[opening day blurb.]
"I woke up very early today, feeling refreshed. Whatever was in that bottle of painkillers I used yesterday made me sleep like a log for a few hours. Kapella was up already. It seems like hardly anyone in this town gets much sleep, so I decided to start the day early."
[hi kapella]
"Kapella had a letter for me that arrived yesterday. Since I move about so much it took the courier a while to find out where I was sleeping."
Evening letter from the Authorities posted:
We have been notified that you published instructions for the civilian population and gave orders to prepare the town for the epidemic. You ordered the establishment of a hospital, isolation ward and made it possible to organize other special establishments - for example a mortuary.
These are critical decisions. From a lone warrior, having previously strived to stop the spreading of the disease by personal exploits, you have turned into a strategist and mobilized all the population for this purpose. We hope that the measures you have undertaken will only be temporary and will not lead to irreversible changes in the micro-climate of this town! In particular, we hope that your instructions will not cause excessive shock to the peace of mind of the inhabitants already fraught with mass depression and panic.
Remember, when we bound ourselves to our mutual obligations, and from our part promised to save your laboratory and promote your research, we counted on the fact that you would manage to find non-conventional, surgically exact decisions. Actions such as those you have recently taken are rightfully under the jurisdiction of the Inquisitor, not yourself.
"Hmm, it seems like the Authorities wanted me to just snap my fingers and solve everything. They are sitting behind their desks in the capital, all safe, and they dare insult me like this? Still, if I get into trouble with the Inquisitor then I might as well consider my career over. I'd be lucky to get out of this alive!"
[missing image]
First of all I will need an updated map from Young Vlad.
[hi vlad's map]
I find it a bit strange that he hasn't returned to his family home yet. It's not that far, but this hideout he has isn't very comfortable. I know he wants to keep some things secret from his father, but surely he can get some privacy even at home? I haven't seen any of those Worms around here the past few days. I think they are scared by my regular visits.
[hi vlad]
Young Vlad: Last night the patrol guard captured everyone that looked suspicious. A couple dozen men were arrested just because they had a knife or some other weapon on them. Many were taken in for refusing to hand over their friends who were suspected of being robbers. Some are accused of stealing from the dead.
Bachelor: What do you think is in store for them now?
Young Vlad: Almost all the people are innocent. There is no direct proof of their guilt. Now they await the inquisitor's arrival, who should be here by tomorrow evening or the day after tomorrow. Since it will be either Inquisitor Orph or Inquisitor Karminskiy, they have no chance of survival.
Bachelor: Why are you so sure of their innocence?
Young Vlad: Because the problem is that when the patrol guard got some kind of unarguable evidence, they killed the person right at the place of capture. Those who they couldn't kill are innocent! Of course, there may be a thief among them by pure coincidence.
Bachelor: That's a disgrace! I'll talk to Saburov about this.
Young Vlad: I want to bribe the guard and pay a ransom for a few people. Will you help me?
Bachelor: I will with pleasure. I didn't expect this from you. Why are you doing this?
Young Vlad: It's my duty. I couldn't care less for these people, if they are behind bars or not, but this is an outrageous mistake made by the authorities and I feel responsibility for it. It is my duty to compensate at least some of the damage done by these stupid actions.
Bachelor: I don't think Saburov will be pleased when he learns of our doing, but I'll see what I can do.
Young Vlad: The circumstances today are that a jailed person will die just as surely as a man standing before the executioner's block.
Bachelor: I'll see what I can do. Do you have a map of where the pest holes are located today? I want to have a look.
[missing image]
"Hmm, the infection is spreading. Unfortunately many of the easy ways through the center of town are slowly getting engulfed by the infection. There are only a few bridges and I can't afford to take long detours. I'm going to have to be very careful on my way to Alexander Saburov. On the other hand, it seems like the area to the far northeast is clear of marauders now, so it should be safe for people to live there again, as soon as the infection has moved away from the surrounding areas."
[missing image]
"I think I will have a talk with Rubin about this. It's been a while since we talked, and he has been doing experiments ever since. He should have some new ideas on how to battle the plague."
[missing images]
Stahk Rubin: You! At last! I'm in a damned situation... You see, I have to hide from everyone! Their fury is understandable, but they are armed and looking for me, as if I'm the one spreading the plague and not looking for a cure!
Bachelor: Do you have any good news at all?
Rubin: Yes! We won't get a proper vaccine in these conditions, but I know how to get a great defensive medicine, if we are lucky. The injection will only be active for a short period of time, about ten hours, but it if works many will be saved.
Bachelor: What's your plan?
Rubin: As you remember, our first try was with dead bacteria. The second time we tried it with a weakened bacteria. This time we will take a shot at making a medicine from a living bacteria!
Bachelor: Without its nourishing habitat, the bacteria will die immediately. Should we get the live blood of an infected?
Rubin: Well, that's almost what I had in mind. Now I want you to hold tight, doctor. We need a live heart from an infected person. It must be still pulsating, and that's the meat we'll cook our soup from.
