defeated in the War of Survival," Jacob replied.
"So it's like humans or any other species, Vampires are a part of the Empire, but not all Vampires are a part of the Empire," Anthony stated and Jacob nodded.
Jax frowned as something crossed his mind, "Who or what protected them from a Divine level Curse?"
Jacob smiled, the Dwarf was quick, but then again he was a coordinator for a reason. "The Titans and the Cult of the True. The Titans went on a recruiting campaign at the end of the war and they succeeded in recruiting Vampires to their ranks. It's one of the groups we are at war with. We managed to cripple their military arm and we have plans in motion to deal with all their covert agents across the continent that will finally destroy them soon enough." Jacob informed them.
"So why tell us now?" Fred asked.
"As I said, things are coming to head, we were going to get dragged into the light one way or another. My status was definitely going to get pushed to the front. When the Vampire race gets unlocked for everyone, I am going to get a lot of crap from the masses. I am trusting you guys with this information before it comes out on its own. I was sure Jax and Fred put it all together during the attack on the Stronghold of Oblivion. Anthony is too smart, I was sure eventually you would figure it out, might as well come out and confirm it." Jacob informed them.
"Yeah, talking to the Avatar of Lolth kinda put everything in perspective, plus all the guards around you during the attack on the keep. It was a dead giveaway." Fred stated as he chuckled.
"Lolth!!' Anthony spit out, stunned for a moment before he continued. 'I thought you were nobility within the Empire, I had no idea you would be the actual king."
"Believe me when I say this gentleman, the responsibilities far outweigh the benefits." Jacob impressed upon them. Suddenly light started exploding overhead as the first of the fireworks went off. Jacob smiled as he could hear the cries of wonder, ohs, and ahhs. The show would go on for the next 10 minutes before winding down.
"Gentlemen, I have to go check on my backstabbing nobility, any more questions?" Jacob asked as he moved his eyes back to the three Immortals. He could tell they had hundreds of questions, but would only answer a few more.