Infected Town

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

## Behind the Scenes

### Chapter(s)

"In the Shadow of Ramparts"
 "Coronation"

Being a sprawling metropolis full of winding streets, large-but-crammed dwellings, and even a sizable canal, the **infected town** is far more akin to a city. Easily one of the most expansive areas in the game, it is explored twice during two separate chapters, "In the Shadow of Ramparts" and "Coronation".

## History

### In the Shadow of Ramparts

Seeing that the Prima Macula in Hugo's blood is getting worse, Amicia resolves to infiltrate the University in search of the Sanguinis Itinera.

Joined by Mélie, who seeks to liberate her brother Arthur from the Bastion, Amicia first arrives at the town by the ramparts, which connect to the surrounding forest. Yet even before entering the town itself, the two girls see that all is not well: the high, arching bridge in the distance is flooded with the lights of countless carriages, as the Inquisition has begun forcibly evacuating the native Bourgeois citizens.

Penetrating deeper into the town, Amicia soon discovers just how much worse the Bite is getting. While she has already seen the effects on an urban setting, a larger population in time of plague inevitably means more death. Thus is Amicia confronted by increasingly-horrific as she continues toward the University. Nor are the rats the only killers she encounters: having placed the entire town under martial law, the soldiers of the Inquisition now slaughter any remaining citizens in the open streets.

Eventually, Amicia finds herself at an unfavorable crossroads: her path to reach the University will require her to pass through the town's cemetery, now overflowing with both the deceased and plague rats alike. It is here that she overhears an alchemist of the Inquisition telling a pair of soldiers of the Inquisition's need for a material known as "Episanguis", which is vital to the order's great project. Produced naturally by the plague-bearing rats, Episanguis exhibits many unique properties. When mixed with Sulphur, Episanguis is used to produce the concoction known as "Odoris", which temporarily lures rats to a certain location.

Hearing this information, Amicia deduces that the Inquisition's purpose goes far beyond merely evacuating the town's citizens. Yet so too does she recognize the usefulness of Odoris, and proceeds to harvest some nearby Episanguis to make a batch for herself before continuing on to the University.

Outside the towering structure, she overhears that the Grand Inquisitor himself is present at the University. This new information aside, Amicia proceeds across the yard, infiltrating the University via either the front gates or a conveniently-placed side door.

### Coronation

Having pledged to take the fight to the Inquisition, Amicia, Hugo, Lucas, Mélie, and Rodric infiltrate the town in search of Grand Inquisitor Vitalis. Though their journey is long, they don't have far to look: the towering Cathedral looms ominously over the rest of the town. Likely as a result of Vitalis gaining the Macula's power, the town has only further decayed from when Amicia first journeyed here. Though the rats have vacated the public streets, an unnatural fog hangs over the town, the air above being a sickly yellow-green. The various buildings and even the cathedral appear to be rotting, covered in the rats' Episanguis.

So too is the town under heavy guard, as if Vitalis expects their arrival. But by this point, Hugo has now learned to fully control the black rats - whether by Amicia's stealth or the Macula's power, the seemingly-unstoppable soldiers fall one-by-one as the children make their way ever closer to the cathedral. Yet just as they reach the final approach to the towering building, tragedy strikes: using one of the Inquisition's carts to shield Amicia and Hugo from their archers, Rodric is killed in their stead.

Amidst Mélie's raging grief, Amicia reminds the surviving orphans that Arthur and Rodric died so that their mission may succeed. With grim resolve, the children enter the cathedral, intent on bringing an end to Vitalis' reign once and for all.

## Noteworthy Locations

### Cemetery

In happier times, the dead likely stayed in their graves. But by the time of the Bite, the number of corpses exceeds that of available plots, and so victims of the plague pile up in the streets. Here Amicia learns to craft Odoris, which she uses to proceed toward the University.

### University

*Main article: University*

The main objective of "In the Shadow of Ramparts". With the Inquisition placing the town under martial law, their alchemists are free to search for the Sanguinis Itinera without interruption. Such is the importance of this quest that even the Grand Inquisitor himself has arrived to oversee these efforts. With the same goal in mind, Amicia infiltrates the University to find the only book that could save her brother.

### Rodric's Forge

*Main article: Rodric's Forge*

A secret location that players can find for an Achievement. In happier times, Rodric worked here with his father as a blacksmith. But Vitalis required their skills to retrieve the Sanguinis Itinera, and so the Inquisition came calling.

### Cathedral

*Main article: Cathedral*

The main objective of "Coronation", effectively serving as the arena for the game's final boss fight. Towering over the rest of the town, this once-majestic house of worship has since become a fitting symbol of Vitalis' twisted theology. By the time of the game's ending, its grand architecture appears to be rotting, affected as it is by Vitalis' misuse of the Prima Macula.

## Gallery

### In the Shadow of Ramparts

The Inquisition evacuates the town's citizenryThe outer wall serves as the way inWhat may have once been the town's main thoroughfareDeath has already come to the townThe Inquisition is no longer taking prisoners...The town's canal still appears to be clear......until Amicia reaches the other side.
### Coronation

Once again, Amicia prepares to storm the rampartsForced to go by the main gate, the children proceed down a nearby alleyThe town's entrance bridge proves a gruesome sightNo signs of life remainWhat may have once been the town square now lies desolateThe legacy of a great blacksmithThe road leading to the cathedral, overseen by the Inquisition's deadly archersA once-bustling marketplace in the plaza before the cathedral, it now feeds only the ratsThe final push to the cathedral

## Trivia

* At the beginning of "In the Shadow of Ramparts", the player is presented with an overview of the entire town. In the distance, the player can see their objective, the University, illuminated by torchlight. Far to the left of this is what appears to be the 'Cathedral' that serves as the final area in the game during "Coronation".
* Given the distinctive shape and architecture of this building, the cathedral in question may be intended to be, or otherwise inspired by, the Notre-Dame de Paris. Construction on this cathedral dates back to the thirteenth century, with Paris being the capital of France since long before the game's setting of 1348.

## References

1. ↑ *Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris* – "Notre-Dame Cathedral | History, Facts, Style" by FriendsofNotreDamedeParis. Published January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
2. ↑ *HISTORY* – "Paris celebrates 2,000th birthday" by History.com Editors. Published November 24, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2023.