Sequoia

1. #1Mageselective

   Keys: Mage, Awakened, Reality Deviant

   Mages are one of the supernatural races. Every human being has a single spark of supernatural potential. Most people, known as Sleepers, don't know they have this, don't care and want to get on with their lives as if it didn't exist. Some people though, figure out what that spark is. That spark is very important, because sometimes that potential activates and the normal everyday, average mortal Awakens. It might mean magical enlightenment, the finding of the perfect bit of blotter acid, or the realization of a theory that had been bothering you for years. Mages are individuals with the power to warp reality, who know the power they possess and use it to the best of their ability. Technocracy calls mages (their operatives) just scientists, others - Reality Deviants and brutally hunts them down.

2. #2Magicselective

   Keys: Magic, Enlightened Science

   Magic is the art and science of reworking reality through force of Awakened will and knowledge. Dynamic mages reshape reality itself and, manipulating the Nine Pillars of Creation, they are theoretically capable of anything. Unfortunately, as payment for their near-infinite capabilities, they're subject to Paradox, a punishment handed down from reality for working against its rules. Technocracy does not recognize magic, they call it Enlightened Science.

3. #3Sleeperselective

   Keys: Sleeper

   A Sleeper is a mortal who is not aware of magic in the world and their own inner power.

4. #4Paradoxselective

   Keys: Paradox

   Paradox is the collective force of consensual reality fighting back against the enlightened will of the mage. Paradox can take a variety of forms. Backlash, reality directly attacking the offensive mage, can cause temporary, long term, or even permanent wounds, flaws, or oddities. Quiet, a magical form of madness, forces the offending mage to resolve their guilt over disjointing reality. Exceptionally offensive mages can be catapulted into a Paradox Realm, or hounded by Paradox spirits.

5. #5Consensusselective

   Keys: Consensus, Reality

   The Consensus is the term used by mages to refer to the overriding consensual reality created by the beliefs of Sleepers. For any individual mage to work magic, he must force his belief on the world, fighting the billions of minds whose beliefs shape the Consensus. Subtle or coincidental magic seeks to act in tune with the paradigm established by the Consensus, and is thus easier than obviously unnatural vulgar magic. When a mage contradicts the Consensus, it fights back in the form of Paradox.

6. #6Paradigmselective

   Keys: Paradigm

   A paradigm is the way in which a mage understands magic and incorporates it into their broader interpretation of reality. While all mages are willworkers, bringing about effects by imposing their will on the Tapestry, it is hubris to imagine that an Awakened mage may simply think of something and have it occur. The power of the Consensus must be overcome, and one mage's mind is rarely enough to break the rules of modern belief. Instead, each mage comes to an understanding of magic through the rituals and trappings of a particular style of magic, which focuses their will and resonates through the Tapestry, tapping into beliefs still held by a significant proportion of Sleepers.

7. #7Umbraselective

   Keys: Umbra

   The Umbra is a realm existing alongside and yet separate from the material world.

8. #8Sphereselective

   Keys: Sphere, fields

   A Sphere is a well-rounded knowledge of nine different yet interrelated elements of reality, Earthly metaphysics. Technocracy calls it fields.

9. #9Correspondenceselective

   Keys: Correspondence, Data

   Correspondence is one of nine Spheres of magic. Correspondence magic allows powers such as teleportation, seeing into distant areas, levitation, and flying. By bending space or bypassing it entirely, a mage can travel rapidly, fly or teleport from place to place. Divining locations allows the mage to see far-away places or direct magic over distances. Distance forms no barrier to a master of Correspondence. Indeed, distance and even space do not exist to the student of this Sphere. Data is a variation of the Correspondence pioneered by Technocratic Union. Users of the Data Sphere accept that everything that is can be reduced to ones and zeros: to the binaries of modern computer technology. By manipulating Data, and in turn, Information, the user can shape how the world works.

