|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:12:12 GMT -5
Lygo City: a corrupt and useless government, with powerful and questionable businesses, insane street gangs, two strong mafias vying for control of it, and the local social scene is insanely overflowed with drugs cybernetics and violence...
Crunchy Bits: Set in a Late PL 5/Early PL 6 world, Lygo City is a city set on America's Western Coast that is simply put: on the take. Nothing here is straightforward, and everything casts a shadow. For Use: PL 6 Cybernetics PL 5 Weapons and Equipment PL6 Select Chemical Products PL 6 Basic Robotics
So then...let's see how deep down the rabbit hole you'll go, eh?
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:12:32 GMT -5
Timeline
1854-Lygo City is founded under it's original name of Salvation Point, originally settled by a small group of strict protestants from the East Coast, they hoped to turn the area into what Boston was supposed to be. 1862-With the Civil War in full swing, and westward expansion becoming highly favored, Salvation Point becomes overflowed by deserters, men looking for a quick buck, and swindling business men. 1870-Westward Expansion begins to dwindle down but Salvation Point continues to become a big West Coast city, the City Values taking over any hope of a Protestant paradise. 1876-The original Vernon Wunsler envisions his west coast railway, construction begins a year later. 1888-Industrialization and immigration begin full swing, the origins of the Cappricio Mob Family set root in Salvation Point's Little Italy. 1890-The first bribery scandal in the mayor's office is uncovered, starting a very long line of them. 1914-As the Great War begins in Europe, business booms as the companies within Salvation Point begin to play both sides of the conflict. 1917-As the U.S. Enters the war, sales to the Eastern Alliances dwindle down creating a short slump in business. 1920-1929-Feeling the full force of the Roaring Twenties, Salvation Point becomes one of the central homes to home brewries, bootleggers, and other smuggler operations. Also during this time the Zheng Mob steps up to honestly protect Chinatown. 1929-The Stock Market Crashes, many suicides in Lygo follow. 1931-In the depths of the Depression Philanthropist Marcus Lygo bails the city out by spending his fortune to fund charities and public works projects. 1936-Salvation Point is renamed Lygo City in honor of local hero Marcus Lygo. 1939-As war once more revs up in Europe, businesses sell to both sides once again. 1941-Business as opposed to slumping like in the last war, booms as America enters the second world war and offers plenty of contracts to many companies throughout the nation. 1952-Marcus Lygo dies, and some says the last vestiges of honesty, philanthropy, and the old Salvation Point feel die with him. 1960s-With the Civil Rights movement reaching full swing, the militant gang The Jackals forms and terrorizes the city in full force, it is one of the last times the Police Force is used to truly protect the citizenry. 1969-The summer of love brings with it new drugs that are quickly exploited by the criminal elements of the city's underbelly. 1970s-Business as usual seems to take a more silent and discreet tone, people in Lygo begin to feel safe again. 1980s-After the silence of the 70s the 80s bring back former fears in full force. New drugs such as Crack (a variation of cocaine) bring gang warfare to the boiling point once more. New gangs arise and focus on terrorizing the public, power businesses destroy the mom&pop stores of old, and the crime syndicates finally bring the city fully into their control. 1992-Shar Pharmaceuticals is formed, bringing new waves of drugs and disease treatments to the public. 1996-A small group of terrorists calling themselves the “Soldiers of Light” storm Liberty Center after being fed up with the corruption of the city and it's rampant capitalism aims to blow up the spire along with most of the financial district. The attack fails thanks mainly to the SWAT team as well as a few mafiosos claiming to be “local heroes”, one bomb goes off obliterating the top floor of Liberty Center, which is rebuilt as a memorial garden. 2001-The War on Terror begins and Lygo City secures its ports effectively, people begin to believe in the police force again. 2007-An Islamic Extremist blows up a bomb outside of Liberty Center, it was not detonated inside of the building due to the acts of a true local hero, Lee Smirnoff father to Rupert, the police force responds poorly. People once more lose faith in the law. Late 2007-Wunsler Industries produces the first Cybernetic Arm that can fully replace a human arm efficiently beating out a Japanese producer in the process. Thus begins a new subsidy of Wunsler Industries: Wunsler Cybernetics. 2010-The first Aestetic Cybernetics are created resulting in the revival of raves shortly thereafter. 2013-The city falls into chaos as a Mafia Don dies unexpectedly, the power vacuum left leaves the city etched in metaphoric and the occassional real flames for three years. 2017-With order restored to the mafia, Lygo City once more turns to its routine corruption and the citizenry attempts to go on with their lives. 2019-Mayor Smirnoff is elected on a platform of cleaning up the city. 2020-Campaign Begins...
