The leader of the kids asked me to bring him army rifles... I'm still not sure if it's a good idea, but it might be the only way for me to get to the actual inside of the Tower. I'll see if there is something else to be done while I make up my mind.
I don't think it would be a good idea to reveal this to Aglaja just yet. However, I have plenty of other topics to talk to her about. She probably has her eyes on the army already and might have some new information for me.
: I have disturbing news. Burakh has disappeared.Bachelor: What do you mean? He's left town?
Aglaja: He went to the Apiary under my assignment, and he has not returned yet. I had high hopes about his campaign. He was not only to bring me information about the internal schedule of this so called Abattoir but also something else.
Bachelor: What?
Aglaja: The Panacea. Today Burakh was going to make a final variant of a remedy that can cure a patient infected with the Sand Dirt, no matter how grave their condition would be.
Bachelor: The final variant has existed for about a day now.
Aglaja: ... Can I rely on you?
Bachelor: Certainly.
Aglaja: It's not just about the panacea. Burakh is a much more serious person than many think. Probably even himself. Could you find some information about him? Anything that can hint of some secret? I do not doubt that he is a man of his word, but his invention could lead to some... unpredictable dangers. Do you understand?
Bachelor: If I have a chance, I will find out. Do you have anything else you want to talk about?
Aglaja: I was just thinking, what different forms force can take.
Bachelor: But the power of knowledge will always find a way to triumph over the force of armor.
Aglaja: I'm hoping to show that to the military. With your help, certainly.
Bachelor: How can I help you?
Aglaja: If you manage to collect any exhaustive information about this strange structure, the Polyhedron, please bring it to me.
Bachelor: I have included exactly that into my plans for today, actually. Don't worry, I've made progress already.
Aglaja: That's just wonderful. Let everyone do what he is predisposed to. The Abattoir will be opened to Burakh, and it seems to me that this strange Tower will open only to you.
Bachelor: I have high hopes about it. I've already talked to Victor Kain about it.
Aglaja: Oh, and before you go... Some women have been asking my messengers for you. They refused to state their actual requests but insisted on seeing you in person as soon as possible and that you would know them by their first names, Anna, Lara and Julia. You certainly seem popular with some of the townspeople, but don't forget your priorities.
If it would have been just Anna and Lara asking for me, I wouldn't have felt compelled to visit them personally, but Julia seems like the kind of woman who wouldn't ask for help if she didn't have to. She's got a similar sense of pride as the Inquisitor, although thankfully Julia puts her ambitions to use elsewhere.
I haven't picked up a map for today yet, but by now you're pretty much used to the different zones and can travel relatively safely. Having and using a rifle as your main weapon makes the robbers and arsonists pretty trivial, but the damn rats still present some troubles.
:
People should help each other. This is my firm belief. Perish yourself,
but help your comrade. Stretch a hand today to your neighbor, and he
will lend a hand to you tomorrow. And even if he won't, so what? The
giver will still have his virtues.Bachelor: Oh, do go on, please! It's a true pleasure to listen to such a speech.
Anna Angel: A great change happened to Young Vlad recently! The radiant sight, courageous words, the nobles deeds... All speaks well for him. Where once there was but a cynic and blood-thirsty man, now there is a hero. Well, I shall follow his example too!
Bachelor: This is a laudable motive, Anna. I wonder how it will turn out for you. What do you plan to do?
Anna Angel: I have got something that Lara asked for. A tiny instrument of self-defense. No, do not thank me, I did not have to pay for it. I received it from a former Mistress, long ago. But I cannot leave my home today. If you help me out and anonymously give Lara this present, I will give you my most valuable Panacea in return.
Bachelor: Why would you want to give Lara a gun?
Anna Angel: Lara needs it for self-defense. She's afraid of the soldiers. You have to give it to her in secret, not asking unnecessary questions and not tell her my name. I do not want anyone to think I am doing this to receive praise.
Bachelor: Oh, how suspicious all this sounds.
Anna Angel: It's all I can do to help her. I need to do whatever I can to clear myself of the former stains on my conscience. And what kind of gratitude do I receive from you? You're not even appreciating my sacrifice.
Bachelor: Keep that gun for now, I will have to think about this first. Just don't use it!
Hah! If she only knew that Young Vlad only acted that way out of self interest. I'm sure that by tomorrow morning she'll have turned back to her old self.
