If I just avoid talking to the Hump, I'm sure he'll suspect me of causing Vera's death. I will need to confront him now. If I explain what happened, maybe he'll accept it. With a big epidemic like this, you can't expect everyone to survive, sadly. It's probably best if I do not mention Burakh's name either.
Okay, this is it. No backing down now. I made sure my revolver was loaded and ready, in case the Hump tried something.
: So what do ya want? Where is Vera?Bachelor: I bring bad news. Brace yourself.
The Hump: Is she ill?
Bachelor: She is dead.
The Hump: How?! How can this be possible? Who infected her?
Bachelor: She didn't die from the plague. She was killed.
The Hump: ... Aye, ya ain't to blame. It's someone else, hey? Somebody been huggin' her with his foul arms, he was. Kissin' her with his black mouth, teeth all rotted, not so much of a mouth if ya ask me! Yeah, we'll find him! And very many others as well, just like him. I'll make a whole brotherhood of fanatics, we'll go burnin', we will. Burn them all! That'll be a great show, that will. Hehehehe!
Bachelor: There are enough fanatics out on the streets without you.
The Hump: Aye, I heard about that... But they are killin' healthy ones! We'll go burn the plague, we will! I could be just in time to burn that rotting, stinking bastard that went huggin' her knees... I'll burn him before the plague burns him from the inside! The Plague killed my girl! I'll burn them all, I will! Burn, burn, destroy the Plague!!!
Bachelor: Don't even think about it.
I left as quickly as I could. There was no sense in trying to reason with him. Hopefully he'll calm down or find some way to deal with his frustration without getting anyone killed. I decided to head over to Eve's house, which is just a few streets away.
In the upstairs bedroom there is a microscope, just like the one Rubin uses. If I need to collect any more blood samples, I can use it to examine them without having to run all the way to Rubin's hideout. I spent some time writing notes for the report that I have to give to the Inquisitor when he arrives. It's not really something I look forward to, but I can't avoid this one. If I lie or hide something from an official Inquisitor I will be in a lot of trouble.
Eve brought me a letter. She didn't look well so I asked her if there was something wrong.
: I have a terrible headache... but it will be over soon.Bachelor: I have some Quinine. It will help a bit, if you don't have anything stronger.
Evening letter from the Authorities posted:
So, the germ is caught. The prescription of vaccine is ready. Mass production of a vaccine is vital to suppressing the disease.
The finishing mark of your plan should be revealing the source of the epidemic. It's destruction will ensure that no new outbreaks will occur in the future.
There are vague reports of someone spreading the disease to previously healthy areas. We need to know if this is true or not. We acknowledge the possibility that someone may have spread the disease either intentionally or by carelessness. If this turns out to be true, you will need to eliminate this 'Spreader'.
We hope that tomorrow you find the source. Then you can report to the Inquisitor about the success of your mission and by your return to the capital you will find Tanatica waiting for you, providing you with a full right to further research and the documents needed for financing your studies.
This is really bad news. I better contact Young Vlad soon and see if he can provide any more information. I'll need a new map anyway, since the infection moves so quickly. Is it possible that the whole outbreak was started by just one person? With all the strange legends around here, can we be sure this 'Spreader' is even a human? And the idea that someone would spread the disease intentionally is very scary.
As I stepped through the door I noticed another letter on the floor.
Rubin's evening note posted:
Now we know for sure what the Sand Plague bacteria looks like. Had we known this five days ago, we would have caught Shebnak-Adyr. If the cannibal really exists, then her blood should be full of these disgusting creatures, as well as the antibodies for them... I have my doubts, however.
Come to say farewell tomorrow.
Stakh Rubin
It seems like the rumors of this Spreader has reached Rubin already. Even if he seems skeptical about it all, it would be amazing if we could find antibodies for the plague. If someone has survived a full infection of the Sand Plague for almost a week now without succumbing to it, they must have developed some sort of defense. But what did Rubin mean with farewell?