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:16:34 GMT -5
Finacial District (Lygo City's bustling financial district rests within the very heart of the city surrounding the well know Liberty Center. It was established long ago when the First Bank of Lygo set up on where the skyscraper of the same name now stands. As time passed more bussineses came to this area setting up their main offices, as well other banks setting up as competition for Lygo's First. As the stocks became a more ever popular trade, a small Wall Street style complex was built to better allow stock brokers to keep a handle on things, this created another great boom within the city. In today's City, the Financial District is filled with glass and steel towers that dwarf passersby and fill many areas in a deep shadow, the area is heavily patrolled by police and more importantly mafiosos from both syndicates walk the streets as well. Most likely the safest way to get about in the financial district are the skyways that connect many important office buildings, banks, shops, and restaurants.) -Offices (Everything from the massive Wunsler Industries to small law firms hold office in the towers of the Financial District, in nearly every building you can find a company to suit your needs, from a lowly PI to a government funded pharmacuetical laboratory, they've got an office somewhere in the Financial District.) -Skyscrapers (The predominant structure within the Financial District is the towering monstronsity commonly known as a skyscraper. These originally were used to house offices though now hold everything: offices, hotels, restaurants, shops, and so on. Many people can be found walking in and out of this area all day through high priced boutiques to the restaurants for their power lunches. Still though a majority of the places within most offices are sprawling cubicle mazes used by companies to house the typical white collar drone.) -Complexes (A large connection of several skyscrapers, smaller buildings, and other facilities such as labs or warehouses form the central hive of big bussiness deals. These complexes that can take up several blocks of space are oftened owned and operated by the large companies that have made Lygo their home, everything about them ensures that no outside influence occurs, the companies have their own security teams, some even have their own hospitals within, this ensures that all company secrets stay secret. One rarely gets to see much of a complex if any of it at all unless they work there are attending a business conference, and even then multiple forms of clearance and security checkpoints keep you from seeing much.) -Banks (A major business within Lygo is the handling of money and economic matters, as well as keeping information well locked up. Though the most important things one holds dear are kept within a person or company's own safe places, the banks of Lygo are considered some of the most trustable behind the Swiss. No questions are asked at a Bank in Lygo, you give something in, sign off, and that's it, it's off to one of the bank's many secure holes.) -Office Buildings (Many banks hold their offices above their facilities, to ensure that everything is well connected and secure. Employees are well trained in all forms of banking, whether it be telling or interest computations.) -Traditional Bank w/small vault (Many nation wide banks and their affiliates have homes within Lygo City, keeping a standard teller/vault set up within the city. Also widely prevalent are ATMs, normally set up in corner kiosks sometimes holding ATMs from multiple competing banks.) -Federal Vaults (The U.S. Government houses a federal mint and subsequent vault within Lygo, the place is carefully monitored and controlled due to the realization that Lygo City is probably not the best place to stage federal anythings. At first they were allured by seemingly honest citizens only to find that the people are not as they first appeared. Federal servants who work at the mint are rotated out regularly to avoid the taint of the city, and heavily screened to avoid unwanted employees. The mint would be moved if not for the large pull that citiznes of Lygo City has in the US Government.) -Large Bank and Vault (The First Bank of Lygo City, stands proud and tall, though not as huge as the Liberty Center, it is another well recognized figure standing at 57 stories tall. The place is supposed to be filled with large offices and equipment but is in actuallity fairly empty, everything but the first 10 floors and last 2 floors is empty floors often covered up with holograms or beautiful paintings. The real importance of the bank rests in its sublevels, beneath it are massive vaults housing tons of stolen jewels, art, money, and of course standard items one leaves in the care of a bank. No one in the company is quite sure how the Bank first got involved with storing illegal items but one thing is sure: it certainly is profitable.) -Stock Market (This relatively small open floor stock system is modified after Wall Street in New York City, in an attempt to give stock brokers a closer connection with the market. It rests along the well named Central Avenue and stretches for an entire square city block, housing mainly office as well as the market itself. Many people bustle about here throughout the day and at night it is virtually empty.)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:32:01 GMT -5
