Underdark- Forelorn Depths Region

Fallen Obsidion Kingdom- Northern Hall

Jacob watched as the reinforced group of Death Wagons launch Explosive and Poisonous/Plague Skulls toward the oncoming Mind Warped creatures. Thirty Death Wagons dotted the ranks of the Dead Legion, broken up into batteries of five. Accompanying them was ten thousand Skeletal Warriors, four thousand Skeletal Archers, two thousand Skeletal Mages, one thousand Wraith Knights, five hundred Minor Lich's, and two thousand Zombie Berserkers, commanded by the three Boss monsters.

As impressive as they were, Jacob was betting on the monsters he had brought to punch through the Mind Warped Ranks. The Bone Chimeras were massive beasts, ten to fifteen feet tall and between thirty and fifty feet long, Jacob had created these things with one purpose, to destroy the Mind Warp army and end the stalemate that had developed here. Jacob quickly looked back at the monsters hidden behind the Undead Legion and quickly analyzed the nearest one. Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Bone Chimera Alpha

Level: 125

Health: 2,000,000

Stamina: 750,000

Armor: 8,000

Note* Bone Chimeras are similar to their living cousins in being extremely dangerous and without remorse.

Note* Bone Chimera Alphas are leaders of a brood. They are capable of both magic and physical damage, but more powerful than their brothers

Eight of those monsters waited to be unleashed on the Mind Warped, they were just waiting for the current wave of enemies to be defeated.

Most of the Mind Warped Drones and Guardians were dying before they reached the Skeletal Warriors, but not all. Those that survived the bombardment were killed by the Archers or Mages, only a rare few reached the Skeletal Warriors. "So what are we going to be doing as those things attack the next segment of the North Hall?" Tarren asked as he eyed the Bone Chimeras wearily.

"We will be following them with this contingent of the Dead Legion. Whatever the Bone Chimeras don't kill, we will finish off." Jacob replied as he watched the ongoing assault. This was a huge gamble for them, he had used up the majority of the resources of the Bone Barracks expanding the Dead Legion and creating the eight Bone Chimeras. If this attack failed, he was out of ideas. The One watched as a wave of his Drones and most basic warriors were slaughtered, this stalemate with the dead had grown tiresome. The One had thought that launching continues waves at them would have eventually tired the resolve of the living commanding the dead. If anything, the opposite was true. They had gotten far better at slaughtering the Mind Warped, the living had also bolstered how many dead were in the North Hall.

The One snarled at their arrogance as the few Mind Warped pulled back. The One would hold off on attacking them for a while, bolster the numbers of Mind Warped and launch a massive attack. Suddenly massive dead creatures swarmed into the hall slaughtering the remaining Mind Warped. The One snarled in frustrations at the new opponents, they were far more powerful than any dead thing he had faced yet. Their very presence sapped the life from his children causing the One to howl out in frustration.

The One began marshaling all the remaining Mind Warped in the Northern Hall and sent them against the new invaders trying to slow them down, but the other dead things were following after. Together the One's children were being slaughtered faster then they could mobilize. The One had no toys left in the Northern Hall, they had all been killed weeks ago. For the first time since he awoke so long ago, the One was afraid.

Surface- Valley of Origins Region

Empire of Night- City of Eternal Night

Jacob watched as the carts full of bones rolled out of the portals and head straight for the Bone Barracks. The attack on the Northern Hall had been surprisingly successful. The Bone Chimeras had slaughtered the Mind Warped in droves and the Dead Legion only had to clean up the leftovers. Jacob was tempted to push his luck, but he wanted to consolidate their hold on the North Hall and fortify their position first before pressing onward.

"I have to give it to you Jacob, I did not think that would work.' Darren stated as he walked up. 'Seriously where did you get the idea to create monstrous additions to the Dead Legion." The Rogue asked and Jacob smiled at the man.

"You think that is the first time I created that sort of unit Darren?' Jacob asked while arching an inquisitive eyebrow.

The Rogue frowned while studying the other man's face and large roars filled the air causing Darren to look up at the surrounding mountains. "What did you do Jacob?" Darren quietly asked the other man who was smiling at his friend's nervousness.

"Just a few surprises for anyone who would attack Eternal Night. Any invader would find attacking this city and the valley far more costly then they realize." Jacob replied as he thought about what he wanted to do.

"What are you thinking about?" Darren asked him.

"The Coliseum and the plans I had for it," Jacob replied as he considered his options.

"Ok, yeah its an odd addition to the city and beyond testing the features to make sure it works, it has never been used." Darren prompted.