I thought about this on the way to the Theater. It was time for a new chapter in the pantomime.
VIDEO: It's time for the fifth part of the play.
Voice 1: So that is?
Voice 2: Yes, so much blood spilled
Voice 3: What do you mean, spilled? You mean you had nothing to do with it, is that what you say?
Voice 2: But it was needed to advance forward. We're on the path to victory! Can't disagree, can you?
Voice 1: Yes. Now we know for sure the sand dirt can be fought. The mendacious rumors were proved to be lies. This is not a demon. Simply a disease breeder that dies quickly unless able to carve into hot blood.
Voice 3: People are afraid of Catherina's prophesy. But people don't pay attention to the rivers of blood until they themselves become part of the flow.
Voice 2: Blood is just a fertilizer. Seeds watered with blood give up rich harvests.
The wounded keeps piling up. Soon there will be no more room in here. And it's only been a day! Quite a large number of the patrol guards are here as well, many with knife wounds. I can see some burn victims as well. How could that have happened?
On my way to Young Vlad I noticed that the infection has spread quite far to the southwest. It wasn't even close yesterday! Without an updated map it was quite complicated to find a safe route, but I eventually managed to reach Young Vlad's hideout. It was still safe.
: The fighters plan to storm the Apiary. Stop them!Bachelor: What kind of fighters?
Young Vlad: Mad fanatics gathered together by the money lender Var. Rumors say he used to be a fakir. In a flash he collected a gang of maniacs as mad as him. He swore to burn out all the infection and now his fighters are attacking people and burning homes all over the town.
Bachelor: Is it possible to stop them?
Young Vlad: It is too late to stop the storm. But the informers who reported that to my... to me, said that at ten o' clock the hunchback Var and some of his people would steal up closer to the Apiary, to estimate the situation and find out how to open the barricaded entrance.
Bachelor: You mean to say they reported to your father?
Young Vlad: No... to one of my partners.
Bachelor: For some reason it seems to me that you meant your father. The informers reported to him and he decided to close his eyes to this, right?
Young Vlad: Yes. But you don't need to know about it.
Bachelor: And why wouldn't your father want to deal with this?
Young Vlad: Enough questions! I already told you before. I will not discuss his decisions with you. He has a lot to care about without this. He is having his hands full with what should occupy yours as well - finding the source of the disease. Ask him yourself, if it's interesting to you, what he thinks about all this.
Bachelor: So what do you want from me?
Young Vlad: They will gather at the entrance to the Apiary as soon as the darkness falls. You need to shoot the hunchback when he gets close to the main entrance. If you catch him there he will have nowhere to run. I've been looking for a daredevil who would agree to do this. I will personally pay whoever kills that maniac a reward of ten thousand.
Bachelor: All right. I'll deal with Var. I will also need a map of the infected districts for today.
Young Vlad: The price is the same as always.
Unfortunately it seems like the rumors of someone spreading the disease may be right. Judging from the map it seems like someone has escaped from the previously infected areas and made it all across the western river. This is really bad, because we've been counting on that area to be safe for a few more days.
Young Vlad mentioned his father working on this.
:
So, Bachelor, I have two news for you. As usual, one is bad, another...
you understand. What news, except for bad, can there be now?Bachelor: I'm listening.
Big Vlad: The Inquisitor whom the Authorities allocated to the resolution of, from their point of view, our hopeless situation... is Karminskiy the hanger. The blood on his lips and his nails never dries.
Bachelor: Well, and the good news? Or was that the good one?
Big Vlad: That was the bad news. The good news is that he is ready to consider your decisions rather favorably. There are reports that the disease is being spread all over town, even into previously safe areas and buildings. Who would do something like this? It cannot be just an accident. Someone must be behind all this. If you find this Spreader before the Inquisitor arrives, he'll tell the Authorities that you have helped him very much by doing the job for him. That way you will surely gain his favor.
Bachelor: Well? As far as I know, the inquisitors never refuse the opportunity to add another victory to their own records. They compete between themselves.
