If not for the festering poverty and unwholesome growth that is Bridgefront, Old Dock would be considered the city’s most run-down and least-desirable ward. In many ways, though, it actually does bear those dubious distinctions. Whereas the people of Bridgefront mostly lead honest if poverty-stricken lives, those of Old Dock rarely burden themselves with such trifles as legality, morality, or compassion. Indeed, rough-and-tumble Old Dock accounts for more than half the city’s violent crimes, despite frequent, heavy patrols by the Korvosan Guard.

Since the quarantine of Old Korvosa came into effect and regular patrols by any sort of authority stopped, the resulting power vacuum was apparently filled by the so-called Emperor of Old Korvosa who rules the ward with his band of thugs.