City description (for ICZ RPG)

Greater Tarant1

Tarant is a sprawling megacity of more than 47 million people. The city is more like two very separate cities, (old) Tarant and Lexhem (new Tarant). 2

Old Tarant:3

Greatly run down with large crime infested pockets. Parts of the old city are still well maintained, some of the more wealthy residential areas, small commercial pockets and districts with key government function. These well maintained parts of old Tarant approach the technological architectural splendour of Lexhem.4

Tarant’s commercial district, sandwiched between the industrial estates, mostly defunct public service sectors, and residential suburbs, though suffering under the global economic conditions (which saw the withdrawal of much corporate activity), is a haven of a thriving and diverse small business revival.5

Despite or because of the prevailing financial situation, old Tarant is in the grip of a mass artistic movement, a melting pot of enlightened bohemian, dark gothic, and exuberant (and somewhat male dominated) street culture.6

Industry:7

The regions largest port and rail infrastructure is at Tarant. Most of the cities vast industrial enterprise is focused around the docks and rail. Prolonged economic downturn coupled with diminishing power resources and skyrocketing raw material prices, has lead to a massive down turn in imports/exports and industrial activity, many businesses closing operations. 8

Transport: 9

Much of the city (other than outlaying suburbs) is serviced by an ancient subway system that frequently breaks down. Much more popular and better serviced, is the vast fleet of busses. The bus service is easily accessible from most parts of the city (other than the outer western suburbs). Personal cars are becoming a scarcity in old Tarant, however it remains the primary (just barely) means of transportation. It is not uncommon for multiple poorer families to fund the purchase, and maintenance of a single shared vehicle. Tarrant has many major throughways but few of them are well maintained, some deteriorated so badly they are dangerous to drive on. Low fuel intensive motorcycles and scooters are common among more prosperous individuals. 10

Disease: 11

Many diseases thought wiped out in much of the world have resurfaced in old Tarant, killing hundreds of thousands and leaving many more permanently disabled. The government has done little to provide preventative treatment. The millions of dollars poured into the purchasing of vaccine treatments and funding delivery initiatives, primarily come from large donations placed with medical aid agencies. Despite efforts, disease remains a significant cause of death in old Tarant. 12

Crime, weapons and the Cult of Samkiel:13

The old section of Tarant is home to virtually all of the greater cities homeless population and economically disadvantaged. Crimes of desperation are common in the poorest parts of Tarant, most of this crime is the poor preying on the equally poor. Violent crimes occurre with increasing frequency. In part, this rise in violent crime is due to a misanthropic end of days cult known as, The Might of Samkiel (the leader of a cabal of angels recently rebelled against God), also know as The Cult of Samkiel. The cult has been issued orders to bring chaos and destruction in order to bring about Armageddon in order to cleanse the Earth of the weak and pitiful. The cult, among using tried and tested terrorist methods, stage bloody large scale riots.14

Due to an increased demand for firearms on the black and open market, there has been a tremendous in pouring of weapons (largely feed by unregulated companies in lesser developed countries), a midrange model hand gun can be brought for as little as $50. It is not uncommon to see armed cultists roaming the streets of their stronghold in the outer western suburbs.15

Law order:16

Being gripped in a state of perpetual violence and disorder, calls for military intervention are beginning to overwhelm calls for a greater police presence. Despite a large albeit insufficiently equipped police force, much of the Might of Samkiel’s activities near their strongholds, in the poor western suburbs, goes uncheck by official authorities. Local vigilante and militias have formed in an attempt to counter the threat. Cult activities are policed only when they occurre from the inner suburbs through to the commercial district and industrial estates. 17

Lexhem (or new Tarant)18

Lexhem is a planned development, intended to be the economic and political capital of the world, however “The Grand Unification” never happened. In large the failure of TGU was the start of Tarant’s woes. While Tarant was long an economic and political super power, its global influence has dwindled; its status as a “primary world city” has since been down graded to “city of global significance”. Many of the mega corporations that once had headquarters based in the technologically cutting edge business district have since moved to a more agreeable climate. 19

Transport and communications:20

The amount of capital poured into Lexhem to fund construction of the worlds most advanced city is incalculable. Despite the state of the troubled city, Lexhem has an extensive subway system that spirals and branches out from the commercial district. This system is serviced by ultra fast frictionless trains running at ten - fifteen minuet intervals. Old Tarrant, however; does not profit from this technological-feet of the modern world. Old Tarrant has a single connection to this system running once an hour. Most high profile individuals working in old Tarrant commute via privately operated air taxi services, which utilise small VTOL aircraft. 21

Lexhem has more bandwidth snaking under the city accounts for 20% of the nations data transfer capacity. All of the new city and some of the old has access to sophisticated virtual reality entertainment, communications and retail. In new Tarant, one could (and some do) live their whole life and never leave home. 22

Districts and roads:23

Lexhem is divided into neat districts designated: government, residential, commercial, industry (all of which is low emission and cutting-edge), science (research) an education. Lexhem’s districts and major roads run primarily in a circular mode with smaller intersecting through ways. There is only one major road that runs through greater Tarant, the Liberty Express, ironically this is the most heavily surveilled and armed road in the developed world. 24