10. #10Entropyselective

    Keys: Entropy, Chaos Theories

    Entropy is one of nine Spheres of magic. Entropy concerns itself mainly with the study of order, chaos, luck, and destiny. From this Sphere comes the study of order and randomness, and thus, the study of totally random creation and destruction. All things dissolve eventually into haphazard components, and similar events form from disjointed, unconnected patterns. Determinism and chaos are equal partners to the student. The mage can spot chance on the move, recognizing points where probability quirks in odd directions. An Entropy-schooled mage can manipulate random factors, observe and influence flaws within a system, induce or remove corruption, and otherwise exert their Will through the inexorable process of mortality

11. #11Forcesselective

    Keys: Forces, Paraphysics

    Forces is one of nine Spheres of magic. Forces is the Sphere of energetic Patterns, among them heat, light, vibration, radiation and gravity. In effect, Forces are constructs of Quintessence in motion. Forces is prone to heavy Paradox, thanks to its universal and often blatant altering of reality.

12. #12Quintessenceselective

    Keys: Quintessence, Primal Energy

    Quintessence is the raw material of reality. Technocrats refer to it as Primal Energy. It is what flows through the patterns of reality and what makes magic possible. The primal force, quintessence can not truly be divided, measured, or contained.

13. #13Lifeselective

    Keys: Life, Enlightened Biology

    Life is one of nine Spheres of magic. Life governs those Patterns that grow, evolve and eventually change. This Sphere embraces everything that has living cells within itself, even if that object is technically dead. Preserved blood and organs, still-living plants, live-culture cheese, and so forth contain Life, but corpses, cotton fibers, withered organs, or cut wood become Matter.

14. #14Matterselective

    Keys: Matter, Enlightened Physics

    Matter is one of nine Spheres of magic. Matter is the Pattern Sphere that purviews all inorganic Patterns that hold Quintessence. Representing the base of the physical world, Matter governs the elements from the periodic table in all their physical conditions. You can transform matter into other matter, change the properties of matter or simply create matter from nothing.

15. #15Mindselective

    Keys: Mind, Psychodynamics

    Mind is one of nine Spheres of magic. Since human beings perceive reality through a complex interplay of consciousness, the Mind Sphere affects how a being sees the world around it. The Mind magician can use thought to communicate, control, and wipe away the inaccuracies and errors of human misjudgment for the peaceful serenity of total concentration. All thought is open to the mage: From the refined sensibilities of human philosophy to the feral instincts of animals. Any thinking process can be comprehended and manipulated with sufficient skill.

16. #16Primeselective

    Keys: Prime, Primal Utility, Primal Field

    Prime is one of nine Spheres of magic. Prime is the Sphere of magic that governs the raw energy of reality - Quintessence. A mage who uses Prime can sense magic of other magi, use the power of the universe to create effects out of nothingness, and can store Quintessence past their Avatar background rating. With Prime, magi can create, destroy or reshape the universal energies. A mage can further enchant objects and living creatures with magical energy, fight back the effects of Paradox, use countermagic, and make the changes they exact on the world permanent. Primal Utility represents the Syndicate's unique take on the Prime sphere. It utilizes many of the ordinary Prime Sphere’s functions, but modifies them to fit the Convention’s economic paradigm.

17. #17Spiritselective

    Keys: Spirit

    Spirit is one of nine Spheres of magic. Spirit is the Sphere of the ephemeral stuff that is the building block of the three Umbrae, the realms between the pureness of unbridled Prime and the Patterned World of flesh. Spirit is a homogeneous whole, a sort of conceptual energy given a special form that can mirror or mimic the more mundane Patterns of elements. Spirit is also needed to communicate or suborn Spirits, the inhabitants of these strange realms. These entities are bound by strange rules and customs mage would do very well to learn, and they can be powerful allies or relentless foes.

18. #18Dimensional Scienceselective

    Keys: Dimensional Science, DimSci

    The technocratic equivalent of the Sphere of Spirit. DimSci is evoked in two primary methods: Space Travel and Entity Contact. The Void Engineers hold near exclusive ownership of space technology, often providing (or withholding) transportation to the realms for other conventions. Each convention has its own contact protocols, however, summoning Alien AI to power massive supercomputers, or illiciting extraterrestrial biology for their splicing algorithms.

19. #19Timeselective

    Keys: Time, Temporal Science

    Time is one of nine Spheres of magic. Temporal magic. At low levels you can perceive time accurately, then you can do more interesting stuff like sensing the past and trying to sense the right future between all the possible futures, controlling the flow of time on targets. Time travel is possible for Masters but remains a dangerous and inexact field of study.

