Mistress: Previously on "The Outpost"...
I know you'’re in there, Yavalla.
Go to hell!
- The Queen is dead. - Do it, now!
Talon!
You wouldn'’t have needed me if you hadn'’t brought the white kinj
- from the Plane of Ashes. - We didn'’t bring it from the Plane of Ashes.
I remember you from the road.
Just call me pointy-eared scum.
Your kinj doesn'’t work on me.
This will always be our Outpost!
Enjoy it whilst you can. We'’re running out of grain to make the ale.
Thank you, Janzo. All we need are a few gulps.
- Welcome home. - And to Talon and you, Garret,
for rescuing Tobin and I and getting those things out of our heads.
If you will excuse me, I must get back to finding a way
to getting those things out of other people'’s heads.
Can'’t very well just kill everyone in the Realm
and then expect Two to bring them back to life, can we? Can we?
So tell me everything that happened whilst both Tobin and I were gone.
Falista. Mr. Tobin.
What happened before you left? Ahem, Tobin.
So glad you made it back unharmed, Tobin.
I'’m sorry, who are you?
Your Majesty.
So wonderful to finally meet you.
I'’m your humble servant, Falista of Relman.
Or, well, now of Aegisford.
I'’ve heard so much about you from Lord Tobin.
My husband.
Are they done celebrating up there yet?
They'’re just having one drink, Wren. They deserve that much.
Not sure what they even have to celebrate.
It'’s not as if anyone's solved anything.
- They got the Queen back. - Mm-hmm. For now.
Right, so, uh, any progress?
None. Luring the kinj out, cutting it out, burning it out, poisoning it out.
Last night I was humming a tune to myself,
thought I saw the kinj glowing,
so I even tried singing it out.
How cruel. You killed a rat with your singing?
Not funny.
Wren, are you angry with me for something?
- No, why? - Just seemed like you are.
No, I'’m just focused on the work, that'’s all.
Are you implying that I'’m not?
- I'’m not the one who'’s up there celebrating. - Wren, they'’re my friends.
Janzo, it'’s just that if we don'’t find a way to stop this thing soon,
your friends are going off to try and kill my mother again.
- So... - Did they say that?
No. What other choice do they have unless we stop them first?
Well, then let'’s get to it, shall we?
Every riddle has an answer, doesn'’t it, eh?
This meld box, we'’ve gone over it with a fine-toothed comb, yes?
Mm-hmm. Every speck. It'’s no help.
That means we have tried every poison,
anything that is harmful or-- or deadly to us.
What if we'’ve been looking in the wrong place?
- What do you mean? - Maybe we stop looking at the poisons
and only try elements that are harmless to people.
- You mean everything? - Except poisons.
I don'’t even know where to start.
Trial and error. We can use this chart as a way to mark things off as we go.
Wren, don'’t worry.
We'’ll crack this.
Why didn'’t you tell me, Tobin? I feel like such a fool.
I was trying to save you. Like you sent me to do, remember?
No, I sent you to bring back an army, not a wife.
I couldn'’t get the army without the wife.
- Rosmund, I did this for you. - Oh, well, praise the gods, Tobin.
I'’m so bloody grateful you married someone else for me.
- Where is this army? - Yavalla stole it like everything else.
A few hundred men are still here.
That'’s more than the almost zero you had before I left.
A few hundred men? That'’s not worth losing you.
- Rosmund, I don'’t love her. I don'’t love her. - No.
Go back to your wife, Lord Tobin.
Rosmund.
As your Queen, I thank you for your sacrifice.
Rosmund, please don'’t do this.
But as the woman who loved you, you'’ve broken my heart.
- Do not do this. - Please leave.
- Rosmund? - I must deal with the remaining Covenant guards.
- Rosmund? - Please leave me.
Just get out.
What do you have to say for yourselves?
We were only following orders, Your Majesty.
"Following orders.
They imprisoned the Blackbloods
and made them kill each other for sport.
They were starving out the rest of us,
women and children included.
There'’s someone I want you to meet.
Do you know who this is?
- No. - She'’s the woman that you used to call Two.
Look at her. Look at her.
She'’s weak and captive, just an ordinary woman.
- She'’s not a god. - I don'’t believe you.
