Character Quest: The Cure Attempt
“Alchemist Kael has Theta-7. It might cure Rot. It might kill. Elder Mira is dying. Time to test it. On a real person. Who’s willing to volunteer?”
Type: Character Quest (Alchemist Kael, Elder Mira),
High Stakes
Stages: 5
Difficulty: Advanced
Key Characters: Alchemist
Kael, Elder Mira
Summary
After completing “The Material,” Kael perfects his Rot cure (Theta-7). But it’s untested on humans. Elder Mira (if Arc 1 still unresolved) is perfect subject—or tragic victim. Ethical nightmare. Medical drama. Race against time.
Requirement: Completed “The Material,” Mira still corrupted
Stage 1: The Formula
Kael: “It’s ready. 60% success rate (my estimate). 30% partial cure. 10% accelerates corruption. Who’ll be first?”
Stage 2: Find Subject
Choices: - Mira (if you know her secret, she’s desperate) - Volunteer Rot-Touched (Weeping Halls, Sister Morrigan facilitates) - Criminal (forced testing, monstrous) - Yourself (if Corruption 30+, heroic/suicidal)
Stage 3: Administration
Prepare subject, witness transformation (2-3 days), outcomes:
Success (60%): Corruption reversed, cured,
miraculous
Partial (30%): Corruption halted but not reversed,
stable
Failure (10%): Subject dies or transforms rapidly to
Stage 3
Stage 4: Aftermath
If Mira cured: Political stability, gratitude, Arc 1
resolved peacefully
If Mira partial: She resigns, successor rises,
bittersweet
If Mira failed: Tragedy, Eos crisis, your
responsibility
If volunteer: Data gathered, ready for mass production
(maybe)
Stage 5: Distribution
Cure works (if successful). Now what? - Clergy wants control: Distribute through chapels only - Guild wants profit: Sell at market price - Rot-Touched refuse: “Cure” is genocide - You decide: Who gets it, at what cost?
Outcome: Your choice shapes Rot management across Aetherium