03. Geography and Climate

[MAP COMING SOON]

Jupiter Quarter is named for its association with the planetary alignment of light. There is an inherent goodness and happiness associated with Jupiter.

The quarter is full of vibrant life, bustling with people at all times of day, especially when the sun is out (despite being hidden behind heavy clouds most days). Most of Anselm's main draws are located here, notably the Cathédrale Cœur Ailé (Winged Heart Cathedral), home to the Church of the Winged Covenant in town. It's particularly large and though surrounded by a cemetery, it doesn't take away much of the building's dark and ancient beauty. Most clergy members live and work in the cathedral, which is large enough to house priests within its high walls.

Anselm Square is always busy, home to an outdoor marketplace every weekday, rain or shine. Many artists take it upon themselves to create fountains and statue displays here, making it a draw for art students. The Square, watched over by the cathedral, is also host to a number of events, such as outdoor festivals, Church-supervised events, as well as the occasional public execution, though most take place elsewhere. Most importantly, the Square is home to the constabulary headquarters and the main office of public order, keeping law and order, respectively. The courthouse is also located here, across the vast square from the cathedral, its harsh columned façade just daring the citizens to do wrong.

Spinel Street winds through the entirety of the commercial district, branching off into narrower side streets that only lead to more and more shops. The buildings here tend to get upwards of four stories, with shops on every level or homes above the shops. A number of boutiques and regular workshops can be found here, most of it clean, legal business (as most borderline illegal or outright illegal shops are located in Alchemist Row).

Saturn Quarter's planetary and alchemical alignment falls under darkness. This area of Anselm lives up to this, being cloaked mostly in shadow thanks to the woods and ocean fog.

The Anselm Woods encroach upon the town, threatening to envelop the buildings in their branches. Tall evergreens of a faded green stand like silent watchers. In their shade, many poorer or non-human citizens make their homes. In particular, the Fae live scattered in the depths of the woods, sneaking out under cover of darkness to snatch away babies and young children who wander too close to the treeline.

Cut off from the rest of Anselm, on a high cliff overlooking the ocean, is an abandoned castle. Most rumors point to it being a portal to the Void, and as a result no one ever goes there. When they do, they never come back, it seems... or so the rumors say. Unfortunately, the rumors happen to be true, at least about it being a doorway to another place. In the vast darkness lurk demons and those who summon them, if they're courageous enough to venture there in the first place. A large, untold amount of monsters from who knows where make their home inside, ready to destroy or eat anything that comes too close.

Down the craggy rocks from the castle is Anselm Harbour, full of merchant ships and the like. The water in the harbour is dark and murky, and people take extra care not to fall in or touch the water in any way. The sea is less calm than in the harbour, home to crashing waves and icy waters that have claimed thousands of lives, even close to shore. Even more rumors have surfaced from the depths of the sea, such as reports of sea serpents and man-eating mermaids.

Mars Quarter is named after the ruler of masculine power and fire. Lust and passion are a highlight of this quarter.

The residential district and slums extend into this quarter, making it a very busy and crowded place overall. Most of Anselm's commoners and low commoners live here, or in parts of other quarters where the streets extend. The residential district can be described as rather picturesque, with cottages and townhouses all along the streets, where children play in the daytime (never at night). But the slums are an entirely different matter, verging closer to Alchemist Row and is known as the "bad part of town" where peasants and low commoners live. Whatever the person that finds himself unfortunate enough to live here, people from the slums are not looked upon with kindness.

Alchemist Row is the quarter's most notable area, taking up most of its space. Crowded buildings wind along narrow streets and dusty alleyways, and smoke billows from the rooftops as alchemists play in their workshops. A number of brothels and drug dens are set up here, as well as shops that sell wares not suitable for the God-fearing inhabitants of Spinel Street. Despite the number of illegal activities, there's just too much for the police force to crack down on. Instead, they make deals with pimps, dealers, and other shady characters to catch the worst of the worst and let the less harmful businesses continue.

Nearer the sea, where the river meets ocean, is a small and hilly island. Atop the island are ancient stone ruins overlooking the sea, a perfect place to summon and amplify magic. Witches make many trips here, but lately it's become dangerous, as the Church knows and is desperately trying to cut down on this, even resorting to violence and defacing the ruins themselves. Downhill from the ruins, on the shores of the sea, there are small cottages that are home to a number of witches, some of whom sell their charms and potions from their homes.

The aesthetically-pleasing Venus Quarter, named for the goddess of beauty and feminine energies, is what draws many people to Anselm in the first place. It is the hub of culture, not just in Anselm, but in surrounding areas and neighboring towns and cities.

Elysion is a large gated community that extends out into the surrounding wilderness, giving it endless room for the ever-expanding mansions and sprawling estates of noblemen in Anselm. It is an exclusive community where commoners try not to venture, as they'll be looked upon with instant malice and disgust. The road leading into Elysion is lined with cherry trees, which blossom white and fragrant in spring, drawing tourists to see its beauty.

Where Spinel Street in Jupiter Quarter meets the river, it turns into Venice Avenue on the Venus side. The main draw of Venice Avenue is its large theatre, where commoners and nobles alike come to watch plays under its massive glass-domed roof. Even without the theatre, the many smaller playhouses and musically-inclined workshops and informal art and music schools keep the streets quite busy. At night, multicolored lights illuminate the Avenue, making it a spectacle to behold every time the moon rises.

The University of Anselm is a grand place, home to a number of intimidating brick buildings and intricate architecture. Students and scholars are always found here, even some alchemists of high standing, discussing and studying every subject under the sun. Many who don't even attend the school just come to relax under the shade of its large oak and apple trees, see the museum if they can afford to, or read a book for free in the university's enormous library, which is open to the public—something rather unheard of in most other places.