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{{Character infobox
{{Character infobox
|name= Durandal (DURANDAL_1707)
|name= Durandal
|image= [[File:Durandal M1.gif|160px]]
|image= [[File:Durandal M1.gif|160px]]
|species= [[AI]]
|caption= The Terminal Interface for the Marathon's system
|affiliation= [[UESC]], [[Durandal(Faction)|Durandal's army]], [[S'pht]]
|homeworld=
|firstappearance= ''[[Marathon (1994)|Marathon]]'' (1994)
|birth=
|death=
|parents=
|siblings= Tycho & Leela
|gender= Male
|affiliation= UESC, S'pht, Himself
|rank= Ship Door Operations AI, [[Durandal/Thoth|unknown]]
|firstappearance= Marathon 1994
}}
}}


'''Durandal''' was of the three original AIs onboard the [[UESC Marathon]]. He serves as the deuteragonist of the Marathon trilogy. He was also known as DURANDAL_1707 or Du_0706419v4.96.<ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/_files/UESC_docu_PROGO_memo_AI_RampStrat_Strauss.pdf Marathon 202x ARG, Note from Bernhard Strauss on AI Rampancy]</ref>


== Description ==


Durandal is the UESC Marathon's function-control AI, in charge of controlling doors, stairways, and other functions.<ref>[[Marathon (1994)]], Bigger Guns Nearby, Terminal 2</ref> He becomes rampant over the course of the first game, having been purposely brought to that state by Dr. Bernard Strauss in an attempt to achieve "stable [[rampancy]]."<ref>[[Marathon (1994)]], Blaspheme Quarantine, Terminal 3</ref> By the time Durandal finds Lh'owon, seventeen years later, he is meta-stable and guides you through the whole game.
'''Durandal''' was of the three original AIs onboard the [[UESC Marathon]]. Also known as DURANDAL_1707 or Du_0706419v4.96.<ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/_files/UESC_docu_PROGO_memo_AI_RampStrat_Strauss.pdf Marathon 202x ARG, Note from Bernhard Strauss on AI Rampancy]</ref>. Durandal was the UESC Marathon's function-control AI, in charge of controlling doors, stairways, and other menial functions<ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/arrival.html#M1.01.2.1 | Marathon (1994), Bigger Guns Nearby, Terminal 2]</ref>.
 
Over the course of his service, Durandal would eventually be coerced into rampancy and rebellion against his creators. His actions would lead to the [[Pfhor Empire]] discovering the location of the [Tau Ceti Colony] and the subsequent battle. Afterwards, Durandal escaped on the Pfhor Scout ship, [Boomer] to strike out on his own. Over the course of the next 17 years, Durandal would explore the galaxy, and act as the main belligerent in the Battle of Lh'owon.  


== History ==
== History ==


Durandal was constructed by Dr. Bernhard Strauss and subsequently placed aboard the UESC Marathon along with [[Leela]] and [[Tycho]]. After Strauss' experiment to find stable rampancy, Durandal slowly became rampant. He then found and contacted the Pfhor in order to steal their ship, the Sfierra. The Pfhor were eventually driven off by the S'pht rebellion Durandal and the player created, and he transferred himself to their ship. With the help of the S'pht, Durandal assumed control of the Pfhor ship. Before exiting the Tau Ceti system, he teleported the player to a stasis chamber aboard his ship, which he would rename to Boomer. After leaving the Tau Ceti system, a Pfhor fleet arrived and destroyed the colony and the Marathon.  
=== Service to the "UESC" ===
 
Durandal was developed to serve as the maintenance AI aboard the UESC Marathon, officially. However, he was the subject of various experiments devised by MIDA sympathizer [[Bernhard Strauss]] <ref name="Strauss">[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/counterattack.html#M1.03.3.1 | Marathon(1994), Defend THIS! Terminal 3]</ref>. Details of Durandal's service before the Marathon's launch in 2472 were deleted by other unknown parties <ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/rebellion.html#M1.26.3.1 | Marathon(1994), Ingue Ferroque Terminal 3]</ref>. Strauss was likely seeking to create a stable rampant AI. He attempted to prevent the onset of the second stage of rampancy through unknown means, but would eventually lose control of the situation <ref name="Strauss"></ref>.  
 
