Quoted By:
“My tribe was attacked by a plague o' insects,” you begin, doing your best to dumb yourself down. After all, you're playing the part of a tribal savage. “Many o' us were covered in bites an' stings. Those who had it worst have started to cough up white hair, one even has a strange rash.” None of the Voss have the rash yet, but this adds to the urgency of your story. “A traveller told us that it was called Sepsis, said that the masked ones could cure it before it got out o' control. Is it true? Can you rid us o' this sickness?”
Oberheim wears a contemplative expression while he sits back and listens to your tale. By this time that you have finished, the look on his face has become quite grim.
“My condolences. The advice that I have to offer depends on the stage of the infection. Those who only expel small amounts of fungal discharge – the white hair that you speak of – can be treated with antimycotics. Those who possess a mandala bloom – the rash – should undergo complete desporification at our facilities, so that we may determine whether the infection has become irremediable.”
You try to look as confused as humanly possible – a savage shouldn't understand all of those big words, after all. With a sigh, Oberheim tries again.
“I can offer you a remedy for the white hair. To cure the rash, you will need to bring the ones with the rash to us. There is a chance that we will not be able to heal them because the sickness has become too strong. If that is the case, the only solution is euthanasia – to kill them before the infection spreads.” The Spitalian tries his best to look apologetic.
“I ain't about to kill any o' my people if I can to help it,” you protest with a frown. “I was told that you demand payment for your healin'. Is that so?”
“I am afraid so, yes. Though the Spital wishes it could cure the world of Sepsis without asking for a single draft, its resources are finite. A course of antimycotics costs two hundred drafts, while each desporification procedure costs nine hundred drafts. If you cannot afford this treatment, then I am afraid that you should euthanise those suffering from Sepsis as soon as they develop the rash. There is one other option, however.”
“What's that?”
“The Spital can supply independent tribes and clans with doctors, you see – one of these would be able to ensure the well-being of your tribe and tend to its maladies. They would even be able to request medication from the Spital, if it is necessary. You will not even need to pay for a doctor's services with drafts. Instead, they will arrange a tithing system after their arrival – your tribe will regularly supply the Spital with whatever resources it produces in exchange for the doctor's services.”
