Timeline

 

Our game begins in the year of 1979.  This is the year of the 57th meeting of the Council of Nine Mystic Traditions, where the Masters gather once every nine years to discuss the fate of the Traditions and the future of magic.  This year is a particularly tense one, however.

 

In 1961, at the 55th meeting of the Council of Nine, many powerful Mages gathered in Horizon.  At the time, a major topic was the Difference Engineers, also known as the Virtual Adepts, of the Technocracy, who had begun discuss abandoning the Technocracy and siding with the Traditions.  There were also debates over recent turns in human history – the Cold War, John F. Kennedy’s announcement that a man would walk on the moon, and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s inspiration of the world’s minorities.

 

            What began as a simple discussion between enlightened Mages turned into an all-out war, as the cabals of Horizon divided into a four-way feud.

 

The Order of Sanguine Souls and the Circle of Artemis have always been vehemently against the Technocracy, and took a strong stand against the admission of the Virtual Adepts.  They already felt they had lost part of the battle when the Sons of Ether took the seat of Matter, and they weren’t about to let the technomagical Virtual Adepts take the seat of Correspondence.  This put them into immediate conflict with the Fresh Wind Covenant and the Sodality of Zetetics, and once open warfare broke out, the Order and the Circle were among the most brutal combatants.  Eventually they were beaten back, and the Adepts were accepted into the Council of Nine.  The Order and the Circle grudgingly accept this, although many of their older members still plot against the Sons of Ether and the Virtual Adepts, particularly those who used to be members of the Technocracy.

            Ironically, the Order and the Circle were among the most balanced of the Cabals when it came to the Cold War.  They still remembered the effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and they believed that taking direct action against either America or Russia increased the chances of more atomic weapons being used, and the world being destroyed.  They executed several members of other Cabals who were planning to attack Russia or America directly, and may have saved the world by doing so, even though some Mages had to die in the process.  They worked hard to calm down the McCarthyism of the U.S. and the anger of Russia, and their actions were critical to bringing a final end to the Cold War several decades later.

            On the matter of the space program, the Order and the Circle were divided.  Many of their members saw anything involving technology as furthering the Technocratic paradigm, and sought to end the space program at all costs.  Others saw the space program as a chance to unite the unfeeling technology of the 20th century with the dreams, legends, and myths that humans used to have.  Ultimately, both sides prevented the other from making any progress, and their intra-Cabal conflicts just made them more enemies from the other Cabals.  Most of them did, however, support John F. Kennedy, seeing him as more part of the solution than part of the problem.

 

The Cleisthenic Clinic and the Society of Pymander were opposed to anything that would disrupt the balance of power that they had learned to influence and control.  They saw Martin Luther King, Jr. as a disruptive element and a threat to the worldwide balance of power.  They had a good reason; with all the changes that were already occurring in the 20th century, they felt that racial equality would throw people unwillingly into a world they weren’t prepared for.  It was a racist policy, certainly, but not out of color for the times, and not without merit – if the Clinic and the Society had been able to slow down King and control his message, leaking it out over decades rather than a few months, the world could have avoided the riots, gang warfare, and hate crimes that still define the relations between black and white.  The Clinic and the Society still believe that if they had interfered more, the world would be a more unified and better place.

            The Order of Hermes, which has a great deal of power in both the Clinic and the Society, also secretly opposed MLK because it would erode their power by elevating the ethnic Traditions, such as the Dreamspeakers and Akashic Brotherhood.  For 500 years, the formal European way of magic had ruled the world.  The Council of Nine was very much a white boy’s club.  Who could predict what effect it would have, to abandon that entire society?  The Clinic and the Society preferred to stick with the system they knew well.

            When MLK was assassinated in 1968, the other Cabals felt that their fears about the Clinic and Society had been realized, and that these groups were out of control.  Whether they really had anything to do with the assassination is still unknown.

