Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a city on the Neckar River in the Pfalzgrafschaft bei Rhein. It is a site of extremely ancient settlement, and in our history, is significant for its involvement in the Thirty Years' War and religio-political struggles in German lands (see also: Martin Luther).

However, it is best known for its university, founded in the late 1300s (at least in our timeline), and even more so, university life. Heidelberg has a reputation for both brilliant scholars split between the 'hard' sciences, and theology, jurisprudence and humanism; and for the student corps, although Othar Tryggvassen makes reference to a [ "Greek" sorority] as well.

The corps are best known for their practice of mensur, or "academic fencing", a style of swordplay which involves sharpened blades and a desire to be scarred to prove one's character - no flinching allowed. Having a Schmi&szlig; on one's face from Heidelberg is nearly a trope of Germanic student life in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.

When Othar visits the city in the desolate future documented in his journal, he finds a [ campus weekly newspaper], "The Student Prints", archived far enough back to help him fill in what happened to Europa while he was [ out of contact].