City Hall

City Hall is one of the oldest and most iconic buildings in Republic City. It houses the offices of the government of Republic City, including the United Republic Council. In addition to its role in government, it is also a venue for public announcements, events, and gatherings in the city.

History
In 128 ASC, Yakone, a prominent Republic City criminal, was once again put on trial for employing the forbidden art of bloodbending on the citizens of Republic City during his criminal pursuits. His hearing was held in City Hall in the presence of the Avatar Aang, Chief Toph Beifong, and the United Republic Council with Sokka upholding the role as chairman. After Yakone was found guilty, he bloodbent all the attendees within the building's meeting room and escaped briefly.

Shortly after arriving in the city, Korra made her maiden official appearance to the population at large as the new Avatar and announced her stay in front of City Hall. Later, Councilman Tarrlok proposed the creation of a task force in order to fight the Equalists to the Council within the City Hall; the idea was accepted by each Council member except for Tenzin.



In order to subtly coerce Korra to join the task force, Tarrlok held a gala at City Hall in honor of the Avatar, a social event to which all the high society and important public figures of Republic City were invited to. Here, Korra was introduced to the Satos and once more to Chief Lin Beifong, who only rudely told her that she did not deserve a such a celebration, having done nothing worthy of it. Toward the end of the gala, Tarrlok intentionally exposed Korra to the gathered press who barraged her with questions as to why she refused to join Tarrlok's task force and fight Amon. After a few feeble attempts to keep the reporters at bay, Korra broke under the media assault and announced that she would take her place among the fighters of the force if that was what the city needed her to do.

Upon hearing Amon's warning of shutting down the Pro-bending Arena, the Council members met at City Hall and unanimously decided to heed his threat and close the arena lest "severe consequences" follow. However, Korra, Mako, and Bolin arrived at City Hall and protested against the Council's decision but without success. However, Lin Beifong soon arrived and also opposed the canceling of the championship final, prompting a majority of the members to vote in favor of keeping the arena open.

At a Council meeting, Tarrlok proposed that a new law be created to outlaw membership or association with the Equalists and create a curfew for all non-benders. Tenzin strongly opposed the proposal, but the other Council members voted in favor, thus creating the law. After Korra's friends were arrested by Tarrlok, she broke into his office at City Hall and confronted him. After a brief conversation, Tarrlok launched an attack at Korra, thus prompting her to fight back. The conflict destroyed a large part of Tarrlok's office, and the battle continued in the main Council room which was also highly damaged. Tarrlok eventually prevailed and kidnapped the Avatar.



The following day, Tarrlok attempted to cover up the evidence of his crime by planting Equalist equipment in the main Council room and claiming that the damage was from an Equalist attack aimed at kidnapping Korra. Later that day, Tenzin, Lin, Mako, Bolin, and Asami arrived at City Hall where they accused Tarrlok of kidnapping Korra. The waterbender councilman attempted to dismiss the accusations, however, the council page confirmed that he had bloodbent and kidnapped the Avatar. Before making a quick retreat, the councilman subdued the group using bloodbending.

Before the Equalists began their attack on Republic City, they attempted to abduct each member of the United Republic Council. After Tenzin left Lin on Air Temple Island to watch over his family, he proceeded to head toward City Hall. Once there, he was ambushed on the building's roof by three Equalists posing as window washers, however, the airbender was able to defeat them after a brief confrontation. The council page then told Tenzin that all of the other Council members had been abducted, and that the leadership of Republic City was in his hands. The two observed from the roof as the city started being bombed and invaded by enemy airships.

Design


Constructed almost entirely out of stone, City Hall is a large building which is very ornately decorated. Notably, the building includes intricate gold trimmings and an iconic green dome.

The building's interior is quite spacious and filled with extravagant decorations. Multiple beams and pillars are located close to the walls, supporting a narrow walkways on the first floor.

Leading to the main Council room is a grand hallway. During formal occasions, a ball room is used as a type of hosting place for formal dress parties and even balls and/or masquerades.



There are office spaces incorporated in the building on the fifth floor. Councilman Tarrlok and Councilman Tenzin each had their own respective office inside City Hall. Tarrlok's office space contained his personal desk which was placed in front of a large waterfall. Behind the waterfall was a large carving of the Moon and Ocean Spirits, Tui and La. Tenzin's office is somewhat smaller than Tarrlok's, but is more densely furnished. Tenzin has his own desk, and keeps a telephone and a device resembling an armillary sphere on it. Behind his desk there is a large, circular bookcase filled with numerous books and scrolls. Tenzin's office is also decorated with a large rug, as well as two yin-yang scrolls and a bagua hanging.

Council room


The Council room is one of the oldest rooms in City Hall, and holds many precious memories in Republic City. Inside the room are large doors located behind the Council members' desks which bear the emblem of the United Republic of Nations.

The room is the meeting place for the United Republic Council, where they discuss the government of the city and occasional hold criminal trials. A large u-shaped table is stationed in the front, on a slightly raised platform, facing the open space of the room that is packed with wooden benches for possible spectators to be seated on.

There are also numerous balconies overlooking this room from the upper floors, and located on one of the windows in this room is a large, ten-sided insignia.

Trivia

 * City Hall closely resembles the Reichstag, the meeting place of the German parliament in Berlin.
 * The insignia on one of the building's interior windows is in the same shape as the badge that every member of the Council wears.
 * The interior of the room where the Council meets resembles the old meeting hall of the League of Nations which was created in 1919 as an international organization to prevent future world wars, until it was superseded by the UN two months after the end of the Second World War.