Middlebrough

Aaron Swiftdeath looked at his 6 senior officers that were present. "So, we have no word from the merc that we hired to follow the spy?"

"No word what-so-ever. Some of those we pay for information for in Ineford has gone silent while others report that an attack happened at the Broken Vow. Its considered neutral ground by the Ineford Black Market and Underground, about the same time the merc was supposed to intercept Garen. Supposedly 2 of the attackers were captured, one was killed during questioning and the other was disappeared." One of the officers reported.

Aaron considered what the man said before responding, "Send two teams south to try and dig up any information. Its just recon, I don't want to tip our hand and start a fight with them this soon."

"What about Governor Parris?" another officer said with sarcasm.

Aaron snorted in derision, "I will deal with him. If he becomes a problem we will eliminate him like the last guy. How long until we can unload everything we have taken from the Gilded Handz?" Aaron asked as he waved his hands at all the items around them in the Warehouse.

Another officer snorted, "2 weeks minimum at least. The Gilded Handz has posted on the forums what has been stolen and notified the local buyers that their caravans were raided. Our partners will not move or sell anything for at least 2 weeks, so we have to sit on everything and wait."

Aaron pinched his nose and sighed, they needed the money from all the goods they had taken to finance everything here and continued operations elsewhere. If their legitimate partners could not or would not move everything, there was little Aaron could do at the moment. Even if they would, Weighted Chance would only receive 40% of the worth of everything stolen even though they took all the real chances. It might be time to find new partners Aaron thought.

Fortress of New Dawn

Brox marched along the lines of new recruits. Some were practicing with shields and weapons, others were training with weights, while others were firing Crossbows at distant targets. A little over 3,000 new recruits for the Legions, and by the time the month was up, hopefully fully trained. Brox had been ordered to keep an eye out for officers while the men actually training the newbies, we're looking for Non-Commissioned Officers. It was slow going but Brox was sure he had found 2 Lieutenants so far. Reports from the Bloodsoaked Fort were steady and everything was silent there for now. The Sisters had not launched a counter-attack yet and reinforcements from both the Bloodfangs and Earth Splitters had arrived.

Initial plans were to make two under strength Legions with the original 2,000 being spread between the two. To give them each a solid core of veterans. The training was going to be slow going though because all the new recruits were still recovering from captivity and Brox had ordered training for only half days for the first week and would re-evaluate at the second week. So training would be slower for the second batch of recruits and might even push back when they were officially ready.

Fortress of Midnight

Animal Pens

Jacob looked at the various wolves as they lounged about or fought among themselves. Toward the back was one that was pitch black like most Void-Wolves but also had bright blue eyes, "That one." Jacob called out. The Animal handler winced when he looked at the wolf he was pointing too.

"You sure sir. She is one of the last of the 2nd generation that we raised. They are real finicky and kinda bitchy if you get on their wrong side." The man said and caused Jacob to snort in amusement.

"Sounds like all the women in my life. So nothing new there, let's see if she is willing to accept me if so I will take her." Jacob responded as the wolf finally noticed his attention and stared right back causing Jacob to smile. "What is her name?"

"Clarice sir. We will bring her over, but don't get your hopes up. She is a real stuck-up bitch." The animal handler gave some signals to his compatriots and they looked back in surprise but moved off.

Jacob snorted in derision, "That isn't her name. I remember when her litter was born, hers was the first of the second generation." Jacob responded as he jumped the fence and started walking across the pen. Most of the wolves were used to the presence of people, so they simply moved out of his way or brushed against him as he walked by. "Her real name is Star," Jacob called out over his shoulder as he made his way to the other side of the pen, not directly toward her, but he would come close. Jacob waved the handlers off and once he was near her looked at her, "You coming down here to say hi, or you going to ignore me because I moved away and got busy with responsibilities?" Jacob asked her.

