Hermetic Society

The Soterists and Wächter are well aware of each other almost from the get go, but they don't start working against each other until the fourth year. Actually, the Wächter have been working somewhat indirectly — against the mission of the Soterists all along, by helping in more and more exaggerated ways, until the lid blows off. Once the Soterists realize this, they start to move against the Wächter. For the Wächter, this means that the next phase of their plan is set in motion.

The Soterists start to move politically and to sow mistrust and antipathy toward their rivals. Being between Tribunals, investigations can be carried out but the cases won't be heard until the following Tribunal. As representatives of the sophisticated Latin Houses, Relisius and his sympathizers use various means to gain support. As well as directly attacking the Wächter and trying to discredit their philosophy, they act in ways that make them seem like fine members of the community, They might hold symposiums to teach various academic or arcane subjects

to interested parties pro bono, or they might offer favorable deals when trading vis or books with those magi whose sympathy they'd like to gain. The Wächter don't have the same means and connections and instead aim to recruit ideological supporters.

The player magi should also have opportunities to meet the leaders of the two factions, and speak to them, at least briefly.

Relisius is best met at a gathering of important magi, to show how well connected he is. If set in Rhine Tribunal it is a gathering of mainly Ash Guild members but with the Oak Guild also represented. It might be some Bonisagus event, or a magus selling books or magical devices. The challenges of finding a way for magic and the Dominion to live in harmony are one of the topics of discussion at this gathering. Relisius gladly explains his opinions and goals, but does not go into any detail about his active plans. The player magi may be able to speak to him privately, but Relisius is not eager to do so; the player magi may not be sure that he is targeting them, but he knows very well what he is doing. In any case, the conversation should be long enough to allow the characters to get a sense of Relisius' goals and personality.

Iselin is better encountered traveling in the wilds, near the covenant. There should be nothing to tie her immediately to the activities at the village, although the player magi have good reason to be suspicious of any magi in the area. She is also willing to talk to them, and explain her beliefs, which she gives as an explanation for why she is investigating this newly-growing town. Iselin is not interested in a long conversation outside, and takes her leave after explaining herself.

The player characters can choose how to react to the two factions; both accept allies, and the consequences of this are described later. These events simply ensure that the player magi know with whom they are dealing.