History Main / TruceZone

* The Restaurant Karpics in Ankara during World War II was attended by diplomats, spies, and journalists from all sides.
** All of Ankara and Istanbul was like this, really. But Karpics was the "Rick's Bar" of Ankara.
* UsefulNotes/{{Lisbon}} was technically neutral ground during UsefulNotes/WW2, and was a hotbed of spies and military intelligence officers, although a slight bias towards the Allies (thanks to the treaty of eternal friendship that UsefulNotes/{{Portugal}} and UsefulNotes/{{England}} struck in ''1386''!) could be discerned - rumours that would take a good week to get to [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany The Nazis]] would get to The Allies within the day.

** The Continental hotel disallows any "business" (i.e. killing people) on its premises, and they will enforce this rule. [[spoiler:[[BigBad Viggo]] tempts [[DarkActionGirl Miss Perkins]] in ''Film/JohnWick'' into ignoring this by doubling Wick's bounty. It works and she makes an attempt on his life. He stops her and leaves her in the hands of a different assassin. Who she then kills, [[TooDumbToLive while still in the Continental]]. At the end of the movie, the management of the Continental executes her for violating their rules.]]

* Pop's Barber Shop on ''Series/LukeCage2016''. A lot of the tragedy (and ass-kicking) that occurs during the show can be traced back to the fact that Tone, one of Cottonmouth's soldiers, thought that his boss obeying this request (even knowing perfectly well that Pop and Cottonmouth have been friends for many years) made him look weak, and shot up the store when he discovered that a kid that had stolen from Cottonmouth was inside ([[MentorOccupationalHazard killing only Pop]]).

* ''The Brotherhood of the Rose'' by David Morrell. Since the 1930s, the major intelligence agencies have established safehouses and retirement villages where no agent can be arrested or harmed by the authorities or another agent. Anyone violating this agreement is tracked down and killed. [[spoiler:However, the intelligence officials who originally made this agreement, and later their sons, have [[NotSoDifferentRemark realised it makes them no different]] and are working together to sabotage their nation's intelligence operations so that the Cold War doesn't get out of control.]] At one point the BigBad seeks refuge from an assassin in a retirement village, so the assassin wages a campaign of psychological warfare (harassing the BigBad, then making it look as if the BigBad is retaliating) until they're both expelled from the TruceZone for disturbing the peace.

* ''Fanfic/TheBridge'':

* Earth as a whole is this in ''Film/MenInBlack''. K explains that the first aliens encountered were a group of refugees who requested that they be allowed to use Earth as an apolitical zone for aliens without a planet.
-->'''K''': Did you ever see the movie ''Casablanca''? The same thing, 'cept no Nazis.
** This is the reason why the MIB couldn't safeguard the Light of Zartha from Serleena, since it would technically break Earth's neutrality, [[spoiler: so Kay did so in secret and erased his memory of the incident.]]

* ''ComicBook/FallenAngel''. [[MeaningfulName Furors]] bar is sort of a safe zone in Bete Noire. The [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler proprietor]] does not tolerate violence in the bar. Of course, take one step out the door and you'll probably get mugged by [[spoiler:{{Satan}}.]]

* In ''Theatre/WestSideStory'', the school gymnasium where the dance takes place is neutral ground for the Sharks and Jets.

* In ''[[http://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-29997/Katrina+BTVS+Builders+Junkyard+Dog.htm The Builders]]'', the 24/7 bus route in [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Sunnydale]] is one of the only places in town (besides Willy's Bar) that is safe from supernatural attacks, whether someone is on the bus or just walking the route. As a result, even in daytime, there's demons riding on the back of the bus ([[WeirdnessCensor Sunnydale Syndrome]] keeps people from noticing they're not human).
* ''Fanfic/CoincidenceAndMisunderstandings'' has the Eldritch Enclave, a place where any magic user can go and research to their heart's content. Breaking the rules of neutrality and nonviolence (including instigating others) can lead to banishment and being blacklisted as a warlock. Blacklisted magic users are stated to have a life expectancy of months as dictators, [[CorruptCorporateExecutive corrupt corporate executives]], and others know no one will come to help them. Even ComicBook/DoctorFate makes sure to follow the rules, even if he comes across his archenemy. Which makes Zatanna's continued antagonism of every Chaos-aligned magic user there idiotic in the extreme.

* In ''Fanfic/GuardiansWizardsAndKungFuFighters'', as part of [[KnowledgeBroker Ludmoore's]] status as officially neutral in all conflicts, his mansion serves as this. He does not allow violence between his visitors and will throw out and ban any offenders.

* It turns out one of these actually manages to exist between the Imperium and the Tau in ''Fanfic/AllGuardsmenParty''. This hazy region of space contains such heresies as humans and aliens living together peacefully, religious freedom, and functioning government.

* The asteroid colony "Blue Heaven" in ''Manga/OutlawStar''. Fighting is allowed there, so long as you don't use a gun. Gene loading his revolver with paintballs is apparently an accepted loophole, as is using his {{magitek}} Caster Gun against an immortal Ctarl-Ctarl.
* Side 6, a neutral space colony in the original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam''. [[spoiler:This didn't last, unfortunately.]]

