(Champion Concept) Nikolai, the Cleave of the Freljord
NOTE: This is a rework of Nikolai, the Freljord's Salvation.
let me know which one you prefer, and leave feedback for one or both ^^
Lore
The Freljord is a savage place of cold and war. Some would die by frost, others die by steel. It is a land fit for only the most resilient, with no mercy for the weak. Only they can live in this land, whether with strength... or will. The latter is such the case with Nikolai Marshall, an immortal not by magic, but simply by not letting death take him.
200 years ago, Nikolai lived as a great sergeant of the Avarosan. His supposed last breath struck on his 17th birthday; the battle to determine the fate of Avarosa at the Howling Abyss.
For a while, Nikolai and his army blew over the Frostguard troops. One by one they fell, and glory was close for the Avarosan. But in one fell sweep, the army had been eviscerated, leaving only Nikolai to deal with the last enemy: the Ice Witch.
Nikolai rushed, but was promptly knocked aside. However he wouldn't fall off the bridge alone. He grabbed the witch and threw her down with him.
"We had reached the bottom of the abyss when everything stopped. For so long, I only saw visions - visions of an inhuman place of horror. 'Omen' and 'Void' plagued my mind, and I had nearly forgotten all other words. Then I had awoken on top of true ice with a poro next to me - and a young girl. Her name was Laura, I believe, and from what I remember she's quite fond of mirrors. She had asked where we were, but explaining it may have frightened her if she didn't understand where we stood already. I decided to take her and climb up the wall of the abyss, a journey that took only some hours, but felt like years. Now we travel Valoran, her in search of a purpose, I in search of a dear friend. One I had lost to the Timeless Forest years ago..."
Abilities
Passive: Avarosan Resilience - Nikolai converts 5/7.5/10% maximum Health into Ability Power, and 1/2/3% maximum Mana into Attack Damage. (Levels 1/8/15)
Design Philosophy: Nikolai is created for life as a bruiser. This passive lets him get items like Warmogs and Frozen heart while still being able to get some nice damage. (Pro Tip: Manamune works wonders for Nikolai)
Q: Marshall's Charge -
Nikolai dashes in a direction, dealing 50/110/170/230/290 (60% total Attack Damage) physical damage to units he passes through, and stomps the ground to halt, dealing 30-80% of that damage in a fractured area around him, based on how close to Nikolai the enemy is, at the end.
Mana Cost: 65 Range: 500 Width: 75 Knockup Width: 150 Cooldown: 13
Empowered Q -
Stuns enemies for 1 second.
Design Philosophy: A sergeant must be able to charge in to start a battle, and I think this is just the perfect way to do it.
W: Wrath of the Howling -
Nikolai launches a fierce energy blast in a direction, dealing 55/85/115/145/175 (80% Ability Power) magic damage to the first enemy champion hit and making allies deal 20% increased damage to the target.
Empowered W - Does damage and applies debuff in a selected AoE to all enemies hit.
Mana cost: 80/90/100/110/120 Range: 900 Width: 60 AoE radius: 250 Cooldown: 14 seconds
Design Philosophy: Nikolai is ruthless to his enemies, so he does what he can to weaken them. This works because the abyss consumed him during the 200 years, and he would have some sort of magic to corrode enemies with the dreams that consumed him
E: Queen's Blessing/Frost Pulse - Nikolai shields himself from incoming attacks. The next ability that hits Nikolai is blocked, and his next ability in the next 10 seconds becomes empowered, gaining a new effect. If he does not use an ability, he gains a stack of Queen's Blessing, stacking up to 5. Frost Pulse does 10% bonus damage per stack.
Frost Pulse - (Usage of this ability is put onto E after blocking an ability. The cooldown will proceed as normal when used or the 10 seconds run out. If Nikolai has 5 stacks of Frost Pulse, E becomes frost pulse indefinitely until used, then when used, Queen's Blessing will become available for use immediately.) Nikolai unleashes frost around him, dealing 80/110/140/170/200 (50% Ability Power) (40% bonus Attack Damage) magic damage to enemies.
Mana Cost: none Frost Pulse AoE: 500 radius Cooldown: 15/14/13/12/10
Design Philosophy: Nikolai was Avarosa's elite soldier. Out of all the warriors in her army, Nikolai was blessed with powers from Avarosa, one of which was a shield to make him stronger, and another, a freezing wave. He utilizes these to create counter attacks for the enemy.