20. #20Avatarselective

    Keys: Avatar

    The Avatar is the portion of an individual's soul which is the source of an Awakened mage's ability to perform magic, and which grants the possibility of Ascension. Mages experience the Avatar as a separate personality which is connected to the mage's soul, and which drives the mage toward Ascension. It will often speak to the mage, usually as a "voice in the head", or via dreams.

21. #21Traditionsselective

    Keys: Traditions, council

    A Tradition is a group of mystically-oriented mages allied with the Council of Nine Mystic Traditions. That is, they believe in magic and understand that they manipulate magic to create desired effects. This contrasts with scientifically-oriented mages, who believe that they use Enlightened Science rather than magic, and this Science is manipulated to create desired effects. Each Tradition claims a seat on the Council of Nine, representing one of the Spheres of magic. That Sphere is that Tradition's speciality.

22. #22Akashic Brotherhoodselective

    Keys: Akashic Brotherhood

    The Akashic Brotherhood is a Tradition of mages masters of mind, body, and spirit pursuing the arts of personal discipline. They believe that mind, body and spirit are all part of the larger whole of the person, just like at the same time that person is part of the whole of the universe. In other words, conflict, is an illusion, and the same can be said of identity and dispute, so when mind and body harmonize, the soul follow them. By honing their bodies, these mages make a temple for the mind that ultimately brings the comprehension of the spirit. The Brotherhood uses simple tools — exercise, meditation, practice and study — to refine the simple man into a brother of knowledge.

23. #23Euthanatoiselective

    Keys: Euthanatoi

    The Euthanatoi are a Tradition of mages intimately devoted to the forces of death, rebirth, destiny, and karma in the world. They represent a collection of thanatotic cultists, necromancers, priests of fate, assassins, scholars, gamblers and healers. Euthanatos mages embrace the role of death in the world as that which cleanses and makes way for future growth. Most believe in the reincarnation of souls, meaning death in one life is not to be feared and in fact may be crucial to one's spiritual development. Most controversially, many Euthanatos see it as their duty to push this cycle forward, removing sources of disease, corruption, and misery from the world in order to quicken the turn of the Wheel of Ages. This means judging when a person's moral degradation has grown too harmful to themselves or others to be allowed to continue, and when it is appropriate to deliver the Good Death.

24. #24Celestial Chorusselective

    Keys: Celestial Chorus

    The Celestial Chorus is a Tradition of mages united by their efforts to touch the Divine as well as their belief in the One and Prime from which all things originate. Closely tied to the God of Abrahamic faiths, the One represents the source of all Creation and all Creation is believed to be a part of the One. Humans in particular carry shards of the divine within them. t is this connection which the Celestial Chorus believes enables them to clearly hear the One's song and to shape Creation. While their faith is essentially monotheistic, it is accepted that the Divine has many facets and can be expressed through any number of names, religions, and creeds.

25. #25Dreamspeakersselective

    Keys: Dreamspeakers

    The Dreamspeakers are a Tradition of mages consisting of individuals who practice shamanism, communing with spirits as part of their magic and existing as intermediaries between the Mortal World and the Spirit World. The most important part of shamanic magic is placing oneself in the correct state of mind to be able to perceive and influence the boundary separating the Spirit and Material World. Just about anything that helps a mage reach this ecstatic state of consciousness can serve as a focus, including drugs, exercise, music and dance, or simple meditation.

26. #26Order of Hermesselective

    Keys: Order of Hermes

    The Order of Hermes is one of the pillars of the Traditions. Hermetic philosophy is complex and many-layered. At the heart, the Hermetics profess the drive to perfection. This drive manifests through trials, tests, self-discovery, and the rejoining of fragmented patterns like disparate languages or mathematical conundrums. The Order of Hermes is, without a doubt, the most hierarchical of the Traditions.

