Bestiary

Technology has its spirit-patrons too. Legends state that Lord Viscount Talos Perdix was once the nephew of the mythic inventor Daedalus, killed by Daedalus in a fit of jealousy because Perdix’s inventions surpassed his own. The truth behind this story remains unknown (see the entry for the giant bronze construct Talos, p. XX), but this powerful Umbrood Lord has a close connection to technology and invention.

Apparently consumed with Umbrood hierarchies, Lord Viscount Talos Perdix (he prefers to be called by his full title, and can get angry if he’s not) maneuvers for status among the other High Umbrood Courts. And while he doesn’t seem interested in the conflicts of mortal beings, he is very much aware of the power mages hold. As a result, the Lord Viscount regularly offers his services to favored willworkers — most often Technocrats, Etherites, and other strange tinkerers — in exchange for their help with status-boosting endeavors. Mages who agree to such alliances find themselves in the midst of Otherworldly errands to disgrace or undermine other Umbrood courtiers… a dangerous proposition that usually ends with a grudge from some powerful spirit-creature. For his side of the bargain, the Lord Viscount offers advice and warnings; teaches unconven­ tional tech-skills (in game terms, the Hypertech Ability); weird Devices; and occasional help from his pattern spiders and other mechanical servitors, like the grinder Minions, above.

In addition to his powerful helpers and strange mechan­ ical toys, Lord Viscount Talos Perdix is one of those powerful Umbrood who can use magick-like Effects. (See the optional rule “Umbrood Magick,” in Mage 20, p. 490) In his case,

those “spells” take the form of strange machines, elemental phenomena, and mind-twisting acts of unearthly technology.