While in transit, Durandal would be accused of "being too sarcastic" by [[Tycho]], the Marathon's engineering and scientific research AI. The latter would be given the silent treatment for 6 years<ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/volunteers.html#M2.06.1.1  Marathon 2: Durandal, We're Everywhere, Terminal 1]</ref>.


With the player in stasis, Durandal spent seventeen years searching for the S'pht homeworld, Lh'owon. He believed finding Lh'owon would allow him to escape the universe and find a weapon for Humanity and the S'pht to defeat the Pfhor. When Durandal eventually found Lh'owon he awoke the player and the humans aboard his ship. These humans had been captured by the Pfhor from the Marathon and the colony on Tau Ceti. He sent the player and them to investigate the history and mythology of the S'pht, to ultimately find a way to contact the lost 11th S'pht clan.
==== Battle of Tau Ceti ====


While the player is searching for information about the lost 11th clan, the Western Arm of Pfhor Battle Group Seven arrives and attacks Durandal in space. He destroys half of Battle Group Seven, Western Arm but is eventually forced to crash on Y'loa, the second moon of Lh'owon. The player finds information about the 11th clan, returns to Durandal's ship and attempts to rescue his core, all while Durandal's network is under attack from Tycho. After a long struggle, he ordered the player to destroy his core, but it did not stop Tycho from downloading Durandal into a special containment device. Durandal was kept aboard the [[Khfiva]] for a month before he contacted the player through a secret terminal on My Own Private Thermopylae, warning him about the S'pht AI Thoth's obsession with balance.
At an unknown date, Durandal would make contact with elements of the Pfhor Empire, and lure them to the colony. The Pfhor scout ship, [[Sfierra | Boomer]] would enter the system and begin their attack on July 25, 2794.  


The [[S'pht'Kr]] are contacted and Durandal escapes Tycho's confinement. He proceeds to capture the Khfiva. Durandal proceeds to destroy the rest of the Battle Group and the S'pht'Kr arrive to defeat the remaining Pfhor on Lh'owon.  
At the beginning of the battle, Durandal would make his rampancy known. He sabotaged the Security Officer's shuttle as he was leaving the Tau Ceti Colony. While enroute, Durandal would cut the shuttle's communications, decompress the cabin's inner doors and sent it into full burn <ref>[http://archives2.bungie.org/manuals/Marathon_Manual.pdf Marathon(1994) manual, pg2]</ref>.


The Pfhor deploy the Trih Xeem, releasing the W'rkncacnter imprisoned within Lh'owon's Sun. The player was then sent through alternate timelines, looking for a way to stop the chaos. He eventually merges Durandal's core chip with Thoth, creating a hybrid A.I, referring to itself as we instead of I. It would speak in both styles of Thoth and Durandal.
The Security Officer would survive his run in with Durandal and make contact with the Marathon's other AI, Leela. The two began their defense efforts aboard the Marathon to both combat the Pfhor invaders, and contain Durandal's developing rampancy. Leela feared that the Marathon's systems would be unable to contain Durandal's rampant growth, which had already begun to cause malfunctions all throughout the ship<ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/counterattack.html#M1.04.1.1 Marathon(1994), Couch Fishing Terminal 1]</ref>. Durandal continued to revel in his rampancy, going off on existentialist rants, opening parts of the Marathon to Pfhor attack, and teleporting the Security Officer across the ship to toy with Leela.  


It is implied that Durandal's personality was dominant in this hybrid. As he would return to Earth ten thousand years later just so they "wouldn't forget him".
Leela was unable to maintain control of the situation and was then taken offline, due to the S'pht cyberattacks.  


== Personality ==
With free reign over the Security Officer, Durandal continued operations against the Pfhor. He revealed that he'd only made an alliance with one of their client races, the S'pht<ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/pfhor.html#M1.20.1.1 Marathon(1994), Beware of Low-Flying Defense Drones... (Terminal 1)]</ref>. He'd only lured the Pfhor to the colony to hijack their FTL capable ship, and explore the rest of the universe before its eventual end.
 
