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The Bitter Road is a book for Mage: The Ascension Revised Edition covering the effects of the Avatar Storm and the end of the Ascension War.

Summary[]

From the White Wolf catalog:

The Road to Ascension is Long
A mage faces many perils on the path to enlightenment. The Technocracy, the Nephandi, the creatures from outside our universe, even the missteps of hubris and Paradox all wait to crush an upstart mage. Even the personal choice of magic is endangered; in these perilous days, the Disciples are the last bastion of the Traditions. Ascension awaits the wise and valiant, but is there magic enough left in the world?
And the Journey is a Bitter One
The end of the Ascension War sees the exile of the Traditions Masters and the destruction of the ways of magic held dear for ages. Now, only disciples the experienced yet imperfect practitioners of magic remain to shepherd the Masses and apprentices. Examine their war as they lead remaining mages and cast the fate of the Traditions in The Year of Revelations. Become the future of Mage: The Ascension.

Contents[]

Prologue[]

Introduction[]

Chapter One: Welcome to the War[]

Explores the state of the World of Darkness for surviving mages. You'll discover the recent fallout of the Ascension War and what it means to get saddled with the debts and problems of the Traditions. Wizards marches, warfare and new expatriates... watch out!

Chapter Two: Everyday Life[]

Examines how mages get by in a world full of Sleepers who'd fear or hate them if the Sleepers only knew the truth. It's a board world out there, and there's a lot to do. More than just a travel-guide, this chapter looks at some of the institutions of the modern world and how mages might get involved in them or run over by them. Mages have lives, too, and they go to schools, clubs, universities, businesses, factories, war zones, churches and all the other places that you'll find people.

Chapter Three: Traditional Ties[]

Dives into the responsibilities and authority of Disciples in the Traditions. Nowadays, the Disciples have to do just about everything, from maintaining Chantries, to training Apprentices, to forging forward with their Tradition education. How do you do it? What does the Tradition say about taking on more responsibility when you barely understand a little magic yourself? Examine heralds, the construction of Chantries, Sanctum-building, Wonder creation, advanced magical studies and the formation of new factions within the Traditions.

Chapter Four: A Magical World[]

Opens the door on how Disciplines deal with the rest of the craziness out there in the mystical nights. It may be tempting to seek out vampires and werewolves for aid, but it's dangerous. Plus, mages tend to attract strange phenomena. Here are some examples, and some lessons to learn from.

Appendix: A Little Magic[]

Covers new rules, including additional character creation options, some Merits and Flaws, and a few new ways to look at your mage's Backgrounds - especially if you plan to become one of the new leaders of the Traditions!

  • Additional Backgrounds
    • Alternate Identity
    • Certification
    • Fame
    • Rank
    • Retainers
  • Additional Merits and Flaws
    • Tradition Herald (2 Pt. Social Merit)
    • Faction Founder (4 Pt. Social Merit)
    • Protean Psyche (7 Pt. Mental Merit)
    • Anachronism (1 to 3 Pt. Mental Flaw)
    • Distorted Image (1 Pt. Supernatural Flaw)
    • Horrifying (7 Pt. Physical Flaw)
    • Territorial (2 Pt. Mental Flaw)

Background Information[]

Memorable Quotes[]

(...)

Characters[]

  • Prologue
    • Kyle - Mage
    • Lee Ann
    • Alistair - Order of Hermes Mage
  • Introduction
  • Chapter One: Welcome to the War
  • Chapter Two: Everyday Life
  • Chapter Three: Traditional Ties
    • Seth Pirhwan - Mage
  • Chapter Four: A Magical World
    • Callisandra, "Old Lady" - Lee Ann's Avatar
    • Sir Lawrence White - Mage
    • Lydia Everson - Order of Hermes, Disciple bani Bonisagus, died
    • Father Michael O'Reilly - Mage
    • Wrinkle - Paradox Spirit
    • Welduh - Paradox Spirit
    • Alfred - Euthanatos Mage, died
    • Lydia - Mage, Became a Barabbi, died
    • Nathan - Mage
    • Ryan - Virtual Adept, Mage
  • Appendix: A Little Magic
    • Enrique - Mage
    • Cam - Mage
    • Jules - Mage
    • Anastasz - Mage

Terminology[]

A Hermetic Discourse on the Avatar by Lydia Everson, Ahl-i-Batin, Apprentice, Ascension War, Avatar, Avatar Storm, Chantry, 'Coleman, Skal & Spartus' (Company), Collegium, Concordia, Deep Umbra, Digital Web, Disciple, Doissetep, Faction, Fae, Gauntlet, Herald, Hobgoblins, Horizon, Horizon Realm, House Helekar, Hunters, Master, MECHA, Paradigm, Paradox Spirits, Resonance, Quest, Quiet, Realm, Rural Legends, Seeking, Sendings, Shallowings, Shroud, Sixth Great Maelstrom, Spirit, SushiZen (Restaurant), Umbra, Unbelief, Underworld, Urban Myths, Vampire, Vampire-hunting, Werewolf, Wraith,

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