text: [Themes: Mystery, mystery, suspense]
  
  > Go down
  You descend...
  Stomach
  A flooded cavern. You hang terrifyingly over a pitch-dark expanse of undigested bile. The stomach walls are ruptured and lacerated and pockmarked with ulcers that leer evilly in your lens-light.
  
  And in the center of it all there is a mass, an island in the body-of-stomach. Sickening boli that have clumped together and extended their tendrils into the surrounding vitriol and flesh -- infected the bloodstream.
  infected the bloodstream.These are the things that killed Piper. These -- these things -- they must have grown inside her stomach.
  They must have destroyed her from the inside.
  They must have destroyed her from the inside.Not a comforting thought. It raises more questions than it answers.
  
  > look at the stomach
  Layers of flesh have been flayed away.
  
  > look at the bile
  Acid. Mucus. Chyme.
  
  > Go outside
  You withdraw upward...
  You clean the endoscope and put it in your pocket.
  
  This upscale clinic exudes a muted elegance. Chrome fixtures are lit by surgically placed spotlights and underscored by dizzyingly intricate sigil-work.
  
  An arch to the west leads back to the Turris Infinita foyer.
  
  Examiner Velox and his investigators are huddled around the bodies of Doctor Arturus, Creditor Nacarat, Sal, and Piper. Beside them, Justinian sits at a coffee table, brooding.
  
  > examine the torso
  Piper's clothes are muted and loosely fitted. She wears a cut-off frock, and above it a watchwoman's jacket with unidentifiable stains along the flaps. She would have been difficult to pick out in a working crowd -- or in a dark alley.
  
  You notice a square, flat outline in one of her jacket pockets.
  
  > examine the pocket
  A folded scrap of paper. Further investigation reveals it to be a list of names followed by -- numbers? Prices?
  
  of names followed by -- numbers? Prices?Sums of money.
  
  of names followed by -- numbers? Prices?Sums of money.You recognize some of the names on here, too -- you've bought your groceries, or your clothes, from these people in the past. All of the names have check marks beside them. Some of them are crossed out.
  
  check marks beside them. Some of them are crossed out.Has Piper been collecting debts?
  
  collecting debts?You reach the end of the page, and turn it over only to find the reverse side blank.
  
  to find the reverse side blank.Only... hold on a second.
  
  to find the reverse side blank.Only... hold on a second.The front of the paper was slightly yellowed, but this side is completely white. It looks almost -- almost bleached.
  
  looks almost -- almost bleached.Yes. It's not just your
  imagination. The texture is different. The stains have been removed.
  
  imagination. The texture is different. The stains have been removed.The reverse side of the paper wasn't blank. Someone
  blanked it.
  
  > take the paper
  The name list is evidence. You should leave it for the Vigiles investigators.
  
  > examine the torso
  Piper's clothes are muted and loosely fitted. She wears a cut-off frock, and above it a watchwoman's jacket with unidentifiable stains along the flaps. She would have been difficult to pick out in a working crowd -- or in a dark alley.
  
  The list of names you found is in one of her jacket pockets.
  
  > examine the stains
  This jacket was either stolen or poorly tailored. Possibly both.
  
  The list of names you found is in one of the jacket pockets.
  
  > examine the arms
  Her arms are surprisingly toned, beneath the concealing folds of her jacket. There are calluses on her hands, clumps of dirt under her fingernails.
  
  > examine the legs
  Piper wears jackboots and a tattered half slip, leaving her thighs mostly exposed. Close to the pelvis, you can see ink-black blood vessels running perversely beneath the skin.
  
  You notice an inconspicuous leather strap around her right thigh.
  
  > look at the vessels
  The color has drained from her skin.
  
  > examine the strap
  The strap looks like it can be opened.
  
  > open it
  You draw back the false lining, revealing a set of throwing knives.
  
  > examine the knives
  On the hilt of each knife is embossed the symbol of a raven.
  
  (You think you've learned all you can from Piper's body. You should look for more clues elsewhere.)
  
  > check your inventory
  You are wearing your natron jacket, your clothes, and an animus pendant (containing the spirit of your father). On your person are a battered keyring, an endoscope, Doctor Cavala's signum, today's copy of the Libri Liberi, a note with Zoiro's address, yesterday's
  copy of the Libri Liberi, your practitioner's badge, your
  scalpel, your purse, and an antiseptic cloth.
  
  > J.
  Fifth of Aquaria, Auritum IV
  
  I've made my choice. I have a job to do -- and I'm going to finish it.
  
