Zed: Previously on "The Outpost"...
Will you find the girl who tried to kill Falista?
I'’ll do my best.
You want me to protect the person I'’m meant to be arresting?
- Promise me. - It is time to awake you, Levare.
The Blackfists finally did it. They killed them all.
My mother'’s texts, you saved them.
They found us!
- Nedra. - Long time, Zed.
- No! - Corven!
Search the Outpost for any soul not loyal to the crown.
The gods thank you.
It is time.
- Time? - I must go.
You'’re leaving me?
But there'’s still so much I don'’t understand.
I'’ve seen one of the gods, but they don'’t speak to me as they do with you.
You are ready, my queen.
You know the gods, do you not?
Yes. Yes, I do.
Then the gods themselves will guide you.
Simply listen for their voices.
I know we can count on you.
Yes, you can.
I will do anything in service to the gods.
Good. Do not let others influence you.
You were chosen to rule over them.
But where are you going?
I'’m going to meet the gods.
[ theme music playing ]
- Go away. We'’re closed. - Wait, Munt. Munt, it'’s me.
Tobin? I mean, Your Majesty. What are you doing here?
I was wondering if you have any more of the stuff.
- Bath salts? - What? No.
- The spirits. - Ghosts!
- Munt, keep your voice down. - Oh, I agree. Ghosts?
No. The ale, Munt.
Oh! Oh, ale. Yeah, right.
- Open the door. - Right, right. Right.
There you go. Come in, come in.
It'’s sad to see this place so empty.
It is empty, isn'’t it?
It'’s exactly what it is. It'’s quiet and a right shame.
So, do you have any of the hard stuff?
Right, yeah. Yeah, I do.
Wait here. Just right there.
- All right. - Be right back.
Ah, Spears.
Whoa! Ooh.
Gods, Tobin. Nearly ran you through.
What are you doing here?
I'’m, uh-- I'’m just borrowing a book from Janzo
and I'’ve come to return it.
At this hour?
Where'’s the book?
Damn, you know, I-- I knew I forgot some--
What about you? What are you doing?
- Me? - Mm.
I'’m, uh--
come to collect some...
bath salts.
Yeah, Falista likes bath salts.
Sure.
Any news on the would-be assassin?
What? No. Uh, no.
Nothing but dead ends so far, but still looking.
How hard can it be?
I mean, whoever she is, she has a freshly sliced arm.
Well, an overcrowded Outpost is an easy place for someone to disappear.
Spears, I made you gate marshal
because I trusted the oath that you made to me.
- [ door opens ] - You can trust me, Tobin.
Your Majesty? [ whistles ]
- Wait, that'’s it? - Yeah, that'’s it.
I mean, why would there be more?
Best not to mention this to anyone.
Yeah. Mention what?
Exactly. Spears.
- Lock the door. - Oh, yeah. The door, right.
- He'’s gone. - [ cheering ]
[ music playing ]
Munt, for the ruffians at table three.
And tell them their tab is full.
They either pay tonight or they'’re cut off.
Janzo, I'’m valet to the King now.
Not sure I should be associating with ruffians.
Munt, you are a ruffian.
Are you sure we can'’t tell Tobin about this place?
- I don'’t think he'd mind. - Yes, of course I'’m sure.
Everything I'’m doing down here is illegal, do you hear me?
I could go to jail for this or worse. Is that what you want for me?
Your only little brother? Your only kin, hmm?
You know, you'’re sounding more like Mum lately.
Apart from she loved this kind of stuff.
Me? Me, no. I hate it. No, I don'’t have the constitution for it.
It just makes my stomach churn.
Well, then why are we doing it?
Fatherhood, Munt. Fatherhood.
I'’m going to provide for my family,
and if unsavory means are the only way
to make a living in these dark times, then so be it.
I'’m gonna do right by my child.
- Mum would be right proud. - You'’re not helping.
Yeah. Ooh. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
I don'’t care who they are.
