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Ten of them wear bulky suits of black and white plastic, with their shaven heads mostly obscured by their gas masks. Some of them wield peculiar spears, with handles jutting out of their hafts near the spearhead. Others carry spears with glass canisters mounted on their butts, complete with odd shapes floating about inside of them. A couple of them are even lugging around flamethrowers, though the igniters aren't on right now. Spitalians, according to Karlee's description.
The remaining two soldiers are far more heavily armoured, covered from head to toe in sophisticated white body armour that gleams like porcelain. Their faces are hidden behind elegant and compact helmets, complete with cherry red visors to obscure their eyes. In their arms, they clutch assault rifles that make your bunker's submachine guns look like toys, complete with gleaming bayonets. These are the Hellvetics.
“Halt,” barks one of the Spitalians as you approach, his voice muffled by his gas mask. You obey and gesture for the Voss to do the same – they're terrified. The Spitalians with the glass canisters on their spears step forward and hold their spear butts out towards you, as though they're performing some sort of ritual. Inside of each container, a chunk of flesh bobs around limply. One by one, the Spitalians repeat the same syllable to each other while you and your companions are subjected to this strange rite.
“Clean.”
“Clean.”
“Clean.”
“You're clean,” snaps the Spitalian who first spoke. “Proceed to registration.” He jabs a finger towards the kiosk, where another Hellvetic awaits – but this one is a woman. Her head is wrapped in a padded coif instead of being hidden behind a helmet, yet her expression is undeniably sour as you approach, with the Voss nervously shuffling after you.
“Please state your names, your business in Mulhouse and the duration of your stay,” she commands in a bored, almost tired tone. You give her the answer that you rehearsed – Phanuhl, trade and just a couple of days. She taps the details into a battered old tablet and without any further ceremony, she allows you past the checkpoint as soon as she has all of your names down.
You're in. With a gaggle of anxious Voss trailing after you, you struggle to recall the directions that Karlee gave you.
Where should you go to start with?
>The Sanatorium, the Spitalian headquarters and Mulhouse's hospital.
>The Palace, the Hellvetic barracks, it's apparently not as grand as it sounds.
>The Alcove, where you can sell the gear you brought to the Chroniclers.
>The Garage, Herrmann's favourite watering hole where rumours flow freely.
>The Grid, a sprawling market district where anything can be bought or sold.
>The Gardens, a condemned part of town where Karlee apparently has connections.
