Darkfang Hold
Clan Darguun
"So what is the word from the Chief, are we going to march or not?" The Orc asked the Hobgoblin.
"You get the same information that I do, we watch and wait. If the Sisters show up, we kill them otherwise we keep to the Patrol routes assigned to us." The Hobgoblin responded.
"Well, well, well what do we have here...A half-breed, a Gnome, a Kobold, and a Human. You all better have a good reason being on Clan Darguun land. The Orc called out to the approaching party as the emerged from the Underdark. Since the Sisters used slave labor for almost everything including troops, the Clan had been vigilant against even surfacers showing up.
"Yes, sir I have a good reason. I was invited by a Hobgoblin named Dolbrug the last time I was in these parts to visit the next time I was here. Well...I am here so I would like to speak to him if he is available." The Halfling called out.
The Hobgoblin looked closely at the Halfling, he remembered over a week ago about orders coming down to allow entry of someone..."Hey, what is your name Halfling?"
"Jacob Longstrider, Dolbrug told me my name would be left with the gate guards and I would be admitted to your Hold. Was he wrong?" The Halfling responded.
By the Abyss..."I apologize, Sir, those orders came down a while back. Of course, you are allowed in. You get that damn gate open, you go and find Captain Dolbrug and let him know his Halfling friend is here." the Hobgoblin ordered out as the two Goblins ran off to do as ordered.
"No apology is necessary, you are doing just..." Suddenly the halfling whirled around and started searching the nearby Underdark. "Shigna Golem NOW!" he called out as a pack of Void-Wolfs materialized out of the Underdark. SHIT!!!
The Halfling charged the approaching pack as the Kobold started a spell and the Gnome started summoning something else...A DEMON!! and a Golem....who was this guy???
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Jacob was pissed at himself, he had known something had been stalking them for the last day but he had not thought they would attack this close to civilization. A pack of Void-Wolfs flowed from the Underdark, the minimum level of 25 to 30, even with Shignas Golem and Fenwyn's Prime Imp, it would be close. Good thing he had decided to bring some of the War Party instead of none at all, but he had made a promise...
The Wolfs were slowly driving him back when the Golem slammed into the pack and picked up 3 and threw them away from the rest. As they slammed into the tunnel wall only 2 managed to dissipate into the shadows while the third one lay dead. Then the Golem turned and attacked the pack from behind as Shigna activated Firestorm which caused more than 1 wolf to break off and run for the shadows to Heal. 5 of the wolfs lay dead or dying and the others would soon follow when a second wave appeared with the Alpha Void-Wolf as he charged directly for Jacob.
"You three fall back into the Hold, I will hold the line," Jacob called out. He might die but he would ensure that his Bonded would live. He could come back and he had not made much progress toward level 31, so he would lose very little. Also since Dolbrug owed him a debt, he would probably treat them well until he could get back here.
Suddenly a dozen Orcs and Hobgoblins joined him on either side and multiple Firebolts and balled Lightning slammed into the pack as it was slaughtered before the gates. "You are lucky I just got back from a patrol my friend and still had my unit with me. I apologize, when I invited you to visit I had no idea you would have such a warm welcome." Dolbrug called out over the sounds of fighting.
"Well you know me, I always have to find a good fight otherwise my reputation as a bloodthirsty monster might deteriorate," Jacob called back as he slashed Moonlight through the snout of a wolf that turned and fleed back into the Underdark. Jacob looked around and triggered one of his new abilities, Hemorrhage. Between the new Warriors entering the fight and the skill the pack broke and fled the battle. Most would die within the next 30 seconds unless the shadows provided more healing then he realized.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Name: Hemorrhage (Rank 1)
Description: A Blood Knight is a master of Blood and at a cost of 25% of your life, you can command the enemies blood around you to burst major arteries (Deal 300 Damage) and cause bleeding (20 DPS for 15 Seconds) throughout an enemies body. (AoE up to 10 feet, Cost 25% of Health, Cooldown 5 Minutes, Upgrading will decrease cost and increase damage)
Jacob turned and saw the Hobgoblin with 6 mages of various types, his 3 Bonded were behind them eyeballing all the new strangers. "Interesting ability you had there, I have never seen its like...Welcome my friend to Darkfang Hold. Please enter and be welcome." The Hobgoblin stated as his troops started looting the corpses and Jacob led his War Party into the Hold.