The Three are The Three. We are right back under Prime Order rule.
Falista and Tobin have One and Three'’s kinjes,
and Two is influencing them. They have to be stopped.
- But we need more men. - We'’ll have the numbers we need
when Talon returns with the remaining Blackbloods.
Blackbloods?
- Fight alongside skags? - Mind your tongue.
Now we all want the same thing.
Freedom from tyranny.
A land that we can call our own.
With all due respect, sir,
I won'’t fight with those who enslaved me!
Any of you boys feeling lucky tonight?
Excuse me.
Pardon me, gentlemen.
- What are you doing? - You'’re not to come here.
You are not meant to be in public at all.
This isn'’t public. It'’s a private club.
There are men looking for you.
Or do you want me to arrest you for the attempted assassination of the queen?
- You wouldn'’t do that. - And why not?
Besides the fact that Talon would never forgive you?
I know what you and your little ragtag
rebellion are plotting over there.
If brought before the queen, I'’m liable to say anything
that comes to mind in my defense.
Oh, you are some--
Talon?
Make way! Make way, everyone.
There will be a lot more coming through soon.
- Wren, you'’re hurt. - I'’m fine.
When are the rest coming, Talon?
They'’re not.
- What happened? - They'’re dead.
They'’re all dead.
[ groans ]
[ horse whinnies ]
Hold there.
What'’s in the wagon?
Step aside, men. This is the business of the--
- I'’m your king, soldier. - Your Highness, forgive me.
What are you taking outside the Outpost walls in the middle of the night?
Are you deaf?
It was Two.
She murdered a jail full of prisoners.
A wagon full of corpses.
- Why would she do this? - Traitors to the crown.
What?
All of them in that prison,
traitors to the crown.
You knew about this?
How could you condone such a thing?
What other choice did I have, Tobin?
They refused to bend the knee. Treason is punishable by death.
Traitors are tried and then executed if found guilty,
not murdered without trial and then disposed of in the black of night.
Service to the gods requires sacrifice.
And Two assured me when she drew the life from those prisoners
- it was the will of the gods. - The gods?
How can you question this, Tobin?
You'’ve seen one of the gods yourself.
You were there face to face.
How can you doubt that we'’ve been chosen to serve them in our rule?
There'’s so much I doubt these days, Falista.
Well, then lean on my faith,
and I can promise you that we will get through these difficult times
and come out stronger for it.
Our devotion will be rewarded by the gods.
The ancient writings of the Blackbloods?
The record and scriptures of our people,
passed down from High Priestess to High Priestess.
- Zed'’s brother saved them. - And then he died protecting me.
Our people didn'’t have to die.
Your brother would still be alive
if you brought us back as you promised.
Nedra, I tried.
I have to check that the children are settling into their new quarters.
- Nedra! - Let her go, Zed.
- Nedra! - Let her go.
[ door closes ]
Just to make sure I understand,
there are no more living Blackbloods remaining in the Plane of Ashes?
None.
The only Blackbloods in existence are now here at this Outpost.
Which is why our people need the spiritual guidance
of a High Priestess more than ever.
Why me?
I know no more about these beliefs or texts than you do, Zed.
Because you are the one they expect to know it.
Because our High Priestess and her teachings
are all that'’s left of our tradition,
our culture, and our history.
Because our people need someone to help them grieve and to move on.
So I'’m sorry if this calling is inconvenient for you, Wren.
But you'’re the only one who can offer our people
the solace and support that they need.
Uh, it'’s Falista's night clothes left on the bed of the King.
He left his shirt and vest here last night if you'’d like to take them.
Right, yeah. Do you know he has a man
whose only job it is to make his clothes?
That'’s all the man does all day, clothes for the King.
Falista has four, and a goldsmith for her jewelry.
- What? No. - Mm-hmm.
I decree, what a lovely necklace you have, milady.
Oh, you flatter me, milord.
No. Ooh. Pray telleth.
What do you think of my vest?
- A fine vest... - Oh! Ha-ha!