            For a similar reason, they felt that the space program might have dangerous consequences if the Mages didn’t attempt to regulate it and ensure that humanity didn’t get in deeper than could handle.  They weren’t as paranoid as the Medeans or the Servitors Principal, but they still feel that humanity works best with Mages firmly in control.

            The membership of the Clinic and the Society was divided on the issue of the Virtual Adepts.  Some of them feared it would disrupt the balance of power.  Others in the two Cabals agreed that it would disrupt the balance, but in a good way – turning the balance toward the Traditions and away from the Technocracy.  Ultimately, each member made his own choice on this issue.

 

The Fresh Wind Covenant and the Sodality of Zetetics were in favor of welcoming the Virtual Adepts, and they saw all opposition as short-sighted.  They believed that if they refused to welcome anyone who wanted to join the Traditions, even their enemies, that Ascension would be lost to everyone.  To this group, hearing others speak of rejecting new ideas and sticking with the old ways was like condemning all of reality to death.  They had a long and bitter feud with the Order of Sanguine Souls and the Circle of Artemis, which ended in all-out bloodshed.

            The Covenant and the Sodality also supported the thoughts of Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy, in that they tried to expand the minds of humanity and bring them out of their shells.  Even though there were some members who didn’t agree with the messages of MLK or JFK, they all agreed that having those messages out there, and challenging the traditional ways of human thought, was beneficial for humanity.  Members of the Covenant and the Sodality got involved in civil rights marches on Earth and tried to get people excited about the space program, because they were interested in observing what effect these new ideas might have on human culture at large.  They blame the other Cabals for the assassinations of MLK and JFK, accusing them of cutting short humanity’s potential.  A prominent disciple of the Society of Pymander was later killed by a member of the Sodality of Zetetics, in a method very similar to MLK’s assassination, sparking further conflict.

            The Cold War was an issue where they felt that America was wrong, and hated to see two sides driven against each other just because of differences in politics.  Members of the Covenant and the Sodality actually began spying on both America and Russia, intercepting communications and spreading propaganda about the other country, trying to inspire people to think a different way.  They tried to get Americans to consider Communism and Russians to consider Capitalism, hoping that they could combine the two methodologies into one perfect society.  However, their spying and manipulating were revealed during the 1961 Council of Nine, and the Covenant and Sodality were immediately condemned for being ‘traitors’ and ‘enemies to freedom.’  Even Russian Mages hated these cabals, as their actions drove further conflict between American Mages, Russian Mages, and other ethnicities.

 

The Medeans and The Servitors Principal felt that John F. Kennedy was a dreamer who had grown too big for humanity.  They saw his proposal of a moon landing as a direct and unambiguous threat to the safety of Horizon and the magical world.  If humans could learn to leave the atmosphere – to punch through the Gauntlet – what might they do next?  Slip into the Umbra, and discover a truth that they weren’t ready for?  It was also no secret that some Traditions kept bases on the dark side of the moon, from which they could observe Earth, and that these bases would have to be hastily dismantled if the space program took off.  Both humanity and Mages would be safer with the human race confined strictly to surface of Earth.  Many people grumbled about JFK, and when JFK was assassinated in 1963, many of the other cabals assumed the Medeans or Servitors had done it.  What really happened that day in Dallas has never been proven, even by Mages.

            On the other hand, they supported the civil rights movement, seeing it as an important step towards bringing all Mages up to an equal level, reducing racism-based violence, and ensuring that the Traditions became a unified force against their enemies.  They would often send Mages down to secretly support minorities during protests, and ensure that the death toll from police brutality didn’t rise too high.  They considered themselves the protectors of both humans and Mages, and felt responsible for taking care of the downtrodden and oppressed.  When the other Cabals discovered that the Medeans and Servitors were interfering in the affairs of humanity, however, there was a great outcry.  Many of the other Mages felt that there was a sort of unspoken agreement not to meddle in humanity’s works, which the Medeans and Servitors had broken.  This frustration started off a string of bad publicity for the Cabals, eventually culminating when a member of the Order of Sanguine Souls incinerated a member of the Servitors Principal, for ‘trying to control humanity, and being no better than the Technocracy.’

