Editing Paradise City:Urban Geography (section)

===Southside Ganglands:  ”The Helltowns”.===

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Helltown street culture is notable for the fact that many gangs who gain control of turf conscript the local population into the gang.  The conscripts will be required to show some outward sign of gang membership – a color of shirt, a haircut, the scar of an elaborate gash on the forehead.  They will also often be provided with weapons, although not with “good” weapons.  Naturally, being a part of the gang means that they are expected to fight for it.  Conscripts are rarely enthusiastic about being a part of the gang, although there are whole neighborhoods full of exceptions.  Though go-gangs are particularly common in The Helltowns (due to the proximity of the southside government projects), conscripts are rarely allowed to ride – they would probably escape
The Helltown gangs are extremely concerned about marking and protecting their territory.  They are also very serious about keeping their members – retirement from the gang is forbidden and if a gang gives sanctuary to a runaway member of another gang, they have effectively declared war.

Police:  Eastside CityPol carefully protects the very few corporate assets left in the area.  Other than that, they largely cede the streets to the gangers.  Officers are usually issued with a gyroc pistol and a submachinegun.  The police are relatively tolerant towards the carrying of weapons, even at the periphery of territory that they control.  However, unless it would be too dangerous to do so, they will usually arrest anyone they see with a military weapon (something of LR 1 or less) and see that the individual gets prison time.  They reason that anyone carrying a military weapon was probably planning to do the sort of harm that even they should care about.

Points of Interest:  

“Babylon” is the name given to a block of ruined buildings that have been turned into multi-storied hydroponic farms by enterprising locals.  The Babylonians do not conscript and are selective about who they allow to join their well-fed “kingdom”.  They export food north to the better populated parts of the city and have deals with the McDonald’s corporation to supply them with produce.  As “gangs” go, the Babylonians are particularly prosperous, well-supplied and powerful.  Other gangs have often made attempts to take over their valuable assets by conquest, but so far without success.
          
“The Big Medina” is a vast market, covering blocks, that is considered to be neutral territory by the local gangs.  The streets are choked with stalls and customers and a lot of money changes hands here.  For many people, the Medina is their only source of food in this anarchic area, for others, it supplies more exotic items.  Nothing is considered “illegal goods” here.  The market is chaotic and crime is rife.  While violence is not allowed, it is common and there is no particular authority appointed to make sure that it doesn’t happen.  Inevitably, the mere fact that it is neutral territory means that rival gangers are likely to run into each other here.