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| | * [[Adamantine Arrow]] | | * [[Adamantine Arrow]] |
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| − | ==Adamantine Arrow==
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| − | * '''Atlantean Caste:''' ''Ungula Draconis'', the Talons of the Dragon.
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| − | * '''Role:''' Awakened society looks to the Adamantine Arrow to protect the Pentacle Orders from threats to its structure and society. Within a cabal, the Adamantine Arrow mage usually acts as a body-guard and sanctum warden for the cabal.
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| − | * '''Philosophy:''' The Adamantine Arrow holds to a number of philosophies. These are:
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| − | ** ''Existence is War:'' All of existence is conflict of one kind or another - conflicts of culture, of thoughts, of biology, of weather patterns and even of microscopic particles whirling at one another. That which masters conflict masters the world. Even the mage's magic is a kind of conflict, the war between Supernal laws and a resistant Fallen World.
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| − | ** ''Enlightenment is Honor:'' To an Arrow, honor and enlightenment go hand in hand. It is not possible to be both enlightened and craven in the eyes of the Arrows, and they consider their honor to be deeply vital to their Seeking. Holding to proper ways of behavior, keeping their word and acting with courage are all vital to the Praxis of the Arrows.
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| − | ** ''Adaptability is Strength:'' True strength is the ability to quickly shift strategy, understanding of a situation or even physical location. Arrows are trained to be talented generalists, eschewing specialization as the cultivation of weaknesses, and to favor strategy in everything they do.
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| − | ** ''The Supernal is the Self:'' Understanding that the signing of one's name on the Watchtower makes the mage a literal part of the Supernal Realms, the Arrows seek to honor that legacy by keeping mind, body and soul strong and purified. They are fond of purification rituals and ascetic practices.
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| − | ** ''Service is Mastery:'' Power is the path by which the mighty always fall, so the Arrows believe that enlightenment comes through service. They serve mandates, causes and higher purposes, not individuals (every service to an individual is actually to a principle espoused by the individual, or something greater than they). Arrows usually avoid leadership positions for this reason, and often help foster rebellions and uprisings when those in power become too corrupt.
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| − | * '''Praxis:''' The Adamantine Arrow teaches that the greatest magical tool their apprentices have are their own bodies - never have the Awakened found a more versatile, potent weapon. To this end, they work to keep their bodies well-honed.
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| − | ** ''Arête:'' This Greek word means "excellence," of a sort that is achieved through hard work and dedication. Arrows do not believe that anyone just ''is'' something - everyone becomes what they are through work, or through its lack. As such, they seek that excellence in everything they do and are.
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| − | ** ''The Total Warrior:'' Arrows are fighters. Period. Everything they do is couched in terms of conflict (though they are not often quarrelsome): Self against the World. To that end, training in the arts of battle hones the mind, body and spirit for all the other kinds of conflict they will face, even the non-physical ones.
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| − | ** ''Exoteric Martial Arts:'' Arrows believe in learning the methods of combat. It is not enough to hone simple instinct - they must turn discipline and will into their weapons, and the martial art systems of the Fallen World help them accomplish just that.
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| − | ** ''Esoteric Martial Arts:'' In between the occult arts and the mortal martial disciplines of the Fallen World are the esoteric martial arts of the Adamantine Arrow, rare systems of martial arts impossible for the unAwakened to master.
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| − | ** ''Leadership:'' ironically, as master combatants and strategists, Arrows often find others turning to them for support and leadership. They do not shirk such duties, for they are often well-suited for it, but they understand the perils to their souls that await in long-term leadership. So, to that end, they serve only for as long as is necessary and then make a point of handing power back over to another.
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| − | ** ''Constant Challenge:'' Arrows constantly challenge themselves, seeing the world as a crucible in which the body and mind is forged, and where those are forged, the soul is purified as well. As such, they have a reputation as daredevils. They are rarely impulsive, however - they know exactly what they're doing, and just how absurd it is. That's the point.
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| − | ** ''Oaths:'' The Arrows take the oaths they swear with extreme seriousness. In fact, they are disinclined from even innocent deceit, save where maintaining the safety of those under their care is concerned.
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| − | * '''Organization:''' The Arrows are sometimes referred to as the military of the Awakened, but in truth, they are more like a collection of martial arts schools: lineages of masters, each training their students' bodies in hopes of breaking them enough to allow some enlightenment to seep through. The seeming chain of command for the Arrows is really a complex web of respect and honor, with each Arrow aware that his brethren are watching to see that he upholds the highest virtues espoused by the Adamantine Arrows.
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| − | * '''Archetypes:''' Master oracles, whimsical fey-touched, lucky wanderers, mad loners, bardic sorcerers, charlatans, karmic enforcers, schizophrenic, gypsy prophet
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Unlike the Paths, Orders are not something intrinsic to mages. They are social organizations, occult fraternities, research fellowships, historical societies and political bodies all rolled into one. More relevantly, a mage chooses what Order he will belong to, and though this choice carries a great deal of weight, it is hardly final.
Mages can and do switch Orders, although the alliances between the Orders is strong enough to dissuade too much banner-hopping: one Order is a powerful ally to all the others, and often they would rather turn down a mage who has left another Order than to risk bad feelings between the Orders. The five Orders that follow are referred to as the Pentacle Orders - Orders defined by their adherence to a mythic history (or in one case, outright rejection of) that traces back to Atlantis as the source of all magic.
A sixth Order, the Seers of the Throne are technically considered an Atlantean Order as well, though only because of their shared mythology. They are deeply antagonistic to the Pentacle Orders, and serve dark occult godlike masters dedicated to removing all magic from the world and hoarding its wonders for themselves and themselves alone.
Each Order is defined by a number of things. Its Atlantean Caste tells which of the original mage-castes of old Atlantis the Order claims to trace its lineage and practices back to. Its Role in Awakened society indicates what other Orders look to it to do. Its Philosophy tells about what the Order's stated goals are, and the reasons why it works magic at all. Its Praxis defines exactly what its magic is like, and how it accomplishes that magic; each Order has three Skills that define part of how it works and a specific Dedicated Tool that some of its members consecrate and wield as part of their magic. Members of the Order gain a +1 die bonus to all rotes that incorporate one of the Skills of their Order. Each Order is organized differently, with different ranks of Order Status, titles, duties and factions within the Order making up its Organization. Finally, each Order has certain Archetypes of mages it attracts.
