Jayce Talis

**Jayce Talis** is a scientist and innovator, and, after years of success leading the city's scientific and consequently its economic progress, is currently the Head of the Council of Piltover.

## Biography

### Early life

When Jayce was young, he and his mother got caught in a snowstorm seemingly with no one around for miles. Just when his mother collapsed, a cloaked man arrived who used magic to warp them a safe distance away from the blizzard. The man left Jayce the crystal he'd used for his spell. This encounter shaped the young Jayce's desire to learn more about magic and to turn his research later in his life to harness magic through science.

Being part of House Talis, a family of renowned toolmakers most known for their hammers and the collapsible pocket wrench, most expected Jayce to join their family business. Jayce, however, was determined in his research into science and the Arcane. Eventually, he became a scholar at the Academy in Piltover where he was favored by the Dean and the Head of the Council, Professor Heimerdinger, and by the Kirammans who saw his ambition and decided to support him as his patrons.

### Season 1

#### Act 1

Some time after buying supplies from Benzo's in the Lanes, Jayce returned to his workshop just in time for him to realize that it had been broken into. One of the children inside accidentally dropped one of his many unstable crystals and caused an explosion. This alerted Heimerdinger, the authorities, and the Council of his unauthorized research and was put on trial in front of the Council.

Despite Heimerdinger's suggestion, Jayce told the Council about his research being for harnessing magic through science, invoking fear among the Council of the dangers of unchecked magic in the hands of those with no innate Arcane talent. Councilor Bolbok moved to have Jayce exiled, after which Jayce's mother stepped forward and pled his case. Heimerdinger allowed it and instead asked the Council for a more lenient punishment—Jayce's expulsion from the Academy. Councilor Kiramman turned her back on Jayce, though their daughter Caitlyn maintained her belief in him, and he was resigned to the idea that he would have to follow in his father's footsteps after all.

> That research is everything. My… my whole life.
>
> Jayce, "The Base Violence Necessary for Change"

To Jayce, his punishment was worse than death, to the point where he contemplated jumping off of his former workshop's building, before he was stopped by Viktor, the Dean's assistant, who decided to help him with his research. With Viktor's advice, Jayce realized how he could stabilize the crystals. Racing against time to prove the efficacy of his research the day before his equipment is scheduled to be destroyed, Viktor helped him break into Heimerdinger's laboratory to reclaim his crystals and test their theory.

Their attempts with their new calculations caused bright lights and a minor explosion that caught the attention of Heimerdinger and the enforcers, but by the time they'd forced their way into the laboratory, the crystal had stabilized, with Jayce, Viktor, and other objects around them floating in the air with the crystal. Though Heimerdinger was impressed, he was still conflicted about embracing it due to the risks it posed, but the ambitious Councilor Medarda arrived and proclaimed that they should bring it to the Council.

#### Act 2

> **Mel Medarda**Perhaps it's time. For the era of magic.**Jayce**Uh, Hextech. For the era of Hextech.— "The Base Violence Necessary for Change"

Jayce eventually earned the support of the other Councilors. Years later, Jayce met the Council's conditions to allow him and Viktor to continue their research—they further stabilized the crystal and created Hexgates that revolutionized trade and transportation for Piltover and the world, and putting Piltover on the map as the global shipping lane. He and Viktor hoped to present their latest findings where their stable Hextech Gemstone could be used to power tools that would make work easier for their laborers. Though impressed, Heimerdinger advised the two that they need more time to ensure its safety.

For Progress Day, the Council had Jayce give the speech addressing the attendees, an honor usually only done by Heimerdinger. Before the end of the day, a Zaunite stole the Gemstone; in fear of the thief potentially weaponizing it, Jayce suggested to the Council that they shut down all Hextech operations, worrying the Councilors who had business dependent on the gates. Mel then recommended that Jayce be instated as a Council member to better serve his goal of safeguarding the Hexgates and thus all matters dependent on it—a radical suggestion since the Council has traditionally only held seven seats. With Heimerdinger's agreement, the rest of the Council followed and Jayce became the eighth Councilor.

## Appearances

 "Happy Progress Day!":**Appears**
 "The Boy Savior":**Appears**

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Nick Luddington (writer) and Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord (directors) (November 6, 2021). "Some Mysteries Are Better Left Unsolved". *Arcane*. Season 1. Episode 2. Netflix.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 David Dunne (writer) and Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord (directors) (November 13, 2021). "Happy Progress Day!". *Arcane*. Season 1. Episode 4. Netflix.
3. ↑ Christian Linke, Alex Yee (writers) and Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord (November 6, 2021). "Welcome to the Playground". *Arcane*. Season 1. Episode 1. Netflix.
4. ↑ Ash Brannon (writer) and Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord (directors) (November 6, 2021). "The Base Violence Necessary for Change". *Arcane*. Season 1. Episode 3. Netflix.
5. ↑ Amanda Overton (writer) and Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord (directors) (November 13, 2021). "Everybody Wants to Be My Enemy". Season 1. Episode 5. Netflix.
6. ↑ Alex Yee (writer) and Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord (directors) (November 13, 2021). "When These Walls Come Tumbling Down". *Arcane*. Season 1. Episode 6. Netflix.
7. ↑ Nick Luddington and Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord (directors) (November 20, 2021). "The Boy Savior". Season 1. Episode 7. Netflix.
8. ↑ Ben St. John, Mollie St. John (writers) and Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord (directors) (November 20, 2021). "Oil and Water". *Arcane*. Season 1. Episode 8. Netflix.
9. ↑ Christian Linke, Alex Yee (writers) and Pascal Charrue, Arnaud Delord (November 20, 2021). "The Monster You Created". *Arcane*. Season 1. Episode 9. Netflix.