Bio

In the engineering bay, you see a small brown suede satchel left propped open, the tattered remains of a diary sits halfway out of the bag. Many of the pages that aren’t torn from the diary are stained with soot and unreadable. What remains is the timeline of a determined and quirky inventor.

Thaddeus’ Diary

Year 153, Leo 16. Age 14.

I have to keep myself occupied, dad always brings home Salvaged gear but mom and dad always seem so disappointed in me when I tinker with them. I’ve fixed so many things around here. Thank goodness for my big brother Theo, he always takes care of me.

Year 155, Taurus 14 Age 16

I have collected my belongings over the last week. Theo must have noticed but he hasn’t said anything. Forgive me brother, but I can’t stand being chastised for my passion. I love tinkering and I love my ‘toys’. I took Theo’s map of the local region and I intend on leaving for Rustview.

Year 155, Gemini 12.

I finally made it. I’m hungry and tired, I ran out of food days ago but I still have some scraps left over. I have resorted to working for an old man at the scrap yard that I have been hiding at. I can never understand what he says though, his thick accent and thicker mustache muffle all of his words. His wife is nice though, she feeds me when she can. I’m still often struck by hunger but I have a lot of time to tinker and I learn a lot from my work.. Today we fixed an old airship’s engine, I don’t know how old or how well it works now. It got me wondering about them. I would like to build my own ship one day.

Year 156, Leo 4, Age 17.

Over the last year, the scrapyard owner and I had been restoring an old airship for a local, a “Queen’s Guile” model. It was nothing but a small winged skiff. The old vanguards used them for scouting but some were fitted with scorpions. The new owner was a tall, quiet man named Alset Alokin. At one point he was a notorious inventor, famous for reinventing a power core, similar to the old magitech, or so I hear. It never caught on though, the old genius never recorded any of his finding and it became unreliable and nigh impossible to replicate, let alone mass produce. It caught the attention of a business man named Edisole. He ended up destitute and robbed of his work. As it turns out Rustview isn’t just where dreams go to die. Its where dreams linger aimlessly before they get smothered by ale and whores.
Either way, none of my concern. We are both here and he has decided to take me in as his apprentice. The man is a genius, fortune might just be finally starting to smile on me.

Year 158 Leo 23. Age 19

There is never a moment where I am not learning anything. As time went on he began to tell me about himself. About his dreams, as a child Mr.Alokin was struck by lighting during a static storm. Turns out the skiff we repaired was his father’s and fell apart during the storm. Mr.Alokin told me (again and again) that it was his dream to harness that energy. Nothing I could help him with since he refused to record his work, or rather he didn’t need too.
My parents were always critical of my passion but Mr.Alokin calls me gifted. The other evening he called me a young prodigy in front of his peers, I couldn’t possibly be that good – it’s just all had, my work. I’m still working for the thick mustached gentleman in the scrap yard during the day but I’m finding it increasingly difficult to focus on repairs when I can be learning and inventing.

Year 160, Scorpio 3. Age 21

I was finishing up an order from the local militia. Three hundred and twelve guns repaired, all fixed in four days. She approached me and called to me, but I couldn’t see past her emerald eyes. She called a second time and I finally came to. She introduced herself as Ophelia Adelaide. Lady Ophelia Adelaide, the name ran down my tongue like a sweet honey liquor. I’ll never forget the grace she moved and spoke with nor will I forget how elegant she looked, her brunette hair swayed with her walk and ran down her shoulder to her ebony silk over-shirt. The brass on her corset was clean, she must come from a wealthy family, to come all this way down into the actual view of Rustview. A reminder that I will never escape this dump let alone see anything more than the glimmer from the Spire. Lady Ophelia and I talked for hours but she only came in because she needed her great grandfather’s watch repaired and none of the high rise repair shops could or would fix it.

Year 160, Scorpio 5.

I haven’t been able to sleep nor have I been able to focus on my studies. Lady Ophelia visited again both today and yesterday to ask about the watch. Its very obvious she’s using it as an excuse to see me.

Year 160, Scorpio 7.

I finally got a good look at the watch and I don’t quite understand how it was supposed to work. Instead of the typical mechanical components there’s nothing but a clear stone, I should probably show Mr.Alokin tomorrow, he would know.

Year 160, Scorpio 13.

Ophelia has been stopping by much more and and bringing me snacks to encourage me to keep working on the watch. She also scolded me for constantly labeling her “miss”, said she was far too young for that. I suppose she isn’t wrong, after all I am her elder by two years.
Mr.Alokin made a breakthrough on the watch, he told me that instead of a mainspring and a gear train her watch was supposed to be powered by the stone itself. He began to go on about how the stone is made of silicon dioxide and it created an alternating electric current that powered the gears in the watch. I had a little difficulty comprehending him. If it doesn’t click or blow steam I don’t always get it.
Mr.Alokin compared it to a beating heart when he tried to explain it to me. Perhaps unintentional, it was the most poetic thing I had heard anyone say and I won’t soon forget it.

