Searching the whole city for one girl that I only know by name would take ages. I'll need more information. If anyone would know about the Hump's daughter Vera, it would be Anna Angel.
I don't think Anna has left her own house for almost a week now. It's like she's so afraid of everyone that's out to get her that she doesn't even care about the Sand Dirt spreading over the town.
: Well? How did it go?Bachelor: He agreed to give me the money, but...
Anna: On what condition? Tell me!
Bachelor: He asked me to find his daughter. He's afraid she's hiding in one of the infected neighborhoods.
Anna: Oh, is that the case... I know of her. She isn't his own daughter, though. He stole her from a family of poor weavers eight years ago. They wanted to make a dancer out of her, but he kept her for himself at the last moment. He loves her a lot, you know! So she's disappeared?
Bachelor: Are you involved in this?
Anna: What do you think I am, a cannibal or something? Why would I need to kidnap children? In fact, she's no child anymore. She's a grown lass already.
Bachelor: Then do you know where to find her?
Anna: Try asking about her in the tavern. She used to work there, but only at night so that her foster father would know nothing about it. Perhaps she was there when the outbreak of the epidemic caught up with this area. Then she wouldn't be able to get back home by morning, as she usually did.
Bachelor: If the Hump is so rich, why would she need a job? And why do it in secret?
Anna: She used to work there for pleasure. She likes to dance naked. They offer some nice twyrine to drink there too. I doubt the Hump would approve of that.
Bachelor: Okay... I will ask about her at the tavern.
You can see the bar from Anna's windows. I guess she's been spying on Vera during the nights, watching her come and go from her secret job.
The barkeep pointed out Vera to me. I can see why she wanted to keep this a secret from her father! The Hump would go crazy if he found out about this.
Vera: Why are you giving me that look?
Bachelor: Var, the crooked usurer, is he your father?
Vera: Did he send you?
Bachelor: Yes. He's worried about you. I'll lead you through the dangerous streets so you can go home.
Vera: But I don't want to go anywhere. I've had enough of my foster father's "care".
Bachelor: You've lived together for years. Don't you consider him your father?
Vera: It's so hard to answer that question. When I was a child, he stole me from my father. When my father came to save me from the caravan, Var killed him. He did all this because he loved me. I learned of this yesterday. What kind of feelings do I have for him now?
Bachelor: I'll tell him you are here.
Vera: No, please no! Don't do that! He doesn't know I come here at night. If he gets suspicious of what I do here, he'll kill the owners and the regular visitors of this place... But I'll explain everything to him. I'll tell him I've had enough.
Bachelor: What do you mean, you've had enough?
Vera: I want to spend the last days of my life as I want to. Here. But I'll tell him everything myself. I'll be waiting for you in one of the backyards nearby, at nine o' clock. We'll go to him together. Will you defend me if he attempts to take me by force?
Bachelor: I will. Show me where this backyard is.
Vera: Look here. I'll draw the place on your map.
Bachelor: Okay, it's a deal. I'll see you there at nine.
There's plenty of time until then. I should go to the Hump and tell him that his daughter is safe and that I'll bring her to him tonight. It's a bit of a walk to get there but I'll gladly get away from this depressing place.
It's good to see some normal people out on the streets. During the daytime any marauders nearby are hiding out in the houses, to avoid the patrol guards, so it should be relatively safe.
The kids I meet have some useful things to trade. Right now I am mostly looking for ammunition. The younger kids seems to collect them and use them as small figurines when playing in the sandboxes.
I've seen quite a few sandboxes around this town, but they were all overgrown. I guess during this season the weeds grow very quickly.
Hump: So what do you want?
Bachelor: I've found your Vera. I'll bring her here tonight.
Hump: Where is she, then? I'll go get here now, I will!
Bachelor: I can't tell you that now. I gave a promise to the people that provide shelter for her.
Hump: What kind of place? What people? What are they afraid of?
Bachelor: Perhaps they are afraid of you. Come to think of it, I'm not surprised.
Hump: And why didn't she come with ya then? Why ain't she 'ere?
Bachelor: She is scared of the infected. They attack everyone they see.
Hump: Aye, the villains! They ought to be burnt! Burn, burn, they ought to burn 'em all! So they don't infect healthy flesh... Fine! You bring her 'ere as soon as possible. You do that, you'll get the second half of the reward then.
Bachelor: How about the first half?
Hump: Aye, the first one now, just as agreed it was.
Bachelor: Ok.
Var really is loaded! He handed over fifty thousand, in cash! I guess he really is obsessed with this 'daughter' of his. Well, I do not feel bad about taking it from him even though I know Vera won't return to him.
With that out of the way, I need to take care of the most important matter of today. I have to free Burakh one way or the other.
This guy is a worker. He can repair any weapon that you have, for a fee. Since we are about to cause quite a lot of trouble, I thought it was best to repair both a revoler and a knife to 100%. It's a bit pricey, but right now we are quite rich. It really is worth it, because you end up using more ammo if you keep your gun at a low durability.
You can only find these guys near the train station, factories or in the east part of town, so you might have to go a bit out the way to get things repaired.
I didn't spend any money on our backup weapons, because I don't really think we need to use them. I'm not sure if I should sell them or keep them, to be honest.
There are a few big buildings here. I guess I'll just have to try every door I come across.
It took me a few minutes, but I finally found the right door.
It's Artemiy, the Haruspicus! I was hoping we could have met under better circumstances, but it's good to know he's safe and sound. Now, how to get him out of here?
Guard: Strangers aren't allowed to be here.
Bachelor: The only stranger here is you. My name is Daniel Dankovskiy. Is this the dangerous prisoner I've heard about?
Guard: What's your interest in that?
Bachelor: I order you to release him.
