Old Quarter

Overview

The Old Quarter is a key district within the city of Specularum, characterized by its deep-seated Traladaran heritage and an almost complete absence of Thyatian influence. This colorful and historic ward stands as a bastion of native culture in a city of new conquerors. However, its tranquil and traditional appearance conceals a darker reality: it is a hub for criminal enterprises, particularly the powerful Veiled Society, which maintains a monopoly on vice and criminal activity in the area. The district is also home to a wealthy and influential Traladaran noble, Baron Yuschiev, who acts as a charismatic leader for the Traladaran faction within the city’s complex political landscape.

Appearance

The Old Quarter is described as a "colourful old Traladaran quarter," a distinct visual departure from the newer, Thyatian-style districts of Specularum. The streets and arteries of this part of the city are narrower and more twisting than the broad, paved main thoroughfares found in the newer parts of town. This unique aesthetic is a direct reflection of its long history as a native settlement. A notable landmark in the district is the St. Kruskiev Monastery, a building that houses a lawful order of monks who are appreciated for their candlesmithing.

Culture and Society

The culture of the Old Quarter is a microcosm of Traladaran society. With almost no Thyatian presence, it serves as a central point for native traditions and daily life. The society is a mix of honest laborers and an entrenched criminal underworld. The Veiled Society, a criminal syndicate led by the Traladaran Radu family, has a monopoly on vice in this quarter, controlling illegal gambling and prostitution. This organization shrewdly presents itself as a "champion of the Traladaran urban lower classes" to garner support. Another group, the Street Dreamers, a small gang of thugs who will do almost anything for money, also resides here. Despite this, the district is home to Baron Yuschiev, a wealthy Traladaran noble and one of the most charismatic leaders of the Traladaran faction, who has managed to skillfully navigate the political tensions with the Thyatians.

Territory

The Old Quarter is a lower and middle-class district within Specularum. Its territory is geographically significant as one of the oldest parts of the city, where the streets and buildings reflect an earlier era of Traladaran settlement. It is strategically important for both its Traladaran populace and its criminal factions, as its location provides a base of operations away from the scrutiny of the city’s main administrative centers.

Resources and Sustenance

The economy of the Old Quarter is a blend of legitimate work and a thriving criminal underworld. The Veiled Society's monopoly on vice, including illegal gambling and prostitution, generates a steady revenue stream. The society also runs protection rackets, extorting coin from merchants under the guise of providing security from "thugs," which are often their own agents. Additionally, the St. Kruskiev Monastery provides a legitimate economic contribution as the monks are known for their candlesmithing.

Military and Defense

The Old Quarter does not have its own military, relying on the broader city guard for defense. However, the true power structure in the district is the organized crime that operates within it. The Veiled Society is a well-organized family-led syndicate, with an elder leading each gang that controls a number of city blocks. These criminal groups, including the Street Dreamers, act as a parallel power structure that operates with a degree of impunity. The city guard's patrols become more numerous and heavily armed at night in high-crime areas, but this is often to contain rather than to eradicate the conflicts between rival criminal factions.

Relations (with Other Races and Factions)

The Old Quarter is notable for its almost complete lack of Thyatian presence and its strong ties to the native Traladaran populace. The Veiled Society, led by the Radu family, leverages its power in the district to oppose the Thyatian ruling class, while also engaging in a fierce rivalry with other powerful merchant families like the Torenescu and Vorloi clans. Baron Yuschiev, a wealthy Traladaran noble living in the Old Quarter, is a key figure in this dynamic, and is considered a charismatic leader for the Traladaran faction who may be allied with the Torenescu family.

Reputation

The reputation of the Old Quarter is a mixture of tradition and danger. It is widely known as a "colourful" and historic Traladaran district, a place where the cultural heart of the city still beats strong. However, for those who are aware of the city's secrets, it is also a notorious hub of criminal activity and a center of resistance against the Thyatian ruling class. This duality—as both a cultural haven and a shadowy underworld—makes it a compelling and vital setting.