            As they saw themselves as guardians of humanity, the Medeans and the Servitors also put a lot of effort into trying to resolve the Cold War.  However, their membership was divided.  Some of the Mages sought a worldwide peace, where America and Russia would keep to themselves, one capitalist and one communist, and each try to prosper where they could in peace.  But many Mages, especially American ones, saw communism as a threat, and saw it as their duty as protectors of humanity to strike at Russia and attempt to ensure the victory of capitalism.  These Mages were not secretive about their attacks against Russia, which brought them into conflict with many other Cabals, particularly as they grew increasingly paranoid about the ‘red threat’ creeping into Horizon.

 

 

The Council of 1961 devolved faster and faster each week, with Masters screaming at Masters and the air charged with magical energy.  Legend has it that a member of the Fresh Wind Covenant actually cast the first spell, but after that, the air was thick with Quintessence.  A fifth of the Horizon library was incinerated, and numerous buildings in Concordia were annihilated utterly.  Dozens of Mages died or were unmade.  The war continued for three months before master Porthos Fitz-Empress arrived from the Hermetic chantry of Doissetep with a small army of Mages in tow, who united with the Council of Nine to bring back order to Horizon.  This incident inspired Porthos to write The Fragile Path: Testaments of the First Cabal, although the book would not actually be published for some time.

            The offending Mages were ejected from Horizon, and the borders of Horizon were closed for two decades.  Although the Council of Nine met in 1970, no other Mages were allowed to enter Horizon.  Finally, in 1979, the Horizon Council announced that they would reopen Horizon, that the meetings of the Council would continue as they had before, and that new Mages would be invited to celebrate the wonder of Horizon while the Council met.

 

            The outcast Masters had not been sitting idle for their exile, however.  Without the politics of Horizon to keep them busy, Masters from all Cabals began an aggressive recruiting campaign, seeking out those who were ready to Awaken and exposing them to the experiences they needed to open their eyes.  Along the way, of course, they also indoctrinated them into the ways of the old Horizon cabals, bending their worldview to agree with the old masters, uniting them as a cabal but also dividing them against each other.

 

            You will be playing these newly recruited Mages – young, weak in magic, but with a great political burden on your head.

 

            The Council is surprised to see groups of Mages petitioning for entrance to Horizon under the old names of ‘The Medeans,’ ‘The Fresh Wind Covenant,’ and so on, but they are determined to be open and to give these groups another chance.  The 57th meeting of the Council of the Nine Mystic Traditions is ready to begin.

 

Fashion and Culture

 

            As noted, this game will begin in 1979, and move forward through time from there.  Most of us weren’t old enough to remember the seventies, so this page will contain brief tips on costuming and culture for the era.  What entertainment was popular?  What technology was common?  These are just a few notes – I recommend you take just 10-15 minutes to do your own research online, and present a compelling character with a link to history.  As a note, this page will focus on American culture – it’s perfectly okay for your character to come from other countries, but you’ll have to do more of your own research.

 

            For costuming, I realize that costuming can get time consuming and expensive!  I recommend that you just try to put together a unique outfit for your character and stick with it – it doesn’t need to be expensive.  Even if you can’t make a complete costume, get a unique prop for your character.  A cheap, unique pendant can add more to a character than an expensive suit.

 

1979

Costuming Resources

            http://www.fashion-era.com/1970s.htm

            http://www.inthe70s.com/generated/clothes.shtml

World History

            http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005252.html

American History

            http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decade70.html#Technology

Technology

            The microprocessor stands to revolutionize computing, and the Apple II is released in 1977.  The idea of a public Internet doesn’t even exist yet.  The VCR is released in 1975, and revitalizes home entertainment.  Jumbo jets increase the range and the passenger capacity of flight, driving prices down.  The neutron bomb is developed.  The height of video gaming is still Atari’s Pong.