Location Level 1313

[Nor'baal]

Level 1313​

Level 1313 was a habitation level on the metropolitan world of Coruscant in the galactic core, so named because it was located one thousand, three hundred, and thirteen levels from the core of the planet. Accessed through the infamous underworld portal, Level 1313 was part of Coruscants bustling underworld scene and was the location of numerous crimes, gangs and outfits. 1313 was probably Coruscants most infamous level, so far beneath the surface that the great and the good simply forgot about (or, didn't care). Split into neighbourhoods, 1313 was a hotbed of crime and unsavoury behaviour, where even the Coruscant Security Force (CSF) were in the pockets of a gang, or on the take in somewhat. What follows is a rundown of some of the neighbourhoods of this unfamous underworld.

Dockside​

Inventively named, this neighbourhood accounts for the areas immediately surrounding the underworld portal from the surface, leading down to the core. Consisting of a huge number of docks, stevedore bars and lodgings, Dockside is the place to be if you're looking to bring stuff into 1313, or, more likely, ship it out. Featuring a large CSF building, known as 'The Bastion' locally, this area is heavily patrolled, and you need to know who to buddy up to, bribe, or straight up intimidate in that building, in order to see a profitable venture in this area.

New Ryloth​

Heavily populated by immigrants from Ryloth itself, this neighbourhood is a largely residential district, overrun with Twi'lek gangs, who make their living through a network of cat houses. A popular haunt for 'surface dwellers' who come down to make use of the local facilities, kidnappings are not uncommon in this area, thanks to a combination of lacklustre and mostly absent security forces, partnered with an abundant amount of places to make a quick getaway.

The Works​

Named after a once-famous synth weave production triangle, The Works at 1313 is still a booming site of large industry. Deep underground and poorly cared for, 1313 is the home of many industries that are less than healthy for its huge population. The Works is, perhaps, most indicative of this; its flagrantly permissive zoning allows for competing uses to be stacked on top and around each other haphazardly. Giant dumps and scrapyards, full of stinking waste, are flocked by massive warehouses, smokestack industries, and tiny scrap-built slum houses where many workers are forced to live. This desperate condition creates a space rife with crime, from Spice dealers and addicts to illegal scrappers who deal in garbage and stolen metals, to proper syndicates that hideaway in run-down factory sites. A monument to the sins of Coruscant, The Works is an enduring symbol of the rampant corruption that is fundamental to the ecumenopolis.

Redoubt​

Redoubt has a little of it all. It is a rather typical underground city-neighbourhood in Coruscant: it has many commercial, retail and service-based businesses, a small mix of industrial uses, and a lot of criminals skimming off the top. While the population could be divided into different varieties of “people trying to get by,” most notably it is home to the government buildings that Coruscant deems to put on the level. Utility offices, holonet access, schooling programs, and all types of government administration and aid could be found in the grey skyscrapers that are central to the district. Redoubt is a diverse neighbourhood, constantly changing from the hustle-bustle natural to Coruscant. Its proximity to government services, and its general access to the rest of the level, make it an attractive location for newcomers to 1313. Redoubt is thus the proving ground of 1313: While some stay in the neighbourhood, many either move to a different sub-district deeper in 1313 or move back to a higher level. That is if they survive that long.

Little Rodia​

Favoured haunt of Rodian immigrants, this neighbourhood is the proud home to many dozens of 'Rodian Fraternal Societies and 'Community Clubs', though which the Rodian population band together, and punch above their weight in local political and community issues. It is also the location of the local level 'Administrative Council', an elected body overseeing the level.

Northside​

Shoebox apartments and high-energy nightlife define this packed neighbourhood. Once a trendy cityscape for up-and-coming artists, DJs, and their ilk, rising rent prices have encouraged the subdivision of the neighbourhood’s many lofts into increasingly small studios. Still, the neighbourhood remains a favourite of electronic musicians, slicers, droid manufacturers, and purveyors of any loud, flashy, and advanced tech. The “Northside Hustle,” is the neighbourhood’s claim-to-fame outside of Coruscant, named so after an identity fraud scam that started in this neighbourhood.

Southside​

Cut off from the rest of the level by massive sewage canals and water purification tanks, Southside is a remote-feeling neighbourhood, if such a thing is possible in Coruscant. It is the farthest neighbourhood from an underworld portal on 1313, contributing to its catastrophically slow emergency response times, public transit waits, and business selection. As a result, Southside still boasts one of the highest vacancy rates of any district in Coruscant. While once this made Southside exclusively a dangerous site of criminal activity, residents have banded together to create a unique community. Vacant buildings have been turned into communal mushroom farms, old warehouses into housing cooperatives, and the water purification tanks have been filled with a variety of algae and fish that naturally clean and filter the waters. While still a hotbed of crime, the neighbourhood now has a renaissance of local businesses, restaurants, and services that even local toughs have come to rely on as essential.

The Strip​

Bright lights, big city, bigger pockets. The town with it all, 1313’s strip is the largest collection of hustlers, gangsters, pimps, and the service workers who fund their extravagant lifestyles. Obviously, a hotbed of crime, it is also the neighbourhood that showcases where the extreme heights of illicit crime can take you. Civilians in need of a thrill will spend their hard-earned dollars on the best food, spice, drink, and sex that Coruscant has to offer. At least, that’s what the never-ending stream of event promoters want you to believe.

The Alley​

A different slice within level 1313, the alley is composed of ageing, dense apartment towers regularly patrolled by private security offices. The Alley was originally designed as workforce housing for the fleets of teachers, nurses, and other professionals that helped to administer the district; as 1313 has grown ever more dangerous, these populations largely abandoned their stable housing stock. Today, remaining residents have pooled together resources to purchase mercenary protection, creating an effective gated community. Ironically, this neighbourhood is home to many of the corrupt CorSec officers who “serve” the district. By no means “sleepy,” The Alley nonetheless has an ageing and more traditional feel to it.

OOC - A massive shout out to @Fine Dining Set and @Eccles for their contributions to this write-up.

 

[The Good Doctor]

Approved!