The Eye is following Aylia around like a weird, occult, all-seeing puppy that is eager to take in the sights. But not so eager as to actually leave her or the group. Are the commstones distributed?
they are not. You have all the commstones.
I want to buy the centipede (I don't have money I think). If I can't buy it I'll ask Senna to buy it for me (I do NOT steal it). If I get it, I rip a little hole in the bag around my head and eat it. After that I do a little magic show with my ball and chain (I pick it up with one finger) and let others pick it up. They should notice that it is very heavy to them but not to me (because of magic). I hope I get some coin. Then I follow my team to the foundry.
"Gather around peeps and witness tha mysteries of the dark arts. All available for yer pleasure. For only a small amount of coin and yer smiles. I am tha magian Strangly Samuel and am here to perform for you.(I point at no one in particular.)
(Sorry for the string of actions but the other guys want to go to the foundry and I don't want to be left behind.)
You put on a minor display of doomed "greatness," to minor applause. You earn enough coin to pay for your meal. and head out with the others. The bag resists tearing, so in the end, you settle for shoving the centipede up under the edge of it and wiggling it around until you can reach it with your mouth. This occupies your attention until the party reaches teh foundry.
SO, everyone heads out of the shopping district, and up some narrow, winding roads, stepping around hand carts and pedestrians coming the other way. You arrive at a high point and walk a ways until a gap in the warehouses opens up on a fence which has seen better days. You find a hole in the fence that looks like it has been there for a long time - long enough for a well worn path to lead right through it - and join several others on the other side. The foundry, below, is a mass of activity, with people moving about from point to point, mostly hauling coal or raw metals, or pulling finished bars out and stacking them. the bright red glow of the furnaces is accented by the green glow of copper, the bright yellow of sodium, and occasional blue, purple or red sparks from unknown processes. I would describe the view as mesmerising, but perhaps it would evoke a different feeling in each of you. Or none, for the Eye.
After a time, a large cauldron is carted carefully toward a pit, along a set of tracks. It is guided by long poles, and the people handling it stay well back. the people with you shift their attention and wait, still, conversation muted. The cauldron, full of slag, is tipped over, pouring it's contents into the pit. A thick black smoke roils up at this, and after a moment, a buzzing sound can be heard over the sound of cooling metal and crackling slag. Bright sparks can be seen flitting about in the cloud, a few at first, and more by the moment, before suddenly the cloud explodes wit hcolor. Small winged lizards erupting out en masse to swirl about and race off toward the winds. They are a multitude of colors and they glow, more softly than the harsh glare of the furnaces, but brightly nonetheless. For a time, the sky above the city, and some places within the city, sparkle and glow.
Eventually, your attention is drawn from the fading colors by the sound of several bells tolling in harmony, more quiet than you expect, but firm and calm, announcing the end of the day.
Continue to quietly watch.
Nothing more of particular interest to you is said. Personal stories are exchanged, referencing people you don't know, who seem of minor importance to
the plot your mission. Some details about certain experiments and other projects are discussed, and a small debate over some mechanist philosophy or other rises and falls in spurts, as if a larger conversation were being tossed into this one, piece by piece. Eventually, the men say their farewells, and Alaran makes to leave. If you want to explore a bit you can. Otherwise, he's heading back to the meet point. You have a little more time than the other group though.