Cervius: The Puppet Master

This post contains the champion's lore, abilities, his game play description, stats, quotes, and special interactions. The visual I added is a sneak peak at the splash art I am hand drawing for him (posted it unfinished as it would be hard to see some of the details once everything is shaded in. The picture takes place at night). If you like the concept, be sure to give it an upvote and comment your thoughts on it. I'd like to know what you all think about it.

Lore Mechanics of the Living Soul Research Notes Day 1 Today, I have arrived at the Piltover Yordle Academy of Science and Progress. The academy is still in it's early years and Professor Cecil B. Heimerdinger, the founder of the school, has offered me a job as an engineering professor. It was a very intriguing offer that I could not refuse. Now I have all the supplies and resources I need to get my research on souls under way. I have already learned all there is to know about machines and technology. I am well aware that technology is advancing at an alarming rate and I do intend to learn about these discoveries and anything else that may emerge in the future.

Day 55 Despite any attempts at trying to "see" a living soul inside a being, I cannot seem to make any kind of progress. It can be quite frustrating at times, however I have learned some things about the different life forms that live here including: behavior, reactions to other living beings, desires, the way they think, and so on. For example, a being of the Yordle race has a kinder, more generous personality than that of some humans. On the other hand, I have seen vice-versa scenarios as well, mostly when it comes to Yordles that of the male gender.

Year 1, Day 174 My research still hasn't taken any big turns as of late. If only I could find a way to study the souls of living things without harming the subjects. The last thing I need is to have dead or injured people lying about simply because my experiments failed and to be kicked out of the academy. I must not lose these valuable resources!

Year 3, Day 92 The academy has really begun to flourish. I heard that my old friend's daughter had recently become sheriff. Last I'd seen her she was still quite young. I always knew she would grow up to be something great. A bright, young woman she is. I should pay her a visit to congratulate her sometime. By the looks of things, she's really went to work. Thanks to the recent decrease in crime, more and more students have joined the school and research success on average among the scientists has increased 68.383% since there is less chance of resources being stolen by thieves. I just wish I could say the same for me...

Year 7, Day 112? This is driving me absolutely insane! I'm not sure how much longer I can put up with this. Nearly every experiment I have performed has ultimately failed. I have tried everything and I am getting NOWHERE!

Year 7, Day 120 Today is a great day! Finally, I have found the answers I have been looking for! The book I had found yesterday in the library's archived tomes had all the information I could have ever dreamed of! I will continue my research with great pleasure knowing that I will finally be succeeding in my studies.

Year 7, Day 354 I have done it! I finally figured out how to study the living soul! Once I saw one for myself, it wasn't anything that I hypothesized it to be. I had thought that one would look what some would say would be a ghost-like figure filling the body of an individual, or maybe an aura that resided just outside the body. However, it was a lot more simple than that. It was a just a luminent blue sphere sitting in the individuals chest. Fascinating!

Year 8, Day 13 The amount of information in this book is far greater than what I could have imagined. It tells of an ancient field of study known as Alchemy, something I thought was a less advanced form of chemistry up until now. I had never taken an interest to it, but perhaps it may be worth looking into. In the mean time, I've learned that souls seem to have different characteristics. I decided to call it the soul's value, as these characteristics define how strong, sound, or pure the soul is. I can even tell the true nature of an individual just by studying their soul as well as their true intentions. Sort of like a truth detector I guess you could say?

Year 8, Day 85? I have torn through this ancient book several times. Memorized every context it contains and learned all there is to know about how a soul works. I thought I would feel excited once I had reached this point. But, I don't feel anything. It is quite boring. I studied and learned about living souls and how they work in different bodies and learn all there is to know about an individual just by peering into there soul. Finding who they really are. What they are truly on the inside. I can see everything that makes them tick. Happy. Sad. Angry. I can see their flaws. Their imperfections.

Year 8, Day? It is starting to become too much. I can't even look at someone without seeing their soul. No matter where I look, it's all the same. Nothing but irritating imperfections all around me. It makes me sick. This ability has begun to turn my mind to caliginous state. I must put it to an end.

Year 8, Day I have tried to find a way to reverse the effects on my mind. I've grown brain-shot. I can't think clearly. I am tired. Tired of all those around me. Tired of imperfections. Tired of this world. There must be a way to stop this.

