What keeps the City of Doors safe and functioning? What maintains order and refuses to allow
Sigil to tumble into chaos and anarchy? The answer is simple, yet surprisingly complex: the Lady of Pain.
The Lady of Pain isn't a woman and isn't human. Although theories abound, the truth of the matter is that no one knows who or what the Lady of Pain actually is. She exists. She has an enduring connection to
Sigil. And she stands as the law and the power in the City of Doors.
Some believe she is a god, but no pantheon claims her as a member. Some think she must be a demon prince or a devil lord, but others find that idea unacceptable. One or two ancient texts identify her as the embodiment ofSigil, or even as a proto-entity from the time before time. Most visitors to and inhabitants of
Sigil don't really care one way or another. The simple truth is that the Lady of Pain exists, and that's all that matters.
The Lady remains distant from most of the day-today activities that take place in
Sigil. You won't find a castle, a palace, or a temple with her name on it. Indeed, if anyone worships her they usually end up missing (presumed to be banished to the Mazes, see below) or turn up with their skin flayed from their bones. It is widely known that she accepts no prayers or sacrifices, and she reportedly punishes or destroys those that make such offerings.
The Lady of Pain never speaks. She never participates in council meetings or guild discussions or judicial inquiries. When she appears, she is seen drifting down the cobbled streets, her gown barely brushing the dusty surface as she passes by. Those familiar with the ways of
Sigil know enough to move on during the Lady's sporadic forays through the streets. Anyone who has the bad sense to try to interfere with her passage receives painful gashes from her penetrating gaze. Such appearances, rare and memorable though they might be, eventually end when the Lady passes through a wall or simply fades into nothingness, vanishing from sight without word or warning.
What is the Lady of Pain? She is the impassive protector ofSigil, inspiring awe and fear with her very presence. No one deals with the Lady. She doesn't give missions or serve as a patron. She makes no proclamations and issues no edicts. She is just the wonder and mystery and danger of
Sigil made manifest. But she does have laws- or, at least, certain truths about
Sigil are credited to her will.
The presence of the Lady keeps all inhabitants and visitors in line, making
Sigil more or less safe for conducting business of all sorts. She keeps gods and other powerful entities out of the city. She prevents teleportation rituals and other magic from penetrating the borders of the City of Doors. She oversees the dabus that maintain the city. And she creates the Mazes that serve as the most prominent deterrent to conquest and chaos in
Sigil-and which give the city its other name, the Cage.