Set in early 20th century Warsaw, CRPGThe Thaumaturgeputs players in the shoes of protagonist Wiktor Szulski, a character gifted with the mysterious powers of Thaumaturgy - that is, the ability to tame mystical entities inspired by various folklores called Salutors.The Thaumaturge’sWiktor and his story seem rather complex, as they intertwine with the game’s lore and narrative surrounding the practice of Thaumaturgy. While possessing magical abilities might sound appealing, life as a Thaumaturge doesn’t seem like a bed of roses for Wiktor, as he grapples with his own demons and family history. Even the game’s slogan, “Everyone has their own demons,” highlights the difficulties he and many other characters will face.
This level of depth of characterization and lore may not be surprising to some, given CD Projekt Red has trustedFool’s Theory with the ongoing development of theWitcher 1 Remake. Game Rant recently interviewed Fool’s Theory Design Director Karolina Kuzia-Rokosz about the protagonist Wiktor’s characteristics, background, and family relationship.
The Thaumaturge: Who Is Wiktor And What Is His Story?
AsThe Thaumaturge’s protagonist, Wiktor Szulski undergoes character development and growth alongside the player’s choices. He has his own wit about him and certain driving motivators, but a lot of his direction will be determined by the players. While possessing the powers and gifts of a Thaumaturge, he is someone with flaws and vices as per human nature, making him a potentially relatable protagonist despite hisunusual magical powers and abilities.
Despite living in his world for 30 years, he still has much to learn about being a thaumaturge. Troubled, lost, and filled with doubt, he is imperfect in every way. Yet, simultaneously, he strives to become a better version of himself. Depending on the player’s choices, he may also succumb to his inborn pride.
His father, Stanisław, shared the gift of thaumaturgy, yet they were never close. Banished from Warsaw 15 years ago for stirring trouble as a young lad, the only family Wiktor can turn to is his twin sister, Ligia, who earnestly wishes for her brother’s return to Warsaw, and his uncle, Alexander. Throughout the game, players will unravel more about the Szulski family and their secrets, with the opportunity to make their own decisions about them.
However, the exact reasons for Wiktor’s banishment remain a mystery for players to discover in Wiktor’s unfolding pursuit of the Salutors and their powers. His pursuit and ultimately why he chases them is something that “has its consequences,” as evident in the prologue.
Players interested inhistorically accurate video gamesmight also be curious to know which historical figures they can meet in the game’s depiction of 1905 Poland in addition to Grigori Rasputin, the infamous Russian mystic. Understandably, Kuzia-Rokosz didn’t reveal the identities of these figures or other Thaumaturge characters, but that, of course, makes the full release all the more enticing. There are more characters to meet, more historically accurate characters to see, more Salutors to tame, and more Thauamturges to face.
The Thaumaturge
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The Thaumaturge is an isometric, story-rich RPG with a unique take on turn-based combat, character development features, and investigation mechanics, facing you with morally ambiguous choices – set in a world teeming with mysterious powers and strange ethereal beings called salutors.The year is 1905. Warsaw lives under the yoke of imperial Russian tsardom. Its inhabitants constitute a diverse group of different ancestries, views, and beliefs with often conflicting interests: Russian soldiers, Jewish merchants, Polish townspeople, and more. Despite the circumstances, the city is a buzzing metropolis, where one can attend a breathtaking party with the high society, and later get robbed in one of the dark alleys of the Praga district. A city of great hopes and dreams on one hand and dark desires on the other.A thaumaturge bears both a gift and a burden at the same time. This parallel holds true for Wiktor Szulski, the game’s titular protagonist, who is drawn back to the tumultuous streets of 20th-century Warsaw by family matters. The gift of thaumaturgy is intertwined with family legacy, passed down through one’s ancestors. This mystical inheritance significantly shapes Wiktor’s life journey tied around a pursuit of unearthly entities and their hosts. As only a thaumaturge can tame these ethereal entities - known to a select few as salutors - utilizing their mystical abilities to discover secrets hidden within the human soul and speak to the Darkness, no one understands quite like Wiktor how everyone suffers their own demons.
