Those who live in urban settlements are commonly referred to as cives, or burghers.
Towns and cities are settlements that live on the production of goods and services, rather than farming. Most have grown from villages, and may have a sizable number of farmers living within their borders, working fields around the settlements. At any rate, the land around a town will be extensively cultivated. Larger towns and all cities tend to have several "suburban" villages whose exclusive business is to provide the town with fresh produce.
Unlike villagers, who tend to form a quite uniform mass, the cives are a very varied lot. Though the various kinds of craftsmen are perhaps those who spring first to mind, any town will also house apprentices, servants, peddlers, merchants, soothsayers, priests, bureaucrats, soldiers, beggars, whores, thieves and possibly some sorcerers and alchemists.
The average Frankish cives live in houses built from wattle and daub, with wooden frames. Houses built entirely from wood are somewhat less common, while brick and stone houses are only built by rich people. City houses are built high and narrow, at least within city walls, as the land there is particularily expensive. The ceiling height is a direct function of the dwellers' wealth, normally ranging from six to ten feet. Exterior doors are very solid, and have latches and bars. Windows are narrow, and are set with glass panes, except in poor houses. Most panes are of wizard glass, which is crafted with sorcery in the Confederation. It is only semi-transparent, but lets in light and keeps the wind out. Older windows are sometimes set with small glass fragments in lead frameworks. Usually the windows on the lower floors will have be set with bars, have shutters or both. Most city houses have three or four floors, the strength of the materials keep architects from building taller houses.
Almost every town will have a castle which houses the lord of the city; While some self-governed towns exist, they are rare, the rule is that urban areas are part of the local noble's lands, just as much as the rural areas. However, given the greater resourcesof the cives, they are given a greater say in their government.
The basillica (court) and curia (council chamber) are found in any town. Sometimes they are in separate buildings, sometimes in one. They are usually found near the market. The size and opulence of these institution tend to reflect a town's wealth and importance. The basillica is staffed by professional judges, who get their fees from the suitors. For more, see the legal page. The curia's members tend to be the guild leaders and possibly the head clergymen of important cults. They elect one of their number as their leader (aldorman, mayor, burgomeister). His power may be greater than the local lord.
Every urban settlement will have one or more temples Usually a temple is dedicated to one or two major gods, and include shrines and idols for several lesser gods belonging to the same patheon. Also, the halls of the various guilds will include shrines dedicated to their patron deity. Temples serve the dual purpose of keeping the cives in good standing with the higher powers, and of attracting visitors to the settlement. For these two reasons, they are usually built as great and opulent as the cives can afford. A town's major temple will be the seat of an archdeacon, while a city usually forms the centre of a bishopric.
Most artisans in a city will be organized in a guild, there will also be one or two merchant guilds (if two they are divided into local and long-distance trade). Guilds set prices and quality standards. They settle disagreements between their members and give support against external threats. They give loans to their members. Also, they arrange parties at important occasions.
Furthermore, the guilds form the town's fire brigades and militias. The favoured weapon of the militia is the crossbow, and guild members meet on regular intervals to practice marksmanship. These occations tend to be well liked, and end in a lot of drinking. Guilds also hold shooting competitions.
All major guilds in a city or town will have a guildhall. Here, the guild members hold their meetings, keep their records and their common treasury, and worship their patron god. Most guilds employ a teacher so that apprentices may learn letters and numbers. Guildhalls in cities will usually also have a hostel for journeymen.
An institution gotten from the Cargans, the baths have persisted, and the people of the 66th century are cleaner than their pre-Cargan ancestors. While most towns lack the marbled wonders associated with the Cargans, there are public baths where hot and cold baths may be had at reasonable prices. Baths segregate men and women, and some baths carter exclusively to one sex. Some baths offer massages. Some are nothing but disguised brothels.
Urban life provides services and entertainments not found elsewhere. Many nobles and members of the gentry find it more convenient to live in the city, rather than on their lands, or at least to maintain a domus in the city, for use while visiting it. Noble mansions range from fairly average houses of the lower gentry, to citadels built by high nobles in the capitals.