- ...for a man of your noble bearing. - Oh.
Oh, please. Sit down for a spot of tea.
Oh, indeed I shall.
Milk? Sugar?
Uh, yes, please. All the things.
If it doth please milady,
shall we try out that feather bed instead?
[ grunting, laughing ]
[ door opens ]
Oh.
- Milady. - Milord.
Wren, I'’m sorry about your people.
How am I supposed to determine the course of our people
when there'’s nothing but extinction staring us in the face?
You don'’t have to go through any of this if you don'’t want to.
Don'’t I? You remember the way those Blackbloods bowed to me.
They expect this of me, Janzo, and quite frankly, it just makes me want to throw up.
Are you sure that'’s not your pregnancy?
I told you, Blackblood women don'’t get that.
That'’s another thing. How am I supposed to be a mother
and a High Priestess at the same time?
Your mother did it.
And what a great job she did of that.
If you ask me, I think she raised a pretty fantastic daughter.
You know, the truth is that she wasn'’t an awful mother.
She was not such a good High Priestess,
and she'’s the only example I have of how to do that, so...
Wren, I know you.
And if you are simply the kind of priestess you are a person--
smart, kind, compassionate,
I think you'’ll be perfect.
- You really think so? - Oh, I know so.
Hey.
Janzo said you left them hours ago.
I needed some time to be alone.
Talon, I am so sorry about what happened over there.
"Wherever you go, people die."
What?
You said that to me once.
Talon, I wasn'’t in my right mind when I said that.
It was true.
And it keeps happening.
Garret, this is my fault.
What? How?
How many times did Zed tell me to bring them through?
You couldn'’t have known that this would happen.
What was I waiting for?
An entire people. I let them die.
This is not your fault.
My mother gave me the asterkinj,
the means to save our people and--
it'’s what I was meant to do, and I waited too long.
- I failed her. - Hey, you don'’t know that.
If your mother was so eager to bring them back,
why didn'’t she do it herself?
I have to go.
Wren'’s asked those of us who remain to gather.
Wren: We'’ve all suffered a tremendous loss.
The greatest we can suffer as a people.
We few who remain may be tempted to carry guilt.
Guilt for having been here,
a world away when our brothers and sisters
faced their end in the Plane of Ashes.
I, as your High Priestess,
would like to lead you in and old Blackblood ritual
to shed our guilt like ashes
in order to truly mourn the memory of our dead.
Each of the children who returned are now our future.
And with all of our help,
it is in them that the Blackblood way will survive.
[ singing in Blackblood ]
I was told you wanted to see me.
Thank you for coming.
Sit.
I heard about your people on the other side of the portal.
My condolences. It'’s a tragedy.
But I want you to know that those who remain
will be welcome and treated as equals.
- Under your rule. - Of course.
As you will serve as the Blackbloods'’ governor
- and they will follow you. - If I follow you.
- Yes. - Your advisor Two wants all the Blackbloods dead.
Two is gone. She was summoned by the gods.
- Summoned? Where? - That doesn'’t matter.
But what does matter is before she left,
she told me everything I need to know in order to serve them.
That symbol.
- What is it? - The mark of the Seven.
- I'’ve seen it before. - Where?
In a vision? You'’ve seen the gods as I have.
A face neither human nor Blackblood.
I wouldn'’t take it for a god, but, yes, I'’ve seen it.
You'’ve had the same vision as me, Talon, don'’t you see?
The gods wish us to work together.
They have chosen us to serve them.
I don'’t know what I've seen, and neither do you.
But I can tell you this, they are not gods.
How dare you?
You know, from my experience, those pretending to be gods
or claiming to speak for them are dangerous.
You can walk away from me, but you cannot walk away from the gods!
This is my destiny as it is yours!
Prepare the way.
Unlock the Skevikor.
You say this was part of your vision?
Yes, and I saw the same symbol at the shrine Falista prays at.
It was in my vision as well. This symbol and then the face.