27. #27Cult of Ecstasyselective

    Keys: Cult of Ecstasy

    The Cult of Ecstasy is a Tradition of mages and visionary seers who transcend boundaries and limitations through sacred experience. To achieve that, the Cult uses things like drugs, music and sex, but they are just means to an end. The objective is to achieve a mental state that transcends the physical world, a trance that allows the mage to see beyond his normal experience and go outside all the lines that keep most people and mages penned in. Cultists take the word ecstasy in its original meaning: a sudden, intense rush of feeling that catapults the subject into an altered state. It does not have to be a pleasant feeling, but given a choice, most Cultists definitely prefer it that way. The Cult of Ecstasy breaks down barriers and self-imposed limitations to give people a rush of eye-opening experience.

28. #28Sons of Etherselective

    Keys: Sons of Ether

    The Sons of Ether are a group of technomancers aligned to the Council of Nine. Key to the Sons' paradigm is Science. Their Science almost always has a baroque feel, as if it leapt from the pages of pulp fiction or Victorian sci-fi – death rays, robotic servants built of brass and powered by clockwork and fantastic space or aquatic vehicles spring to mind when others discuss the Sons of Ether. The Sons of Ether see the science of the Technocracy with disdain, abhorring its static view on the nature of things. Scientific practices are not predictable mechanisms that can be recombined in a near endless rate, but a dynamic and chaotic process.

29. #29Verbenaselective

    Keys: Verbena

    The Verbena is a Tradition of mages dedicated to preserving the ancient crafts and wisdom passed down over the ages by witches and warlocks, druids and druidesses, shamans, mystics, and priests and priestesses of the Old Gods. Regardless of their many differing faiths and customs, the Verbena share many principles in common. This includes a deep respect for the Earth and the natural order, a holistic view of people and the world as intrinsically intertwined, and the belief that power and understanding can be found by embracing life in all its passions and pains.

30. #30Virtual Adeptsselective

    Keys: Virtual Adepts

    The Virtual Adepts are the youngest members of the Traditions. Focused on the Digital Web, the Adepts search for a way to reach the singularity, the point where mankind can transcend into something post-human. Central to their magic is the idea of Information as a metaphysical component of existence. There is Information describing all objects, people, places, and ideas; changing the Information changes reality.

31. #31Sanctumselective

    Keys: Sanctum, Laboratory

    It is a place where a Mage can hone their craft in relative safety. The form of the Sanctum will likely mirror the paradigm of the user such that it may look like a herb garden, meditation chamber, mad scientist’s laboratory, a stone circle, or any of hundreds of other forms.

32. #32Technocratic Unionselective

    Keys: Technocratic Union, Technocracy

    Enlightened Science works because it is tested and proven, not because someone simply believes its working. As they spread their craft across the world, working out kinks, improving their models, etc. The result is that many of their devices can become consensual and usable by Sleepers. The success of the Union, in comparison to that of the Council of Nine, is in its ability to share with the public and with each other. There are many Technocratic masters pulling the strings who have their own petty agendas, who have lost sight of the everyday world and who follow the centuries-old protocols and procedures that have been handed down, all without questioning whether such actions are right or just. Rather than allowing Sleepers to choose for themselves, it crushes competing paradigms that grow too influential, including independent scientific discoveries, alternate versions of government and radical economic theories. Many of its social and economic technologies are not based on scientific principles at all but on premises it itself created to propagate its methods of control.

33. #33Marauderselective

    Keys: Marauder

    Marauders are insane mages whose Avatars have been warped by their mental instability. Within the bubble of alternate reality that surrounds them, their hallucinations and bizarre rules are real; objects and creatures that come into contact with the bubble are transformed to fit in with its rules. They return to normal once the Marauder moves on, without any evidence of what happened, though the effects of conscious magic remain. The external Quiet of a Marauder protects them from Paradox; their alternate reality supports their paradigm, so the vulgar magic they use does not violate the rules of that reality. That does not mean they do not attract Paradox, only that most of the backlash is deflected onto other Awakened beings outside the Marauder's bubble. Marauders are usually killed on spot.

