My New Personal Lore

Sooo, for as much as I admire the work and dedication Riot puts into the lore, it can usually be awhile between lore updates, leaving some of my favorite champions on the waiting list. In my infinite boredom, I've decided to come up with some of my own new backgrounds for my favorite champions, while still staying as close to the original lore as possible.

In an era almost forgotten, when the Shuriman Empire still stood proud, and the Shadow Isles had yet to be corrupted, the being known as Zyra was a spirit of nature, taking abode in the deep wild jungles of the south. She was a vengeful entity, and every man that ever came into her haven, be it foraging for wood or food, was never seen from again. The early tribes people who lived on the outskirts of the jungle, began worshipping her as a goddess, and in an effort to appease her, would give to her human sacrifices. Zyra was charmed by their presents, and seeing the beneficial symbiosis, let them take only what they needed in exchange for a life. She thought it fair, as they were taking lives as well, the lives of trees that would never grow to touch the sky, and flowers that would never bloom in their infinite beauty. It didn't hurt either that with every life she took, she grew stronger.

This trade of life for life continued for generations, until to the dismay of the tribe's soothsayer, his daughter was chosen as the next sacrifice to the ever hungry goddess. Refusing for his daughter to be taken, he headed to Zyra himself, and commanding the ancient magics, cursed the spirit, and bound her to a carnivorous flower and cut off her connection to the natural magics she once controlled, to be no more than a pest for years to come. Her power stifled, Zyra found herself for the first time since her existence to be at the mercy of others. Fortunately for her however, the tribes people still feared her even in her powerless form, and non dared to cut down the flower. Centuries passed, and eventually, for all Zyra knew, the tribe seemingly disappeared, and she was left alone in the jungle, her hatred for humanity growing with every passing year, till it consumed her entire being.

Eventually, a human did pass by Zyra, and not any mere mortal, but a sorcerer. Straining, Zyra used what little power she left in her, and mutated her flowered form into that of a woman, with beauty none could be compared to. Each step feeling like a thousands pains, she mustered her strength, and walked towards the boy, who was unable to resist her beauty. Through sweet lies, she convinced him that she was no more than a woman, cursed by a malicious witch to feel constant pain, and had him break the seal that was placed on her millennia ago. Powers surging into her being, she thanked the boy with a simple gift; a quick death. Finally gaining that which had been stolen from her, in her moment of triumph she had killed the boy to soon, and he had only broken half of the seal, and she still bound to the her vessel. With magic in hand and hatred burning in her heart, Zyra left the jungle and headed into a world she had never known with only two goals; to reap revenge on humanity, and to restore herself to her true form.

My main inspiration for this was actually from one of Zyra's taunts, "No place is safe while I'm free!" In her original lore, Zyra was always a flower who had managed to create a human-like vessel. I thought it weird that she would say free, because it somewhat implies that she was trapped before even though she wasn't, she was just a flower. Maybe I'm just overthinking it. Also, I'd really like to make a stronger connection between her and Maokai, where Zyra could be like the dark reflection of what Maokai could be if chose to take revenge on humanity.

Born by the name of Darha, she was girl of strong will and determination, but with a deep love for the ancient ways of Ionia, and treasured her culture more than any other. She spent her days with her grandmother, learning the traditions and mantras of her people, while the other children of her small village played with each other. Her life was tranquil, and happy, until one day she woke up with a mark across her left leg, a green mark with sharp edges that wrapped around her leg like a snake. Fearing it to be a curse, she headed to her grandmother in tears, her thoughts turning to the worst, thinking it a sign of death or an ill omen of things to come. Her grandmother didn't reply for three days, leaving Darha in panic, and when the reply did arrive, it wasn;t in words or actions, but by a man. He was sage, and he had recieved letter about Darha's mark, and to the girls surprise, the mark was not a sign of bad things to come, but a sign of enligtenment. The current Karma had passed away a month before, and now she was chosen by the Spirit, to be the next Karma.

Taking up the mantel with pride, she headed to the monastery with rapt delight, her love for her people and land being filled. Taught to never put harm upon another, and to never react negatively, Karma thought it easy, knowing that the Spirit would resolve all conflicts. Now her days were spent gifitng elightenment upon others, repeating the prayers and songs she had been taught to the passerbys and wanderers that would come visit the temple. Her life was simple and she had known no hardship until the Noxian invasion. Her temple was on the frontlines, and one of the first targets of Noxians. the priest urged for the people not to attack back, and all were prepared to sit by and watch as their land was ravaged by unmerciful invaders. Fulling believing the Spirit woudl bring peace once again, Karma did nothing, all the while screaming on the inside, watching as innocents were killed and she wasn't allowed to do anything.

Under Noxian eyes, the temple was constantly being supervised, for any sign of rebellion, and Karma couldn't so much as go to her own bed chambers without first having to tell one of the soldier sthat were positioned in the monastery. Her tolerance was put to the test when one of her handmaidens, her very first friend she made at monastery, was set to be executed infront of everybody for helping rebels. Karma wept, cursing herself for being so weak, cursing the anceint ways she once loved for not allowing her to act, while her friend's head was lopped off in front of her very eyes. In her depression she had a sudden realization. If she were the embodiment of the Spirit, and the Spirit was meant to bring peace, then she would bring peace. Forgoing her anceint ways, she went to the general's ship, and releasing her rage and hurt, killed the man with a single spell, and accidentally taking vessel with him.

Karma afterwards was hailed as hero of the rebellion, but she took no joy in it. All her life, she had never wanted to take a life, and now she had several on her hands, even if it might have been necessary. Returning to her monastery, now Karma hopes to bring peace again through change. While other's want merely to return to the ancient ways, and others seek revenge, Karma seeks to brig both together, retaining their peaceful customs, while still keeping the power they had gained in war. She doesn't knows if it will be difficult, and knows not what the Spirit thinks of her actions, but knows that she must be the one to do it.

She is the Karma, the vessel of the Spirit of Ionia, and she will bring peace.

So, I know Karma just recently got new lore, but I, like many others, am not really for it. First of all, I'm kinda tired of champions having outside forces acting on them, for example Kayn, and secondly, I don't think she should be punished for trying to save her people. In my version, I feel that she has more strength, and it isn't just some blank slate for others to speak or take action through. Also, I'd rather the Spirit be like this force rather than an actual being, that's contantly shrouded in mystery.

I was going to do one for Sona, but I got tired, sorry.