While much of the City's institutions and public buildings were located under one of the three major domes dominating the center of Sabata, there were several more smaller domes that surrounded these...and two if these domes were known throughout Sabata simply as The Rookeries. Narrow, closed-in, winding streets were stifled by a dense collection of tall, bare buildings made in the most humble style, buildings that most often had two or three levels upon them despite their tiny size. The narrow slits of the dome visible above were frequently broken by boards or planks placed over the ground streets below to ease the traffic of moving bodies, a second level of traffic on the second floor of all buildings and, in some areas, the third as well. Upon entering the twin-domed borough, one was left with the impression that they had just entered a dense maze of tiny houses and a few unlicensed shops instead of a proper community of the working class.
The strong press of bodies all around...as well as above and sometimes below...gave off the powerful odour of humanity tempered only just by the dry, arid airs. The Rookeries seldom experienced a merciful breeze, so the scent lingered upon the air and followed wherever one went within. But there were also the smells of roasting lamb, boiling soups, and fragrant flowers...for while the Rookeries were overcrowded and dense, they were the home to literally thousands of the city's families, families that lived literally door-to-door with their immediate neighbors.
Of course, legend has it that there are buildings in the Rookeries that can be found only by those shown the way. That can't be too far from truth, as no ten paces in the Rookeries can be taken in a straight line. For the casual visitor, a guide is traditionally the custom...and young boys and girls waited at the entrance at all marks of the day to provide just this service for a minor fee.
Gods the smell.. Was the first thought in the woman's mind as she adjusted her senses to the new surroundings. If she had thought that the Market was bad with all its myriad of scents, fragrances and such assaulting her senses, this was absolutely mind-altering. The smell seemed to have settled in everything making it impossible to get away from it. Instinctively, she wrapped the scarf to cover her mouth and nose. If it was possible, she would try to avoid the people milling around being reminded of her own home. I thought nothing could smell worse than men at sea for weeks or even months.
She purposely tried to give off an aura of power to see who's curiosity she could stir. The boys and girls at the entrance waited to paw money in their grubby little hands and she wondered why exactly Brann was interested in the place. "You will owe me a day in the baths after this." She growled softly close to Brann's ear so only he could hear. He probably would take that the wrong way, but she did not want this stink to stay permanently on her.
Lir wondered if Brann would 'buy' a guide or just decide to explore but at the same time, the healer felt uneasy of the labyrinth that may not let them out if they venture in too deeply by themselves.