Ah, The Lady's Ward-or the Old City as Cagers have begun calling it; it's one of the few places in the Planes that's kept its old flavor in the face of modernization. While the rest of the city reached upward, the powerful elites that called The Lady's Ward 'home' pushed through legislation to keep it the way they knew it. The result was the creation of Her Dread Majesty's Commission on Cultural Heritage, an influential group that has the final say on any construction in the Old City that would alter the outward appearance of any building between the Armory and Solar Park (just beyond the Barracks).
Of course, the High-Ups knew what they were doing, and made sure that the Commission was staffed with their lackeys to allow for a 'sensible' level of development. The big mansions, temples, former faction HQs and other famous locations were all preserved, but residents aren't shy about bulldozing a bungallo to widen the roads a bit or adding a helicopter pad to let them travel in style. Still, the Commission has a way of interfering with even the most canny bloods in the ward, if only for a while.
Former Faction HQs: The old faction HQs in The Lady's Ward remain standing. The Armory was purchased by one of Sigil's leading (and most enigmatic) citizens-no, not The Lady of Pain, you sodding idiot!-to be his private residence. The Barracks serves as both training center and base of operations for Sigil's Police Department. It also serves as the focal point of faction activity for both the Harmonium and the Sodkillers (more on that later). The Courthouse has been transformed into a meuseum on the Pantheon War, and acts as the headquarters for the Athar (which manages the museum). As for the Prison, it is sitting unused as the Commission deliberates on what is to be done with the ward's most unsightly building.
The Armory-Located at the border between The Lady's Ward and the Industrial Ward, the former headquarters of the Doomguard has been nicknamed "Golden Lord's Citadel" for how it appears to be guarding The Lady's Ward from the industrial plants that rise out of the street level like mountains. The recently added machine gun emplacements only enhances this image. The Armory today looks like an exaggerated version of how it appeared prior to the Faction War-the four side towers are higher, for example, and the bladed reliefs are much bigger.
When the ban on factions in Sigil was lifted after the Pantheon War, the Harmonium began shifting its operations back to the Barracks. Eventually, the Hardheads sold the Armory to a Planetar from Mt Celestia. The site remained idle for several years while rumors flew about what would become of the Armory. Eventually, the Planetar donated the building to an organization called The Sigil Historical Society. The Society transformed the Armory into a museum dedicated to the Faction War. By the end of the Age of Pain, the Armory housed hundreds of artifacts from that time period, along with many newer pieces of artwork commisioned by the museum.
The Historical Society's fortunes ran out during the chaos following the Lady's Pardon. The pardon, which marked the end of the Age of Pain, was announced with the same finality as all of the Lady's Edicts: "The prisoners of the Mazes walk free at this City's mercy." Among those freed was none other than the Doomguard's most notorius Factols, Molluus and Pentar. The two sinkers rallied their most die-hard descendents and assaulted the Armory, intent on retaking it as their faction HQ. The Sigil Historical Society was massacred before the Sigil City Guard could arrive. The battle that followed destroyed the Armory yet again-Molluus fell under a hail of musket fire, while Pentar escaped through a portal near the Temple of the Abyss.
The Commission on Cultural Heritage initially impeded any effort to rebuild the Armory. Eventually, though, one individual was able to earn enough votes to put his plan into effect-a firey-haired man named Ulden Throatbane [writer's comment's: *ahem* *wink*]. Prior to his move to acquire the Armory, there is scant mention of Throatbane in any records. Ulden claimed in subsequent interviews that he had been poisoned by the Styx's waters, but there is reason to expect that this is just a cover story. Chant-mongers have rattled off dozens of theories: a fallen celestial/fiend in hiding, a renegade Veteran of Ragnorak, Molluus reborn, and many others. Regardless, Ulden began restoring the Armory to its original glory even as he persued public office. Once he was elected to Sigil's Parliament, his financial disclosures raised even more questions than it provided answers. Throatbane owned large shares of stock in corporations throughout the Multiverse-from the First Bank of Celestia to Nytemare Motorcycles. This sign of influence was hard to reconcile with his informal, down-to-earth manners. Perhaps the biggest mystery, however, is what lies within the rebuilt Armory, for Ulden, now Prime Minister of Sigil, has kept anyone outside of his innermost circle from entering his dwelling. Those who have tried to pierce his veil are either unsuccessful or disappear entirely.
Of course, reporters are certain that Ulden's luck can't hold out forever. Many of them frequent the Golden Bariar Inn in search of clues and leads that might shed some light on the new Master of the Armory. They are joined by seedy individuals that claim to be with the Doomguard-apparently, Pentar's goal of reclaiming the Armory has not been forgotten by some Sinkers.