Big Vlad: Yes... He can allow himself such a gesture since at the moment he is in good graces with the Authorities. And besides... The inquisitors have a very strict internal code of honor. They will never conceal the truth. For them it is the same as death.
Bachelor: I know. By the way, do you know that the arsonists are planning to attack the Apiary?
Big Vlad: Let them plan. I would not wish them success.
Bachelor: You don't want to stop them?
Big Vlad: Even if they had catapults, they could not damage those walls. The Apiary is able to sustain even straight artillery bombardment.
Bachelor: And if they somehow get inside?
Big Vlad: Then they'll regret it bitterly. For goodness sake... Doctor, you would better search for the spreader. If we figure out this creature, tomorrow you will leave us as a winner, and the Inquisitor will take care of the townspeople in his tenacious hands. He would also deal with those who live in the Apiary.
Bachelor: You mean you are not going to undertake anything?
Big Vlad: I will not raise a finger. And what can I undertake? All my servants, mercenaries and the members of my household, who still have the boldness and energy to engage in this sort of affair... In part they have filled up the lines of dead men and in part the numbers of robbers.
Bachelor: Robbers? This is something new.
Big Vlad: Not just my people. Many of the Kain's fellows have put together a new gang. They attack the marauders to steal their loot. Many townspeople have armed themselves with knives and all the gangs are fighting with each other.
Bachelor: Well, all right. I just wish there was something more we could do.
I'm not sure if I can put the same faith in the abilities of the Inquisitor as Big Vlad. Maybe he just feels like he can push all his problems away but I know that it won't work. I'll have to see to it myself that Var doesn't cause any problems. I was involved in getting him riled up, and I don't doubt that he's mad enough to kill if he gets the chance.
There's a lot of time until the attack on the Apiary, so for now I will visit Rubin again. I'm a bit worried about him.
: So... My life today has approach the end.Bachelor: What?
Rubin: Let me tell you. One should answer for committed crimes. The deed I have done is a crime, and no good intention can justify it. Here is my vaccine. Now I will go to George Kain and turn myself in.
Bachelor: This is suicide! You know the punishment for defiling his brother's corpse is death.
Rubin: I did what I had to do. But I am not going to hide from the eyes of the Kains the rest of my life. Take it, I give my treasures to you. I do not need them any more.
Bachelor: Give me the vaccine. If you are so sure you have to do this, I will talk to George for you. Maybe he will forgive you.
Rubin: Success to you, my friend.
Bachelor: Farewell.
The vaccine is fully active during the whole period of time, and basically fixes your Immunity meter at 95%. In contrast with the normal immunity pills, your Immunity meter cannot be lowered for any reason until the effect of the vaccine wears off. It won't cure you from the plague, sadly, but it's a great defense if you need to spend a long long time in an infected house or district. Put on some clothes and you can pretty much just ignore all enemies. Except rats!
Summary: The Hump is pissed and has recruited a horde of arsonists. We'll start seeing them as new enemies from now on. They throw bottles of burning liquid and doesn't ever seem to run out of them. This mean you pretty much have to kill them with a gun. I'll show them off once we meet one. The Hump has an attack planned at the Apiary, which he seem to think is filled with the disease. But it's been closed off since before the outbreak, hasn't it? We better stop him, regardless, because he is quite likely to try to burn something else if we just let him be.
There's also a lot of rumors about someone spreading the disease around town. They call this the 'Spreader'. We get more information about this in the morning, but for now it's unknown if this person even exists.
Due to the odd sleeping habits I have used we jump straight into day 6 right after midnight. Anything after the Theater is basically day 6. You are generally expected to start the day at around 07:00 each day, but all quests and map changes starts at exactly midnight. There's no reason to wait if your exhaustion bar is low.
- Day Quest: Find the Spreader and examine his/her/its blood for antibodies.
- Task: Stop the Hump at 22:00 when he will attack the Apiary.
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