The Worms in here seems like they don't really mind my presence. They've always been rather hostile to me when I've met them out on the steppe or in the town. A very welcome change, in my opinion!
: Were you able to deal with them?Bachelor: Yes, they won't be a problem anymore. What are you doing here, Burakh?
Burakh: I was in the Abattoir, the slaughterhouse. I found something very valuable there. Listen to me, Oinon... If my hopes are true, tomorrow we will have a large amount of the serum ready.
Bachelor: This is certainly great news! What is this thing of value you found?
Burakh: Blood. Blood, like always. I shall not tell you how I got hold of it, but it's very similar to what Rubin was working with... only better. It is still alive. Look, they are already forming...
Bachelor: Antibodies?
Burakh: Yes, antibodies. Rubin told me you already know what the Sand Plague looks like under a microscope. I think you'll be able to see what happens to the infection when mixed with this blood.
Bachelor: So you just want me to look at this sample? Is that it?
Burakh: Study this blood, and if you are convinced that this is the real cure, then visit me again. I will hand you a portion of the working panacea. Do you agree to this?
Bachelor: Where shall I find you when I'm done examining it?
Burakh: I shall be somewhere here in the Apiary. There's a hell of a lot of work. If there's trouble, I'll let you know by letter. If so, we'll meet up in the factory district.
Bachelor: Fine.
Hmm, it looks like a vial of blood at first glance, but something seems strange. It's very thick and with a slight copper colored tint. Is this even human blood? It's still warm...
I better get to Rubin's lab and examine this as soon as possible.
I don't really feel proud of doing this, but I'm rather desperate for supplies. Normally I'd trade for bandages with the local drunks, but this one won't be wanting any water anymore.
Each person in the town has their own inventory, even the random bums on the streets, and anything they have will be in their loot box in case they die. If you're quick, you can actually get to the corpse before the robbers loot them, and take the stuff. Robbing corpses has no penalties as long as you're not the one doing the actual killing.
This includes guards, and they are usually LOADED, but in most cases you'll have to kill those yourself to get any loot. And yes, it's actually a very good way of getting free stuff, as long as you mix in some criminal killing before you visit stores and such to get your Reputation back up. I refrain from doing it since it really doesn't fit our character.
Okay, let's see if we can find out what's so special about this sample of blood that Burakh found in the slaughterhouse.
Burakh was right! The blood is still teeming with life, even if it's in a test tube. It really shouldn't... The other samples we took were all dead before we could get here, like normal blood. There's nothing to provide oxygen to the cells anymore.
This is amazing, the Sand Dirt is slowly being defeated by those antibodies... If you can refine this into a proper serum, it's most likely that it would be able to cure even the most serious infection.
I've never seen a person with blood like this before. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't have the evidence right in front of my eyes.
I'll have to report this to Burakh right after I've talked to Young Vlad.
: You're still awake? Working hard as always, then...Bachelor: I have found the Worms. They informed me that you too, master Vlad, participated in the black market of panacea!
Young Vlad: Yes... As soon as I learned that Burakh invented a working cure, I decided to take control over all the supply streams. I asked the Worms to help me smuggle some out of the Apiary. I didn't do it out of greed, but it was better to have some control over the market. It was inevitable that someone else would have tried the same if I didn't act quickly.
Bachelor: I think you only care about the profits. When you pretend to care about your friends, that is only a smoke screen.
Young Vlad: ... My former reputation is likely to pursue me for a long time. But everything has changed. I have changed. It was only this morning that I wanted the black market for myself, and I bought up everything that Burakh made.
Bachelor: So what?
Young Vlad: I have given it all away. To the people that needed it the most. That was my own decision. To those who were nearly lost because of my faults.
Bachelor: To whom?
Young Vlad: I promised not to disclose their names. You see, I am afraid of Klara. She is masterful in stealing from people everything that she need. Both words and things. However, I can tell you that one of them is Mark Immortal, who runs the theater. He does not keep it a secret, but he is also in a special position. He actually has a hospital to run now.
