Afflicted Village

The title of this article is conjectural. Although this article is based on canonical information, the actual name of this subject is pure **conjecture**.

## General Information

### Inhabitant(s)

Clervie
 Conrad Malfort

## Behind the Scenes

### Debut

*A Plague Tale: Innocence*

The **Afflicted Village** is a small village set along a nearby river from the de Rune estate, serving as the main setting for the second chapter "The Strangers". After fleeing the Inquisition, Amicia and Hugo arrive in search of the healer Laurentius, only to find the village seemingly abandoned.

## History

### Background

Through dialogue from both the de Rune family servants as well as Amicia referring to herself as their "lord's daughter" while begging for help, it can be inferred that Robert de Rune once ruled and safeguarded the lands surrounding this village. Yet neither lord nor subjects were prepared for the onslaught of the Bite. Spreading out from the crypt beneath the local church, the plague wrought havoc throughout the village, causing the townsfolk to become isolated from Lord de Rune.

One villager in particular, Conrad Malfort, was especially affected. Losing his son to the plague, Malfort was subsequently driven mad by grief and proceeded to rally his fellow villagers into an angry mob, hunting down and burning anyone they suspect might be responsible for the plague.

### The Strangers

By the time Amicia and Hugo wash up on the shore of the nearby river, the village has become completely desolate. The small marketplace lies empty outside the village gate, its fruit left to rot and the local animals abandoned in their stalls. Further in, what few villagers the children initially encounter are quick to shut themselves in their homes, cruelly shouting at the children to leave.

Matters take on an even grimmer tone as the de Rune siblings venture even further, coming upon Conrad Malfort and his mob in the middle of a burning. Fleeing along the twisting, mazelike streets, the children are eventually welcomed by the elderly Clervie, who outfits them with new clothes and allows Amicia to upgrade her sling at the workbench in her home. Unfortunately, an ensuing argument between the two siblings causes Amicia to reveal the truth of their parents' murder at the Inquisition's hands. As Hugo runs away in anger and sorrow, Amicia quickly gives chase, following her fleeing brother to the slope leading to the top of the village.

Before she can proceed further, however, Amicia is confronted by a maddened villager intent on killing her. Forced to test the capabilities of her improved sling, the older de Rune here commits her first kill, slaying the villager with a single rock to the head. Taking a moment to process the horror of what she has just done, Amicia is forced to quickly give chase once more after hearing Hugo's cry for help. Arriving at the very top of the village, Amicia is confronted by Conrad Malfort one last time, who advances on her in full armor and wielding a deadly wooden mace topped with metal spikes. Dodging around his cumbersome blows, Amicia uses her sling to knock off Malfort's armor piece-by-piece, all the while begging him to stop. As it becomes clear that the unhinged Malfort will not heed her pleas, Amicia is forced to kill him with her sling, and the two siblings quickly flee into the nearby church.

## Layout

### Marketplace

Located along the river outside the village gates, this is the first part of the village that the de Rune children pass through. In the wake of the plague, the fruit-laden stalls have been abandoned, the plenitude of apples left to rot. Wood piled in a corner near the stables lies similarly abandoned, as are the still-living horses who remain unaware of what has happened further into the village.

### Village Streets

The village itself is a labyrinth of narrow, winding streets running between the countless residences on either side. There are very few open areas within the village walls, an architectural feature that proves terrifying when Amicia and Hugo are forced to flee the village's crazed occupants.

Seemingly built on mountainous terrain, the village streets ultimately travel up into a slope, as the church is located at a higher elevation than the majority of the village, and can be seen looming high above.

### Clervie's House

The one sane villager left, Clervie is quick to open her door to the children. Small and humble, yet comfortable all the same, the elderly woman's home provides a welcome respite from the insanity out on the streets. On the ground floor, Hugo warms his hands by the welcoming fireplace, while Amicia is granted permission to use Clervie's workbench to upgrade her equipment.

Upstairs, Clervie's bedroom is similarly humble yet full of comfort, containing a decent-sized bed and handsomely-carved furniture. At the foot of the bed, Amicia can find additional materials in a wooden chest.