For particularly huge chronicles in which Storytellers have dozens of regions constantly interacting with each other, a five-dot Status system may be insuf- ficient to reflect the complexity of Awakened social interaction. Therefore, here
are some optional rules that can be used to reflect the social dynamics of this kind of chronicle.
Global Order Status
Orders are loose fraternities of similarly-minded mages working toward com- mon goals. As regions grow more and more connected, however, larger and more intricate structures can develop. For such a setup, Storytellers may choose to increase the limit of Order Status to 10 with the additional five steps represent-
ing larger scales of authority or concern.
•••••• The character is a top authority in his order within a collection of cities.
••••••• The character is a top authority in his order in a subsection of a larger country (such as a few states or prov inces) or within the entirety of a smaller country (such as Germany).
•••••••• The character is a top authority in his order in the entirety of a larger coun try (such as Canada) or within a col- lection of smaller countries (such as Latin America).
••••••••• The character is a top authority in his order worldwide.
•••••••••• The character is the one true authority in his order worldwide. Some orders may never claim such an individual, leaving such people to act as secret masters of their order.
Changes to Order Status beyond five dots are conducted with all order mages in the chronicle and not just in the mage’s home region. The dots of support needed are multiplied by 20 instead of two (although this number can
be modified to any that the Storyteller considers reasonable, depending on the size of his game).
Allied Consilii and Grand Consilii
A Consilium may decide to form an alliance with a foreign Consilium, or a collection of Consilii may attempt to create a Grand Consilium, with the Hierarch or other representative from each region forming a Council of their own to handle
•••••• The character is a top authority in his order within a collection of cities.
•••••••• The character is a top authority in his order in the entirety of a larger coun try (such as Canada) or within a col- lection of smaller countries (such as Latin America).
•••••••••• The character is the one true authority in his order worldwide. Some orders may never claim such an individual, leaving such people to act as secret masters of their order.
125 Chapter Two: Character
affairs between the unified regions. Mages do not have their Consilium Status reduced when traveling to allied Consilii — mages’ effective Consilium Status is the same as their home region’s. However, all rules for effective Consilium Status
remain in effect (so, for example, a mage who has his effective Consilium Status stripped by the Hierarch of an allied region does not have his home region’s Sta- tus reduced). In a unified structure, however, officers on the Grand Consilium can
modify the Consilium Status of any mage within their authority — all the mages are considered within the Grand Consilium’s “home region” for the purposes of
their ability to modify Consilium Status.
Repute (• to •••••)
Within the Consilium, a character’s status is reflected by his duty and dedica- tion to the workings of the region. Within Awakened society as a whole, however,
mages might gain a measure of recognition apart from their social and political dedication. The legendary tales or infamous deeds of the Awakened may spread
through a region or through multiple regions, and the name of the mage may grow to become renowned to mages all over.
Players of characters active in Awakened society (usually mages, but some- times Sleepwalkers may be socially active enough to qualify) who encounter the reputed mage can test with the character’s Intelligence + the mage’s Repute dots to see if the character has heard of the mage. Once someone recognizes the mage, the Repute Merit gives a +1 bonus to his Socialize tests against the person recognizing him, as well as on Persuasion (if the character is known in a positive light) or Intimidation tests (if the character’s fame slides more toward infamy). This adds to any bonuses from the character’s Status Merits if the target would
be impressed by the status as well.
As Repute is not Status, this Merit must be purchased with experience points. However, roleplay actions can help to justify to a Storyteller the purchase of
this Merit.
• The mage is known by the mages in the city he lives.
•• The mage is known by the mages in the cities all around him.
••• The mage is known in a subsection of a large country (such as a collection of states or provinces) or the Awakened populace of a smaller country (such as Spain).
•••• The mage is known within a very large country (such as the United States) or a collection of smaller countries (such as the European Union).
••••• The mage is known by Awakened through out the world; he is a modern legend. • The mage is known by the mages in the city
he lives.
••••• The mage is known by Awakened through out the world; he is a modern legend. ••• The mage is known in a subsection of a large country (such as a collection of states or
provinces) or the Awakened populace of a smaller country (such as Spain).
Example: Sunny (Free Council Status 4) is found to be a member of a Left-Handed Legacy. To reduce her Status from 4 to 3 would take eight dots of support after blocking dots. However, her peers want her out of the order entirely. This would take 16 dots of support after blocking dots — twice the normal number.