CEREBUS

   By Clayton S. Caddy (c_caddy@oz.plymouth.edu) (10 Oct 93)
   
   Background: During the time after the age of fantasy, in what most
   would call the 'enlightened' age, a small number of people began
   manifesting unexplainable powers. If they revealed the powers, they
   were persecuted as witches, or demons. Thus, they concealed their
   power, but began aiding others like themselves to understand their
   'gifts'.
   
   As they studied, they found that certain practices of relaxation,
   meditation, and focusing allowed them better grasp and control over
   their power. They built on this, and developed an intense
   understanding of the way they saw magick.
   
   Unfortunatelly, no one ever told these people they were mages. In
   time, and while listening to the great thinkers of their days, they
   began to see their powers as an extention of the mind. By focusing
   one's thoughts, one could shape reality by will alone. A vocabulary
   taken from various psychology and parapsychology books became used by
   these collected orphans, and a new tradition was born: one of the mind
   affecting the world. Terms such as 'psychokenesis', 'telempathic
   projection', and other psychobabble became the may of the world.
   
   Only years later, once the tradition was firmly structured, did the
   other traditions take notice of these 'mind mages', whom they had
   originaly considered crackpot 'spoon benders' and 'psychics'. But the
   Cerebus (originaly the Cerebelus) were very real. So real, in fact,
   and since they were separate from the other traditions, that the
   Technocracy waged a full scale war against them, as an 'example' to
   the other traditions.
   
   The Cerebelus were decimated, and their art nearly lost. Only a few
   survived the war, but those that did gained 2 gifts: an immense
   knowledge of the Technocracy, and a burning vengance. The name of
   Cerebus, the three-headed dog which guarded the underworld, became the
   embelem of the tradition, as a warning to those that opposed them:
   never surprised (as they had been), and one may fight as well as
   three. The Cerebus, originally one of the most pacifistic and
   philosophical traditions, and become a holy army against the
   Technocracy.
   
   In the years after the original war, the Cerebus stayed quiet,
   watching from the sides, until the moment of greatest weakness came:
   the seperation of the Virtual Adepts from the conclave. Then, the
   jyhad began, and the Technocracy reeled from the ferocity of the
   attack. Just as quickly, the Cerebus were gone, returning to the
   shadows, to watch once more. There they sit today, waiting for the
   next opportunity to strike.
   
   Organization: The Cerebus, because of their orphan status, long were
   wanderers, with no chantry, no orginization, and no leadership. A
   'common mind' was shared by the members, and that was enough. After
   the attack, the common mind was the key that held the tradition
   together. Now, there is still no 'ruling class' as all have a say in
   decisions. However, there are 'divisions' throught the world, who work
   together against the Technocracy. They are set up like military
   legions, with the exception of the number 3: all members have 2
   partners, forming teams of 3. 3 teams work as a group. 3 groups work
   as a lance. 3 lances make a squadron, and so forth.
   
   These divisions, and their subgroups, focus on three things: opposing
   the Technocracy at every possible opportunity, initiating new members,
   and, as was their original purpose, learning a better understanding of
   their power. The Cerebus still seek their own Ascention, through
   complete understanding of their power and their own mind, but now see
   the Technocracy as an obstical before them that must be destroyed
   before ascention may occur. They know that anyone may be awakened, but
   that the choke of technology prevents it. They do not oppose
   technology itself, just those that prevent free thought.
   
   With the apparent 'double mission' of the Cerebus, it might seem that
   the order would fragment quickly. There are three subgroups in the
   order: one oriented towards combat, one oriented towards the
   accumulation of knowledge. and one oriented towards
   self-enlightenment. They do not, however, clash. The three-headed
   embelem indicates several ideas working together for a common goal.
   The Cerebus see the subdivisons as beneficial, as the Technocracy
   sometimes doesn't know 'which head is biting them' at any given time.
   They share knowledge amongst themselfes freely, as well as to those
   they see as allies against the Technocracy.
   
   Although there is no leadership, there are two types who stand out
   among the Cerebus, and are more likely to be listened to: those that
   have fought bravely and successfully against the Technocracy, and
   those who have gained great understanding of their powers. More often
   than not, one person is admired for both reasons.
   
   Meetings: Members with Mind of 3 may communicate with others through
   the 'common mind': a great telepathic conference which is always
   buzzing with activity. Any mage with Mind 3 may contact the common
   mind as well, but may not be immediately weclomed. Otherwise,
   face-to-face meeting are sometimes difficult, as the members are
   frequently scholars, solders, or hermits.
   
   Initiation: The Cerebus are comprised almost exclusively of orphans.
   They do know how to awaken sleepers, but chose not to, seeing
   awakening as a natural step in life. However, they also agressively
   attempt to convert other traditions to join them, with some success
   (especially among the Euthanatos and the Brotherhood). They welcome
   those who oppose the Technocracy with the same determination which
   they possess. They are also regarded as some of the best teachers in
   the world, and as such are sought by other mages (all of whom must
   swear allegence to the Cerebus before learning anything).
   
