Binary Soul

> Lieutenant Stonebeard PoV <

I hate my job. What sort of post is this? I’m just a glorified doorman to a door that never opens! I glance at the big heavy Gates of Solitude. A 10 meter wide, 20 meter tall cage. Well, technically it’s a portcullis gate, but it never opens. Even the odd criminal sentenced to exile just gets pushed through a small door on the side of it, near the wall.

*GLUG GLUG*

I’m drinking on the job. Of course I am. This job sucks! It’s no ‘vital position’! So what if this is the only way in or out of the country? There’s no moron crazy enough to march an army down that 30-something kilometer tunnel beyond the gate. We’d be able to hold them back with just the 300-strong garrison no matter how many they bring! The only thing we do is keep an eye on it and make sure no individuals try and get past it.

*GLUG GLUG*

Honestly, I don’t get the need for this gate. Oh sure it’s all big and sturdy with thick steel beams, but it’s so damn heavy that I’m not sure if it’s ever meant to be opened!

“‘Sup boss? Musing the futility of working as a gate guard again?” (Sergeant)

One of the boys calls out to me from below. I look over the edge of the roof I’m on and call back to him.

“Hey Ripley! Just a little. Come on up and have a pint with me! That’s a, whatcha call it? An order!” (Lieutenant Stonebeard)

Technically I shouldn’t be on the roof of the barracks, but at least there’s a nice breeze here. Probably coming from that blasted gate off in the distance.

“Not until you pay me back for those bottles of whiskey!”  (Sergeant)

“Bah, you’re no fun.” (Lieutenant)

Now that he mentions it, the keg I brought with me is getting a little light. Drinking by myself doesn’t cheer me up in the slightest, I don’t even know why I bother.

*GLUG GLUG GLUG*

Ah, that’s right. Because it’s still delicious! I glance over my shoulder into the distance. Beyond this city of Rowel, in the far end of this hollowed-out mountain, I can see a beam of light shining down from above. The only place that gets actual light. Well, it’s not real sunlight though. Just some fancy old glowing thing. But at least we can grow crops down as much as we want there.

Mostly hops. We have plenty of moss, mushrooms and monsters to hunt for food in the Depths, so them wise Senate boys decided to make as much ale as possible!

“A toast! To the wonderful lads in that there capital place!” (Lieutenant)

I raise my mug at that beam of light! But before I can resume emptying it-

“Hey boss?! We got a thing at the gate! One of them balls again!” (Private)

Huh? Balls? Again? Oh, right! One of them!

“I’ll be down there in a bit!” (Lieutenant)

“Okay boss!” (Private)

I get up off my arse and walk back inside the barracks and head into my office. I quickly grab my helmet and sword and start going down the steps. Sword on the waist, helmet on the head. Not the other way around. Other way around hurts. A lot.

Technically I should be wearing my full plate, but that stuff is hard to move around in. As long as I got my helmet with the Lieutenant insignia on it, it’ll be fine! Nobody ever comes round to inspect us or anything, so we don’t bother. Even if they did, this bunch here are mostly for decoration, so nobody would care.

I approach the would-be-gate. The boys are already making a fuss. We get one of these every month or so and it’s the only bit of excitement we get, so obviously they’re going to be noisy. But for all 10 of them to gather, something must be up!

“Oy, lads! Break it up! Stand at attention will ya?” (Lieutenant)

“You heard the boss! Officer on deck!” (Sergeant)

“What bloody deck are you on about? This ain’t a ship you daft bastard!” (Lieutenant)

“Sorry boss.” (Sergeant)

“And stop calling me that! We’ll be having visitors so call me Lieutenant properly!” (Lieutenant)

“Oh come on boss! That’s so long!” (Private 2)

“Ah, that’s right isn’t it? Well, nevermind. Boss is fine. So where’s the stone?” (Lieutenant)

“Got it right here, boss.” (Sergeant)

Ripley hands me the aforementioned stone. It’s a round brown rock with a black handprint on it. That’s the right signal alright. Problem is, this thing’s a bit unnatural. It’s perfectly round and completely smooth. I know they’re supposed to roll it down the long incline and it would eventually hit the gate and grab someone’s attention, letting us know well ahead of time they’re on their way.

*AAAaaargh*

…

*aaaAAAAaargh*

“Uhm, boss. You heard that right?” (Private 3)

“You mean that distant screaming echo that’s coming down from the tunnel? That’s not just me?” (Lieutenant)

“No, boss,  I heard it too.” (Sergeant)

The other men also confirm as much with some murmuring and nodding.

*RRAAAAAaaaa*

“Okay, no. That’s not supposed to happen. Ripley! Go get the Major from the garrison over here!” (Lieutenant)

“On my way boss!” (Sergeant)

It’s highly unlikely, but I’m still a bloody guard so I’m not taking any bloody chances.

