Editing The Gift:Characters
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===The Children of Sol=== | ===The Children of Sol=== | ||
− | The Children of Sol are modern animists who believe that there are spirits inhabiting every object. The more complex the object, the more sophisticated the spirit, with the spirits of machines being the most important and capable of all | + | The Children of Sol are modern animists who believe that there are spirits inhabiting every object. The more complex the object, the more sophisticated the spirit, with the spirits of machines being the most important and capable of all. While they have much in common with other animist traditions, they find themselves more at home in the Cooperative, where their love of technology meets with an enthusiastic reception. |
Cost: 25 points | Cost: 25 points | ||
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Independents: The Sladensville Church understand the basic nature of the world, but they have failed to keep up to date. We have so much in common and they don’t even know it. | Independents: The Sladensville Church understand the basic nature of the world, but they have failed to keep up to date. We have so much in common and they don’t even know it. | ||
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===The Human Society=== | ===The Human Society=== | ||
− | Originally a splinter-group from the Children of Sol, the Human society seeks self-transformation through the union of magic and technology. Different members have different opinions about what they, and the rest of humanity, should become, but Society members are expected not to interfere with each other’s projects. Some seek a new existence in cyberspace, some a complete redesign of the human body, while others are chasing goals they can only express in metaphor | + | Originally a splinter-group from the Children of Sol, the Human society seeks self-transformation through the union of magic and technology. Different members have different opinions about what they, and the rest of humanity, should become, but Society members are expected not to interfere with each other’s projects. Some seek a new existence in cyberspace, some a complete redesign of the human body, while others are chasing goals they can only express in metaphor. |
Apprentice training is focused on teaching the student to understand humanity, technology, and the connections between them. Magical training focuses on machine possession, so that the mage can expand their consciousness, and self-defense, on the grounds that the world is a dangerous place. | Apprentice training is focused on teaching the student to understand humanity, technology, and the connections between them. Magical training focuses on machine possession, so that the mage can expand their consciousness, and self-defense, on the grounds that the world is a dangerous place. | ||
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Independents: The Circle Road have great insight into what humans are, but it never occurs to them to think of what they could be. The Order of St. John of Manhattan understand that humanity can be more than it is but they lack the imagination to build new futures. | Independents: The Circle Road have great insight into what humans are, but it never occurs to them to think of what they could be. The Order of St. John of Manhattan understand that humanity can be more than it is but they lack the imagination to build new futures. | ||
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===Ex Nihilo=== | ===Ex Nihilo=== | ||
− | Ex Nihilo exists in order to create new life out of computers by making them self-aware. Members differ in their views about why this ought to be done. Many think it is the next step in evolution, some say that computers are better than humans, some just want to be gods. While only a small minority of Ex Nihilo mages actually want to see humanity replaced by computers, some do. This genocidal agenda is unsurprisingly disturbing to many even in the open-minded Cooperative and there has been significant debate about the degree to which such “intolerance” should be “tolerated” | + | Ex Nihilo exists in order to create new life out of computers by making them self-aware. Members differ in their views about why this ought to be done. Many think it is the next step in evolution, some say that computers are better than humans, some just want to be gods. While only a small minority of Ex Nihilo mages actually want to see humanity replaced by computers, some do. This genocidal agenda is unsurprisingly disturbing to many even in the open-minded Cooperative and there has been significant debate about the degree to which such “intolerance” should be “tolerated”. |
Apprentices are drilled in any skill that might help them to understand computers. The apprentice’s final test before becoming a mage is to wake a computer into sentience. | Apprentices are drilled in any skill that might help them to understand computers. The apprentice’s final test before becoming a mage is to wake a computer into sentience. | ||
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The Cooperative: They are getting there. They will soon work out what we already know. | The Cooperative: They are getting there. They will soon work out what we already know. | ||
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===The Unchained=== | ===The Unchained=== | ||
− | The Unchained are dedicated to the proposition that people need to | + | The Unchained are dedicated to the proposition that people need to “free their minds”. Members seem to have different conceptions of what “freeing the mind” is and pursue it in many different ways. Some study science, some meditate, some create art, some alter their minds with drugs; any path to the goal is acceptable. The Unchained makes use of both Hermetic and Wiccan rituals, as well as many from other traditions and some they made up themselves. |
− | Despite the | + | Despite the laid-back slogan, apprenticeship is a lot of hard work and study only the academically successful ever become mages. It is emphasized to the student that freeing the mind is an arduous process and the very opposite of going with the flow. Academic training is designed to allow the student to bring out their full potential as a human being. Spells taught focus on illusion and mind control, as an aid to breaking down the barriers between the mind and the world. |