"Well, it will be, just not by locals. You know I had Arenas constructed at the cities of Oblivion, Gahlin, Ineford, and Anchorhead. Well, I plan to roll out a PvP tournament after the Vampire race goes live. Have the initial tournaments in the other cities for the first couple weeks, then the finals here at Eternal Night. With this war between the Free Cities and the Slavers Union instigating everything, Chaos also sticking their nose in it, I don't know if I should go through with it." Jacob told the Rogue who rocked back.

Darren was impressed, it would be a massive undertaking to accomplish everything, but it would be double. "How would you get everyone, contestants and spectators, to the locations?" Darren asked Jacob his mind already wondering at the possibilities.

"The competitors would receive one-off Portal Scrolls bound to them, that would send them to wherever they would compete. Spectators would be funneled through Ordgan, Uldon, and now Mabus. It would give all the cities local economies an infusion, while also giving the Empire exposure to the Immortal population. Take a little bit of mystery out of the big bad southern kingdom." Jacob told his friend as they started walking toward the outer city, a small ring of Heart Guards shadowing their movements.

"Have you talked to the Devs about this, see if you can get BlackRock on board to support it?" Darren asked and Jacob shook his head.

"I don't want them thinking I am using them, but I will have to loop them in on it won't I?" Jacob asked Darren as the entered the Outer City.

"Yeah you might want to do that, plus they might give you some free advertising. What's your plan? What levels were you thinking of allowing in? You know if you want to pull in anyone over level 100, it's going to have to be a fat purse and toys on top of that." Darren stated as the Coliseum came into sight.

"I know. I was thinking the lowest bracket would start at level thirty and go all the way to level one hundred and forty-nine. Ten levels every bracket. For the preliminaries games in the regional capitals, the winner and runner up from each bracket would get a ticket to the finals here. We would have open enrollment for the first week after the Patch 12 comes out, then the next two weeks we run the preliminaries, then week three after the Patch the finals will be run here. We announce it on the Forums, we let all of our contacts know, and I will send a message to my Dev contact so they are not blindsided." Jacob told the Shadowmaster.

"What about gambling, will you do state-sponsored, or will it all be underground?" Darren asked causing Jacob to laugh.

"Even if I do state-sponsored gambling, there will still be underground gambling. If I sanction it, I have to worry about people rigging the fights, I don't want that. I want people to win or lose based on their skill and merit, not because they got paid to take a fall." Jacob told Darren his worries.

"Well, make it part of the contract like you did when you hired the Myrmidons. Have it backed by Balance and the gods that owe you, if a fighter takes a fall they will get cursed by the gods. If you have state-sponsored gambling, the Empire gets a cut, and you already have gambling dens, so you might as well do it anyway." Darren reasoned as they walked out onto the sand of the massive building.

Unknown Location

Alexi walked down the long corridor, he used to hate it. It was a reminder of his imprisonment, now it was a path of freedom. The long hallway was lined with Chaos Warped creatures that guarded it night and day, it led to the portal that opened up into her prison. Without it, they would be cut off from her. Entering the room he touched the portal and was transported before her. Chaos. Beautiful, yet destructive. She was still bound by the power of the other Primordials. Great chains wrapped around her body and what appeared to be a coffin contained her. "Welcome back my pet, how goes things on the Mortal World?" Chaos asked him.

"Your agents and armies grow by the day. The northern nations of Arakon grow weaker with infighting or isolation. Our alliance with the Slavers Union has proven to be a boon. The Immortals flock to our banners at the promise of power, they have no idea what our true goals are." Alexi Sunstreaker informed her as he went to one knee. He hated and loved her. After the gods threw him in this prison, she was his only companion for thousands of years. She changed him and made him stronger, but she also broke something inside him.

"Good, excellent. What about the south and east? How go our plans to bring the Empire of Night and the Rolling Sands under our control?" Chaos asked and Alexi growled in frustration.

"We have made some inroads with the Rolling Sands, but the Empire of Night...Their new King refuses to see the wisdom in joining." Alexi replied. Suddenly pain wracked Alexis' body as Chaos vented her frustrations on him.

"I do not ask for excuses boy!! I want results. Your brothers advance our cause across the Abyss and the Heavens, your brother Grimlock makes great strides on Jingoon. You made promises to me in return for power, if you do not bring your kin to heel...you will wish the gods had destroyed you instead of throwing you in here with me. NOW GET OUT!!! Do not return until you can tell me that the Empire of Night has been brought to heel." Chaos spat out as Alexi crawled back towards the portal leaving Chaos seething in her prison.