Residential Areas (With the large amount of corporations that make their homes in Lygo City, the town of course is filled with a large amount of people, last census being around 8 million people. Even more regularly come into the city from the outskirts and suburbs using the commuter lines for a night, day, or weekend. This mass of people has resulted in a number of different types of housing to suit all lifestyles.) -Ethnic Neighborhoods (When people began migrating in from other countries they often formed their own neighborhoods filled with their own languages, foods, and customs. Though not all of them persisted through the years, a small number have and are quite obvious once you enter them.) -Italian (Little Italy rests within a southeastern pocket of Lygo, bridging about 3 streets, this small sector is almost like stepping into the streets of Napoli, mainly due to the large amount of mafiosos walking about though one cannot deny the air brought about by the open air markets, smells of italian cooking, and constant yelling in multiple dialects though to the trained ear only Sicilian and Neopolitan are spoken widely. The area is packed with people, restaurants and simple often rundown housing, obviously the Italian Mafia runs this area of town exclusively.) -Hispanic (A mixture of South Americans, Mexicans, and true Spaniards moved here throughout the 20th century and made their home in a set of streets nearby the Italians in what was in the early years often considered the Ethnic Sector but except for the three areas now is merely another part of the city. The hispanics banded together mainly due to their shared language and lack of knowledge concerning English, like many immigrants before them they worked often as day laborers though a few got better jobs, and over the years have become a bit more respectable within the city. In this Slice of Spain as some call it, people have a strong sense of community, nationalism for their former nations, and a growing love for the country that originally wanted to throw them the hell out.) -Chinatown (This section a bit farther north than Little Italy or the Hispanic section, is almost like the Hong Kong of old, tons of people pack the streets, a number of vibrant street vendors peddle wares from chickens to fine silk, stereotypical businesses as well as some people often rarely suspect keep shop within Chinatown. Of course the real key to Chinatown is what occurs behind closed door, drug deals, gun running, and some even say slavery though that one is far from confirmed. The Zheng Mob rules the area with subtelty unmatched by any other syndicate or gang.) -Non-Ethnic Housing (Throughout the years, the ethnic barriers have largely been broken and givenway to apartment houses and multiple other types of homes that have no specific design beyond housing the many people in Lygo City.) -Middle Class Apartments (Swinging bachelors and bachelorettes, small families, or just any person who needs to be in the heart of the action finds a home in these small often multi-bedroom spacious apartments. The price is a bit above what most people look for but the convenience does make it often worth it to most.) -Penthouses (The rich who love city life often take up residence in one of these near mansion like apartments that can contain ballrooms or swimming pools, rooftop gardens sporting exotic plants as well. Most are kept by mafia and business heirs though plenty of just independent wealthy people love to use them as well.) -Slums (The majority of the Lygo City projects and slums rest around the Southwestern industrial centers, under the smog of big business people try to eke out existence as best as they can, and often dream of pulling their families out of the area. Gang violence and extortion from the rich keep these areas in a constant crossfire of bullets and buy outs that leave the fact that concern for the people in the area is never taken into account.) -Entertainment Spots (People living in Lygo City always need their rest and relaxation, and for as many people as there are, there are just as many ways to have fun.) -bars/clubs (Thousands of drinking and dancing establishments linger and dot the cityscape, many appealing to a specific audience exclusively. See “Social Scene” for more info.) -amusement parks (Resting to the north of the docks where Lygo meets the water is the Lygo Island, a man made island home to a boardwalk amusement park filled with vendors and plenty of rides to enjoy. Plenty of people also take their chance on the game booths that line the area. The park was originally proposed by a Chinese man who wanted to showcase his fireworks, which have now become a traditional nightly activity in the summer, he did not get his money from the city however they passed on the idea and instead he was backed by the Zheng Family as well as a number of independent business owners who wanted to showcase their wares somewhere that people would see and be pushed to buy them on