The Cabals of Horizon
This game
will feature no rogue Mages, nobody who has somehow snuck in to the
meeting. Each character is in Horizon
because one of the Cabals of Horizon has invited him to be there. Of course, the Masters of the Cabals are an enigmatic
bunch, and sometimes they make choices about the Mages they bring that may seem
random or simply bad. Many Masters enjoy
bringing troublemakers into these political meetings, hoping to shake things up
a bit. Others simply don’t have time to
make the decisions themselves, and leave it up to their assistants, who are
more easily swayed by personal likes or dislikes.
The point of the matter is,
without knowledge of the codes, byways, and entrances to Horizon, you don’t get
in. It may seem that, with the Council
of Nine busy, you have free reign to do whatever you want, but actually you’re
under their thumb now more than ever.
Every player will choose (or if necessary, be assigned) a Cabal who invited their character to Horizon. No Mage will be able to make it into Horizon without the sponsorship of a Cabal, and your Cabal chose you for a reason. Think about how your Cabal fits you, then think about how you can be useful to them.
Among the Mages of Horizon, there are a several special groups, Cabals which have formed to serve a role among the citizenry of Horizon. These eight specialized groups tend to be somewhat selective, only choosing the most promising candidates. Many of them actively dislike the other Cabals, and minor political wars are constantly being waged. Once a Mage has a little experience, he should either join an existing Cabal, or think about attempting to create his own. A Mage without a Cabal has few resources to fall back on.
Each Tradition also has an elite Cabal its members can belong to. A Mage can only be a member of one Cabal in Horizon at a time, and the Tradition Cabals supercede the other Cabals of Horizon. Choosing to be in a Tradition Cabal means that the Mage has forsaken Cabal politics in favor of Tradition politics, and plans to devote their life to furthering the higher goals of their Tradition.
The Order of
Sanguine Souls
A militaristic Cabal devoted to the destruction of the Technocracy. They represent a different path the Traditions could have taken, as they thought the primary goal of the Council of Nine should have been a head-to-head war to eliminate the Order of Reason back in the 15th century. Today, the Cabal continues gathering information about the Technocracy, in the hopes of spearheading a massive offensive against them.
Cabal Paradigm: We protect ourselves best by taking quick and decisive action against our enemies.
Notable Members: X (Virtual Adepts), Dyson Srongan (Euthanatos), Charlotte Quay (Verbena), Sang Ngoc Tran (Sons of Ether)
Suggested Abilities: Investigation, Crafts, Drive, or Ranged at 4.
Likes: Circle of Artemis Dislikes: The Society of Pymander, The Sodality of Zetetics
The Medeans
This Cabal monitors threats to the Realm, both internal and external, watching for disturbances in Horizon’s flow of Quintessence and watching the entrances and exits of the Realm. They serve more as an investigative body, rather than a police force. The Servitors Principal serve the function of policing Horizon, and report their activities to the Medeans.
Cabal Paradigm: All-encompassing knowledge and awareness is the key to our safety.
Notable Members: Roger Thackery (Virtual Adepts), Julius Breslouf (Celestial Chorus), Yoshiaki Yamamoto (Akashic Brotherhood), Kyla Harrod (Sons of Ether)
Suggested Abilities: Awareness, Brawl, Stealth, or Cosmology at 4.
Likes: Servitors Principal Dislikes: Circle of Artemis, The Society of Pymander
The
Cleisthenic Clinic
This Cabal concerns itself with keeping Horizon’s politics running smoothly. They are always deeply involved in the political game, maneuvering, infighting and intrigue. They have been responsible for bringing new ideas into Horizon, and getting those ideas into motion, as long as they don’t severely upset the politics of the Traditions. Of important note is that they oppose the Hollow Ones’ claim to be a Tradition, arguing that it would throw off the balance of power.
Cabal Paradigm: The future is decided by those who can sway the votes of others.
