Rat Food
"The first time I came here I got lost for a week," Grom says as he helps you up the last few rungs of the ladder. "Ma sent me here on an errand. Gave me a parcel to deliver and a name but didn't warn me that I was walking into a maze. Griff had to come and find me."
After all the twists and turns you can understand how easy it is to get lost. If it wasn't for Grom you don't think you could find the way out.
"Didn't help that I was drunk for most of it but pubs are great places to sleep as long as you don't mind the noise."
You're about to ask Grom what he was delivering when both of you hear a woman shouting up ahead.
"Don't let them any higher," a woman shouts in a commanding voice. "Johan, kick it before it gets up your trouser leg!"
"What now?" Grom groans as he breaks into a trot making sure that you're behind him. You soon round a corner to find a group of humans dressed in matching long grey cloaks clustered at the top of a staircase. A heavy door blocks their way up but two of them are trying to break it open while the others are kicking and swinging heavy bags at a swarm of rats attempting to reach them.
"Sarah, get the alcohol out of my bag," a tall woman at the front shouts over her shoulder before kicking a rat and sending it sailing through the air to land at your feet. Grom lets out a squeal and jumps out of the way. "Pour some on a rag and set fire to it."
"No fire!" Grom shouts as he runs forward waving his hands. "You'll set fire to everything."
The tall woman looks up in surprise and points at you. "Please help us. They won't leave us alone."
"What do you want us to do?" Grom pulls his axe and takes a swipe with the flat of his blade but the rats dodge out of the way. "Rats are everywhere in the slab. Never seen them attack a large group before."
"It's the medicine. They're drawn to it," the woman answers before swinging a heavy bag and knocking a rat from the steps. Her friends were doing the same but for every rat they knocked away another leapt into its space. "We're doctors and we need it to treat our patients."
"You can't help anyone if you're nibbled to bits by rats. Let them have it." Grom grimaces as a particularly large rat breaks away from the steps and turns its attention on him. "Urgh, this is why I hate the sewers. Chuck the medicine or we're all going to get bitten."
"There must be another way," the tall doctor implores but Grom seems lost for ideas.
Tell them to chuck the medicine
or
Find another way
One of the doctors falls from the steps and the rats swarm toward them. You add your voice to Grom's in telling the doctors to throw the medicine and let the rats have it.
The tall woman quickly reaches into the bag and draws out a jar full of mould. The rats squeak loudly and mass at her feet but she throws the jar and it smashes further along the alleyway. Instantly the rats chase after it, abandoning the steps and leaving the doctors alone.
You and Grom rush forward to help the fallen doctor up and soon you are all retreating leaving the rats to their medicinal feast.
"I wish there had been another way," the tall doctor says glancing over her shoulder. "We could have treated so many people but now they will have to go without."
"Can't you make more?" Grom asks as he munches on a sausage.
"We can but it takes a few weeks to grow." The tall doctor straightens up and gets a determined look about her. "Thank you for trying to help. I'm Dr Tally. If you would help us further and escort us to the exit I will reward you. We must return to the lab as quickly as possible and prepare another culture."
"Well," Grom shifts uneasily and nods in your direction. "I was showing this one around so it's up to them."
Grom and the doctor look at you as you make up your mind.
Escort the doctors to the exit
or
Point them in the right direction and carry on to the Golden Temple
You look around for something to lure the rats away and spot the bundle of sausages poking out of Grom's satchel.
"Not them!" Grom shouts as you snatch them from his bag and lob them further down the passage.
The cloth opens up and a dozen of Walt's finest fly through the air. The scent draws the rat's attention and they race each other to the surprise feast. The rats start fighting over the sausages and lose interest in the medicine.
"Now's your chance," Grom says waving for the doctors to get away from the stairs.
"Thank you," the tall woman says as she reaches your side. "I'm Dr Tally. I hope you understand but we couldn't give the medicine up, it's too important."
"We'd best go before they finish with my sausages," Grom says glaring at you. He leads the way and the doctors thank you as you all leave the alleyway. You fall in alongside Dr Tally and catch a strong cheesy scent coming from the bag.
"Oh, that's the medicine." Dr Tally reaches into the bag as you walk and pulls out a jar. Inside is a lump of mould growing on what you guess was once a tasty lump of cheese. "It's wonderful stuff. We scrape a little of the mould off and apply it to the skin of our patients. It can cure all sorts of ailments. I won't rest until I know how it works. Who knows what else mould like this can do?"
You agree that it sounds promising but are unsure about the smell.
"Oh, I should have taken more time to seal the jar but I was in a rush to get here. My staff and I run a small hospital in the Underditch but there are people in need here as well. If you don't mind me saying you don't look like you live here."
You explain that Grom was leading you to the Golden Temple.
"I've always wanted to see it." Dr Tilly leans in close. "They say that the doors have healing properties but very few people know the temple's true location. If you are heading there maybe we could come along?"
"Fine by me," Grom says when you ask him if the doctors can accompany you. "After that, I can point you in the right direction."
You and Dr Tilly talk while Grom takes the lead once more
Take the trainee doctors with you.
Parent Plot
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