Web of Faith

The Web of Faith is a fictional magical element in the World of Darkness role-playing game setting created by White Wolf, Inc., specifically pertaining to Mage: the Ascension and Mummy: the Resurrection.

The Web of Faith is a location of great power, made up of various holy places across the Middle East. Because of the faith generated at these locations, they became supernaturally powerful, and were linked together by a supposedly vanished brotherhood of Arabic wizards called the Ahl-i-Batin who studied sacred geometry. At its height, the Web of Faith spanned much of the Middle East, as well as North Africa and Central Asia, but eventually it was taken over by the Technocracy, who tapped into its supernatural energies in the form of oil. Following the Sixth MaelstroM, Osiris awakened and infused the Web of Faith with his own energy, making it easier for mummies to regain sekhem (supernatural energy) while in Egypt, Arabia and other neighboring areas, even though they know little of the Ahl-i-Batin (and vice-versa).

Location

It has never been explicitly stated how wide ranging the Web of Faith is, and different books give slightly different locations, though it seems to be suggested that it has grown and shrunk over the ages. Most material seems to suggest that the Web of Faith is strongest in the Greater Middle East area, filtering into other parts of Central Asia and Northern Africa as well.

  • Guide to the Traditions has a small section on the Web of Faith which suggests that at it's zenith it covered the entire Muslim world, stretching across the Middle East and into al-Andalus and Hausaland in Nigeria in the west, to the Uyghurs of western China and the Indonesian archipelago in the east. In addition, the Web of Faith is mentioned as holding power in the Delhi Sultanate of India, Turkmenistan, and in both the city-states of West Africa like Songhai and Mali, and the Swahili cities of East Africa.
  • The Ahl-i-Batin chapter of Lost Paths gave a much more narrow impression, placing the strongest parts of the Web of Faith in the Middle East, specifically Iran, Israel and the various Arab states like Egypt,Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Bahrain, etc. Only one Node was mentioned in Turkey.

History

Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, infernalist Nephandi 'devil kings' took control of several cities in the Near East spreading blasphemy, slavery and oppression, while the Marauders and their djinn allies spread chaos in the deserts and mountains. The last and most terrible of the devil-kings, al-Malek al-Majun ibn Iblis, ruled from a brass fortress of Irem in the Arabian desert, slaughtering and devouring entire cities. The Ahl-i-Batin, ancient enemies of the Nephandi, had long sought to thwart them, but had met with little success.

All this changed with the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad and his new faith of Islam, which the Batini saw as compatible with their own Doctrine of Unity. Many Batini converted to Islam, along with other mages. Led by the archmage el-Assad al-Gabaar, the first Batini to convert to Islam, an army of mages from dozens of sects stormed Irem and fought an epic battle against al-Malek al-Majun ibn Iblis and his demon hordes. Although they lost many lives, the Batini and their allies were victorious after seven days and seven nights, ultimately beheading the devil-king, burning his body and sealing his ashes in a brass urn, never to be opened until the Day of Judgement. Irem itself was destroyed by angels. The blood of fallen warriors from that battle pooled up, forming a node known as the Oasis of Eternal Bliss.

Afterwards, the Batini secretly called together representatives from the Celestial Chorus, Order of Hermes, Akashic Brotherhood and other sects, and argued that they should share their resources and bind together their nodes and chantries in order to strengthen one another and become something greater. Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian and Buddhist sites in the Middle East also contributed their power to the Web of Faith. As many shared the Islamic faith, the alliance now shared common goals and beliefs. For four hundred years, the Ahl-i-Batin expanded the Web of Faith into any lands where Islam spread, including the Mediterranean, Africa and The INDIAN subcontinent. It also became a predecessor for the Council of Nine.

The Crusades and Reconquista shattered the Web of Faith's relationship with the West, while Mongol invasions and conflicts with Hindu mages in India harmed the Web of Faith in the east. Nonetheless, they remained powerful until the early 20th century, when the Technocracy destroyed Mount Qaf. Disgusted that their fellow Traditions did nothing to stop this or the spread of European Colonialism in the Middle East following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Batini severe their connection to the Council of Nine and disappear. With the Technocracy's purge of the Tradition, many assume that the Batini were wiped out, but they still maintain connections to the other members of the Web of Faith.

By the modern era, the many of the most powerful nodes in the Web of Faith have been lost or co-opted by the Technocracy, who exploit the region's supernatural resources in the form of the region's rich oil reserves. Only a handful of locations have been hidden away by Batini masters with their powerful techniques of occultation. Nonetheless, the Web of Faith is still ACTIVE within the Muslim World, and members of it sometimes even place loyalty to the Web above Council or Tradition.

Following the Sixth Maelstrom, the ancient Egyptian god Osiris returns from the underworld and empowers the entire Web of Faith with his own energy. The newly created Amenti flock to Cairo, Tel Aviv, Jiddah and other cities in the region, drawn by the supernatural power. Because they can regain sekhem while in the Web of Faith, the new mummies are most powerful while in Egypt or other Middle Eastern countries. However, the mummies know little AbOUT who really created the Web of Faith (nor do the Batini know much about them). Some mummies have heard rumors and sought out the Batini and their allies, seeking to learn about the Web or even how to expand it to other parts of the world. On the other hand, it could also become a point of contention between the two groups.

Alliance

After the defeat of al-Malek al-Majun ibn Iblis, the Batini propose an alliance between various Muslim and Middle Eastern magical factions who will pool resources, chantries and nodes. This forms the basis for the Web of Faith, which will survive into the modern era.