Falista said it'’s the face of a god.
- She said Two'’s gone to meet them. - To meet them?
Mm. Ah, here. Yes. The mark of the Seven.
Before Blackbloods were Blackbloods, the Seven were the Seven.
They reigned over all the world and then left, entrusting it to us.
They left? What do you suppose that means?
Is it possible that the gods that The Three worship
are the same as the Blackblood Seven?
I suppose. One culture'’s religion borrowing from another'’s,
it happened often through the ages.
Is there anything in there that might tell us where Two'’s headed?
We have endless writings on the Seven.
All our shrines and temples invoke their name.
I couldn'’t begin to guess where Two is going.
Word around the Outpost is that Two sucked the life
out of all of the people who she imprisoned.
What could she need all that life force for?
Maybe if we leave now, we could track her and find out.
I was planning more ceremonies for our people.
She wants all the Blackbloods dead, Wren.
The best thing I can do for the remaining Blackbloods
is kill her before she gets a chance of accomplishing that goal.
Well, Zed, you'’re staying, right?
You are the one who pushed me to take on the Priestess duties.
I'’m going with Talon, Wren,
but I thank you for taking them on.
I know it'’s helping a lot of Blackbloods.
I bribed the gatesman.
Said she left alone on foot this morning,
followed the main road.
Then we'’ve got some catching up to do.
- Yes! - [ groans ]
Come on. Coin down before the bones roll.
That'’s me again.
Hey, hey, hey.
You know, gambling'’s strictly forbidden.
That'’s what makes it high stakes.
- Your Majesty. - I saw you wincing.
- Are you hurt? - What?
Your left arm perhaps?
That'’s kind of you, Your Majesty.
No, I'’m fine.
Oh, that? An accident at the stables.
- My father'’s an ostler. - This was no accident.
This is where I stuck you with your own blade.
What?
[ grunting ]
Stop that girl!
- Got you. - [ grunting ]
Falista: So you'’re the creature who tried to kill me in my sleep.
Tell me, who are your co-conspirators?
I acted alone.
Please. A girl your age doesn'’t just wake up
and decide to throw her life away in attempted regicide.
You'’ve been manipulated by my enemies.
So tell me who they are and you'’ll be spared the hangman'’s noose.
You want the names of the men who plot your demise?
Their covert meeting places?
The secret signs they give each other?
None of that exists, Your Majesty.
How dare you?
You will hang for your crime.
Falista, she'’s very young.
Not too young to be made an example of.
You will be hung in the public square tomorrow at sunrise.
Is this what I think it is?
Mm-hmm. Munt'’s kept me supplied despite the prohibition.
- Don'’t tell Falista. - I won'’t if you won't.
What are we celebrating?
I caught the assassin.
Oh. And who is she?
I was hoping you could tell me.
She was so easy to find.
And the way she headed towards Talon'’s place when she ran,
it was almost as if you wasn'’t looking for her.
- Tobin-- - You were protecting her.
You know, she'’s not a bad kid.
She'’s just misguided.
After Talon and I gave her a talking to,
she'’s never tried anything like that again.
You could have told me that.
You could have come to me.
Things might have turned out better for her if you had.
Why? What'’s happened?
Falista sentenced her to death.
She hangs at dawn.
Well, there must be something you can do.
- I'’m sorry. There's not. - Tobin?
Shortly after I change the guards at last watch,
she'’ll be taken to the gallows.
I plan to talk with the guards who replace the watch.
Might delay them a bit.
Might delay them a bit, huh?
But then they will come and take her to the gallows.
So you understand,
there'’s nothing I can do about it.
I understand.
[ door opens ]
End of watch. Have a good night.
It'’s all right. My partner will be here in a minute.
Spears.
- What are you-- - If I let you out of here, you do exactly as I say.
Promise me.
You'’re a fugitive, so you need to leave the Outpost and never return.
I can disappear without leaving.
You'’ve been caught once already. They know your face now.
