Surface- Twisting Hills Region

Free Lands- City of Uldon

Outer City- The Stuck Pig

2 Days Ago...

The Stuck Pig was filled to the rafters with Legionnaires, Seekers, or the Dawn Guard as he entered. It was one of the few inns that had allowed the invaders to eat and use their establishment. Jacob had given standing orders that unless the properties allowed them, the Legionnaires were to leave them alone.

The Stuck Pig had not been the most popular establishment before the invasion and the owner was willing to give them a chance just to earn some gold. Jacob quickly pushed his way to the bar, Cathrine was right behind him. Since the Dawn Guard already had a presence at the Inn, Thorgron had said he was ok going there with just Cathrine. Legionnaires of the First and Sixth Legions were throughout the Outer City patrolling.

"What can I get you and your friend Immortal?" The large human asked behind the bar.

"Do you have breakfast?' Jacob asked him and the innkeeper nodded pointing to the sign hanging behind him and offered the Stuck Pigs menu. 'Can I get eggs with ham and fruit, tea for the drink." Jacob told him as he gestured for Cathrine too order. Jacob slowly scanned the room and noticed two Immortals sitting near the back wall by themselves. Jacob made his way over there as soon as the innkeeper told them the food would be out shortly.

"You two mind if we join you?" Jacob asked as walked up to their table. One was a Rogue type the other was a Mage of some sort.

The Rogue glared at them, "Of course why not since you Imperials think you can do whatever you want." The Mage ignored the byplay and continued to eat.

"Thank you so much for your consideration." Jacob smiled and earned a small snort from Cathrine.

"I wasn't serious, I was being sarcastic." The Rogue stated slowly as if explaining to someone particularly stupid.

Jacob continued to smile and ignored the Rogues comment, "So how are your days going?" Jacob asked them pointedly looking at both Immortals.

Before the Rogue could respond the Mage did, "We are doing fine. We were hoping to turn in some quests but due to the siege, all quests are suspended until it's over. We could take up the Call to Arms the High-Lord offered, but almost all the Immortals that took it up were sent to respawn and are now a week away, by foot, at the City of Ingson to the northeast or another city they are friendly with that is nearby. That is how we lost our tank and Ranger friend, to make matters worse they now have a 'Hated' status with the Empire and can be killed on sight by anyone without any ramifications. It's not right..."

"Is it right that they were defending a city that supported an invasion of the Empire?' Jacob asked as a waitress came up with their food. 'Your friends made a choice, they have to willing to accept the consequences of their actions."

The Mage frowned while the Rogue rolled his eyes, "Who cares, that has nothing to do with us. Our friends just excepted the easy gold and experience, they had no idea of the politics behind everything." The Rogue stated.

Jacob frowned and considered his choices, he would not go back on his decision to list anyone who fought against Imperial forces. However, it didn't mean that he couldn't allow them some way back in, "Well I am sure if they want to come back here they will find some way to increase their reputation with the Empire of Night. I am sure they will post some quests at the City Admin building as soon as the siege is done." Jacob replied as he dug into the food.

The Rogue frowned as if he didn't believe him, "How sure of that are you?" the Mage asked.

Jacob gave him a sure smile, "I am willing to bet on it if you are?" Jacob stated and he could hear more than one chuckle come from behind him and it caused both the Rogue and Mage to look at the crowd around them. It was an inside joke that they didn't understand yet and Jacob was not going to explain it to them.

Surface- Twisting Hills Region

Free Lands- City of Uldon

Outer City

Present Day...

Jacob watched as the Battering Ram hammered the inner gates of the city. They were down too 35% durability and each blow dropped it by another couple percentage points. The sloped armor above the battering ram was starting to look warped as it struggled to absorb the magical bombardment from above. It was turning into a race to see what would fail first, the gates or the armor above the ram, considering magical shields were occasionally being thrown over the ram, Jacobs hope was on it.

Behind the ram, five Cohorts of the Fist Legion were marshaled and waiting for the gate to fall. Suddenly a couple of giant balls of fire arced overhead and slammed into the defenders of the gatehouse. The Trebuchets had reloaded and fired finally. For the packed defenders, it was a slaughter, over a dozen armored figures had been torn apart by the impacts. Easily double that number were badly injured and being dragged away by those less wounded by the barrage.

"You ready to end this siege General?" Jacob asked Brox.