  • Ahl-i-Batin - The founders and architects of the Web of Faith, the Subtle Ones pursue esoteric arts such as alchemy, sacred geometry, kabbalah and Islamic Sufism. The Batini used their talents for diplomacy and manipulation to form alliances within and without the Web of Faith and Council of Nine until their disappearance.
  • Dervish Sects - Countless Sufi mystics within the Cult of [...] seek spiritual enlightenment through poverty and studying under respected masters and religious teachers. Their magic is subtle, using music, dance, poetry and even hashish or opium to achieve trance states. Throughout history, the Dervish Sects have usually deferred to the Ahl-i-Batin in politics.
  • House of the Crescent Moon - One of oldest Houses of the Order of Hermes, they trace their origins back to the Isis cults of ancient Egypt. Their head chantry is in Alexandria and they are strongest in Egypt, but over the millennia have spread into Asia Minor and North Africa as well. By the 1980s, they are powerful enough to petition for full House status within the Order as 'House Shaea.' As scholars, linguists, teachers, lore keepers and historians, much of their magic focuses on Time. Rumors claim they have bound a race of cat demons into their service.
  • Mokteshaf al Nour - An alliance of trade guilds and philosopher-scientists, the Collectors of Light sought to use Islam to bring order and peace to the world during the Islamic Golden Age. In Baghdad, they combined lore from Egypt, Greece, India and China, reconciling faith and science. They were made up of five sects specializing in different sciences - the Hands of Mercy (Islamic medicine|medicine), Observers of Fate (astronomy and astrology), Seekers of Truth (mathematics, alchemy and engineering), Riders of the Wind (trade, travel and navigation) and Keepers of Law (politics, law and philosophy). After the Mongols sack Baghdad, the Collectors of Light withdraw from the Web of Faith in disgust and relocate to Turkey. Except for the Seekers of Truth, they are not invited to join either the Christian-dominated Order of Reason or the later Technocratic Union. Becoming increasingly secular, they support the Ottoman Empire and enjoy good relations with the German Technocracy during World War I. After Mustafa Kemal's reforms, most formally join the Technocracy. A few choose to cling to their faith, and their fate is unknown. Some say they sought out the Ahl-i-Batin, or that House Shaea brought them into the Order of Hermes. Others say they were recruited by the Sons of Ether or even the Celestial Chorus' Alexandrian Society.
  • Righteous Ghazi - Drawn from the ghazi holy warriors who fought alongside the Prophet Muhammad, these members of the Celestial Chorus uphold the Islamic virtues of justice, honor and charity. Much of their magic revolves around angels and prophetic dreams. Today they fight their Jihad as teachers, doctors and lawyers in the Middle East and Africa. Although male dominated, women make up a significant minority within the sect.
  • Sheikha - A sect of Dreamspeaker shaman, the Sheikha are drawn from nomadic tribes like the Bedouin of Arabia and the Tuareg of the Sahara. Often they are wise women who serve as healers, soothsayers and exorcists, helping thier mortal tribes survive the harsh environments of the desert. In recent years, they have grown concern by Saudi Arabia's attempts to settle the Bedouin, fearing the loss of their traditional culture.

Allies and Enemies

In addition, several other magical factions in the Middle East cross paths with the Web of Faith. Although not formal members, these groups share common goals and beliefs with the Web and work together when it suits their interest. Most choose to remain separate, though, because of religious differences with the Web of Faith.

  • Asthika - An alliance of Hindu mages founded during the Dehli Sultanate in reaction to the Islamic conquest of India, the Asthika consist of the Chakravanti (death mages), Vishnudharadhara (followers of Vishnu), Cult of [...] and more recently modern technomancers like the Sons of Ether and Virtual Adepts.
  • Heirochthonoi - Those Euthanatos who adhere to ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine traditions, the Heirochthonoi still maintain a presence in Turkey, particularly Istanbul and the ruins of Troy. The Pomegranate Deme are a mystery cult dedicated to Persephone. The Knights of Radamanthys, disguised as a Greek Orthodox knightly order, protects the holy sites of Greece, Asia Minor and Persia, as well as hiring themselves out as bodyguards to other mages. Finally, the elite assassins of the Golden Chalice trace their origins back to the Trojan War. The Euthanatos have a long time rivalry with the Batini and are thus respectfully cautious not to stay too long in Islamic lands.
  • The Majestic Kings of Truth and the Light - A Zoroastrian sect within the Celestial Chorus, the Majestic Kings of Truth and the Light once served as priests, advisors and bodyguards to the kings of ancient Persia. Today, they are mostly found amongst the Parsis of Mumbai. The Majestic Kings venerate the One as Ahura Mazda and see fire representing the divine light that burns in all souls. To better serve Ahura Mazda, they emphasize learning, academics and intellectual contemplation.
  • Sacred Congregation - Originally a branch of the Celestial Chorus created by Akhenaten following the Sun god Aten, the Sacred Congregation later converts to Coptic Christianity. Although part of the Chorus, they are an old sect and prefer to assert their own cultural identity. Most prefer to stay in Egypt, but an increase in fundamentalism in their homelands has forced some to move to Europe or North America. The Sacred Congregation are never hostile towards the Web of Faith, but usually keep a distance even when their goals coincide.
  • Taftâni - Heirs to the magics of ancient Persia, Mesopotamia and the ancient Near East, the Taftâni reject Islam in favor of Zoroastrianism and pagan faiths. Nonetheless, they ally with the Web of Faith when it suits their purposes. Much of their magic is vulgar, focusing on binding djinn to their will or creating wondrous artifacts out of the Thousand and One Nights such as flying carpets. As such, many believe they disappear from the earth after the 17th century, though they remain active in remote places like Afghanistan or the Rub' al-Khali.