vrcanaries Chapter 95: The Lesson
Chapter 95: The Lesson
Talia’s order to the criminals and mercenaries had been very clear. Do not wander around or go deep into the mountain range.
Stay close to the camp and do not explore too far on your own.
As expected, the order was ignored entirely.
Some of the criminals and mercenaries thought they knew better while some simply thought the rules did not apply to them and others were just too greedy to listen.
They have heard about the treasures found by the workers and Talia’s speech had all but confirmed it. They wanted their share.
Since entering the camp was suicide, they thought venturing into the mountains could not be as bad.
Right?
Wrong.
It ended badly... Very badly.
The first group left at dawn, five experienced fighters. They took time preparing getting weapons, food, and water even going as far as to borrow with a promise to pay back later.
They slipped away since the guard didn’t seem to care what they did as long as they didn’t try to enter the camp.
So far, the only thing they got today after the crosses and the anomaly that managed to enter the camp was a new flag.
The drop of blood within the uncomplete circle seemed was erected after the convoy arrived.
Finally, a massive wooden banner was added above the entrance that simply said...
Morvath.
By noon, two of them stumbled back into the camp, one was missing an arm and the other had deep claw marks across his back.
They were both soaked in blood and fainted from blood loss almost as soon as they entered the mini-scattered camps.
The other three never came back.
Unfortunately for them, they were not in a safe zone... they were robbed instantly and the only reason they weren’t killed was because people wanted to find out what happened.
And they did tell. Then they were killed.
But that wasn’t all... throughout the rest of the day several groups left. One such group was made up of ten people.
They made sure to stick together and move slowly, trying to avoid the beasts and other criminals lying in ambush.
It didn’t work.
Their bodies or what was left of them, were found by the next group that tried the same thing.
There were torn apart with little left, obviously devoured by beasts roaming.
The message was well received.
The new group looted whatever they could from the site and immediately returned to the camp.
At that point it was quite obvious that the moment they wandered too far from the artificial safe zone, the chances of running into beasts spiked dramatically.
The creatures in the mountain range were really something else... not all were they many, but they were also very brutal.
It showed the very reason why no expedition to wipe out the bandits ever succeeded.
But that wasn’t all.
Few actually managed to get deep into the mountain range whether with the help of skills, treasure or artifacts but even they did not survive for too long.
Because Talia had other plans... she wanted to reinforce the idea that they could not survive without the Morvath family and she did.
She sent the second Advanced Herald to actively hunt them down.
The Level 3 thrall moved through the forest like a shadow killing every single mercenary or criminal it met without discrimination.
From a regular man running from a pack of wolves suddenly lose his head to a group hiding in a cave would be found with their throats crushed to a lone survivor trying to find his way back to the camp would be pinned to a tree with his own sword.
No one saw the Herald coming and no one escaped.
Talia wanted the fear to spread... She wanted them to understand that the camp was safe, the roads were the safe but everywhere else led to death.
And the fear did spread.
By the end of the day, the mercenaries and criminals were slowly losing their minds.
At this point nobody dared leave the camp for the mountain range... some gave up and left but as they did, more people arrived.
The information about the camp had spread.
Although nothing was confirmed yet people still decided to take the chance... of course they were very careful this time... they followed every rule Talia laid especially with the bodies on the crosses which had been brought closer to their camp for some reason.
Thankfully, in all her magnanimousness, Talia decided to calm them down.
The next morning, she sent Garen to call a gathering at the main camp entrance.
Once they were gathered, Talia stood on a small platform. Behind her stood Roden and Elda while the Advanced Herald stood not far away by the gate, motionless, faceless.
"I hope you have learned a lesson," Talia said. "Some of you learned it the hard way. That is unfortunate. But the lesson remains."
She paused as her eyes swept across the crowd.
"The forest is dangerous and the mountains are worse. If you stay where you are supposed to stay, you will live. If you wander, you will die."
She let the words sink in.
"Starting tomorrow, the main camp will be opened, and the expedition will officially begin."
"For now, you will be allowed to live here but that will quickly change as this place will be turned into a part of the camp as we expand."
Mumbling began but was immediately cut off.
"SILENCE!!!" The advanced Herald shouted and everyone fell silent immediately.
"If you wish to remain, my colleagues will speak to you when the expansion begins and we come to a decision."
"The Leaders of the expedition will be named and be sure to follow the others given or you will be kicked out of eliminated." Talia continued.
"Hopefully you do not think I am joking or you will end up like the fools behind you." She gestured towards the bodies on the crosses.
(A.N.: Sorry guys for the late and little update.
Now I owe 5 Chapters... Don’t worry, I have no plans of dropping this novel anytime soon.)