Sixth and Union

Lord Fred finished his meal, paid for it, and left the inn. This inn was a fancy one, and had an especially large outhouse. When Fred entered, there was a strong scent of pine mixed with the expected reek of an outhouse. Flimsy, dirty plywood boards provided a minimal level of modesty as they covered up to belly level.

Fred occupied an empty stall, and looked for some waste paper. There were a poster on the floor, with an drawing of three mages in front of a glowing glass, with caption - "The Mage Guild of Vjorica - In Pursuit of Excellence"

Fred tore off enough paper to meet his needs. A little wad of paper floated over a partition, and landed on the floor in front of Fred. Fred hesistated, but decided to pick it up. The paper said, "Meet me on the west side of Sixth and Union. I have some information for you. Kindly dispose of this."

Fred heard a clattering of a door, and he saw that the man was dressed in a cloak that covered his head. It made it difficult to determine much about him. (A thought flashed through Fred's mind that the one throwing the note could have been a woman as well. Although women and men sharing an outhouse would have been unthinkable in Allaria, the Vjoricans were odd people, and might have different customs here, too). Fred finished his business and wandered down second street and turned right on Union Avenue.

Now Union Avenue was given its name more in hope than actual commemoration of any event. At one time, it was hoped that the divided city would be integrated, with mage living peacefully by warrior and artisan, with each mutually appreciative of the other. This had not happened. In one of the ironies of history, Union Avenue now in fact a great part of the dividing line between the two sides. The western side was actually quite prosperous, with much trade in luxury items, and 'antiques.' The last were especially popular because it was often a way of disguising items that were magical, or said to be so. To add further to the irony, Union Avenue was the one place where magic user and non-magic user often mixed, for the purposes of trade, education, social intercourse, and amusements that were officially condemned by one or both sides of town.

If the west side of the street was a sign of the liveliness that the two different factions could generate when they did work with one another, the east side bore witness to the terrible costs. What were once fine houses, shops, and guild halls were now rubble, as an ugly wall snaked its way through the heart of the city. Many of the streets that once crossed Union Avenue were now impassible, and the only way through was from a number of gates manned by armed men and movable gate obstacles blocking the ways at certain crossings along Union Avenue. Fred knew that getting across through here would likely be hazardous.

Fred had crossed Fifth, hugging the right side, looking warily for pickpockets or ambushes. He could now see what was on the west (right) side of the block at Sixth and Union.

1. It was a garden - one of the few parks in the city.
2. It was a large town house overlooking a prosperous shop.
3. It was a building that looked like a church or temple.

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