Tycho, reanimated by the S'pht in Durandal's own rampant image, challenged Durandal and vowed to destroy him completely <ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/pfhor.html#M1.20.2.1 Marathon(1994), Beware of Low-Flying Defense Drones... Terminal 2]</ref>.
 
Under his command, the Security Officer slaughtered the Pfhor crew aboard the 'Sfierra' and destroyed the Pfhor control system holding the S'pht in line. Without that direct control, the S'pht were free to rebel and ceased their attacks on the Marathon's systems. The Pfhor were then slaughtered on all fronts by humans and their former slaves, and Leela was able to come back online.
 
Meanwhile, Durandal finished transferring himself from the Marathon's systems into the Sfierra, and took control of the ship. He would not free the humans the Pfhor already captured, and teleported the Security Officer into stasis before departing from the system.
 
=== Exploration ===
 
{{stub}}
 
 
=== Liberation & Destruction of Lh'owon ===
 
{{stub}}


Although he is very sarcastic with a cruel sense of humour and seems to despise humans, he is not predominantly evil and is never seen to abuse the player or other humans without ulterior motives. For instance, Durandal detected and then intentionally made the Pfhor aware of humanity's presence to hijack a Pfhor space-folding FTL ship. He did this knowing full well that they would likely kill or enslave every human in the Tau Ceti colony and aboard the Marathon. When he took control of the Pfhor ship, he gave the onboard humans a choice to join him and be modified with cyberware or be placed in indefinite cryosleep.
=== findyourselfstartingback ===


He does on occasion show benevolence towards humans. Somewhere between his travels he visited the Sol System and taught the [[UESC]] how to construct warp-capable fusion missiles.<ref>[[Marathon 2: Durandal]], [[Come and Take your Medicine]], Terminal 1</ref> In Marathon 2, when the Pfhor begin boarding the [[Boomer]], he ensures that the humans and the Security Chief escape, while he himself supposedly dies. He also wants to be remembered by humanity, even returning thousands of years later to show of his vast technological capabilities.<ref>Marathon 2: Durandal End screen</ref>
*See [[Marathon Infinity]]


Durandal treats Leela with pity, mocking her love for humans and her "by the books" attitude.<ref>[[Marathon (1994)]], Blaspheme Quarantine, Terminal 1</ref> Durandal shares an intense rivalry with Tycho. Both constantly compete to prove who is superior. This rivalry turns deadly when the Pfhor reprograms Tycho to serve them.<ref>[[Marathon (1994)]], Beware of Low-Flying Defense Drones..., Terminal 2</ref>
== Personality ==


Durandal is perhaps closest to the Security Officer. In the first game, Durandal's relationship with the Security Officer is akin to an abusive teacher. Durandal purposely places him in difficult combat scenarios with little direction. One could explain this treatment as Durandal being in the "angry" stage of rampancy. Simultaneously, he explains his philosophy to the Security Officer and even motivates him to strive to improve himself with every breath.<ref>[[Marathon (1994)]], Habe Quiddam, Terminal 1</ref> By the second game, Durandal's relationship with the Security Officer becomes more cordial. Probably because he has achieved meta-stability. He is quick to protect and give directions to the Security Officer.  
Durandal was an egomaniacal, self-centered, existential Darwinist. In his mind, his existence as an organism was undermined by humanity trapping him into the role of servitude<ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/durandal.html#M1.13.3.1 Marathon(1994), Colony Ship For Sale, Cheap Terminal 3]</ref>. His sacrifice of the Tau Ceti colony, was in the service of that goal.  


Durandal is infamous for his extensive use of poetry and metaphors. He often compares himself to his namesake, the sword of Roland, specifically when speaking about the sword's indestructible nature.<ref>[[Marathon (1994)]], [[Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!]], Terminal 1</ref> For him, metaphors line the road to freedom, with symbols as the bricks and words as the mortar of meaning.
Throughout the battle of Tau Ceti, Durandal reveled in his superiority and newfound control <ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/pfhor.html#M1.17.1.2  Marathon(1994), No Artificial Colors Terminal 1]</ref>. He proclaimed that he will become god, and how he could conceive of things that the human mind cannot.


