History TabletoPGame / MageTheAwakening

* HumanoidAbomination: Both [[GodInHumanForm ochemata]] and [[PhysicalGod archmages]] have the immense power and distant mindset of one. There are more earthly examples though: just ask the Mad when you find one of them. Better yet, given how they're walking, sociopathic tempests of destructive magic who spawn living spells that only exist to serve them when they're frustrated, don't.

** To be fair, given the way the setting works, the Arrow's beliefs might well be made true.

* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: The Exarchs pulled this one off through the construction of the Celestial Ladder... and then they tore down the Ladder and created the Abyss, because phenomenal cosmic power was theirs, and no one was going to take it from them.
** On the bright side, the Oracles got up the ladder with them, and proceeded to kick the Exarchs around like soccer balls before they could finish cutting off the Supernal. The result was the Watchtowers, which allow humans to still Awaken even with the Abyss in the way.

* RetGone: Nobody has ever failed to become an archmaster once they reached the Supernal. Or, more accurately, those who fail to achieve archmastery once they ascend into the Supernal cease to have ever existed.

* CursedWithAwesome: Mages have no internal downside for being a Mage (No Vampiric lust for blood, or Werewolf short temper). However, Mage souls are incredibly potent, the universe now actively hates a vast majority of who they are, they have several groups trying to kill them for existing, and if they try to use their powers in front of anyone who is not another supernatural, they risk blowing themselves up. In summary, Mages get great power and are less likely to get screwed, but when they DO get screwed, they aren't coming out of it alive, much less sane.
** This is also somewhat mitigated by the GoneHorriblyRight factor of ''successfully'' altering the universe on a regular basis. Most mages become their own worst enemy even before they start falling down the sanity ladder or getting unlucky with paradox and accidentally setting their dog on fire when they meant to throw the light switch.

* CrazyPrepared: You can choose to either be like a reality-warping Batman, or you can just shoot yourself in the head to save time as you will die without any sort of forward planning. Unless you're a very skilled Acanthus: then you can just hit rewind.

* DeityOfHumanOrigin: The Oracles and Exarchs.
** Archmasters get to call themselves this too.

** Not that the Fallen World is lacking in Eldritch areas of its very own; Mages call areas where the Supernal has butted through the Abyss and is now manifesting on Earth Verges (Demesnes are artificial versions of them made via soul stone). They're places where magic becomes a hell of a lot easier... and where Supernal entities regularly venture to explore, which can be good or bad.

%%* Fiv eMan Band: Somewhat exemplified by the five Orders:

* GeniusLoci: The Annunaki, the rulers of the Abyss, are literally sentient worlds the rest of their foul brethren and poisonous laws live in. Mostly unable to manifest on Earth, thank all that is holy, but Scelesti are known to summon aspects of them as pseudo-Verges, and [[RealityIsOutToLunch making reality a bit flexible]] until they leave or someone banishes them.

* GodIsEvil: {{Subverted}}. The Father isn't really God, he's actually an [[RealityWarper unimaginably]] [[AbstractApotheosis powerful]] Atlantean sorcerer who has become the personification of every [[TautologicalTemplar negative trait of religion]] and [[SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers none of its positive ones]]. In this way he's even more similar to the Gnostic Demiurge than the other Exarchs.

* ClockOfPower: A theme in the [[ApocalypseCult Cult of the Doomsday Clock]]:
** Their home PocketDimension, the [[ClockTower Clocktower]], is a time-themed EldritchLocation that [[PlaceOfPower enhances their own magic]], impedes outsiders, and contains [[PortalCrossroadWorld portals to any location on Earth]].