Jayce

Jayce Talis is a scientist and He is one of the main characters who appears in Arcane.After years of success leading Piltover Crest icon Piltover's scientific and consequently its economic progress, he becomes the current De-Facto Head of the Council of Piltover.

At some point his father passed away, leaving the Talis family hammer business to him and his mother Ximena Ximena.

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 young Jayce's desire to learn more about magic, which led to him basing his life's work on researching how to harness magic through science.[1]

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.[1][2] 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 Heimerdinger, and by the Kiramman Clan Crest Kirammans who saw his ambition and decided to support him as his patrons.

Some time after buying supplies from Benzo OriginalSquare in the Lanes, Jayce returned to his workshop just in time for him to realize that it had been broken into. One 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 in an emotional plea. However, rather than convincing the Council that the benefits of his work would be revolutionary and that Piltover can master the science, his plea invoked fear among the Council of the dangers of unchecked magic in the hands of those with no innate Arcane talent. Councilor Bolbok 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 Kiramman turned her back on Jayce, though their daughter Caitlyn 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.

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 Viktor, the Dean's assistant, who decided to help him with his research.[1] Jayce made Viktor his partner and with Viktor's advice, Jayce realized how he could stabilize the hex crystals and create magic. Racing against time to prove the efficacy of his research the day before his equipment is scheduled to be destroyed, Viktor and Councilor Mel Medarda Councilor Mel Medarda helped him break into Heimerdinger's laboratory to reclaim his crystals and materials, and ultimately 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. Harnessing magic was proven possible. Jayce coined the term "Hextech" as the science and practice of harnessing magic via technology. Though Heimerdinger was impressed, he was still conflicted about embracing it due to the risks it posed, but the ambitious Councilor Medarda Councilor Medarda arrived and proclaimed that they should bring it to the Council.[4]

Jayce would eventually earn the support of the other Councilors, working for them to create the Hexgates that revolutionized trade and transportation, and putting Piltover on the map as the global shipping lane. Being credited for Piltover's newfound prosperity, Jayce became popular in Piltover and was given the moniker "The Man of Progress."

During the Piltovan Bicentennial, Jayce and Viktor would present their new inventions and hextech gemstone improvements to Heimerdinger Heimerdinger, showing him the immediate potentials of hextech as tools for easier labor. Though impressed, Heimerdinger advised the two that they need more time to ensure their inventions were safe enough for use (much to the objections of both Mel and Viktor).

For Progress Day, the Council had Jayce give the event's main speech addressing the attendees, an honor usually only done by Heimerdinger. While Jayce had plans to showcase his new hexgem innovations, he ended up not doing it (much to the disappointment of Mel and Viktor). Before the end of the day, a Zaunite a Zaunite stole one of the gemstones that was intended to be showcased during the speech event; in fear of the thief potentially weaponizing it, Jayce suggested to the Council that they shut down all Hextech operations, worrying the Councilors who have businesses dependent on the Hexgates. Mel 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.

As a councilor, Jayce has been working with Sheriff Marcus Marcus to track down the thief of the stolen gemstone, and has also began tightening security at the Hexgates, uncovering many forms of illegal trading—including those conducted by Piltovan citizens. However, other councilors took an unfavorable view of Jayce's decisions which protected Piltover from an imminent threat but at their expense. Only Mel supported him in his actions and counseled him, eventually seducing him and becoming his lover. Under Mel's influence, Jayce would quickly adapt to the quid pro quo dynamics of politics and surprisingly became adept at gaining the favor of powerful merchants and councilors. However, while Jayce was distracted with politicking, he failed to recognize Viktor's deteriorating health until he ended up in the hospital.[5]

When Jayce learns that Viktor is dying, Jayce would support his friend in the development of his hexcore hexcore, which was able to alter organic life (possibly even saving Viktor's). When both of the scientists presented the hexcore to Heimerdinger, the yordle objected to the device's existence, stating that it's too dangerous to exist (possibly causing another magical catastrophe) and that he would do everything to destroy it. Angered by Heimerdinger's reaction, Jayce—thanks to the influence he gained with the other councilors—decides to betray Heimerdinger and demand his council resignation so that Viktor can seek his cure through the hexcore. At the same time, under the advice of Marcus during the conflict between The Lanes and the city of Piltover, Jayce decides to declare a total lockdown on all the bridges connecting north to south of Piltover (where the undercity is located) until a possible solution is found, leaving the people outside on the other side of the city in a state of repudiation and unrest. Furthermore, when Sheriff Marcus informs Jayce that his friend Caitlyn used his authority to release a prisoner named Vi Vi.

As the tension between Piltover and Zaun rose, Mel suggested to create hextech weapons for the defense of the city, which Viktor vehemently objected to. Due to increased stress, Jayce would take some time at the LoR Non-Champion Non-Spell Indicator 3 Talis house forge, making his future Mercury Hammer Mercury Hammer. Just recently, he vented his frustrations about the crisis on Viktor when picking him up at the bridge. Viktor was in the undercity the day before the borders closed off and was unaware of the lockdown and greatly upset about Jayce's actions and behavior. Tensions were on an all time high when Jinx Jinx killed numerous enforcers on the same bridge later during the night, killing Sheriff Marcus in the process.[7]

Due to the inabilities of Piltover to deal with the situation, Mel's mother Ambessa Ambessa invited Jayce to her family home, giving him a critique on the Piltover Council's impotence and advice on how to deal with the undercity threat. With Marcus dead, all of his past dealings with the undercity were uncovered from his office, with Jayce and the other council members discussing what to do next. Around the same time, Vi Vi and Caitlyn Caitlyn arrived during the council meeting and implored them to take actions against Silco Silco, as they had evidence that he was behind the recent crisis. While most of the councilors pushed for a diplomatic solution, Jayce wanted to respond with militant action. This would lead Vi to later track Jayce down to his family forge and make a deal with him to work together (taking his Atlas Gauntlets Atlas Gauntlets) and assault one of Silco's shimmer factories inside of the undercity.

