New Ancora. A haven to some, and a prison to others. Here, everyone has a want, a need, a desire - be it for money, drugs, sex, peace, or whatever else the mind can contrive. In New Ancora, you can fulfill that desire (or die in the process), so long as you keep your nose clean and stay in your Zone.







New Ancora is broken up into twenty-one districts; we consider your individual wealth, familial history, criminal records, and profession when providing you with the right fit!

District 0, informally called the 'Outer Heaven' of New Ancora is regarded as little more than an urban myth by the general populace. What is known is that District 0 is the powerhouse of New Ancora, housing every known government building and seat of power running the city. Heavily guarded and monitored, only renowned professors and scientists, military officials, and political figures are allowed within - with a government-issued ID required to even step aboard transit to the District.



Districts 1-9 are referred to as Zone Alpha. Zone Alpha is the "ideal" home for those seeking success in New Ancora. Filled with immense skyscrapers, skylights, and penthouses, Zone Alpha contains the least corruption (both civilian or otherwise), the best economic status, the safest security, and cleanest regulation aside from District 0 itself.

Officers regularly patrol the streets (which are consistently cleaned and maintained), gang activity and illegal trade are all but nonexistent, and citizens are granted many personal rights and freedoms that make Zone Alpha the New Ancora that so many people hope and dream for.





Districts 10-20


Zone Beta represents the "Lower-Class" of New Ancora. While Districts 10-16 are generally quiet, District 17 is quickly becoming overrun by crime, gang activity, prostitution, and drug/human trafficking. In Zone Beta, most citizens can live a moderately average and successful life if they work hard enough. However, growing crime rates and corruption of government/police officials are making Zone Beta gradually unlivable. However...there's no better place to find a hitman or information broker than in Zone Beta.

Ganglands





Gangs in New Ancora are not new, nor are they a rarity in the streets of Zone Beta. In fact, older, wiser citizens of New Ancora will tell you that gangs have been there since the beginning.

As with all foul organizations, gangs in New Ancora did not start out with ulterior motives. They were simply neighborhoods that banded together to protect themselves, each taking care of their own. However as time went on, these neighborhoods began to turn into individual families - and these families found out ways of how to get rich quick. Maybe buy an Access card to move to the much-safer Zone Alpha...or maybe just to buy more dope. Either way, it wasn't long before the Families got involved in any number of illegal contraband: be it drugs or illegal narcotics, prostitution, slavery, or even back-alley surgery and "augmentation".

Gang wars aren't frequent, at least not out in the open. Gangs prefer to operate under more clandestine means, dealing with each other secretly and quietly, preferring executions and late-night murder raids. It's a twisted sort of harmony. So long as regular citizens of Zone Beta keep quiet, out of the way, and don't interfere with gang business, they can expect to live in a relatively safe and quiet environment.

The most potent gang activity can be found in [RESTRICTED] Districts 11, 17, 18, 19, and 20. These "hotspots" are considered highly dangerous, and most intruders will be shot or killed on sight.

Law Enforcement



Every district in New Ancora has its own fully staffed police department, complete with officers and hardened detectives handling the cases local to their territories. Overseeing these departments, albeit loosely, is the New Ancoran Bureau of Defense (BoD). One BoD agent is assigned to each police department, though he or she is not required to be or stay there, or to enjoy the mandatory visitation hours.

You can sometimes find BoD agents at the gates working with or in place of that district's officers. They are not confined to Alpha yet still don't spend enough time patrolling in Beta, which is one of the two actions they are (technically) required to fulfill each day. BoD agents are equipped with clean white armor.

Ask the local cops and they’ll tell you most of the BoD is a bunch of fancy kids with glitzy tech and daddy issues that don’t give a shit about the city they were sworn to protect, focusing more on the latest gossip or news coming from Zone Beta.