Year 160 Scorpion 17. Age 22

Today was my birthday and I normally would not have cared as I haven’t celebrated it since I was a child at home with my brother Theo and our parents. I didn’t celebrate it but the scrap yard owner’s wife always made me a pastry, which I ate and sometimes had to pretend to enjoy it. However when she visited me today she broke my heart. She talked hours about her and her husband who every one called ‘Old Man Sprocket’ affectionately and their son – who they called Gizmo. Their son died in the Civil War Twenty-Seven years ago. A stupid war over stupid old world technology that neither settlement understood. She told me that I reminded them of their son and they even considered me their own. Sprocket was ill and old and wanted me to take over the repair shop and scrap yard. I didn’t want either of them but I accepted. When she left I fell to me knees and sobbed like a child.
When I finally managed to collect my thoughts and got my emotions in check I heard a soft knock at my door. I called them in and I was met with a bright, smiling Ophelia. In her arms was a plate of soft pastries. They were scrumptious, flaky yet buttery and soft. She had the brightest smile strewn across her face when she saw how much I enjoyed them. She baked them for my birthday, a sweet girl. Ophelia if only you knew that you are too good for a scrapyard rat like me. I spent the evening in town with her, drank a lot and I wish I could remember what happened after.

Year 162, Sagittarius. Age 23

I heard the trumpets and the marching, a small group of soldiers stood at my door. Their iron armor hid their faces, I thought they came to execute me to be honest – for my association with a high top lady. Might as well have though, I’m being drafted. The neighboring regions have finally caused enough alarm to warrant real military action. I and to gather my tool’s and belongings by nightfall when I will have to wait at the base of the Spire.

Year 162 Cancer 12

We got ambushed this morning by a group of the rebels, they caught our ship separated from the others and we were shorthanded. I was forced to put a stop to my repairs on our cargo when the door burst open. I turned to find a young man no older than I was looking me in the eyes. This exchange was followed by the blast of a pistol. I thought I was already dead, panic set in and I clenched the trigger of my own gun. He only grazed my side but I shot him in the chest. He stared into my eyes as he fell to the floor. The name Uriah escaped his lips and it shook me from my fear-induced trance. I ran over to him and held him up. He asked me to tell his brother, Uriah, that he loved him. I saw no hate for me in his eyes when he looked at me. We were not enemies. The man handed me a ring before he died, a memento. When everything calmed down I requested that he be given a proper burial and the offer accepted my request.

Year 165, Aquarius 21. Age 25

The war finally ended last month. We quelled the rebellion but I know we were the villains. It was simply the downtrodden fighting to give themselves and their kin in line a future. It was civil unrest.
When my ship arrived at the port I was greeted by Ophelia. As she embraced me her eyes swelled up with tears, , if I could I would have cried with her. I stopped by Master Alokin’s and soon after visited the scrap yard. In the evening Ophelia and I hit the town. It was piss poor in taste but I missed Rustview’s ale.

Year 165 Aquarius 30

I realized something the other night when I couldn’t sleep. Growing up I never paid much attention to the fairer sex but I’ve started to understand what I desired. In my mind I have begun to fancy the idea of marriage. I wanted a woman who supported my passions. Someone who listened to me ramble on for hours, even if she was disinterested and only humoring me.
When the world falls from the sky it will all be okay because I will I will have woken up next to her. That woman is my dear Ophelia.

Year 165, Pisces 8

I have been having a difficult time sleeping as of late and an even harder time falling back into my old routine. Work, Mr.Aslet, the watch and the occasional eve with Ophelia.

h6.Year 165, Gemini 12

This morning Ophelia mentioned that I have been having been acting distant. Have I? I think I’m just distracted. I don’t mean to be distant, but I didn’t have an answer as to why.

Year 165, Cancer 20

This morning Ophelia left me, she said I’ve changed – that I’ve because so distant from the war. “Something died inside of you out there Thaddeus. The part of you I really loved.”, her words stung and echoed in my head. Rumor is that she left me for a member of the Royal Guard of one of the largest and most prestigious fleets of Engea, the HMAV (Her Majesty’s Armed Vessel) Victory was the ship he was with. A tremendous ship that left behind wild tales. I once heard someone say that the HMAV Victory could sink a city in half a minute. It was a ship with a crew that was considered the best of the best. I am just a scrapyard rat. His name was Warren Longhurst, one of the HMAV Victory’s top ranked gunners. It was better for her this way, he was wealthy and could take care of her.

Year 165, Libra 2

I’ve been focusing on my studies with Mr.Alokin a lot more but today I was distracted, we took another look at the watch and I lost my focus. I ran my tab up at the tavern quite a bit.

Dear Lady Ophelia Adelaide,
I thought I couldn’t take care of you, now I can’t see the day. When you first stepped into Gadget’s shop, I fell for you and your eyes. I guess I’m a sucker for pretty eyes but you were so much more than pretty eyes. You were a pretty smile and always curious. Most of all you challenged me in ways I never expected and put up with me when I never met those challenges. Oh Ophelia, I’ll never forget you even if there comes a time I will no longer love you. You still give me feelings that people write novels about. One day I’ll fix your great grandfather’s watch and return it to you. Perhaps one day I’ll be good enough for you, until then I will remain and steadfast and passionate about my work.
Lady Ophelia. I hope you always find a reason to smile.
Always with love and adoration,
Thaddeus Letchfield

Year 166, Aries 26. Age 26

Master Alset Alokin’s poor health finally caught up to him. While he may be retiring I’m not going to let our dream of harnessing lightning die. Before the night ended I took a long look at Uriah’s ring and hit the bottle again.

Year 167 Virgo 7, Age 27

Of all the people to show up these days, Theodor found me. He was going on about how I should join a guild with him and become a Steampunk. The only guild that would accept a no-name like me would be Gestalt.

Year 167, Virgo 8

I never game him an answer but I had what little valuables I owned gathered. Yesterday Theodor joked that I would die young if I didn’t get out of Rustview and he was right. There is nothing left for me here. I have Gadget’s wife a farewell hug and bid adieu to the master. I’m nervous, but at the same time inspired and excited. The skies of Ticvorna wait for me.