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Darkfang Hold
Chiefs Office
"Thank you Jacob Longstrider for helping destroy that pack, it has ambushed more than one of our patrols over the last couple of weeks. So, from what my brother tells me is that you are a devil with a blade and that you have your own problems with the Sisters of the Damned. Why is that? if you do not mind me asking." Sisa Darkfang asked as she sat back and studied the Halfling in front of her. Something was off about him, something that did not sit right with her.
"Well as you know the Sisters have been pushing into the area of the Underdark, a point of fact my current residence sits of the ruins of a fortress they were trying to build. They took it personally and sent a small army to destroy my new home but they ultimately failed. Now the people I represent wish to see them pushed out of this region of the Underdark permanently. Your brother promised any Intel that you could get from the captives I handed over, so I was hoping for that and one other thing as well." the Halfling replied as he glanced between Dolbrug and her. It always amused her when people tried to see the family resemblance.
"We have the same father, but different mothers as you can tell. Dolbrug has an Orc mother and I have a High-Elf Mother, that is why I am the brains and he is the brawn." Sisa responded which earned her a love tap from Dolbrug. Anyone who knows the siblings knew they were both very smart, and that was why they led this part of the Darguun Clan. "Now besides the Intel, what is it that you wanted?"
"I was hoping to sign a Non-Aggression treaty with your people and maybe a Mutual Defense treaty if it was open to discussion." He responded while he looked at the two.
Sisa stared at the Halfling, that was asking a lot, it would curtail their expansion in this area if they signed the treaty and the other leaders of the Clan would dislike it, but if the Clan was really headed toward War with the SIsters of the Damned, they would need as many friends as they could get. Securing their flank would ensure they did not have to worry about Jacob Longstrider, and something told her she did not want him as an enemy. "A Non-Aggression treaty would be possible, time would determine if we could be more then just neighbors. We might someday wish to control this area, the Darguun Clan does not like stabbing friends in the back." Sisa responded which she could swear caused the Halflings eyes to slightly turn red but before she could look closer he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"You know I am an Immortal, I am the first of hundreds that will be flooding this area of the Underdark. They will listen and follow my lead. If I was your Advisor, Chief Darkfang, I would suggest we become friends and never become enemies. That is up to you and a discussion for another time. I will happily sign a Non-Aggression treaty now and be on my way unless you wish to talk of trade as well?" Jacob finished as he sat back in the chair.
Sisa considered the implied threat and let it lay, he was right and if he could bury her clan in never-ending enemies. So she smiled and they continued to discuss then haggle and within the next hour, they agreed to a Trade Agreement and a Non-Aggression pact that included the Bloodfang and Earth Splitters. After they left she turned to her brother, "What do you know about him what can our spies confirm about him and his people?"
"Almost nothing. We can confirm that he has had two battles with the Sisters and that he crushed them in both battles completely. It is even rumored that Lolth has warned them off from antagonizing him and his people but from the feel I have of him he is already angered by them and has decided on War with the SIsters. I like him, sister, he is strong and honorable, I would hate to make War with him. Also, something is off about him, I know he looks and smells like a halfling, but to see him fight is to see a devil in the flesh of a man." Dolbrug reported then bowed and left. Sisa had much to consider about the Jacob Longstrider of the Fortress of Midnight.
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Underdark
Near Darkfang Hold
Secret Quest Complete: Void-Wolf Terror
Description: For some time a pack of Void-Wolfs has harassed and killed patrols from Darkfang Hold. When they tried to ambush you, the combined strength of your War Party and a Patrol from Darkfang Hold crushed the pack.
Rewards: Friendly Status with Darguun Clan, Intel on the Sisters of the Damned, 50 Gold
Alert...
Jacob Longstrider and Sisa Darkfang have negotiated a treaty and Darkfang Hold and the Fortress of Midnight have a Non-Aggression treaty.