For the most part the police departments alone deal with all of the crime that happens in the lower districts. BoD agents will sometimes work alongside local cops in big cases like gang raids or drug busts, but those occurrences can be rare. The police, at this point, prefer it that way; their time to be angry about BoD's general negligence has been exhausted for a long while, and the current social climate between the two forces is the less they have to see of each other the better.

Police armor is a black variant of the BoD armor, though produced at a slightly reduced level of quality. The suits in circulation are a tad bit on the used side but the AH-114 name is known specifically for its longevity and solid build. Detectives and officers typically wear some kind of jacket over their armor.

There are a plethora of jails throughout New Ancora in all districts, however there is only one prison located in District 0. As there is very little known about District 0 itself, even less is known about what happens to prisoners incarcerated there... only that they never return.

Drugs
Mainstream drugs from the 21st Century (Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth, etc.) are still around and widely distributed as illegal substances. However, scientific advancement has allowed a wider range of illegal narcotics to become mainstream contraband in New Ancora.

- Lucid A highly addictive and notoriously dangerous drug, Lucid has the unique effect of stimulating the temporal lobe, increasing ones perception and expanding their personal thought horizon. Lucid users describe their highs as ranging from terrifying to exciting to inspiring, to a mixture of all three. What makes Lucid such a dangerous drug is the harrowing effect it has on the body. The addict's body is unable to withstand repeated dosages of Lucid, and will start degenerating at an astounding rate, eventually causing the user's body to simply shut down.

- Emotion Tea The "Elevate" nightclub in District 4 is highly sought after for their unique Emotion Tea, a beverage that causes the drinker to feel inclined towards a certain emotion for a set amount of time, ranging from a few minutes all the way up to a few hours. While the diluted effect in the tea itself is legal, there are reports of Beta Zone citizens getting their hands on the undiluted drug, which, when injected into the bloodstream, can completely control someone emotionally. This drug does not feature many negative effects physically but can cause emotional and mental harm long-term, as practitioners can become little more than vegetative husks, devoid of all emotion.

- Hand of the Devil A highly amplified steroid incredibly popular in Zone Beta, this drug, directly injected into the bloodstream activates the user's adrenal gland, filling them with an immense amount of rage and bloodthirst. In this state, while the user will gain increased strength, speed, and endurance from the adrenaline rush, the rest of their faculties will temporarily atrophy, making them all-but-completely unreasonable. Side-effects of Hand of the Devil include: increased aggression, muscle aches, weakening of the heart with a chance of heart failure or cardiac arrest, heightened stress hormones, and fatigue. It has also been noted a more physical change can take over the user such as a change in eye color.

NOTE: Hand of the Devil partially earns its name due to the notorious fact that 90% of its users die within minutes of their first usage, due to cardiac arrest. Only those in extremely good physical and mental condition can survive their first hit and keep going.

- Devil's Breath Also known as Scopolamine. Iconic in the hands of the Colombian drug dealers, this odorless and colorless powder is one of the most dangerous drugs out there. Grown from a beautiful white flower, the drug has both amnesiac and suggestive capabilities, with a near instantaneous effect. The result of this combo? A drug that instantly puts someone under the user's control, and who won't remember a second of it the day after. If they live that long.

- DNP When first conceived, this diet pill was a marvel, burning away fat at an extremely quick rate. Unfortunately, many users of the drug found that it burned it a little too quick, the energy in their body used so rapidly that their body literally burned from heat on the inside, causing death.

- IT No information is yet available.

Nightlife



When the sun falls, the Districts become awash in a neon haze of night culture. From beautiful clubs featuring the best sound systems and soaring sky-bars to rougher dive-bars with seedy back rooms and seedier patrons (the kind to find whatever drug it is you’re craving), there’s something for everyone to enjoy on a weekend.

