Staff
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Joining the Sphere
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| Storytelling in the Mage sphere focuses on the concept of members of a cabal working together to overcome obstacles. On Haunted-Memories: Vienna by Night, the primary political elements of mage revolve around the Consilium of Vindabona, the Cabals of which it is made, and the differing philosophies held by the Mages of those Cabals through their Orders. Players who wish to join the Mage game will be expected to be able to participate in their own Cabal which in turn belongs to the Consilium. Loyalty to one's cabal and the Consilium over other connections is extremely important in Vienna, where the Consilium has traditionally been an unforgiving environment to those who compromise their allegiance. Mage: the Awakening stresses trying to achieve unity between the Orders a task made difficult by the arrogant and secretive nature of the Awakened.
Presently, the Mage sphere is closed for new applicants.
The following topics may provide additional information for prospective players:
- Application: A guide including sphere requirements, background hints, and concept guidelines.
- XP Incentives: Current experience incentives offered to new players.
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Rules and System
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Mage is probably the most adaptable system of the nWoD games. Every Arcanum offers numerous possibilities at each level, and creative implementation of magical effects is part of the game's allure. With such flexibility comes the occasional requirement for reviewing rules for suitability for the MUSH environment, clarifying ambiguous text, or interpreting a passage or skill.
- House Rules: Adaptations and changes made to better accommodate Mage on a MUSH.
- Clarifications: Clarifications on commonly misunderstood or misinterpreted rules.
- Errata: Errata taken from the official Mage forums and incorporated here.
- Books: A specific breakdown of what is and is not approved in each book.
- Custom: Custom content for the Mage sphere.
- Commands: Code support for mage PCs.
- FAQ: Answers to other frequently asked questions.
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Demographics
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| Acanthus
| Mastigos
| Moros
| Obrimos
| Thyrsus
| NPCs
| Total
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| Adamantine Arrow
| 4
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 9
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| Free Council
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 2
| 3
| 0
| 8
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| Guardians of the Veil
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 0
| 5
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| Mysterium
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 0
| 7
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| Silver Ladder
| 0
| 2
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 1
| 6
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| Apostate
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 0
| 0
| 0
| 1
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| Total
| 7
| 4
| 7
| 7
| 9
| 2
| 35
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| Sleepwalkers
| 8
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Crossroads of the World
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Originally founded by the Roman Empire, Vienna came to prominence as part of the Silk Road and remains very much a meeting place for the world. Presently it acts as the third of the UN Headquarters, along with Geneva and New York. Once the seat of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Vienna is now the capital of a republic that prides itself on neutrality. The Haunted Memories Mage sphere will focus on three of the thematic elements that arise from the history, nature, and tone of the city.
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Thematic Elements
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| Tradition vs. Modernity: Vienna embraces its strong traditions. It still hosts a Ball Season each year and the city is littered with historical buildings and centuries-old architecture. Renaissance and Baroque heritage is contrasted, however, by all the luxuries and problems inherent to a sprawling 21st-century metropolis host to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Administration), internationally-renowned universities, and corporate headquarters. Following World War I, Austrians, led by the prompting of the Viennese, wiped away all noble titles in one fell swoop; nonetheless, the decision never diminished the feel of an imperial city. At once ancient and focused on the past, and conspicuously in the moment, the atmospheric conflict between the city's clashing identities resonates Supernally. Located as it is, the exchange of ideas has often made Vienna a breeding ground for new ideas and this is fodder for this sort of conflict as well as the reward for enduring it.
The Weight of History: From its rise in 500 BCE as a Celtic trading post, Vienna witnessed events of great historical significance. Its proximity to the East and its wealth often made it the center of empire, especially as the Habsburgs rose to prominence as a European power in more recent centuries. The marks of this history are everywhere, in the city's many castles and palaces, its necropolis cemeteries and the corner cafes, and the University of Vienna itself where luminaries of modern thought such as Freud studied and taught theories that would change the world as much as any of the battles that were fought for its fortresses. After World War II, the mages of Vienna hold relatively few secrets for a city steeped in twenty-five centuries of great achievements and devastating losses. Much is hidden and forgotten under the blanketing weight of years gone by.
East meets West: Sitting at the crossroads of east and west, Vienna has seen military conflict, diplomatic intrigue, defections, sieges and all the various forms of human conflict. Such crises are mirrored in the Supernal world of the mages as well. Vienna has a long history of being a place where covert operations are launched from and its significance has long been coveted by all factions. Vienna has seen its share of Crusaders passing to the East and now immigrants heading for the West. This meeting of the two 'halves' of the world also brings with it a strong cross-pollination of ideas which often can lead to the unlocking of Mysteries that one culture alone might miss.
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Theme and Society
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Genteel and elegant on the surface, Vienna is a city where mystical society has flourished for over two thousand years as the Orders settled their claims on the city. Such significant involvement has led to the development of important institutions and traditions observed through the present day that newcomers and long-term participants alike are expected to know and obey.
- Cabals: Cabals that have played an important role in the city.
- Orders: The situation of the individual Orders in Vienna.
- Paths: The many Paths to Ascension.
- Consilium: Where disputes between Cabals are settled and the common cause decided.
- Lex Magica: A few of the rulings that survive in the ancient, incomplete Laws of Magic.
- NPCs: Reoccurring movers and shakers.
- Titles & Status: How the magical elite (and unknown) rank.
- Beyond the Pentacle: Revealed information about Mages and others outside and (usually) adversarial to the Consilium.
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