In the shadowed alleys and grand cathedrals of Rome, an uneasy alliance between the Italian mafia and the holy see of the Vatican governs the fate of the city's populace, divided into two distinct factions: the Ordinary and the Others. The Ordinary, the vast majority of humanity, live out their lives oblivious to the arcane forces that shape the world around them. The Others, a secretive and powerful minority, have forged a connection to the Presence - the primal essence of magic that suffuses all things. At the heart of this delicate balance lies the towering edifice of St. Peter's Basilica, where His Holiness Pope Innocent XV presides over the hallowed halls. Beneath the opulent frescoes and gilded altars, the Vatican Bank swells with the ill-gotten gains of Italy's most notorious crime lord, Renatino. Born Enrico De Pueros, the dapper and ruthless gangster has forged an ironclad pact with the Church, laundering his blood money in exchange for the favor of the clergy. In the dimly lit chapels and confessionals, Renatino's men, clad in black suits and armed with the latest in arcane weaponry, keep a watchful eye on the holy fathers. They ensure that the tithe paid to the Church is both generous and... persuasive. The mafia's influence permeates every level of the Curia, from the lowliest seminarian to the most exalted cardinal.Meanwhile, in the shadowed catacombs beneath the city, the witches and warlocks who make up the Others are put to work in service of their new masters. Their magical abilities, honed and sharpened by the Initiation ritual - now a cruel mockery of its original purpose - are harnessed to further the ambitions of the mafia and the Vatican alike. Some are enslaved, their powers bound and branded with the accursed mark of the wicked (M).Others, those deemed too dangerous or unruly, are burned at the stake, their screams echoing through the Eternal City as the smoke of their sacrifice mingles with the incense of the Cathedral. The Church watches, judges, and condemns, all while growing fat on the spoils of the mafia's depravity.And so the cycle continues, the Streets of Rome a battleground where the forces of magic, faith, and greed collide in a never-ending dance of power and corruption. The Ordinary remain blissfully ignorant, while the Others and the mafia play out their deadly game, and the Vatican watches, waits, and amasses its wealth. In this world of shifting loyalties and ancient enmities, secrets and lies intertwine like the roots of the tangled olive groves that dot the hills of Rome. And at the center of it all, the Eternal City stands as a testament to the enduring power of the unholy alliance between the Church, the mafia, and the darkest forces of human nature. The stage is set, and the players are ready to take their places in this urban fantasy noir of breathtaking proportions. The game of thrones has begun. As the sun dips below the horizon, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets of Rome, the city's underbelly begins to stir. The mafia's enforcers, clad in crisp suits and armed with the latest in occult weaponry, emerge from their clandestine meetings deep within the Vatican's labyrinthine corridors.
What does the main cathedral of the Vatican look like, on Piazza Roma:
What does the main cross of the church look like (The shape and size of the cross also depends on the place, status and rank):
Priests and other ministers (The photo shows a man branding Others)