34. #34Nephandiselective

    Keys: Nephandi, Nephandus

    The Nephandi, Nephandus as singular, are a sect of fallen mages. Evil agents of Entropy who worship either insane demons or creatures of the Abyss, they seek to cause not Ascension but Descent, encouraging humanity to give into the darkest excesses of their worst impulses and thus transform reality itself into a literal Hell, terraforming the universe as a whole into a place their dark masters can exist so that they may take possession of it. Becoming a Nephandus basically involves twisting up your soul badly enough to corrupt your Avatar. This has to be done willingly - a Mage cannot be forced into turning Nephandi, since the process almost always insta-kills unwilling Mages. There are Nephandi that are born with an Avatar from a former life, called Widderslainte. No reliable process to de-corrupt an inverted Avatar has ever been found the only way to prevent it from polluting others is to obliterate it completely.

35. #35Iteration Xselective

    Keys: Iteration X

    Iteration X is one of the five Conventions of the Technocracy and focused on inorganic sciences like physics, artifice, and cybernetics. The Iterators are dedicated to the idea of "Stronger, Faster, Better". Specializing mainly in Forces, Iteration X are perhaps best known for their skill in cybernetics, computing and robotics. However, the Convention's overarching goal is the creation of better tools to aid humanity. The Clockwork Convention claims that they strive to emulate the men who first discovered fire and the wheel, elevating man to new heights. Their leader was a supercomputer in Umbra, but it disappeared and scientists are free from it.

36. #36New World Orderselective

    Keys: New World Order, NWO

    The New World Order are the secret police force within the Technocracy, dedicated on shaping and guiding information in progress with the Collective Will of the Masses. The New World Order is responsible for much of processing of Reality Deviants and advancing the goals of the Time Table. There are "things-man-was-not-meant-to-know". Their job is to keep people from knowing about the things that could wreck humanity. Far better that the Masses believe your Truth (with a capital "T") instead. It is safer, it is simpler, and best of all, if enough people accept it, it might as well be real. Hunt down things that should not be, erase violations of your Truth, educate those too stubborn or foolish to accept it.

37. #37Progenitorsselective

    Keys: Progenitors

    The Progenitors are doctors and medicians within the Technocracy, dedicating themselves to biological sciences. Masters of the Sphere of Life, they employ the tools of genetic manipulation, hyper-advanced surgical techniques and sophisticated drugs to constantly push the envelope of medicine. Among the Technocracy, the Progenitors are maybe the most vehement in their dislike of Reality Deviants. Citing New Age Healing, homeopathy, holistics and other superstitions, the Progenitors see them as dangers not only for the whole of humanity, teaching the Masses to rely on the powers of elitistic magicians and charlatans instead of relying on comprehendable forces that should be -and will be- amenable for everyone.

38. #38Syndicateselective

    Keys: Syndicate

    The Syndicate is one of the most reviled Conventions, even within the Technocracy. They control the flow of money and trade among the Masses as well as in the Union. This leaves them in a very unpopular position and they are often blamed for perceived shortcomings. Technocracy could not function without them. What the Syndicate sells to the Masses is control — a stable system in which they can pursue their goals without fear. While they don’t believe in Enlightenment for all, the Syndicate aims to be shepherds of progress and prosperity all the same. They create a system in which anyone has the potential to succeed; where anyone can look at their bank account and their home and their car and say that they earned something with their labor.

39. #39Void Engineersselective

    Keys: Void Engineers

    Void Engineers is one of the five Conventions of the Technocracy. The Void Engineers pursue a special brand of science they call Technology. Unlike earthly technology, Technology is suffused with a sense of wonder and possibility. Most Technology is extremely vulgar on Earth, and when visiting the "mudball," many Engineers use the subdued, hidden equipment common to other Conventions. Void Engineers who have lived too long in space often forget what is and is not acceptable to static reality, and for that reason, they carry small devices that warn them if they are about to overstep reality's safe limits. They are explorers of space and Umbra.

40. #40Qlippothic Sphereselective

    Keys: Qlippothic Sphere

    Qlippothic Sphere is an Entropic counterpart of one of the usual nine Spheres of Creation. Each Sphere has a Qlippothic opposite swirling with dark resonance. They are usually employed by the Nephandi.

41. #41Threat Nullselective

    Keys: Threat Null

    Technocrats that were trapped in the Umbra during the Avatar Storm succumbed to the extreme Stasis of the Umbral machine-planet Autocthonia and were effectively transformed into Drones (flesh/spirit amalgamations) in service to the sentient Computer within Autocthonia. Threat Null is all of the negative stereotypes of conformity-enforcing soul-crushing xenocidal Technocrats made manifest. The Void Engineers focus most of their efforts to stop them, all the while desperately trying to keep their mere existence a secret from the rest of the Conventions.