Notable Members: Getulio
Vargas Sao Cristavao (Order of Hermes), Indrani Taktsrang (Euthanatos),
Swimming Trout (Akashic Brotherhood),
Suggested Abilities: Politics, Linguistics, or Performance at 4.
Likes: The Society of Pymander Dislikes: Fresh Wind Covenant, Circle of Artemis
The Fresh
Wind Covenant
This Cabal emphasizes the importance of fresh, new ideas in the Council, and opposes the constant political scheming and plotting that currently determines the course of Horizon. Many support the Hollow Ones in one form or another, seeing their viewpoint as perhaps not right, but noble. Their members are among the finest mentors in Horizon.
Cabal Paradigm: History is meant to be overcome; the way it has been done is not the way it must be done.
Notable Members: Hyemyŏng Sŭnim (Akashic Brotherhood), Diana Beals (Verbena), Beth “Rising Moon” Thomas (Dreamspeakers), Julian Spence (Sons of Ether)
Suggested Abilities: Influence, Science, Humanities, or Streetwise at 4.
Likes: The Sodality of Zetetics Dislikes: The Cleisthenic Clinic, Servitors Principal
The Sodality
of Zetetics
This extreme group questions the nature of reality, and maintains the importance of an imperturbable mind. It seeks to understand and achieve Ascension, above all other goals. Current projects include attempted educational reform, to replace the current scientific paradigm with one more thought-provoking. They tend not to accept any compromises when it comes to bringing the world closer to Ascension.
Cabal Paradigm: The only goal worth achieving is the Ascension of every human being.
Notable Members: Haskell Cohen (Celestial Chorus), Auris Galina Gritsenko (Cult of Ecstasy), Neal B. Birch (Verbena), Tom “Laughing Eagle” Smithson (Dreamspeakers), Devane Carbeau (Sons of Ether)
Suggested Abilities: Meditation, Enigmas, or Subterfuge at 4.
Likes: Fresh Wind Covenant Dislikes: Servitors Principal, The Order of Sanguine Souls
The Society
of Pymander
Founded in
Cabal Paradigm: We need not accept a flawed world, perfection merely requires power.
Notable Members: Karl Magnussen (Order of Hermes), Austin Renton (Dreamspeakers), Stig Olssen (Order of Hermes), Heasha Morningglade (Verbena)
Suggested Abilities: Occult, High-Tech, Dodge, or Survival at 4.
Likes: The Cleisthenic Clinic Dislikes: The Order of Sanguine Souls, The Medeans
The Circle
of Artemis
The Circle works to maintain and improve Horizon’s wonder, beauty, and sense of hope. They feel this is a necessity to resist the encroaching banality of the Technocratic paradigm. They seek to preserve nature and beauty wherever they can find it. On a more pragmatic note, the Circle monitors the ecosystem of Horizon, issuing restrictions or hunting seasons depending on animal populations. They have their work cut out for them, as Horizon is home to not only many of Earth’s flora and fauna, but the infinite variety present in the Umbra.
Cabal Paradigm: Our greatest act of resistance is to live free, surrounded by beauty.
Notable Members: Sugar O’Hare (Cult of Ecstasy), Laird Mack (Virtual Adepts), Toshiro Saito (Dreamspeakers), Marianna of Balador (Cult of Ecstasy), Najjda Bantu (Celestial Chorus)
Suggested Abilities: Artistry, Etiquette, Medicine, or Alertness at 4.
Likes: The Order of Sanguine Souls Dislikes: The Medeans, The Cleisthenic Clinic
The
Servitors Principal
The Servitors are faithful servants who guard Horizon. They are responsible for keeping the passwords, maps, and rendezvous locations necessary to bring Mages safely to Horizon. They also perform espionage when necessary, and maintain a strong force able to defend the Realm if necessary. Their responsibility is to the Council of Nine, ensuring that all they have created does not come to harm.
Cabal Paradigm: This is a war, and we must be ever-vigilant against our enemy’s agents and tricks.
