A young Akashic Brother who wishes a charming Cultist of Ecstacy in his cabal would detach herself from transient, illusory sensory pleasures a Chorus mage intent on converting "pagans" a Euthanatos, threatened by Syndicate blackmail, who feels her only chance to protect her cabal lies in a pact with dark forces: All these are the puppets that a Nephandus dances on her strings. Moral conflict is the Fallen One's ecological niche. They present tremendous threats to inexperienced Tradition mages, who are often burdened with moral conflicts over proper use of their magick. Nephandus mages, though they usually command only minor magick, compensate with ruthless cunning. Each of us is vulnerable to the call of the Corrupt Ones. Its peril is greatest because it works subtly, playing on the desires and guilt felt by every human being, whether Sleeper or Awakened.
Drawn into evil by paths of pride, despair, cruelty, obsession, and - above all - doubt, the Fallen Ones embody the most dangerous corruption, that of the spirit. The clearest examples are, of course, the Nephandi. Marauders represent the corruption of the mind itself, and of unrestrained magickal power. Rival Tradition mages sometimes show intolerance or even insanity, the corruption of self-righteousness. Technomancers are consumed with pride, power, and their misguided desire to protect Sleepers from mythic reality.
Willworkers in Mage Chronicles face many antagonists who represent different kinds of corruption. Truth does not do as much good in the world as the semblance of truth does evil. Phil changed the Sphere descriptions after I designed the rotes given here, and I haven't revised them to reflect the published version. [Written for Phil Brucato's Mage: The Ascension second edition roleplaying game. Allen Varney: Mage Nephandi and Marauders
0 kommentar(er)