Guard: Commandant Saburov was strict about this one. He said to guard him the best we can. There was even a special order, that if the prisoner dies of the Sand Plague we shouldn't bury him until said otherwise.
Bachelor: However...
Guard: Yesterday a lot of folk were captured. Lots we killed too. The ones killed were bad villains, that's for sure. The thieves even promised revenge, but I dunno about that. I think their strength is drained.
Bachelor: Really? I'd advice you not to soften up, the powers of the underworld are a very tricky thing.
Hmm, that gave me an idea. Even with a revolver, I doubt I could take all these guards on by myself. But if I talk to Gryph, maybe I can get some help. If the thieves want revenge for their fallen friends, they can help me at the same time.
: Clean sheets, good sleeps...Bachelor: Gryph, do you want to kill some patrol guards? You won't get prosecuted for it.
Gryph: Are ya the one to see to it that I don't?
Bachelor: They've caught Artemiy Burakh.
Gryph: And why the hell would I wanna care 'bout that kind of thing? Well, I want and I do, but... Who doesn't, hehe? But, ya know, they fight well, they do. That's a sure thing. And do ya know of an order to have mercy on us lot? Well, I don't, so they won't, you know. They won't know no mercy. They'll go killin' and destroyin' us.
Bachelor: Avenge the dead, Gryph. It's a good chance. It's worth it.
Gryph: And why should I do that, doc? They ain't no cops, they ain't... They're of us lot, that's for sure. They're just doing all they can to stop the plague.
Bachelor: Yes, but these don't serve the people anymore. They serve the authorities.
Gryph: That kind of help costs quite a bit, doc.
Bachelor: Well, name it. I didn't expect a different turn in our dialogue.
Gryph: About ten thousand, doc. That's if I pay half of it myself. A man's life doesn't cost much these days... Damn.
Bachelor: That's quite a lot!
Gryph: There can't be no bargainin' about that, doc. That ain't my price and it ain't me who's gonna make it lower. If you want a deal, put in your share. If not, go do it yourself.
Bachelor: Well, I guess I have no choice. I'll pay.
Gryph: Okay, where should my force of justice be going now?
Bachelor: Burakh is taken prisoner at the Factories, in the building that...
Gryph: I get it. We know all 'bout it. The task is clear, as they used to say.
Bachelor: Where are we to meet?
Gryph: Go there, and wait for my rogie-rogues to do their job. We'll attack as soon as you get there. You better be ready. It will be a shame if such forces would go in for nothin'.
Bachelor: I'll be ready. Don't touch Burakh. Do you know what he looks like?
Gryph: We all know, doc. The land is full of rumor, ya know. Wait for us at the ambush.
Bachelor: All right.
I better hurry back to the factories and get ready.
I hear some fighting inside. After loading my revolver, I threw the door open and rushed inside.
One guard survived the fight with the thieves, but I can't leave this unfinished now. Against a revolver it wasn't even a fair fight. They are all dead now. I just hope all this is worth it. If even just rumors about this gets out, Saburov will be furious.
Some battle for revenge this turned out to be.
If you choose to do this on your own you have to fight 4 patrol guards at the same time. The building has some long hallways so you can back away while shooting. Just make sure you don't accidentally back into a wall or a corner, because then you'll get beaten to death really quickly.
Killing a patrol guard lowers your reputation by a fair bit, so if you do it this way and kill all four of them you'll need to do even more fighting later to make up for that. On the other hand, you save quite a bit of money.
The captain carried the key to the cell with him.
:
So we meet. We are but pawns on this terrible chessboard, where every
black square is darker than the darkest color imaginable. Are we friends
or enemies now? Should we devour each other or part in peace?Bachelor: How can we be enemies when both of us have the same foe to fight?
Haruspicus: I'm happy to hear that. It's a shame we can not work together. I lack the knowledge you have. I put my trust in intuition and I have to move on blindly. I must warn you though. Don't believe those who try to lead you toward victory. The greatest fight is yet to come.
Bachelor: Do you speak of the fight with the plague?
Haruspicus: I'm speaking of the fight with you. Even though we are not enemies, I have a strong feeling that eventually we'll be on different sides of the barricade.
Bachelor: It's too early to speak of that now.
Haruspicus: Now, how did you find me?
Bachelor: Rubin was worried. He had been waiting for you all through the night, and my search has led me here, to the factories.
Haruspicus: I understand. Master Rubin cares about he well being of others. He deserves respect.
Bachelor: Will you help us get the heart of an infected?
Haruspicus: Yes. I've arranged everything already, but I will work alone. We'll meet in the Mold District at nine. I will pick out a dying person, take him to a quiet place, and begin to work. Seek me out. It would be better if you came a bit earlier.
Bachelor: Why can't we do it right away?
Haruspicus: My enemies in this city are many. I must work in the dark.
Bachelor: What if something happens?
Haruspicus: I will open up the body and begin my work. If somebody finds me, I will lead them away and leave the body to you. Perhaps my reaping will serve you two well.
Bachelor: I'll find you when the time is right.
Summary: We have rescued Artemiy Burakh, the Haruspicus! He'll find a person recently infected with the Sand Plague and cut out a heart for Rubin. With it we should be able to create some vaccines that can be used to combat the disease. It would take us one step closer to creating a complete cure.
We can't go around desecrating corpses in broad daylight, so we'll meet up with him tonight. Until then we have plenty of time. It's around 14:05 right now and we are done with everything else that we can do until then. For once we actually have some free time!
- Day quest: Meet up with Burakh in the northeast part of town at sunset so that he can get us an infected heart.
- Task Completed: We have bribed the jailkeeper at the city hall and released the people who were arrested and sentenced without a trial. Hopefully this will calm people down and restore some confidence in the authorities.
- Task: Meet up with Vera later and escort her to the Hump.
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