O Quilombo do Noite (the Symphony That Never Ends)

O Quilombo do Noite (o QN) is a quilombo located on the border between Bahia and Pernambuco, on the banks of the São Francisco River near the Atlantic coast of South America. It is considered a modern multicultural metropolis of the 21st-century, overrun by megacorporations, corruption, organized crime, and gang violence. O Quilombo do Noite was established in the area known as os Desfiladeiros do Coroado in 1994. Founded by Ricardo Noite, it was originally known as Cidade Coroada before its renaming in 1998.
O Quilombo do Noite has wide streets and dense urban skyscrapers which are home to millions of residents. It operates as a city-state, officially owning the title of quilombo, with Arasaka no zaibatsu exerting an undue control over it. This metropolis is considered a thrilling and exciting location to visit, as well as an interesting and vibrant place to live for those of means, and a hellscape to the city's disenfranchised; its world-famous slogan is "The City of Dreams", originally changed from "City on the Edge of Tomorrow."
== History ==
=== Inception (1990 - 1994) ===
Ricardo Noite, a successful businessman who, during the 1990s, was concerned by the violence and disruption of the impending Red Tuesday, came up with the idea of a utopia safe from crime. He then founded a side company known as Internacional Noite and began to plan an ideal new city ~ an environment that would be controlled and ultimately safe from the ravages currently tearing the world apart. His new city was to be completely planned, self-sufficient, and capable of holding off even the most determined criminals. It would boast planned neighborhoods dedicated to preserving the feel of different types of nationalities and cultures, as well as an ultra-modern corporate center that would stand as a shining beacon of enlightened capitalism. It was ambitious, far-reaching, and visionary in its approach.
Noite secured an unheard amount of capital needed to finance the project. In the lead-up to Red Tuesday, many corporations had been looking to establish their own urban areas ~ controlled zones free of crime, poverty or debt. A place where governments would be corporate-run, allowing optimum zoning and no anti-business elements to interfere with corporate growth. Noite's dream city was tailor-made for their purposes and so he provided the design and construction capacities. By 1992, Arasaka no zaibatsu (Japan), EFM (Sweden) and Petroquím (Brazil) had all signed on with the project.
Ricardo Noite sent scouting teams to scour the north and south coasts of Brazil, but in the end it was a small newspaper article that caught his eye ~ an article describing an incident of economic horror that had taken place in a city called Paulo Afonso, along the São Francisco River, whose course and not-so-distant mouth made up for its lack of coastality. Now a small town a tenth of its former size, Ricardo was able to buy the remnants of Paulo Afonso for reais on the escudo. He was also aided by Petroquím, who had taken over the now-abandoned Dinergia power plant in the town and was already planning to set up a river port and oil terminal site. A leveraged 132 million escudo purchase secured the remaining parcels.
Bankrolled by Morales, Asukaga, e Finch ~ who wanted to make the new city a financial hub ~ Ricardo and Petroquím hired Arasaka to clean out the boostergangs and make the area "safe" again. Further funds came from external (and somewhat shady) investors lured to the project by the promise of lucrative building contracts and possible sources of extralegal income. To avoid the stigma of the Paulo Afonso Massacre, the partnership renamed the area os Desfiladeiros Do Coroado, the site of their new utopia of Cidade Coroada.
By 1993, Cidade Coroada required more terrain than what the original geology of the river canyon had. The partnership leveled the canyons and dumped them into the river as fill. They reshaped the river in order straighten its course and create more flat land for about 10 miles, and also re-dredged the river making it capable of porting the large ships needed to build the city, with the remaining dirt also ending up as fill on the western edge. There were also plans to build a station for the Planetran intercontinental maglev.
=== Construction (1994 - 2005) ===
In May of 1994, the construction had begun. Although Petroquím and MAeF were the major bankrollers for the Coroado Partnership, they weren't construction companies, a problem that eventually led to employ the workforce of the Triads. The Triads (whether Chinese, French, British, etc.) had maintained a stranglehold on heavy construction in Bahia for decades. They controlled the construction unions, the transport unions, and most of the governmental agencies in charge of construction licenses, environmental impacts, and other building necessities. The Triads hoped that by investing a large amount of money in the Partnership, they would not only make a huge return on lucrative construction work, but also have the inside track on future gambling, prostitution, and drug franchises in the new city. However, Noite's plan required the use of his own advanced building techniques and materials; which excluded a number of established unions and construction firms controlled by the Triad partners, including his old associates - now known as Halsey, Ferris, and Skiv. This displeased them, and Noite's further insistence that his new city would be safe and crime free angered them even more.
