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A Note on “The Shadows Beckon”

Riot··0 votes·18,703 views

Evelynn is one of our oldest champions and, like Yorick, she’s due for a lore update. We think there’s an opportunity to give the Widowmaker more meaningful motivation and a better backstory, so that the malice in her stealthy assassinations doesn’t just feel like it was strapped on as an afterthought.

Evelynn is one of those champs with a “dark, secret past,” but most of us associate her with the Shadow Isles. With all the new Shadow Isles lore recently released, we figured it would be disappointing to leave her out.

That’s why we wrote a short piece especially for Eve players—those of you that embody agony’s embrace and strike terror in our hearts with ganks we never see coming. This “color text” is intended to capture Eve as you know her today: the fiend you love and the rest of us fear. That being said, we think we can do even better by Evelynn and her lore, so keep in mind when reading that she’ll likely be evolving from Runeterra’s most demonic killer-for-hire.

For now, she’ll be doing what she does best: slipping into the shadows, waiting for the right time to reveal herself and a fully-fleshed story of her origins.

47 Comments

MoOnBane69128 votes

The real question we should be asking here is this: Who is the Gray Lady mentioned in this short piece? The one who murdered the heir of Clan Kozari. Most likely a possible champion that might get released sometime next year,she will definitely rival Evelynn's power in assassination of course, seeing how Evelynn was irritated at the fact that she was bested by the sole called Gray Lady.

DarkLordArbitur2 votes

I think the Gray Lady is death.

deathstreakzombi1 votes

kindred ?

DarkLordArbitur1 votes

Kindred is the reaper, which can be construed as death personified, but it's also possible that, just like any world, Runeterra has a belief in many religions, and the Gray Lady is another term for Kindred.

Bootmann5 votes

The only champion that could fit the profile of "Gray Lady" would be Elise , since her skin color looks gray and because of her new lore.

WinTheWarOnPants3 votes

Elise works for the "gray lady" in her story so no lol

Eye of Twilight2 votes

The person in Elise lore is called "the Pale Woman," so I'd think they're different characters.

WinTheWarOnPants3 votes

i stand corrected. but i mean "pale woman"... "gray lady" pretty lazy naming if they are indeed different people.

Howldoom5 votes

The Pale Woman is most likely Leblanc. She's the leader of Black Rose.

Lygnite1 votes

I predict her name to be Camille

Akenero24 votes

I can only hope her VGU will be as good as this story

GrunerblitZ13 votes

"Her slender figure was clad in gleaming red leather, and her eyes were yellow and almond-shaped, like those of a cat."

Her eyes aren't yellow anymore though.. Evelynn

Other than that, 4 year long Evelynn main, love the story.

NewGuy1013 votes

She's probably using Agony's Embrace in the splash, since the icon shows her with red eyes.

Love Is Over10 votes

but what is the price..?

Mistress Shyvana7 votes

Wonderful, I loved the story!

WinTheWarOnPants3 votes

I'm scarred... Evelynn is my BAE Q.Q

Playful Sadist3 votes

Finally someone else who mains Eve. Evelynn "You'd be wise to remember that I can strike wherever there is darkness"

HalfTangible1 votes

I main Kindred, but I've taken to playing Evelynn to mix things up in the jungle.

kennyishere13 votes

This might sound crazy but, the "Gray Lady" should be a new champ, and add Evelynn to her lore to spice it up, they might have some beef n-n

19348180DEL13 votes

You capture her essence in this story, from start to finish. In the beginning, She is only going along with her ruse of being vulnerable and weak just to observe how threatening she is from Teneki's perspective, and just as suddenly as she is underestimated, BAMF! precision and surprise as well as the fear of that "what's next" are all the true weapons she uses to completely turn things around in a way that is undeniable to everyone near her, saying "That's right, I am in control".

Your dialogue reflects her sassy playful nature well. Thanks. Was a real treat.

Halodjin Tyr3 votes

A new Evelynn skin would be nice. I personally like the idea of A complementary skin with Hecerim so I can go into combat with my Rainbow (arcade hecerim) as Rainbow Evilynn :P

Ralanr2 votes

That story was great. Evelynn is powerful and she knows it, makes me want to actually play her.