Trade Agreement made between House Longstrider and Darkfang Hold. See Trade Agreement tab on your Fortress Interface for details of any agreements you have.
Alert...
"Did you really have to push the Chieftan so hard Jacob?" Fenwyn asked Jacob while she watched the nearby Underdark.
"Yes, I had no choice. The Darguun Clan are expansionists, I had to remind them that even though individually locals are stronger then Immortals most of the time, the fact we keep coming back and they do not can destroy even the strongest of the Empires. Now we have much to do in very little time, we will make as much progress toward home before camping tonight. We can...Shhhh I hear something." Jacob said as he looked around when he found what he heard. 6 little heartbeats laying beside a corpse of a Void-Wolf...Well fuck, I am not going to kill them. "Everyone picks a Pup and pick them up, we won't leave them here to die. Let's hope we have someone with an Animal Husbandry Class when we get back home..."
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Fortress of Midnight
Main Hall
"Do we know when he will be back? I requested those assistants almost a week ago and I still do not have them. It would speed up the research if I didn't have to do everything myself." Gaver Spriglesproket complained.
"Yet here you are whining instead of doing your job. One would think if you were actually working you could get something done. So either do your job or be sent back to the Pit you little shit." Eiloma responded as she tried to gain control of her anger June grabbed the Gnome and led him away before he could respond. It wasn't the Gnomes fault the Eiloma was short-tempered, she had slept very little since Jacob had left and had eaten even less. She was hungry and moody because she had messed up and betrayed a friends confidence. Yes, the Queen had told her to say nothing to Jacob, but she had chosen to follow the order. He was right to question her loyalty, the question was what she would do to earn his trust again and she had no idea how...
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Jacob watched as people as Soldiers moved about as he and the rest of his War Party returned. They were all tired and the pups had been rambunctious but the new Animal Handler had accepted them into his care and would look after them. They were considered Monsters, but between Pans Blessing and the mans Animal Husbandry Skills he thought he could tame the first generation enough to be Guardian animals of the Fortress and be trained to not attack the inhabitants but warn them of incoming enemies and defend them. He had even higher hopes for their offspring, but those were thoughts for another time.
Construction Completed...
Spoiler: Spoiler
Major Construction
Warehouse (LVL1)
Durability: 1000/1000
Description: This building will house up to 1000 Units of raw resources, processed resources, complicated components, and perishables.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Workshop (LVL 1)
Durability: 1000/1000
Description: This building can be used to build Siege Engines, Glass Units, Bows & Arrows, Enchanters, etc..Its limited space and facilities will limit what people can do and will not increase the rate of production.
Minor Construction
Chow Hall (LVL 1)
Durability: 500/500
Description: This Barracks addition will increase the Health of all Guards/Soldiers by 5% and boost morale by a small margin.
Vault (LVL 1)
Durability: 2000/2000
Description: The Vault houses the valuables of any Guild/Clan/Tribe/House and can store up 1000 Units of Valuable resources besides individual valuables. Take care, although Vaults are extremely difficult to break into, but not impossible. It is recommended that Guards be placed in/outside the Vault at all times.
Bonus: Due to Jigibs paranoia, a security system has been installed on top of the regular security measures decreasing the likelihood that someone will breach the Vault by 25%.
Fortified Hall 2nd Story Floor (LVL 1)
Durability: 1000/1000
Description: The second floor of the Fortified Hall doubles the number of living Quarters and adds several watchtowers with walkways where your personal guard will stand watch (Decreases the likelihood of assassination by 10%) to increase the security of the inhabitants of the Fortified Hall.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Archer Towers Completed (X2): these Towers will provide platforms on which your archers may fire on invaders with near impunity.
Military Checkpoint: This checkpoint was constructed at a natural chokepoint and will fortify the position against invaders as well as assist in managing the trade. It can be manned by 20-40 beings at a time.
Alert...
Blacksmith Queue is empty...
Bone Barracks has processed all enhancements and is ready for construction...
Defense Enhancements have been completed...
Alert...
