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[techmaturgy]

[There are two sets of handwriting here–one careful, deliberate, the other slightly hastier. Still the message is fairly coordinated, and it’s not hard to imagine that the two people willing these words into existence are probably doing so from the same place (because they are).]

Hello everyone, I hope you're all having a good day. My name is Jayce Talis and I have a business in Cadens with my partner Viktor. We're inventors and scientists back home, and we've adjusted to life here creating a variety of objects that might be of interest to people. I'm a blacksmith so primarily my work involves blades, tools, both regular ones and multi-tools, shields, canes, and collapsible versions of everything I make as a family expertise.

[Viktor, for his part, is a bit more to-the-point.]

We’re also in the business of custom projects. Given an idea, I’m reasonably certain we would be able to bring almost anything from concept to completion. Within reason, of course–we’re still working under certain technological limitations, but if a particular tool or device is of interest to you, it’s worth describing to us. We’ll see what we can do.

We wanted to let people in Cadens know that you can come to us and request what you're looking for. We give 15% off everything for the Summoned, but if you're new to the area and can't pay, you can consider anything on loan until you can save up. No hurry, we know it's hard to get started. Unfortunately we're not 100% sure if they'll let us ship these things to the other locations right now, but if that changes we'll let you know. Sorry.

Something that’s also of interest to us is the general working conditions of the mines in Cadens. We have a few ideas for basic improvements and increased safety, but any work we do will require the removal of outdated equipment. Unsurprisingly, the government is not necessarily keen on funding such an endeavor.

So what we're hoping for are volunteers in Cadens who are willing to do some heavy lifting with us to get the dangerous old machinery out of there. It is a volunteer situation although we'd be happy to make you something in thanks.

If there is interest, Jayce and I plan to extend an invitation to our domain, to exchange notes. A meeting of the minds, of sorts, for those of us who are more scientifically-inclined.

We'd really love to pick the minds of fellow scientists, inventors, or tech experts from all locations.

Thank you for your time!

Comments

[techmaturgy]

I'm a mathematician. A physicist. Biology is not my area of expertise, to say nothing of human augmentation.

[Never mind the fact that Tony has seen the plans for the Hexcore and that thing is. Not physics.]

I'm going to do what I have to. I haven't seen you offer any suggestions, unless this is your way of doing so.

[industries]

> It isn't a suggestion, it's a cautionary tale.
>
> Listen
> One of those guys who tried replicating it? Friend of mine. Smart. Like, me-level smart.
> Juiced himself up for science thinking he had it all figured out, and
> he wrecked his life.
> As in
> we-co-invented-and-then-subsequently-launched-a-satellite-into-space-as-a-necessary-civilian-damage-control-for-when-he-loses-his-mind kind of wrecked-his-life.
> So yeah, I'd like to pursue some, uh. Non-dying options for you
> but let's try to avoid the Steve Rogers route
> just saying.

[techmaturgy]

[This!!! Is stupid!!!!]

Is that what you think I'm going to do to myself? I don't want power, or strength, or whatever superhuman abilities this serum (which, I must remind you, I only just learned of) gave to Steve. I just want to live.

1/2

[industries]

>
> I know.

2/2

[industries]

> How much time do you have?

[techmaturgy]

A few months. A year, optimistically.

That was six months ago. Jayce and I are employing various stop-gap methods, for the time being.

[industries]

> Yeah, kinda figured you were dying, from the whole
> you changing the subject every time I said you look like you're dying.
> Also, your boyfriend's general
> intense anxiety.
>
>
> So, it's respiratory. Obviously. Viral? Bacterial?
> Something else?

[techmaturgy]

Jayce is, generally speaking, intensely anxious. In this and other things.

It's a degenerative condition brought about by prolonged chemical exposure over many years. I'm not contagious.

[industries]

> Really? Hadn't noticed.

[ 6'4" pot, meet 5'8" kettle. ]

> I mean, I assumed it wasn't airborne
> or, like, any-other-kind-of-borne, considering
>
> So,
> you guys are smart enough to have tried everything in your Victorian
>> sorry, Piltoverian
> wheelhouse.
> Is that what your "adaptive matrix" was designed for?

[techmaturgy]

Piltovan, but yes. The medical care available here is roughly equivalent to what's available back home, though topside doctors rarely concerned themselves with Undercity ailments.

The Hexcore is designed to fulfill any number of purposes, hence "adaptive". Replicating healing magic, which is so rare as to be legendary, is one of its potential uses.

