[missing image. maybe of a plague area, or of a plague-free bit of nature.]
"It's strange, but I get the feeling this plague is only affecting us human and all the man-made things in this town. While our houses, clothes and even our bodies are being invaded and torn apart, all the trees and animals I have seen are looking as well as ever before.
[houses!]
I soon reached Young Vlad again. It seems like he'll have his hands full today. He's certainly picked a strange place as his hideout. He even has a large well indoors, but there's no water in it. If I listen very closely, I can hear some strange echoes, but I can't really see anything.
Young Vlad: All these people making demands... Maybe you think my duties are easy?
Bachelor: Why isn't the water system working anymore?
Young Vlad: Another diversion! The system that pumps up water from the river and then purifies it has been destroyed.
Bachelor: How could something like that happen?
Young Vlad: A mob of ignorant people, under the guidance of some zealous leader, destroyed the water supply system to stop the infected water. We have to deal with things like this all the time.
Bachelor: Where did the idea that the infection is transmitted through water come from?
Young Vlad: Those simple minds doesn't need an explanation. All it takes is someone shouting about the plague and there you are. If you're in panic you don't seek a reason behind such mad ideas.
Bachelor: Are there any places where you can still get fresh water?
Young Vlad: We can arrange for some water to be delivered. However, since the infirmary needs a lot of it I think the only practical source would be from one of the springs. It's not much, but it's a bit better than the muddy water from the river.
Bachelor: Where is this spring located?
Young Vlad: A long time ago it was blocked up, but the water is probably reaching the surface elsewhere. There's a legend that the spring got angry and moved its veins to other places, where no one dared to draw water from it again. Places like the cemetery and the cattle burial ground.
Bachelor: Aren't there any wells we can get water from?
Young Vlad: We don't have any wells in this town. There is a taboo amongst the steppe people that will prevent you from digging deep into the earth. You'll get in a lot of trouble if you try it without permission from the Order, and they never give it to anyone.
Bachelor: But you have a well right here in this building!
Young Vlad: It was not dug to get water out, and I am already close to figuring it out its secrets.
Bachelor: Does a lot of people know about your well? If what you say is true, how do you stay out of trouble?
Young Vlad: I hope no one else but you and me, but I fear that it isn't such a well kept secret. Despite my efforts, I think the Order suspects it. The only reason they haven't buried me in it already is that my father is keeping the foremen of the Abattoir in a tight grip.
Bachelor: Then how would you resolve the problem with the water supply?
Young Vlad: I'm not sure I can fix it all by myself.
Bachelor: That won't be needed, but I'll need your advice on this.
Young Vlad: Hmm... If I were you I would seize the Cathedral and the Theater. They get their water from smaller springs nearby. With these fanatics around they may get sabotaged if you wait too long. Who knows when they would act again? They are probably in hiding now. Are you going to hunt them down?
Bachelor: Let's first make sure that nobody dies of thirst.
Young Vlad: I'll order deliveries of fresh water and put some guards near the springs. It won't be enough to supply the whole town, but it's better than nothing. You should hurry and secure the springs near the Cathedral and the Theater.
Bachelor: Sounds like a plan.
Quest Update posted:
So, something irreparable has happened. The town water pipeline is destroyed. Being without fresh water during an epidemic is a catastrophe. Now we can forget about hygiene, sterilization of food and even about the quarantine. We can't keep people locked up in their houses. I need to talk to Big Vlad about this.
"Time to pay Big Vlad another visit. It's funny... Maria Kain told me about these supposed Adherents of mine, but it feels like I'm spending as much time as possible away from them. Instead I have to get involved with all these practical tasks. I understand why she thought I'd get along well with the Kains and the architect brothers, but in a situation like this I really can't sit down and discuss intellectual matters with them, even if I wanted. Big Vlad gets on my nerves every time I talk to him, but at least he gets things done, in his own fashion."
Big Vlad: My respect, doctor...
Bachelor: All the work setting up the isolation ward has been in vain. Do you know about this already?
Big Vlad: And why has it turned out that way?
Bachelor: There's no water in that part of town anymore, due to a sabotage. We should make use of the public buildings instead.
Big Vlad: Ah, the council house, the warehouses, Theater... even the Cathedral. They are spacious and do not demand any, ehm, private victims. But my people are not ready to incur such responsibilities.
Bachelor: Why not? What's stopping them?
Big Vlad: We don't know if those buildings would fit. There would be so much that would have to be done before we could house anyone in them, and it's not clear how to prepare them. My men need your instructions, doctor. Just in case, I have contacted the caretakers of the Cathedral and the Theater and appointed them keepers of the keys, to make sure no strangers will go in there.
Bachelor: Can't you even make such simple decisions like this without me? You should be busy setting up beds and delivering water and medicines! Anyway, what do I need to do?
Big Vlad: Please examine the Cathedral and the Theater and if they are suitable for your needs, give your orders to the keepers. Bring me the keys and I will act on your words at once and give orders to my people.
Bachelor: I shall return with the keys.
Quest Update posted:
There's no alternative. I have to examine the Theater and the Cathedral The buildings are large and have access to fresh water from small springs nearby. If they are suitable, I will order the emergency hospital and the isolation ward to be set up there. I will need to find the owners of the buildings and demand the keys to the buildings.
[water pump]
These water carts, on the other hand, provide fresh water. It must be a real hassle to cart them up and down these streets, with all the stairs and small alleys, but at least it's doing the job.