Bachelor: So you want me to bring you a man and cut him open right here?!
Rubin: No... The bacteria must have reached its final phase of development. At that stage the infected usually experience extreme agony. However, we don't have to cut the infected right here. I've calculated that we will have approximately half an hour to spare and will be able to bring a heart with the living bacteria from somewhere else.
Bachelor: You want me to bring it to you?
Rubin: The young Burakh wanted to help me. In fact he was planning to cut the dying in any case, but he promised to come by here six hours ago. As he hasn't yet arrived, I must ask you for your help. If we can't find Burakh, you are the only other person who can perform this terrible task.
Bachelor: Burakh was going to cut living people open?
Rubin: He actually has a honorable plan in mind. He wants to do as his father did during the last outbreak. While we are trying to defend the healthy, he is trying to get a serum that can heal the dying. He calls it the panacea. Rumor has it that he has already taken action toward creating it.
Bachelor: So, he'll cut out a living man's heart without any doubts?
Rubin: The people of the steppes are just that kind of people, you know. Perhaps you haven't realized this yet, doctor. They look differently upon the things that frighten us. The blood of a man from the steppes belongs to the earth. No matter what, Burakh will be working in the infected area today.
Bachelor: And he won't be ripped apart for desecrating the bodies of the dead?
Rubin: That is a possibility. However, as his father's heir, he has the right to open up bodies. But as he is not a 'proper' heir in the eyes of the simpletons, he is taking a great risk. Yes, today he will be opening living people. It's a chance for us to find what we are looking for.
Bachelor: What if he won't help me? What am I to do then?
Rubin: Then you'll have to trace his steps and follow him. If he's working on a body and he hears someone approaching him, he'll run and lead them away so that he can return to the corpse later. Nobody will fiddle with the remains of his... work. Take the heart and bring it here as quickly as possible. I need the blood to be warm.
Bachelor: Well, it seems that this is truly an unique chance. I think the best way to find young Burakh is to ask Vlad Olgimskiy.
"At first I found the idea repulsive. I think Rubin has been influenced too much by the strange traditions of the Steppe people. Still, it would be a very effective way to study to plague. Unfortunately, all the people I'd like to see dead, like the robbers stalking the night, seem very careful in dealing with the plague and I have never seen any of them show any signs of infection. So it seems someone innocent will have to die. Well, at least I can reassure myself with the fact that they would die from the plague anyway. I just hope this Artemiy Burakh can help us."
[missing image]
I'll have to be frank with Big Vlad. From what I've gathered, he thinks of Burakh as his rather unruly underling, and uses whatever power he has left to protect him from the law. It shouldn't be too hard to convince Big Vlad into letting Burakh help us with saving the town and restoring his reputation.
[missing images]
Big Vlad: My girl has grown... I wish she would survive in this hell.
Bachelor: Do you know where Burakh is hiding?
Big Vlad: Oh, I thought you two don't get on... Do you need him?
Bachelor: Yes, very much.
Big Vlad: Then it will be quite sad for you to know that he has been taken into jail, on Saburov's demand. Lara Ravelle sent me a note about it. Someone who saw him getting seized came and told her.
Bachelor: Captured? For what?
Big Vlad: Some groundless suspicion. A lot of innocent people have been arrested and thrown into the dungeons of the town council building last night. Braga and his Shavers caused quite a stir yesterday. This made quite an impression on Saburov and his responses are quite aggressive. Just the thing to expect. This is the first step towards him ruling the whole town.
Bachelor: What is Burakh accused of, then?
Big Vlad: I don't know exactly, but I'm sure it's worth nothing. Artemiy Burakh has been accused of all the wrongs lately. They call him the Ripper. They accuse him of murders, when he is risking his life trying to save us all. Nobody wants to hear a thing about that.
Bachelor: I'll demand that Saburov lets him go.
Big Vlad: Give it a try. Artemiy is worth it. Even if he has done something unlawful, we need him alive. Maybe if you give some kind of warrant, Saburov would let him go. Giving him power was a great mistake... Your mistake, doctor.
Bachelor: I'll try to reason with Saburov.
"This is really bad news, although I can't say it surprises me that much. Burakh has been in trouble since the day he arrived at this town. It will be problematic to get Alexander Saburov to release him, but I will have to try."
[missing image]
"Getting to Alexander means I have to run though two infected areas. I'm out of immunity boosters too. I will have to take it slow and use my visor to check out intersections and such before rushing on."
[missing images]
"This is the city hall. It seems like it's evacuated already, but there's bound to be a lot of administrative material in there. It's a wonder the town is still running as well as it should when they can't even know if a certain person is alive or not."
[missing images]
"At least the guards are doing their job. Maybe they are a bit too into it at times, though. I wonder why Alexander hasn't seized the weapons on the black market yet, because fighting with their bare hands can't be very safe when you're up against armed madmen."
