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Guide to the Traditions is a sourcebook for the nine Traditions in Mage: The Ascension Revised Edition.

Summary[]

From the White Wolf catalog:

Keeping the World's Magic Alive
We keep alive the old ways. We remember the days when magic flowed across the Earth and dreams strode in hosts with spirits. For every person who believes in a world beyond reason, we are illumination, teacher and guardian. Although beset by unbelief and torn by dissent, we stand together as guides to the shining Ascension to which humanity may strive. If you yearn for hope, if you seek to replace wretchedness with inspiration and you are ready to change the world, you can be one of us.
Nine Traditions, Infinite Possibilities
A definitive look at the Traditions as a whole – how the Council functions, who'll take charge with the death of Masters, what techniques determine the allocation of chantries and Wonders. Between the roles for up-and-coming Disciples and the problems facing the 21st century Council lie a host of stories waiting to be told.

Contents[]

Prelude: Europa Descending[]

Introduction[]

Chapter One: Heritage[]

Presents a brief examination of the Tradition stance. Here you'll see why Tradition mages bother fighting at all. You'll also start to learn about why the Traditions are even worthwhile, and why they must remain together. Plus, you'll find a glossary of terminology often used by modern Traditionalists.

Chapter Two: Mysticism[]

Pulls apart the Tradition way of looking at things. Instead of cataloguing and categorizing the whole world, Tradition mages see it as a combination of intuition, divine grace and marvelous splendor. Here you'll find comments and stories from Tradition mages explaining how they see a magical world and reconcile it with the science with which they grew up. You'll also discover a look at Paradox, a discussion of metaphysics and an examination of the many tools that the Traditions have fostered among one another. Plus, a few hints at things to come: The ways that the Traditions change to adapt to the modern age, and the proto-Traditions that form when science and magic fuse into something new.

Chapter Three: Traditional History[]

Presents a timeline of the major achievements of the Tradition Council (and some of its forebears). You'll also find some of the, er, setbacks that've hampered the Council. No standardized tests on this one, but you might learn a few darkly hidden secrets that the Traditions found too embarrassing (or too well hidden) to reveal until now.

Chapter Four: Pathways[]

Examines where the Traditions head for the future. Follow the adventures of some Tradition mages and see how they get the job done for the Council. Explore the goals of the Traditions, their means of execution, and also the standards, procedures and ranks that the Council uses to recognize achievement, reward innovation and discipline those who threaten all magical society.

Chapter Five: The Traditions[]

Covers our heroes themselves. From individual contributions to the mixing of various different elements, the Traditions form a painting made from a palette of wildly different colors. See what combinations you can discover, or pick out the brilliant brush-strokes that illuminate individual accomplishment.

Chapter Six: Building Character[]

Will help you to look deeper into your Tradition mage, and also gives some ideas on how to integrate your mage into the larger Tradition culture. No mage is an island, so your mage might very well have influence over a Chantry or hold a potent Familiar. Plus, the new Adversarial Backgrounds: How to turn Backgrounds against your character - for points, of course.

  • Additional Concepts
    • Construct (Created)
    • Magical Heritage
    • Neo-Traditionalist
  • Additional Abilities
    • Empathy
    • High Ritual
  • Additional Backgrounds
    • Blessing
    • Cult
    • Chantry
    • Demesne
    • Familiar
    • Legend
    • Past Lives
    • Sanctum
  • Adversarial Backgrounds
    • Apprentice (Adversary to Mentor)
    • Blacklisted (Adversary to Certification)
    • Enemies (Adversary to Allies)
    • Gremlin (Adversary to Familiar)
    • Infamy (Adversary to Fame)
    • Jinx (Adversary to Wonder)
    • Notoriety (Adversary to Status)
    • Rival House (Adversary to Chantry)
    • Skeptics (Adversary to Cult)
    • Throwback (Adversary to Past Life)
    • Uncanny (Adversary to Arcane)
    • Wards (Adversary to Retainers)
  • Additional Merits and Flaws
    • Claws/Fangs/Horns/Hooves/Barbed (3+ Pt. Merit)
    • Anachronism (1 to 3-Pt. Flaw)
    • Personal Talisman (1 Pt. Merit or Flaw)
    • Nine Lives (6-Pt. Merit)
    • Resistant Pattern (7-Pt. Merit)
    • Immunity (Variable Point Merit)
    • Cast No Shadow or Reflections (1-Pt. Flaw)
    • Touch of Frost (1-Pt. Flaw)
    • Vulnerability (1 to 7-Pt. Flaw)
    • Beast Within (5-Pt. Flaw)
    • Bedeviled (6-Pt. Flaw)

Chapter Seven: Storytelling[]

Delves into the craft of weaving a Tradition tale. Here you'll find permutations like Traditions as bad guys (gasp!) or long-running games that follow entire lives or linages of mages.

