Adding to the Library

Heron's secrets are unknown to the Order of Hermes large. If magi think of him at all, they assume that Heron's works are mundane philosophical treatises and that rumor of his magical constructs are just that — rumor. Magi with access to uncorrupted copies of Heron's texts can use them to rediscover his secrets and incorporate them into Hermetic theory. Troupes not wishing to include mechanica in their game may still use his texts in stories, as Heron's teachings played an important part in medieval learning.

Heron's writings are useful summae and tractatus on the Artes Liberales and Philosophiae, particularly on the principles of geometry, astronomy, and mathematics. Few scribes transcribing the ancient scrolls possessed the Supernatural Virtue Mechanica of Heron, however, which rendered these copies worthless for researching mechanica (see below).

Several other Neo-Platonic writers such as Apollonius and Theon were Mechanicians of Heron, and their works might also contain clues

that help integrate Heron's teachings into Hermetic theory.

Mechanica were always a rarity, but discovering one in the 13th century is not impossible, as they have considerable value as art objects. The practice died out nearly a thousand years ago and the majority of mechanica are even older, making the likelihood of any mechanica still being in working order very small. Merchants or scholars might try to sell a broken one to a covenant as a curiosity. While repairing such devices is impossible without the Mechanica of Heron Virtue, study reveals that these items possess an intricate magic that hints of new potentials in Hermetic theory.

Several Houses might be very interested in rediscovering Heron's techniques and incorporating them into Hermetic theory. Naturally, the Bonisagus would be fascinated with the possibilities — especially the creation of sentient magical devices. The magus discovering a way to imbue an item with intelligence as Heron's followers did would reap instant fame.

House Verditius maintains a virtual stranglehold on the creation of automata and complex magical devices in the Order. Heron's mechanica would be of great interest to them, both to preserve their monopoly and to incorporate his techniques into their own repertoire. A method of producing devices with less vis would be a godsend to the House just as devices with a mutable nature would be a dire threat. Heron's methods for creating magical items and automata are unrelated to those used by the House (Houses of Hermes: Mysteries, page 128). Combining the two traditions may prove fruitful — or be utterly impossible.

The military possibilities of mechanica are not lost on House Tremere. Heron's devices are supremely versatile, possessing an otherwise unknown flexibility. Such properties make them very useful for supporting extended operations.