Horizon (MTAs)

Horizon was the greatest stronghold of the Traditions, a Horizon Realm where the culture and paradigm of each Tradition existed in relative harmony with the others. Often referred to as the United Nations for mages, as an ideal it was a place for representatives of the Traditions to meet and collaborate in peace and mutual respect, whether to resolve disputes, discuss magical theory, or plan for the Ascension War. In reality, the Council Chambers has for centuries been a center for politicking, infighting, and feet dragging. Though Horizon was crafted as the embodiment of everything the Traditions could accomplish, its distance from the troubles of Earth often contributed to the insularism of those who resided there. Since the Avatar Storm travel to Horizon has become nearly impossible, and it is uncertain what remains of the realm or the fate of those who lived there. As such, most of the information in this article speaks of Horizon at its height.

For detailed information on Horizon, see Horizon: Stronghold of Hope.

Entering Horizon
Guarded by centuries of wards created by some of the most powerful mages in history, entering Horizon is no simple feat. While it is possible to teleport directly there, doing so is incredibly difficult and dangerous, certain to draw Paradox and alert the realm's guards. Instead, a number of pathways are maintained and carefully watched by the realm's defenders that can be used by those given permission.

The Gates
Each of the Traditions has contributed a major node of great power as well as a number of smaller nodes to the upkeep and defense of Horizon. Nine star-shaped bastions along the Diamond Wall of Concordia channel quintessence from these nodes on Earth, through the Fenestrae and into Horizon Chantry. Between every two bastion is a gate named after one of the Spheres of magic, such as the Gate of Forces or the Gate of Life, that is controlled by the appropriate Tradition and leads to one of the major nodes. These are heavily guarded, for the nodes have been frequent targets of the Technocracy and losing access to them would be heavily damaging to Horizon. The gates, who controls them, and where they lead are listed below:


 * The Gate of Correspondence (Virtual Adepts): The Digital Web
 * The Gate of Entropy (Euthanatos): Artaxerxes' Court, Persepolis
 * The Gate of Forces (Order of Hermes): The Library of Alexandria, Carthage
 * The Gate of Life (Verbena): Lock Neagh, Ireland
 * The Gate of Matter (Sons of Ether): Thomas Edison's Laboratory, New Jesery
 * The Gate of Mind (Akashic Brotherhood): The Dragons of Guilin
 * The Gate of Prime (Celestial Chorus): San Lorenzo in Lucina
 * The Gate of Spirit (Dreamspeakers): Arches National Park
 * The Gate of Time (Cult of Ecstasy): Gediz Caves, Turkey

The Ways
Officially, there are only three portals leading from Earth and along twisting paths in the Umbra leading to Horizon. Named for the Greek Fates, Atropos, Clotho, and Lachesis, these portals are guarded by the mages called the Servitors Principle, who oversee the maps and passwords necessary to enter. These are changed daily, with close records being kept of who is informed of new protocols. In order to be given this information, an individual with suitable clout in one of the Traditions must have a message sent from a respectable chantry to Horizon requesting permission for passage. Without this information, an individual is likely to be banished or attacked by the gates' powerful guardians or the portals themselves before even stepping foot into the Umbra.

Even after passing through the portals, the road through the Umbra is not an easy one. In fact it is deliberately disorienting and unnerving, meant to discourage even Masters who do not show enough determination. The laws of physics break down as travelers are assaulted by impossible sensations, shifting paths, and strange puzzles. The experience is never the same twice, nor is the destination; while most of the time individuals end up within a mile of Concordia, sometimes the Ways deposit someone much farther from the Horizon Chantry.