Chapter Eight: Treasures[]

Examines potent rotes, places of mystery and tools that just might turn the tide in your mage's battles.

  • Wonders and Artifacts
    • The Staff of Heralds (Unique Artifact)
    • The Tenth Seat (Unique Artifacts)
    • Tradition Blades (5-Point Unique Artifacts)
    • Paradox Stone (5 Pt. Charm)
    • Parking Karma (2 Pt. Talisman)
    • Infinite Change Purse (3 Pt. Artifact)
    • Traveling Coat (4 Pt. Artifact)
    • EMP Grenade (5 Pt. Charm)
    • Organic Knife (2 Pt. Artifact)
    • Submersible Car (5 Pt. Artifact)
  • Tradition Rotes
    • At Ease (Mind Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet )
    • Smoker's Timing (Time Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet )
    • Node Raider (Prime Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet )
    • Fate Mark (Entropy Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bullet )
    • Node Spike (Prime Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet , Mind Menu hover bulletMenu hover bulletMenu bulletMenu bulletMenu bullet )

Index[]

Background Information[]

  • P. David Gill was initially left out of the credits, but was later credited in Mage Storytellers Handbook.
  • Ads at the back of the book include: Exalted (June 2001), Updated, Expanded Revised Tradition Books and Book of Madness Revised.

Memorable Quotes[]

"You can even rebuild the old Horizon (as if anyone is actually making you destroy it in the first place) if you want. Drunken hooligans in White Wolf T-shirts aren't going to kick down your door and bash you over the head with a vodka bottle just because you don't toe the line." - Pg. 147

Characters[]