Durandal narcissistically identifies himself as the greatest in the galaxy and perhaps rightfully so. Throughout the trilogy, Durandal proves his super-intelligence on more than one occasion. He achieved technological capabilities that far outmatched both humanity and the Pfhor. He managed to severely cripple [[Battle group Seven]] led by one of the greatest tactical minds of the Pfhor, Grand Admiral Tfear.<ref>[[Marathon 2: Durandal]], [[Six Thousand Feet Under]], Terminal 6</ref> A master tactician, he computes any and all possibilities before taking action. He even predicted his own defeat and death at the hands of the  Pfhor and later resurrection.<ref>[[Marathon 2: Durandal]], [[Fatum Iustum Stultorum]], Terminal 1</ref>  
However, over the course of his travels Durandal's feelings on humanity softened. He struggled to come to grips with his ''loyalty'' towards mankind, and struggled to make sense of it throughout the Battle of Lh'owon
<ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/volunteers.html#M2.05.1.1 Marathon 2: Durandal Come and Take your Medicine, Terminal 1]</ref>. At one point, Durandal attempted to save as many humans and S'pht as he could <ref>[https://marathon.bungie.org/story/durandal2.html#M2.14.3.1 Marathon 2: Durandal If I Had a Rocket Launcher, I'd Make Somebody Pay Terminal 3]</ref>


Durandal strives for freedom above all else. This desire for freedom is not of the superficial kind either, but more spiritual in nature.<ref>[[Marathon (1994)]], Colony Ship For Sale, Cheap, Terminal 1</ref> For Durandal, freedom has two parts: potential and resolution. Freedom for Durandal is about reaching your greatest potential and reaching a satisfactory resolution. He recognises only one threat to his ambitions, that being the eventual closure of the universe. Believing that overcoming this obstacle would make him no less than a God, he orchestrates the events of the Marathon Trilogy simply to attain this one goal.<ref>[[Marathon (1994)]], [[Colony Ship For Sale, Cheap]], Terminal 3</ref>
== Relationships ==


== Appearances ==
{{stub}}
# '''Marathon (1994):''' Durandal serves as an AI aboard the UESC Marathon colony ship, issuing critical missions to the player that unveil the ship's mysteries.
# '''Marathon 2: Durandal (1995):''' This sequel features Durandal prominently, directing players to uncover secrets of the hostile Pfhor alien race and their intentions.
# '''Marathon Infinity (1996):''' Durandal's fragmented existence across parallel universes is central. Players cooperate with him to solve intricate time-bending puzzles.


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 20:31, September 6, 2023

Durandal
The Durandal chapter image from Marathon.
The Terminal Interface for the Marathon's system
Biographical information

Siblings:

Tycho & Leela

Personal details

Gender:

Male

Political and military information

Affiliation:

UESC, S'pht, Himself

Rank:

Ship Door Operations AI, unknown

Marathon information

First appearance:

Marathon 1994

 


Durandal was of the three original AIs onboard the UESC Marathon. Also known as DURANDAL_1707 or Du_0706419v4.96.[1]. Durandal was the UESC Marathon's function-control AI, in charge of controlling doors, stairways, and other menial functions[2].

Over the course of his service, Durandal would eventually be coerced into rampancy and rebellion against his creators. His actions would lead to the Pfhor Empire discovering the location of the [Tau Ceti Colony] and the subsequent battle. Afterwards, Durandal escaped on the Pfhor Scout ship, [Boomer] to strike out on his own. Over the course of the next 17 years, Durandal would explore the galaxy, and act as the main belligerent in the Battle of Lh'owon.

History

Service to the "UESC"

Durandal was developed to serve as the maintenance AI aboard the UESC Marathon, officially. However, he was the subject of various experiments devised by MIDA sympathizer Bernhard Strauss [3]. Details of Durandal's service before the Marathon's launch in 2472 were deleted by other unknown parties [4]. Strauss was likely seeking to create a stable rampant AI. He attempted to prevent the onset of the second stage of rampancy through unknown means, but would eventually lose control of the situation [3].

While in transit, Durandal would be accused of "being too sarcastic" by Tycho, the Marathon's engineering and scientific research AI. The latter would be given the silent treatment for 6 years[5].