At first, Star just looked at him before standing and jumping off the rock she had been lazing about and walking up to Jacob and staring at him. "I know, I am a dick for leaving you and the rest of your litter, but I had responsibilities that took me from here. I never wanted them and its not my fault!!!" Star snorted then butted her head into his chest making him fall down then quickly plopping down onto his chest. Jacob tried to push her off but she weighed between 600 and 700 pounds easily and she was pushing back every time he tried to move her. "Listen, I need a mount that can watch my back out there, someone I can trust if I have to go alone. I am asking you to come with me. Please Star."

Star studied Jacob's face and contemplated his request before licking him, causing Jacob to spit and try to move the huge wolf off him again much to the amusement of the nearby handlers and companions.

Alert...

The Void-Wolf...Star...has offered you her life bond. YES/NO

Know this, if you accept you and Star will be bonded to you for life. Only a True Death can destroy the bond between you two.

Know this, Star is a combat pet and can fight by your side. She has her own skills and abilities.

Alert...

"Ok, ok you big baby I accepted now can you get off me. I would really like to avoid getting sent to the graveyard by my own mount." Jacob spit out trying to push Star off of him. After licking his face a few more times, she got off reluctantly and moved toward the gate that led out of the pen. Jacob rolled his eyes at her antics and followed her quickly out of the pen as he checked out her character sheet. Spoiler: Spoiler Name: Star

Race: Void-Wolf

Mount Type: Combat Mount

Rarity: Epic

Level: 10

Experience: 0/10,000 Note* Characteristics will be earned by your actions and your mounts actions, you cannot influence how the gain or lose character points.

Constitution: 45

Strength: 50

Agility: 25

Dexterity: 25

Intelligience: 35

Wisdom: 25

Health: 4500

Stamina: 2250

Carry Capacity: 1,100 lbs

Armor Rating: 2000

Attack Damage: 100-125 (Bite), 60-75 (Claws)

Note* Attack Damage can be influenced by Skills/Abilities of the party and by perks from the Combat tree.

Note* Every 5 levels mounts will accrue 3 points per tree.

Note* Tier 2 will unlock at level 20, Tier 3 at 50, etc...

Current points (3) Mount, (3) Combat

Mount

Tier 1...

Name: Beast of Burden (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)

Description: Increases the carrying capacity of your mount by 10% (Passive)

Name: Well Feed (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)

Description: Increases Stamina by 5%(Passive)

Name: Endurance Training (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)

Description: Decreases Stamina drain of Trot (3%) and Running (5%)(Passive)

Note* Some Combat perks are available due to the race of your mount.

Combat

Tier 1...

Name: Thickened Hide (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)

Description: Increases the natural armor of your mount by 10%. (Passive)

Name: Sharpened Teeth and Claws (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)

Description: Increases Attack Damage by 5% (Passive)

Name: Phase Shift (Rank 1 Available for Purchase)

Description: The Void-Wolf can shift its physical self to another plane of existence for a short duration (5 Seconds) where their Health and Stamina recovery (+50%) is increased. (Cost 500 Stamina, Cooldown 5 Minute) As Jacob read Stars character sheet and the mount and combat perks that she had available, he immediately decided that she was going to be more like a Rogue, then a Tank. Hard hitting burst damage before fading away into the shadows. He was also going to have to power level her a bit otherwise, she would be useless in a fight. That was for later though and he immediately brought up her Mount and Combat perks and dumped 1 point into Beast of Burden and 2 points into Well Feed. From the Combat tree, he put 2 points into Sharpened Teeth and Claws and 1 point into Phase Shift before closing out her character sheet.

Jacob looked at his companions, he only had Chalxae and June with him since he had not planned on going anywhere dangerous but he needed to power level Star quickly and the ruins of the Gem'Lock tribe were not too far away and he had restocked his health potions before leaving. "You guys feel like killing some demons?" The feral smiles were all the answer he needs as the ran off into the Underdark.

