ether

     While Sleepers are suspicious and fearful of most mages, the Sons of Ether have born the brunt of this phobia more than most Traditions, excepting, perhaps, the Verbena. Many Sleepers fear that science can endanger them with nuclear radiation or even giant mutated insects, and this leads to ridicule and witch-hunts against the scientists at fault -- at least, against those who seem to be at fault. The Techonocracy actually uses Ether mages as scapegoats for their experiments gone wrong. They blame them for any "guinea pig" experiment they can't hide from the Sleepers any longer, such as secret nucelar testing against citizenry during the '50s. This sometimes leads to violent retribution by the citizenry of some countries. The Sons od Ether see this as a betrayal of sorts, for they are only striving to improve the lot of Man. Yes, some get hurt in the process, but Science must proceed...
    Each Son of Ether usually has his or her own pet theory with which to storm the gates of Ascension. This theory often becomes a driving goal to them, and extreme obessession and paranoia often builfs up around the theory and its detractors. Theories vary widely, but they often involve proving that a magickal effect is actually a Natural Law, and objective truth which must be allowed into consensual reality, for to do otherwise would deny the tenants of Science. Their great anger at the Technocracy arose when the Conventions refused to recognize the "common sense" and "plain facts" of many Sons of Ether per theories.
     The primary concept of the Tradition's founding concerned ether, the unseen "fifth essence" which controls how light travels. If a Son of Ether can successfully convince the world that her theory is correct, any magick performed within the tenants of that theory becomes coincidental, with no danger of Paradox. This is the key to the Ether mages' Ascension goal: to turn all things weird and wonderful into a science, a method available to all humankind. The Technomancers desperately try to prevent such incursions into their plan, but have been unable to stop Son of Ether theories that would return the ether to cosmology.
     There is often intence rivalry among Sons od Ether mages, especially when theories conflict. Such rivalries often lead to prying and sabotage of another mage's work, just in case a competitor is getting to close to one's own discoveries. The Sons of Ether release a quarterly journal dedicated to the theories of its members. This journal, called Paradigm, is often a place for furious verbal bickering and backstabbing, as mages try to disprove the theories of their rivals. Only the Masters and Oracles are resistant to this infighing, as all universally respect their theories, and some even dedicate their work to improving upon their Masters' theories.
     While the Sons of Ether cleave to a devout ideal of progress, a continual rising of human aspirations, their ideal is rather Victorian, with a correspondent denigration of what they perceive to be low, base or hindering progress. They believe they bear a sort of "mage's burden," that they alone among the Traditions seek true progress. Socially, they usually gather into an old style "men's club" of corts, althought women are certainly welcome in modern times. However, many Sons are Victorian in their social views, and wish women would act more like "ladies." They practice a double-standard with impunity. The Twentieth century, however is catching up with this Tradition. Women in the Tradition hold more and more power, and there is an active lobby to change the name from "Sons" to something less sexist. This is, of course, hotly resisted by the old boys network within the Tradition, blindly denying the ideal of progress they so fervently profess.
     The Technocracy continually sends spies forth to discover the various theories of Sons of Ether mages. They then blast such tehories in the media, disproving them before they even have a chance to convince the Sleepers. SOmetimes the Technocracy will even steal such theories and take credit for them, driving an Ether mage to fits of rage and ultimately even insanity as his life's work is perverted around him.

Primary Sphere: Matter