impulse. Now it is one of the only honest profitable systems for the Chinese Mob, though they do have plans to put in a casino to truly wring people out.) -arcades (One of the few innocent pursuits left in Lygo, is the local arcades that dot the streets in some areas. Though many still sport the freestanding systems of old, some even possess truly old games such as Asteroids or Frogger, the true attractions of most arcades these days are the Virtual Reality simulators that they possess allowing immersion gaming like no other. Arcades also often support LAN Parties, or other similar parties that require many systems and monitors.) -Shops/Stores (To support the populace and to turn a lovely profit of them many stores have set up in the city, and many family owned businesses keep alive sometimes even profit within the city, though rarely without mob help.) -open air markets (In the summer, spring, most of fall, and sometimes outrageously warm winters, Lygo City supports a large number of vendors who sell their products in open air markets. Anyone can do this, purchasing a booth is a small fee and they can be rented out in advance. Open Air Markets are often preferred by the public since they're often walking through areas anyway, it does help if they can peruse things while they do it.) -enclosed malls/stores (The norm of course is streets lined with shops or buildings that house multiple stores on the inside of them. These can be anything from small grocery stores, to clothing shops, anyone can come in as long as they are wearing clothing and shoes.) -department stores (From the expansive super-marts that have anything from stereo systems to your grocery list to the more domestic stores that sell clothing, jewelry, perfumes, and sometimes furniture, department stores are here in Lygo and they're here to stay. Plenty of people shop at them for the convenience though others because they believe they possess something that the person needs. Either way, all sorts of people often shop there, and anything can happen.)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:37:30 GMT -5
Industrial Centers (In the southwest corner of the city are a large number of factories and production facilities that employee a good number of unskilled laborers within the city. Many of the factories are subsidies of large companies, though a few are owned and operated by small businesses.) -Factories (These large production plants belch smog, and are filled with hardworking good ol' american joes who want nothing to do with the bad stuff of the city yet are often inevitably controlled by the “bad guys”. Most of these places are merely just what they seem to be, though it is what these factories produce that can often be odd or bad, or perhaps the people running them are what's wrong.) -Steel Mills (Owned mainly by Wunsler Industries the Lygo City steel works, are second only to Pittsburgh's and produce a large amount of america's steel, though much of it goes right back into Wunsler production facilities a small amount is sold off for pure profit.) -Manufacturing (Many companies that produce plenty of different consumer goods exist in Lygo, they all keep their factories local so to produce an easier control over them, also that things can go right from R&D to production without hassels involving transportation, though perhaps the couple of blocks can be just as hazerdous if not more so, in a city such as Lygo.) -Biochemical Plants (Though Shar Phramaceuticals is the big shot in Lygo, a good number of other chemical producers from house cleaners to weaponized chemicals exist within Lygo, all of their plants are kept highly secure and even more sanitized. Pills, gases, and liquids, pour out of these companies all day and night, 24/7 and 365, illness doesn't rest and thus neither does its cures.) -Docks (The Docks of Lygo City are dangerous places where some of the most dangerous substances come in and out of the city, and no one cares. Even worse, the regular objects that come in provide perfect cover for even darker activities to occur.) -Warehouses (Warehouses along the docks are often privately owned or in the control of the same company owning the incoming product, they are kept well secured normally by the company or by well-paid mercenaries, no matter what is on the inside one must always be careful of it getting stolen or destroyed.) -Large Tankers/Boats (The large cargo ships that come in every day, all day, are normally privately owned and hired by companies due to reputation of good and speedy service. Of course, tanker captains can be very easily bought off by crime syndicates or rival companies, and thus boats because of what they carry and what can happen to it can sometimes involve a lot of action and excitement.) -Warehouses (Warehouses are a large part of Lygo City, with manufacturers, docks, and plenty of people, warehouses are needed to store the goods coming in and out of the area constantly, storage facilities can be one of the most important objects in a gang leader's empire.) -Abandoned (Plenty of abandoned warehouses exist within the city, they are often quickly taken over by any number of squatters, gangs, the homeless, ravers, and sometimes companies