  Current objectives:
  
  - Investigate the victims of the disease and identify the transmission vector
  
  - Go to Riggertown and ask Zoiro about his brother's activities
  
  - Look around Doctor Arturus's domicile, in the Turris Infinita
  
  - Look up the patient records in Doctor Arturus's domicile
  
  - Look up the patient records in Doctor Arturus's domicile
  
  - Ask around about the meaning of the raven
  
  Marid's notes:
  
  - I learned that the disease is unlikely to be airborne.
  - I learned that the disease can be transmitted by ingestion.
  - I learned that the disease is bloodborne and attacks the animus, or the soul.
  
  - I remember that Reden died on the night of the Third, two days ago.
  
  - I found that the gloves on Doctor Arturus's body were brand new. He couldn't have been infected through his hands if he had been wearing them.
  - I learned that Doctor Arturus died sometime between last night, on the Fourth, and this morning, on the Fifth.
  
  - I learned that Creditor Nacarat was killed by something he ingested. - I found a raven symbol on Creditor Nacarat's gloves.
  - I learned that Creditor Nacarat could have hired Sal and Piper recently.
  - I learned that Creditor Nacarat was taking tea with Doctor Arturus when his symptoms emerged, and he broke a piece of tableware as a result.
  - I learned that Creditor Nacarat died on the night of the Third, two days ago.
  
  - I found a raven symbol on Sal's knuckle-dusters.
  - I found a raven symbol on Piper's throwing knives.
  - I found a list of names that suggested Piper had been collecting debts. The reverse side of the paper had been intentionally blanked out.
  - I found a battered keyring on Sal's belt.
  - I learned that Piper was killed by something she ingested.
  - I learned that both Sal and Piper died on the night of the Third, two days ago.
  
  - I'm in the mood for a drink...
  - I hope Doctor Cavala and Horatio will be all right at the clinic...
  
  > talk to the Examiner
  This upscale clinic exudes a muted elegance. Chrome fixtures are lit by surgically placed spotlights and underscored by dizzyingly intricate sigil-work.
  
  An arch to the west leads back to the Turris Infinita foyer.
  
  Examiner Velox and his investigators are huddled around the bodies of Doctor Arturus, Creditor Nacarat, Sal, and Piper. Beside them, Justinian sits at a coffee table, brooding.
  
  > talk to the Examiner
  You approach the team of Vigiles, and Examiner Velox looks up from the bodies.
  
  "Servator," he says. "What can I do for you?"
  
  1) "Does a raven mean anything to you?"
  2) "Regarding Doctor Arturus..."
  3) "Regarding Creditor Nacarat..."
  4) "Regarding Sal and Piper..."
  5) "Nothing, never mind."
  
  > 1
  "Does a raven mean anything to you?"
  
  The examiner raises an eyebrow. "It does, now that you mention it. The raven is one of the symbols of the Greater Corindia Trading Company -- it's a criminal syndicate, one of the biggest in Furopolis. If some of these people had been involved..."
  
  That can't be good. You make a mental note of the connection.
  
  1) "Regarding Doctor Arturus..."
  2) "Regarding Creditor Nacarat..."
  3) "Regarding Sal and Piper..."
  4) "I'll keep investigating."
  
  > 3
  "Regarding Sal and Piper..."
  
  1) "Who were they again?"
  2) "What were the times of death, again?"
  3) "What do you know about the circumstances of their deaths,
  again?"
  4) "Is there anything I should be aware of, again?"
  5) "Regarding Doctor Arturus..."
  6) "Regarding Creditor Nacarat..."
  7) "I'll keep investigating."
  
  > 7
  "I'll keep investigating."
  
  "Very well. I will be here if you have any further questions."
  
  You step back, and Examiner Velox returns to his work.
  
  > talk to Justinian
  Justinian brightens up as you approach him.
  
  "Marid," he says.
  
  1) "Where are the patient records, again?"
  2) "Can you tell me again about how you discovered the body?"
  3) "What are your thoughts on the disease again?"
  4) "The Vigiles told me that you moved Doctor Arturus's
  body."
  5) "Nothing, never mind!"
  
  > 4
  "The -- The Vigiles told me that you moved Doctor Arturus's body."
  
  Justinian looks down. "I thought -- I believed he was unconscious at first. I thought he could have been revived..."
  
  1) "Where are the patient records, again?"
  2) "Can you tell me again about how you discovered the body?"
  3) "What are your thoughts on the disease again?"
  4) "I'll keep investigating."
  
  > 2
  "Can you tell me again about... about how you discovered the body?"
  
  He closes his eyes. "Doctor Arturus had cloistered himself in the back -- he had instructed me not to disturb him. When I left him in the evening, he seemed his usual self... but when I called on him this morning, he was already dead in his domicile."
  
  1) "Where are the patient records, again?"
  2) "What are your thoughts on the disease again?"
  3) "I'll keep investigating."
  
  > 3
  "I'll keep investigating."
  
  He nods. "Be careful, Marid."
  
  You scurry away before you start blushing.