Protector's Duty

Comforting Hugo in the destruction of the Red City

## Trophies

"**Protector's Duty**" is the fourth chapter of *A Plague Tale: Requiem*.

## Plot

### Synopsis

> Vaudin thought Hugo wouldn't make it and persuaded Beatrice to leave for the headquarters of the Order in Marseille where her son's devastating power might be contained. Amicia was against it but still helped Lucas to reach the harbor and Joseph, a boat captain who would take them aboard. Unconscious, Hugo released gigantic waves of rats, devouring the city. Vaudin died before Amicia managed to calm her brother down. The boy is horrified by what he did to this city he loved. The reunited family can now head towards Marseille.
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### Summary

#### Curfew

Two days have passed, and Hugo hasn't been getting better. Amicia is furious and Lucas has to stop her from barging into Hugo's room. Vaudin says a Carrier reaching the final threshold is a very rare event, and Hugo must be isolated. He mentions that the order has special buildings for such events. Beatrice tries to soften the news that Hugo is condemned; no potion can save him at this point. Amicia insists they search for the island, but Vaudin dismisses it as a child's fantasy. When she asks why he had a fresco of it, he hesitates. Beatrice refuses to allow Amicia into Hugo's room given her enraged state, given how the Macula feeds on Hugo's emotions.

Vaudin has convinced Beatrice that they need to get to the Order's headquarters in Marseille as soon as possible. He already has a boat and a captain, Joseph, who needs to be warned. Around five o'clock Beatrice sends Lucas to find Joseph, and he brings Amicia with him.

As they walk through the city, Lucas apologizes to Amicia for keeping Hugo's incoming death a secret. They soon hear a soldier decreeing that a curfew has been put in place; the city is in lockdown, and anyone caught in the street will be arrested. There are patrols.

#### Night Work

Lucas spots a watchtower that leads to the harbor. Soldiers are leading carts full of bodies to the harbor, explaining where all the bodies are being taken.

Lucas asks Amicia to hold back from attacking any of the men, worried she will be drawn into a frenzy like she was in the barn. She agrees. Continuing forward, Lucas tells Amicia that he asked Vaudin about the island fresco, like she asked him to, and he said it was “just” a symbol. Lucas agrees that the island, the Macula awakening, and the symbol are too much to ignore or dismiss.

Lucas apologizes again for Hugo's condemnation, and she protests that he isn't dead yet. Amicia agrees again not to kill any soldiers. They reach the docks and spot the Order's boat across the harbor. They make their way through, sneaking past soldiers.

#### Risky Itinerary

Soldiers load a cart with large jars. When the cart gets stuck, their frustration draws a massive horde of rats to the area; the soldiers are killed and the jars shatter. Lucas identifies the jar's contents as tar, which is highly flammable. Amicia lights it on fire and they continue on, all the while bickering about whether Marseille is the right choice or not.

#### The Tar Workshop

A large portion of the pontoon has been destroyed by rats, so Amicia and Lucas take a detour through a tar workshop, likely where boat hulls were repaired. There are mixing pools full of resin, and barrels on a higher platform with the diluent needed to create tar. Lucas shows Amicia how to make tar herself.

#### Obligatory Cooperation

While working their way through a second tar workshop, a soldier comes out of a side room. He's trapped by the rats. Amicia and Lucas cooperate with the soldier to travel through the workshop. Once they're all free from the rats, the soldier tries to escort them back into the city. When they refuse, he attacks. Amicia can either kill him or escape him.

#### The Mass Grave of the Marshes

Amicia and Lucas finally reach the boat. A soldier is telling Joseph he should've left while he could, and that now he's seen too much and he's under arrest. Joseph headbutts the man and spits on him. He starts to set off, but Amicia and Lucas plead with him to help, and tell him they have a child. He tells them to meet him at the next pontoon.

When a soldier spots Amicia and Lucas, he's suddenly shot down; Joseph has a crossbow mounted on his boat. While they travel through the marshland shore, Joseph covers for them. Amicia tells Lucas the stakes have grown too high, and he agrees; she can shoot to kill again.

They make their way through the swamp and soon find a massive bonfire where soldiers are burning hundreds of bodies.

When they finally reach Joseph, the ground shakes - rats stirring. Amicia runs to get to Hugo while Lucas stays with Joseph, planning to pick up the rest of the group at the docks near the de Rune house.

#### Hugo's Call

Amicia runs through the village and spots her house in the distance. Villagers have emerged from their homes despite the curfew, wondering about why the ground shook. Suddenly, a sea of rats emerges from the ground and start pouring through the village. All Amicia can do is run while the villagers are devoured by the rats. She fears what must be happening for Hugo to be so distressed. One of the towers of the fort collapses over the city and rats pour out; they start overwhelming entire buildings and flooding the streets. Amicia runs across rooftops and finally reaches her house.

Hugo is having a nightmare, and Beatrice doesn't know how to calm him. Amicia takes over. Part of their house collapses and Vaudin is killed. Beatrice and Amicia sit over Hugo while the entire fort is demolished by rats outside their house.

Hugo wakes up and the rats start to subside; he was having a nightmare. Beatrice and Amicia agree they must leave before everything collapses; they leave to meet Lucas and Joseph at the dock. Amicia carries Hugo through the decimated village. He is horrified when he realizes what he's done; survivors weep and fires burn in the ashes of the red city.

Amicia, Beatrice, and Hugo join Lucas and Joseph on the boat. He appears unfazed by the news of Vaudin's death, and they set sail for Marseille.

## Gallery

Destroyed Red City

Navigation

* I – Under a New Sun
* II – Newcomers
* III – A Burden of Blood
* IV – **Protector's Duty**
* V – In Our Wake
* VI – Leaving All Behind
* VII – Felons
* VIII – A Sea of Promises
* IX – Tales and Revelations
* X – Bloodline
* XI – The Cradle of Centuries
* XII – The Life We Deserve
* XIII – Nothing Left
* XIV – Healing Our Wounds
* XV – Dying Sun
* XVI – King Hugo
* XVII – Legacy of the de Rune Family