The Outpost

My name is Talon.

I'm the last Blackblood, or so I've been told.

I escaped when Everit Dred killed all my people.

I cut off the points of my ears to hide in plain sight.

A tiny creature lives inside me,

passed to me by my dying mother.

It gives me the power to open portals to another world

and summon powerful demons called Lu-Qiri.

But I can only summon them when I have their names,

something that's proving to be a challenge.

The Prime Order wants me dead,

but I've found sanctuary at the farthest edge of the Realm

in a place known as the Outpost.

Previously on "The Outpost"...

I'm Captain Garret Spears.

I don't think you could last a few rounds with me.

Gwynn.

Soldiers: Hail to the Queen!

Hail to the Queen!

I, Gate Marshal Cedric Wythers, acting magistrate.

Marshal Wythers is your father?

The name's Janzo, best brewer in the Realm.

If you have colipsum in your blood, fly eggs,

and you're injected by a Plagueling,

they grow into a parasite.

This is the Vex Rezicon, the Book of Names.

Only the Dragman can understand.

I'm the Dragman.

Naya: Your word you'll free my family?

"Eveflt". You have my word.

I'm putting together a team to go after Dred.

I hope you find him.

Whoa.

The tracks lead up through the ruins.

What is this place?

It used to be Dun-Ebdin.

When the Prime Order overthrew the royals,

Lord Ebdin refused to swear fealty.

They smashed down his gates,

burnt his castle...

and killed everyone,

including Lord Ebdin himself.

Are they gonna do the same thing to us?

That is why we cannot let Dred reach the capital.

You understand? - Yes, sir.

Good.

Hyah.

Keep your eyes open.

Stay alert.

Leave the horses.

I'm not going in there, sir.

Dred's in there.

We haven't been chasing him for two weeks

to just turn and run because you're afraid of the dark.

Yes, but it seems like a bad idea to...

Alright, alright.

Wait here and keep watch.

Ugh!

Stay together! Stay together!

This is for Talon...

and your Queen.

This is the same name.

We've been here for days.

Is this really the only name you're going to give me?

Dragman, there are supposed to be hundreds,

maybe thousands of Lu-Qiri on the other side of the portal.

So, if I'm going to help Gwynn defeat the Prime Order,

I need to open the portal

and summon all of the demons by name to this Realm.

Look, I know you can talk. Explain yourself.

Why have you only given me this one name?

Fine.

So, is this the first one you want me to call?

Hopefully this demon's

a little friendlier than the last.

Stand back.

Talon?

Come on, Talon.

Deep breaths. Exhale on the release.

My people say it's wrong to take what isn't given,

especially a life.

You do not have to enjoy the kill,

but we do need to eat.

We only kill to survive.

Shoot on my mark.

Not yet!

It's going out of range, Talon.

Oh!

A clean kill!

Remmick will feed us all winter, Talon.

We'll use every part.

And every time it fills our hungry bellies,

we'll remember its life and be grateful.

Yeah? Yeah.

We liked you just as well when your ears were pointed.

Didn't we, Myron?

Oh, whatever made you think to cut them off?

Right, here. I'll finish cleaning that for you.

Now, go and fetch me some water.

There's some serious cooking that needs doing.

OK.

Oh, hello.

What have these savages done to you, taking your ears?

- I did it on my own. - Disgraceful.

Your mother will be so ashamed of you.

You don't know me or my mother.

Oh, but I knew you both.

Of course, the last time I saw you,

you were no bigger than a cat.

Why did you kill them?

They were only humans.

Come. Live among your own people again.

My people are dead.

Your mother passed the Asterkinj to you,

so you could pass it on to me.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Oh!

We only kill to survive.

Ekkundi is not your Lu-Qiri. He is mine.

You've seen someone like me, haven't you?

With this mark?

Once. - Where is he?

Dead.

Varlek was my brother.

And then she said that she loved me.

It was right after I saved her life, really.

Although, technically, I guess she did also save mine.

Then she kissed me. Ha!

She said it was just to distract me from the pain,

but, I mean, does that even make sense?

Now if Garret was out of the picture, well,

maybe... maybe her...

Her love would change from... From sibling love

to, well, you know...

But who could compete with muscle boy, eh?

Are you talking to a Plagueling?

Janzo!

- Are you alright? - Naya, yes. Sorry, I'm fine.

You just startled me a little bit.

Oh, do excuse the mess. It's just I'm terribly busy.

Just trying to figure out this Plagueling problem.

Oh. Have you slept?

Janzo can sleep once he solves the plague.

"Once Janzo solves the plague."

People are dying.

Well, I thought you had solved it.

If people stop taking colipsum, they won't become Plaguelings.

Well, yes, but they're not stopping,

are they, you silly little girl?

It's an addiction.

Mum says we're low on ale.

Will people please stop sneaking up on me?

Just walked in, Janzo. Not doing any sneaking.

Same.

Mum says, uh, you need to move your arse

and be useful for once.

Mistress: And more wine!

- And more wine. - Thank you, Munt.

Another dead one?

You want me to get rid of it for you?

Yes. Yes, please.

As you can see, I have got much to do

and very little time to do it in, so,

can I help you with something, Naya?

Uh, Queen Rosmund wants to speak to you.

Right, well, I'm a little busy.

At once. She's surveying her soldiers near the keep.

Yes, of course. Thank you.

Gwynn: Marshal Wythers, you must redouble your efforts

in discovering the identity of the traitor who set Dred free.

The Watch is already overworked enough

with the influx of men into the Outpost.

Who knows this Outpost or its people like you, Marshal?

Ask your informants

of the names of those whose loyalty is suspect.

You want me to spy for you?

I need you to find out who set him free.

Not that you've exactly ever wanted my advice, but...

You're going to give it to me anyway.

Your men have had no time off.

They're exhausted.

They're afraid to ask you for fear of offending

the delicate ears of the Queen.

Hmm. Ls that how you feel?

Me? No.

I've never been afraid to offend anybody,

least of all, a little girl like Your Majesty.

I keep them on duty, Marshal,

because if Garret hasn't stopped him,

Ambassador Dred will go straight to the capital

and return with the full might of the Prime Order.

And your soldiers will join the Prime Order when they arrive

if you don't give them reason to love you.

And don't worry, my son will find Dred.

"Maya". My Queen'? - Ah, brewer.

The sun sets on another day.

What progress have you made

in finding a cure for the Plaguelings?

I've only just begun and I'm going to need

some more infected test subjects to carry on my research.