The Sentinel District, known colloquially as the Iron Quarter, traces its origins to the immediate aftermath of the devastating Shadow War. Its foundations were laid from the obsidian-like debris of the shattered Bukhara Spires, chosen for its near-imperviousness to siege weaponry. This material, while pragmatic, has proven to be spiritually perilous throughout the district's long history. Historically, the district served as a symbol of protection, housing the ancient Barracks of the Sea commissioned by the House of Sea and Stone before their relocation.

For five centuries during the brutal Civil War, the Sentinel District solidified its role as the martial heart of Coia City. It served as the impenetrable seat of the ruling class, weathering countless sieges that reduced the rest of the capital to rubble. It was within its formidable walls that the treacherous alliances between the city's merchant slavers were forged and broken, shaping the course of the war. During this tumultuous period, one of the now-dormant corrupted gateways was sealed beneath the district.

In the current era, prior to recent upheavals, the Sentinel District continued its martial traditions. It housed Coia City's standing army, the headquarters of the City Watch, and the private legions belonging to the powerful Three Lords. The district's ancient depths also concealed a labyrinth of older dungeons, secrets waiting to be disturbed.

However, the district's honorable tone has shifted drastically in recent months, following the rise of the demigod lich, Velsharoon. The Sentinel District has become the epicenter of Lord Mangar Roth's increasingly corrupt authority. Publicly, Roth claims to be fortifying the city against the Wild Magic surges emanating from Iron Mountain and the growing rumors of undead dragons.

Beneath this guise, Roth has systematically transformed the Sentinel District into a paranoid police state. The once-honorable City Watch is being systematically replaced by The Black Helms, a mercenary force loyal only to Roth himself. As the apotheosis ritual draws near for Velsharoon, the very stones of the district, mined from magical spires, now hum with a low, unsettling necrotic resonance.

The district's current status is highly militarized and rife with paranoia. It remains firmly under the iron-fisted control of the corrupted Lord Mangar Roth. Unbeknownst to most, Roth is secretly preparing the district to serve as the ground zero for Velsharoon's ascension, intending to reopen the ancient, corrupted gateway sealed within its depths.