During the first four years of construction, there were daily threats against Noite's life, and when the threats escalated to the level of sabotage and intimidation, he called in his corporate partners, who dealt with the issue swiftly and ruthlessly. However, despite his influence and his allies promising to deal with it, Noite's luck ran out. On September 20th, 1998, he was shot and killed in his penthouse suite at the top of the newly constructed Torre Parquevista. Noite's killer was never apprehended, and in his memory, the newly appointed City Council officially renamed Cidade Coroada as "Cidade do Noite" in his honor, which quickly changed to "Quilombo do Noite" when the city was granted quilombo status.
A year after her husband's death, Miriam Noite restructured Ricardo's company and founded o Fundação de Noite, with the primary goal to protect and promote her husband's vision of the perfect city. This foundation eventually reorganized and became known as Noite Corporação. During this, the Triad bosses who had killed Ricardo began to appropriate most of the city. The next seven years were chaotic as the different powers battled for control of Night City.
=== Triad Rule (2005 - 2009) ===
By 2005, the Triads had become the dominant force in the os Desfiladeiros do Coroado area. The corporations established their strongholds in the outlying "beavervilles" and the newly constructed Praça Corporativa. Originally the corps had little interest in running o Quilombo do Noite, and o Conselho da Cidade were unable to lead without them.
During the next four years, much of the city's government was replaced by corrupt Triad-selected puppets. By selling contracts to their colleagues, setting up drug and extortion deals, and inviting the worst of post-Red Tuesday society into the city, the Triads managed to turn a relatively clean, modern metropolis into an embattled war zone. Crime, drugs, prostitution, random violence, and cybernetic terrorism soon became the rule of law. By 2009, the name o Quilombo do Noite had taken on a grim and deadly new meaning.
These were among the worst years for o Quilombo do Noite, with more murders in that four-year span than there were for most cities in ten. The Triads ruled the city with an iron fist, destroying anything in their way. Gang activity was at an all-time high during this period, with notorious gangs such as as Sanguenavalhas or o Açougue making their debut. The number of unsolved murders documented by o Departamento da Policia do Quilombo do Noite (DPQN) had risen into the thousands.
=== Triad War (2009 - 2011) ===
After four years of street warfare, in 2009 the megacorporations around the city finally began to take matters into their own hands. From 2009 to 2011, during the period of conflict known as a Guerra Contra as Triades, the corporations battled the underworld for control of o Quilombo do Noite. Led by Arasaka-trained paramilitary troops in assault vehicles, fan tanks, and combat aerodynes, a wave of bombings, assassinations, and outright street battles descended upon the Triads' ill-prepared cadres. When the smoke cleared, the corporations had utterly destroyed the Triads' power base in o Quilombo do Noite.
At the end of a Guerra Contra as Triades, the corporations placed a puppet mayor in power and started cleaning up the rest of o Quilombo do Noite. The newly elected Conselho da Cidade ~ faced with the return of chaos in the city ~ deputized corporate security forces and allowed them full authority within city limits, finally bringing city laws into line with the Empire's changes after Red Tuesday. The corporate and city centers were cleaned out and restored to their pristine states. The other neighborhoods were also cleaned out and made livable again. The corporate draconian policies contributed to the city's chronic homeless problem. This ultimately put hundreds on the street as affordable housing was upgraded and used to house the troops the corporations needed to maintain order. In the following years, this situation eased as fewer enforcers and security teams were needed to keep the streets safe.
=== 2013 ===
By 2013, much of the worst excesses of o Quilombo do Noite had been crushed under the ruthless heel of the megacorps. The basic services such as police, firefighters, and support services had been reestablished. In April the 13th of that same year, famous Mexican rockerboy legend Juanito Platamano held a concert outside the original Torre Arasaka and led a strike team into the tower to rescue his British-diasporic hacker girlfriend, Alt Cunningham. During the assault the American branch CEO, Toshiro, was murdered and the tower was damaged badly. Torre Arasaka was repaired over the coming years that followed.
=== 2020 ===
By 2020, o Quilombo do Noite was a rapidly growing urban region, still rife with urban violence and street crime, but with strong economic growth in the corporate sector. It was the quintessential city of the future ~ gritty and dangerous but possessing an urban slick and stylish cool that made it unique. The city had all but healed from the ravages of its bleak past. A Praça Corporativa was still pristine, and the DPQN had enough power to keep down the downtown streets fairly safe during the day. However, o Quilombo do noite had also devolved into an armed society. It wasn't strange to see as many guns as briefcases on the crowded city streets, and despite the new security the city remained crime-ridden.