  • Prelude: Europa Descending
    • Ignatius Canticori
    • Constance, "Connie" - Akashic Mage, Acting Deacon
    • Meghan Gibson - Euthanatos Mage, Lhaksmist sect
    • Hugh - Mage
    • Sunil - Mage
    • Clay - Contance's German Shepard
    • Quinn - Mage, Gone
    • Carl Tyler - Sleeper, Trenton's associate
    • Chad - Green's security
    • Cedric Jerold Green - Special Agenet, Criminal Investigation Division, IRS, Associate with the Syndicate
    • Alfred Trenton - Manager, Syndicate
  • Chapter One: Heritage
  • Chapter Two: Mysticism
    • Anya - Mage
    • Lucille - Mage
    • Cam Trinh - Celestial Chorus Mage
    • Delasantos - Verbena
    • Lee Ann - Cult of Ecstasy
    • Kimberlee Standt - Mage
    • Ziggy Pulanski - Euthanatos Mage
    • Bob Templeton - Celestial Chorus Mage
    • Lou - Bartender, Sal's
    • Hal - Verbena Mage
    • "Catherine Calvert," "Cat" - Virtual Adept Mage
    • "Lars Anywhere" - Virtual Adept Mage
    • Rev. Gordon Masterson - Son of Ether Mage
    • Mme. Beatrice Trudeau - Mage
    • Chen Leng - Akashic Mage, Died
    • Kaley Hutchence - Mage
    • Sigmund Forsythe - Dreamspeaker Mage
    • Safia Phiri - Dreamspeaker Mage
    • Lila Takashi - Mage
    • Mikhail Kamov - Son of Ether Mage, Died
    • "Flashmaster" - Virtual Adept Mage, Created by Rey
    • "Grep Foo" - Virtual Adept Mage, Reality Hacker, Created by Jake
    • Alexandra Martin - Celestial Chorus Mage, Founded the Order of Sophia
    • John Dee - Hermetic Mage
    • Edward Kelly - Dreamspeaker Mage
    • Letisha Washington - Hermetic Mage, Fellowship of Dee
    • Backward - Dreamspeaker Mage, Fellowship of Dee
    • Sally McDermitt - Spirit Alliance Mage, Freedom Estates
    • Odin Seutter - Spirit Alliance Mage, Freedom Estates
    • Theresa Yellowhorse - Spirit Alliance Mage, Freedom Estates
    • Rawlins
    • Suzie Highttower - Drunk, Died
    • Samuel Vang - Cult of Ecstasy, Unity of Thought
    • Lynne Bronowski - Cult of Ecstasy Mage
    • Lyta - Leader of House Thig, Mage
    • Catherine Zhong - Virtual Adept, Leader of the Linguists
    • Raymond Issander - Order of Hermes Mage, working with Zhong, Linguist
    • Dr. Erikson - Mage
    • Dr. Maria Lockney - Mage, Disciples of the One Point
    • James Ortega - Mage, Disciple pf the One Point
    • Albertus Magnus - Order of Hermes, Bishop
    • Maria Alverado - Order of Hermes, founded the Order of St. Albertus
  • Chapter Three: Traditional History
    • Thothmes III/Thoth
    • Hatshepsut/Isis
    • Shaitan, Baal or Set
    • Suleiman the Wise - King
    • Al-Ashrad the Mighty - Demon Hunter, Past
    • Abana-ta-sherit - Leader of the House of Sestat
    • Khwaja al-Akbar
    • Thales - Historical Figure
    • Hippocrates - Historical Figure
    • Archimedes - Historical Figure
    • Pythagoras - Historical Figure
    • Pharaoh Amenhotep IV - Historical Figure
    • Emperor Theodisius the Great - Historical Figure
    • Seamus MacBaugh - Nephandic Druid
    • Nightshade
    • Al-Malek Al-Majun Ibn Iblis - Devil-King
    • El-Assad-Al-Gabaar - The Splendid Lion, Ahl-i-Batin archmage
    • Kurrat al-Ayn bint-Shadar - Ahl-i-Batin poet
    • Trianoma - Cult of Mercury, Founder of the Order of Hermes
    • Pope Gregory X - Historical Figure
    • Pope Innocent IV - Historical Figure
    • Genghis Khan - Historical Figure
    • Ogadei - Historical Figure
    • Batu - Historical Figure
    • Hulegu Khan - Historical Figure
    • Sh'zar the Seer
    • Sirdar Rustam - Chakravanti
    • Master Baldric LaSalle bani Tytalus
    • Valoran
    • William Groth - Mage
    • Chalech - Leader of the Chakravanti
    • Star-of-Eagles
    • Naioba
    • Heylel Teomim
    • Xiootan Iox - Master of the Sahajiya
    • Czar Vargo
    • Doc Eon
    • Lady Rebecca Bolingbrook - Jaguar Queen of the Amazon, Verbena
    • Richard O'Dare - Euthanatoi
    • Dr. Greoffrey Blyes - Investigator of the Uncanny, Order of Hermes
    • Black Lotus - Akashic Brotherhood
    • The Unkillable Erica Riley - Cult of Ecstasy
    • Prof. John Anselm - Celestial Chorus
    • The Crimson Ghost - Dreamspeaker
    • Sir David Tinners - Phantom of the Arabian Desert, Ahl-i-Batin
    • Jimmy Kelly - Virtual Adept
    • Charles Babbage
    • Alan Turing
    • Baba Yaga
    • Marianna of Balador
  • Chapter Four: Pathways
    • Ryan Pembrooke - Mage
    • Hank Morris - Order of Hermes Mage, Oathbreaker
    • Wrinkle - Paradox Spirit
    • Sir Lawrence White - Mage
    • Tanya - Acolyte, Student of Lawrence White
    • Stephen - Mage, Student of Lawrence White
  • Chapter Five: The Traditions
    • Cornelius Balt - Lecturer Emeritus, Mage
    • Magus Artus - House Quaesitor, Order of Hermes Mage
    • Aram Marangoudakis - House Tytalus, Order of Hermes Mage, United Traditions Organization
  • Chapter Six: Building Character
    • Kyle - Mage
    • Peter - Mage
    • Jamie
    • Boyle - Mage
    • David - Mage
    • Mr. Mistopheles - Familiar
    • Hank - Mage
    • Samantha - Mage
    • James - Mage
    • Xiao Mengli - Mage
    • Professor Savante - Mage
  • Chapter Eight: Treasures
    • Broken Tracks - Spirit, Death Valley, CA
    • Domitius Tanicius Linus - Nephandus
    • Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus V - 16th century rogue Physician and alchemist, Mage

Terminology[]