Year After pondering my options for a long while, and losing track of the time, I have come to the conclusion that this world must end. This world is imperfect. All imperfection must be eliminated. I will destroy this world and all that reside in it and create it anew, I as the creator. I will create a perfect world. Only a select few will be chosen to live in it.

Journal Page 1 Why is this happening?!? How did he find out?! That intrepid fool, Cecil, has somehow discovered my plans and has ejected me from the college. Does he realize what he has done? I have lost almost everything. My resources, information, technology, and my research was destroyed. I managed to hang on to the book without him noticing. My plans must continue. However, I will have to start all over. I will be sure to make him pay for what he's done to me. And to think that I was going to let him live in the world I had envisioned.

Page 2 I haven't slept in a week. I have only interrupted my research to eat and use the lavatory. I remember reading something in the book about some sort of alchemical procedure that may be able to help me. "Soul Weaving" I believe it is called. Threading the soul of an individual out of their body and sewing it into something else. The one performing the procedure will have control of these "soul strings" and be able to control the subject similar to that of how one would control a puppet. But who would I perform the procedure on? I must pause my research for now to eat the food Sylvia has brought into my study.

Page 3 I have been trying to perform the procedure in secret in my laboratory. Nothing but failures. Each subject has died gruesomely. What am I doing wrong? There seems to be some missing variable that I am overlooking. Some tiny detail. For, now I must clean up this mess before Sylvia arrives with my supper.

Page 4 I have found the answer to my problem. How could I be so dense? It was right in front of me the whole time. My wife, Sylvia, would be the prefect subject for the procedure. The problem before was that the past subjects' souls did not have a strong value. Also, due to their lack of trust in me, they resisted heavily and rejected the vessel I had created. However, the value Sylvia's soul is MUCH better compared to the past subjects and should be able to perform the procedure with success. I'm sure she trusts me not to fail on something such as this. I will need to create a new vessel for her to be sewn into.

Page 5 It took a little more struggling than I thought it would to get her to comply. However, it was a success! Although it had caused my beloved much pain and agony, her soul remained alive as a sewed it into the mannequin vessel. However, there were some complications. Someone seemed to have made their way into my lab and had found me in the middle of the procedure, stabbing a tool into my left shoulder. It was painful to start, but after a few short minutes, it began to go numb. I have no feeling in it whatsoever. I suspect they had somehow severed a nerve connection somewhere in my shoulder or perhaps a tendon. I managed to throw the attacker into a piece of machinery and they were crushed in the gears. Upon further inspection, the body is unrecognizable. It was difficult finishing the procedure with one arm, yet I have done it!

Page 6 It saddens me to write that I have discovered the identity of the attacker from the previous night. It had occurred to me that my daughter was nowhere to be found in the morning. I had searched everywhere, refusing to believe the fact. But, the damage had been done. I had killed my little girl. The only thing I had left. Now I have truly lost everything. No...I will remake her. Build her anew! Exactly the way she was before. No, even better! I have the knowledge and the skill to do it, but I need the resources. I'm sure Cecil doesn't know that I had continued my research. However, if someone at the academy had caught wind of my endeavors, they would surely come and stop my work once more. I can't allow this. For now, I must abandon my current life. I must fake my death. I will gather all the research and resources I currently obtained and set the laboratory ablaze. Within it, I shall use alchemy to make a lifeless copy of myself and leave it inside. For all the authorities will now once they come to investigate, it would have been nothing but a horrible laboratory accident. Disguising myself, I shall join the rabble of the lowly criminal scum and steal all the resources and technology I need and build a new secret laboratory and continue with my research there. I have disguised myself in a mask and my father's old formal wear. My plans commence tonight.

Page 7 My plans have been put into motion. I watched from the shadows as my old life burned away into smoke. I wish to rid myself of any memories I had there. Although, some would be impossible to forget... The authorities have arrived to investigate the explosion. Even though I figured she would come, I was surprised to see the sheriff arrive on the scene. After getting updated on the situation by a fellow officer, I could see him say my name, along with the shock on the sheriff's face that came immediately after. Her expression went back to being stern as it was before, but I could tell the despair she was feeling from looking at her soul. So, she does remember me after all these years? Well, if I'm going to be a criminal then she will be surely hunting me down. I guess I'll make things interesting for the both of us then. Perhaps a calling card of some sort? Something to leave behind to taunt her, letting her know that she missed me. For, I don't plan on getting captured. Nothing will stop my plans this time. I must take my leave for my first heist. This will be the last time that I write in this journal for a while...