Places of Interest in Zone Alpha

- Eclipse One of the more expensive nightclubs (even by Zone Alpha standards), Eclipse prides itself with its planetarium-esque dome ceiling. Well-dressed patrons can enjoy watching a variety of 4D high-definition images while sipping from glasses of freshly imported wine. Features the latest in modern musical tastes. D1

- Starbucks Yes. Still here. Every Zone Alpha District

- Elevate One of the more aloof lounges, as far as Zone Alpha goes, 'Elevate' is notorious for their uniquely blended and produced 'emotion tea': a beverage that comes in a variety of flavors or emotions, with each drink meant to incline the drinker towards a certain type of emotion. Be it elation, anger, joy, sadness, excitement, or lust, among many others. Rumor has it, however, that 'Elevate' has a darker side to it, though neither the police department or BoD have made any formal investigations into the matter. D4

- Insurgence One of Zone Alpha's most popular dance clubs. Insurgence is where teenagers or other technophiles go to dance, drink, or listen to the current remixes. Includes a balcony dance-floor and bar. D2

Places of Interest in Zone Beta

- Flannery's: Your classic Irish bar, chock-full of: regulars, alcoholics, and rowdy drunks looking to have a fun night. Lot's of sports, lot's of bar-fights. D12.

- The Spit: Looking for loud guitar music or girls and guys with neck tats? Here's your place. The Spit is one of the oldest rock clubs in New Ancora, originally establishing itself strictly as a venue for hardcore punk bands they've expanded their resume to include most rock music with an edge. Countless local punk bands - playing stuff from 1980s style hardcore, to the catchy vibes of late 70s punk - have walked through the back door and have delivered head-splitting riffs and quick bass lines. It is also notably the best place to watch an unrestricted cage fight if you're in the mood to watch someone get killed. D13.

- Dead Cell: Probably the cleanest club in Zone Beta and the closest to anything like the clubs in Alpha, a favorite of university students and young professionals. There’s a VIP floor at the club’s very top that is rented out practically every night. It's not known particularly for it's strong drinks or major hookups, morso taking on a 'juice bar' type ambiance with tasteful, classical, soft music in the background. D10

- Avalon: A ground level club that hosts live MC's and plays a lot of hip-hop, trap, and golden oldies. Avalon can be described as: unpretentious, easy-going, and “one love”. Come here if you’ve been hitting the herb and want unwind with a few drinks and talk to the local dudes or ladies. It can get wild on the dance floor, so be sure you make friends or you might feel a little lonely when everyone’s getting close. D17

- Bennys: What used to be 'Dennys' but has since undergone a multitude of revamps, it is still the basic 24-7 restaurant though certain sections have been constructed as a duo smoke-shop where patrons are permitted to smoke their favored (legal) delights while they eat a good 'old fashioned home cooked' meal. Every Zone Beta District.

- Warehouse: A scuzzy rock bar featuring live music every night. It's a cool but rowdy music venue that can hold 2,500 occupants; don't plant yourself in the front of the stage if you're not comfortable with being apart of the mosh or potentially kicked by stage divers. D15

Transportation



Getting around New Ancora is made simple, fast, and stress-free by a myriad of intricate highway systems and roads. Citizens can choose from a series of hover-cars and bikes ranging drastically from your expensive, top-of-the-line piece of machines - the kind that don't just get you from A to B, but extrude a certain lifestyle over anything - to your piece o' shitboxes that squeak and squeal their way down the 105.

Personal vehicles aside, New Ancora also offers much by way of public transportation such as the subway, monorail, taxi's and buses. Each method of transportation is restricted to two zones; where you get picked up and where you get dropped off. This is to ensure that those boarding are permitted within the district of departure and vice-versa.

Social Climate



New Ancora, while united on a large-scale front, nonetheless suffers differentiation of opinion in regards to the social climate.

While New Ancora is renowned for its technological prowess, there is much controversy regarding artificial intelligence, robotics, and human augmentation. While the majority of New Ancora (85:15) doesn't believe the technological advancement to be a threat, there are still a number of citizens quickly growing anxious and fearful of what artificial intelligence could bring. Objectors cite Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics as one of many reasons New Ancora should cease in its research, while supporters claim Asimov's Laws to be outdated and unnecessary.

