Afterlife (Central Night City)

This article is about the old location. For the new one, see Afterlife.

The Afterlife was the name of a club located in central Night City. Originally part of the Medical Center district, by 2045 it could be found in Upper Marina, at the edge of the Hot Zone. It had been known throughout the decades for its solo and merc clientele.

History

Early history - 2020s

In the 2010s, the Afterlife was a former mortuary converted into a bar. It had three different areas inhabited by hard-drinking, hard-fighting solos who came here to enjoy the atmosphere and the camaraderie. As one delved deeper into the club, each successive chamber became darker and more dangerous, with the last one being filled with the combat veterans who hired out for the highest prices. The atmosphere was best described as a cross between a country-western bar and a motorcycle guild hall. The sound system played a variety of martial music and Gothic rock, and the closest thing to dancing was the occasional brawl. But since this was a pro's club, no one needed to prove themselves; their presence in that establishment was proof enough. As such, the patrons followed a strict code, and any brawls were strictly for fun. They struck hard, but they didn't hit to maim or kill.

Due to the high concentration of solos, the Afterlife was the best place in Night City to find armed help. Although many people came to here to hire solos in person, a larger portion instead preferred to post messages on a marquee, which were then circulated throughout the establishment for any interested individuals to see. Those who did enter the bar, did so at their own risk, and some had paid the price in the past.

2030s - 2040s

After the destruction havocked by the Night City Holocaust, the Afterlife was integrated in the new Upper Marina district, right at the edge of the Hot Zone. It had been procured by Rogue Amendiares, a famous retired solo who used her cached savings to purchase it. Now a fixer, Rogue used the establishment as a court with local mercs and occasionally as a go between potential contacts. Over the following years, the Afterlife's atmosphere changed from a rowdy bar into a loud, nightclub ambience.

By the 2040s, the Afterlife continued its reputation as the premiere solo bar in Night City. Mercs kept dreaming of getting a drink at the Afterlife named after them, even if it only happened post-mortem. While a "Johnny Silverhand" could be ordered at the bar, a "Morgan Blackhand" couldn't, as no one had confirmed the fate of the latter ever since the war. Mercs usually meagered through the crowd prior to taking a seat and wait for an open contract or a ping from their favorite fixer; with the chaos surrounding Night City, that call didn't take long. Bets were also common to see here, with crews placing wagers on who would take out some of the dangers in the city. Everyone knew that Rogue usually took her clients and mercs to the Afterlife, but that was only for those that had proved their value. To meet up-and-coming talent, she liked to go the Forlorn Hope, but only with consent of the Hope's owners. With the reopening of this last one in 2045, there were rumors the Hope could angle itself to compete directly with the Afterlife for street merc business.

2050s

At some point during the reconstruction of Corporate Plaza (which started in 2052) and the establishment of Downtown, the old bar was abandoned due to gentrification. Rogue found another location in southern Watson where she established the new Afterlife. Keeping with old traditions, she rebuilt it in a former morgue.

Layout

Layout (2020)

The old Afterlife was described as a cross between a country-western bar and a motorcycle guild hall in the 2020s. It was divided into three different areas: "The Antechamber," "The Crypt," and "Hades." As one delved deeper, each successive chamber became darker and more dangerous. All rooms included tables and chairs, and each chamber was accessed by walking down a small ramp. The first room included the main entrance, a bar counter, a stage, and the bathrooms; the second chamber only had an extra stage; while the more secluded last chamber had another bar counter.

By 2045, the bar was more akin to a nightclub. Booths occupied many of the rooms, with more private alcoves found deeper into the establishment.

Known Drinks

• The Braindance: This was one of the popular drinks among mercenaries during the 2020s, costing 4eb per glass. It was a mixture of raw alcohol and citrus juices.
• The Johnny Silverhand: This was one of the popular drinks during the 2040s. It was made up of old fashioned tequila with a splash of beer and a chili garnish.

Known Staff

2020

• Allen Cooper (worker)

2045

• Rogue Amendiares (owner)

Regular Patrons

2045

• Hardhat
• Fireman
• Trace Santiago

References