[missing image]
"This district has been invaded by marauders, just like yesterday. Where do they all come from, anyway? Since it's so early in the morning, I figured I could spend some time helping the guards. I talked to the nearby patrol guard officer, and he offered to compensate me with bullets or food if I could help out with the marauders."
[missing images]
"This is a great find! In the stores these are very expensive, for some reason. They don't last very long, but if I have to handle something that is infectious then these could very well save my life."
[missing image]
"It's strange that Alexander is staying in his house when it is located so close to the point of the outbreak. Now it's all surrounded by the infected and dead. Maybe the patrol guards have so much medicine in their blood that they can go there without worrying too much, but it's a really big problem for me and anyone else that needs to visit Alexander."
[missing image]
Alexander Saburov: Yes, yesterday was a great night!
Bachelor: Commandant, due to your unproven suspicion you arrested quite a number of innocent people yesterday. I demand that they are released!
Alexander: Who says they are innocent? They have been arrested on suspicion of robbery, mugging and murder.
Bachelor: Who was the one to accuse them?
Alexander: People who I trust just as much as myself. The patrol guards, who risk their lives every day, protecting citizens from the tyranny of the vermin that have flooded the city. Their work is to stop the marauders.
Bachelor: That's something new you have invented. All the actions of arrest, trial and punishment are performed by the same people, aren't they?
Alexander: Their suspicion is not unsubstantiated. No protocols have been written, but each patrol guard is prepared to take full responsibility for his actions. The people that are now in jail are there for their own wrong-doings.
Bachelor: Then perhaps you could produce some proof of their guilt? They should be considered innocent unless you can show evidence of their crimes. Or are you foregoing the very basics of our legal system?
Alexander: I haven't executed anyone since the state of emergency was declared in the town. They are all subject to trial performed by the inquisitor. Until then they are merely put in jail in the town hall.
Bachelor: The people are embittered! It has cost them a lot of spiritual strength not to take to arms, when it is so easy and tempting to do so. Now they are even more infuriated by the fact that their honor was not thanked, but punished!
Alexander: We cannot take the slightest risk. To prevent an outbreak of murders we had to seize everyone who looked suspicious.
Bachelor: Remember what I say to you now... If you continue in this fashion, you will not prevent murders but provoke them.
Alexander: Your duty is to be a humanist, Bachelor. You think that these arrests will cause a wave of civil ire? No, they won't. It's too late to be afraid of that. All the worst has happened and matters couldn't get any worse than they already are.
Bachelor: I'm not humanist, not in this situation. I have no compassion for the prisoners, but what you are doing is truly suicide. I say this because I can't stay indifferent to what will happen on the streets tomorrow.
Alexander: I will not release the prisoners. There is no point in you arguing this with me. Is there anything else you want or can I get some peace?
Bachelor: Is it true that you've arrested Artemiy Burakh?
Alexander: Yes. The villain has been caught. We actually managed to achieve quite a number of things that night. The police have neutralized over fifty armed robbers and have captures another fifty that are awaiting tribunal at the moment.
Bachelor: Was Burakh caught at the crime scene?
Alexander: Had he been caught at the scene, he would have been killed immediately, just like all the others caught this way. But there are numerous accusations up against him anyhow. Mark Karminskiy will quickly get the truth out of him.
Bachelor: Karminskiy? The inquisitor?
Alexander: Yes. Didn't you know that the authorities have sent him here? He is masterful at finding evidence in the most complicated of cases. I think that after a couple of hours of talk with him, the Ripper will admit everything by his own will.
Bachelor: Yes, but you will have to release Burakh until Karminskiy arrives.
Alexander: Never. Burakh is accused of at least a dozen murders, including killing his own father, of desecration of the dead and violation of the sacred traditions. He is the most dangerous ruffian that has been out on the streets in these dark times. I will not release such a criminal even if it is you asking for it.
Bachelor: Where is he held?
Alexander: Why do you ask?
Bachelor: I need his professional opinion.
Alexander: I'm sorry, Bachelor, but if you have managed to find Simon's murderer without speaking to the witnesses, having never seen the crime scene and without even examining the body, then you will find no difficulty in moving further without this vandal's opinion. I wish you luck in your current work.
Bachelor: Fine, I will solve this problem some other way.
Summary: Rubin wants to get hold of a living heart, filled with the Sand Plague. This would allow us to create some kind of medicine that provides a temporary immunity against the disease. Finding a heart isn't easy, so we decided to get the help of the Haruspicus, named Artemiy Burakh. He is the son of Isidor Burakh, and he is very skilled with the knife. He also has the proper ritual training needed to cut open bodies.
Burakh has a very bad reputation though, and has been accused of murder and desecration of bodies. It turns out Alexander Saburov has imprisoned him, but he won't tell us where! We'll have to find out where this secret prison is and then do our best to get him out.
There's also a lot of people locked up in the town hall. Alexander has gone nuts and ordered the arrest of anyone that even looked slightly suspicious. Young Vlad wants us to get those people out of there, because they haven't got a trial and most of them are probably innocent. We might have a riot on our hands if this goes on.
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