The Children of Eden

There is no overall leader for the organization, it is just like-minded individuals that gravitate to smaller groups. In those smaller groups or factions, there are leaders, the ones who ultimately call the shots and the others follow.

The main focus of the group is improve the treatment and social standing of humans/demihumans, there is extreme dislike for the nobles, the church, and to a lesser extent, mages. Surprisingly, there are mages in the ranks, usually at the bottom, but the cult sees it as mages also struggle in this society as well.  

It should also be noted that if the goals align and it's advantageous, some members will work with the ones they supposedly hate.

Spoiler

After World War II, the general attitude in mage society towards humans was improving, moving closer to peace. This was not completely positive as humans would never truly be seen as equals, the demihumans possibly being seen even lower. This led to the tension between the groups staying stagnant. It just became something people accepted. But not everyone stuck to the status quo.   Originally, a newless group that started as small gatherings in the 1960s, meetings discussing protests and movements. That's all it was at the beginning, protests that were usually ignored by the public. The pleading of the disenfranchised, but what were the others supposed to do? They were also powerless.   The concerns of humans and demihumans were not being heard, their wishes not met, and the only thing mages seem to understand, but continued to deny, is violence. The peaceful protests became brawls, a spectacle. But in doing so brought traction. More eyes than ever were on the group, more realizing they have had enough. Membership steadily increased during the decades. In 1990s, a name spread throughout, "The Children of Eden". It was no longer an organization that could completely be ignored. The Commonwealth was taking note, keeping tabs if they ever became an actual threat. At this point, they still weren't being seen as one, and wouldn't until certain members of a faction did the unthinkable.   The main enemies have always been the nobles and the church. Why would the nobles ever see those below them as peers? Why would they give up their power over others? The church is also no help and sees humans and, especially, demihumans as pests. Things that are always there no matter how much disdain you have for them. They view themselves almost like gods, but they are not. The Children of Eden only needed an opportunity. It was no well-kept secret that Raena Donovan couldn't use her relic. In their eyes this made her the perfect prey, she would be the weakest noble to target. And so they waited and waited as good things come to those who wait.   In 2019, Raena was finally able to use her relic, and it was all thanks to the faction's leader's brother, River Larson. If she had access to the book's power that means its activated and she, without practice, wouldn't have been able to use it efficiently. When she wasn't expecting it they struck, causing a fatal car crash killing several and successfully stealing the relic. If the cult wasn't seen as a threat before they definitely were now. News spread of this event quickly, relinquishing all doubts in their ability, they were going to achieve their goal. The hierarchy will change.   The nobles are not gods.

The original belief is that there was a goddess, Eden, who wasn't allowed in the upper echelon God's Landing like the other lesser gods. She watched on to be unfairly cast aside, never able to reach her true potential.

It is not common for members to truly worship Eden, she is more of a symbol of their struggle.