O Quilombo do Noite had evolved into a busy, successful, and dangerous urban zone. The city government kept control of the city, but when things got out of control, they depended on the corporations to step in. O Quilombo do Noite was far from Ricardo Noite's original dream; however, it worked well enough.
=== Fourth Corporate War (2021 - present) ===
Because of its quilombo status, o Quilombo do Noite has already been home to units on both sides of the Fourth Corporate War. As many other cities, o Quilombo do Noite has also been caught in between the power struggle of Arasaka and Virginian weapons manufacturer Militech.
== Geography ==
O Quilombo do Noite is located along the São Francisco River near Brazil's Atlantic coast of South America in the area known as os Desfiladeiros do Coroado. Nearby city travel ranges from 4 to 6 hours to Caruaru and Maceió, depending on road gang conditions and road quality.
O Quilombo do Noite is surrounded by the as Terras Baldias region, which is mostly unpleasant, however due to the protein farms of Biotechnica the south side is considered not as bad as the eastern part of the region.
===1990s - 2000s distribution===
After buying out the terrains of Paulo Afonso and its surroundings, Ricardo Noite began to construct his city by first rearranging the terrain. Keeping with Ricardo's vision, o Cidade Coroada was originally divided into neighborhoods ~ each with a different architectural style and theme ~ much like the original Disneyland park. Ricardo hoped to bring in a vibrant multi-cultural population attracted to each neighborhood.
===2010s - 2020s distribution ===
With Ricardo Noite's death, the then-renamed o Cidade do Noite (and then o Quilombo do Noite) disintegrated into a hodgepodge of competing districts, savaged by gangs, and later controlled by domineering megacorporations. Besides the neighborhoods, the city was also surrounded by larger suburban areas.
The city was additionally ordered by sections, A through C being Central Quilombo do Noite, D the violent crime-ridden hell known as a Zona de Pugna, and E through J the wider suburban areas.
Locations 	Seçãos 	Zonas
QdN Central 	Seção A 	o Distrito do Norte (A1), o Centro da Cidade (A2), o Lado Superior do Este (A3), a Marina Superior (A4), a Marina do Este (A5), Europa Pequena (A6), o Distrito da Vida Noturna (A7)
QdN Central 	Seção B 	a Colina do Oeste (B1), o Centro Corporativo (B2), a Quadra dos Bancos (B3), o Centro Médico (B4), o Centro Velho (B5), o Porto Novo (B6)
QdN Central 	Seção C 	a Universidade do Quilombo do Noite (C1), a Parque do Lago (C2), Japão Pequeno (C3), a Chinatown (C4), a Cidade dos Estúdios (C5), a Colina da Alvará (C6), Índia Pequena (C7)
a Zona de Pugna	Seção D 	a Zona de Pugna (D)
os Subúrbios 	Seção E-J 	Quilombo do Noite do Sul (E), o Riacho do Oeste (F), Atlântico (G), Coqueiro do Norte (H), o Rancho Coroado (I), Bretanha Pequena (J)
Other Zones 	Other Zones	o Ponte do Coroado, as Terras Baldias
=== Climate ===
O Quilombo do Noite's northeast Brazilian location gives it one of the most pleasant climates in the country. Normal temperatures range from the high 80s °F to mid 60s °F (low 30s °C to high teens °C), with misty white fog blanketing the quilombo in the early mornings and evenings. QdN receives around 25.5 inches of rainfall each year. Of this water that drops, around 35% contains toxic chemicals which is higher than current government standards. On average, if a person's vehicle and clothing are rated above SP 12, adverse effects (staining and ablation) will be negligible.
When one visits o Quilombo do Noite, they should wear light to medium weight clothing, with a light armor jacket or ballistic-cloth overcoat which is optional. A filter mask and supplemental oxygen are highly recommended as well; this is a hedge against inversion smog and acid rain fog. That being said, acid-proof slickers, umbrellas, and air masks are readily available from the sidewalk vendors or smaller street stores during a smog warning periods. The average cost of these items can range from €$20 to €$35.
== Government and politics ==
Night City is a democratic mayoralty with a corporate-controlled city council. In mayoral elections, votes are cast via a data term using IdentiCarta registration software, and the winner of an election is determined by a simple majority of the popular vote. The Conselho do Quilombo do Noite consists of 100 members, each of whom are usually backed by one of the top ten largest corporations present in QdN.