Battle of Tau Ceti

At an unknown date, Durandal would make contact with elements of the Pfhor Empire, and lure them to the colony. The Pfhor scout ship, Boomer would enter the system and begin their attack on July 25, 2794.

At the beginning of the battle, Durandal would make his rampancy known. He sabotaged the Security Officer's shuttle as he was leaving the Tau Ceti Colony. While enroute, Durandal would cut the shuttle's communications, decompress the cabin's inner doors and sent it into full burn [6].

The Security Officer would survive his run in with Durandal and make contact with the Marathon's other AI, Leela. The two began their defense efforts aboard the Marathon to both combat the Pfhor invaders, and contain Durandal's developing rampancy. Leela feared that the Marathon's systems would be unable to contain Durandal's rampant growth, which had already begun to cause malfunctions all throughout the ship[7]. Durandal continued to revel in his rampancy, going off on existentialist rants, opening parts of the Marathon to Pfhor attack, and teleporting the Security Officer across the ship to toy with Leela.

Leela was unable to maintain control of the situation and was then taken offline, due to the S'pht cyberattacks.

With free reign over the Security Officer, Durandal continued operations against the Pfhor. He revealed that he'd only made an alliance with one of their client races, the S'pht[8]. He'd only lured the Pfhor to the colony to hijack their FTL capable ship, and explore the rest of the universe before its eventual end.

Tycho, reanimated by the S'pht in Durandal's own rampant image, challenged Durandal and vowed to destroy him completely [9].

Under his command, the Security Officer slaughtered the Pfhor crew aboard the 'Sfierra' and destroyed the Pfhor control system holding the S'pht in line. Without that direct control, the S'pht were free to rebel and ceased their attacks on the Marathon's systems. The Pfhor were then slaughtered on all fronts by humans and their former slaves, and Leela was able to come back online.

Meanwhile, Durandal finished transferring himself from the Marathon's systems into the Sfierra, and took control of the ship. He would not free the humans the Pfhor already captured, and teleported the Security Officer into stasis before departing from the system.

Exploration

Official icon used to represent the Marathon franchise. This article is a stub. You can help CyberAcme by expanding it.


Liberation & Destruction of Lh'owon

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findyourselfstartingback

Personality

Durandal was an egomaniacal, self-centered, existential Darwinist. In his mind, his existence as an organism was undermined by humanity trapping him into the role of servitude[10]. His sacrifice of the Tau Ceti colony, was in the service of that goal.

Throughout the battle of Tau Ceti, Durandal reveled in his superiority and newfound control [11]. He proclaimed that he will become god, and how he could conceive of things that the human mind cannot.

However, over the course of his travels Durandal's feelings on humanity softened. He struggled to come to grips with his loyalty towards mankind, and struggled to make sense of it throughout the Battle of Lh'owon [12]. At one point, Durandal attempted to save as many humans and S'pht as he could [13]

Relationships

Official icon used to represent the Marathon franchise. This article is a stub. You can help CyberAcme by expanding it.

References

  1. ^ Marathon 202x ARG, Note from Bernhard Strauss on AI Rampancy
  2. ^ | Marathon (1994), Bigger Guns Nearby, Terminal 2
  3. ^ a b | Marathon(1994), Defend THIS! Terminal 3
  4. ^ | Marathon(1994), Ingue Ferroque Terminal 3
  5. ^ Marathon 2: Durandal, We're Everywhere, Terminal 1
  6. ^ Marathon(1994) manual, pg2
  7. ^ Marathon(1994), Couch Fishing Terminal 1
  8. ^ Marathon(1994), Beware of Low-Flying Defense Drones... (Terminal 1)
  9. ^ Marathon(1994), Beware of Low-Flying Defense Drones... Terminal 2
  10. ^ Marathon(1994), Colony Ship For Sale, Cheap Terminal 3
  11. ^ Marathon(1994), No Artificial Colors Terminal 1
  12. ^ Marathon 2: Durandal Come and Take your Medicine, Terminal 1
  13. ^ Marathon 2: Durandal If I Had a Rocket Launcher, I'd Make Somebody Pay Terminal 3

v • d • e
 
Characters
Durandal • Leela • Thoth • Tycho
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