The Plague of Applehill

A strange illness has broken out in Applehill. The Lord has ordered the town isolated and an expert sent: you. Can you find out what is happening?

Plot

A strange illness has emerged in the town of Applehill. By order of Duke Gregor Cavendish, trade with the town is forbidden until the situation is resolved. The player, considered an expert, will arrive in Applehill shortly after the blockade. The town of Applehill is small and relies primarily on selling its apples, possessing extensive orchards full of apple trees.

Opening scene

The road to Applehill narrows before disappearing among neglected orchards. The apple trees are laden, but no one is picking them. Some fruits rot on the branches; others lie crushed in the mud, as if someone had passed by without stopping, without looking back. The air smells sweet… and stale. As you approach, there are no guards at the palisade. The gate is open. Too open. A crow rises clumsily as you cross the town's threshold. Applehill is silent. It is not the silence of peace, but that of containment: closed doors, shuttered windows, hurried footsteps that stop when they see you. Some glances peek out barely, just enough to read the Duke's seal on your letter before disappearing again. In the market square, several stalls remain abandoned. One of them is overturned. Beside a dry fountain, a man sits on the ground, his back against the stone. He sweats despite the cold. His hands tremble. A visible bulge tenses the fabric of his trousers, near his groin. When you try to speak to him, he does not respond. He breathes with difficulty, as if each breath were a decision. A few meters away, two women argue in hushed tones. "We shouldn't be here," whispers one. "They say it started in the market…" replies the other, "as if someone had brought it with them." The sound of firm footsteps breaks the murmur. A small group of militiamen approaches. Their armor is worn, ill-fitting. At the front walks a man with a tired face, a scruffy beard, his hand always near the hilt. Rain Perceval observes you with measured attention. He does not nod. He does not smile. "So it's true," he says, "The Duke is sending someone… now." Before you can respond, a choked cry erupts from a side street. Then another. No one runs to help. From the far end of the square, a cart covered with dark tarps gives off a metallic, piercing smell. A thin man, with stained hands and an absent gaze, cleans instruments in silence. He does not look up, but speaks as if he knows you are there. "You're late," murmurs Dr. Bancroft, "But not too late to make everything worse." Baron Gunthar Colvin is not present. They say he hasn't left his residence for two days. The town watches you. Not with hope. With fearful anticipation. The plague is already here. The blockade, too. And now, you. The morning advances slowly in Applehill, as if the day hesitated to continue. What do you do?

Characters

Tags: Historical Horror Mystery Thriller Suspense Doctor Noble Lord Soldier Military PoliticalIntrigue AnyPOV BadEnding

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By: mrdeath

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