“Johnny, remember the plan?”
-Rogue Amendiares; before the Night City holocaust
The Afterlife was the name of a club located in central Night City. Originally located in the Medical Center district, by 2045 it was instead located in Upper Marina, at the edge of the Hot Zone. It had been known throughout the decades for its solo and merc clientele.
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.
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 preferred to instead 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.
After the destruction havocked by the Night City Holocaust, the Afterlife relocated to at the edge of the Hot Zone in Upper Marina; the bar now under the ownership of famous solo Rogue Amendiares. She used the establishment as a court with local mercs, and occasionally acted 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 during that time. 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.