There are five Paths in Mage, each representing a different Supernal Realm with their own slightly different ways of going about things. Know that each path will somewhat color the magic of a mage. Arcadia is the realm of the fae, with glamours, dryads, and faerie courts. Mages who walk this path are called the Arcanthus and they specialize in Fate and Time magic. These mages are known for rash decision making and leaving things up to chance.
Pandemonium is the realm of nightmares, a place of dark dreams and unfettered fears. Mages who walk this path are called the Mastigos and they specialize in Mind and Space magic. These mages are known for being infernalists who master their inner demons.
Stygia is the realm of death, a place of haunted souls held back by their greed. Mages who walk this path are called the Moros and they specialize in Death and Matter magic. These mages are known for being downcast and gloomy, for they have seen the worst death has to offer.
The Aether is the realm of angels and energy, a crackling realm full of power. Mages who walk this path are called the Obrimos and they specialize in Forces and Prime magic. These mages are known for being temperamental, alive with the energy of their chosen path.
The Primal Wild is the realm of the natural, filled with plants, animals, and associated myth. Mages who walk this path are called the Thyrsus and they specialize in Life and Spirit magic. These mages are known for celebrating life and embracing all the natural world has to offer.
In addition to five different types of magic users there are five major political organizations that bind these mages together.
The Adamantine Arrows are a martial group focused on the humble and disciplined protection of mage society from foreign enemies. These battle mages hone their skills and fight on the front lines against everything from servants of the Exarchs to monsters from the Abyss to larger than life creatures straight out of mythology.
The Free Council is an intensely philosophical group interested in questioning older ideas about magic and embracing the modern world in its continued exploration of magic. The group has a strong interested in personal freedom and individual discovery and encourages members to challenge tradition and go about things as they think best.
The Guardians of the Veil seek to preserve magic as a secret art known only to the few truly worthy souls. They create misdirection in order to fool Sleepers (non-mages) and lead them onto false paths in order to protect mage society from discovery. One reason they do this is the belief that Paradoxes, strange events that occur most often when Sleepers witness magic being performed, strengthen the Abyss and make it more difficult to perform magic. Thus they want to keep Sleepers and the Awakened as far apart as they can.
The Mysterium is focused on the acquisition of and preservation of secret magical knowledge. While they’re willing to share this knowledge with other mages – for a price – the organization understands the value of such hidden information and dedicates itself to maintaining large stores of otherwise unknown magical insight.
The Silver Ladder is more of a traditionalist organization that seeks to unite and lead mages towards the destruction of the Exarchs and dissolution of the Abyss. They seek a return of Atlantis and focus their efforts towards that end.