“The rest of you, go get fully armed! I have a bad feeling about this!” (Lieutenant)

“Sir!” (Guards)

I have to actually put on that damn armor now… I just hope I’m wrong and overthinking this.

* * *

“Major Darkhand!” (Lieutenant)

I greet my superior officer with a two-finger salute, palm facing downwards. It’s been so long since I’ve done it, I almost forgot what it was! Major Brand Darkhand glares at me with a scowl. I don’t like these Darkhands, they’re way too serious! He’s probably found 40 different faults with my appearance by now.

“At ease, Lieutenant. What’s the situation.” (Major)

*EEAAAARGH*

“That’s the situation, Major! We received the signal that one of your clan was requesting entrance into the country and shortly after that screaming began.” (Lieutenant)

“Show me the signal stone.” (Major)

“Sergeant! Bring it over!” (Lieutenant)

Ripley brings over the perfect stone ball and hands it to the Major. He looks it over and his stern face slowly grows pale.

“Lieutenant! You’re sure this rolled in from the outside?” (Major)

“Yes sir, Major! Is there a problem?” (Lieutenant)

“Yeah there’s a problem! There’s no way a stone this perfect exists naturally. Even us Darkhands can’t make one this smooth. Also, the print is supposed to be from the right hand. Not the left.” (Major)

“So, it’s not one of your kin?” (Lieutenant)

I thought that’s what this arrangement was for? Whenever one of these stones rolls in, it means a Darkhand wishes to enter the city because they find some sort of gift or information that would help those Senate boys deal with the stuff in the Depths. They send word ahead of time so we get a welcoming party ready for them.

The last one actually allowed inside was an old guy from several months ago, bringing with him a recipe for Blast Powder. The lads in the capital weaponized it into those boom-sticks. Personally, I prefer not to be near them. They’re way too dangerous, I say!

“I want to say it is, but I can’t. This stone is a forgery. Us Darkhands are bound by many oaths, and one of them is to never reveal this sort of thing to outsiders. We'd also never make a mistake like this! The implications are bad all over!”

*UUUUAAGH*

“And those screams are even worse! How long have they been going on?!” (Major)

“Since about 30 minutes ago, Major.” (Lieutenant)

“They may be trying to lure us out. Or it may be something… worse. Either way, have your guards man their posts! You there! Sergeant! Go back to the garrison and tell the men to mobilize and meet us here!” (Major)

He’s actually bringing in the garrison! Isn’t this situation pretty bad? Don’t tell me we’re actually going to get invaded!

* * *

“Major! I have a report to make!” (Lieutenant)

“What is it Lieutenant?” (Major)

“The screaming stopped.” (Lieutenant)

He glances at the big clock on the wall in the office. My office. That he kicked me out of! Well, I have to watch over the gate and make sure nothing goes wrong, but still!

“Almost four hours. And there’s been no movement?” (Major)

“None that we can see.” (Lieutenant)

Well, we can’t really see much of anything beyond the gate.

“I understand. Back to your post, stay alert and keep me posted.” (Major)

* * *

*Clank Clank Clank*

“Uh, boss...” (Sergeant)

“Yeah! I hear it! Go get the Major!” (Lieutenant)

“On it, boss!” (Sergeant)

He runs off into the barracks to update the Major It’s been a few hours since the screaming stopped, we’ve been on edge ever since and now there’s a steady metal-on-stone noise that’s getting closer.

“Form ranks! On your guard! Our visitors are here!” (Lieutenant)

The 100 or so garrison boys quickly form a three-layered shield wall around the gate.

*Clank Clank Clank*

It sounds like footsteps. Armored boots dragging themselves across the stone floor. They also sound… heavy. And slow.

*Clank Clank Clank*

Everyone’s peering through the holes in the giant steel grate.

*Clank Clank Clank*

An armored figure slowly steps out of the darkness. It’s a deep crimson red and seems to be dragging something behind it.

*Clank Clank*

As more and more light shines on it, we make out several details. First, it’s about as high as a dwarf. It’s also much wider and bulkier than any dwarven warrior I’ve ever seen. The armor itself seems to be made out of numerous plates that fit together like a puzzle, although it’s scratched up and somewhat stained with blood.

*Clank Clank*

It’s dragging a huge lump of something behind it. It’s huge! It looks like a pile of crystals - it’s faintly blue and almost transparent. It seems to be some sort of giant creature. A bird maybe? It’s dragged along like a sack of potatoes, completely lifeless.

*Clank Clank*

The armored warrior stops a few meters from the gate. His shoulders seem to be going up and down, he’s obviously exhausted. Perhaps the screaming was from a battle with that beast he’s dragging along? We don’t know, but it’s clearly suspicious.

