Oldtown is the historic, administrative, and heavily fortified heart of Ptolus. Situated on a massive rising ridge just below the highest bluffs of the Nobles’ Quarter, Oldtown was the original settlement before the city expanded into the massive metropolis it is today. Architecturally, it is a grand display of classical Western Empire design, featuring towering stone columns, pristine marble courts, and ancient, weathered fortifications built to withstand a siege.
In your Eraedal setting, Oldtown serves as the seat of Imperial law and bureaucracy within the Western Empire. It is home to the city’s government buildings, legal courts, and military headquarters. The streets are wide, immaculate, and constantly patrolled by elite, heavily armored detachments of the City Watch. The atmosphere here is formal, orderly, and deeply conservative—a stark contrast to the chaotic energy of Midtown or the industrial soot of the Guildsman District.
Prominent Locations
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Dalenguard: An ancient, black-stone fortress that dominates the district’s skyline. Originally built by the old Tarldet Plains Hero’s, Dalenguard now serves as the absolute military headquarters for The Commissar (Igor Urnst) and the primary garrison for the City Watch. Its thick curtain walls, heavy iron portcullises, and deep executioner dungeons represent the absolute martial authority of the Empire in Ptolus.
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The Administration Building: A massive, multi-winged complex of classical stone architecture where the day-to-day legal and bureaucratic work of Ptolus is conducted. Here, citizens apply for merchant charters, register noble land deeds, and face trial before the city’s Imperial judges.
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The Arena: A colossal, open-air stone amphitheater that hosts grand athletic competitions, military parades, and spectacular gladitorial combats. Sponsored heavily by martial houses like House Khatru, the Arena attracts combatants from all across the Western Empire and the Tarldet Plains, serving as a massive source of entertainment for all social classes.
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The Inverted Pyramid (Surface Access): While the actual mages’ guildhall floats invisibly high above the city, its secretive members maintain hidden surface access points, heavily guarded safe houses, and secure magical laboratories tucked away within the quiet, classical alleyways of Oldtown.
Prominent People
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The Commissar (Igor Urnst): The supreme military commander of Ptolus and direct representative of the Western Empire. Operating out of Dalenguard, Urnst is a strict, battle-tested leader who rules the city with absolute martial law. He has zero patience for political subversion or the chaos brought by independent adventuring guilds. Mechanically, he is a high-level Fighter (utilizing tactical Marshal auras) who approaches city security like a battlefield commander.
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Judge Ironstone: A notoriously stern, completely unbribable Imperial magistrate who presides over high-profile criminal trials in the Administration Building. Clad in traditional heavy robes, Ironstone is famous for handing down severe, absolute sentences to thieves, smugglers, and chaotic spellcasters. Mechanically, he fits as an Investigator (Interrogation methodology) who uses legal brilliance and sharp deduction to break down suspects on the stand.
PF2e Mechanical Identity for Vault Tagging
Behind the GM screen, use these Pathfinder 2e baselines to flavor Oldtown encounters, military defenses, and legal confrontations:
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Common Ancestries: Human (predominantly of traditional Western Empire stock), alongside disciplined Dwarves serving as structural engineers and elite military officers.
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Prevalent Classes: Fighters (guarding checkpoints), Champions (enforcing law and order), and Investigators handling Imperial law and intelligence.
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Signature Archetypes: Marshal, Sentinel, Stalwart Defender, and Inspector.
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Tactical Focus: Watch forces and military units in Oldtown are highly disciplined. They fight in tight tactical formations, making extensive use of the Reactive Strike feature, Shield Wall formations, and heavy non-lethal subduing weapons like saps and heavy flails to arrest lawbreakers.