Converning Chantries and Nodes
Let us speak of our centers for learning, and the powers that they hold, as well as the dynamic pools of creation, si?
We have spoke on some length concerning Quintessence, and the lines it traces through all the patterns in reality, also known as the "Tellurian"; which in the literal sense, translates as the "whole of reality", si? Now, these lines pool at different locations in the world... think of it like a lake that. As the lake fills with water, there is an overflow, and streams form, carving their way over the earth to different bodies of water. The lake in this analogy would compare to a "Node", a strong pool of locally stored Quintessence. As a note, this mystical pond of raw creation draws sleepers just as a lake would nomads. Sleepers will sense the power on a subconscious level, and attempt to quantify and explain what they can not understand, si? For within these pools are stored "resonance", as I touched briefly on before... psychic imprints that store a certain representation of an emotion, comprende? A node that lies beneath the house of a mass murder could very well be imprinted with hatred, and pain, as a node that lies beneath a Church would be tainted by pure Faith. Dependent upon your paradigm, you may find it easier, or harder, to draw Quintessence for your workings from Nodes singing of different types of Resonance. Do not fear however amigo... as you progress with me, I will teach you rotes that will allow you to strip that Resonance away as you draw, and pattern it to suit your psyche.
As you can imagine, these Nodes are highly prized by Mages of all callings... whether they be Tradition, Technocracy, Maradurs, or even the dark Nephandus. Not only do these Nodes provide a large store of Quintessence, but the proximity itself to this dynamic pool of raw creation allows reality to be bent easily. Such is the nature of Prime, that even as it may strengthen reality as you have been taught, it will lend that strength to a spell weaver when establishing his own reality over the Tellurian. Nor are spell weavers the only ones who wish to possess these places... the Shifters consider them Holy Places, and will die to the last child to protect the ones they have established. Sometimes they have even been known to raid our very own Nodes in some sort of holy crusade. What purpose they serve the Shifters, I cannot say with any certainy, si? Just stay clear of any Quintessence pools you find in the wild... they are most certainly guarded, and the shifters, while not our match in magick, are fierce monster warriors that show no mercy to our kind.
Now, let us move on to Chantries, si? A Chantry is a hideaway for a group or several groups of Mages. While some, like the Infinite Chantry within this City, are built on places of power, most are not. A Chantry may possess a certain number of defenses, if the Mages who inhabit them are crafty. "Wards" are the most common... a continual magickal effect that will defend against magicks, certain types of people, magical spying, among other things. The Wards must be powered by a source of power, or they will eventually flicker and die away... no change, without the expense of great power upon the Tellurian is permanent, si? These places also possess their own kind of mystical shadowing, called "Arcane". Arcane is a measure of how coincidental you are not noticed, comprende? I see that you do not understand... I myself possess no Arcane, but I know Mages that do... if they walk into a room, no one really pays them mind. Eyes slip over them as if they were not there... attempts at locating them are foiled by a string of bad luck... it is one of those forces that is little understood, even by the most enlightened... a by product of magick and disbelief, in my opinion, si? At any rate, a place inhabited by a Mage of Mages may come to take on their qualities. This is very useful, to say the least.
The Infinite Chantry that you will visit in Necropolis will offer you many opportunities, si? Now only will you be able to draw Quintessence from the Node, but you will also have opportunity to learn and become familiar with the other Traditions as well. You will make allies, and you will make enemies, as is the way of people. Do not fear, for though there are some that are powerful, for the most part they are docile, content to lay about and do nothing to shape the world around them.
Let us move on to another subject, si? Enrico is very eager to explain more.