The Grey District
Originally conceived as a "retropolitan" haven for America's most elite known as the Green District, the smaller city built in the shadow of the immense Gothic City has since become, for lack of a better term, a corrupt hell-hole. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. Due to the morally ambiguous reputation of the town, it soon became better known as the Grey District, a name that's stuck ever since. Even the city officials refer to it as such, and there's an unmistakable cultural difference between those who dwell within and those who are...just passing through.
Culture
Like a pulp film of the 50's, the Grey District's streets have an unmistakably bleak feel to them. Shady deals take place behind every barred door, and the coppers are usually too corrupt to bother with organized crime anyways. With the mob bosses paying off the police force, illegal operations run rampant throughout the entire zone. Solace can be found in one of the many speakeasies that are opened throughout (alcohol, while legalized, is taxed so heavily that most choose to drink in secret). Bootleggers move shipments of untaxed booze through the docks, paying off the boys in blue in order to peddle their drinks to undercover patrons. Even during the daytime, there's a shadow overhead, thanks to the massive skyscrapers accessible only to the wealthy elite of the city. Rainfall seems unnaturally common here; the sun is almost never seen. The gloomy atmosphere coupled with the rampant crime gives the city its reputed...charm. People don't often show their faces around here, preferring to hide behind scarves, hats, or popped collars. No matter the season, it seems like everybody's got a cough. The windows all have a frosted quality to them, and it's best to avoid looking where you can't see. A notorious lack of both cell phone signal and wi-fi have caused most people to rely on older communications technology, like newspapers and landline phones.
Carry a gun.
Attractions
Main Street: One of the most famous locales of the city, Main Street is the place to be at night. Bright neon lights illuminate the puddles that fill the gutters, all advertising their products to unwary passers by. Traffic is a constant here; in a town where gas is extremely expensive, most people choose to travel by taxicab. Skyscrapers fill the airspace, giving the illusion of affluence to the grim city. Apartment complexes offer living quarters to those willing to pay, and hotels cater to those who come in from out of town (they never stay long). With the mob in control, making an honest buck is pretty damn tough, but if there's a place to do it, it would be on Main Street.
Little Asia: A common attraction in most urban areas, the Grey District's "China Town" offers something a little different to visitors: a constantly raging gang war. Even the honest cops, while few and far between, keep out of here. The mob bosses often leave this part of the city alone; being inland, it has little to offer them in the way of imports and exports. The feudal-like Crime Dynasties, linked by blood, war constantly with each other, all vying for the upper hand in the climb to the top of the city. The only force for justice in the entire district is the mysterious killer Greyblade.
The Docks: The outlet through which the mob collects most of its money, the Docks are the source of much of the city's revenue. While not as extravagant or popular as Gothic's docks, they still find their niche in the fact that they are frequented by shadier patrons. There is a police presence here, but they're all well-paid by the mob to turn a blind eye on most of their activities. Street crime, however, is still regulated. Slightly.
Important Characters:
District Manager Lionel Black: A weak-willed man with an eye for cash, Manager Black is thoroughly in the palm of the mob's hand. Instructing his subordinates to keep out of organized crime's way, he's but a puppet of the real masterminds that run the Grey District. He may be one of the richest men in town, but with only a mediocre approval rating and an insincere, oafish grin, Manager Black can only expect another year in office because of the mob's backing.
Frank Destrietti: The big man who could take on the mob and the police force all by himself, Frank "Keep-the-Change" Destrietti is one of the richest men in the Grey District. Rather than rule his territory like a mobster, he instead keeps his neighborhood in check by paying off anyone who might get in his way. Master of the underhanded scheme, he doesn't often employ hit-men, preferring to take care of business himself. If there's someone he wants out of his way, he'll invite them into his office for a nice chat...then gives 'em to the count of three to get out before he pumps 'em full of lead. A classic, rotten big-businessman, Destrietti manages most of the property in the Grey District in one way or another.
The Helpin' Hands: An ever-growing roster of supercriminals for hire, this group of showy metahumans keep the authorities in check and the competition off the streets. With a combined membership of about 14 metas, they represent the superhuman aspect of the Grey District's Underworld. Nearly every gang war or mob fight involves the Hands in some way or another; whether they're on the front lines, taking on entire squads of foes, or behind the scenes, orchestrating the next big clash between families, one things for sure: the Helpin' Hands'll never run out of jobs to do in this town.
Greyblade: With such a cliché sounding name, you'd think Greyblade would be one of those inexperienced meta men who wind up dead in the gutters so often in this city. Well, you'd be wrong. Greyblade doesn't talk. He just kills. Slashing through the Little Asia Underworld, he's the only man opposing the Crime Dynasties of the Grey District. With an affinity for dual wielding katanas and reflexes that border on the supernatural, Greyblade is the only thing the Crime Dynasties fear.
Private EYE: Sitting in his dingy little office off the second block of Main Street, licensed private investigator Mick Knox keeps watch over the entire city with his glowing red optics. Read more here.
Superhuman Policies:
While not as strict as the neighboring "Super City," there is no doubt that the Grey District has taken advanced countermeasures against superhuman invasion. A highly experimental and absolutely classified system combines the use of a Super City developed probability field in conjunction with the police force's automated assault blimps to make sure no high-tier superhumans are able to enter the city. Mid-tier and below, however, still run rampant throughout the streets, operating with the mob or fighting against them in secret.
OOC Rules and Stuff
Character Tiering: Mid-level and below. If I think you're acting too powerful to be galumphing around this noir-styled gem of a city (if I do say so myself), I'll politely ask you to either leave or edit your post. There's an IC reason for this too; a probability field keeps out extraordinarily powerful entities (don't look at me, I don't gotta explain this). Sure, it's a little cheap, but do we really want a Hulk tearing this place up?
No God Modding / No selling / Etc.: Self-explanatory.
Keep with the feel: It's noir. Be grim and mean and stuff. Wear trench coats and fedoras. You know the drill.
Also, black and white photos are better than colored. Keep with the theme and all.
"Why wasn't the Grey District around before?" Simple. With the reality-warping retcon that came with Super City, a new, smaller city popped up along with it. I'm not a fan of big cities appearing out of nowhere without proper explanation, so here you go. Mutants.
Have fun: You better.
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