While Jayce, Vi, and their group of enforcers had some difficulties against the Chemtank guards Chemtank guards, the assault eventually proved successful. However, during the fight, Jayce unintentionally kills a child (later revealed to be Renni OriginalSquare son) that worked in the factory and was caught in the crossfire of the fight.[8] While they were able to dismantle the shimmer production, Jayce would directly experience the price of war when he caused the death of a kid. Vi told him that the exploitation of the undercity inhabitants is a common thing and that the topsiders were oblivious to it, ignored it, and that they directly cause it by allowing the situation to fester. Troubled by the prospect of more death, Jayce ordered the end of all military attacks on Silco. Vi however, argued that the situation in the Undercity will only fester unless they continue to fight Silco. Emotional, Jayce would demand and threaten her to return his Atlas Gauntlets Atlas Gauntlets—but Vi refused, as she was willing to fight to the death for them. Ultimately he dialed back on his demand once he saw that nothing good would come from a fatal conflict with Vi. Before he leaves Vi to her own devices, he cautions her that she won't make it alone.

Post-Assault After the assault Jayce would meet up with Viktor, ultimately saving his friend from committing suicide by approaching him the same way Viktor approached him several years ago. Regretting their past actions, both inventors would console each other, with Viktor requesting to Jayce to dismantle the Hexcore for him since he was unable to do it himself.[9]

Ultimately the events of the shimmer factory assault lead Jayce to contact Silco directly. They met privately in a secluded coastal area. Silco would offer his peace proposals: the autonomy and independence of Zaun, blanket amnesty for the people of Zaun, as well as the free access to the shipping lanes and the Hexgates. Jayce in exchange demanded for the dismantling of all shimmer factory and shimmer production, return of the stolen hextech gemstone, as well as extradition of Jinx to Piltover (much to Silco's objections).[9]

During the blood moon council meeting, Jayce, accompanied by Viktor, announced his withdraw from the world of politics after his last act: accepting Silco's proposal for peace which would result in Zaun's full independence. Initially, all the councilors besides Mel were vehemently against this proposal. After calming down and some convincing, they unanimously decide to approve the peace treaty; right before Jinx ArcaneSquare missile missile hit the council chambers.[9]

It is unknown what happened to all the councilors, Jayce, and Viktor after the attack.

Jayce is a tall, muscular, and tanned man. He has hazel eyes and styled dark hair. Jayce can be seen wearing typical Piltovan clothing, sometimes wearing more elegant expensive outfits during council matters.

Jayce Talis is charismatic, idealistic, and altruistic; yet he starts off naive in regards to the complexity and difficulties of the progress that he desires. Jayce is driven to uplift people from suffering and hardship, no matter their lot in life, and is determined to use hextech to empower society to improve their lives. However, Jayce naively thought society would naturally use hextech for the public good and did not take into account that malefactors could misuse hextech for war or to inflict suffering.

Once Jayce realized his hextech enterprise could be used to do the public harm rather than good, Jayce selflessly offers to shut down his hextech enterprise for the security of Piltover. However, the affluent Piltover Councilors who've benefited financially from hextech refuses to relinquish its boons—and with Mel Medarda's meddling, Jayce was thrust to the position of Councilor so that he would be made responsible for the safety of Piltover while Piltover can still reap the benefits of hextech.

Being inexperienced in the volatile politics of Piltover and its increasingly hostile sister city of Zaun, Jayce tries to put the welfare of the people, both Piltover and eventually even Zaun, first. However, Jayce has been forced to compromise his ideals for the sake of pragmatism, even having to conform to the corruption of politics in order to drum up enough support for his agendas and also to protect his House from political enemies. He would betray his longtime mentor Heimerdinger because he continues to obstruct research that could save his friend Viktor's life.

His failure to find perfect, immediate solutions fuel his doubts and causes him to make rash rectifications; even to the point of entering an imprudent conflict with Silco. Ultimately, once he realized his thoughtless actions could endanger innocent Zaunites, Jayce pulls back on reckless conflict and returns to his ideals of trying to do good for all. Jayce then learns to remain steadfast to his ideals and seeks to broker a peace with Zaun. Jayce hopes that by progressing in the right direction, both Piltover and Zaun will eventually find common ground and become allies.

Jayce is not afraid to go against the Piltover Council's wishes (shutting down a shimmer factory as well as making a deal with Silco) or throw his weight around to stop the conflicts between Piltover and Zaun. This illustrates that Jayce doesn't mold his decisions to suit others nor does he seek their approval. For Jayce, he must do what he feels is right regardless of how unpopular it is because it is the only way to ensure society has a brighter future.