A few men and women dotted the benches of the open-air theater, idly listening to and sometimes commenting on the heated argument taking place upon the stage. But this was no mock dispute between actors, but a very real debate between political officials. Any adult lacking a criminal reputation in the city could sit in on the regular public council meetings, and participate in the occasional opinion polls called by the councilors.

This odd-seeming arrangement was the result of the blending of several different cultures, and lack of any larger structures surviving the end of the Hegemony. (Although, "surviving" was a relative term; the building was originally supposed to be an amphitheater.) Not all the watchers were political activists, though; for many, it was merely seen as free entertainment on a day which the Church proscribed most 'worldly' pursuits.

Albina would laugh at the irony of making the term 'political circus' more literal, if only he wasn't the one stuck with the role of ringleader. Regretfully, there had been nobody outside her family both fit and willing to take care of all the boring administrative work for the last two centuries.

Klarisa Đura Albinus Santori VI's official office was that of Propraetor, meaning she was the appointed representative of the head of law enforcement. But since the portion of Hegemony government dealing with finances, public works and security had fallen by the wayside, her ancestors had been forced to assume more executive functions, which had been passed down to her... The ones not usurped by the burgeoning feudalism that had swept the continent in the meantime.

Well, at least there was probably not going to be a seventh Albinus Santori that had to suffer through this. Twenty-five wasn't too old an age to start a family, but although her naturally fair complexion and social status had attracted the attentions of several noble boys in the past, they always loved her only for shallow reasons so none of them met her personal standards. Scaring them off sometimes helped relieve the stress that built up from times like this, though.

A local Alderman had picked a fight with one of the caravan leaders. It was clear that both sides had valid points, but that neither was willing to concede on any of them. Instead they seemed to be resorting to that most classic school of Sophism: shout at them until they agree with you.

"I'm just saying, mandating that a portion of foodstuffs be sold locally would stimulate the economy better."

"No! Don't you understand that smoked beef is one of the few goods the Easterlings actually covet?"

Albina heard that when the mentioned wild men of the east had such a controversy, they first had a logical, orderly discourse - and if that didn't work, skipped strait to ripping each others' throats out. Frankly, it sounded much more attractive than this.

"That's all the more reason this tariff won't reduce traffic through-"

"You don't get it! If local demand doesn't come first, then merchants won't wait for it to develop - they'll change their routes!"

"Well we can provide a subsidy until-"

"With what-"

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"Gentlemen!" Albina lifted the wooden maul that was her heirloom badge of office by the shoulder, and brought it down on the table like a gavel. The brief look of worry on the faces of the interrupted pair was one of the few perks of this job.

"I think that perhaps the two of you should ready a more formalized argument to present at the start of next week's conference. We have other matters to address today." A few of the watchers attempted to make their opinions known too. The acoustics of the structure muffled their words, but it was clear that the audience had gotten bored of this 'act' already. It was well past noon, so most just wanted to get this thing over with.

The two muttered their apologies. "Of course, Castellan." (By Hegemony law, a Praetor wasn't allowed to own over a certain amount of land, but that didn't fit within the new 'modern' sensibilities. 'Castellan' was the title the nobility had settled upon for him, even though a renovated old outpost could hardly be called a castle in the old days.)

A well-groomed, middle-aged man spoke up next. "If that squabble is over, then perhaps we could move on?" Elias was the Steward of Earl Jason Lambegre, the true power in the region. Technically, the city governed itself, but much of the nearby civilized land belonged to the Lambegre family. The Earl himself was usually at his country home or the Prince's court; which, if one is being honest, was probably for the best.

"Next on the agenda is addressing the reports of a new breed of monster inhabiting the sewers, and occasionally surfacing to perform petty thefts or acts of mischief. Last week this was but unsubstantiated rumor, however an official investigation by appointed Qaestores confirmed the existence and danger of these creatures. Before you ask: no, we didn't hire some random mercenaries this time. A well-respected local volunteered for the task."

Heren Tuija, the elderly high priestess representing the Pantheon religion, butted in (she was never known for her gentle manner): "It seems he also showed up at the house of healing in quite the sorry state. One of the seer vouched for him though, and I've heard the young one he was with has given homage generously at the All-Gods Altar since."

Next to speak was her chief rival, Rayburn the Conservator – local prelate and bishop of the Church of the Divine Architect. "What do you make of their account of a wild spirit in the sewers Heren? Perhaps a wayward servant of your Earth Goddess has taken up residence?"

Heren frowned at the suggestion, "You know that Immelach despises invaders; they would not have been able to return alive if that were the case. Why not a splinter of one of your Sins instead? I can only imagine that the city's Envy has been increasing over the past decade."

While this level of petty bickering might seem a far lower level of hostility than one would expect from a Polytheist and a Monotheist, it was actually the usual amount of tension in this part of the world. Free religion had been one of the founding tenants of the Hegemony, and it survived better in some places than in others. Additionally, both the Temple and the Church agreed on their shared sacred duties of healing and warding off evil spirits. The question here was merely one of jurisdiction, and of who would lose more face should the spirit cause significant damage.

However... "I believe we have more secular matters to attend to here. You two can sort this out between yourselves at the philosopher's square later."

Elias said it before Albina could. Odd, he wasn't impatient type to deprive others of the chance to prove themselves the fool, unless... "Does the Steward of the Lambegre House believe that this is a matter requiring decisive action?" Albina asked.

"Indeed. I do not believe this to be a mere wandering band of creatures, a mere passing threat, but rather a full migratory event. If so, what triggered this will likely prove to be the greater issue in the end, so we cannot afford to squander our time and have the lesser ones still dogging us then."

Elias cleared his throat and leaned into the table before continuing. "More immediate, however, is the fact that these new creatures have undoubtedly upset the balance of nature in our sewers. This shall spill over to the surface soon..."

---------

Soon, fliers with the following announcements were posted in several key public places:

~OPEN PUBLIC QUEST~

The Council seeks method of proof of the slaying of new goblin-type monsters appearing in city sewers.

- Turn-in Point: next scheduled public council meeting.

- Reward: up to $10.000 depending on practicality of devised method.

- Bonus: negotiable bounty for each kill.

~OPEN PRIVATE QUEST~

The Steward of Lambegre seeks captive live specimens of new goblin-type monster in city sewers.

- Turn-in Point: Inner City North Gate. Ask for Ferguson the Huscarl.

- Reward: 5 Scroll (fine silver) for each pristine specimen, less if damaged.

- Limit: 4, but additional negotiable.

~QUEST UPDATE~

The bounty for rat-tails has been increased. Inquire at the Guardhouse on Trail Street for details.