The Three are no more.
One was killed before your eyes by our very own Talon.
And Three ran away to hide like the coward that he is.
The so-called gods that you worshipped are finished.
Only I remain, the rightful ruler of this Realm.
So what shall I do with you?
These men should be executed, Your Majesty.
Lower your heads and swear your loyalty to me and you will be pardoned.
This is a mistake, Your Majesty. These men deserve death.
- Objection noted. - They'’re murderers.
They treated the Blackbloods like dogs.
The Blackbloods did the same to my people.
Enslaving them, starving them, beating them.
Garret?
I thought you should have killed Zed and his men after what they did to us.
But Your Majesty granted him pardon and there he stands.
But had it not been for Zed, Your Majesty would still be Yavalla'’s slave.
Might even be dead. So, what do I think?
I think Your Majesty is considerably wiser than I in these decisions.
There is a common enemy out there.
Yavalla will enslave us all and send us to an early grave
if we do not learn how to stand together.
I need every able-bodied, uninfected man we can get.
So I ask you again,
will you pledge your loyalty to me as your Queen?
We pledge our loyalty to you.
We will fight by your side to rid the world of our common enemy.
Guards: I pledge Your Majesty. I pledge to serve you.
- I pledge to serve you. - I pledge to serve you, Your Majesty.
This wasn'’t our deal. You promised me sanctuary at the Outpost.
That'’s why we've given you the safest, most secure room in town.
You'’re welcome.
- Come on. - I need a minute with her alone.
We failed the whole world when we failed to kill you, Blackblood.
Tell me, is it a burden knowing all of the world'’s troubles are your fault?
Yavalla'’s responsible for this mess.
And you are responsible for Yavalla.
Was it not you who brought her here?
On the road you said something about how you thought we brought through another kinj.
The white kinj Yavalla bears.
But we didn'’t bring it through the Plane of Ashes.
It was here at the Outpost hidden in a secret chamber.
So you'’ve said.
You assumed we brought it through the portal because there'’s a seventh kinj
in the Plane of Ashes, isn'’t there?
Why do you think there is a seventh kinj?
When we found Zed'’s kinj, there was a table with seven bowls.
We know only of six kinjes.
The red, which you foolishly killed with One,
mine, and Three has his kinj.
Plus mine, Zed, and Yavalla'’s make six.
So why was there seven bowls at the shrine?
Perhaps you miscounted.
I can count.
What does the seventh kinj do?
I know of no seventh kinj.
Unhand me.
Not until you tell me what it does.
I can do this all day.
There is, or at least once was,
a black kinj.
A black kinj? And what does it do?
It has only one purpose--
to kill anyone it comes in contact with.
Would it kill Yavalla?
It would kill whomever its bearer touches.
And it'’s in the Plane of Ashes?
I do not know.
I swear to you,
we have searched for the black kinj for centuries without any success.
Even while seeking it, we lived in fear of finding it.
Do not go looking for that kinj, Blackblood.
Some things are best left unfound.
Blackblood...
the death kinj may be a way to destroy your enemy,
but more likely it will destroy you
and anyone close to you.
This man was drunk and disorderly.
The gods will bless your posterity forever.
I live to serve, your Holiness.
You have a plan to escape this wretched place?
Others are clearing an exit, your Holiness.
Never doubt the power of the Three.
Rise.
Busy?
Supply inventory hasn'’t been tallied in weeks,
our military is in shambles,
and Yavalla grows stronger every day.
And how about you?
Out of curiosity, Talon, how sure were you about the whole plan of killing me?
- And how much do you remember? - All of it.
- Oh, gods. - I can still see your face now.
- I did not look like that. - Yes, you did.
I remember it vividly. Did you know the plan would work?
I mean, we had a hunch it would.
- So, total gamble? - Complete stab in the dark.
Oh, good. Good to know you'’re all so concerned.
I mean, I suggested we try Tobin first.
Oh.
Tobin.
Shouldn'’t have even bothered reviving that one.
Yeah, I'’m-- I'’m sorry about that, Gwynn.
Maybe I'’m better off without him.
He did do it to serve you.
Yes, but he did it to serve Queen Rosmund.
