Old Quarter

From the Cathedral of All Men to "The Palace", The Old Quarter shows its age. Tiny streets which were once cow paths wend through tenement-laden blocks. Once the heart of Heliogabalus, the Old Quarter grew too tight and confining. As the city grew, the wealthier citizens moved out of the cramped Old Quarter and built newer and larger residences elsewhere, leaving the poor and destitute. Crime is a big problem in the Old Quarter, and the district administration and watch seem unable, or unwilling, to stand against it. The Old City hall, now known as the Palace, was purchased by Tarkos Ree and has become the headquarters of the Laborer's Union. When someone asks why it is called "The Palace", the locals usually respond, "So you're not from around here."

Demographics

Population: 7,561 people cram themselves into the Old Quarter, with many living in tenement houses. Once the heart of the city, the buildings are the oldest (and most run-down) with many old homes subdivided into apartments often consisting of one or two rooms.
There is a small population of half-orcs living in the Nest and Fishstink, but not enough to create their own ghetto or neighborhood.

Government

Leadership

The guilds responsible for district oversight of the Old Quarter include the Carpenters', Dockers and Wharfsmen', and the Laborers' Union. None of these guilds care much for "pencil pushing", so the district runs pretty much independently. Baron Dimian Ree's cousin, Tarkos Ree, Guildmaster of the Laborers' Union, is the only guildmaster who takes an active hand in district governance.

Defences

District Guard

Lady Kythus Finch, Captain of the Guard leads a beleaguered district watch. There are never enough resources, and Lady Finch feels like she is barely keeping her head above water.

Industry & Trade

Main Industries

The Old Quarter houses the main temples and churches of Heliogabalus. Once the center of the city, and the second oldest district after the Nest, the Old Quarter has a bit of everything. The Old Quarter is a poorer residential district, anyone who can afford more has moved out. The Grocers' Guildhall and the Leatherworkers' Guildhall house the two major industries of the district.

Guilds and Factions

Important People

• Tarkos Ree (Guildmaster of the Laborers' Union)

• Caleb Bartoff (Corrupt District Administrator)

• Lady Kythus Finch, Captain of the Old Quarter Guard

• Patriarch Olliver Jowett (High Priest, Church of the Triad)

• Alek Nidel (High Priest, House of Nature)

• Ezekiel Hekrit (Cleric of Tempus)

• Blackstone (Reclusive Wizard)

• Flameflicker (legendary freelance thief)

Patriarch Olliver Jowett of the Triad and Patriarch Alek Nidel of Glacier's Gift have an ongoing rivalry and openly compete for worshipers. It is said that the two men loath each other, even if the faiths these two churches represent are not in direct competition.
Flameflicker. Thought to be an urban legend, the "Master Thief", Flameflicker, is a non-guild thief who frequently shows up Tightpurse by stealing an object they have their minds set on acquiring and otherwise operating a step or two ahead of the guild. Tightpurse has gone through more than one "purge" feeling that Flameflicker must be a guild thief using inside information to embarrass the guild. The Silverblades, a rival thieves' guild, is said to be created and led by Flameflicker.
Blackstone. A powerful wizard not connected to the Magician's Guild or any other guild. Blackstone lives in a tower in the middle of the Nest. Residents generally cross the streets to avoid the place.

Geography

Neighborhoods

Old Faith. The site of the original temples built in Heliogabalus, Old Faith is still dominated by the Cathedral of All Men, the original temple of the Triad in all of Damara. Walking through the neighborhood, one gets a feeling of age. Everything is old, and much of it is falling apart from years of neglect.
Lakeside. Lakeside almost has the distinction of being part of Bricktop, but the buildings aren't as large, or new, or nice. Bordering Tradeharbor, a fair amount of commerce is directed to Lakeside, but unlike Lakeview which lies north of Tradeharbor, Lakeside gets the less desirable cargoes.
Old Quarter Stations. Although its located on the west side of the district, Old Quarter Stations is called the center of the Old Quarter and houses most of the government and guard stations. It's the safest neighborhood in the Old Quarter.
Dreamer's Delights. As one moves south along the docks, things get nastier, and smellier. In the neighborhood of Dreamer's Delight dock space is cheap enough for those down on their luck to afford, but not so treacherous as Fishstink. Drug dens are plentiful here, as those seeking a better life try to escape their current situation, if only for a night. When the breeze is right on Lake Mogodor, it brings the odors of Fishstink northward into the neighborhood, causing most residents to walk around with perfumed masks or kerchiefs.
Hammersaw. Named for the two most prevalent sounds in the neighborhood, Hammersaw is the center of the carpentry and woodworking trade in Heliogabalus. It boasts its own lumberyard, and also hosts Glacier's Gift, the temple to the gods of nature.
Fishstink. Well, fish, and leatherworkers, and dyers, and… Fishstink is perhaps the worst neighborhood in Heliogabalus. The residents are used to the smell, but most passers-through cover their faces with scented cloths or masks. This neighborhood is the center of the fishing industry in Heliogabalus. Adding to the odor are the dyers and the leatherworkers, and any other noisome industry.
The Nest. The Nest was once the city center. The Old City Hall (now called "The Palace") sits across from the Laborer's Union, which also houses the Guild of Sewermen and Streetcleaners. The Nest is not a good place to get lost in at night. Tightpurse runs this neighborhood, and even the district watch keeps their distance when the sun goes down. If the watch is called into the Nest after dark, expect an extremely large patrol of a dozen or more guards.