Gun laws in New Ancora are strictly regulated, with only Zone Alpha residents, New Ancora Police Officers, and BoD officers allowed the right to purchase and carry. These strict laws have caused an incredibly large and powerful black market organization to rise up in Zone Beta, which, coupled with the lack of proper surveillance, has led to the majority of households to own at least one firearm.

Freedom of speech and freedom of religion, likewise, are highly regulated in New Ancora. Though there are no official laws or bills banning religious freedom, public opinion, as well as vague government mention show a lean towards atheism or agnosticism. As a result, many formerly mainstream religions (Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, etc.) have become little more than splinter groups, typically limited to a family's personal beliefs. Freedom of speech is still, for the most part, protected, however, any statements made that could pose a threat to national security will result in either an official warning or small fine, with repeated offenses punishable by harsher penalties.

Gay marriage and right to choose have been formally legalized in New Ancora. Due to the weakening of mainstream religion, these choices have not caused much backlash with the general populace.

Racism and bigotry as a whole have shifted. While typical skin-color/ethnicity racial tension does still exist, it has become all but nonexistent as negative opinion tends to point more towards cyborgs/synthetic organisms. While this current xenophobia has not become incredibly prevalent, the general public opinion of cyborgs and artificial intelligence is typically fear or apprehension.

Science & Tech



Science and technology in New Ancora is highly advanced and developed, with humanity having solved many, if not all of the issues that plagued them in the early 21st Century. Stem cell research has advanced to the point where many diseases and deficiencies have been cured completely, such as: cancer, diabetes, arthritis, baldness, blindness, deafness, Parkinson's Disease, and Alzheimer's amongst others. This has also lead to increased life expectancy, with the average Zone Alpha New Ancoran resident reaching the average age of 105, with expected advancement to only further increase this number.

Prosthetics and artificial limbs, too, have advanced exponentially, with a wide range of prosthetics available to most any Zone Alpha resident. These cybernetics are designed to feel fluid and natural, while containing many advantages compared to the old limb. Because of this, many residents have chosen voluntary augmentation simply to enhance their physical abilities, though it is incredibly common to see augmentation used in hospitals.

However, current medicine and augmentation is not perfect, and there have been various reports of augmented subjects suffering from various negative side-effects such as (but not limited to): phantom limb, incorrect nerve ending connections causing extremely painful spasms, seizures, and outright rejection of the prosthetic. Prosthetics also require constant calibrations and check-ups to ensure they're functioning properly.

Likewise, mental implants are not without their own share of side-effects, with various cases of: chronic migraines, early onset of mental illnesses, paranoia, insomnia, auditory and visual hallucinations, metal poisoning, and a distortion of perception.

Because of these side-effects, there are some citizens who believe augmentation should be restricted for only the most severe cases, though the majority populace still utilizes augmentation on a regular basis, with no apparent care towards the side-effects. The hospitals themselves turn to augmentations as an immediate fix, whether the patient asks for it or not. By political argument, augmentations are quicker and have better results, deeming cybernetics 'the future.'

In the general topic of synthetics, Robotic development has advanced to a point where robots and machines are commonplace laborers and assistants, with some machines even serving as security guards in certain Zone Alpha locations though the programming remains a simple algorithm.

True Artificial Intelligence, however, is still mostly experimental in nature, though there are reports of semi or even fully sentient synthetic lifeforms being produced or prototyped. It is known that the New Ancora Police Department and Bureau of Defense are looking into prototype recon and combat units to aid in various missions.

The World Beyond





Citizens

Welcome everyone :)

You may have seen this roleplay around a time or two in the last few years and that is because my co-GM's and I have been working on this project for quite some time now - tweaking, refining, trying to perfect. Currently we are looking for 4 new characters, and if you want an idea as to what characters are already in play or if you need a little help or inspiration as to what to do for a CS, you can take a look in the character section.