- This is stupid. - You promised to do exactly as I say.
I didn'’t sell you out, you know? I could have, and I didn'’t.
- Go. - You'’re gonna be bored without me around.
I'’ll manage. Go.
You wanted to see me, Your Majesties?
You will bow to your King and Queen.
- That'’s not necessary. - No. Of course.
- Forgive me. - It is my understanding that the Blackbloods
in this Outpost consider you the keeper of their history and law.
- Is that true? - Yes.
What is the Skevikor?
Uh, I don'’t know.
You don'’t know or you won'’t tell me?
I don'’t know.
I wish to report that the brewer Janzo
is running an underground tavern
manufacturing and selling inebriates.
- What? - [ music playing ]
- Janzo? - Hmm?
Have you ever been in, you know?
No. No, I don'’t know, Munt.
You'’re going to have to give me more information than that.
Right.
Have you ever been in-- in-- in love?
- In love? - Love.
In love? You have come to the right place, brother,
because I am somewhat of an expert when it comes to matters of the heart.
- You are? - Everybody'’s different, you see?
Some-- well, some have a physiological response,
akin to an early stage of infection.
Others just go speechless when coming into close proximity
to the object of their infection.
Well, I think for me it'’s like soup.
- Like soup? - A warm soothing bowl of soup.
Only the broth, it'’s so thin that no amount could ever make you full.
[ shouting ]
By order of the Queen,
you are all under arrest.
Where is the brewer Janzo?
Oh, dear.
You didn'’t participate in the ritual of ash.
Letting go of the guilt?
I didn'’t feel ready.
Honestly, I'’m a little surprised that you did.
I knew it. You blame me for the slaughter.
You think if I brought the Blackbloods through sooner, they wouldn'’t all be dead.
- Well, isn'’t that the truth? - If I brought them here,
the Blackfists still would have turned on their own,
and then they would have attacked the humans.
We don'’t know that.
You'’re right. We don't.
Which is why if I had to do it again,
I wouldn'’t have done it differently.
Nonetheless, you'’ll be happy to know I still feel guilty as hell.
That doesn'’t make me happy, Talon,
and I don'’t blame you.
It'’s myself I blame for Corven.
I keep thinking I should have convinced him to come back with us
- the last time we were there. - Corven died a hero.
He was protecting those children,
and then he took an arrow for you.
[ rustling ]
Whoa, easy.
Luna, what are you doing here?
I'’ve been banished from the Outpost.
- What? You got caught? - Yeah.
And Falista let you off with only a banishment?
Actually, she sentenced me to death.
But Garret helped me escape. I think he fancies me.
So, what we heading east for?
Something that pays well, I hope.
Talon and I are tracking Two,
which we'’ll be a lot more successful at without you along.
Don'’t be so sure about that.
I beat Talon the first time I met her.
Tell him.
I was drunk, and, no, you didn'’t.
I can take care of myself.
The events of the past several days indicate otherwise.
Talon: Sorry, Luna. It'’s not a good idea coming with us.
Our kinjes protect us from other kinj-bearers. You'’d be vulnerable.
- Good luck, kid. - I'’m just gonna keep following you.
There'’s nothing you can do about it.
You'’re not familiar with what my kinj does, are you?
Fine. Just do as you'’re told.
Sounds fair.
Your Majesty, I can explain exactly what was going on in that cellar.
I promise, I was doing nothing naughty down there.
Silence. If I wanted an explanation, I'’d ask for it.
- Wren? - Janzo.
She had nothing to do with my illegal enterprise, I promise.
Her guilt or innocence in this matter doesn'’t concern me.
Just her usefulness.
- What do you mean? - I asked for her help.
- Yet she refuses me. - No, I haven'’t refused you, Your Majesty.
I just simply do not know much about what you are asking.
Silence.
Yavalla'’s successful quest for the white kinj
has convinced me that the Blackbloods'’ law
is indeed inspired by the gods.
- Oh? - And it seems the gods are speaking again...
to those of us who bear a kinj.
