Ellingford has long been considered the beating heart of Alderwick, if said heart had a history of high cholesterol and was a few months away from a major coronary episode. It is almost a county in and of itself, having spread outwards from Old Town into distinct regions of varying levels of desirability.

Ellingford City: Commerce, administration, and ambition meet at the centre of Ellingford. Here, important decisions are made in grand buildings. Whether they are wise decisions is another matter entirely.

Old Town: Centuries have passed, yet Old Town stubbornly refuses to surrender its medieval character. Its crooked streets and ancient buildings have witnessed more of Ellingford's history than most residents care to remember.

The Shambles: There are places in Ellingford where a gentleman might comfortably lose an afternoon. In the Shambles, he is rather more likely to lose his purse, and quite possibly his dignity. A lively district, certainly, though not one for the faint-hearted.

Bell Yard: The clatter of carts and the shouting of merchants begin long before sunrise. Bell Yard is the hub of Ellingford's riverside trade, and it has little patience for those who prefer a leisurely morning.

Westbrook: Workshops, warehouses, and small manufacturers dominate this industrious quarter. Westbrook has prospered through honest enterprise, though its residents might reasonably question whether prosperity ought to involve quite so much noise.

Kingsway: One need only follow the smoke to find Kingsway. Its factories and railway connections have helped build Ellingford's fortunes, even if the district itself has paid rather dearly for the privilege.

Ashfield: Life in Ashfield is neither fashionable nor particularly comfortable. Its crowded terraces house the labourers and their families upon whose efforts much of Ellingford's prosperity depends.

Crossfields: Trains arrive, trains depart, and somewhere in between, an astonishing quantity of luggage manages to go astray. Crossfields keeps Ellingford connected to the wider world, whether it likes it or not.

Rivermead: A little distance from the city's bustle, Rivermead still remembers when fields outnumbered houses. The river winds quietly past modest homes and open meadows, seemingly indifferent to Ellingford's growing ambitions.

Pinehurst: Handsome villas and immaculate gardens distinguish this comfortable neighbourhood. Its residents are generally prosperous, respectable, and quite certain that the two qualities are inseparable.

Briarwood: Not everyone wishes to live within earshot of a factory whistle. Briarwood offers leafy streets and pleasant homes for those fortunate enough to afford a little peace and quiet but still want the conveniences of being close to the city.

Alder Park: Afternoon strolls are something of a tradition here, particularly among those who enjoy seeing and being seen. The park itself is quite lovely, regardless of the company, if you can manage to avoid Harold the goose.

Scholars' Green: The main pastimes of the esteemed Scholars' Green residents are books, lectures, and the occasional vigorous intellectual disagreement. Ellingford University stands at the region’s centre, attracting learned minds from far beyond the county.

Black Friars: Above the ancient rooftops rises Ellingford Cathedral, its bells marking the hours as they have for generations. Religion, history, and tradition remain deeply woven into the fabric of Black Friars, for better or worse.

Oakleigh: Behind imposing gates and carefully tended grounds stand some of Ellingford's grandest residences. Old money is particularly fond of Oakleigh, where privacy is valued almost as highly as pedigree.