looking to store something illegal quickly and for a short period. Abandoned warehouses due to their availability and the fact that they are often overlooked make them perfect hideaways for anyone.) -Company Owned (Many companies simply produce more than they need at any given time or need a place to keep something as it awaits delivery somewhere else, these people keep their goods in their own warehouses as opposed to letting them wander off somewhere else. This is mainly so they are in total control of what goes on in the place and who is around it at all times, once more these places are often guarded by company guards.) -Middle Man (No matter how many warehouses a company owns, they often still rarely have enough space to keep everything they need to, this is where middle man warehouses come in, owned by a third party, sometimes another company, sometimes a privately owned building, or of course the few that just make money off of providing these spaces. The buildings normally supply their own security occassionally supplemented by the company using the building.) -Private owned and operated (These are normally used by the Mob to house their guns, and drugs, or whatever other illicit activities they might be up to that day of the week. Sometimes these are just honest storage facilities, but more often than not they have mob connections and plenty of secret hideaways to hold the really dangerous stuff.)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:38:46 GMT -5
Outlying Suburbs (Like most large cities, when Lygo City industrialized a majority of the more well to do citizens left to find homes on the outside of the city but close enough that they could still enjoy the city life. This gave rise the a ring of suburbs around the city to the north, south, and east.) -Sprawling Mansions/Estates (In the north where the City gives way to rolling hills, and forests, are lovely wide spread estates that are kept hidden from the public. Here the rich mobsters, business moguls, and just those with plenty of money have found a nice spot to make their homes. There are no neighbors or communities here merely wide spanning multi-acre properties that house massive 30-room mansions complete with swimming pools private golf courses and anything else one's heart could desire.) -Suburban America (As you continue to spread East through the city, the area slowly gives way to more residences whether it be close together row houses or small plots of land enclosed by smaller apartments. Eventually though even this breaks down into the rolling green lawns and two car garages of suburbia, these boom towns of identicle houses in varying pastel colors were built up widely in the 1950s and have been adjusted many times over. This is where one would find most of the white collar drones of the companies and some of the lower management types.) -Enclosed Houses and Apartments (These are your typical row houses, smaller apartment buildings, and the rare spot of property that has yet to be bull dozed over to make way for a mini-mall or apartment block. Here the upper level blue collar workers, young people on their own for the first time, and some senior citizens make their homes, very close to the city but far enough that “city morals” don't ruin the community.)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:41:25 GMT -5
Government Buildings
-City Hall (This large and once beautiful building rests on the northern edge of Netto Square, here the daily business of the city is supposed to be conducted but rarely is. It also houses the seldom used courthouse.) -Police Departments (The sprawling expanse that is Lygo City is set out into 28 districts, each of which houses a main building with a few smaller “observation posts” the money for which came from several “benefactors”, these are in reality little kiosks to rest your feet, get a nice drink and a donut. The district's main building houses a few cells, and offices, as well as a small armory.) -Firehouses (Firehouses break down police districts into slightly more manageable chunks that they can watch over. On any given hour, the firehouse has enough men in it to field a truck immediately, they're always ready and more than willing to assist.) -Subways (There are three main rails within Lygo, as well as the commuter rail running out of the city into the suburbs. The blue rail runs from one edge of the city through the heart in the financial district to the opposite edge, in a general position parellel to the coast. The red rail runs up from the docks, also through the financial district and too the crossover to the commuter rail on the eastern side of the city. Finally the yellow rail goes from the industrial parks in the southwestern area of the city up across the city into the northeast pocket of residences. They all have some smaller offshoots that head into other well travelled parts of the city but due to poor planning and lack of funds, there isn't much beyond the original 3 lines. All of the lines intersect within the financial district, in what is known as Liberty Center, a large glass mall, the perfect monument to capitalism.) -Hospitals (Lygo City has a fine Medical Center, Lygo General is a top of the line facility with several research facilities attached, it is located closer to the City Center. It is surprisingly uncorrupted beyond the lack of questions act, for example when someone has a “car accident” and bullets are pulled out no special reports are filed. No one is sure whether this is because doctor's are paid off or because they've just come to accept certain things about the city. Either way, they largely benefit from the dirty money, government funds, and true honest donations that they receive year round to keep their facilities at the top. In addition they are one of the few hospitals that has a small staff of cybernetic surgeons on hand, specialized in the treatment of those with cybernetic attachments.)