LOCATIONS

Political and Government

• 19. Old Quarter Admin Office (Old Quarter Center)

• 20. Old Quarter Revenue Office (Old Quarter Center)

• 21. Old Quarter Court House (Old Quarter Center)

• 32. Old Quarter Orphanage (Old Quarter Center)

Temples and Institutions

• 1. Cathedral of All Men (Church of the Triad) (Old Faith)

• 2. Monastery of Saint Kruskien (Tempus) (Old Faith)

• 10. Ruined temple of St. Rybich (ruined temple of Ilmater) (Old Faith)

• 11. Waverider's Shrine (Shrine of Valkur) (Lakeside)

• 22. Library of Oghma's Eye (Old Quarter Center)

• 35. The Tossed Coin, Temple to Tymora (Dreamer's Delights)

• 46. Glacier's Gift (Hammersaw)

• 34. Chalice Mission House (Old Quarter Center)

Guilds and Industry

• 14. Dockers' and Wharfmans' Union (Lakeside)

• 47. Grocers' Guildhall (Hammersaw)

• 48. Leathersellers' Guildhall (Hammersaw)

• 49. Hammersaw Lumberyard (carpenter's guild house) (Hammersaw)

• 73. The "Palace" (old city hall) (The Nest)

• 74. Heliogabalus' Laborers' Union (The Nest)

• 76. Turin's Servant Agency (The Nest)

• 89. Fishmongers' Guildhall (Fishstink)

• 47. Beggars' Guildhall (The Nest)

Inns, Taverns, and Entertainment

• 23. Open Door Boarding House (Old Quarter Center)

• 50. Elk Horn Boarding House (Hammersaw)

• 62. The Caverns Apartments (Fishstink)

• 63. Turkyl's Tenements (Fishstink)

• 77. Squill's Tenements (The Nest)

• 16. Jagged Blade Inn (Lakeside)

• 36. Crimson Antlers Inn (Dreamer's Delights)

• 51. The Blue Ferret Inn (Hammersaw)

• 78. The Baron's League Inn (The Nest)

• 4. The Bawd and Minister Tavern (Old Faith)

• 17. The Tavern on the Shore (Lakeside)

• 27. The Wassailing Wolf Tavern (Old Quarter Center)

• 37. Dancing Ogre Tavern (Dreamer's Delights)

• 52. The Lucky Hammer Tavern (Hammersaw)

• 66. The Laughing Dog Tavern (sailor dive) (Fishstink)

• 42. Grand Dreamers' Playhouse (theater) (Dreamer's Delights)

• 43. The Merry Players (street performers) (Dreamer's Delights)

• 33. Golden Horseshoe Gaming House (Old Quarter Center)

• 84. Last Chance (gambling house) (The Nest)

• 70. The Fishbowl (brothel) (Fishstink)

• 86. The Pavilion of Delights (brothel) (The Nest)

• 87. House of Many Smokes (drug den) (The Nest)

Shops and Services

• 59. Fasha's Market (general store) (Hammersaw)

• 30. Geeridan's (outfitters) (Old Quarter Center)

• 38. Vesper's Pawnshop (Dreamer's Delights)

• 39. Ali Bongo's Emporium (Dreamer's Delights)

• 82. Aithne's Coins, moneylender and pawnshop (The Nest)

• 83. Jaeger's Pawnshop (The Nest)

• 90. Bazaar of the Bizarre (The Nest)

• 60. Hesters' House (grain merchant) (Hammersaw)

• 67. The Begging Bowl (low-class eatery and food pantry) (Fishstink)

• 54. Double Daggers (weaponsmith) (Hammersaw)

• 55. The Keen Edge (weaponsmith) (Hammersaw)

• 61. Skuldudger's Cutlery (Hammersaw)

• 69. Wulfric's Tannery (armorer and leatherworker) (Fishstink)

• 7. Shop of Nemia of the Dusk (potions and religious incense) (Old Faith)

• 29. Weiss & Co Locksmiths (Old Quarter Center)

• 53. The Keyhole (locksmith) (Hammersaw)

• 31. Seldani & McGhee's Magic Shop (potions and magic items) (Old Quarter Center)

• 57. Natick Nimblefingers (tailor) (Hammersaw)

• 58. The Water Clock (artificer, clockworks) (Hammersaw)

• 68. Tangled Net (nautical supplies) (Fishstink)

• 81. The White Wasp (herbalist) (The Nest)

• 28. The Ferret Hole (scribe) (Old Quarter Center)

• 85. House of Alya (fortuneteller) (The Nest)

• 88. The Eagle's Vision (fortuneteller) (The Nest)

Culture and Sites

• 8. Pacis Bellanic Studium (School) (Old Faith)

• 9. Aquae Flavianae (Bath House) (Old Faith)

• 91. Haunted Wolfhound Warehouse (Secret Entrance to Knights' Sanctuary) (Old Faith)

• 40. The Street Dreamers Gang (Dreamer's Delights)

• 41. Tremelo's Bath House (Dreamer's Delights)

• 44. Palace of Oddities (museum) (Dreamer's Delights)

• 72. Column of Florin Osteropol (famed knight) (Fishstink)

• 91. Sanctuary of the Knights of Virdin (Sewers)

Important Residences

• 45. Blackstone's Tower (Dreamer's Delights)

Type

District

Population

7,561 people cram themselves into the Old Quarter.

Location under

Heliogabalus

Owner/Ruler

Tarkos Ree