Real World...

Jacob/Kevin and company were eating and relaxing as dozens of nurses, doctors, and shrinks poked, prodded, and analyzed the 50 people who had been in Long-Term Immersion for the last two months. "So, how are you doing buddy?" Mark asked as he sipped his drink while Kevin worked various muscles to the study of a nearby nurse and doctor team.

"Good, I am sure you know about the kidnap attempt by now. I was stupid and I learned from that mistake. A small team like that won't work in the future. Got an incoming army and big battle coming. Got a campaign to plan against the Sisters to see if we can finally knock them out. Plans for the Cult of the True rolling, and demolition and construction within the Tomb. I feel like I am juggling a bunch of balls and I am about to drop one of them." Jacob replied as he was finally able to sit down so they could draw blood and check his blood pressure.

"Delegate my friend, I hear you are even expanding your guild base again by another 50," Mark replied as he studied information coming up on his tablet.

Kevin nodded as he looked up from the food, "Yeah, the raid we pulled and the growing conflicts we are getting into have proven to me that we need more Immortals on our side that I know we can trust. So, expand the core of our guild once again. So, tell me the bad news."

Mark jerked up and spilled his drink causing Jacob to chuckle, "Remember I am king and know when someone is stalling to avoid telling me the bad news. So rip it off like a band-aid."

Mark smiled sadly before nodding and putting his tablet down. "First off this is not my fault nor was this part of the plan but the board of directors doesn't really care. The love the bottom line and think it would be a great idea for Christmas time. They want to launch Long-Term immersion and Rise of the Vampires scenario early. We are no longer doing it in the mid-spring, but early to mid-December at the latest. That will give you just over 3 months time to get ready for everything coming your way."

"So we can delay it?" Kevin asked as he stopped eating and pushed the nurse away so he could concentrate on what Mark was saying. Mark shook his head negatively before Kevin responded again, "Then we need to go back in. We cannot afford to lose any time." Kevin said as he moved he jumped on a nearby table and whistled loudly.

"All Seekers listen up, we are going back in for 3 months Earth time after we get the ok, so if you want to talk to any family or friends before we go under again, I recommend you do it sooner rather then later. The board of BlackRock in their vast wisdom has pushed up the launch of both long-term immersion and the Vampire race, we got 3 months earth time so one year game time. We are going to be busting our asses people. I hope you guys chose one or two Engineers with the next wave of new recruits because we need them to help rebuild. Top priority once we get back inside it to finally finish off the Sisters of the Damned and expand both our civilian population but the military as well. We have learned to walk, its time to run people. If you have any questions, concerns, or recommendations please feel free to talk to one of the guild officers." Kevin stated as he hopped off the table.

Immediately Matt, Jared, Bree, and Jordan made their way over as other members of the guild began to talk among themselves and ignored all the medical people. Mark just sighed and sent a quick message to the CEO to let him know that Kevin and his guild was now aware of the modified launch date. It was going to be a long 3 months.

Bloodsoaked Fort

Keep- Master Suite

Note*

Long-Term Immersion Subjects...

Welcome back, the next immersion will be the last test phase. It will last 3 months Earth time, while one year will pass on Ilthea (Fate Online). We have tweaked a few tech things, but other then that nothing should change for you play-wise. On behalf of everyone at BlackRock Entertainment, we thank you for being pioneers with this new technology. For those wondering if you will be pulled before or after the Rise of the Vampire scenario goes live, you will be pulled one week after the patch is launched so the Seekers of the Dawn will be there to help corral the madness.

Good luck, and remember the only Fate is the one you make, every choice has a consequence

Jacob opened his eyes and read the message quickly, it had been 8 hours on earth, while 32 hours had passed here. A little over a day had gone by and the invading army would be a little over 3 days out. If everything was working as planned, the last of the Non-Combatants and the prisoner detail would be leaving today. He immediately started strapping on his armor as Cathrine walked in, "Good you are back. When can we expect the other Immortals to come back?"

"They will hopefully be filtering back between the next couple hours. At most within 24 hours. How is Sosa doing? Are her preparations complete?" Jacob asked as he continued to strap on armor as he brought up the Keep interface then looked up the specific information about the defenders to check out what forces were all here currently. Spoiler: Spoiler Bloodsoaked Fort Garrison and Defenses...

Outer Wall:

12 Feet High 7 Feet Wide

8 Archer Towers

12 Scorpions

2 Catapults

Iron Stripped-Dark Oak Doors

Dead Legion Assets:

200 Skeletal Warriors

100 Skeletal Archers

30 Skeletal Mages

6 Elite Skeletal Warriors

4 Skeletal Champions

8 Wraiths

1 Bone Lord

1st Legion Assets:

1st Cohort-400 (Warriors, Archers, Mages)

2nd Cohort-400 (Warriors, Archers, Mages)

Allies:

400 Clan Darguun

100 Earth Splitter Tribe

100 Bloodfang Clan

50 Death Head Warriors

1 Death Knight Jacob whistled, "So did your family or did the Hollowed Tombs loan out those troops?" Jacob asked as Cathrine continued to stare at him as he got dressed causing him to chuckle and snap his fingers at her to get her out of her trance-like state.

