Oh now you tell me all this :-D I didn't totally start over, but from a save game before I did the rat quest. It was actually good, because I ran around pickpocketing everyone and had Sulik's help with the geckos when trying to fuel the still. I managed to rescue Smiley, although all the geckos weren't kill. I'll probably be going back that way :-)

Thanks for the advice on melee weapons. I discovered that Anne is better with a knife than the spear! It looks like the Den will be my next stop, so that's good to know...

Heheh! I wouldn't call it a waste. I prefer to see these games as interactive choose your own adventure books :-)