9.12: Lore Update
Hey everyone!
This week’s lore update takes us deep into the jungle as we uncover a new region: Ixtal! Along the way, we’ll have a chance to get to know the Empress of the Elements, Qiyana.
We also have a new Mordekaiser Color Story to round out his story for his update, so make sure to check it out.
As always, we love to hear your thoughts and theories, so make sure to share them in the comments!
Let’s dive in!
Bret "Ashekandi" Forbus
New Champion
Qiyana
Bio: Empress of the Elements
Some day, all this will be Ixaocan. A glorious empire, with an empress to fit.
Qiyana, Ixtal, Bio
New Region
Ixtal
Secluded deep in the jungle for thousands of years, the sophisticated arcology-city of Ixaocan remains mostly free of outside influence. Having witnessed from afar the ruination of the Blessed Isles and the Rune Wars that followed, the Ixtali view all the other factions of Runeterra as upstarts and pretenders, and use their powerful magic to keep any intruders at bay.
Ixtal, Qiyana, Neeko, Nidalee, Rengar, Zyra, Malphite, Runeterra, Region
Color Story
Mordekaiser
The Final Reign
- by Michael Yichao
A raised fist. A surge of necromantic power. Before him, the final spire of the final tower takes form, inky smoke coalescing into black iron.
Mordekaiser, Noxus
Comics
Lux
COMING SOON: League of Legends: Lux – Issue 2
- by John O’Bryan
Meet… Sylas of Dregbourne! Lux meets in secret with an enemy of the state… But who is Sylas and is he really as dangerous as the stories say…or something far worse? And—will Garen’s plan for Lux prove to be her salvation…or usher in Demacia’s undoing?
We’re fast approaching Lux – Issue 2, which is planned to release on June 12, 2019. If you haven’t read Issue 1, make sure to check it out before the release of the second issue so you can follow along as Lux encounters a darker side of Demacia!
Lux, Garen, Sylas, Demacia, Comic
Universe Updates
With the introduction of our newest region, Ixtal, we’ve added Ixtal to the Runeterra map, added the Ixtal region page, and associated a number of champions with Ixtal including Malphite, Neeko, Nidalee, and more.
- Added Ixtal and various points of interest to the Runeterra map.
- Added Ixtal region page.
- Added champion associations to Ixtal.
- Added images to Ixtal region page.
67 Comments
Absolutely without hesitation, I can say that I loved both Qiyana's bio and the new Ixtal region, a bit sad to see the name Kumungu go though I am sure it still exists, I could not get my smile off my face while reading the new region and nice to see that Malphite finally has a place again in the jungle.
The idea of the jungle constantly being used in such a way to hide reminds me a bit of Wakanda, but with magic that I think it is magnificent and would love to explore more of this region and its champions.
I will say though it is missing a couple of small things, like many champions aligned with the new region are still under Shurima, in which region their from and the symbol should be changed that way it is not confused with just the Runeterra but if I am right and the next champions markings do look similar to these regions architecture, (which is grand, which it was a bit more inspired on Inca or Mayan though) the new champ is also from here.
Can't wait for the comic and still need to read the Mord story but the amazing job on the new region and champ really really enjoyed it.
What do you call it when Garen forgots where he's from? DEMENTIA!
When I read Ixaocan i think of Oaxaca or Teotihuacán Mexico lol
So Ixtal is Wakanda? Sounds pretty close.
Wait, Malphite
?
Is it just me or does Qiyana's champion bio make no sense? She was imprisoned but is still 10th in line yet still somehow future empress of her hometown even though she's 10th in line??? Also, those must be some pushover rulers if they can be convinced by some random Joe Shmoe to lift the penalty that they put on their own daughter.
Lastly, if stuff like that is going on around their kingdom, there have to be some people that want a more aggressive ruler and want to protect themselves, and the entire kingdom saw Qiyana's prowess in battle but they haven't made a peep about her becoming Empress now? Like wut is this story? It's like someone at Riot wanted to make a badass independent girl but still wanted the fairytale princess happy ending. Make her overthrow her parents wtf lol. [sg-lux-2]
This new lore is cool and all but. Nothing about Kindred or Bard? Kindred is death and we know what Morde is all about and we don't even get a mention? And if Morde wants powerfully objects like Book why doesn't Bard do anything?
so is Kumungu what outsiders call Ixtal? or are they just completely doing away with that name? And if they're associating other champions with this new region (which I am happy about, nice to see Malphite get some recognition after all this time), are they going to update all their bios/include them in a new color story? Can't wait to find out more during the next patch update when this new champ launches.
anyway, love these lore updates. The universe is probably my favorite part of the game :) Thanks for all your hard work guys!
So with all these lore updates... League MMO when??
I can't find the new spot on the map. Anyone else?
TALON'S STILL CHASING A DEAD MAN, RITO
This concerns me greatly. If Rengar and Neeko are tied to this civilization, then does that mean all Vastaya are part of Ixtal? If thats the case, then this lore change invalidates Xayah's entire quest and reason for existence, since she fight for the freedom of Vastaya, who it seems are actually the Wakandans of Runterra. Please dont fuck over previous champions like this
Ah yes another generic female champion
In Morde's story the Final Reign, "Toward the relic that ties Mitna Rachnun to the mortal realm. Toward the place that gives the secret heart of the Immortal Bastion its true purpose."
Are we supposed to know what the relic is? Do we know what "the secret heart" is?
Can anyone say Ixalan from MtG?
When is the 9.12 coming out i want to play the mordekaiser rework!!![zombie-nunu-bummed]
Does this mean 
getting a lore update and no longer be literal Poison Ivy?
Sooooooo new region is Wakanda--got it.
Qiyana looks like a sassy 12 year old
There's a typo in Morde's colour story. "dessicated" is actually "desiccated". That is all.
I, with my unparalleled originality, would like to address that- this is Wakanda. Originality 100
Ixtal is literally just Wakanda*[slayer-jinx-unamused]*
How did they come up with using "q" and "x" to have sounds not similar to the rest of their usage? I know it is from Pinyin Chinese, but in a fictional world that doesn't exist which makes it super weird.
Like Xin Zhao being pronounced as "Shin Jao" doesn't really make much logical sense in a fantasy setting without some rational. Is there any rational for that?
The champs you moved to Ixtal don't properly portray that on their Champion pages, most say Shurima.
it's even more fitting since she's petulant, young, and evil! She'll maim her own sister, just to...earn respect. I like that the writer really showcased how power mad she is, she'd be a horrible ruler. it'd be like Danny all over again (GoT readers know what I'm talking about)
So Qiyana is Erik Killmonger
just as everyone else says...Qiyana is black panther. this makes me sad, moreso because she's a creep, but also because the trope of 'hidden highly advanced city' has been done to death. Technically, we already have that in the form of Nami's atlantis...not that the writers remembered that part.
Really, I wouldn't beg for Lamb to kill Qiyana so much if she wasn't such a creep. I suppose every story needs a villain.