Dalia Cythera
| Homeworld | Terra |
|---|---|
| Born | c. M30 |
| Active Period | M30 - ??? |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Affiliation(s) | |
Dalia Cythera was a Transcriber for the early Administratum during the Great Crusade.[1a]
History
Dalia was born in medicae block IF-55 of the Ural Collective. She was the only child of Tethis and Moraia Cythera, both of whom were subsequently deceased. At age 3 she learned to read and write, at age 6 she was indentured to the Imperial Scriptorium, and at age 9 she was trained in the art of transcription. At age 12 she was apprenticed to Magos Ludd, and at age 15 assigned to the Hall of Transcription. Her other records included 6 commendations for accuracy, 12 citations for inciting behaviour deemed to be incompatible with working practices, and one instance of imprisonment for violating the Laws of Divine Complexity.[1c]
She oversaw the menial task of transcribing Terra's accumulated knowledge to other data sources. However, after being accused by Tech-Priest Lukas Chrom of heresy against the Omnissiah for her progressive thoughts on technology, Dalia was nearly arrested and executed, but was saved by Koriel Zeth, who dispatched the Protector Rho-Mu 31 to bring her to Magma City on Mars.[1b]
At age 17 Dalia was subsequently recruited by Zeth to help build the Akashic Reader.[1c] During testing on the reactor, the scrapcode infestation released in the opening salvoes of the Schism of Mars, combined with the energy of the Astronomican, caused a catastrophic accident and Dalia was imbued with some of the memories of the Dragon of Mars.[1d] Learning of this power, Zeth let Dalia, Rho-Mu 31, and others lead an expedition into the Noctis Labyrinth.[1e] However, they were pursued by the Kaban Machine, and Dalia was thought killed.[1f]
Later, Dalia and her surviving company instead managed to enter the holding cell of the Dragon of Mars, where she was imbued with the truth of the creature and of the Omnissiah's very nature by the Guardian of the Dragon, Semyon. Semyon appointed Dalia the new Guardian of the Dragon, with Rho-Mu 31 as her protector.[1g] The two would keep vigil over the Labyrinth for potentially thousands of years.[1h]
