CONGLOMERATION

By Emil G. Signes (a138@Lehigh.edu) (24 June 1994)

Description

The Conglomeration is a bizzare 'Tradition' which has arisen from what most Technomancers considered a great blasphemy: Project Jesuit.

In 1964, a few radical Technomancers proposed a new idea to the Technomancer Control Amalgam Prime. In order to lessen the power that Tradition forces were gaining at the time, weak-willed Tradition mages would be targeted by Men In Black, and brought to a new Construct, Conglomerate Station for Technocratic Re-education (Construct RED). At the Construct RED, the Tradition mages were to be instructed in the logic and reason of the Technocracy.

A few Verbena, Wikans, and Sons of Ether were captured during poorly-planned raids on Technomancer Nodes, and placed in Construct RED with Syndicate and New World Order operatives.

The mages, however, were much more strong-willed than the Technomancers had believed them to be. Secretly, the mages tought each other their arcane secrets, and began to gather more followers of their cause. They recruited Virtual Adepts, Technolibertarians, and even Euthanatos mages. Over the next 15 years, they began covertly constructing a Realm in the Deep Umbra. The Realm, known as The Moore by Conglomeration members, is very much like Earth, but was created to best emulate what Earth would be if the Mythic age had continued on as the Technocracy rose to power. (ie, technology and fireballs)

In 1984, on April 4th (to commemerate the Book,) the mages, who up to this point had been working secretly, still submitting progress reports to the Amalgam Prime, broke from the Technocracy, running what they dubbed 'The Great Escape Rote' to empty all of Construct RED's inhabitants to The Moore.

There are only about 2,500 Conglomeration mages currently living on Earth, and only a few more than that number in The Moore. They often join Tradition mages' cabals to fight the Technocracy or other enemies, but usually masquerade as Sons of Ether.

Philosophy

Magick is a tool, just as a hammer is a tool, or a computer is a tool. It is, however, a dangerous tool, and should be used with caution. Do not, however, fail to see the power which you can gain through its use. The Technocracy has forgotten that. They have forgotten that the power is the important part, not the enumeration of effectivity. Certainly, research into what can be done, but don't research yourself to death. The Traditions, although noble companions, are stuck in a rut. The Virtual Adepts and Sons of Ether are the only ones who realize that one must change with the times. Television is not evil. Your toaster is not going to control your mind. Only the Conglomeration has realized how to use this great tool, magick.

Organization

The Conglomeration has many holdovers from its days of the Technocracy, with flavourings. The entire Tradition is governed by a High Council of 13 mages. Below the High Council are the three Ancillary Commissions of five mages each. Below them are the Overseers, the rank given to mages who achieve a Mastry of more than one Sphere and express a desire to oversee (hence the name) Conglomeration activites in The Moore or on Earth. Some members have objected to such a waste of good mages when the Tradition boasts so few mages to begin with, but no change is expected.

Meetings

The Conglomeration hold meetings on Earth once per month, always changing location between meetings. Some common sites include New York City, Tucson, Vienna, Cleveland, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and Anchorage. All members who are capable of attending are expected to, and most are able to attend, using their Correspondance to find a way there. Meetings in The Moore are more common, occuring whenever a Conglomerationist calls a meeting over a certain subject. Conglomerationists are, for the most part, highly loyal to each other, and when one is in a jam, he can call on one of his fellow Conglomeration members for assistance.

Initiation

While in the past, Conglomeration mages were chosen from mages already Awakened, there has been a recent influx of mages Awakened directly into the Conglomeration. These mages are known as Magi Prime, and are treated with a bit more respect than average Disciples. Their usual initiation involves finding a Sleeper with good potential (Dream, Avatar, Destiny) and teaching her the science-based theories of the Tradition. If the Acolyte responds well to these, she is taught more of the ways of magick, until she can be Awakened into the Path of the Conglomerationists. This, one may note, is quite similar to the process of the Sons of Ether.

Chantry

The Moore. The Moore is accessable through a Horizon Realm near Dublin, where the original Construct RED was located.

Acolytes

Wiccans, quantum physicists, technopagans, philosophers

Sphere

While many mages join this Tradition after leaving another, the Conglomeration tends to focus studies on the Sphere of Prime.

