Heart of Dorkness

Scourge Sixteen - Outpost

Scourge Sixteen - Outpost

Its clear! Teo says as he steps out of the outpost. Esteban isnt with him, but I figure that just means hes still exploring the place.

Anyone home? Ran calls out.

Teo shakes his head. No one.

Thats not normal, is it? I ask the obvious question. A guard outpost thats entirely deserted, and a glance at the walls around it shows no signs of forced entry. There are some monsters that could wipe out a group that stealthily. But Teos not acting like hes just seen a heap of corpses.

He runs over to the caravan while shaking his head. Not a trace of them. Maybe theyve moved on already.

I glance at my friends, and we all move forwards at about the same time. Some of the other mercenaries are doing the same.

Two raises his hands, stalling us in our tracks. Park the carts near the walls. Keep an eye out for trouble. I dont know what happened here, but our business is to deliver goods. If theres no one to take them, then we move on to the next outpost, same as usual.

The next outposts gonna want to know what happened, one of the Lions says.

Youre right, but were not going to burn daylight to find out. I need volunteers. Cultivators only. Were going to check the base for any signs of magic use, Teo says.

I raise my hand right away to volunteer, and my friends are quick to do the same. Teo eyes us, then sighs. He points to a pair of guys, then the four of us. You wont be any good helping move the carts around, and youre smaller, maybe you can fit into some crack the guys cant.

I want to complain, but we are noticeably smaller than the guys, and I feel like exploring the outpost more than I feel like complaining about being called small. We jog up to the outposts gate, then slip inside, heads on swivels to take in everything at once.

The outpost isnt all that impressive within. Theres a pair of towers on opposite sides, rising up over the wall with a stand at the top where I can imagine the guards having a decent view of the surroundings.

The rest of the outpost is made up of one larger building made of stacked and mortared stone. Its low to the ground, but looks plenty sturdy. There are three more, smaller buildings. Wooden constructions that are much smaller. A stable, what looks like an outhouse, and a shed next to a modest garden.

Where do we start? Esme asks. Do they have a library or something here?

I doubt youll find out where everyone that was here left in a book, I say.

You never know, Esme replies.

I laugh and turn to tell her something, but I notice Felix frowning while staring off into the middle-distance. You sense anything, Felix? I ask.

I just thought I heard something, she says. Like someone screaming, but it was muffled.

Which direction? If you dont mind me asking. Bianca adjusts her skirts. And what sort of screaming?

Like someone calling out for help, Felix says. Its coming from behind there. She points ahead, past the squat stone building in the middle of the outpost.

All four of us start heading that way, but weve barely moved that Esteban walks out of that building, a stack of documents in hand, and narrows his eyes at us. What are you doing here?

Investigating, I say.

He sniffs. I know that Teo seems to trust you children, but I dont need to turn this into a hunt for four girls who dont know any better than to stick their noses where they dont belong.

Im about to say something that might be a bit rude when Felix pipes up first. I heard it again. Im sure its a scream.

Lets go, I say

What did she hear? Esteban asks.

Oh, just the kind of thing a curious girl who likes sticking her nose in things would hear, I snap. He glares, but when we start heading around the building hes quick to follow us.

The rear courtyard isnt anything special. Theres a sort of storm cellar cover to one side, with stones all around it, and an old well, with a wooden roof over it.

We spread out a bit, Esme and I heading to the storm cellar while Bianca and Esteban walk over to the well. Where now? I ask Felix who has opted to stay in the middle.

I cant sense anything, she says.

Was this all some tri-- Esteban starts, but he stops when a faint call comes from below. Its hard to pin-point, but its definitely a mans voice, and he does sound like hes asking for help. The cellar, quick.

With the bunch of us working at once its trivial to pull the cellars door open. It reveals a dark passage burrowed into the ground, with steps leading up to a gate. Its closed on the other side, a heavy piece of wood on two metal brackets holding it closed.

Esteban jumps down and grabs the beam locking the door through the bars.

That doesnt seem safe, I say.

Its meant to keep out monsters, Bianca says. It has to be easy for rescuers to open it from the outside once it's down. And the bars allow those within to ward off monsters with spears and arrows.

That makes a lot of sense. Esteban tips over the beam and it clatters to the ground with a heavy thump. Is-is someone there? comes a call from deeper in.

Esteban opens the gate, then curses. Light, he says.

Bianca snaps her fingers and a ball of flame appears over her hand.

Not to be outdone, Esme mutters a quick spell, and she summons a swirling ball of light that zips around her lightning-quick. With both lights, and the sunlight pouring in behind us, its much easier to see.

The tunnel is made of rough-hewn stone, with wooden beams supporting the ceiling above. Rusty old lanterns are hanging off the wall on hooks, and there are some boxes and crates, covered in a thick layer of dust, left behind.

We move into the tunnel as a group, Esteban in the lead with a hand on the sword by his hip. Is anyone in here? he asks. Then, in a lower voice. Some monsters can mimic human speech, be ready.

I doubt that were dealing with a monster. Its probably a person, and thats likely far worse.

The tunnel turns, a sharp ninety degrees into a wider area with cots pressed up to one side and what looks like a very rudimentary living space. Not somewhere where anyone would be comfortable for long, but I guess this whole place isnt meant to keep people safe for long either.

Theres a man on one of the cots, a guard. His armours half off, gambeson left on the ground next to him. His shirt is open at the front, and his breathing is laboured. Hes clearly sick.

Esteban raises a hand to stall us. Who are you? he asks.

Inigo Zapa, posted with the sixth guard at the Shortbend outpost, he says. He blinks his eyes, then scans us all. Angels. Oh, he sent me angels. Then his gaze lingers on Esteban. And an ape.

What happened to the outpost, the others? Esteban asks. Was there an outbreak? A sickness?

No. No, not a sickness. They, they drank the vials. I didnt. I couldnt. But they forced me to. And it hurt. They left, but I came here. I came here to pray. Oh Luto, Lord of Mourning, watch over my feeble souls and bless me with your healing grace, he says before his words descend into murmured prayers that I cant make out.

Hes obviously sick with something, Esme says. Its not warm enough here to be sweating so much, and his eyes are pinpricks.

Poison, maybe? Esteban asks. Servants of Luto can pray for healing.

Then where are the others if they were all poisoned? I ask.

Maybe theyre the ones that poisoned Inigo here, Felix says.

Esteban approaches Inigo and squats down next to the bed. He touches his forehead, then nods as if to himself. He feels cool. Too cool to be feverish. I think whatever hes had has broken its hold on him. He likely came down here to hide while the poison took its course. He sniffs. Hes shat himself too.

Esme and I recoil, but neither Felix nor, surprisingly, Bianca, seem to care.

Were taking him out of here. Grab his legs. Ran has some experience with poisons and the like, he might know better.

Oh, Luto, Inigo mutters. How can they do such things? To make the dead walk without their rites.

I grimace as I walk over and grab the guys legs. I really hope theres going to be something to learn from all this.

***