Cervius Stats

Health: 390 (+80 per level) [1,720 at 18] Mana: 275 (+65 per level) [1,380 at 18] Attack Damage: 48.5 (+3.2 per level) [102.9 at 18] Attack Speed: 0.638 (+2.6% per level) Movement Speed: 345 Health Regen: 3.5 (+0.6 per level) [13.7 at 18] Mana Regen: 8 (+0.5 per level) [16.5 at 18] Armor: 16 (+3 per level) [67 at 18] Magic Resist: 30 (+0 per level) [30 at 18]

Sylvia Stats (Only increase with level. Items do not affect Sylvia in any way [excluding movement speed])

Health: 300 (+40 per level) Energy: 200 Attack Damage 55 (+3 per level) Attack Speed: 0.583 Movement Speed: 345 (Would be affected the same as Cervius by speed increasing items) Health Regen: 0 (Only heals with self repair when shut down. This also means she is not affected by heals, healing items, healing abilities, or standing in the fountain) Energy Regen: 5 Armor: 20 (+5 per level) [80 at 18] Magic Resist: 0 (+0 per level)

Game Play: Cervius, the Puppet Master

Cervius is a long ranged melee fighter/mage that uses devices and contraptions to do the hard hitting for him. His basic attack uses mechanical arms that he conceals under his cloak that fire out when he activates them. They give him a considerable reach advantage against some other melee champs and allows him to stay in the action at a safe distance. He has two ability sets, a personal kit and one that is active when his marionette, Sylvia, is active. Cervius’s and Sylvia’s health and mana/energy bars are separate from one another, meaning they both have separate health from one another and resources. However, they level up together as a single unit.

Laning

Cervius would be champ mostly likely to be found in the middle lane, as he can focus more attacks on a single target, harrassing and poking them all while staying out of reach of his opponent. With Sylvia active, he can order her to attack targets while he stays back at a safe distance and will also be able to attack a different or the same target. He has a strong farm with his personal E, Ingrannagio, and with Sylvia's W. His passive, Vivace, allows him to make surprising plays and counter attack if Sylvia is coming back after being shut down. With Sylvia active, one can make impressive combos by using her abilities accordingly. A good example would be if you activate Barra (Q) and then Libbra (Q) for a devastating combination, slashing and pounding your enemy and then switching to Punta (W) and Trapano (W) for some hard area damage that is hard to escape from. If your opponent is weak, you can pull off Rapsodia di Recordi (E) for heavy pressure with a full on assault of punches and blows, each one stronger than the last. Even if they don't land, it's still good for zoning out your opponent.

Team Fights

Cervius has some special capabilities when it comes to team fights. Using his marionette, Sylvia, he is able to stay out of harm's reach and last longer in the fights than other champs. Also he is able to attack with Sylvia and attack targets himself at the same time, although his personal abilities can't be activated until Sylvia is shut down. His ult, Vicino Tenda, is extremely powerful and can catch the other team completely off guard if they aren't paying attention. In any bad situation, Cervius's ult can turn the tides of the fight completely. If timed right, he can go into a team fight when Sylvia is nearly repaired. Once Sylvia is repaired and teleports back to Cervius, you can activate his ult and the other team may not being attention to Sylvia since she was not there before, and get caught in the explosion.

Cervius's Personal Kit:

Passive: Vivace-Whenever Cervius selects a target to basic attack while Sylvia isn't attacking anything, Sylvia will attack it herself. While she is attacking the target, Cervius can attack another target. After Sylvia kills her target, she will return back to Cervius. Cervius can command her to come back by pressing the alt key. Ritorno-When Sylvia’s health drops to zero, she will shut down and enter self-repair mode for 150 seconds and Cervius’ ability set changes to his personal kit. When Sylvia is fully repaired, Cervius will call her back and she will immediately teleport to his side. If Cervius dies, Sylvia will automatically start heading back to base, leaving her vulnerable to enemy attacks since there is no one to control her.