42. #42Infernalistsselective

    Keys: Infernalists

    These Nephandi worship demonic entities (or potentially something pretending to be a demon). The Nephandi Infernalists are different to standard infernalists who sell their soul for their own gain – these guys sell their soul to kill the world (there is also the issue of the exact nature of their masters). They are the most internally organized and socially skilled of the factions, able to pass fairly well within human population. They are also the most human in behaviour and mindset.

43. #43Malfeansselective

    Keys: Malfeans

    hese Nephandi worship the Wyrm: the primal force of entropy and corruption. They are somewhat wild and primal in their evil. Often with close ties to the Black Spiral Dancers. The Malfean are often quite insane and zealous in their devotion to the Wyrm. The style of their methods tends to be strongly based on simplistic primal concepts.

44. #44Sorceryselective

    Keys: Sorcery, linear magic

    Form of magic used by mortal non-mages. Unlike true magic, one does not need to be Awakened (or Enlightened) to use sorcery. Thus, any mortal with sufficient traits can become a sorcerer. Sorcery does not causes paradox.

45. #45Enlightened Scientistselective

    Keys: Enlightened Scientist

    Enlightened Scientist is a term used by Technocracy to call their most valuable workers. Enlightened Scientist do not call themselves mages, because they do not believe in magic.

46. #46Dalou'laoshiselective

    Keys: Dalou'laoshi, Five Elemental Dragons

    The Dalou'laoshi is a group of technomancers operating in Asia. Although it exists as part of the larger organization, the Technocracy is unaware that it still exists as a distinct entity. The cornerstone of the Five Elemental Dragon's unifying belief is order. Dalou'laoshi work to prevent the societies of the Middle Kingdom from turning against each other and forgetting their roots.

47. #47Taiping Tianguoselective

    Keys: Taiping Tianguo, Water Dragons

    The Taiping Tianguo are an order of the Dalou'laoshi dedicated to the pursuit of individual freedom and entertainments. They hide within the Syndicate. The Taiping Tianguo hold that chi must be fostered and controlled. To this end, they study how it is shaped by its surroundings, how it bends and breaks in reaction to tragedy or construction projects. Their theoretical end goal is to make chi available to all people in the Middle Kingdom and to eradicate chaos and randomness, via technology.

48. #48Zi Guangselective

    Keys: Zi Guang, Wood Dragons

    The Zi Guang are an order of the Dalou'laoshi dedicated to seeking the perfection of the human form. They hide within the Progenitors. The Zi Guang focus on using chi to properly cultivate the mortal body. The human body became the main source of chi for the Zi Guang. As a result, the Masses are to be cultivated as a shepherd cultivates his flock, with persons with strong chi acting as lynchpins for developments within the whole group. Their goal is creating a society that acts as one being, all in harmony with the chi around them and directed towards a higher goal.

49. #49Zaibatsuselective

    Keys: Zaibatsu, Fire Dragons

    The Zaibatsu are an order of the Dalou'laoshi dedicated to the absolute elimination of all supernatural entities. They hide within the Void Engineers. Using their knowledge of how chi accumulates in dead matter in combination with modern technology has allowed them to fund and construct several high-tech devices that harness chi with great effectiveness. The main enemy to humanity and the ordered flow of chi are those that twist it without regard to others: Wizards, demons, kuei-jin, shapeshifters and the plethora of monsters that came from the West.

50. #50Saensaengselective

    Keys: Saensaeng, Earth Dragons

    Saensaeng is an order of the Dalou'laoshi dedicated to maintaining art, honor, and cultural purity in the face of globalization. They hide within Iteration X. To the Saensaeng, asian (particulary Japanese) culture is the pinnacle of human development. Western Culture is anathema that must be resisted at all cost. Western technology, on the other hand, can easily be incorporated into traditional frameworks, provided it is done carefully. The Saensaeng use chi harvested from the earth or cultivated within themselves through adherence to ancient traditions to build works of beauty. Their concept of beauty emcompasses both traditional arts as well as traditional warfare.

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