[water cart]
If I got things right, you can drink from the pumps during the first few days only and they provide unlimited amounts of water that you drink automatically instead of putting into bottles. I used this quite a bit while playing as the Haruspex since water bottles are sorely needed for trading with drunks. Water can be used as a cheap way to lower your Hunger if you are already at max Exhaustion, but otherwise I wouldn't recommend it.
Then, all of a sudden they stopped working. This is one of the examples of where the scenarios complement each other really well. For the Haruspex, it seems like they just stopped giving water for no real reason and you won't find out why until you play as the Bachelor.
 |
| They're kind of like mounties, aren't they? |
"Ah, that must be the caretaker. Those strange costumes are unnerving. I wonder if they are actually used in the historical way? If I remember right, you can put herbs and similar things in the beak, to make it easier to breathe and avoid infection when handling plague victims. But no one wearing them seems to be interested in treating the infected. It's almost as if they use them to hide themselves instead. Let's see what he has to say."
VERSUS
Bachelor: Who ordered it to be closed down? More bad news?
Executor: Mister Olgimskiy, more known as Fat Vlad.
Bachelor: You had me worried there for a moment. Open the building. Big Vlad sent me to examine it. We are going to make some changes here.
Executor: I apologize, but the man who is employed to work the lights during the plays has the keys to this place. He lives in the Rib district, just north of here. As soon as it became known to us that the Ribs had been infected, one of the Tragedians went there, but since then there has been no news from either of them.
Bachelor: I'll go find him.
"The Ribs is located just north of here. It's strange that they name the town after body parts. It's almost like they let the butchers come up with all the names."
"According to the map I bought from Young Vlad, this small district has been infected during the night. I should make sure I get in and out of here quickly."
"I decided that this would be a great opportunity to test out the lens visor that I put together earlier. With some fiddling, I managed to add the second lens as well."
 |
| Would it kill you to wash that thing off, Danko? |
"To see it without the visor, I'd have to get dangerously close. Although this apparatus gets hot very quickly, it should prove useful for when I have to navigate these infected districts. I just have to be careful not to stumble upon any more of those rats while wearing this."
You can toggle the visor mode with a key, and turning it on drains quite a bit of that red meter at the bottom. Keeping it on slowly drains it more. If it's off, the meter will very slowly go up again. You do not need to use any fuel, so use the visor whenever you have to.
If you have just one lens in it, you can only see clouds that are already visible to the naked eye, but they will be colored brightly red. If you add in a second lens, you can also see stationary clouds long before you are close enough to detect them normally. It's quite useful, but only the Bachelor gets access to it.
"After a short and uneventful search, I found my man. He almost seems too scared to move. I wonder how long he has been standing here?"
VERSUS
Bachelor: You do not know a lot about my life, then. I am a tragic actor, my good man.
Tragedian: I know only that we are fellow sufferers in this strange play.
Bachelor: I need your help.
Tragedian: Let me know what I can do for you.
Bachelor: I heard that Mark Immortal, the Theater owner, gave the keys to one of his employees who lives here. Have you found them yet?
Tragedian: Yes, but the Theater was not closed by his order! We were ordered to stop people from gathering by all means. The truth is, in a time as this the Theater is the very place where the people are flocking...
Bachelor: I am the highest authority here and I need to enter the building. We need it to treat the wounded and halt the infection. Shall I show you the notice?
Tragedian: Oh! Well, you are our ultimate and sure hope! Better let it be you than the Inquisitor, who will hang us all!
Bachelor: If you help me, no one will have to be dragged to the gallows.
Tragedian: And may I ask the almighty Bachelor a favor? Take me away from this place! Shabnak has already whispered in my ear...
Bachelor: Follow me closely. Don't lose sight of me.
The best escort quest ever ensues.
I just had to laugh at this. The Tragedian will follow you, and while running he'll flail his arms wildly. Yes, it is technically an Escort Quest (Ewww!) but it takes like 10 seconds since this place is so small.
Tragedian: I want to thank you! I have already given you the keys, my dearest Bachelor. The Theater is at your disposal. You should hand the keys to the one who will set up the hospital... Or what will become of our Theater?
Bachelor: An emergency hospital.
Tragedian: You are not deprived of a sense of humor, then. The Theater has always been, so to speak, a hospital for the soul instead of the body... But you won't be able to go there and see the play. For some reason I think that the place will be locked down each night.
Bachelor: Do you want to offer me duplicates of the keys so I can sneak in?
Tragedian: Ah, the rumors about your amazing insight appears to be true! Yes, we actors do not wish to be deprived of your company. We need to play before someone. It is necessary to foretell your destiny. Now you can come and watch our play each night! To celebrate this arrangement, I wish to give you this bottle as well..
Bachelor: Thanks, actor. I'll drink it to your health.
"Ah, this is a bottle of twyrine. I'm a bit wary of drinking it, but a little bit wouldn't hurt. Now is not the time, though. I need to keep my head clear. Maybe I'll try it out tonight before going to bed."
Summary: Since the water system for the normal houses has been destroyed, we will make use of the Theater and the Cathedral for our emergency hospital and isolation ward. They each have their own small springs nearby that supplies water to them. We have managed to secure the keys to the Theater and we also got a second set which allows us to still watch the show each night. It seems like the actors will still put on a play despite all that's been going on.
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