Bachelor: I take it you have left just one bottle for yourself?
Young Vlad: Now I need neither money nor a cure. I want to give the plague a chance to punish me for my foul deeds. I have another purpose now. You can call me sentimental, but don't laugh...
Bachelor: I'll have to think about this.
I think I better talk to Mark about this. It's hard to know if Young Vlad is speaking the truth or not. Probably he's charged a lot for each vial and is just trying to buy some time. Well, he's got nowhere else to hide now that his informers from the Apiary has turned on him.
Hmm, I wonder what the best path to the theater is from here. Let me check my map.
Let me just unfold the next page so I can see the theater as well...
This... isn't... really... happening!
What was that? Am I starting to hallucinate in the middle of the day now? I could have sworn I saw something else when I stared at the map. Some sort of bull, was it? But there's nothing like that drawn on the map.
I need some fresh air, right now.
I've been looking for drunks for some time now. Bandages will always be in short supply, but you get hurt more and more often as the days go by. You'll often see me with extremely low health, my immunity system really messed up and with my blood filled with the Sand Plague. I can't take medicine because then I'll die from the health loss.
The first time you're playing Pathologic, things will be like this ALL THE TIME. It's great!
:
See, what spectators I have now! They rarely applaud and never ask for
an encore, but at least they don't boo us off the stage. And, as you can
see, every night is sold out.Bachelor: Tell me, did Young Vlad really sell you some bottles of panacea?
Mark Immortal: He didn't really sell them. He took only symbolical payment, almost nothing. You know, I never expected such a thing from him. Normally I would have said this was a calculated move from his side, but this time I believe him. Many things have changed, even for me.
Bachelor: Did he convince you to follow him in his new 'purpose' as well?
Mark Immortal: No. First of all, I have my ideals set already, since a long time. The final rescue will not come from the panacea. It is just a momentary pause. But recently one thing happened to me that forced me to reconsider how to look at things. So, I believe Vlad has truly changed.
Bachelor: What was it that made you change your mind?
Mark Immortal: I saw an opportunity to deny destiny. I'm so tired of it. You know, many people see my pantomimes as ways to escape their burdens for a while, but I know that it is not so. Every day they confirm that our fates are pre-determined and we are just acting them out. But now I have beheld a change of a miracle.
Bachelor: Please, go on. What is this miracle?
Mark Immortal: It's the Tower. The only thing that interrupts my pantomimes is the Tower. To be exact, everything connected to it. Those things cannot be twisted and twirled like puppets. A miracle is something that overcomes inevitability. The Tower is able to make miracles. It's all logical.
Bachelor: I don't understand your logic there.
Mark Immortal: You will have much opportunity to think about it. We'd better not hurry to make conclusions. I think it is now my saving harbor. The last harbor. You better keep a sober head.
Bachelor: I could do without more thinking. There has been too many stunning discoveries as it is.
Mark Immortal: Oh, I can believe that.
Bachelor: Can you at least tell me who else got a cure from Young Vlad?
Mark Immortal: Well, to some of the girls. Julia, Lara, and one more who begs to keep her name a secret. Trust me, they will need it in the near future.
Bachelor: So it seems Vlad was honest after all. Thank you, Mark.
Summary: Burakh really has found a cure! It's some sort of strange blood he has 'found' in the slaughterhouses. It's got all the cells and stuff that normal human blood has, but something is really unusual with it. Burakh probably knows just what it is but he's not telling us.
Young Vlad hunted down and bought up most of the samples of the cure that were made so far, but he's had a change of heart and has given it all away to people he think deserves them more. Mark confirmed the situation, and said that a few of the young ladies each got a full dose. Something about them going to get into danger soon?
The good news is that we're done with the day quest now, so no Adherent will die even if we just sleep through the rest of the day. The bad news is that we are almost dead and will probably need to sleep through the rest of the day to recover. But there's still lots more to be found in day 8! How will we find enough time? Maybe a cup of coffee or two?
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