The Orc nodded, his armor was scoured in multiple places, but it was still very much serviceable. "I hate fighting in a city, to much-confined space and not enough room to maneuver. This fight favors the defenders more than us." Another volley from the Trebuchets streaked overhead and slammed into defenders wreaking havoc among their ranks. Based on the screams that drowned out the pounding of the Battering Ram, the Trebuchets had incurred more casualties again.

All three gates leading into the Inner City were under assault, if everything worked out well, they would all fall within minutes of each other. With a thunderous crack, the gates fell and the Cohorts started marching forward. Arrows and bolts of magic slammed into the oncoming Legionnaires, but the attacks were blocked by magical or physical shields and did very little real damage. Jacob was keeping the Dawn Guard and Heart Guard back for now as the First Legion pushed into the Inner City. Jacob could hope that they would take the gatehouse quickly so they could push deeper into the Inner City but didn't think they would be that lucky.

Several hundred defenders were present and fighting the First Legion for control of the Gate House. The thirty-foot opening was turning into a slaughterhouse as the Legion pushed forward while the defenders were desperately trying to keep them at bay. Jacob quickly Analyzed one of the nearest guards.

Name: Unknown

Level: 30 (60)

Health: 32,724/80,000

Abilities: Unknown

Jacob snorted, even with the city buffs the guards were only level 60, the average level of the First Legion was in the mid-50s, individually they were stronger, but the Legion was not alone and fought as a whole. The City guards might be considered a military force, but they were not trained to fight together. The training and magical support gave the Legionnaires a clear edge over the defenders who were slowly being whittled down. Jacob just hoped that the Sixth Legion was doing just as well. Four hours later the fight of the Inner City was done, the few defenders that had survived the desperate fighting had been rounded up disarmed and stripped of their armor. The small prison camp outside the city now had over one thousand occupants. Only the most critically wounded or missing limbs were given any healing or potions to stabilize them. Otherwise, they were left to their own devices while being closely watched.

"Report Captain-General?" Jacob asked as he watched as the few fires still burning being brought under control by Icemancers and Hydromancers.

Nadal looked up from his interface, "Casualty reports are still coming in, but we have three hundred confirmed dead so far. More then twice that in wounded in or outside the city, the Legion healers are working as quickly as they can, but they could use some help if they can."

"I will ask the Seekers to lend a hand, they just need to know where to go," Jacob stated as he sent a PM too Yilme to start rounding up the healers among the guild and their Bonded.

"As far as the Battering Rams, they all need to be sent back to the Empire for repairs. Only one can be repaired in the field and since the Keep is still holding out I have ordered the other two sent back to be broken down and shipped back too Middlebrough for repairs. The Engineers and Smiths think they can get the last Battering Ram operational within 12 hours" Nadal informed Jacob.

"Tell them to take their time, I would rather a good repair job rathern then have a Battering Ram that will quickly be damaged by the defenders. Maybe we will get lucky and someone will assassinate High-Lord Daniels for us and surrender the Keep." Jacob mused.

Nadal snorted at Jacobs comment, "Luck is never that kind in battle, but considering your luck sir...it might happen." Jacob snorted at the Drows attempt at humor.

"Tell me it was not us that set those fires?" Jacob asked the Captain-General.

The Drow immediately shook his head negatively, "No, it was one of the defending Immortals. We are assisting with controlling the fires and I am sure you will insist on repairing all the damaged buildings..."

Jacob nodded, "As soon as the keep falls to our control, Uldon and its repairs will be our responsibility anyway. We might as well start the repairs now, who knows, it might buy us some goodwill among the populace."

Surface- Twisting Hills Region

Free Lands- City of Uldon

Inner City- Broken Quill

"You think you can do it?" Jacob asked Darren as they ate their late lunch.

"Can I do it, yes. Will I succeed in trying, that is the better question. If we had the layout and time to get a team and plan, maybe. Short notice, no map or plan, probably not." The assassin responded.

Jacob gave the assassin a tight smile before pulling the papers from his inventory and setting them in front of the Shadowmaster. "How did you get these?" the Rogue asked as he stared at the plans of the keep.

"Thank the gods of bureaucracy and city planners, they were in the City Administration building. I just had to ask, and since pretty much everyone now hates the High-Lord, they were happy to hand them over. Would I trust them 100% completely, absolutely not, but they are more than likely accurate." Jacob told the Rogue who was already pouring over the Keeps plans.