Notable Members: Amyn Kassim-Lakha (Akashic Brotherhood), Archana Naham (Celestial Chorus), Valarie Seaburg (Cult of Ecstasy), Francis Trask (Euthanatos), Rich Carrasco (Virtual Adepts)
Suggested Abilities: Athletics, Larceny, Weaponry, or Intimidation at 4.
Likes: The Medeans Dislikes: The Sodality of Zetetics, Fresh Wind Covenant
Your Cabal
Feel free to attempt to form your own Cabal. All a Cabal means is that a group of Mages has united in a common purpose. If you can get the people together, and united in a purpose – not just an alliance, or an agreement to help each other out, but a clear purpose – you can form a new Cabal, and set entry requirements as you please. But remember that being the founder of a new Cabal will immediately put you in the spotlight of Horizon’s politics, as the established Cabals don’t take too well to a new upstart pulling away their members.
The Masters of the Nine Traditions
Here’s a quick list of many of the Masters of Horizon, divided by Tradition. Except for the members of the Council of Nine, these characters have no established personalities; they’ll be decided by the players who choose them as their mentors, or if they enter the game as NPCs.
Akashic Brotherhood
- Hyemyŏng Sŭnim (“Brightness of Wisdom”), Master. Seat of Mind on the Council of Nine. Master of Sambo Chongchál, Horizon’s Akashic subrealm.
- Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Adept.
- Swimming Trout, Master.
- Amyn Kassim-Lakha, Adept.
Celestial Chorus
- The Eminent Precisian and Prima Councilor Najjda Bantu, Master. Seat of Prime on the Council of Nine. Master of The Sanctified Penetralia of the Collegia Doctrina Soteriologica, Horizon’s Chorus subrealm.
- Julius Breslouf, Master.
- Haskell Cohen, Master.
- Archana Naham, Adept.
Cult of Ecstasy
- Marianna of Balador, Master. Seat of Time on the Council of Nine. Master of Shivakti, Horizon’s Ecstastic subrealm.
- Sugar O’Hare, Master.
- Valarie Seaburg, Adept.
- Auris Galina Gritsenko, Master.
Dreamspeakers
- Shaman Tom “Laughing Eagle” Smithson, Master. Seat of Spirit on the Council of Nine. Master of Turtle Council House, Horizon’s Dreamspeaker subrealm.
- Beth “Rising Moon” Thomas, Adept.
- Austin Renton, Master.
- Toshiro Saito, Master.
Euthanatos
- The Rimpoche (“Precious Jewel”) Indrani Takstrang (“Tiger’s Nest”), Master. Seat of Entropy on the Council of Nine. Master of Vajra, Horizon’s Euthanatos subrealm.
- Dyson Srongan, Master.
- Hasmig Salibian, Adept.
- Francis Trask, Adept.
Order of Hermes
- Archmage Getulio Vargas Sao Cristavao, Master. Seat of Forces on the Council of Nine. Master of Enochia bá Pymandre, Horizon’s Hermetic subrealm.
- Aram Marangoudakis, Master.
- Karl Magnussen, Master.
- Stig Olssen, Master.
Sons of Ether
- Julian Spence, Master. Seat of Matter on the Council of Nine. Master of Horizon Laboratory, Horizon’s Etheric subrealm.
- Kyla Harrod, Master.
- Devane Carbeau, Adept.
- Sang Ngoc Tran, Adept.
Verbena
- Lady Charlotte Quay, Master. Seat of Life on the Council of Nine. Master of the
- Diana Beals, Master.
- Neal B. Birch, Adept.
- Heasha Morninglade, Adept.
Virtual Adepts
- Roger Thackery, Master. Seat of Correspondence on the Council of Nine. Master of Crashspace, Horizon’s Virtual Adept subrealm.
- X, Master.
- Laird Mack, Master.
- Rich Carrasco, Adept.
Other Notables
- Master Archivist Nicodemus Mulhouse, unAwakened. Keeper of the Council Archives and Horizon Library.
- Zvolen Lucenik, unAwakened. Majordomo of Horizon, Head of Council Security.