Automata is a Gatetown in the Outlands, built around a portal to the Outer Plane of Mechanus. Like its associated plane, Automata is dominated by rigid, bureaucratic order. Nothing happens in Automata without the proper paperwork being filled out, stamped, and signed by the correct authorities.
The layout of the city is a perfect rectangular grid, each block dedicated to one (and only one) type of building; the tavern block, the blacksmith's block, the library block, etc. At the center of town, at the end of a wide main street leading to the city gates, is a large turning gear that serves as a portal to Mechanus. The portal is under constant guard, and no access is granted without a writ of permission from the city.
Automata is ruled by the Council of Order, consisting of Captain Arstimis (a githzerai fighter and captain of the town guard), Pelnis the Clockmaker (representing the city's crafts guilds), and Serafil (a tiefling priestess of Lei Kung who represents the temple district).
Automata has a mirror opposite, however, in the form of the Underground. Living beneath the city streets in a series of tunnels and underground vaults, the residents of the Underground are scoundrels, criminals, and free-thinkers. Unlike the surface city, the market in Underground is a wild, open, and free place where almost everything can be bought and sold.
The rulers of Automata's underground. Mirroring the Council of Order (the legitimate power of the city), it is made up of three seats. This council’s made up of a Githzerai criminal named Leggis Scrog, a human Cleric of Olidammara, Gwydion, and a Baatezu Erinyes called Aurach the Fair. They rule the night and the mysterious Underworld and, without their nods, nothing illegal gets done in town.
The Council of Anarchy was ousted by a group of Bladeling mercenaries, who took control of the Underground and ruled it with an iron fist. After the party came to town and defeated the Bladelings, Leggis Scrogg has returned to power. Leggis tapped Gwydion, Underground's resident Cleric, to take one seat on the Council (to replace Ravis Corcuncwel, who was killed), and Aurach has resumed her place on the council once the Planeswalkers rescued her from Torch (The Story So Far,20).
Members
Aurach The Fair
Gwydion
Leggis Scrogg
Ravis Corcuncewl (deceased)