Perhaps we can be in the middle of a civil rights thing with a repressive human empire treating non humans like crap and some groups get more militant. Someone evil could use the militants for nefarious purposes while somone good will probably be that champion of justice.

Another idea i have is perhaps a plague or a event that caused massive damage to the land struck and just recently passed. With the mages seemingly coming out unharmed and facing criticism.

Or the GM and a few others can brainstorm the world combining a good chunk of these ideas.