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:42:07 GMT -5
Parks -Inoquil Park (Lygo's only park, is a beautiful slice of wilderness placed just outside the city's financial district. It is mainly pathways lined with trees, past which are verdant rolling hills. Yes it is a sight to behold in the daytime, but when the sun goes down, the area begins to crawl with gangsters and other shady figures. The park has been awoken by the sun many a time to find the green stained red.)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:43:16 GMT -5
Monuments/Tourist Spots -Netto Square (This bustling square is ringed with souvenier shops as well as your typical American stores. On the northern side is City Hall, and in the center is the statue of the city's savior Marcus Lygo. Netto also houses a lovely five star restaurant: Nikolai. Nikolai serves fantastic dishes of eastern europe, which at first might not seem gourmet but most certainly are.) -Statue of Philanthropist: Marcus Lygo (This statue erected in 1962 a decade after his death, depicts Marcus Lygo, a man who struck it rich in the stock market during the 20s and pulled out shortly before the crash in 1929, came to the city's aid during the depression, helping set up charities and pouring money into the city's dying budget. When thanks to his efforts, the city was able to prosper again, they renamed it in his honor, he died of a heart attack in 1952.) -Liberty Center (The Liberty Center rests in the near center of the financial district. It was designed by several famous architects, and made to model several famous designs. It's a massive 65 story spire of glass, filled with shops of all sorts. It is in essence a mall like no other, every floor sports a fountain, and a different arangement of shops to fit a specific consumer. There are several food courts as well as specific restaurants. It has its own subway stop, where the rails intersect, as well as a number of skywalks to nearby buildings.)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:51:04 GMT -5
Government -Mayor's Office (The current Mayor, Mayor Rupert Smirnoff was one of the most hopeful promises the city has seen for years. A Lygo City native, Rupert grew up during the 1970s and 80s when the city certainly was at some of its worst times, crises after crises hit the city, and nothing proved any better. As the new millenium dawned, the stink of the corruption within the city still had no end in sight. It is this that allowed Smirnoff to take office, campaigning on a platform of no more corruption made him the common man's champion. He swept into office only to find that corruption is what has kept the city going, and even worse the general incompetence of his predecessors has left the government in shambles. The police force is useless, civil projects always get lost due to the unions being in the hands of mobsters and corporations, even the traffic authority likes to swipe a little extra from commuters. The mayor has his work cut out for him, and more people want to stop him than help.) -Traffic/Commuter Authority (Lygo City's dismal traffic authority is one of the more trustworthy of govenrment works to the untrained eye, in the end their rates are ridiculous and their systems fallible at best.) -Bus (The bus system of the city though regularly running, and generally of good schedule is also one of the dirtiest and least safe ways to travel in Lygo City. Inbetween senseless acts of violence, many gang members ride the bus and will often terrorize normal citizen's on it. Beyond this, homeless persons just ride the bus day in and day out, leaving it a dirty and smelly place to travel in. -Subway (Surprisingly clean, the subway is a safer way to travel, if expensive and often overcrowded. With a small number of lines travelling through some of the busiest districts of the city, it is normally filled to the brim with people. Furthermore, the price is just ridiculous, normally about 2 to 4 dollars depending upon the hours. They really murder you on the price.) -Port Authority (The port authority is the worst part of the whole system. Generally they do nothing but sign off that everything's ok, meanwhile a murder is occurring right before their eyes. Shiftless and paid off more than you can ever hope to have in your life is the best description of them. -Police Force (The Police Force is another city watch dog fed plump with steak. While some people do still try to do the right thing, their ideals are quickly