Song of Shadows and Dust: Hot Season at Pattayavium

“Canes dementes et Coloni in meridie sol exeunt” in the words of the popular ballad. It’s the hottest hot season in living memory. This episode of Song of Shadows & Dust from the Graeco-Roman outpost of Pattayavium follows three potentially-interrelated narratives of inhabitants doing stuff they might not normally do. People are going troppo. 

Here’s an overall view of the part of town known as the Suburra, looking N from the Temple of Europa (E end) to the insula commonly called the White Elephant (W end).

Here are buzzards-eye views of various parts of the Suburra. Coloured dice identify the locations of interest.

Levi, the Jewish rabbi at Pattayavium, wants to stop the activities of a newly opened pork market near his residence (which is also the synagogue for his tiny congregation). The market is identified by White 1.

Pattayavium’s red-light district is another scene of tension. A newly opened brothel is proving too popular for the longer-established premises. Something must be done. The offending brothel - the Dolphin - is identified by Blue 1. The rest of the Red Light District is shown by Blue 6.

The town authorities seem unable to stop drunk citizens from overturning the urine collection jars helpfully positioned at points of need. Malodoros the Tanner, who makes use of the product, is running short and decides to take matters into his own hands. The jars are identified by Yellow 1-4.

*************

The sun is setting on Pattayavium after another sweltering day. Work has generally ceased, shops have closed, and the inhabitants try to relax, and maybe take a stroll, in the still-too-warm evening air. There’s a sea breeze, which helps. But in a few places away from public gaze small groups of folks are meeting with nefarious intent …

Levi and a couple of hard men from his congregation are finalising their plan to cleanse the area of the pork market abomination.

The lessees of most of the brothels are meeting to discuss how to encourage the Dolphin to play the game by the proper rules.

Malodoros is briefing Brasidas and his crew of hired thugs to stake out the urine jars and prevent more leakage. Plausibly deniable violence will send a clear message.

And, with no more nefarious intent than maybe a few “free” drinks and sandwiches from “grateful” property owners, the night patrol of the Guards leaves the barracks to start their shift.

*************

It’s much later at night now, probably after midnight. The only people abroad at this hour are the Watch (nightly guard patrol) a few Watchmen (at the kilns, and the nearby pig market) and of course the Red Light District (RLD) which sleeps during the day. 

In the photo above I’ve identified each protagonist group with a red dice, mainly so I don’t forget to activate them all each time. 

Turn 1

It’s time for the various groups to get moving. The guards (red 1) move along the Main Street past the villa of the Sulpicii. A couple of elite citizens (men of course, any woman abroad at this hour must be a harlot) and their bodyguards are nearby, apparently heading for a night of relaxation at the new Dolphin gentlemen’s club. 

Across the road, in an alley, the Jewish zealots (red 4) are moving out to attack the pig market. They have seen the patrol but figure it’ll be more focussed on the RLD, and neglect their poorer neighbourhood. The market Watchman sees them approaching and realises he’s badly outnumbered.

Still further along, a couple of sneaky characters (red 5) carrying some sacks are heading down another alley towards the Main Street. What are they up to?

Across the road near the busy RLD, Brasidas has deployed his men in two groups (red 2 & 3) to watch a couple of the urine jars. His theory is the patrons of the brothels are more likely to cause trouble than people using the jars on the “quieter” side of town.

Turn 2

Victor and the Guard patrol continue to move along the Main Street. The Jewish zealots warn the Pig Market watchman to keep his mouth shut and run away, or it will be worse for him. However he decides to stand, and starts shouting for help. The Watchman at the Kilns hears the call, and moves towards the fracas. 

The two mysterious sneaks with their sacks move to the alley corner, spot the Guard patrol, and fade back into the shadows. They can also see the ‘situation’ developing at the Pig Market but aren’t going to interfere.

Across the road the rich clients are almost at the door of the Dolphin, but nothing else has changed so no photo.



Turn 3

The Watchman from the Kilns has a whistle, and starts blowing it as he moves towards his colleague defending the Pig Market. The Guard patrol hears this and cautiously turns down the alley to investigate. Between the zealots and the Watchmen, it’s on for young and old. The zealots quickly KD then kill the Pig Market Watchman, upon which the Kiln Watchman gets cold feet.

Meanwhile our two sneaks take their opportunity move out onto the Main Street, trying to look innocent.

Across the street the rich elite citizens have gone inside the Dolphin and order their bodyguards to wait outside. Otherwise, still nothing,

Turn 4

This time, we start across the road, where so far nothing much has happened. The two bodyguards (now identified by red 6) decide to relieve themselves into the urine pot* nearby, which is being surveilled by Brasidas and two of his men, Luke and Evander (red 3). A quarrel breaks out. 

* This makes me think the bodyguards have decided to pick a fight. Normally they would relieve themselves against the nearest wall. The collection jars are mainly for receiving overnight household production.

The sneaks see all this and can hardly believe their luck. First the Patrol has been distracted by the alarm at the Pig Market. Now the security goons have been distracted by the aggro bodyguards. They get moving as fast as possible compatible with there being nothing to see here, and end up in the alley behind the Dolphin.

Back in the poorer neighbourhood, the Guards finally get moving and arrive at the scene of the ‘orrible murder, catching the culprits red handed. Levi does the talking, but his explanation that he and his men were there “quite by chance” cuts no ice with Guards officer Victor. They are disarmed and restrained. The market owners emerge from a nearby building, and the Kiln Watchman also steps forwards now it is safe.

Turn 5

The Guard patrol will need to take their prisoners back to the barracks and lock them up until they can be interrogated tomorrow. Probably Levi himself will wriggle out of the situation, but at least one of his henchmen is sure to face execution for this crime.

Back in the RLD the two bodyguards (red 6)  fight Luke and Evander (red 3), as Brasidas steps back and whistles up his other picket (red 2) which is nearby. But for some reason they don’t move. Maybe they cannot see or hear Brasidas.

One bodyguard is KD, the other is recoiled. The KD bodyguard scrambles to his feet but is killed by Luke while he’s still recovering. 

Round the back of the Dolphin, the sneaks (red 5) are fumbling with their sacks, doubtless getting ready to make an audacious attack.

Turn 6

The sneaks move around to the side of the Dolphin, where there is a ground floor window. They throw two untied sacks inside, containing (it was later reported) a hornets nest and a collection of serpents (mainly cobras). This should be fun, but they won’t have time to stick around and enjoy it. 

The fight against between Brasidas’s men and the remaining bodyguard is short. He is KD and killed by Luke and Evander. Brasidas’s other picket finally responds, and moves towards him. Brasidas can see the bodyguards are dead. Even though it was self defence the bodyguards were servants of powerful citizens, so, not good. Better everyone moves as fast as possible, somewhere else. 

Turn 7

Here are some final pix showing how the game ended.

The Guard patrol has the Jews in custody, dead to rights for a murder, tho we don’t know exactly how the judicial process will play out in the days to come. No pigs were injured in making this report.

The Sneaks are running from the scene of the crime, having successfully done exactly what the Brothel Owners’ Association ordered. They are due a useful amount of cash.

Patrons of the Dolphin have fled the premises in response to the biological attack, and two of them find their bodyguards mysteriously dead in the alley. I fear these events will not encourage further patronage of the Dolphin. Unpleasant surprises are not what customers want. Generally speaking. 

Brasidas and his gang are heading off to look after the urine jars in a quieter part of the town.

In the main part of the Red Light District, the party continues. In fact it’s time for the next artistic performance, held in front of the statue of Eros, patron divinity of the area.

*************

That’s all from Pattayavium for now

Cheers

Mark