¤ Beyond the Walls: The Faubourgs of Guisoreux
The suburbs and slums extend far beyond the city walls, at the north
almost to the village of Sarcelles-en-Bretonneux. Collectively they are
known as the Faubourgs, though there are identifiable districts within
them, the most notorious of which are Le Dédale on the south
bank, and Mendigots and Louffiat on the north bank.
Le Dédale
The worst area to the south of the Ois river is Le Dédale or the
maze, which is largely made up of slum dwellings. The district owes its
name to its many inter-crossing narrow winding streets, which are only
rarely patrolled by the watch, and then in daylight and in large
numbers. The streets are populated with beggars, street urchins, bawds
and whores. By night only the bawds and the whores remain on the
streets, and these in the areas nearer the edges of the district. It is
the centre of much of the city's underworld activity, and home to the
Thieves Guild, or Halegrin. All residents of the maze are suspicious of
strangers and prefer not to pry to closely into anyone's business.
Mendigots
To the North of the river the worst area is Mendigots or "Beggars"
district, which is a slum in even worse condition than the Maze. In
some areas of Mendigots district it is impossible to discern streets,
as rubble and filth fill the roads, and overflowing cesspits add to the
stench. The district is populated by beggars, street urchins, the
maimed, workless and homeless. It is a hotbed of insurrection, where
agitators are common, and it is from Mendigots that the infamous
"Guisoreux Mob" emerges to riot and loot in the streets of the city.
Louffiat
However, the faubourgs are not simply havens of criminals (though this
is certainly the perception of the upper classes). Many upright
citizens live in the faubourgs, especially in Louffiat. The Louffiat
district is situated just outside the city walls at the north-western
edge of the city. The main Oisillon and Bordeleaux road leads through
here, and it is the sight of the starving children of Louffiat (by no
means the hardest done-by in Guisoreux) that nobles shut out behind
drawn curtains as they rattle past in their coaches on the way to the
court. It has long been a lower class residential area, and is a little
more well-established and less deprived than the Faubourgs of the South
Bank, or Mendigots to the east. The houses are in reasonably good
condition, but quite crowded together, creating many narrow alleyways
and enclosed courts. At night, the district can be rougher, as the
labourers wander back home via the local alehouse to spend their pay.
Drinking out
The faubourgs are not only frequented by those who live there, many of
those who live within the city walls regularly visit the faubourgs, and
not only to sample the fleshpots of Le Dedale. Because wine is not
taxed outside the city walls, most citizens prefer to go and drink in
the taverns in the faubourgs. There are many taverns situated by the
gates to take advantage of this trade. The wine is usually
locally-produced, and of average-to-poor quality. For many people,
however, the cheap wine is a vital source of drink since the city
doesn't have limitless supplies of clean water.