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Blood and Honor
Chapter 246- Breaking the Mold

Chapter 246- Breaking the Mold

Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night

Middle City- Dwarven District

"So, to make Blood Steel requires all the normal components to make Steel and one vial of Vampire blood. That is the only difference.' Jacob explained to the other Immortal Smiths. It had taken some trial and error until they figured out the formula. It had been well worth it though. 'Crafting armor would be useless...probably, but weapons crafted from Blood Steel would prove valuable. Take a look at this short sword and its properties." Jacob said as he tossed it to the nearest Immortal.

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Blood Steel Short Sword of Maiming

Level: Uncommon

Damage: 40-55

Properties: 10% of Damage is recovered as health by the wielder

Properties: Increase Constitution by 25 and Strength by 20

Properties: 50% Increased Chance to cause Bleeding Status

Requirement: Warrior, Level 30, Constitution 40, Strength 30

Durability: 300/300

Description: This short sword is partially serrated to cause even more damage to your opponents.

Note* This weapon was crafted from Blood Steel giving it its innate Vampiric qualities to transfer some of the damage it deals as health back to its wielder. It will also repair the blade itself. However, if this weapon is not used to battle living opponents, the Durability will decrease over time.

Quality: Good

+5% Increased Durability

+5% Increase to Base Damage

"As you can see, the weapon itself inherits some of our Vampiric qualities. Like everything, it has two sides. Over time, the blade will degrade, it does not matter if you take it to a smith to repair. Only the blood of the living can repair it." Jacob told them as the weapons were passed around.

"I am guessing you don't want these for the Legions?" one of the Immortals asked and Jacob shook his head immediately,

"Hell no, I am thinking we craft and sell these types of items to lower level players, it will increase their survivability and decrease the leveling curve for Immortals. We will take certain orders for higher-level players, but overall we could create a market for lower level players. Besides, since we are the only people that can make Blood Steel, we would corner the market and provide a steady stream of income for you guys and the guild." Jacob explained his thoughts. 

"How much will the guild be taxing?" one guy asked. 

"Ten percent, that has not changed and will not change on these items," Jacob replied and the others nodded. 

"This is great for crafting weapons, but for Engineering equipment, I don't see us using it so much on what we can produce." One of the Engineers stated. 

Jacob nodded and smiled at the man, "Yes you are probably right, but that does not mean you cannot experiment. Yes, we have blueprints and plans for the cookie-cutter stuff, but do not let that limit you. Experiment and see what you can do with it, that's why I brought this to you in the first place." Jacob stated as the meeting started braking up. 

Jacob brought up the Skill Trees for Smithing and Mining. With the war slowing down to a crawl and the Obsidion Kingdom by and large secure, it had allowed him to catch up on other duties and advance his professions. Jacob had pushed into Adept level for Mining and Smithing unlocking more perks within the two trees. After flipping through both Trees he made his purchases. Initiate Level Earth Sense and Novice Level Basic Rune Etching would allow Jacob to Mine anything when he was out adventuring, which was few and far between these days. The Basic Rune Etching would allow him to inscribe Runes into his products to enhance them. 

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Earth Sense

Tier: Initiate

Description: Sense nodes of minerals while out adventuring.

Range: 10 Feet

Cost: Passive, N/A

Cooldown: N/A

Name: Basic Rune Etching

Tier: Novice

Description: That's not a Knife. THIS IS A KNIFE!!!

Benefit 1: Etch basic Runes into weapons and armor to enhance basic fundamentals of what your forge.

Benefit 2: 2 Rune(s) per item crafted

Cost: Varies (Based on item type, level, etc)

Cooldown: N/A

Jacob dismissed the prompt as the new information flooded his brain. He grunted and leaned against a nearby wall in response, but other than that he did nothing. Suddenly a message indicator popped up on his HUD and a low bell dinged in his ear indicated he had a priority message waiting for him. Jacob immediately put smithing out of his mind as he pulled up his Inbox and the message.

Spoiler: Spoiler

We got a Dungeon spawning Chaos Warped mobs in the Arathia Basin. Are you in for downing the Dungeon? If so see you in Aramore

Darren

Jacob dismissed the message and thanked all his Guildmates for coming as he headed for the palace to grab his gear and some potions. 

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Surface- Arathis Basin Region

Empire of Night- Aramore

Waiting off the Portal Pad was Darren, Yilme, Zakoc , and Ashley. All of them were above level fifty so hopefully, we would be strong enough to deal with the Dungeon. With it spewing out Chaos Warped monsters, Jacob didn't want any Locals getting mixed up with it. The town of Aramore was growing steadily and the people were resting for the night, yet the Civic Legion and Legionnaires of the Thirteenth Legion were up and patrolling the streets. 

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"What's with the buildup?" Darren asked as he pointed to all the construction going on at the Shipyards. Jacob snorted in response, Darren knew some things Jacob wouldn't even tell him everything though. With everything going on with the Slavers Union he wanted to put the Lost Islands and the Pirate Lord on the back burner for now. It didn't mean he wasn't preparing for the eventuality. 

"Don't worry about it, let's concentrate on the Dungeon. What do we have?" Jacob asked the Rogue who nodded at his dismissal as they started walking towards the gates that had been closed, but they would let people out. 