* New Ostia's [[FuroScene public baths]] in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi''.

* Gina's restaurant in ''Anime/PorcoRosso''.
* The world of Phezzan in ''Literature/LegendOfTheGalacticHeroes'' is introduced as a politically neutral planet that sits at one of two possible routes between the Galactic Empire and the Free Worlds Alliance, despite being officially subjects of the Empire. As expected, there are a fair share of spies and refugees who cross between the two superpowers via this route.
* There are several such zones in ''Manga/{{Sekirei}}'', usually owned by [[MegaCorp MBI]] and used to keep their game of ThereCanBeOnlyOne running smoothly. Miya strictly enforces a "No Fighting" rule at Izumo Inn, and the savvy villains steer clear of that area.
* The protagonist of ''Anime/HighlanderTheSearchForVengeance'' attempts to break the "no fighting on holy ground" rule from the ''Franchise/{{Highlander}}'' franchise. In his defense, at the time he's a newly risen Immortal. He learns his lesson quickly. Even ''picking up'' a broken sword with the intention to hunt down a faraway enemy Immortal is enough to merit him a BoltOfDivineRetribution.
* The Moon in ''Anime/ValvraveTheLiberator'' is one, as was supposedly the territory of Jior. Neither last very long as in the former, this only applies to humans (which does not include the protagonists, thanks to some ''very shady'' semantics), and the latter was violated repeatedly by the antagonists of the series, the warmongering Dorssians, and their secret Shadow government, the council of 101.
* The Island of ''Anime/NinetyOneDays''.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has the Land of Iron, a faraway nation nestled between treacherous mountains (much like Switzerland) and populated not by ninja, but by samurai. They don't take sides in ninja disputes or wars and allow the ninja villages to use their land as venue for their summits.

** [[Film/JohnWickChapter2 The sequel]] shows that there are multiple branches of the Continental operating throughout the world, all serving as a neutral hub for criminals. After a brutal fight through the city, Cassian and John (literally) crash through the window of the Rome Continental and are ordered to cease their fight to the death per the hotel's rules. Visibly annoyed, they comply. [[spoiler:Much later Santino exploits the rules by essentially promising to simply stay at the hotel to save himself but John shoots him anyway. For this act, John is sentenced to death, but Winston gives him [[MercyLead an hour's head start]] out of respect.]]
** [[Film/JohnWickChapter3Parabellum The third film]] establishes that the [[GreaterScopeVillain High Table]] can revoke the neutrality of any Continental by declaring them "deconsecrated", which allows for violence to take place on the grounds again. [[spoiler: At the climax, [[MouthOfSauron the Adjudicator]] does this to the New York Continental as punishment for John and Winston refusing to turn on each other, opening the way for an attack by the High Table's EliteMooks. Eventually, after Winston [[AmbiguousSituation apparently]] betrays John, the Continental's status is restored.]]

** In ''Literature/SmallFavor'', "Tiny" Gruff, who stands well over 7 feet tall, announces clearly that he's waiting for Harry to leave the bar before duelling him. Murphy intervenes, saying that, as a Chicago police officer, she can freely shoot anyone who threatens anyone with physical violence in the protection of the city's laws, since Chicago never signed the Accords, and attacking her in turn ''would'' violate the Accords since Gruff's people ''are'' part of the Accords. "Tiny" Gruff respects her chutzpah and retreats until Harry leaves the city limits. Mac rewarded her with free beer afterwards.

Some Truce Zones refer to themselves as a "free city", a region not controlled by TheEmpire, TheFederation, or any other nation state. A frequently seen aspect of these places is that they are centers for trade and commerce and may have laws favoring businesses that might wish to establish themselves there. Such places often conveniently fail to have extradition agreements with the big players. Many free city Truce Zones take this further and allow businesses and people of questionable nature to exist there as long as they don't cause trouble for the place, making it a WretchedHive attractive to criminal elements and bounty hunters as well as anyone fleeing TheGovernment for more heroic reasons. Anyone who enters the free city and obeys the truce rules can expect equal protection from local law enforcement, so this is a relatively safe place for fugitives.

Sister trope of HolyGround. If the truce is not tied to a specific location, it may be an EnforcedColdWar. Contrast TheNeutralZone, which despite sounding the same, is actually the opposite -- instead of both sides coexisting, neither side is allowed entry. Often combined with CityOfSpies, HubCity, ViceCity (in the seedier ones), and GoodGuyBar (and sometimes BadGuyBar). In sci-fi settings is frequently a SpaceStation. Sometimes includes (or is) a BazaarOfTheBizarre or InnBetweenTheWorlds. May well include a PowerNullifier and/or AntiMagic field for added security and deterrence; after all, Mr Joe Bulletproof is much less likely to start a fight if he's not so bulletproof after all. May also enforce their neutrality through some form of MagicallyBindingContract or {{Geas}}, usually with ''severe'' penalties for anyone who attempts to break the peace.

