Daedalus of Athens, also known as Daedalus the Great, was one of the first Artificers and thus one of the founders of what would later be regarded as technomancy.
Biography[]
Daedalus was one of the most prominent figures during the Golden Age of Greek magic in 2000 BCE, which shaped much of the western paradigm. It is said that he drew much inspiration from the goddess Athena, although modern mages argue whether this is a reference to an external spiritual entity like the Incarna of the same name or a reference to his own Avatar. Among his inventions are the axe, the level and the awl.
Daedalus used to have an apprentice, his nephew Talos (also named Perdix). Talos, a brilliant inventor in his own right, sought to give life to the inanimate, inspired by his masters lifelike statues. Talos grew more and more obsessed with his work, but all he managed to create were short-lived automatons bend on destruction. In desperation, Talos threw himself off a cliff, hoping to find a way to animate an organic matter in the next world and be revived by the necyomantes of the Acropolis. Daedalus was accused of having killed his nephew out of jealousy and was banished to Crete. In service to King Minos, Daedalus constructed the Labyrinth and took another apprentice, the kings' daughter Ariadne. He also constructed the device that allowed Minos wife Pasiphae to mate with the bull of Poseidon, which in turn created the Minotaur. With the aid of the wraith of Talos, he managed to create the first sentient automaton, called Talos in honor of his nephew, by infusing it with his soul. Since then, he also constructed a flaw into each of his inventions, in order to remind himself to remain humble and to warn others of the dangers of hubris.
After Theseus had slain the Minotaur with Ariadnes help, Daedalus was accused of conspiracy and imprisoned within the Labyrinth with his son Icarus. By creating artificial wings, the pair was able to escape, but Icarus flew too close to the Sun and thus fell to his death. Modern mages think it more likely that Icarus was a victim of the Scourge. Daedalus escaped to Sicily and later managed to take his revenge by slaying Minos with a technical trick.
The later members of the Order of Reason named themselves Daedalans in honor of Daedalus. His life was used for parables that showed the danger of hubris, entangling with Sleeper politics and becoming too invested into one's craft.
References[]
- MTSC: The Artisan's Handbook, p.22
- MTAs: Storytellers Companion, p.8
- MTAs: Dead Magic, p.97
- M20: Gods and Monsters, p.91-92
- VTM: Clanbook: Toreador Revised