Q: Primavera Cost: 50/65/80/95/110 Mana Range: 680 Cooldown: 17/15/13/11/9 seconds Cervius throws out a spring like contraption that fires up and outwards towards the direction it is thrown, dealing damage to enemies hit in a straight line and knocking the first enemy hit back a short distance. Deals 65/75/85/95/105(+70% of ability power) and knocks back first enemy hit 200 units.

W: Avvolgere Cost: 70 Mana Range: 1,000 Cooldown: 20/18.5/17/15.5/14 Cervius fires puppet strings from inside his sleeve out at an enemy. The strings will wrap around the first enemy it encounters and slow them. If the enemy is close enough when the strings first wrap, the hold on the enemy will be strong enough to allow Cervius to pull them closer to him. If he successfully pull the target within a certain range, the strings will root the target. Cervius cannot move while ability is in affect. If an enemy champion attacks Cervius while the ability is active, it will be disrupted and cancel out. This does not apply to target.

;Cervius fires puppet strings from his sleeve. If they encounter an enemy, they will wrap around the enemy and slow them by 40/45/50/55/60% for 3 seconds. If the enemy encountered is within 500 range, Cervius will pull them and root them for 1 second if they get pulled within 100 range.

E: Ingrannagio Cost: 70/85/100/115/130 Mana Range: 600 Cooldown: 27/24/21/18/15 Cervius throws out a small gear the begins to spin when thrown to target location. As it spins, it begins to grow to an enormous size and deals damage to enemies that are standing too close to the gear. After reaching full size, it will return to normal and come back to Cervius.

Cervius throws out a small gear to a target location. It will take 0.5 seconds for it to reach the target location. The gear will begin to spin and grow for 5 seconds after reaching the target location. Enemies standing in the gear's spin zone will be dealt 25/38/51/64/77 (+30% of ability power) damage per second. After 1 second of reaching full size, the gear will shrink to normal and return to Cervius.

R: Vicino Tenda Cost: 100/300/500 Mana Cast Range: Self Ability Range: 2,000 Cooldown: 130/115/100 Can only be used if Sylvia is active. Cervius gives Sylvia a voice command that activates a time bomb in her chest and begins to count down from 5 to 0. Any enemy within the gigantic radius of the blast will receive decimating amounts of damage. More damage is dealt to enemies closer to the center of the blast than towards the outside and are thrown back a much larger distance. The explosion will cause Sylvia to shut down and go into self-repair mode for twice as long as normal.

Cervius gives Sylvia a voice command when she active which turns on a time bomb in Sylvia. After 5 seconds, bomb will explode, dealing damage to any enemy within 1,000 range dealing a maximum 300/500/700 (+100% of ability power) at the center and minimum 100/200/300 (50% of ability power) at the edge of the blast zone and knocking enemies back a maximum of 2,500 units at the center and a minimum of 250 at the edge of the blast zone. After the explosion Sylvia will shut down and begin repair mode. The cooldown does not start until Sylvia has been repaired.

Sylvia’s ability set:

Sylvia will only auto attack targets when ordered to. If Cervius were to select someone to auto attack, Sylvia would move ahead at the target first, allowing Cervius to attack other targets at the same time. Abilities: Sylvia doesn’t use mana for her abilities, but uses energy, meaning that her using abilities doesn’t affect Cervius’ mana at all.

Q: Barra/Libbra Cost: 30 Energy/50 Energy Range: 800 Sylvia will swing her arm upward, slashing in a target direction with her blade like fingers. If activated again, she will bring her arm back down and pound ground in that same direction with her fist, dealing a small amount of damage to enemies in the small area. Sylvia swings her arm and slashes in a target direction, dealing 30/45/60/75/90 damage (+75% of ability power) to all enemies in the slash in a line. Sylvia will then have 1 second after completing the action to activate the ability again. If activated again, Sylvia will bring her fist back down at the edge of the abilities initial range, dealing 45/65/85/105/120 damage (+75% of ability power) in a small area around her fist.

