Cabals
The protagonists of this game are members of the Esoteric Order of the Illuminous, which stands between humanity and countless horrors that seek to corrupt their world. The order is consists of seven cabals, each of which has its own take on how to fight against the evils that invade the world through the aethyros. These cabals are Aethyric Engineers, Disciples of the Emerald Tablet, Ravens, Rooks, Scholars of Mu, Soldiers of Mithras, and Theurgists.
Aethyric Engineers
The Aethryic Engineers utilize aethyr to power astonishing mechanical devices and machines. Some of their devices are advanced versions of 19th-century technology, such as instant cameras and portable and wireless telegraph machines. Other devices utilize aethyr to create seemingly impossible or even magical wonders of mechanical engineering, including goggles that allow one to see spirits and weapons that can harm aethyric entities.
Disciples of the Emerald Tablet
The Disciples are alchemists and have handed down means of using substances with aethyric properties and infusing raw aethyr into compounds and solutions to create potions with magical effects. Their concoctions are known to accomplish everything from healing injuries to changing a person’s form or even granting invisibility. While perhaps not as powerful as manipulating raw aethyr as practiced by the Theurgists, it is considered to be much safer. The Disciples jealously guard the secrets of their ancient formulas, although they are willing to share benefits with others members of the Order of the Illuminous.
Ravens
Ravens are a welcome addition to any lodge because they grease the wheels of law and bureaucracy and make certain that the Order has what it needs when it needs it. Indeed, they often act as the defacto leader of a lodge, speaking for its members and removing obstacles before they become a problem. The Raven’s bribe politicians and bureaucrats and arrange for safe houses and equipment when needed. They deal with the mundane tediums so that other Order members can act and skirt the law when necessary.
Rooks
Neither the Rooks nor the Ravens know for certain the reason for their separation, but there was bad blood between the two for centuries. There are whispers that the cabal who would become the Rooks had dealings with dark powers that granted them their powers of shadow and darkness that allows them to move about unseen.
Scholars of Mu
Although they do not manipulate the aethyr in manner as materially or obviously as other cabals, their knowledge of aethyros and the aethyr is greater than any other. They use this knowledge and their understanding of the Sight to combat creatures of the aethyros by identifying weaknesses and formulating defenses. Their knowledge is often of paramount importance when it comes to closing a particularly troublesome aethyros.
Soldiers of Mithras
Skilled combatants and warriors, but they are not simply warriors. The Soldiers know secrets of defeating and defending against aethyric entities. They draw up aethyr to channel bolts of light that destroy creatures of the aethyr and are able to draw circles of protection that keep them at bay. They subvert the power of the aethyr and use it against itself. But there is a price to be paid. Almost all of their gifts require a small sacrifice of blood.
Theurgists
The practice of theurgy allows the caster to evoke spirits in order to learn from them or control them. This might be to speak to the spirits of the dead or manifest fire from a channeled elemental spirit. There is always a price to using tapping directly into the aethyr in this manner. There is evidence to support the concern that evoking spirits in this manner gives them power and may even strengthen an existing aethyros or spread its corruption further. Everyone, even most Theurgists, agree that their magic is dangerous and must be closely watched.