He was the one person I was saving for myself.
For Gwynn, not for the Realm.
But I don'’t have time to be upset about such trifles.
If Janzo and Wren don'’t find a cure soon,
then how are we going to stop Yavalla?
Well, if they don'’t find something soon,
Zed and I will try to kill her again.
- I thought she can'’t be killed. - Not with the stab of a sword.
But we'’re hoping more severe methods work.
Well, you'’ll have to find her first, right?
Yes.
And so far we have no idea where she is.
They killed the gate guards, Your Majesty, and escaped into the night.
I warned you not to pardon the red guards.
And now they'’re broken Two out.
I took a risk giving them a second chance.
- Will I regret having given you one? - No, Your Majesty.
I'’ll have my Blackbloods go after them. Our Lu-Qiri can hunt them down.
- No, I won'’t permit that. - Why? You can'’t just let Two get away.
This isn'’t the battle we'’re fighting now, Zed.
It was your mistake that set her free.
I'’m well aware I made a mistake.
I don'’t need you pointing it out.
Just trying to help you fix it, that'’s all.
Listen, I'’m telling you not to.
I need you, your Blackbloods, and your Lu-Qiri here.
We barely have enough men as it is at this Outpost.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Thank you, Zed.
What?
When was the last time you slept?
Why does everyone keep asking me that?
There'’ll be plenty of time for me to sleep once I find a cure.
You didn'’t come down here to ask me about my sleep, Zed. What do you want?
I was hoping you could help me with something.
Mm-hmm, what?
You know Yavalla better than anyone.
Any idea where she might have gone?
You have to be kidding me.
Do you see what I'’m trying to do here?
- You'’re trying to find a cure for Yavalla'’s kinjes. - Mm-hmm.
And why have I dedicated every hour of every day
to finding that cure without any sleep?
Well, the sooner you find one, the fewer people get infected.
Incorrect. So I can find one before you kill my mother.
- Ah. - Yet you have the audacity
to come down here and ask me where you can find her.
What? So you can go off and kill her before I find a cure?
Not necessarily, Wren. Just in case you don'’t find one.
- Oh, I have every intention of finding one. - And if you don'’t?
If I don'’t, I'm sure as hell not going to help you find her
just so you can go off and kill her.
Are you really saying that your loyalties lie more with Yavalla
and her attempts to infect the whole world
than with those of us who are trying to stop her?
- That is not what I'’m saying. - Then tell me where I can find her!
I have no idea where Yavalla would go on this world.
I might know in the Plane of Ashes,
but on this world, I have no idea.
Then why didn'’t you say that in the first place
instead of trying to make me feel like an ass for even asking?
Because you should feel like an ass for asking.
Now go away.
Guards!
I think I might have a way to find Yavalla.
Gwynn, what'’s wrong?
- What'’s so urgent? - I think I know how to find Yavalla.
- That'’s amazing. How? - Rosmund?
- What'’s he doing here? - I saw Garret sneaking out of the barracks.
- What is all this about? - Look, I'’ve been having these dreams.
So have I. More like memories.
Are they like moments that happened, but not to you?
Yes. It'’s like I'm seeing a world through...
other people'’s eyes.
I think they'’re fragments of memories from when we were connected to Yavalla.
- Are you all right? - Yes, Garret. I'’m not crazy if that'’s what you're asking.
- And nor am I. - Janzo, if Tobin and I are both having these visions,
it must mean that it'’s normal for people who are United, right?
Oh, sure. Perfectly normal.
To be part of a hive mind, get killed,
brought back to life, and then have shared memories?
- Normal. - Right.
The point is these people,
they'’re being drawn somewhere.
Into the mountains, right?
Like they'’re on a pilgrimage.
They'’re traveling to see Yavalla.
Which mountains did you see?
I don'’t know. Do you?
No.
Right. As soon as we come up with a way to kill her,
we should head out and find a group of infected pilgrims
- to follow to Yavalla. - I'’m in.
Tobin, you can'’t come.
- Neither can you, Garret. - What are you talking about? Of course we'’re going.
You'’re both liabilities. How many times have you almost been infected?
Look, I know the risks, and I can take care of myself.
- So can I. - We can'’t get distracted covering your backs.
