The Industrial Ward (Project 1)

Also known as the Lower Ward or the Foundry Ward, this area of Sigil has benefitted the greatest from Industrialization. Sure other wards have become sodding rich from economic growth, but trade and services have always been a key attraction the Cage offered to visitors. The Industrial Revolution added a new benificiary to the City of Doors' unique properties: manufacturing. Early industrialists quickly realized that component parts from across the multiverse could be brought together inside Sigil and assembled into a final product that couldn't be made elsewhere. Fuel from the Plane of Fire and lubricant from the Plane of Water. Gearboxes from Mechanus and engines from Ysgard. The possibilities were unlimited.

Factories were built in the Lower Ward since the exhaust and smoke from their smokepipes seemed the least out of place there. Starting over and around the Foundry, factories soon covered the entire ward. Today, this colossal industrial megaplex accounts for 20% of Sigil's gross product. The largest industry in the ward is railroad manufacturing. Freight cars and locomotives made from multiplanar components have proven to be the most capable of handling cross-planar trips, and the Cage was the best place to build them. The Sigil Railyard is where more than a third of the trans-planar cars and engines were built. Other industries include chemicals, motorcycles, engines, electrical appliances, and personal firearms.

The Industrial Ward is home to the vast majority of Sigil's working class; the rent is affordable (if barely) while still being safe enough for the police to patrol regularly. Many live in housing complexes built near the edges of Sigil's torus. Entertainment ranges from slightly run-down cineplexes to the Modron March Speedway. The Industrial Ward is the blue-collared heart of Sigil. Working non-stop through four different shifts, the cagers of the Lower Ward are probably the best match to the stereotypical inhabitant of Sigil: jaded, cynical, street-smart, and not above a little cross-trading. Most importantly, they understand how belief shapes reality. When modern ideas like "unionization", "socialism" and "communism" entered Sigil, their utility was quickly realized by the city's factory workers. Ever since, the labour unions of the Cage have been a potent political force, serving as a strong counterbalance to the interests of the Corporate Ward.

The Industrial Ward is badly polluted. Breathing filters are highly recommended for many humanoid races that come here. Lung disease is a common cause of death among residents. Anyone passing through the ward without protection must make a fort save (DC 15) or become nauseated for 1d10 hours. Regardless of the success of the save, no new save must be made unless the victem is outside of the Ward for longer than he was inside. On the other hand, the safety record of factories in the Ward has improved greatly over the last few decades. This was not because of any legislation, but because the owners and shareholders noticed that industrial accidents, especially big ones, can draw the attention of The Lady. After a few executives got flayed, saftey became a priority at the workplace.