Imagen a world where reality is determined only by the consensus of humanity. Now, imagen that you had the power to shift that reality, to break it, to make it your own. That is what it is like to be a Mage in the Ascension. Seems great huh? However, reality has already been determined for you. People don't believe in your magic, and theirfore you must run from Paradox, the force of reality that backlashes at every spell. Infernalists, called the Nephandi, constantly seek to corrupt and desicrate your soul in order to swell their own demonic ranks. Add that to the threats of the Technocracy, mages who have determined humanity's reality to their paradigm and who's purpose is to dispose of any "reality deviants" that could threaten their hold on the earth. Wanted by every supernatural who knows of your existance, threatened by the pre-determined laws of belief, it really sucks to be you. But untold power is at your fingertips. Part of a Tradition, you focus on the paradigm of one reality, and still fight for your freedom, and the continuing existance of your reincarnated soul: your

Need Merits and Flaws? Get them from the Players Guid to Laws of the Hunt, or look in the Mage Compendium that just came out from White Wolf. Don't be fooled--it looks EXACTLY like Laws of Ascension

Avatar. Your Avatar is the essence of your power, the thing that first Awakened you to your potential, and the one thing that will continue to live after your physical body has passed on. For the most part, your Avatar determines your Tradition--and many times members of that cabal await, and even help, your Awakening. However, Traditions aren't carved in stone, but one can not merely switch back and forth as you choose. Because true belief is everything when you believe you can warp time, space, and minds. The Traditions: ten cabals of like-minded magi who have banded together to resist the controling powers of the Technocracy; but which also war within themselves as each paradigm strugles for the top at the time of the Ascension. The Technocracy: magi who have found control over the Sleeping world; their paradigm is the reality of what we live in today. They strive to erradicate all "Reality Deviants" though many do not know that they are deviants themselves. The Others: Orphans--magi who are not Awakened within a paradigm. Mauraders--strangely Awakened, these poor souls are completly mad; but in that madness they are immune to the powers of Paradox. Nephandi--magi who have turned to demonic insparation and those who strive for the corruption of every Mage and Sleeper.