It is our hope to once more bring this roleplay the three of us hold very dear to our hearts and get a good cast of characters but not only that, but a good few writers out there wanting to take a stab at this. Although it is a sandbox rp, there are a few main arcs my co-GMs and I have devised over the years to help keep the plot going rather than fizzle out as many sandbox rp's go. Other than that, have any questions? Got any interest? Let us know! We are here to help :)

Wow... I'm actually kind of shocked here. Usually these RP's take off like crazy! O.O

ooohhhh, so nice. Characters I didn't even know about. Delicious.

Haha yeah, we had to make a few different IC threads to get the interest we were looking for XD Kind of confusing, but it all worked out in the end :) Ghost Shadow is also working on his second character, so that will be coming up soon.

And the good news keeps coming!

It's rough to collect an appropriate amount of role players together who compliment each other's writing. Starting the role play is easy, keeping it going is the bitch.

Anyways, we got things going on in New Ancora to bring our characters together?

Well the majority of this roleplay stems from being a sandbox, so you are free to do as you wish if you want to set up your own little plot-device to get other characters into it. I have posted my first intro post, bringing in both my characters and they are headed in separate directions which could both start their own little plots. So you could jump in on one of those too, if you wanted. It's pretty open lol.

I'll be getting my post up sometime between classes tomorrow. Vander's also going to be headed to The Spit. Scopin' it out, snatchin' up unattended wallets. Tryna get dat drug money.

Just in case that affects anyone's ideas or plans.

Super excited to start, guys! Let the days of obsessively hitting the refresh button begin.

Question. Is it possible for Zone Alphas to go to Zone Beta and vice versa? I ask because if we want to interact with each other I imagine we'd need to get around that hurtle.

Hmmm. I need to find an entrance for Elizabeth that matches the last one I made in efficiency. This will be interesting.

Oh, heads up, I live in Japan so my time zone is probably way off from everyone elses. I'd appreciate a little patience considering when you do a majority of your posting, I'm at work.

@FantasyChic It is extremely difficult to do, but yes there are ways around that. Your character just needs to be creative. Deon, for example... he was born in Beta but lives in Alpha, but his job is at The Spit which is in Beta so his birthright AND job allow him passage between districts.

@Raid No worries. Even though I live in America my job puts me on an "Australian" time schedule.

Damn, I only just got word that this was up, so apologies if I'm late! I'll be making a response either today or tomorrow, though considering how many other RPs I need to reply to... I can't promise anything.

Gonna try and get up an intro post for Cerberus up tonight and finish up my second character :)

@Raid Dammit, I thought I would be the first to pull out the Flogging Molly...! XD

@Delta44
Wicked. It feels good to win. Really, though. You a fan?
And don't worry. There are plenty of good Irish rock-punk sonofbitches out there to choose from. Let's see who can name em all. :P

@Raid Actually I've only just started listening to them, though as an introduction to the genre, they're setting the bar pretty damn high XD

Ran into an issue while writing my post yesterday.

.....what the hell is our currency? Obviously I went to go write 'dollars', but this is a century in the future on an unspecified continent. Credits? Cubits? Baht? Anyone want to throw out any ideas here?

Also, congrats @Raid and @Delta44, I'm now in love with Flogging Molly.

@Mach2 Yeah, I really need to know the currency and exchange equivalent of New Ancoran dollar too, since the opening line involves reference to the currency itself XD

And you're welcome! My personal favourite of there's is "Seven Deadly Sins", which I was planning on using for when Markus inevitably arrives at Flannery's.

@Delta44 I win. But, actually, it makes me ridiculously happy you have now been introduced to Flogging Molly. There are some other greats like: Dropkick Murphys (US based, too), the Waterboys, Enter the Haggis, Great Big Sea (they do some great shanties), and the Pogues. Some are harder than others, but they're all great artists in general. Happy listening. But please, bring in as much Flogging Molly as you like. I look forward for our characters to meet at Flannery's.

@Mach2 Maybe using Bit coins makes more sense? This far into the future you'd figure there wouldn't be any more paper money. (and welcome to the world of celtic rock.)