Evelynn Character Update: Evelynn is Senna

We all know Riot has been trying to figure out what to do with Evelynn for a while. Her current concept is a mess with no real thematic ties other than, for all intensive purposes, “evil stripper”. This is a pretty bad character, and as one of two female characters to have any ties to the Shadow Isles I think it should really be brought up to a higher level. Elise fills the role of the femme fetal quite well, and there doesn’t need to be two of those characters associated with a single location.

So, what are some other ideas? I’ve heard some concepts of turning her into a “succubus” type character, and I can see that working to an extent, but I think Riot can do better. Like I said, there’s a lot riding on this girl and she deserves a really awesome character. Perhaps I may make a suggestion?

Evelynn is Senna.

Okay, so, hear me out.

First thing you’re going to have to do is let go of Evelynn as a character right now. Pretend that the releases of Evelynn and Lucian/Thresh are not separated by years. Pretend that, up until right now she did not exist, but will be born here for the very first time. Okay, so, now that we’ve put that down I can actually make my argument. Let’s look at these two characters and who they are, what they are, and why making them one and the same is a great story.

Starting with Senna;

Like the twin relic weapons they wielded, Lucian and his wife Senna were carved from the same stone. Together they battled evil in Runeterra for years, bringing light to darkness and purging those taken by corruption. They were beacons of righteousness: Senna's dedication to their cause never faltered, while Lucian's kindness and warmth touched the hearts of the many lives they saved. Two parts of one whole, they were devoted and inseparable.

So, here we have this badass couple going around Runeterra and blasting up zombies and monsters. Awesome! But, tragedy strikes!

“It was grim work, but the fearless pair prevailed until one tragic encounter with the soul-collector Thresh. Lucian and Senna had faced such nightmarish undead before, but never one so deviously clever and cruel. As the terrible battle unfolded, Thresh sprung an unexpected ploy. To Lucian's horror, the creature tricked Senna and ensnared her soul, trapping her in a spectral prison.”

And this is essentially the last we see of Senna in any story. Lucian resolves to destroy Thresh, potentially what remains of his wife’s soul, and anything that gets in his way. (If you want to see these two in action I highly recommend watching this fan-made storyboard. It is absolutely brilliant.)

fan-made storyboard

Now, let’s look at Evelynn: …well, she’s connected to the Shadow Isles! That’s something worth keeping.

###How do these two characters go work as one?

#Re:Edit: Please see my comment to Siachi down below. Much of what I said here has been revised within that comment.

Consider this a “Part 2” to Lucian’s story. Imagine, if you will, Lucian several months after this event. Distraught, he continues his onslaught in vanquishing evil, pushing his way towards the Shadow Isles itself. He goes it alone, despite attempts at help from others who also fight for his cause. The pain is personal, and runs deep. He might die any day, but he doesn’t care, because the only thing left in his heart is vengeance. BUT, one day on the battlefield the endless hordes of evil part to reveal who else, but Thresh. Instantly consumed by hatred, Lucian makes a bee-line for Thresh, guns blazing. However, Thresh manages to subdue Lucian, all the while taunting him relentlessly. At the end, Lucian believing his end has finally come, Thresh never makes the killing blow. Instead, he steps back revealing a figure lingering in the shadows. Shocked, Lucian realizes this figure looks just like Senna. Confused, he calls out to her, reaches for her.

“Senna!” he cries.

“No”, the voices says from the darkness. “That name died with me. I’m something new now. Something greater. Call me…Evelynn.”

Making her way towards him, Lucian realizes that despite their similarities this “Senna” is twisted and corrupted. Thresh asks if she wants to make the killing blow, and he tells him to beat it. This is between her and Lucian. With much reluctance, he pulls back into the darkness. Clearly she outranks him. Thresh asks if she wants to make the killing blow, and she lovingly curls her fingers through Threshes head-chains while she describes the pain she's going to inflict on her former lover. Laughing, Thresh embraces her in front of Lucian, and he is in horror. This is far and beyond his worst nightmare. Once Thresh leaves, the woman strikes at the confused Lucian. He manages to dodge blow after blow, and while doing so they spar words. He wants to know what happened to her and she merely taunts him in response. In the end, he manages to corner her and she pleads with him to spare her, while he tells her the Senna he loved would never want to be the abomination she had become. As a last ditch effort, she tells him that she knows about the Shadow Isles’ true power, and about their true master. Taken aback, tempted by this knowledge of his enemy, Lucian hesitates and Evelynn uses this moment to get away (imagine she ults and speeds away into stealth). And then Lucian is just left there wondering what he is going to do.

###Why does this work?

But, enough of the fanfiction; why does this work? First, it provides a push in story for Lucian, the Shadow Isles (and the related characters), but most importantly Evelynn herself. You may notice that a lot of Evelynn was left unspecified in that brief little character pitch, and I think that’s important. A large part of Evelynn’s character is mystery. I mean, she’s a stealth champion after all. She’s kind of like Mystique, from X-men, or Kerrigan, from Starcraft, in that you’re not exactly sure which side she’s on. Perhaps she’s being controlled by the Shadow Isles and doesn’t want to fight under their banner. Perhaps she really has been turned into a monster. Who knows? Evelynn knows and no one else. There’s a good chance to make a fairly complex character with a lot of conflicting motivations, and I think that’s a good territory to take Evelynn in.

Edit: I altered Thresh and Evelynn's relationship to be more, at least outwardly, physically romantic. Evelynn shouldn't really replace Thresh as Lucian's ultimate rival, but add complications to their simple binary. She is the gray to their black and white.