Quick facts
Type: City · Location: easternmost point of its continent, on the Grave E. Sea · Landmarks: Coliseum, Collector’s Mansion, Cackler Barrel, CAGS, Ye Olde Inn · People: North City People
North City is a sprawling metropolis and a center of trade, commerce, and culture. It was the Cacklers’ home base for much of Campaign 1, in Campaign 1.5 it was attacked by Dr. Gero, and in Campaign 2 it hosted The Cell Games.
Description
The city is split into districts, each with its own character. The Dragon’s District in the center is the richest and most exclusive, full of grand architecture and opulent mansions. It is home to the Collector’s stadium, the Coliseum, where the city’s elite watch games and competitions. Further in, the neighborhoods become more diverse and working-class.
The North River runs through the middle of the city, separating the districts and carrying trade. Ships from all over the continent dock at its busy port.
Most of the population is human, but dwarves, elves, halflings, and many others live there too, and the city holds festivals throughout the year celebrating their traditions. The streets are well kept and well lit, the city guard keeps order, and the city never sleeps, with entertainment from the stadium’s high-stakes games to the cozy taverns of the working-class neighborhoods.
In Campaign 1
The Cacklers first slipped into the city by night to spy on the docks before the Greatest Below the Heavens tournament, held at the Coliseum and won by Elyon (C1 Chapter 06). There Greene recruited Jebidiah.
After the tournament the Cacklers became fugitives in the city. The Collector put a bounty on Sophie in the North City Times, the Cacklers faked her death in the same paper, and Jebidiah gave them a war room under the Cackler Barrel. They killed the Collector soon after (C1 Chapter 08).
The city then ran short of alcohol, and the Rose Ribbon Army moved in. Five dragons perched on its buildings and announced an occupation, demanding the city join The Calyx. Greene beheaded the black dragon Canidoth, the Cacklers called on citizens to gather at the reclaimed Coliseum, and a battle in the harbor ended with an enemy ship blowing itself up. The city hailed the Cacklers as its new navy (C1 Chapter 10).
The Cacklers kept returning to the city for the rest of the campaign. At the end, Captain Barqs woke up there after Shenlong’s wish, and Greene set sail toward it on the Rootbeer Float (C1 Chapter 14).
In Campaign 1.5
About twenty years after Campaign 1, Dr. Gero and Android 19 attacked the city, blowing up buildings. The Cacklers killed them both, and North City was saved once again (C1.5 Chapter 01). Perfect Cell then chose the North City Coliseum as the site of The Cell Games, where he was destroyed (C1.5 Chapter 02, C1.5 Chapter 03).
In Campaign 2
When Perfect Cell announced The Cell Games at the North City Coliseum, The FAM traveled there through The Underdark, coming up through a manhole cover. They stayed at Ye Olde Inn, a historic building once associated with the Cacklers (Session 60). Nelda visited her old school and ran into her former classmates, Bitch Perfect (Session 61).
The city’s press was not kind to its heroes. The North City Herald ran an editorial by Marrow Vane attacking the Cacklers, Terra Misu in particular (Session 63), and Vane later criticized them on the radio for the damage done when Ozaroo apes rampaged through the warehouse district (Session 64–67). During those days Will Jr. was killed, and later revived, at the Cackler Barrel (Session 66, 67).
The Cell Games ended in victory for Arlia (Session 70). The Velvet Truffle Company’s leadership met in the city the same day, and company watchers trailed the FAM to the docks before the party left through the sewers, past the Rat King, back into the Underdark (Session 71, 72).