This is a gathering place for all people of the city to eat and drink in comfort. There are
three distinct sections of the common: the nobles balcony, the senators box, and the
common itself.
The common eating area is raised two feet above the ground. The floor is dotted by tables
and chairs where both nobles and ordinary citizens may eat, though slaves are not allowed
to eat or drink here. Vendors hawk food and beverages at good prices for the citizens of
the city to enjoy in peace - there has never been a recorded incidence of violence in the
common - it's bad for business. The floor is made of tiled white marble, and scuff marks
are quickly removed by the ready servant staff. Trees are planted throughout the common
to provide shade to much of the eating area. At regular intervals, servants come to water
the trees. At night, tall shafts of slow burning phenni wood illuminate the area, providing
a comfortable place to end the day, and a welcome change from the normal tavern
scenery.
The nobles balcony, along the northern section of the common, is no longer just for nobles,
and any citizen that can pay to eat and drink the foods are permitted, though those
obviously not of the correct station will be virtually ignored by the wait staff. Two sets of
stairs lead from the common eating area to the nobles balcony. Patrons of obviously correct station will be seated immediately, and there is a wide variety of dishes and drinks
to choose from. The balcony is raised six feet above the common, and provides a peaceful
view of the common and surrounding area. The outer edge of the balcony is open to the
sky, but further back, the balcony is roofed. Fluted columns surround the outside of the
balcony, and less decorative pillars support the roof. At the very rear is the kitchen area
where the dishes are prepared. The waiters wear immaculate white vestments.
The northwest corner of the common is raised three feet above the nobles balcony, and is
called the senators box. During Andropinis' reign, the senators could eat apart from even
the nobles. Now, this is where the very elite of the nobles and (more commonly) the most
powerful members of the cities three major merchant houses sit - by reservation only, of
course.
The common area was once a city maintained area, but has since been taken over by
Varstis Klemesin (hm Trader 7 LN), a merchant turned restaurateur. There is no other
place quite like the common in Balic, and Varstis knows this. He charges a fee to each of
hawkers in the common to sell their goods. He has no slaves, and each of his servants is
paid, including Torgah (hm F6 LN), an ex gladiator who now provides his services as a
bouncer.