On the other hand, Lara might be the type of woman to help a male friend find a gun. She definitely wouldn't know a thing about how to use them herself, or even where to find one. I'll have to talk to her and see what this is all about.
Clothes shops sell some army supplies now, including some very cheap rifle bullets.
: Please do not wonder about the strangeness of my request. I need a pistol. And bullets... or whatever it shoots with.Bachelor: Indeed, with bullets, with bullets...
Lara Ravel: I've already asked everybody. Even the Devotress! You know she carries that small pistol. I need something like that, but she didn't want to give it away. She says that I am of interest to her, and that she needs my life...
Bachelor: And why do you need a pistol? Did one of your friends ask you for it?
Lara Ravel: I can't tell you... Actually, I'm afraid of the soldiers. But it has to be small, like Klara's. I won't be able to shoot with another one. I'll thank you and give you money. How much would it cost?
Bachelor: Lara, I don't like this at all.
Lara: Oh, after all you are neither my husband nor my brother! If you don't get it for me I'll ask the Haruspicus. He is far less squeamish than you are. I will give you one rare and valuable thing in exchange... The medicine I got yesterday.
Bachelor: And you don't need it yourself? No, Lara. I need you alive. Don't even dream of running around with a firearm.
This is bad news! Lara sounded really desperate, and who knows what she'll attempt in her misinformed attempts to find a weapon.
I better talk to Julia quickly, and then maybe contact the patrol guard and see if they can patrol the area where Lara lives to make her calm down.
The army guys can use their rifles but they take a very long time to aim. If they do actually shoot them, they deal about as much damage as your own rifle, and can take care of enemies in one or maybe two shots.
If the enemy gets too close to them, however, they start fighting with their rifle by smacking people over the head instead. Sadly, this is not nearly as effective.
:
It's great that you came. So, what impression did the military give
you? Have you seen Alexander the Great? Is he smart? What about his
imagination? Sense of humor? Please, be honest with me.Bachelor: Why do you ask that all of a sudden?
Julia: I am checking my ideas about Destiny. You know that I am a bit of a fatalist... I have planned one trick for this and I will need your help. Meanwhile, we will save sweet Lara a lot of trouble and probably save the life of an innocent.
Bachelor: Really?
Julia: Here is the intrigue. Lara Ravel has decided to kill the general. But the darling is so naive that she isn't a very good conspirer. Half the city is already aware that she is looking for a pistol. Everybody says no to her, of course.
Bachelor: Well, that's certainly some news!
Julia: The intrigue proceeds. The general received an anonymous letter that a murderous assault is being prepared. And the following request was attached to the note: If it is a women, don't kill her. Instead, lock her up, because she will be carrying a toy weapon.
Bachelor: Where is the sense in that?
Julia: Block is a knight. In exchange for a promise of personal security, the author of the letter promised to give away the name of the rebel, so that they don't suspect anybody and everybody. I think you won't get too angry now if I tell you that Anna is the author of the letter.
Bachelor: Is she ever honest with anyone?
Julia: No, don't be too strict with her. She is an acress, a child, even if she thinks herself that she is serious. The assault won't be a success because the military will be prepared and the weapon that Anna agreed to give Lara won't shoot. They will treat Lara as if she is insane, and put her under strict house arrest.
Bachelor: So what is your plan?
Julia: The general would like to know who this supposed murderer will turn out to be. Tell him that is is me, and that if any other woman comes it is simply because they are foolish enough to try to save me from my punishment. Let them put me under house arrest instead. I need this, but I can't tell you why yet.
Bachelor: Do you think Block will even believe me?
Julia: Of course. The general treats you like his main ally already. He won't have time to check your information too deeply, and he trusts you. Don't worry, everything will turn out well in the end.
Bachelor: Why do you think so? I don't understand what you are trying to accomplish.
Julia: Don't worry. Nobody is going to suffer. I have a reward for you as well, if you help me.
Bachelor: I'll think about it.
We have to pick one of the ladies to go along with if we want to score that Panacea (and we certainly want those). Unfortunately we can only get one. There may be other rewards and consequences for each choice but we don't know what those would be.
Until the next update, just let me know the name of the person who has the best plan.
Lara: Buy a working gun from the black market and give it to Lara.
Anna: Take the non-working gun from Anna and hand that over.
Julia: Let Julia spoil the plot instead.
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