Jargon: Agent Smith, Appo, Arcanopath, Boom Stick, Casa de (Tradition), Chippies, Choaded, Crash (a Node), Cryptofascist Conspiracy, Cyberdork, Disco Warrior, Disney Kidz, Dreamspeaker with a Mallet, Fac, Formulaic Trash, Fuckdox, Glow, Glowstick, Headjob, Hellganked, Home Turf, House for Wayward Boys, House of Cheddar, Law of Ass, Light Up, Magical Esperanto, Moving Mundane, Mystic Republican, Navel-gazer, Old Man Dox, Past Sign, Pixie Dust, Potter, Slideways, Slipstream, Spike (a Node), Steel, Substitute Penis, Three-Assed Monkey, TING ("This is no game"), Tree-hugging Hippy Neopagan, Twist, Vampire Bait, Vetvet, Voices in My Head, Waffle Hoes, Wannabe Jedi, What Would Porthos Do?, Whips 'n' Chains, Zanger; 500 BC, 767, 1210, 1314, 1315, 15th century, 1440, 1443, 1452, 1488, 1755, 1806, 1823, 1905, 1956, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1999, June 1999, 2001, 52nd Tellurian Concord, 10,000 Djinni Plague, Acolyte, Adept, Afghanistan, Africa, Ahl-i-Batin, Akashic Brotherhood (Akashayana Sangha, Route de la Vérité, Marcheurs, Li-Hai, Jnani, Roda d'Oro), Alamogordo, Albigensian Crusade, Allegheny, Amazon, An Examination of Modern Mysticism by Safia Phiri (Book, Baruti Press), Angels, Antwerp, Apprentices, Archmage, Area 38 (Chantry, Washington), Artifact, Ascension, Ascension War, Asia, Asthika, Australia, Austria, Avatar, Avatar Storm, Babylon, Baghdad, Balador, Bangkok, Bangladesh, Bata'a, Belgium, Berlin, Bogatyri, Bolivia, Bombay, Bosnia, Brazil, British Isles, Bulgaria, Burning Times, Cabal, Cabal of Pure Thought, Cameroon, Cantrips, Caribbean, Celestial Chorus (Sacred Congregation, Messianic Voices, Alexandrian Society, Anchorites, Sisters of Gabrielle, Mithraic Singers/Sons of Mithras, Righteous Ghazi, The Majestic Kings of Light and Truth, Vishnudharadhara, Children of Albi, Sons of Inta, The Society of St. Anthony, Sons of Menelik, The Golden Shield, starovery, The Order of the Firebird, Kenotics), Censure, Certamen, Central America, Chancellor, Changeling, Charm, Chantry, Chicago, China, Clockwork Convention HydroGear Armorsuit (Area 38), Code of Ananda, Cold Iron, Compass of Sanctuary (Memory of Ignatius, Amulet), Concordia, Consanguinity of Joy, Consensual Outlook: Sleeper Perception and the Awakened World by Lila Takashi (book), Consensus, Consors, Constantinople, Construct, Council of Nine, Counselor, Crafts, Craftmasons, Cupbearers of Aset, Cult of Ecstasy (Maenads, Bacchantes/Fellowship of Pan, Dervish, Hagalaz, Studiosi, Sahajiya, los sangradores, Fifth World Tribe, Erzuli Jingo, Confrérie de Chango, roda do jogo, The Kiss of Astarte, Dissonance Society, Acharne, unilyeniye, Children's Crusade, Bongo's Rangers), Custos, Deacon Council, Death Valley, Demesne, Digital Web, Disciple, Disparates, Djinni, Doctrine of Unity, Doissetep, Dreamspeakers (Sheikha, Baruti, Ghost Wheel Society, Keepers of the Sacred Flame, Red Spears, Uzoma), Egypt, Elemental Dragons, England, Essence (Dynamic, Pattern, Primordial, Questing), Europe, Euthanatos (Chakravanti, Kannagara, Vajrapani, Pomegranate Deme, Pallottino, Aided, Yggdrasil's Keepers, Yum Cimil, Ta Kiti, Golden Chalice, Order of the Black Willow, Madzimbabwe, Lhaksmists), Exactor, Executioner, Extreme Wrestling Warfare, Faerie, Familiar, Fellow, First Cabal, First Samashti, Foci, Founder, France, Freedom Estates (Spirit Alliance, Sun Prairie, Montana), The Geostatic Rain Cannon (Area 38), Germany, Gilgul, Global Ascension, Grand Convocation, Grand Rapids, Great Zimbabwe, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, "Harrisburg, Pennsylvania", Herald, High