Berlin (1st Ed.) (PBtA)
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The Pale Empress Beckons.
Berlin is a city of contrasts: Politics¸ celebrities¸ and luxury are just as much a part of the city as alternative districts¸ the May riots¸ and cheap shop and restaurant chains. Big companies and innovative start-ups open their offices to acclaim¸ yet neighborhood protests can keep an internet giant from developing a new campus in Berlin. While many ambitious building projects are realizeds¸ the new airport is always behind schedule. The constant modernization of apartment buildings in the last few years have caused rents to rise astronomically¸ driving the formers occupants out.
In the supernatural world¸ Berlin has become one of the hot spots of Europe¸ but the reunification of the city also caused conflicts between various groups. The open hostilities between the Night and Power factions¸ in particular¸ led to the rise of a group of hunters and agents of the Mortality faction who gave the other factions a choice: stop the fighting and keep a low profile or face a war with professional and well-armed hunters. While an uneasy ceasefire between the factions was achieved¸ the dream of ruling the supernatural world of Berlin still remains.
Thus¸ there are always newcomers trying to establish their power base in the city¸ challenging the established order; the city seems to be a nexus drawing in supernatural beings from all over Europe. All these attempts to break the status quo are met with the same reaction: swift and hard retribution from the currently dominant faction. While the leaders of the city cannot agree on much else¸ none of them is interested in new competition.