[industries]

> "Piltovan" sounds like something you'd take for acid reflux.
> But okay.
> Okay, that's

[ What would modern medicine have to say, Tony wonders? He's – okay in that area, but it's not his strongest, especially without the non-invasive body scans and AI-sourced medical databases that he generally relies on. There's the Tower, but the scan itself would be just as unreliable as whatever physical projection Viktor subconsciously manifests, and–

There's also the magic angle to consider. Which, sure, probably just boils down to extreme antimatter mechanics at its core, but Tony doesn't exactly have a background in the practical use of it, and definitely not enough to diagnose someone if they were suffering from it.

So. If there was someone who could help, someone whose resumé absolutely, perfectly fit the bill, it'd probably be – a brilliant MD with surgical skills who also casts spells for their day job. ]

>

[ Oh, for f– ]

> So there's this guy I know
> in Thorne.

[techmaturgy]

Jayce has been learning healing magic. It's good for pain relief, and we have reason to believe it's slowing the deterioration, but it's not a permanent solution.

[Give him a second, just putting together some context clues.]

Stephen Strange?

[industries]

> how did you know

[techmaturgy]

Steve mentioned him as one of your number--the only one in Thorne.

[industries]

> I mean, he's not actually
>
> It's complicated. Point is, he was a doctor where I come from.
> Surgeon, specifically. Good one, from what I understand.
> "Where I come from" being the same place you guys saw from the Tower, which to you guys is Asimov-level science-fiction and to us is a normal Tuesday, so like
> thinking he might be able to give an enlightened second opinion.
>
>
> He's also a wizard.

[techmaturgy]

Yes, he did strike me as more of a magic user than a surgeon.

Tell me. If I had access to the medical technology of your world, what would be my options?

[industries]

> Depends, but there'd be lots of them.
> Dedicated respirator in the short term to keep your O2 stable.
> IV and medication to compensate for anemia – maybe blood transfusions.
> Diagnosis would involve a CT scan of your lungs.
>> (That's a fancy x-ray that screens for abnormal tissue.)
> Probably a bronchoscopy next.
>> (That's a little camera they slide into your lung through a tube.)
> They'd probably grab a biopsy while they're at it – to analyze under microscope, run through spectroscopy tests, etc.
> Maybe chemotherapy or radiation treatment in the long term if the biopsy came back with cancer cells, though
> if it's as advanced as you describe, I'm not sure if that'd be a viable option.
>
> So, surgery, probably.
> Lung transplant, if it came to it.

[techmaturgy]

I suppose I should be heartened that somewhere in the universe, deaths like mine are at least somewhat preventable.

[industries]

>
> Listen, I know this sounds weak, but
> I kind of know how you feel.
> To be dying.
> While something eats you from the inside out.
> Searching everywhere for a cure, wracking the whole of your not-insubstantial brain matter, but no matter what, you
>
> Anyway. I managed to fix that, so. Got an optimistic outlook on fixing you.

[techmaturgy]

I'm sure you did, with the wealth of highly advanced technology available to you.

[So, yes. Weak!!!! But, he understands the sentiment underneath, at least.]

You've seen the plans for the Hexcore. What do you expect to do here that Jayce and I haven't already started?

[industries]

> Not my fault you were born somewhere they still use steam-powered transit, buddy.

[ Sounds like he heard "highly advanced technology" part, but maybe didn't catch the "wealth". Hm. ]

> I wouldn't keep you guys around unless you brought something to the table, which is
> magic-tech synergy, I guess.
> So.
> You guys have it "started". But let's say you manage to replicate
> I dunno, artificial lung tissue or something.
> What then?
> Are you going to graft it? Inject it? Transplant it?
> What's going to keep your blood oxygenated in the interim?
> How are you going to monitor your biometrics after the procedure?
> Who's going to be give the all-clear that there's nothing else to excise?
> Feeling like
> maybe you'd benefit from some people who've seen the future.
> Just saying.

[techmaturgy]

[He and Jayce literally invented teleportation, but whatever!!!]

The point is that we are working with what we have, regardless. Where do you suppose we'll get devices that do such things?

I've seen your work on Sam's wings. Impressive, surely, but still beholden to limits of this place.

[industries]

> Where I come from, I'm literally world-famous for my ability to build things from a box of scraps, so like
> I wouldn't worry.

[techmaturgy]

[????????????]

Are you serious?

[industries]

> As cyanide.
> Or like
> whatever carcinogen that happens to be killing you.
> Anyway,
> I reached out to Strange and he's willing to help.
> Figure I'll reach out the next time our benevolent hosts organize some big diplomatic soirée.