W: Punta/Trapano Cost: 60 Energy/20 Energy Sylvia turns her fingers into spikes and extends her arms out. Her fingers will fire forward and deal damage to all enemies that are within range and retract back into her hands. If activated again, the spikes will spin and drill all enemies caught by the spikes for extra damage before retracting. Sylvia turns her fingers into spikes. Her fingers extend rapidly forward and deal 70/80/90/100/110 (+50% of ability power). She can activate it immediately again. If activated again, the spikes spin and drill all enemies caught in the spikes, dealing an extra 20/40/60/80/100 damage (+30% of ability power) and slow for 1 second.

E: Rapsodia di Recordi Cost: 200 Energy Sylvia expires all of her energy into one powerful combination of attacks. She dashes forward at a target champion, ramming into them and stunning them. She then unleashes a devastating series of punches, following the main target and dealing damage to all enemies in her path. Sylvia uses all of her energy for a huge series of attacks and dashes towards, rams into, and stunning a target champion for 0.5 seconds as well as dealing 50/55/60/65/70 damage (+35% of ability power). She then punches at the target champion for 6/7/8/9/10 seconds, following them wherever they go (one punch per second). Every punch after the first will deal 7% more damage than the previous punch. The increase will only apply if a punch is landed. The damage increase does not reset if a punch is missed. (7% increase does not apply to ap bonus).

Quotes

Champion Select: The curtains have opened. Let the show begin...

Moving from base: Let's get to work, shall we? Well...Shall we begin? Hmm...To battle. I suppose I can spare a little time. So much research to get done. No time to waste. Come, Sylvia. There is so much to learn.

Moving: Oh? Intriguing. This will be very interesting. Come, Sylvia. I shall achieve perfection. This world is imperfect. I will change that. I despise manual labor. But things must get done. Hmm...I have much to learn. I'll record this in my notes.

Moving around an enemy: Hmph. You've made fatal mistake. You must be educated! I expect a lot. You'd best not disappoint. Now, submit to my tests... Hmm? You'd do well to step aside. Do entertain me. Show me the strength in your soul!

Killing an enemy: Well? Get up. Don't tell me you're done already. I overestimated your abilities. Something wrong? Let the experiments begin! You dare waste my precious research time? Back to the earth, imperfect worm. This data is worthless! You were within my estimates.

Killing an enemy when knocked below 30% health: You've surpassed my expectations. What a fine specimen you are! I can't wait to examine you. What a fine soul you have! Finally something worthy of my research. Your soul is of interest to me. Not perfect, but interesting. What a pleasant surprise.

Upon death: I have...much to learn... Bested by a fool! My research must continue... How could I have failed? Aelita. I've...failed you... Aelita. I'm sorry... Impossible! This doesn't match my research!

Abilities Passive (Vivace) activated: Go. Show them what you can do. Bring them to there knees, Sylvia. Vivace!

Passive (Ritorno) activated: Sylvia! Come, Sylvia! Return to me! Ritorno!

Cervius Q: Do watch yourself. Having fun? How's this? Primavera!

Sylvia Q: Sylvia! Make quick work of them, Sylvia. Finish them, Sylvia! Barra! Libbra!

Cervius W: Hehe... Gotcha. Where do you think you're going? No escape. I'm not finished with you yet! Avvolgere!

Sylvia W: Drill through them, Sylvia. Show them you're power, Sylvia! End this, Sylvia. Punta! Trapano!

Cervius E: Here's a little something I whipped up. Resistance is futile. Can you withstand my attack? Ingrannagio!

Sylvia E: Finish them, Sylvia! Give it all that you have. End these imperfect fools! Rapsodia di Recordi!

R: Let's end this world and begin it anew! This imperfect world will exist no more! Let's close the curtain on this act. All according to plan. Take care of it, Sylvia. Vicino Tenda!

Taunts: Degenerate trash. Don't waste my time. I can't tell if you're trying. Proceed with caution, lab rat.

Jokes: (Pulls out his alchemy book from within his cloak, opens it and skims through it a bit. Then closes it and puts it back. If you're an optimist, the glass if half full. If you're a pessimist, the glass if half empty. If you're an engineer, the jar is twice as big as it needs to be. Human transmutation? Where have I heard that before...

Dance: Waltzes with Sylvia.