I have been honored with a task I need to understand
in able to complete it.
Your Majesty, if I could help you, I would.
- But I do not know what you are asking. - Oh, you will help me.
And as an incentive, Janzo will be spared the sentence of death
only if your answers prove correct.
So, one more time.
What does the word "Skevikor" mean?
I don'’t know, Your Majesty.
- [ screaming ] - Stop! Stop! Stop!
Falista, I will figure it out!
I will figure it out. Just-- I need more time.
I knew you'’d see reason.
Take him to the prison.
Your Majesty, I need Janzo if I'’m to figure out the answers that you want.
- He'’s not a Blackblood. - No, but he is a scholar
who has been studying the Yindrian writings
of this world much longer than I have.
Your answers will come sooner and much more complete
if I have him at my side.
Very well then.
But he will be executed if you don'’t give me my answers.
- You have two days. - Thank you, Your Majesty.
You never told me what happened in the sewers.
You know what happened. Garret caught me.
No, I mean, why were you so shaken from it?
- What'’s it to you? - You don'’t have to tell me.
I told you I ran away from the sanctuary when I was ten.
That'’s not the whole story.
It'’s true I didn'’t like being outdone
in our training by my little sister,
but I never would have left Ilyin.
Not even in the care of the monks.
We woke one night to screams,
black smoke pouring into our rooms.
Covenant soldiers were slaughtering the monks and elders,
piling their bodies in the hallways.
They were commanded by a solemn man,
hair as white as his robes.
Everit Dred.
He was looking for the next Dragman, so we hid.
Buried ourselves under the corpses to play dead.
But Ilyin wouldn'’t lie still,
and they found her.
Took her away while I was frozen with fear
under the weight of all those dead people.
All those corpses in the sewer took you back to that night.
I'’m sorry, Luna.
That'’s when I decided that nothing in the world
was going to protect me but me.
I don'’t need anyone.
Look, I know how it feels
to lose everyone you'’ve ever loved.
When I first came to the Outpost,
the only thing that mattered to me was vengeance.
- Did you get it? - Some.
But more importantly, I found a new family.
Friends, mentors...
lovers.
Look, I'’m here to tell you
if you close yourself off to pain,
you close yourself off to everything.
[ whistling ]
What in the name of gods is that thing?
It'’s a Lu-Qiri.
That'’s Vikka. He's mine.
Lucky you.
Talon: There'’s Two.
What is Vikka doing with Two?
And where'’s she going in there?
Better question might be who is in there?
She was going to see the gods, remember?
Don'’t think he'’s yours anymore.
Keep watch out here.
And wait for that thing to come back? No thanks.
I'’ll take my chances with Two.
I'’m really sorry. This is all my fault.
I should have never started this illegal enterprise.
Your heart was in the right place, Janzo.
No. I put you and I in danger, and our baby,
and now we'’re at the mercy of a crazy madwoman
who thinks gods are speaking to her.
"Skevikor." What are the odds that such a word even exists?
I mean, if I'’ve never heard of it,
you'’ve certainly not heard of it.
- I know the word, Janzo. - What?
Skevikor.
I lied to her. I know it.
It means the end of the world.
[ clears throat ]
Sorry, Falista.
The girl escaped.
She escaped again?
How is that even possible?
Apparently it happened during the shift change.
Well, this just confirms my suspicions.
Her co-conspirators are many and powerful.
You must find out who they are and kill them all,
do you understand me?
Yes, of course.
- And what of Janzo? - He and the Blackblood Priestess
are assisting me on a task the gods have given me.
Falista, regardless of what we'’ve seen,
we don'’t know the nature of these so-called gods.
Whatever their will is,
how can we trust that it'’s for our good?
Because they are our gods, Tobin!
And as such,
we will do whatever they ask of us.
I am here by the command of the gods.
Janya.
My body is weak.
Its restoration needs hastening.
I am honored to serve you.
My god, you are beautiful.