You'’re talking about going into the center of the hive.
Yavalla will be surrounded by the infected, thousands of them.
Yes, but if we get infected, then as soon as she'’s killed, we'’ll be freed, right?
Right. But if either of you get infected,
then suddenly Yavalla will have access to your minds.
She'’ll know everything that you know.
Granted it'’s not a lot in either case.
Nevertheless, she will know whatever plan we come up with.
You'’ll both stay here,
help defend this Outpost.
What? What are you doing?
Why are you letting me sleep?
Um, I thought you could do with a rest.
- Come here. - I don'’t have time to rest, Janzo.
Well, actually, it'’s been my experience
that even just one hour of shut-eye
can improve productivity by tenfold.
All right. I'’ll take your word for it.
Hopefully one of these will work before Zed and his gang
figure out how to kill my mother.
Though they'’ll probably never figure it out without our help.
Right?
- Right. - Right.
I had to make this device behind Wren'’s back
give it'’s designed to kill her mother and all.
Try not to waste it this time.
- How do we light it? - No ignition necessary. Just throw it at Yavalla.
The inner casings will break, and then the components inside
will mix and react with each other
causing her to burst into flames so hot it will eat away her flesh
faster than she can regenerate. Theoretically.
- Well, that'’s a pleasant thought. - No, it'’s not.
Whilst you'’re at it, chop off her head.
It might sever her kinj from regenerating the rest of her body.
You only have one chance after all.
And anything else?
Try not to die, Talon.
Not dying'’s one of my best qualities.
Come on, please.
Wren, you need to take a break.
You know that'’s not an option, Janzo.
I have to find this kinj-killing poison
before your cruel friends go off and murder my mother.
They'’re only trying to save the world like we are.
My mother'’s a victim, too, you know?
She'’s been enslaved by that kinj just like everyone else.
Before she got the kinj, she was a good person.
- Was she? - Yes. She was a loving mother.
- Really? - No, not really.
But she'’s still my mother. I need to solve this before they leave.
Um... Wren?
Wren?
I'’m sorry. They'’ve already left.
I don'’t know if I should hope they succeed or fail.
For what it'’s worth,
the odds are heavy for failure.
Rosmund, wait.
Not now, Tobin. I'’m quite busy.
Please don'’t cut me out like this.
Give me another chance.
There are no other chances. You'’re married.
Now please leave me alone.
Message from the quartermaster, Your Majesty.
- What is it? - "I regret to inform you that your storehouses
will be completely empty by week'’s end."
What? Give me that.
- Rosmund-- - Tobin, I don'’t have time for you.
Aah!
- Gods above, woman! - Don'’t you "Gods above, woman" me.
- You said you'’d stopped drinking. - Leave me alone.
No! So you'’re in love with another woman.
Big deal. It'’s time to grow up, Tobin.
This is not how I imagined my life to turn out.
Oh, and you think it'’s all rosy on my end of the deal?
I'’m married to the drunk who would be king.
And instead of living comfortably in Aegisford,
- where you could learn to love me...
...I'’m stuck here where every day I get to see the woman
my drunken husband dreams about in my place.
Yeah, well, you'’re welcome. Because that'’s what you wanted, wasn'’t it?
- Congratulations. - You made a promise to get my army.
But what good is my army if you'’re too drunk to command it?
- The army is gone, Falista. - Not all of it.
- There'’s still a few hundred men. - Lot of good that'’ll be.
General Rolshaad won the battle of Kolny with only 100 men!
- Look at me! - Aah!
Gods! What did you do that for?
- What? - You hit me on the head.
No I didn'’t.
You don'’t have to love me.
But you need to pull yourself together
and live in a manner worthy of your station.
You still have enough men to make a mark.
So let'’s go make it.
You know, if you'’re protecting a secret that may well destroy the world,
sensible thing to do would be to include your research notes.
It would be nice of them, wouldn'’t it?
Yes, it would have.
A nice little instruction sheet folded up inside the box.
"How To Stop a Kinj Disaster."
"Step one, don'’t open the box."
"Step two, no, you opened the box!"
Ah! Ah! It burns like fire.
- What does? - This seal. Except I don'’t think it'’s wax.
