Champion Concept: Yone, the Steel Swordsman

Lore: (Is obviously super rough.)

"Steel and blood bind men just the same, in the end."

The sword cleaved through his blade and his body in one motion. It was effortless, little more than a dance. It'd always been so for Yasuo. As Yone collapsed, felt his lifeblood drip from him, he heard his brother's cry of anguish and felt himself fall into Yasuo's arms. His eyelids were heavy; his whole body was heavy. Dimly, he heard Yasuo ask, "How, Yone? How could you think it was me?" Yone tried to smile. "The elder died to a wind technique. Who else could it be?" Yasuo's tears fell onto Yone's face. "Yone. I would never. You know me. I was framed, I've been searching for his killer. You know me!" Yasuo was hysterical. Yone knew then. His brother was true. He wouldn't lie to a man on his deathbed, and certainly not to his own brother. He reached weakly for his cloven sword. He had thought his brother guilty. He had been fooled. Yasuo, seeing what he meant to do, reached down and placed the broken katana in Yone's blood-soaked hand. It had been shattered eight inches above the hilt. It was little more than a ceremonial dagger, now. It was perfect for the task. With the last of Yone's strength, he drove the broken blade into his own body. ...

Yone didn't awake, exactly. One moment he wasn't aware, and the next he was. He sat up, looked himself over. He was covered in his own blood, and the hilt of his broken sword was still embedded in his chest. But he felt no pain, felt nothing at all, except a cold breeze blowing from somewhere ahead of him. Haltingly, unsteadily, he advanced towards the sensation. As he neared the breeze, he became conscious of something ahead. Two figures. One a humanoid lamb bearing a finespun bow, and the other a dark, ethereal wolf. Yone came to a stop, and the figures started towards him, moving in unison. When the Lamb reached him, it spoke. "Do you know what has happened, small one?" Yone had to think. His mind was blank. As he sat and pondered, he came upon the sensation of a blade entering his body and his brother's arms. "I died. Didn't I?" The Wolf and Lamb nodded together. It was almost comical. "You died, little one. And we are here for you now." The Wolf slavered, dark smoke dripping off it's teeth like saliva. "And we certainly hope that you run." Yone shook his head. "I will not run. I need to return. I need to help my brother." The Wolf's ears quirked up, and the Lamb tilted it's head quizzically. "And why is that, little one?" "Yes, little one, why is that?" Yone didn't know what would happen to him, but he knew that Yasuo had been framed. "My brother. He was framed. They said he killed an elder. He didn't. They sent me to kill him." The Wolf grinned, all teeth. The Lamb looked impassively, it's mask unchanging. "All things must die." "And that is why we chase. Will you run, little morsel?" Yone was growing frustrated, more than that, angry. These beings were mocking him. "I have died. I will again. I need only time to help my brother. You must let me help Yasuo!" The wolf laughed, low and slow. The Lamb reached out, and placed a hand gently on his shoulder. "You have a true heart, little one." "And I will enjoy tearing it out." "Perhaps, little one, this once you can have your time. Only once in many centuries is this opportunity granted." "So, then, little morsel. You will run." Yone found the core of steel inside him, nestled next to the blade buried in his chest. "I will run. And I will aid my brother. And then, little Wolf, you can try to chase me." The Lamb looked him over. "You will have your time, Little one. We will be following." With no further words, the Wolf howled, and the Lamb reached out, grasped the hilt of his sword, still in his chest, and twisted it sharply. ...

Yone awoke under a thin covering of dirt. It had been the best Yasuo could do, for Yone new of the squad of warriors even now on his tail. He had no idea how long he had been dead. When Yone dug himself free and looked himself over, he found that he had changed. His chest was intact now, a thick gray scar where his blade had been. As he sat up, the hilt of his sword clattered to the ground. The place where the wound had been was a mass of gray, the color of steel. Spreading out from the scar were tendrils of metal, under his skin and in his veins like blood poisoning. He saw that his clothes had changed, his simple tunic and traveling cloak being replaced by a black coat and accouterments. In addition, he had a new sword. It was clutched in his left hand, and when he drew the blade, he found it broken short, just as his own had been. He almost threw it away, but something stopped him. It had been a gift of the gods, he knew not what it might mean to cast it off. He tested its heft experimentally, and as he swung it, he felt the skin of his sword arm rupture. He cried out, as grey metal leapt from his veins, running down the broken sword's spine and creating a new blade, formed of liquid metal and blood. If Yone concentrated, he knew he could form it to his will. He sheathed the magical weapon, and looked to the north. He knew not where Yasuo would go next, but he knew he needed to find him soon. North was as good a direction as any. ...

