Editing Urban Shadows Ashes of The Archmage (section)

=The City=

==An Overview==

London is a city of old magic, deep shadows, and whispered pacts. The streets thrum with power, hidden just beneath the surface—among the bustling tourists, in the smoky backrooms of pubs older than nations, and in the whispered Latin of a back-alley exorcism. Here, in the heart of the supernatural underground, the balance between factions is delicate, and a single death can tip the scales.

Archwizard Ambrose Finch was more than just a mage; he was a keystone of London's magical order, the guardian of a thousand secrets, the silent broker of uneasy peace. Now he's dead.

Some say his heart simply stopped—an old man finally brought low by time. Others whisper of darker causes. A power struggle. A vendetta centuries in the making. A prophecy fulfilled.

Regardless of the cause, Finch's death has left a vacuum, and nature abhors a vacuum. The city teeters on the edge. The wizards of the Circle scramble to hold onto their dominion. Vampires smell blood in the water. The Fae of the Hidden Courts stir, eager to reclaim old debts. The hunters and exorcists sharpen their blades. And in the darkest corners of the city, something old and forgotten stirs, drawn to the chaos like carrion to a feast.

You are part of this world. Maybe you were one of Finch's allies—or one of his rivals. Maybe you want justice, vengeance, or just a chance to carve out your own piece of London's underworld. One thing is certain: the city won't wait. The factions are moving, and the shadows are deepening.

What will you do when the city calls?

==Hub moves==

===It's My Shout===
When you go out drinking in the hopes of meeting with someone in the know, roll with Heart. On a hit, you meet just the person—someone
connected to an NPC of your choice; the MC will tell you who they are. On a 10+, you get along famously; you can count them among your friends and they (drunkenly) agree to one favour you ask. On a 7-9, they are a bit more cautious, only scratching your back if you scratch theirs; take a +1 ongoing to persuade them to help you out if you agree to a small favour before you roll. On a miss, you overindulge in whatever vice plagues you most; the MC will tell you how your foolish needs get you in over your head.

===A Well Placed Word===
When you blackmail a powerful NPC with proof of their dirty deeds, roll with your Status in their Circle. On a hit, hold 2. On a 10+ hold 3. Spend your hold—1 for 1—as if spending a Debt (asking for a moderate favour, adding +3 to your roll when persuading them, etc.) when interacting with your target. Once you've used the last of your hold, take -1 ongoing to moves targeting them until time passes. On a miss, they call your bluff and make you, or your source, pay.

==Points of Interest==

===Madam Jojo's===
A currently closed and derelict bar that used to be a real community hub in Soho. The Moonrise Group, a development syndicate, are currently exploring their options in terms of development.

===The Blackbird===
A late-night bar, with many dark nooks for secret conversations, or secret trysts. It is run by Dante Slade, a vampire of some renown, though rumours abound that he serves a darker master.

===The Cauldron===
A rooftop pub that serves the fringes of both moral and supernatural society. It's seen as a good place to meet, as everyone is so distrusting of one another that no-one could get away with a double-cross.The one thing everybody knows about Seattle, besides the coffee and Bill Gates.  Built for the '62 World's Fair to collect and harness the psychic energy of Seattle's mortals.  Forget I said that.  It has a nice rotating restaurant on top, too.