She blushed before responding, "My family with the Council of Nines' permission sent those troops. They are heavy infantry, good at both holding a position or dealing damage to an enemy. We will hold the fort, the question is how many losses will we take to hold it."

Fortress of New Dawn

Main Cavern

John and Billy passed out armor and weapons, after digging ditches, pits, and other defenses for days, this was a nice reprieve. The people receiving the armor and weapons didn't have the same hardened look of their escorts, but they were getting there. These people, thousands were being trained as soldiers. Thousands of them, and from what John heard, this was one of two camps currently training. Dozens of tents lined up in neat rows, each one inspected daily by those in command. The huge cavern that contained the Fortress of New Dawn, was more than half full of tents and moving formations of training soldiers.

"What the hell did we get involved with?" Billy asked John who after several hours was looking around in stunned silence.

John just shook his head in stunned silence, "Whatever Faith got us involved in, we were seriously underpaid and underprepared. These guys are preparing for war and at this rate, they will win."

"That is exactly what I told Faith before she was killed. She had no idea what she had gotten herself in or the people involved. Now she suffers for her pride." John and Billy turned and standing there was the man they had been sent to kidnap. Don't let me stop you, these Legionnaires need their armor and weapons. Keep working." the man said as he continued to walk among the ranks of those waiting. Most gave him space out of respect and those that did not, were gently nudged out of the way by others or the guards accompanying him.

"While you work for the next couple of months gentlemen I want you to think about something. The Empire could use the skills that you have, infiltration and deception specifically. The Empire needs men like you for certain tasks. If you would agree I am sure some if not all your sentences will be commuted. You will be protected from your enemies here, you will have a home, food will be provided for you. Clothing, armor, dungeon runs, but loyalty is paramount within the Empire. Certain oaths would be expected to be given by you." The man talked as John and Billy looked at his armor, every single piece was an Artifact, his blade as well glowed with an inner power as well. "Binding Oaths that would punish you far worse than this prisoner detail. Think about it." He finished before moving off, the Legionnaires parting like the ocean for a ship.

"Who the fuck is that guy?" Billy asked as they watched him disappear.

One of their guards smacked the back of his head. "Watch your tone boy, that man has done a lot of good for every being in this cavern. Everyone here would willingly fight and possibly die for him." That's when Billy and John noticed more than one Legionnaire looking at them and nodding in agreement to what the Hobgoblin had said. "He doesn't offer jobs like that to just anyone, I would seriously consider it, but its ultimately your choice. We have no slaves here."

"No slaves just prisoners forced to work," Billy replied in self-pity earning a snort of disgust from more than one nearby person.

"Boy, no one forced you to do what you did. You choose your path. Now you got to live with the responsibility of that choice." The Hobgoblin replied. John reluctantly nodded much to Billies surprise.

John sighed, "He is right, we were paid to kidnap another Immortal and we got caught doing it. We could have been released and the GMs could have gotten involved but they didn't. They punished us according to their laws and so far we are safe from any additional punishments. Now we might get an opportunity to commute some of our sentences by the same guy we tried to kidnap...We are very lucky."

Bloodsoaked Fort

Outer Wall

Jacob stared as the portals opened and disgorged rank after rank of the army that had come to claim what belonged to the Empire of Night. They should have had days but they had decided to be sneaky instead. "I apologize, my King,' Commander Brox said, ' One of their scouting parties must have gotten close enough to plant several portal anchors. We are ready though, all the defenses have been prepared and everyone we needed to evacuate is gone."

"This is not your fault Commander, we live and learn. From now on, patrols will monitor the caverns of every fort and sweep for enemy scouts as well as portal anchors so this does not happen again." Jacob replied as he looked back at the portal pad that was disgorging the Dawn Guard. and remaining Immortals that were stationed here for the siege. Jacob reviewed the alert he had received when he had entered the fortress from the portal.

Alert...

Due to the...Bloodsoaked Fort...being under siege, all outgoing communications are suspended.

All outgoing and incoming portals are now suspended.

The current Morale of the fort is...high (Increased damage and defense +5%).

Alert...

"Sosa is not prepared to march and won't be for another two days. We will have to hold for that long" Cathrine put in.

Jacob nodded in acknowledgment and with a snap the portal closed. "Ok Commander, this your battle and you will decide who and what goes where. If any of the other force commanders give you problems let me know and I will smooth out the problem as best as I can." Brox smiled before saluting and turning toward the Keep to start planning. The Dead Legion and the 2nd Cohort had the wall, for now, the 1st Cohort was in reserve.