This article is about the location in the 2020-2045 era. For the location in the 2070s, see Afterlife (Watson).The Afterlife was the name of a club located in downtown Night City. Originally located in the Medical Center district, by 2045, the borders had shifted and now the building was located in Upper Marina, at the edge of the Hot Zone. It had been known throughout the decades for its solo and merc clientele.
History[]
2010s - 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 Afterlife, 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.[1][2]
Due to the high concentration of solos, the Afterlife was the best place in Night City to find armed help.[3] Although many people came to here to hire solos, a larger portion 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.[1]
2030s - 2050s[]
The Afterlife barely escaped the destruction of the Fourth Corporate War and the AHQ Disaster. Now located at the edge of the Hot Zone in Upper Marina after the districts' borders shifted, the bar ended up under the ownership of famous solo Rogue Amendiares. She used the establishment as a court with local solos, and occasionally acted as a go between potential contacts.[4] Over the following years, the Afterlife's atmosphere changed from a rowdy bar into a loud, nightclub ambience.[5]
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 during that time.[4] 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.[5]
At some point after the reconstruction of Corporate Plaza and the establishment of Downtown, the club 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.[X 1]
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 chamber 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.[1]
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.[5]
Staff[]
2020s[]
- Allen Cooper (worker)[1]
2040s[]
- Rogue Amendiares (bar's owner)
Notes[]
- Afterlife regulars in the 2040s included: Fireman,[4] Trace Santiago[5] and more.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 PONDSMITH, M. Night City Sourcebook. Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1991. (pp.23,116–117,119)
- ↑ Countdown to the Dark Future (#43)
- ↑ PONDSMITH, M. Cyberpunk 2013: Welcome to Night City. Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1988. (p.8)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 PONDSMITH, M. Cyberpunk RED Core Rulebook. Kenmore, WA, R. Talsorian Games, 2020. (pp.304–306,312)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 PONDMITH, M. et al. Tales of the RED: Street Stories. Kenmore, WA, R. Talsorian Games, 2022. (pp.21,112,177)
X.com[]
- ↑ R. Talsorian Games on X: "Which brings us to the locations. A notable one is the Afterlife. In 2045, it is located in the Upper Marina, just northeast of the Old Bank Block. In 2077, you'll find it in Watson. Why? Gentrification. Not even the Queen of Fixers, Rogue, can fight urban development. As the Corp Plaza was rebuilt and the areas of Little Europe and the Upper Marina blossomed into Downtown, there just wasn't room for a rough and tumble Solo bar in the middle of all that "civilized" splendor. So, Rogue moved north. Found a new location and took it over."
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