From the back cover: Mages, Unite! The Council of Nine has stood for centuries as humanity's best hope for survival and freedom. Together the Traditions have strength, unity, power. Divided they fall- and so would reality as we know it. The fate of the world lies in their hands. The Future is Yours The Traditions Gathered is a collection of essential Tradition Books for The Ascension. These vital character sourcebooks define the very paths to magick and transcendence itself, and now the Virtual Adepts, Sons of Ether, and Order of Hermes return in Songs of Science. The Ascension War rages on.