Krutock

Krutock - Irilitok Vargr

What he is

Before he lost both arms, Krutock was a rather successful field scientist for Menderes Corporation, the megacorporation that dominates the Julian Protectorate. Krutock mainly worked in gravitics, tuning heavy equipment to work in difficult environments and bringing in good money – for an Irilitok Vargr. But a gravitational accident three years ago brought the good times to an end. Not only did he lose his arms: he was found at fault for the accident, leading to his rapid dismissal from Menderes and the end of medical treatment as well. His partner soon abandoned him, taking the cubs, the house, and the money with her.

Left to beg in Ikon’s underwater cities, he was a sickly destitute with a poor likelihood of surviving the year when a missionary from the School of Hidden Knowledge befriended him as a likely prospect. After learning of his scientific background, the missionary offered to bring him to one of their colleges: the School is always interested in bringing in bright new minds. The promises did not match the reality, but the new reality is far better than the old one: in return for teaching acolytes in the science of gravitics, food, clothing, and shelter was once again his. More importantly, the School helped restore part of his eyesight, and provided light mechanical arms as well: nothing fancy, but again far better than what he had before, which was nothing. Finally, a certain level of respect was again his: Krutock was among the lowest on the academic totem pole, and was still somewhat ignored or treated lightly by society at large, but he had a bit of money and dignity now, and a servant/nurse to help him in his daily chores.

Where he is going

The Director of the local branch of the School recently spoke to Krutock in private. There was an opening for specialists in high-tech gravitics on Gengath, both as teachers and as team leaders. Gengath is unable to locally build or maintain anything gravitic, but the terraforming project to distribute ice from the dead icy moonlets orbiting Gengath to the mainworld herself required imported gravitic platforms from Ikon. All the know-how needed to run things smoothly has to be imported, and the School of Hidden Knowledge has the brains available to reputable buyers – at a reasonable price.

Gengath is an Ikonaz society, so an Irilitok Vargr still isn’t going to fit in well – but a survival wage on TL E Ikon is a king’s ransom on TL 8 Gengath. You can’t buy charisma, but that kind of money – and the services, servants, and friends it can buy – will certainly help gaining and keeping public respect easier. And public respect & deference, charisma, fame… those are the things that are at the very centre of life for the Vargr, even for a feeble, crippled old dog like Krutock.

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Alvin Plummer. "Personality Profiles." Stellar Reaches 21 (2013): 45.

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