Artisans, Himalayan Wars, Hiroshima, Hollow Ones, Horizon, House of Hua T'o, Hungary, Hunters, Iceland, India, Initiate, Inquisition, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jerusalem, Journeymen, Justice, Kinain, Knights of Radamnthys, Knights of St. Geroge, Knights Templar, Korea, Ksirafai, Librarian, The Lion of the Oasis by Kurrat al-Ayn bint-Shadar, Liquid Gold (Solificati Chantry, Belgium), London, Los Angeles, Manassas, Manhattan, Marat, Marauders, Marseille, Massasa War, Master, Mediterranean, The Memory of Ignatius (Chorister Chantry, Brazil), Mentor, Mexico, Michigan, Middle East, Middle Kingdom, Missouri, Mistridge, Miyake Jima, Mokteshaf Al Nour (Hands of Mercy, Observers of Fate, Seekers of Truth, Riders pf the Wind, Keepers of Law), Mongolia, Mundane, Mystic Age, Mythic Age, Mystic Europe, Nagasaki, Nephandi, New Delios (Umbral Realm), New Horizon, New Madrid, New Mexico, New York, Ngoma, Nigeria, Nine Mystical Traditions, Niner, Normandy, North America, North Carolina, Oasis of Eternal Bliss, Odessa, Okinawa, Oracle, Order of Hermes (Cult of Mercury, House Shaea, House of Seshat/House of the Crescent Moon, House of Fortunae, House Diedne, House Tremere, House Merinita, House Solificati, House Janissary, House Hong Lei, House Thig, House ex Miscellanea, House Batini, House Flambeau, House Bonsagus, House Quaesitor, House Criamon, House Verditius, House Tytalus, House Ngoma), Order of Reason, Otis Safety Elevator (The Stacks), Oyama Station (Former Void Engineer Construct, Miyake Jima, Virtual Adepts and Ecstatics), Palatine Knights (Palatine Brotherhood, Fellowship of the Hammer, Palatine Society of Gentlemen), Paradigm, Paradigm Magazine, Paradigma, Paradox, Paris, Past Lives, Paths of the Wyck, Pedagogue, Persia, Peru, Philippines, Pigeons, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Shallowing, Pleasure Dome, Pleroma PDA, The Pleroma Project (New Madrid, Missouri, Etherite Chantry), Poland, Priest, Primi, Primus, Prodigy, Project Stormwardern, Promethean Plague, Protocols, Reckoning, Red Star, Reed of Djehuty, Renaissance, Resonance, Rome, Rote, Rroma, Runners, Russia, Sal's (South Side pub), Sanctuary's Embrace (Memory of Ignatius, Ward), Sanctum, San Francisco, Scandinavia, Seasons, Second Massasa War, Seekings, Sentinels, Shan-Lung Farm (Spirit Alliance, Saskatchewan Canada), Silver Flyer (Area 38), Sleepers, Solificati, Solitary, Sons of Ether (Utopists/Utopians, Electrodyne Engineers, Voltarian Order), Sons of Tengri, Sophia System (Tradition Library), Soulrender, South Africa, South America, Spae-crafters, Spain, Sphere, Spy's Demise, The Stacks (Order of Hermes, Chantry), St. Patrick's Day break-in, Student, Switzerland, Syndicate's Fairness in Reporting Act, Taftani, Talisman, Tapestry, Teacher, Technocratic Union (Lightkeepers, Clockwork Convention: Iteration X, Court of Chrysanthemums, Court of Plum Blossoms, Invisible Exchequer, Mechanicians, AEsculpians), Techno-Fetishes/Talens, Tellurian, Tenth Sphere, Tibet, Tokyo, Traditions, Transylvania, Tremere, Tribunal, Triumvirate, Turkey, Tutors, Vampire, Venice, Verbena (Chthonioi, Circle of Hecate, Balamob, izinyanga, vedun/vedomye zheny, kozbar), Vienna, Vietnam, Virginia, Virtual Adepts (Analytical Reckoners, Cyber-Houngans, Nexplorers, Difference Engineers, Chaoticians), Washington (State), Washington DC, Web of Faith, Werewolves, White Out, Wizard's March, Wonders, World War II, Wraith, Wu Lung, Zi Guang,

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