crushed by the overwhelming corruption of the city and their fellow cops. The majority of the police are not going to lift a finger against anyone unless there're cameras around and even then it's questionable. They do rush to the aid of their secondary employers though, gangs and mafiosos.) -SWAT (The SWAT team within Lygo City, is a highly trained and rarely used unit. These are people who everyone wants out of the thick of it. You're probably a good person if you're on this seldom used group. The team is only used when the local news stations pick up massive bank robberies being performed by petty thugs. Then the team whips into action, riding in gloriously and easily dispatching the situation. It keeps them content and out of everyone's hair.) -Beat Cops (Your average cop in Lygo is normally a cop for one of two reasons: their family is full of cops or they're stupid and still think cops clean up the city. Most of the time, they make paltry patrols around nice neighborhoods which is normally where they make quick handshakes with mafia members giving them the weekly payment for wearing blinders. Occassionally an idealist beat cop will wander into the dodgier parts of town and try to stop some trouble, they then end up as martyrs on the evening news.) -Detectives (A detective is a grizzled cop who's just too tired to walk around anymore. They sometimes show up to crime scenes that matter, do some quick leg work, then file a false report and let the families handle it. Being a detective is a reward for years of service doing nothing. Sometimes though, detectives are do-gooders, it's rare but it does happen, they're normally the ones who keep quiet about it though and are successful with their do gooding.) -Upper Echelons (Lieutenants, District Cheifs, and the Commisioner cover this part of the department, and as a general rule these are the guys who make the big deals with the mafia, gangs, and businesses. They talk it out, make sure everybody's keeping quiet, and most importantly, make sure they're getting the correct cut. -Fire Department (Perhaps the only government job where you actually work. The Fire Department does just what any other fire fighting company would do, protect cities from the destruction of flames.) -Ladder Companies (These are the guys who ride the big trucks, go run up the ladder burst into the burning building and save everyone, many firefighters switch between ladder companies and the basic firefighting team regularly.) -Basic Firefighting Teams (The guy driving the truck, holding the hose, and applying first aid to the people rushing out, occassionally going in to help people out.)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:54:55 GMT -5
Big Businesses -Shar Pharmaceuticals (Biochemical Producers, the company formed from a small collection of labs working on similar disease research surrounding things such as cancer, asthma, etc. Eventually most of these would lead to better procedures for dealing with these diseases but still no cure is in sight. After they had come under on umbrella they began to expand their research into other drugs, mainly vitamins for strengthening the human body or for “beating” aging such as hair loss. They've recently received government contracts to construct some sort of “super soldier serum”.) -Wunsler Industries ('Hand in Everything' Business, this powerful mogul business began in the late 19th century when the first Wunsler dreamed of a railroad down the west coast. With hardwork he started it, and his railroad company expanded bit by bit. As this continued he began happening upon more business finds, oil, coal, iron, copper, silver, gold even. He continued to expand, and educating his sons much in the way he was, they too learned how to spot good ideas. Wunsler had several military contracts, as well as a few home appliances patented throughout the early 1900s. By the mid-70s, Wunsler Industries was already a massive mogul, but they began investing in computers and robotics. This lead to another massive explosion in this era, and finally in the early 21rst century they beat out a japanese company for the first true Cybernetic Implants.) -Robocomp Incorporated (Electronics Producers, This company came about during the 80s as a simple software producer, their main hope was to try and make an operating system that could compete with the ever rising Mac and Microsoft, but sadly this dream would never be realized for two decades. Still though, they continued producing software throughout the 90s, even breaking into computer hardware producing their first limited line of PCs in 1998. Known for being versatile and reliable, Robocomp continued to spread out into computer technology, and even taking their basic robotic design concepts to the next level. Using their OS they began producing simple robots along the line of the Asimo, now a few more decades later their robots are continuing to advance, as are their computers.) -Cartwright Automotives (Automotive Parts Producer, Cartwright began in the 1920s producing wheels, break pads, transmissions, and other car parts for various companies. Their big break came in the 1940s producing tank parts for the US Military, this continued onward for a number of years, but when the war ended they returned to producing civilian products. They stayed alive through the gas crises when they began to produce items that helped increase a car's efficiency. Now they have a large line of products from the completely unneeded, t.v. Headrests, to the widely used, break pads.)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:57:00 GMT -5