Special Interactions (Special interactions are mixed in with the regular quotes except for jokes and taunts. Those will activate no matter what if the scenario is correct)

Heimerdinger: Moving around him: You've aged. Your curios never fail to disappoint, Cecil. You're gadgets are no match for my power! Well, well. Senile fool. Don't think that I have forgotten...

Attacking: So you know? Interesting. I thought you might be trouble. You've brought this upon yourself, Cecil. You are no longer my superior! Stay out of my way, you doddling fool! Let's see you withstand this! I will make you pay for your actions!

Taunt: You disappoint me, Cecil. You galling variable. You made a big mistake back then, Cecil. Heheheh...

Caitlyn Moving around her: My, how you've grown. How do you do, Sheriff? I expect a lot out of you. Your father must be proud. I never had the chance to congratulate you! An interesting test subject you'll make.

Attacking: Show me how much your soul has grown! Show me the worth of your soul! You may be worth examining further. Yes. Show me more! You're going to have to do more than that.

Taunt: You just can't seem to get a hold on me can you? The sheriff of the great city of Piltover can't catch one man? Pathetic. You take much pride in your sleuthing skills, yet you haven't figured out who I am. Here's my card.

Blitzcrank Moving around him: Hmm...Interesting. A golem with a developed personality? I must study this further. You upgraded yourself alone? Not too shabby...

Joke: A self aware robot? The end is coming... (joke about how robots will supposedly become self aware and enslave mankind)

Dr. Mundo Moving around him: You're a fool compared to me. You're not a scientist. You are simply insane. You give yourself too much credit. You call yourself a doctor? Pah!

Jax Taunt: A real weapon wouldn't help.

Jayce Moving around him: You're research is quite interesting. That hammer...Interesting... A transforming weapon? Hmm... Hero? Don't get ahead of yourself.

Jinx Moving around her: I don't think we've met. Quite an entrance you've made. You're soul is...different... It doesn't seem you are one that can be reasoned with A spastic one you are. Don't get too excited, now.

Kalista Moving around her: Leave me be, spirit. I'm already in enough pain! You will never understand the despair I felt... It was a horrible accident! You have no business here. I have no interest in the soulless. Who put you up to this?

Kindred Moving around them: Leave me be, spirits. So the stories are true... Your tale makes no sense. A lamb and wolf at peace? Absurd.

When being marked: You are wasting your time. A mark you will never be able to claim. Come. Prove to me the legends are true. You think you can actually catch me? You will try. And you will ultimately fail.

Orianna Moving around her: Another horrible accident... Get away from me! These memories... I sympathise for your creator.

Singed Moving around him: Now, look what you've done. You are hardly a man any more. You dabble in an unskilled craft. Chemistry? Pathetic.

Vi Moving around her: Idiot. Brute force will not be enough. You're not very bright, are you? Is punching things all you care about?

Viktor Moving around him: Your "glorious evolution" will not make you perfect. Your emotions got the better of you, fool. Your mechanisms do not impress me. Your technology is child's play in my eyes.

Ziggs Moving around him: You're quite the spaz. Your mind is imperfect but your heart is in the right place. Show me the power of your research!

Item Interactions

: Its sound resonates for all to feel.

: This will be useful. A very precious item indeed.

: Hmmm. What interesting contexts. What information is held within this tome?

: My research shall never end! I may fall, but I will return with a vengeance...

: A mask for my mask? Intriguing... Why would I need another one of these? Mine's better anyway.

: The information within this tome...Heheheh. Such powerful information. I'll add to my notes. These contexts are extraordinary!

: I'm not a hat person, but oh well. These whispers...

: There is no escaping me! My subjects will never get away! Who knew a stick could be so useful?

: They're a little small... Do they come in a bigger size?

: Try as they may, I won't go down. No one can touch me!

Recommended Items

Starting: x2

Early:

Essential:

Offensive:

Defensive:

Situational:

Theme Music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDz795LbZrc

If you have any questions, feel free to ask! It will help me improve this concept to the best it can be. People usually tend to be a little confused about the mechanics so I do eventually intend to have FAQ section.

If you're interested, here's a link to the original post of this champion concept. Cervius Original Post I changed up a few things and added some more stuff on this post but the old post may still be worth checking out. I hope you enjoyed the post and if you have ideas on how I could improve it please let me know!