** [[AllThereInTheManual Supplemental material]] shows that New Birth Island is this for the war between Terra's kaiju factions. Primarily because its owner, Biollante, has declared herself neutral and will not ''allow'' the war to happen on her territory -- and since she's in the same power range as her brothers Godzilla and Xenilla, she can easily enforce that rule. However, it’s TheNeutralZone for anyone other then her brothers, Junior and Xen- any other kaiju who sets foot on the island or enters its airspace will be attacked on sight, regardless of their faction.

--> '''K''': Did you ever see the movie ''Casablanca''? The same thing, 'cept no Nazis.

* Valdaire, called the "truce city" in ''Literature/TheDeedOfPaksenarrion'', is the winter home of most of the northern mercenary companies, many whom may enter combat with each other outside the city depending on their contracts.

** In ''Literature/SmallFavor'', "Tiny" Gruff, who stands well over 7 feet tall, announces clearly that he's waiting for Harry to leave the bar before duelling him. Murphy intervenes, saying that as a Chicago police officer she can freely shoot anyone who threatens anyone with physical violence in the protection of the city's laws, since Chicago never signed the Accords, and attacking her in turn ''would'' violate the Accords since Gruff's people ''are'' part of the Accords. "Tiny" Gruff respects her chutzpah and retreats until Harry leaves the city limits. Mac rewarded her with free beer afterwards.

* ''The Brotherhood of the Rose'' by David Morrell. Since the 1930s, the major intelligence agencies have established safehouses and retirement villages where no agent can be arrested or harmed by the authorities or another agent. Anyone violating this agreement is tracked down and killed. [[spoiler:However the intelligence officials who originally made this agreement, and later their sons, have [[NotSoDifferentRemark realised it makes them no different]] and are working together to sabotage their nation's intelligence operations so that the Cold War doesn't get out of control.]] At one point the BigBad seeks refuge from an assassin in a retirement village, so the assassin wages a campaign of psychological warfare (harassing the BigBad, then making it look as if the BigBad is retaliating) until they're both expelled from the TruceZone for disturbing the peace.

* In the ''Literature/{{Dragaera}}'' novels, there's a hotel in Adrilankha which is considered a "no-assassinations zone" by the Jhereg criminal organization, although precisely ''why'' it's considered that is open to speculation. Vlad unabashedly exploits this by staying there when he's in town with a price on his head.

** In ''TabletopGame/GeistTheSinEaters'', any krewes or individual Sin-Eaters who have beef with each other are advised to put it away during a Carnival, or find a way to solve it non-violently. After all, when you and your rivals all know the trick of coming back from the dead, why bother?

** TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms has such places, usually enforced with divine or overwhelming arcane power. 1st Edition supplement ''Forgotten Realms Adventures'': Temples of the deity Mask are neutral meeting sites for all thieves' guilds in a town. Most trade cities do this, some more than others. Trademeet (a town on the crossroad of two major caravan routes) for centuries enjoyed Merchant’s Peace, said to be declared by Waukeen herself. There's peer pressure to keep it in the merchant community, and the few who break it soon receive a beating with LaserGuidedKarma just shy of a BoltOfDivineRetribution -- e.g. a merchant who tried to hinder another and accidentally caused his drowning soon was hit with a storm which ended the moment he gone down, etc. [[TheNecrocracy Skullport]] -- a WretchedHive ruled by flying skulls who quickly suppress any open fighting. Sshamath -- TheMagocracy of drow who simply don't care about things that don't concern them or their trade and even for most creatures not getting along with dark elves elsewhere is a fairly safe place to visit -- as long as one doesn't breach the peace, that is.

* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': Magic is inherently associated with colour, to the extent that 'Green magic' refers to a theme, arcane specialism, tactic and philosophy, and the ten feuding guilds of Ravnica are each based on a pair of two of the five colours. Aptly, according to FlavorText lore, [[https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=chromatic+lantern any area illuminated by multiple colours of light is tradition-upheld neutral space]].

* The Freeports in ''VideoGame/{{Freelancer}}'' (Freeport 1 in Omega-3, Freeport 2 in Bering, Freeport 4 in Magellan, Freeport 5 in Omega-41, Freeport 6 in Tau-29, Freeport 7 in Sigma-17... [[DoomedHometown wait, scratch that,]] Freeport 9 in Omicron Theta and Freeport 10 in Tau-37. We're not sure where Freeport 3 and Freeport 8 are). Junker bases also serve as less lawful Freeports. In addition to those listed, Freistadt in Omega-7, Battleship Hood in Dublin and Ames Research Station in Kepler are also Freeports.

* UsefulNotes/HongKong had elements of this under the ninety-nine-year lease. Technically, it was a British territory inside Communist China. In ''practice'', it was an area with far less restrictive laws than the surrounding territories, which resulted in it gaining similar economic and criminal elements. Sadly, the passing of the controversial National Security Law in June 2020 meant that its restrictive laws from the mainland now applies in the now former Special Administrative Region.