| rdfs:comment | - The Telchines' Astrolabe is an ancient and powerful technomantic item, something that blends technology and magic. As Nacht describes it: Exactly who or what the Telchines were is still very fuzzy. They've been described as a nation, a race, a dynasty, a family of demigods, an order of metalsmithing mystics who may or may not have been connected to the Artificers, or a variety of Chthonic spirits like the Cyclopes or the Cabiri. The Pre-Hellenes weren't exactly famous for writing things down, and the Hellenes themselves may have loved the Truth, but they had a fine disdain for checking facts. What we DO know about them is that they were the first natives of the island of Rhodes (...) and that they were famous metal-smiths and artificers. They're credited with forging Poseidon's trident amo
|
| abstract | - The Telchines' Astrolabe is an ancient and powerful technomantic item, something that blends technology and magic. As Nacht describes it: Exactly who or what the Telchines were is still very fuzzy. They've been described as a nation, a race, a dynasty, a family of demigods, an order of metalsmithing mystics who may or may not have been connected to the Artificers, or a variety of Chthonic spirits like the Cyclopes or the Cabiri. The Pre-Hellenes weren't exactly famous for writing things down, and the Hellenes themselves may have loved the Truth, but they had a fine disdain for checking facts. What we DO know about them is that they were the first natives of the island of Rhodes (...) and that they were famous metal-smiths and artificers. They're credited with forging Poseidon's trident among other wonders of the ancient world. And, thirdly, that they did something to really piss off the Gods, and at least one of them -- it's rumored that it was all three of the biggies: Zeus, Poseidon and Hades, in concert -- destroyed them all. All except for ONE, a female whose name is in dispute. But, it's agreed that while the Gods destroyed all the Telchines' works, this sole survivor carried with her a small sample of their work, a contraption that roughly resembles an astrolabe, though that isn't its function. No one knows what this 'astrolabe' is supposed to do, or what its powers really are. But it's somehow supposed to contain the essence, the core dynamic, the basic wisdom of the Telchines, the key to uncovering their secrets. It apparently has some other power as well, though given the Astrolabe's reputation you have to wonder why people want it so much. It pops up every so often in mentions in various chronicles, usually as a side note to some great development that later goes disastrously wrong. Very powerful magical items tend to attract unwanted attention. Therefore, for reasons of safety, it has been broken up into three parts, each one still a powerful magical artifact on its own, but not powerful enough to attract attention. These are known as the Mirror of Tanith, Ormenious' Clock and the Stylus.
|