“This is Lieutenant Stonebeard of the Rowel City Border Guard! Identify yourself!” (Lieutenant)

I call out to the suspicious person on the other side of the gate. All the soldiers on this side are perfectly still and quiet.

“Corporal. Kelly Darkhand. Hardvark Garrison. Third. Engineering Corps. Requesting permission. To enter.” (Kelly)

The voice is hoarse. Slow. Like he’s taking a breath with every word. We have no way of confirming that information, though.

“Lieutenant! What’s the situation?” (Major)

“Major! We have a visitor requesting to enter! Claims to be one Kelly Darkhand, engineer out of Hardvark.” (Lieutenant)

Hardvark is one of the bigger dwarven colonies in the Ferseit kingdom. It’s almost completely full of Darkhands, so it's not impossible. The Major stands next to me and greets our visitor.

“My name is Major Brand Darkhand of the Rowel City Garrison! On what grounds do you wish to enter?” (Lieutenant)

“I found. A titan.” (Kelly)

What!? Just like that? I look at the Major and notice his eyes go wide for just a moment, but he immediately goes back to his trademark scowl.

“And is that thing behind you the so-called titan?” (Major)

I can understand his scepticism. The last time a titan was found was over 150 years ago, and they never made it even close to the gate before succumbing to something named the Calling. If I remember right, it’s a horrible curse that sends people mad with rage, causing them to slowly destroy themselves and everything around them.

Supposedly it also gives them impossible strength, capable of punching through rocks with their bare hands! Only a titan’s body is tough enough to sustain that much abuse. That’s why the ancient ways no more than one dwarf may escort a titan at a time - they’d just murder each other otherwise!

“Oh yeah. He’s still. Out of it. From the Calling.” (Kelly)

“Then the screaming we heard was your Calling, huh?” (Major)

“Probably. I don’t remember. Most of it.” (Kelly)

“I see. Well I hope you won’t mind waiting right there for us to confirm a few things.” (Major)

“Oh no. None of that. Listen big guy. Either you open. This gate. Right now. And take me. To where. I need to go. Or else. I will knock it down. And get there. Through all of you!” (Kelly)

The oddly distorted voice actually threatened us! With something so bizarre! There’s no way that stuck-up Major will accept that!

“And why are you in such a hurry, huh?” (Major)

“The lore. Was wrong. The Calling. Gets much. Much worse. The closer. We get! There is! No time!” (Kelly)

And now he’s done it. There’s no way that’s actually a Darkhand, right? That lot would never claim something like centures-old lore being incorrect! Just how many lives were sacrificed to obtain that knowledge!?

“Is that so!? Then you and that corpse can just rot out there until your so called Calling claims you! As if I’d believe this nonsensical act!” (Major)

See? The major’s furious! You just insulted his whole life!

“I see. I see. It’s like that. Well, this guy. Won’t wake up. For a while. So! Let’s! Play!” (Kelly)

*Clank Clank CLANKCLANKCLANKCLANK*

He lets go of the creature he was dragging and charges the gate! Is he nuts?

“------ [Fire Step]” (Kelly)

*FWOOSH*

Wah! He just flew! With a roar of fire coming from his feet he jumped several meters into the air-

*DONNNN*

- before slamming face-first into the steel gate! What else was going to happen? Is he an idiot?

*CRRRRUNCH* *GRRROAN*

Oh  I see. He’s ripping it out. He’s ripping a vertical steel beam that’s as thick as his torso out of the grating. He’s bending that thing almost like it’s a wet rag! He’s already leaped and grabbed onto the next beam before I realized it!

“At arms! Take down the intruder! Do not let him pass!” (Major)

Really!? That guy is breaking that notoriously sturdy gate with his bare hands, and you want us to stop him? Are you insane?

*CCRRRUNCH* *SCRRREEEE*

The metal keeps moaning under the strain! He keeps breaking the grate like it’s nothing! Is it me or is he cutting a straight line from end-to-end?

No, that’s exactly what he’s doing!

“Crossbows! Mages! Fire at will!” (Major)

Following the Major’s orders, 30 sharpshooters and 10 mages from the garrison launch their bolts and spells at the invader. Most of them hit directly, but are ignored like a gentle breeze! He jumps down on the outside of the grate and… retreats?

“Hold fire!” (Major)

Maybe the attacks were more effective than-

*Clank Clank CLANKCLANKCLANKCLANK*

Nevermind, he just needed a run up.

“YYYEAAARRGH!” (Kelly)

*DONNNNN*

With a roar he smashes the now cut-in-half grate with all he has! It groans and bends and… tips over.

*DOGAANN*

The half-a-gate falls over with a loud noise. We now officially have a giant bloody hole in our useless bloody gate.

*Tak tak tak taktaktak*

A mace appears in each of the invader’s hands with some strange noise. He takes a few steps forward and assumes a stance.

“Alright! You want some of this?! Come at me, bro!” (Kelly)