   Chantry: Although the common mind serves as the primary chantry, the
   United States Military Academy at West Point serves as a meeting point
   for many members. There are other chanrys begining to appear, most at
   Colleges, Military Bases or training grounds, and the like.
   
   Acolytes: Anyone self-awakened (Orphans).
   
   Spheres: The primary spheres used by the Cerebus are Mind,
   Correspondence, and Force. One point MUST be placed in one of these
   spheres. The other five may be placed anywhere. When advancing, these
   three are all considered primary spheres, but all other spheres
   advance as Orphans. In addition, no sphere can be higher than the
   mage's Meditation score.
   
   Foci:
     * Eye: Correspondance/Time; Weapon: Entropy/Force/Matter/Life
     * Meditation: Mind/Prime/Spirit
     * Eye: Any piece of jewelry depicting an eyeball. Often a ring or
       necklace.
     * Weapon: Any weapon may be chosen, from a knife to a submachine
       gun.
     * Meditation: The mage must successfully enter a meditative state to
       cast a spell. The mage may opt to attempt to reduce the difficulty
       (difficulty 9), but must successfully meditate first (effectively
       spending one round concentrating).
       
   Concepts: Soldier, Scholar, Teacher, Psychologist, Any mage from
   another tradition (convert)
   
  Stereotypes
  
   Akashic Brotherhood: They truly are our brothers. They have found a
   near-perfect balance between mind and body. We can and have learned
   much from them.
   
   Celestial Chorus: The power comes from within, not a higher being.
   They must learn this before ascending.
   
   Cult of Ecstacy: Hedonistic fools. They attempt to escape their
   destiny. We will have nothing to do with them until thety see the
   error of their ways.
   
   Discordians: Valuable allies in a fight, but to unpredictable
   otherwise.
   
   Dreamspeakers: Like the Chorus, the look outside themselves for the
   power which they already possess.
   
   Euthanatos: Cleansing the world of the technocracy should be their
   priority, not killing those not worth the effort. Tho we are allies,
   we abhore their lack of compassion towards the sleepers.
   
   Hollow Ones: Our greatest asset. Teaching them how powerful they can
   be, our ranks swell.
   
   Order of Hermes: Scholars beyond compare. Their research has aided us
   many times in the past.
   
   Runecasters: Noble warriors, but they focus to little on the
   Technocracy, and too much on the phyrric enemys of the future.
   
   Sons of Ether: The mirror of the Technocracy, we support them as much
   as possible. They also make some great weapons.
   
   Technolibertarians: Like the Sons of Ether, they bring technology
   without crushing free thought.
   
   Verbena: Blood is of the body, but is not in itself power. The life
   itself is.
   
   Virtual Adepts: Electronic pulses from a computer are not as powerful
   as those of the mind. Self-reliance is needed.
   
  Rotes
  
   Psychokinesis (Force 4, Prime 2): The ability to move objects by will
   alone, though a great mystery to science, is second nature to many
   Cerebus. By imagining the object's movement, the will causes it.
   
   System: Simple Telekinesis, as described in the book.
   
   Mind Sight (Mind 3, Correspondance 4): The ultimage gathering of
   information, by 'skimming' all minds in the area for the answer to a
   specific question, much can be learned.
   
   System: Each success acts as the Dream background for one turn. The
   knowledge may be pened, but will be quickly forgotten otherwise.
   
   Psychic Blast (Mind 3, Force 2): The delicate workings of the human
   mind can be easily disrupted, sending the thought processes into
   disarray.
   
   System: A form of induced epelepsy, each success stuns the victim into
   inaction for one turn (the effects can be 'soaked' with a wits roll,
   difficulty 6).
   
   Mystic Sight (Mind 2, Correspondance 1): Three heads with six eyes can
   not be surprised. Each head watches a seperate direction, to prevent
   an unexpected attack from behind.
   
   System: A form of radar which passively scans all minds in the area.
   When the sense of hostility twards the caster is noted, the exact
   location of the purpetrator is known immediately. This is primarily
   ment to prevent surprise attacks in battle, stoping would-be
   backstabers.
   
   Talismans: Because they stress self-reliance so much, Cerebus
   talismans are all but unheard of. Occasionally one may take a weapon
   from the Sons of Ether, or a scyring device from the VA or Hermetics,
   but few have constructed their own items. Most of those that do exist
   would fit the descriptions of those mentioned above (weapon, scrying).
   
   NOTES (optional): The Cerebus are known as the great teachers of
   magick. Their wisdom is valuably sought. If one was willing to join
   their ranks (by converting to the Cerebus), they may learn from them.
   In the system, study points available from allies of the Cerebus are
   DOUBLE their normal value (ie, an ally who could normally give 10
   study points can give 20). This may not be available, at the
   Storytellers discresion.