[open] january/february catchall

[techmaturgy]

Who: Viktor and special guests and YOU
When: January through early February
Where: Cadens, the Horizon
What: open stuff, closed stuff, dangerous and illicit magical surgery, the usual
Warnings: the usual references to terminal illness including a steep decline and medical procedures/surgery. will list additional warnings as needed.

[open and closed starters in comments! This is also a general catch-all for Viktor’s do-or-die attempt to cure himself, and the events leading up to it, and his recovery (to come later). If you want a custom starter or something specific, just hit me up. full horizon details are here for any and all wildcarding needs. For everything else, I’m on plurk at whitticus and on discord at whitticus#8139.]

Comments

[aquilus]

Would that we could all be so decisive and successful in critical moments.

[Of course, it's better to not have to be decisive about saving one's own life to begin with.]

Was it magic or other advances available in this land that helped you? If it's not too intrusive to ask.

[As they've just established, not his business. But he can't help but be curious, as a man who's seen too many die deaths that should have been avoidable and weren't.]

[techmaturgy]

It was a personal project that I adapted to this world’s rules.

[So, a bit of both, and the fact that Viktor seems to have worked on it prior to arriving here might give some indication of just how long this has been in progress.]

Unfortunately, I have nothing to show for it. We destroyed it soon after.

[He doesn’t think he needs to explain why.]

[aquilus]

[Altaïr actually isn't sure he knows exactly why. But based on what he's heard, he can make a good guess.]

Then it's a fortunate thing that it did what it was meant to do. Your life is certainly something to show for it.

[techmaturgy]

Well, it had...other applications.

[Things that could really help this world, if he were allowed to refine his work further. Jayce, however, had been frightened of what happened during the procedure, and that was enough for Viktor to table the issue for now.]

But it wasn't worth the risk. The Free Cities would weaponize it. This is for the best.

[aquilus]

[His expression clouds over at that. Even if he doesn't understand enough of the magic/science to know how it could be weaponized, Altaïr doesn't doubt Viktor's words.]

I suspect that would be the case for any project that could be used that way. Ultimately, we're a resource to be plundered.

[techmaturgy]

Yes, I suppose that's the best way to put it.

[Depressing as it is. The Summoned are useful when it's convenient, and stifled more often than not, counterproductively. He still isn't sure what the government wants with them, most of the time.

Viktor tries not to sound so despondent about it. He pulls his mouth into a tight-lipped smile.]

Thank you. For stopping by.

[aquilus]

[There are several better ways to put it, but none would be accurate.]

Of course. Stay well, Viktor.

[Now that he can. Altaïr nods and steps toward the door.]