Viktor

Viktor was born and raised in Zaun, the ramshackle Undercity of Piltover. The toxic gases in the fissures young Viktor called home stunted his development. He was left with a malformed leg and a progressive, fatal disease. Viktor’s social isolation in childhood led him to solitary practices. This isolation also led him to Singed, the amoral scientist who became Viktor’s mentor. When Singed tells Viktor his loneliness is due to an intelligent mind, this seems complimentary. Viktor is usually alone and perhaps views himself as someone too superior for the company of other people.

Viktor’s strong conscience and sense of self did not allow Singed to influence the boy’s personality very much.

He witnessed unparalleled violence and poverty that people in Piltover. So much of his worldview and motivations are shaped by this experience that it becomes his driving force in life. As he grows up, Viktor hones his scientific knowledge and mechanical skills in hopes of finding a way to “fix” his body.

As a young man, Viktor immigrated to Piltover. He worked as a research assistant to the university professor, Heimerdinger. Hiemerdinger gave him a place in Piltover, though some will never accept him as their equal. Viktor must always prove himself, and still finds himself hidden in the shadows, noticed only by the few that take him seriously.

Jayce is an inventor who has pledged his life to the defense of Piltover Crest icon Piltover and its unyielding pursuit of progress.

Jayce’s research showed a path to use magic to accelerate technological development drastically. His research hooked into Viktor’s ambition to leave an extraordinary legacy. Viktor and Jayce figured out how to stabilize arcane crystals. Jayce named it Hextech.

About seven years passed, and Piltover changed significantly due to Hextech. The upper city became even more privileged and wealthy, but this did not trickle down to the undercity. Viktor’s ambitions became more acute as his disease progressed. He felt pressure to achieve something great in the short time he had to live.

Viktor’s conscience is again apparent in the debate over the use of Hextech. Viktor always argues in favor of using Hextech to improve the lives of ordinary people, even at the risk of releasing a project too early.

Viktor had neither wealthy patrons nor an upper city background, while Jayce was gifted with both. Viktor began his career with fierce self belief, while Jayce began his in doubt, dependent on the approval of his mother, patrons, and professors. Viktor remained focused on science, while Jayce was corrupted and distracted by politics and romance.