New starts

Its a bustling day in the city of the empire.

The citizens are busying themselves in the winter sun,

the market is stirring with life and commerce.

The fishing boats are pulling into the docks and being unloaded.

Life is awakening in the city.

In a quiet corner of the city, a little section teems with life.

Dark deals are made and coins are exchanged, taverns crawl with characters both colorful and dark.

Every city has a corner like this for the denizens of the night.

Most operate openly, plying their trades with authority and anti-authority alike. Some operate in the shadows, in that world between darkness and compromise.

Everyone would agree, that every city NEEDS a corner like this.

The centurion eyes the section of the city, then with a sharp movement, signals the men.

The legions march at the signal, sealing the streets and isolating the thief's quarter.

The patrons and traders caught in the blockade yell in loud voices in protest to the sudden embargo on their (secretly) favorite part of town.

The centurion looks upon all this and mutters his orders.

burn it all down

then turns his back on the sounds of drawing swords as the slaughter begins...