Role I envision Yone as being a midlaner or a toplaner, using his powerful escapes or chases to single foes out and end them. His passive interactions allow him to make use of potent sustain tools, and also lay sleeping time bombs of frightful damage within his enemy's bodies.

As for appearances, I picture him as a younger version of Yasuo. Shorter hair in a different style, wearing a dark kimono hanging from the waist and exposing his chest, so that we can see the wound Yasuo left, right in the middle. It would have tendrils of metal spreading out from it, appearing like blood poisoning on his skin. His sword would alter shape depending on which ability was active, as it would mostly consist of molten metal. For Yone's release skin, I was thinking something like Temple Yone (Possibly with a Temple Yasuo released as well?) which would portray Yone during his training at the sword school where he and Yasuo originated.

Abilities:

Passive: Edged Balance: Yone's basic attacks apply one half of a mark, the Yin, and his abilities apply the other, the Yang. The marks last six seconds and his abilities will consume a whole mark for special effects. His abilities will only activate the special effects if the target has a full mark before being struck. Each half of a mark lasts for six seconds after applied, and after they fade or are used they are not able to be applied to the same enemy for twelve seconds. Bloodsteel: Yone's abilities use metal, not mana. He gains metal by killing minions, monsters, and champions. Every time Yone leaves the fountain or respawns, he regains up to 30% of his maximum metal, unless he already has more than that in his reservoir. Minion kills grant 15 Metal Monster kills grant 20 Metal Epic Monster kills grant 35 Metal Champion kills grant 40 Metal (This is a WIP passive iteration)

Q: Hounding Steel (Type: Linear Skillshot) Cooldown: 12/11/10/8/6 Cost: 50/70/85/100/110 Metal Damage: 100/130/150/180/200 Plus 70% AD. Yone slashes the earth, The steel of his sword slicing forward and becoming a molten blade, travelling slowly and slowing enemies by 20% for 2 seconds. It applies a Yang to all enemies hit. Marked targets: If a target has been marked by Edged Balance, they will be knocked up for .25 seconds and have their armor cleaved by 35% for 2 seconds.

W: Steel Rush (Type: Passthrough Skillshot) Cooldown: 40/35/30/25/20 Cost: 100/120/125/130/135 Metal Damage: 80/100/140/170/200 Plus 40% Total AD. Yone throws himself forward a set distance encased in molten metal. He passes through targets and applies Yang to all targets hit. Marked targets: If a target has been marked, They will take 5% of their max health as magic damage and the cooldown will be halved.

E: Retrograde (Type: Area of Effect Toggle [Think Kennen's W against marked targets]) Cooldown: 16/14/12/10/8.5 Cost: 0 Damage: 60/90/120/150/180 Plus 30% Total AD Yone can only use this ability against targets that have been marked With the Yin. When Yone activates this ability, it steals 5% of the maximum health of all marked targets, and restores 10% of Yone's maximum metal while applying the Yang to all enemies damaged.

R: Steel Blossom (Type: Area of Effect Nuke/Displacement) Cooldown: 130/110/90 Cost: 150/130/110 Metal Damage: 300/350/400 Plus 110% Bonus AD Yone thrusts his molten sword into the ground, sending out a web of metal that damages and affects marked enemies. Enemies marked with the Yin are pushed away, while enemies marked with the Yang are pulled in. If an enemy has the full mark, they are stunned for 2 seconds.

Well, that's it, people. This is mostly me toying around, and I know that Yone's a tired old concept, but I wanted to see what I could bring to him. Please leave feedback and other comments. Obviously, the scalings are a bit wonky and I've left out base stats entirely because that's too much for me to deal with. If anyone would like to add those, feel free to leave a comment.