The Last Outpost of the Living

This humble gingerbread shack serves as a watchpost for the armies of mortals. It sits on the bank of the river of blood that serves as the de facto border with the demon realm.

To the right you can see the chaos gems that protect the outpost. These crystals project a dark magic force field that repels the steady advance of demonic energies from across the river. But it is a devil's bargain because the chaos gems also break down the fabric of reality, sowing all sorts of havoc and slowly eating away at the sanity of all beings in their vicinity. Best not stay too long at the outpost or you might permanently lose your grip on reality.

To the left of the outpost you can see the sacrificial altar surrounded by blood and entrails. This altar is used to appease the greater demon lords and princes who could easily raze this outpost to the ground. Staying in their favor is crucial to the survival of the mortal realm. Few who have never visited the outpost understand the importance of the sacrifices. They vociferously condemn the practice and hasten their own doom. Flowers bloom readily in between the entrails. It turns out blood sacrifices make pretty good fertilizer.

Behind the outpost, an array of sharpened spikes on a berm ward off lesser demons. When one strays too close the outpost defenders will decapitate it and mount it's head on a pike as a warning to the rest.

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