TerraRising2 votes

So, Evelynn isn't the sensation-seeking hedonist anymore? She's no longer the type of person who would fall in love with someone, then break it off just to know what heartbreak felt like (Tango Evelynn and Twisted Fate)? Is she no longer the type of person to wear ridiculous high heels and an equally unrealistic outfit in combat just for the painful sensations?

Is Evelynn doomed to be only some one-dimensional demonic assassin? I certainly hope not.

KoKoboto14 votes

Well all we saw was her doing work with a top dog in Zaun, I don't know what kinda love story you were expecting...

TerraRising1 votes

{quoted}

Well all we saw was her doing work with a top dog in Zaun, I don't know what kinda love story you were expecting...

Something a little more nuanced than "I go kill person, price very high."

Sharjo1 votes

But that's what Evelynn always was. I don't see the problem.

TerraRising1 votes

{quoted}

But that's what Evelynn always was. I don't see the problem.

There was more to her than just "demonic assassin," though. There was a whole thread on the old forums about how people saw Evelynn as a hedonist (given her propensity for wearing ridiculous high heels and insane outfits in battle) and I would hope Riot would keep some of that in her character instead of making her a blue skinned freelance Katarina.

Not that I have that much to hope for...

19348180DEL11 votes

Nope. But if you're like me, you pretend to be one dimensional even tunnel minded until you have everyone off guard. Eve is liar. I'm not really here. PRETEND I'M NOT. Psyche. I am here but you're dead now.

HalfTangible1 votes

'One dimensional demonic' assassin has more depth than 'sensation seeking hedonist' (a description that a demonic assassin could also embody anyway)? Am I reading this right? :P

c7audio2 votes

I love the story^^ but i keep wondering who the gray lady is...

Orfeu2 votes

Why Evelynn is my main is demonstrated perfectly here [zombie-nunu-hearts]

Gafugarion2 votes

I love it. I don't love the thought of my main being changed though. Eve's gameplay is pretty much the only reason I still play league.

Otarie532 votes

that sounds like the kind of thing that takes a really long time. like a year or 2

Halodjin Tyr2 votes

I wish eve's Q W and E did something more then just Hurt. she's rather straight forward to that regard, I miss being able to Lane as her.

Silvan Wilds2 votes

Knowing Eve and having used her from early to more recent (still pissed riot ruined her stealth and has yet to fix it but oh well, doubt they will any year soon) and think of one obvious reason about her reaction to the Grey Lady. Eve is the pain loving tease as many view her, and a tease outright is an easy assumption however what happens if the heart breaker got it from another? Grey Lady could very well be an ex-lover and one she may very well want back. Some point they were a couple, a form of falling out transpired, and now we have two fearfully fatal females on the loose. Eve is the killer we know but perhaps Grey could be her Yin. Kills only who needs it while Eve kills to get the things she desires. Just a thought but could lead to some interesting Lore and Skin options for two champs.

HalfTangible1 votes

The impression I get from the piece is that the Grey Lady is a rival assassin, and Eve's annoyed that her work is being confused with hers. Professional pride and all.

QuantumPanther1 votes

this story was awesome. Loved it <3

superLEIA1 votes

please make sure to at least keep her lore connected to her past lore. As if the story is moving forward, not being rewritten

Eta1 votes

While I am glad her backstory is going to be more than NOBODY KNOWS, I do hope she'll get a bit o a buff? Maybe? Please? I mean I know you guys sorta hate the invisibility mechanic but still, she's pretty far from her old self. In return for buffing Eve, you guys can nerf Akali.

ForgottenWoodElf1 votes

Love it... However I'm now more interested in the grey lady. Be it death... Who knows with you riot xP

19348180DEL11 votes

Impressive

zaph5371 votes

Evelynn

Tsar Meliodas1 votes

When can we get a Voidian update. Lore, map, Champion. Something please. I'm dying for Vel'koz Velkoz to get some lovin

Cyber HeroXL1 votes

I really like how snarky she is now.

ZaneShadow1 votes

hahaha, then she gets reworked into a demon that has zero to do with assasination. I don't mind, just funny finding this after all that time. My brother misses the original (his first "main") but is okay with the rework.

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