02. THE CITY

[BONZA]

WELCOME TO BRACK, 1946

Things are looking pretty grim for the world, what with the war having torn across Europe and the Pacific. Every day there's new discoveries, new atrocities, new deaths - even though it's all meant to be over. Everywhere, papers run out headlines to inspire and to keep the state of the world in the forefront of people's minds.

Everywhere, that is, except Brack. Because this is the city where people come to forget. An autonomous little place in the middle of nowhere, the perfect hiding spot for those who want to escape. But you can't run from everything. Turns out there's a war here, too - one just as dangerous. Almost everyone seems to be tied up in some crime or another, from thieves on the street to those who just practice 'good business'.

Life here isn't rationed; not by a long shot. Oh, sure, people know there's a war going on, but that's all so distant compared to the struggle on their own doorsteps. The law can't control the place, not with half of it run by the rich and the other by the gangsters. After living through the Depression, there's no limits to what some people would do to get a little taste of money or power. You don't have to pick a side - and it's likely that neither will really want you. Just know that wherever you go, they'll be looking for ways to exploit you.

Welcome to Brack. We hope you enjoy your stay.

[BONZA]

WHAT IS NOIR?

Noir, or Film Noir, is a sub-genre of Crime, and originated in the 1930's and 40's. It, along with Hard-Boiled detective fiction, grew from the pessimism and disillusionment grown from the events of those decades, such as the Great Depression and World War II.

The classic Noir story can be summarised by the jaded solitary detective and the alluring femme fatale, the gritty urban setting with a backdrop of dim lights and smoky bars. Of course, there's more to it than that, and here at Before Goodbye we're not expecting to stick rigidly to the most recognisable elements of the genre. No, what we seek to do is to take the concepts and run with them, and to have as much fun as possible doing so. The very nature of Noir and Hard-boiled was built on the unpredictability of the times - of a high strung society trapped on the very edge of sanity.

You don't need to know about Noir, or be a history major studying the mid 20th Century, to role play here. In fact, we're not really fussed about accuracy or anything like that. No, all you need is an imagination and the ability to take the concepts and run with it! After all, this city pretty much hands you a ticket to cause havoc as soon as you walk in; why not take advantage of that?

SOME USEFUL LINKS

• A Dictionary of Hardboiled Slang
• Collection of Resources & Info on the 20's-40's
• Feel free to suggest any more!

[BONZA]

THE CITY OCCUPANTS

THE FUZZ

The good old PD; always trying to keep the city straight. Or are they? Sure, they've got the training, the guns, the radios and the paycheque; but there are some police who are as corrupt as the filth in the gutters. Street cops, the pen-pushers back at the station, the detectives and their assistants... are they trying to protect the city, or do they just not care?

THE CRIMINALS

Not everyone's content to live a life on the terms of the law. There's those who like to step beyond the line and live life just a little selfishly. Usually working on their own or in pairs, these criminals do their best to stay at least one step ahead of everyone else.

THE RACKETEERS

... and then there's the other kind of bad guy; the one who has a gang and knows how to twist the system to make as much money as possible. The city is filled with rackets and racketeers, mobs making as much money as they can; and none of it legal. They tend to be more protected than solitary criminals, at least from the law; from other rackets though, is a different story.

THE CIVILIANS

There are some normal people walking down the streets. That is, if you consider millionaires, gamblers and the like normal. Sure, there's the people who try to make a decent, honest living; but there are plenty more who're just looking for that opportunity to make it big.

SUGGESTED OCCUPATIONS

There are many interesting characters that populate the streets of Brack - from every walk of life, from the richest of the rich to those just scraping enough together to make a living. The following is a list of suggested occupations - remember that they're just suggestions, and we will accept occupations that aren't on this list!

CRIME & JUSTICE
detective - private or otherwise
officer
security/bodyguard
vigilante
lawyers/judges
racketeer
petty criminals
hitman/hired brawn
mercenary
informant

SOCIAL
socialite
shop keeper
bar man/woman
musician/singer
starlet/actor - stage, screen or radio
director
radio announcer
news hawker
journalist

OTHER
author
doctor/nurse
veteran
student
and anything else your imagination creates!