Quest Complete: Arming the Guard
Description: You have not only Armed and Armored your troops, but you also went above an beyond by using the Star Forged Smithy of Possibilities, all weapons and armor have automatically upgraded to protect more and deal more damage to your enemies. It has increased the Morale of your personal Guard from Good to Extatic.
Armory Addition: Complete
Pieces of Armor: 50/50
Weapons: 50/50
Rewards: 500 Fort Experience, 500 Bonus Fort Experience, Increase of Morale, and Standard of the Dawn Guard
Quest Complete: Strengthen your Defenses
Description: Your wall and the nearby region have been fortified to defend your people. Never forget the lessons of defending your territory from all possible enemies.
Defense Enhancements: 4/4
Rewards: 1000 Fort Experience, Alarm Bells, Increased rediness of troops stationed at the Fortresss of Midnight
Spoiler: Spoiler
Standard of the Dawn Guard:
Description: The Battle Standard of the Dawn Guard will increase your personal guards' Armor Rating (+50) and increase the damage they deal with enemies (+5%). It can also be used to affect other friendly military units around yours to a lesser extent. If the standard is lost in battle, it can break the Morale of your military units and your guard. Marks from battles will increase certain perks for the troops under your command
Perk 1: Battle of the Dark Oak Grove of Midnight-Your personal guard although small in number stood by you until the last enemy was defeated. (Military units within sight of the standard are less likely to break).
Jacob watched at all the construction that had been completed and the Fortified Hall that was now two stories tall and sported watch towers at every corner with walkways in between. The Outer Wall actually was starting to look like it could hold back an attack and the checkpoint he had passed were manned and would give them time if their enemies came in force. Jigibs had done an amazing job while he had been away, time to head to the Vault and get rid of a lot of crap from his inventory.
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"Well mylord, you finally have a proper Vault to store all your shiny stuff so it won't get stolen. Now we Goblins know all about, let's say redistribution of wealth, so I upgraded the security of the Vault to help make sure that does not happen. I would suggest that you also have some of your Dawn Guards assigned here to assist with security. Now step on the stone in front of the Vault so we can key the security measures to you." Jigibs said as he tapped his foot. He had taken a break from overseeing the construction of the Stone Overseers Office to help get the Vault open and he needed to get back soon.
As soon as he stepped onto the stone multiple beams of light hit him, "What is going on Jigibs?"
"I told you I upgraded the security. The magic is getting readings on you, body size, weight, height, eye color, hell if you fart it will determine how much it smells and compare it to future farts. Now stand still please and when it gets done place your hand on the panel. It will take a small blood sample and then you will be done. Now once the Vault door is open anyone can enter." Jigibs responded as he eyeballed the stone-faced Seneschal beside him. Something had happened right before Jacob had left but for once, the rumor mill was silent.
"Ok, thank you Jigibs. The last question, is my room still in the same place or was that moved to the second floor?" Jacob asked as the needle pierced his hand and then quickly withdrew.
"Nope, you are still on the first floor. Your Bonded have been moved to the second though and the other bedrooms on the first have been turned into suits for official guests. So, we have a Brew Master and someone to run a bar...Any word on when the Bar will be built mylord?" The Goblin asked Jacob.
"I will look into it as soon as I can today. I promise Jigibs. The last thing, we need to clear you for the security sometime so in case I am not around and you need materials to finish a construction job, you need to be able to get in here. Eiloma, you too. I also need a work detail to transfer all the Silver, Platinum, and Titanium transferred down here and I want Captain Thardan to assign two of the Tomb Guards to watch the outside of the Vault at all times." Jacob told the Seneschal who had a kinda glassy-eyed look. Fuck. She was messed up. "Eiloma, after that is done, you are done for the day, get some food and rest afterward. You look like shit."
The comment startled her out of her funk and got her moving, but she still wasn't all there. Nothing to do about it now though, she caused the situation so she had to fix it. In the back of the Vault were several chests that lay open and ready to use so Jacob immediately dumped all the precious uncut and cut Gems in one, all the Gold and Silver into another. The Gems were worth about 5,000 gold and is the emergency stash for the guild, he had a little under 3,000 in Gold and Silver coins. Then came all the Armor and Weapons he had collected over the last year, every single weapon was Rare or higher. As he was placing the armor the first of the work crew came in and started placing Silver on the shelves, with the amount they had in storage it was going to take a while. Once everything was unloaded Jacob finally felt like he could walk again without the Mountain on his back. Time to get the Bone Barracks working.
