Getting a new cabal/group together

no worries but please don't miss my response and my apology that came between your double post.

One method I've always enjoyed is to ask the players how their characters fit in with the current scenario.

For instance, one campaign could start with them all being at the funeral of a girl named Sara, and everyone has to explain to me why their char would show up at her funeral. It's up to them to define their relationship, but it has to make sense. So they have full freedom in char-making, but the group still gets to meet each other.

In a different campaign I could say that all their characters know each other, and everyone has to write at least one line on how, exactly, they know each of the other chars, to be worked out with the player of that figure. Rather similar to how Spirit of the Century works, in fact.

Or, as others have mentioned, you could simply ask the players to decide why their group ended up forming a mystic fellowship. Was it due to them studying under the same mentor? them becoming friends during their training sessions? surviving a dangerous situation together? all of them having a common interest? A prophecy needing to be fulfilled included them all?

The book Sanctum & Sigil has LOTS of info on why various cabals might exist and what they do. There's a lot of inspiration to be found there, and is highly recommended for making a cabal feel like a real and mystical entity in its own right. Plus: Coats of arms for mages!

thank you all for the great ideas :) I have alot to think about for this now.