-The year is 2075. The blending of technology and human flesh began in the late 20th century. Interfacing the human mind with computers was just the first step. Implants that 'jack up' reflexes and cybernetic replacements followed quickly. Then came the Awakening. A five-thousand-year lull in the flow of mystical energies subsided, and Magic returned to the world. Elves, Dwarfs, and Trolls assumed their true form, throwing off their human guise.
In this world, the megaplexes are monsters casting long shadows. As a Shadowrunner, that's where you live, in the cracks between the giant corporate structures. When the megacorps want something done but they don't want to dirty their hands, it's a Shadowrun they need, and they come to you. Though your existence as a Runner is not acknowledged by any government or corporate database, the demand for your services is high….-
The rundown streets of East Berlin are filled with smoke, smells and the torrential downpour that has been plaguing the city for the last two days. The lamp posts shine their dim light on the sidewalks as people hurry to their destinations, heavy rain soaking their clothes. Bright neon signs light the corners of the streets, advertising their products to anyone walking by. The rain drowns out all sound, and only the occasional rotor blades of a chopper flying over are able to beat the loud clattering of the water, a beam of light from the helicopter’s floodlight briefly illuminating the street. There is a small stand parked on the street, selling suspicious looking food but providing refuge from the rain with its shutters to a small number of people.
You are walking down one of those streets in the district of Lichtenberg, on your way home. Today hadn’t been a particularly great day, and both that and the rain had soured your mood a little bit. You haven’t had a decent payday for the last couple of weeks and you had hoped you could find something lucrative to do today to get some income, but no such luck, unfortunately, and no money means no progress. Your boots splash up water as you step through the muddled pools on the sidewalk. Strangers pass by as you make your way towards your home, hoping to get out of this damned rain as soon as possible.
Your walk takes a couple more minutes until you reach your apartment. It compares in nothing to the buildings you’ve seen in your brief time in West Berlin, but the Lichtenberg district is one of the better eastern districts, and that’s saying something. But at least it’s somewhat affordable.
The three-story tall building you call home for now looks better than the buildings that surround it, but it is still in a state of disrepair. Some of the windows are blocked off with wooden planks, and you can see scorch marks and bullet holes on the outer wall as a reminder to the turbulent past of the city. Other than that, it still looks quite nice.
You quickly head in through the front doors, passing by the grouchy landlord and his counter next to the door. The aging Troll looks up from his television, peering through his dusty rimmed glasses as the soft doorbell tinkles. “Your next rent payment is due next week, missy. If you don’t have the money you’ll be evicted, understand?”, the troll says to you in German, giving you an uninterested look before returning to the screen of his television, more intrigued in whatever show was on the screen. He’s not really worth your time at the moment now anyway, you rather get back to your apartment as quick as possible.
You take the stairwell up to the third floor, turn left and go down the corridor to your room, number 307. You press your entry code into the pad next to the steel door and watch it slide open. You step in and press the buttons next to the door behind you, shutting the door and turning on the single light that brightens your room.
It's... not too bad, considering what else you've seen around this side of the city, and at least you manage to keep it tidy. Your little apartment consists out of two rooms, the main room and the small bathroom behind the desk. The main room mainly consists out of your bed, a computer and a small stove you can cook your food on. There's only one light illuminating the whole room, but you have a window to let the sun and fresh air through. When the sun is there, that is...
Your computer is still on from when you left, and you forgot the finish your meal, which is most likely cold by now.
As you turn the lights on, one of the screens on the big servers next to your desk flickers on, emitting a soft blue glow, and you can hear the robotic female voice of your AIA,- your Artifical Intelligence Application-, speaking in perfect English to you when the door is shut. "Welcome back, miss Courtney. You have.. 3, new messages."