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"So what did you want to tell me before you went on your run to Darguun Clan?" Darren asked.
Jacob looked up from his interface as he sat on the Throne, "If I give you a mission, how many people will you need and how much time?" Jacob asked as he scanned the room making sure no one was listening.
"Depends what are you looking to do?" Darren responded carefully.
"In a little over a week we will be heading back to Ineford, I want you to hunt down and eliminate everyone that is supporting the Sisters of the Damned there, it doesn't matter if they are a Merchant Lord of beggar, I want them dead or gone. I need that city clear of spies. I think 3 weeks of prep to identify all your targets and then 1 week to eliminate all of them. Can it be done?" Jacob asked as he leaned back considering what he was asking of the man.
Darren whistled, activity like this could cause some huge blowback and attract a lot of attention, "Yeah, but I would need a team of at least a dozen Rogues that were all level 25+. We don't have that many Rogues, much less ready to go on a mission like that."
"For the next couple days grind at the Ruins of the Gem'Lock tribe, that should get you up to the low 20s, after that...Trust me you will be level 25 by the next time we see Ineford. You will have Chalxae and I plan on stopping by the Pit tomorrow at the latest. Talk to the leather worker and find out what she needs for the armor for all the new recruits and talk to Torgan about some weapons and any other specialized equipment. Keep this on the way down low, no one except me and you for now." Jacob said as he went back to the interface.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Due to Enhancements:
All Units: now have an Armor Rating of +100 in addition to normal armor
All Units: will now receive 10% less damage from all sources
All Units: 50% of all damage will bypass armor
Bone Barracks Build Queue...(Duration: 1 Hour)
12 Skeletal Warriors
8 Skeletal Archers
3 Elite Skeletal Warriors
After that, he looked at Defense Enhancements and what they could afford to build, the more advanced buildings sucked up a lot of the rarer materials like a sponge. The Scorpion though would be a nice addition to the walls, Scorpian's were small Ballistas that required only a 2 man team to work.
Spoiler: Spoiler
Defense Enhancement Queue:
Scorpion Fixed Defense: (Cost 30 Wood, 10 Iron, Duration 2 Days) X4
The last half Century of Tomb Guards had arrived and with them the supplies to construct two Barracks buildings and upgrade them to Level 2, and we now had the Blueprints for that upgrade so he could upgrade the Barracks of his personal guard after they were completed. With that completed, he went and found the Merchant and gave him a list of materials he needed to go and get immediately and Jacob asked Captain Thardan to assign him two squads as an escort since all the Immortals were out and he had too many things that needed to get done yesterday.
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Unknown Location
"Thank you for coming, I did not think you would. I won't forget the trust you have shown me today." Lolth stated as she stared at Dumathoin. The Dwarven god ignored the Spider as he looked out at the vast nothingness of the Void.
"A part of me wants to grab you and jump in and see what happens. After a 2000 year nap, of being aware and trapped in my own body...it would be a nice reprieve. If I took you with me, both gods and mortals would thank me. What do you think I should do Lolth? Should I risk oblivion or listen to whatever poison you are going to spew?" Dumathoin asked the Spider goddess.
Lolth sighed, the Dwarf god would never trust her again no matter what, but she knew that when she made her choice and she would do it again. "Listen don't listen it is up to you. I am not asking for forgiveness, I did what I had to do to protect me." She quickly pulled a scroll from her robe and unrolled it to show a map of the world. "This scroll is one of a kind and has been spelled to find them. Use it to find them all and bring them back. Take it and our debt is cleared." She said as she turned and opened a portal to her home while the scroll floated waiting for Dumathoin. "Believe it or not Dumathoin, I want you to succeed," she stated as she stepped through the portal and away from the Edge.
For a few moments, the Dwarven god stared at the scroll like it would bite him before snatching it from the air and leaving through his own portal.