Old Ironside

 The abandoned area of the city known as Old Ironside was once just called Ironside Quarter-a thriving district in Smokeside that once rivaled the Auburn District in its potential. Such hopes were dashed in 4683 AR, when an outbreak of mana fever struck Ironside Quarter, decimating the population and turning the few who survived into mutants. Ironside Quarter was quarantined and eventually emptied, its residents evicted from Alkenstar through the western gates. Dwarven explosive charges were placed at key structural points in the emptied district, and in the winter of 4684 AR, the bombs were detonated, imploding the entire district and causing it to sink into the ground. In the interim between the plague and the demolition of Old Ironside, new city walls were constructed around the quarantined district. Expert shieldmarshal snipers are stationed on top of the turrets that dot the massive, unbroken wall at all times. Most of the mutants who were fo rced to leave Ironside Quarter fled to nearby colonies inhabited by more of their kind. Some managed to find tunnels into Alkenstar ' s sewers and the Undercity, but most such routes have since been destroyed or fi lled in by Alkenstar officials. Still, some among the miscreants dwelling in Undercity know of ways to get into Old Ironside, and those brave enough to explore the half­ flooded ruins might very well find an array of treasures belonging to its previous inhabitants.