=== Night City's Mayor ===
O Prefeito do Quilombo do Noite oversees the Escritório do Tesureiro, the deputies to o prefeito, and directs the heads of the city's departments, including the DPQN. He or she is the city's highest governing representative. They have the power to appoint os chefes dos departamentos and os comissionados as well as remove public officials from office.
The quilombo's system of governance is based on the authority of the mayor in cooperation with the Conselho. Part of the mayor's proposals are subject to approval from the council.
With every new mayor comes an office with new personnel.
==== Mayors ====
Mbole Ebunike (2012 - present), with Garven Haakensen as deputy
Night City Council
The Night City Council is one of the ruling bodies of Night City. Its 100 members are elected along neo-democratic lines by the then largest corporations headquartered in the city.
The city's system of governance is based on the authority of the mayor in cooperation with the Night City Council, as such, part of the mayor's proposals are subject to approval from the City Council.[20]
Council members
Current
Brad Noorwood[21]
Eva Cole[22]
Jack Lars[23]
Unnamed councilman[24]
Former
Lucius Rhyne (early 2060s - 2070)
Johnn McLean[25] (Unknown - 2077)[26]
Jefferson Peralez (2076 - 2077)[27]
Candidates
Emilio Gutierrez[28]
Economy
Business sectors
The business sectors of Night City include manufacturing industries, international trade and commerce, information services, electronic technologies, security services, and so on. While cities like Tokyo, New York City, or Singapore have been overrun by corporations by the 2000s, Night City was the only city in the world that was built by the corporations. Some of the biggest megacorporations in the world contributed to the construction of the city and many were located in the Corporate Center in 2020. After the war, and the subsequent rebuild stage of the Night City, the Corpo Plaza became a symbol of the megacorps grasp on the city.
Corporations
The following were some of the leading corporations that helped construct the city, but it's just a few of the ones that still operate in Night City. The city is overrun by many corporations and businesses, some of which are exclusive to Night City. Without the official aid of U.S. government or the free state, Night City is a free nation that sees little interference from the outside. Night City's biggest ally is Arasaka, which keeps the city running and protected.[1]
Coronado Partnership
Arasaka
Euro Business Machines
Merrill, Asukaga, & Finch
Night International
Petrochem
Post-founding notable corporations
Biotechnica
Kang Tao
Kendachi
Kiroshi Opticals
Militech
Orbital Air
SovOil
Trauma Team International
Infrastructure
Transportation
Night City hosts a extensive network of urban freeways and rapid transit networks. Getting from the city's various districts is seamless and effective except for in districts where the infrastructure has been damaged such as in Pacifica. Interstate 828, 928 and 16 are freeways in 2020 although it is uncertain whether these have since been renamed, rebuilt or remain unchanged in 2077. Also, the Orbital Air Space Center is a aerospace center in Night City, allowing for space transportation.
Airports/Spaceports
In 2020, the Night City Metropolitan Airport was the sole airfield around NC. After the War, the Orbital Air Space Center was built on Del Coronado Bay's Morro Rock island, west on the city. At some point after the Time of the Red, the Richard Night International was also built.
Law enforcement and crime
Operating as an autonomous territory separate from the rest of the NUSA, Night City's borders are patrolled by Arasaka contractors. The Night City Police Department holds jurisdiction over domestic security, although the personal security detail of the mayor is handled by a team of handpicked corporate hustle.
Database Entry (2077)
NIGHT CITY
Night City
The City of Dreams was founded in the 1990s by visionary industrialist Richard Night. When the world of late 20th century plunged into chaos, Night envisioned a modern metropolis free from crime, poverty and corruption. Corporate partners Arasaka, EBM, and Petrochem helped him realize this vision, investing in the foundation of what would become the Free City of Night City. The city would develop into a haven for young idealists and a beacon for others who sought to fulfill their own dreams. And although Richard fell to assassins and many new generations seeking fame, fortune and freedom have suffered their own series of setbacks, the city's legendary status endures today.
Night City has it all: from the monumental skyscrapers of industry-leading megacorporations, to the luxury villas of world-renowned stars, to the lawless neighborhoods where war is waged every day. You will stumble across mercenaries, gangs and famous rockers, but also junkies, bums and even cyberpsychos. You will stand in the shadows of colossal megabuildings and get lost in the maze of streets, alleys and markets. You will make your dreams come true or die trying.[13]
Category:Cities
Category:Empire of Brazil
Category:O Quilombo do Noite
Category:The Symphony That Never Ends