Foci

• Breakage - Entropy - to use Entropy, the mage must break or tear something, be it a stick, a pane of glass, or a piece of paper
• Needle, thread, and cloth - Forces, Life, Matter - the mage uses the needle and thread to sew designs, usually sigils or runes, into the cloth; this is representative of reweaving Forces, Life, and Matter patterns
• Pentacle - Prime, Spirit - the pentacle is an interesting focus, as it has a few forms; a pendant can be worn to channel Quintessence or for conjunctional effects, while for spirit summoning or entering the Umbra, the mage must draw, on a flat surface, a pentacle of a size appropriate to the desired effect -- to summon a small imp, a 1' diameter pentacle is sufficient; to breech the Gauntlet, the mage must make a pentacle large enough for him to fit 'through'
Sand - Correspondence, Mind, Time - sand, just sand; it is often thrown or sprinkled, depending on the effect desired

Concepts

Teacher, Conglomeration "missionary," researcher, theoritician

Quote

"Reality exists not to be enumerated and structured, nor is it here to be bent to the wills of confused children. It has its own reason, and its own will. This can be demonstrated throught the existence of Vampire and Werewolves. We simply use the tools given to us to make existence more interesting and more beneficial to all sentients involved. May the Tellurian smile on you."

Stereotypes

Akashic Brotherhood: These mystics are the closest thing to independent, truly enlightened thinkers amoung the Traditions. If only they'd listen to a little more radio, get out a little more, y'know?

Celestial Chorus: We serve God (the Goddess, Gaia, the Tellurian, or whatever you want to call it) without having to concentrate on it. It's like founding a club of people who make their hearts beat for a hobby.

Cult of Ecstasy: They must have quite a bit of fun, living that sort of life. Of course, I don't see how they can get anything done.

Dreamspeakers: Very interesting, to be sure. They achieve what the Celestial Chorus aspires to: useful servitude. Unfortunately, they are a dying breed. Give them a warm meal and a place to sleep if you see one. You'll be surprised how much that's worth to them.

Euthanatos: In theory, they're wonderful. In reality, they're a bunch of sociopaths whom I advise you to avoid.

Hollow Ones: It has been noted that many Orphan Awakenings may have genetic causes. Perhaps if we could get a few specimens to submit themselves for study... This group of Mages is largely ineffectual -- that is good. They are also, however, a bit too creepy for me, personally.

Iteration X: These tinker-toys would have us destroyed because we don't want our Avatars replaced with pocketwatches and transistors. They have a twisted view, but don't mess with 'em -- they're dangerous as hell...

New World Order: We..are..not..per-mit-ted..to..speak..of..them... Just kidding. They're not half as dangerous as everyone thinks they are. Unfortunately, that still leaves them pretty dangerous -- your best bet is only listening to mage-run radio, watching mage-run TV, and read mage-written books. Personally, I just take my chances.

Order of Hermes: Ha! We have achieved the organization and understanding in decades which these anachronisms have been seeking for centuries.

The Progenitors: They would have so much potential, if they'd just leave the Technocracy. Unfortunately, that ain't happening. They're possibly the best argument to stay off of drugs that I ever heard of.

Sons of Ether: Possibly our closest link to The Council of Nine. They'll always take you in when you tell them who you are, but they ignore the will of the Tellurian. They should tone down their magicks.

The Syndicate: "God money, I'll do anything for you. God money, just tell me what you want me to. God money, nail me up against the wall. God money, don't want everything he wants it all." Money is just not worth the hassle that these guys can cause.

Verbena: If only they could drop the blood. And the attitude. And the outdated traditions. And the focus on life, life, life. But, really, they're not as bad as everyone things.

Virtual Adepts: Computers are one of the most useful, powerful inventions of the last few millenia, but they are most certainly not the key to Ascension.

Void Engineers: They're more and more of them coming to us. I want to know what it is that's making them leave the Mirrorshades, but they aren't talking.

Wika: I've had some of my greatest philosophical debates with Wikans. Unfortunately, they're too much opposed to technology and being followers to be truly enlightened.