Hamilton has long been ignored by the Sabbat, which rules the area surrounding it. The Sabbat has firm control of Toronto and Detroit, but has always considered Hamilton beneath its notice. However, this is all about to change. In Hamilton, scientists working for a steel company known as Dofasco have perfected a chemical process which increases the tensile strength of steel by over 20%. Within months, world-wide demand for Hamilton-produced steel has gone through the roof.

This has definitely managed to get the Sabbat's attention. Most noticeably, the attention of Prince Lawrence Mandellan of Toronto and Prince Gandar of Detroit. Mandellan is used to being the supreme Sabbat Prince in Canada - no other Canadian prince (with, perhaps, the exception of the prince of Vancouver) comes close to him in power. Indeed, very few North American princes can claim to enjoy the same level of power as he does. With Hamilton suddenly becoming a wealthy city, Mandellan is determined that he will gain control.

In Detroit, Prince Gandar is rather...upset. The market for Detroit steel has fallen dramatically - indeed, the majority of the auto manufacturers are now using Hamilton steel. This seriously cuts into his own power base - Gandar controls the two major steel producing companies of Detroit (Stelcom and National Iron and Steel). His profits have dropped dramatically overnight. Gandar, unlike Mandellan, does not want control of Hamilton - all he wants is the formula for producing higher-quality steel.

Caught in the middle of this power struggle is Princess Geeta Kahasslahn. Long used to Hamilton's relative unimportance, Geeta has managed to guide the Kindred of Hamilton into a relatively peaceful society. She is not ready for the sudden interest Mandellan and Gandar have directed towards her and her city, and fears that the Black Hand may try to take over Hamilton entirely. Geeta is an independent princess, and lacks the direct support of the Camarilla. However, the Camarilla is aware of her situation, and is willing to help as much as it can to keep another North American city from falling under the sway of the Sabbat.

As the Chronicle begins, Geeta is unaware that Mandellan has begun to infiltrate Hamilton, using the undesireable elements (which is saying a lot, for a member of the Sabbat) from his own city. Hence, Geeta will soon find herself dealing with a surprising influx of malcontents and Anarchs.