Geography: Plateau City: Circus Quarter

The Circus Quarter is a small quarter just south of Dragon and Hindquarters and north of the Endless River. The highlight of this quarter is Scalzo’s Circus House. During season, they perform twice a week to full houses. During the week of “Adventurers Festival,” they put on a huge show in the Golden Arena which is something not to miss if you are in town during the festival.

The life and color of the circus is a beacon for the artistic-minded. The Circus Quarter teems with painters, poets, sculptors, musicians, actors, and similar creative types. There are plenty of garrets (and basements, and studios, and tiny back apartments)for them to starve in, but there is also opportunity to acquire wealthy patrons. The square around Scalzo's has come to be known as an Artists' Square--a place where discerning, wealthy art-lovers can discover up-and-coming artists and pluck them out of obscurity. The artists themselves tend to view this opportunity as a mixed blessing, and wherever artists gather, the debate continues.

The quarter boasts any number of taverns, wine bars, coffeehouses, and other places for the artists to gather. Most of these establishments are tiny and ephemeral; few remain open for business longer than a few months, and most are housed in somebody's front room or back parlor. Typically, a place becomes "fashionable" among the artists for a few days, and dozens cram themselves into the tiny space, then, by some kind of group alchemy, another place becomes "fashionable" and the crowd abates.

For those who can't keep up with the endlessly moving party, there are a few more permanent (and larger!) establishments. The Dancing Bear is a longstanding tavern, and Kell's is a coffeehouse, more recently arrived. Both places appeal to visitors from outside the quarter looking to be inspired by the quarter's atmosphere, or possibly scandalized by its morals. Since both establishments are large, well-managed, and popular with outsiders, "true" artists wouldn't be caught dead in either place.

The Circus Quarter is also home to the Committee for the Benefit of Widows and Orphans, a longstanding charity noted for its good works and general benevolence. They certainly have nothing to do with rogues or thieves, and we don't know how these rumors get started. Any speculation that the Committe is, in fact, some sort of Thieves' Guild is appalling slander of this fine organization and its nimble, leather-clad members.

37. Scalzo's Circus House (in house circus)
38. Committee for the Benefit of Widows and Orphans (which is certainly not a Thieves' Guild)
40. Dancing Bear Inn
47. Kell's coffeehouse