"The Twisted Woods, level thirty to thirty-five range but it's spewing out Chaos Warped mobs closer to level fifty. A patrol noticed it and let Ezekial know who passed it onto me.' Darren stated as they passed through the gate and out into the wild. Everyone started summoning mounts. 'It is twisted Dryads and Treants mostly with some Sprites, and it had three Bosses. Who knows what's in there now." Darren finished updating everyone. 

"This should be fun and I am assuming it's close to the border of the Evergreen Woods?' Jacob mused out loud and Darren nodded. 'Oh, the Wood-Elves are going to love that. Let's go, hopefully, we can plug this hole before they push into the Evergreen Woods." Jacob called out as Star took off. 

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Name: Twisted Wood

Age: Young

Level: 30-35

Recommended Party Size: 5

Note* This Dungeon has been influenced by Chaos, it is stronger and until the Tainted Bosses have been defeated it will continue to grow stronger and influence the world around it until cleansed

Jacob ducked behind his shield as a quartet of Chaos Warped Sprites launched another volley of arrows at him as he moved to engage the Treant. The giant trees haymaker would have sent him spinning away but Jacob had learned the lesson the hard way to deflect Treant attacks and not block them. Jacob activated War Cry and cast Entangling Shadows on the Sprites. The little bastards could shoot four or five arrows every thirty seconds accurately, Jacob was hoping the spell would slow them down somewhat. 

Darren had managed to sneak behind the Treant and had sunk his blades into the tree while Zakoc was finishing up a Dryad. Ashley took advantage of the Sprites being slowed and launched a Fireball at them. The spell exploded within their ranks causing massive damage to them as Jacob quickly moved to engage them, the Treant following close behind him.

Jacob quickly activated Shield Charge and bowled over two of the Sprites and dropping their health into the critical range as he turned and lashed out at the other two as Entangling Shadows dissapated. The Sprites dropped their bows and pulled knives or shortswords as Jacob engaged them. They might be artists with bows but they were barley competent with a blade Jacob thought as the two Sprites tried to fight together. 

Then the Treant arrived and slammed into Jacob like a football player. Jacob snarled as he used the momentum to roll to his feet and activated Shield Slam. Jacobs shield glowed slightly before slamming into the ground releasing a wave of energy outward in all directions. The two critically wounded Sprites died outright while the three remaining combatants were dropped to critical levels. Zakoc arrived and immediately went to work on the Sprites as Jacob and Darren finished off the Treant. Less then a minute later the fight was over and everyone was taken a minute to rest as Darren looted the corpses. 

"Well this has been an interesting run so far, but I hope we don't have too many of these runs." Jacob mused out loud as they all prepared to continue. 

"Why is that?" Zakoc asked as he finished cleaning his ax.

"We need Dungeons for people to level in and use if they are all being taken over by Chaos, it's going to be more difficult for people to level," Jacob replied as he stood. 

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Unknwon Location

Ava O'Conner lay curled up in a ball on the cot. The room she was in was sealed up with magic and physically. Two of the Chaos Warped creatures stood guard outside her door. It had been a long day and the only freedom she had was when she logged out. She had tried to file a complaint with the Devs, but they had replied she had chosen to go with the Chaos Lord, it was up too her to escape now. She had tried to call her sister, but since she had kicked her out of the apartment, she had not talked to her nor had she called her back. 

Ava and Ailis had history, both bad and good. The recent bad had started when her sister had found Kevin and started helping him out. Ailis had crushed on him badly, and when Ailis had talked him up, Ava had wanted to try him out. She had no idea that it would turn into a thing. It had almost driven the two sisters apart. Then Kevin had broken up with her and things were fine for a while between the two. When the truth came out though, Ailis had kicked her to the curb and told her to never come back. Ava was sure her sister would take her back eventually, but until then she had to stay with one of her toys. 

Ava was still collared, which blocked her from using most of her Abilities and Skills, but it also left her with just one hundred Health, Mana, and Stamina. Even if she could get past the door and guards, she couldn't fight her way out. Suddenly her door opened and two guards rushed in. Ava tried to fight, but a backhand stunned her long enough for them to grab her arms and place manacles on her wrists. They quickly dragged her across the room where the chain was looped over the hook set in the wall. 

Alexi entered the room. "I thought we had taught you a lesson about manners? Shall we send you to respawn girl?" the man asked as he strode into the room. He wore no armor this time, just his sword. 

"Fuck you dickless. Let me go!! You said you would free me, does this look free to you?" Ava spit out as she glared at the man who chuckled at her. 

"Your insults amuse me girl. From what your former compatriots say, you are usually more civil than this. I told you, you would be free once I was done with you. We have not had any discussions about Jacob Longstrider. So tell me about your former paramour." Alexi prompted as he leaned back against the nearby wall. 

"Fuck you!! I'm not telling you shit!!" Ava responded and in a blur, Alexi was grabbing her by her throat and choking her.

"Your quips and insults are starting to bore me, Ava, answer my questions or I will choke you to death and we can start again once you have respawned.' Alexi spit out before releasing her. 'We both know you hold no loyalty too him. You are far more calculating and pragmatic than that. So you are holding back information because you think I will destroy your Avatar as soon as I get what I want. You are wrong, girl if I make a deal I keep it. There are consequences for me if I do not keep my word that would make the treatment of some beings here seem tame. Now, tell me about Jacob." Alexi stated as he began to pace in front of her.