Tomb of Eternal Night

Palace of Night- Royal SItting Room

Jacob nodded at Thorgron and Eiloma's ranting while he read through the reports from the council, copies of arms and armor orders for smithies in the Tomb, Ineford, Midnight, New Dawn, and Bloodsoaked. The armor orders were mainly going to the Tomb and Ineford since they had more smithies, while arms orders were going out to the forts. "Are you listening to me, Jacob?"

Jacob looked at his irate Seneschal and Guard Captain, Eiloma was huffing and puffing while Thorgrons' eye was twitching. "Yes, yes. I am a horrible bastard for leaving without a proper escort even though Chalxae and June were with me. I was only gone for 2 hours to power level Star a little. She gained 3 levels today and the only reason we returned so early was that she was hungry otherwise we would still be out there." Star looked up from her snack when Jacob said her name and gave him a withering look that said 'don't bring me into this' and caused Jacob to chuckle a little bit.

Eiloma took a deep breath to get ahold of her irritation before responding, "Next time, take your whole War Party. That is all we ask."

"Fine, but we only went to the ruins of the Gem'lock tribe. We are all at least 10 levels above the bare minimum for the place." Jacob tried to reason with them.

"What would have happened if a random monster spawned while you were out?" Thorgron asked. "It still happens even within the territory we firmly control and patrol."

Jacob sighed, the Duergar was right, "I am sorry. It won't happen again. Now, where is the report on the Bloodsoaked Fort's infrastructure?" Jacob asked Eiloma who moved a couple of papers and pointed to a particular one that broke down everything about the new fort. It didn't include all the information a Fortress Interface provided but it would give me enough information to know what we were working with. Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Bloodsoaked Fort

Level: 2

Kingdom: Empire of Night

Defenses: Keep, Wall

Buildings:

Fortified Keep

Smithy (LVL 2) X2

Barracks (LVL 2) X4

Workshop (LVL 1) X2

Warehouse (LVL 2) X4

Storage Yard (LVL 2) X6

Slave Pens (MAX LVL) X10

Resources:

Coal Mine (LVL 2)

Iron Mine (LVL 2)

Quarry (LVL 2) X2

Mushroom Farm (Max LVL) X2

Oran'Gon Farm (Max LVL)

"Thank you Eiloma for all your help. Both of you, thank you for your concern about my well being." Jacob said as the doors slammed open and Sosa walked in. The snarl on her face let Jacob know she was pissed and he saw Cathrine behind her with a little smirk on her face.

Sosa made a b-line directly for Jacob and pushed the table out of her way before lifting him up and slamming him against the wall. Jacob felt the plaster crack behind him and Jacob turned his head toward Cathrine and whatever she saw caused her to squeak and run. "Chalxae and June, can you please go run down my wife and take her back to the Royal Suite and tie her to the bed and keep her company until I get there." Chalxae smiled before darting off after the Banshee while June started laughing and soon joined the other Drow-Vampire in the chase.

Sosa's fist hitting Jacob's face caused more plaster to crack and Eiloma to wince, "You will not ignore me Jacob Longstrider." Jacob quickly shook his head to clear it before gazing back at Sosa's furious gaze. "You think it's ok, to die and then not let me know you are ok when you come back? To not come and see me?"

Jacob breathed as he continued to stare into Sosa's eyes, "Please clear the room people. I need to talk to my wife alone. Star, well I am sure you will do whatever you want to do." Everyone quickly left, even Star grabbed what remained of her food and left. "I am sorry I did not contact you when I came back. I was suffering from Resurrection Sickness and then I have been busy with one thing or another today. I am sorry I did not think of you. I honestly did not think you even knew that I died, I assumed the physical distance between us would mute the bond that we have."

"It did not. I felt your desperation and then when you got torn apart. Then I felt nothing as if our Bond was gone, but then it was back. You never came, you never contacted me, then Cathrine showed up on her way back from her homeland to see how I was doing and she explained everything that happened. It made me furious that you didn't think of me or even consider what I felt." Sosa spit out.

Jacob reached out and pulled her into his embrace and just held her.