It-- it tastes more like an intense burn.
It tastes like it would burn a hole through your insides.
What wax are you talking about?
From the map. There was a seal on the corner,
except it doesn'’t seal anything.
It tastes more like, um,
and intense mustard with a dash of, um, ugh,
volcano or something.
An antidote.
I'’ll check the archives.
Right.
You don'’t think they would have...
I would'’ve.
Maybe this is it.
Wren?
Look. Ficter'’s sap.
Tastes like mustard, reddy coloration.
- Uh-huh. - Waxy consistency, intense burn.
- I'’ll take your word for it. - Gods, if this is actually
Ficter'’s sap, this is amazing.
We haven'’t seen Ficter's sap in about 200 years.
- This Ficter'’s bush is extinct. - But we were the first to open this box
in probably a couple hundred years.
Scrape off some of that sap and mix it with some warm oil.
We need to do a test. See if it will kill the kinj.
All right. Hurry, Janzo.
We have to go after your friends and stop them before it'’s too late.
- Huh? Mm.
Oh, gods, it does burn.
Do I ever exaggerate?
- Wren? Get me a rat. - No, no, no.
We can'’t waste it on a rat. We only have two, maybe three doses.
We need to know if it works.
Maybe they just put Ficter'’s sap on that piece of paper by chance
and it has nothing to do with anything.
Then we'’ll test it on a human. And if it works, we'’ll have saved a life.
- And if it kills them? - Then I'’m sorry that they died sooner than they would have,
but at least he did die trying to save the Realm?
Right. Human test subject it is.
Gods, I hope this works.
The rats detected this one earlier today.
Why did you come to this Outpost?
You can try to keep us out,
but you will not stop us.
One by one, all will be United.
- Good enough for me. - Mm. All right.
- Is he dead? - Gods, I hope not.
Why are you all looking at me like that?
Just to be sure, why did you come to the Outpost?
Half my town was infected. I came here for refuge.
How are you feeling about the world right now? Happy and at peace?
More like sore and hungry.
Wren, we did it.
We did it!
Janzo, Janzo! We have to go save my mother.
- What? No, Wren. No, wait. - Come on!
Wren? No. We can talk about this. Wren?
I'’m not sure how well-suited you and I are to go traipsing across the Realm
on a mission to save the world.
Well, I'’m not going to stand by and let your friends
- murder my mother when we have a cure. - Maybe have a cure.
- It worked. - Maybe it only works on the offspring kinjes.
I mean, why would they give us enough sap for three doses?
Why not just give us one if it'’s only intended to kill one kinj?
Well, maybe they'’re spares in case we waste one. I don'’t know.
Well-- well, how will we even get close enough to your mother to inject her?
Janzo, you can either help me or get out of my way
because I am going with or without you.
All right. If I can'’t talk you out of it,
then I'’m certainly not going to let you go alone.
I'’m going to go and get Munt to go with us.
Well, they shouldn'’t be too hard to follow.
- What are they doing? - I think they'’re praying.
In the old Blackblood sun worship, they used to do something similar.
Guess now Yavalla'’s got them all praying to her.
Yeah, well, it'’s creepy.
You know, I can'’t help but wonder if that kinj made Yavalla bad
or if she was always that way.
What difference does it make?
- She'’s evil now. - Well, it makes a difference to me.
I followed her devoutly my whole life.
Maybe I was just blind.
Who knows what'’s true with her and what'’s a lie?
- I know she lied about my father. - You think so?
I'’m sure of it. The only question is was he helping her all along?
I mean, why would he give her that box?
I wish I could tell you, Talon.
I was just as deceived as everyone else.
So, you want to be the one to set her on fire or chop off her head?
Chop off her head.
- Deal.
Let'’s go.
The reserve silos will last us for a few more days at most,
so we should send men out into the countryside
to collect whatever they can of the harvest.
Well, what about game in the forest?
Picked clean by the Lu-Qiri and Yavalla.
If we don'’t get meat soon, those Lu-Qiri
are going to start looking pretty tasty themselves.
- You'’ve changed. - I'’ve changed?
What about you? You'’re far from the perfect,
always do the right thing Garret that I grew up with.
Well, this is a hell of a place to grow up.