Crime Syndicates -Capriccio Family (Italian Mafia, they like most were basically imported from Sicily in the late 19th century, once they took root in the city they began to exploit the dock and factory unions, basic gun/drug running, and of course extortion. They still continue these practices today, though now they obviously also carry a bit more political clout.) -Zheng Mob (Chineses Mob,Originally came to be in an attempt to protect chinese immigrants but things quickly took a turn for the worse. They became fairly drunk with power and began extorting their people, their protection now came with a price, and they brought more people into this web by offering them ways out of China, then coming back for a large sum. As their power kept growing they turned to more traditional mob work as well, running mainly in import/export control, this has of course lead them to clashes with their Italian Counterpart.)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:58:35 GMT -5
Street Gangs -Spanish Knights (rising up from the Spanish slums, the Knights focus on trying to keep things running smoothly, getting money that they originally intended to fund back into their slum but got lost along the way. Traffic Drugs for a Columbian Cartel, and perform general terror tactics: bank robberies, petty theft, rape, etc.) -Jackals (Arose during the days of Black Brotherhood in the civil rights age, they were radical militants fighting for “equality”, even when the goal was reached the jackals didn't stop, but continued fighting for reasons they don't even know anymore. In today's world their message has turned from Racial Equality, to osme form of social equality, they target the rich, or just people better off than they.) -Graverobbers (A more recent gang, they came up during the 1980s as a sort of punk/goth explosion of angst gone wrong, they believe in anarchy and try to spread it anyway possible, drugs, violence, and crime are their favorite ways though)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 18:59:16 GMT -5
Media -Lygo Gazette (The city newspaper, commonly read) -99.9 WPRK (Your Pop Rock Favorites, again and again) -101.6 WNWS (A Widely Listened to News Station) -The Peeper (An odd tabloid sporting ridiculous yet sometimes believable stories)
|
|
|
Post by Jongluer on Feb 23, 2006 19:02:41 GMT -5
Underground Music (Lygo's underground music scene is fairly large, this is mainly due to the size of the city as well as a lot of the things people experience and see lead them with a need to express this somehow, obviously a majority choose music. Still though the lack of any major labels in the city does result in a large number of bands, rappers, and djs that live for 15 minutes within the city then fade into obscurity quickly.) -Rap (Rap has always been one of the simpler ways for those of the inner city to express themselves in a near poetic fashion. This is just as true now than as any other time in recent history. Even more importantly, the rappers of Lygo City are true hardcore gangsters, most of them have been personally affected by the local gangs within the city, if not the mafias ruling over it. These people aren't looking to make it big, though few will ever admit it, they're like any other poet, they just want someone else to understand how they feel. It's real comraderie in the rap scene of Lygo, it's a shame that this comraderie often falls prey to gang violence and bad times.) -Rock (All types of rock are welcome within Lygo City, no genre truly dominates, and the amount of bars and clubs allow for you to get your fill of rock music in any type. Some of the more prevailing type is more of a general unclassifiable sound falling within alternative or indie rock, as well as the anger and simple release of inexplicable feelings that is hardcore music. Finally, Cyber Rock a mixture of techno and rock that had developed for many years but truly got a sizeable following in Lygo City, birthplace of modern Cybernetics, here Cyber Rock bands are best known for having guitar equipment instead of arms as well as personal amplification systems, sometimes the more skilled and obviously affluent cyber rockers produce pure techno beats from their mind out of their personal amps to harmonize and go along with the rest of the band. -Techno (With the large amount clubs in existence and the raves which occur have produced an unrivaled techno scene in Lygo City. Most of it is dominated by independent Djs and mixers, who take pieces and lines from other songs in massive samplings that can go on for hours. Still there is some originality within Lygo, and some say it is truly astounding, originals though sometimes only lasting a few minutes can be revamped midstride and set on for hours, supposedly the mixture of an original with samplings creates raves like no other.)
|
|