Cost: 28 points | Cost: 28 points | ||
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===The Church of St. Christopher on the Mountain=== | ===The Church of St. Christopher on the Mountain=== | ||
− | The Church of St. Christopher on the Mountain is a multi-denominational Christian religious society, originally from North Carolina. The church holds that salvation comes from works alone and swear their commitment to doing good in the world in an effort to gain entrance into heaven. They actively try to convert people to Christianity, especially other mages, but they also believe that non-Christians can go to heaven. Like any human group, they are imperfect, and it is not unknown for mages of this group to be judgmental and simplistic | + | The Church of St. Christopher on the Mountain is a multi-denominational Christian religious society, originally from North Carolina. The church holds that salvation comes from works alone and swear their commitment to doing good in the world in an effort to gain entrance into heaven. They actively try to convert people to Christianity, especially other mages, but they also believe that non-Christians can go to heaven. Like any human group, they are imperfect, and it is not unknown for mages of this group to be judgmental and simplistic. Magical ritual and symbolism is derived from Christianity. |
Apprentices are trained to help others, using force to protect them if necessary. Magical training is focused on allowing the student to heal the sick and drive away spirits. They learn basic Ancient Greek so as to better understand the Bible. | Apprentices are trained to help others, using force to protect them if necessary. Magical training is focused on allowing the student to heal the sick and drive away spirits. They learn basic Ancient Greek so as to better understand the Bible. | ||
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The Cooperative: The world the Lord made is better than they are giving it credit for. | The Cooperative: The world the Lord made is better than they are giving it credit for. | ||
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===The Circle Road=== | ===The Circle Road=== | ||
− | Mages of the Circle Road seek to understand humanity by living among different kinds of humans as one of them. | + | Mages of the Circle Road seek to understand humanity by living among different kinds of humans as one of them. It was founded in 1919 by veterans of the first world war, who swore that such a terrible thing must never be allowed to happen again and who were convinced that it is sheer lack of understanding that leads humans to treat each other so terribly. Many mages of this school have sworn never to take a human life, although it is not a requirement. Magical ritual and symbolism is drawn from the superstitions and ritual practices of ordinary mortals from all over New Spain. |
Apprentice training focuses on helping the student to understand other humans and to be able to live among them. Spell training is aimed at teaching the apprentice to be able to alter their own appearance, so as to more easily pass in any company. | Apprentice training focuses on helping the student to understand other humans and to be able to live among them. Spell training is aimed at teaching the apprentice to be able to alter their own appearance, so as to more easily pass in any company. | ||
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The Cooperative: Machines are just another way to shut yourself off from humanity. Even the internet is not enough because there are so many other places where people meet. | The Cooperative: Machines are just another way to shut yourself off from humanity. Even the internet is not enough because there are so many other places where people meet. | ||
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===Desvio=== | ===Desvio=== | ||
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===The Golden Path=== | ===The Golden Path=== | ||
− | Mages of the Golden Path study how to use magic to produce pleasure. Mages follow the path in many different ways. Some concern themselves primarily with their own pleasure, some concern themselves primarily with the pleasure of others, some merely use pleasure as a tool. Some pursue pleasures of the intellect, some of the body, some of art, some that are simply inexplicable. Golden Path mages are taught not to have any loyalty to the school per se, although it is unsurprising that they often enjoy each other’s company | + | Mages of the Golden Path study how to use magic to produce pleasure. Mages follow the path in many different ways. Some concern themselves primarily with their own pleasure, some concern themselves primarily with the pleasure of others, some merely use pleasure as a tool. Some pursue pleasures of the intellect, some of the body, some of art, some that are simply inexplicable. Golden Path mages are taught not to have any loyalty to the school per se, although it is unsurprising that they often enjoy each other’s company. Golden Path ritual and symbolism is highly personalized and each mage will have developed their own style. |
As hedonistic as many of its mages seem to be, there is nothing easy this approach to magic and only students who are both intelligent and hard-working will become mages. Apprentices must study various sciences that relate to pleasure of the body and mind, as well as being trained in how to manipulate human feeling. Spells focus on mind control. The final spell a student learns is Ecstasy, frequently leading the student to become an Ecstasy addict ever after. | As hedonistic as many of its mages seem to be, there is nothing easy this approach to magic and only students who are both intelligent and hard-working will become mages. Apprentices must study various sciences that relate to pleasure of the body and mind, as well as being trained in how to manipulate human feeling. Spells focus on mind control. The final spell a student learns is Ecstasy, frequently leading the student to become an Ecstasy addict ever after. | ||
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The Cooperative: They throw some very interesting parties, especially the Unchained. | The Cooperative: They throw some very interesting parties, especially the Unchained. | ||
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===Order of St. John of Manhattan=== | ===Order of St. John of Manhattan=== |