Hell of a place now.
When you think back to that little girl
climbing over these old walls,
could you ever imagine that this is how your life would turn out?
No.
I mean, for one, I was certain you and I would be married.
Oh.
That was the dream, wasn'’t it?
I always knew...
that you weren'’t meant for me, Gwynn.
What a sorry pair we are.
Yeah.
Talon'’s off alone with her former lover.
Your betrothed has a new wife.
And here we are, still stuck at the Outpost,
doing our best to live up to what'’s expected of us.
Your Majesty, Lord Tobin just left the Outpost.
- What do you mean? - I don'’t know, Your Majesty. They all rolled out.
- Who all? - Lord Tobin, his new wife,
and what was left of the Aegisford army.
And just when it couldn'’t get any worse,
my betrothed has stolen what little army I had left.
Your Majesty, you should also know
that Master Janzo, Munt, and Wren,
they are also preparing to leave.
What?
You got that? Not too heavy?
- It'’s very heavy. - All right, you'’ll be fine.
- Uh-oh. - Where are you going?
We found a poison that kills kinjes.
- Well, that'’s great. - Not exactly.
We, um, only have two doses remaining.
We'’re going to give one of them to my mother.
See, we figured that if we can kill the queen kinj,
then we can stop this whole thing.
Well, I'’ll put together a defense force to protect you on the road.
No, thank you. If we turn up with an army, she won'’t let us near her.
Gwynn: Well, then I'’ll send three of my men dressed as peasants.
- You'’ll have a better way-- - With respect, Your Majesty,
I have the best chance of getting close to my mother.
And Yavalla already knows me, so it won'’t be odd if I arrive with Wren.
We'’re wasting time. They have a head start.
If we'’re going to do this, we have to leave now.
- Wha-- I-- - Sorry.
- Be safe. - Munt!
We need to go. You need to watch our backs.
Janzo, Wren, coming through. Watch their backs!
- Shh. - For the whole mission, Munt.
- Oh, is that-- today? - Right now.
Now. Thank you. Please take this bag.
- Grab a quick snack for the road. Right. - Now, Munt! Now, Munt!
Think that there'’s any chance that they'’ll actually pull this off?
May the gods be with them.
There they go again.
Seriously, how often do these nutters need to pray?
At this rate, the world will end before we ever get to Yavalla.
Maybe that'’s her plan.
What, delaying us?
She doesn'’t even know we'’re here.
Don'’t be so sure.
She'’s got eyes everywhere.
Don'’t let her get to you, Zed.
I'’m Wren.
Daughter of Yavalla.
Can you hear me?
Greetings, Wren. I'’ve been waiting for you.
- Come closer. - No, thank you.
I'’ll keep my distance.
I'’d rather speak to the real you in person.
- Where are you now? - The Blackblood traitors, Zed and Talon,
I can see them coming to kill me.
- Are you part of that? - No. No, I promise.
But you'’re right, they are intent on killing you.
I have to reach you before they do, Mother.
I'’ll deal with them myself.
If I may interject, um, we have a way to save you.
We just have to get to you before they do.
Follow this man. He will lead you
and your companions to me by the shortest path.
It will be good to have you with me again, Wren.
Come on.
- Janzo, this is bonkers. - Of course it is, Munt.
But we have to save the world somehow, don'’t we?
I don'’t know. Mum told me not to meddle with things I don'’t understand.
That includes pretty much everything, doesn'’t it?
- Yeah. - Come on. Wren?
What do you mean? Janzo, what do you mean?
We should hurry. The sun'’s almost down.
- Tell that to the pilgrims.
Watch out!
How did she know we were here?
That bloody hawk. Yavalla'’s watching us.
Then she can watch her minions die.
What took you so long?
I was already done with mine.
You got all the easy ones.
We need to get under cover, away from that hawk.
Yavalla will just keep sending more.
We are here.
Less than a day'’s walk from the Outpost.
That'’s worrisome.
Bloody hell.
Wren: That'’s the ancient Blackblood temple.
There'’s so many of them.
Let'’s get out of here, Janzo. Come on.
Uh...
All: Hail, Wren, daughter of Yavalla.
Hail, Wren, daughter of Yavalla.