R: Avarosa's Will - Nikolai spins around with sword extended, dealing 100/150/200 (80% total Attack Damage) physical damage around him over 3 seconds. Then, Nikolai stomps the ground, blasting blue energy out of the ground and dealing 100/150/250 (80% Ability Power) magic damage in an area.
Empowered R: The second part of the ultimate will stun enemies for 2 seconds.
Mana cost: 100 DOT AoE: 250 radius Burst AoE: 550 radius Cooldown: 120/100/80
Design Philosophy: He needed something to show his full force as an elite. A 2 part ultimate like this not only seemed interesting, but it also appeared to work very well.
Appearance
Nikolai is a young 17-year old warrior (appearance-wise, not his actual age, which around his judgement is 217). He carries a Cutlass with red runes on the blade. He has black hair, navy tunic, grey undershirt, black pants with grey stripes down the side and jet black eyes. He is able to control magic from the abyss itself.
(Credit to my friend Nykole for this drawing)
Stats
Health: 572 (+75 per level)
Mana: 310 (+50 per level)
Attack Damage: 51 (+3.45 per level)
Attack speed: 0.67 (+3% per level)
Movement Speed: 335
Armor: 32 (+3 per level)
Magic Resist: 40
Recommended Items
Essential Items: Manamune, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Offensive Items: Archangel's Staff, Trinity Force, Frozen Mallet
Defensive Items: Frozen Heart, Warmog's Armor, Righteous Glory
Quotes
I may update this section with some voicework at some point, to give you an idea on how I intended Nikolai to sound. (As soon as I get a new computer or my laptop starts working again)
Upon Selection: "Welcome to the blast from the past!
Upon Spawing:
"There's a distinct lack of blood spilt here." "A real battlefield... what a treat" "Let's show them a real chill."
Movement:
"It's been so long since I've been on the battlefield" "I almost forgot I could feel again" "Wait, why am I listening to you again?" "As you wish" "You don't have to click so much, you know..." "Ah, my natural habitat." "Finally, something that isn't frozen over." "I wonder how it feels to run away"
Upon selecting an attack target
"I almost feel bad for them" "No mercy" "For Avarosa" "Good, my blade gets some entertainment" "Never should have come here" "Fresh meat" "Peace for allies, anguish for enemies" "I was just thinking the same thing, my friend" "Blood will be the least of their problems" "One swift strike" "Just another roadblock" "Oh, there's the mosquito!"
Jokes
"Any jokes? Nah, They're all pretty... dark." "A bottomless pit reaaally changes a man." "Hey, did you hear? They renamed death to 'Nikolaitis'"
towards Ashe
"Good thing we got you, or else the Avarosan would go down in... Ashes." "See get it, your name's Ashe, and ashes are... you know... nevermind."
towards Tryndamere
"Jeez... what do you do on your spare time?" "Try lifting it with your left hand, then maybe you'll require skill."
towards Anivia
"So... do you just become a baby again... how do you work?" "If I cooked an Eggnivia, would I have scrambled ice?"
Taunts
"Give in, I might just spare you" "Good time for a drink, eh? How about some bloodshed?" "I'd love to chat, but I'll start killing you any moment now"
towards Lissandra
"Just like the good ol' days" "All witches must melt, Lissandra" "A near bottomless crevice couldn't stop me, you think you're worth anything?" "Looks like there was a thaw."
towards Olaf
"I came for a berserker, not a weakling" "Oh super, a dwarf on stilts..."
towards Sejuani
"If only the strong can live in the Freljord, then why are you still around?" "How's about I give Bristle the treat of bleeding out"
towards Udyr
"Your rage is nothing before my power" "What's next, a rabbit stance?"
towards Trundle
"Troll town? No... this is my town" "You are no king... just a mere slave" "Your freedom isn't worth it for a hunk of ice, Trundle."
towards Volibear
"I've fought animals before but... this is just ridiculous." "A bear shouldn't need armor to protect himself" "Now, watch, as I unleash a Voli of pain over you"
towards Ekko
"You can time travel, right? So why not stop yourself from being a failure?" "Zaun: nasty and fiercely hated... it suits you"
towards Teemo
"...Sorry, I wasn't told I had to fight a cottonball" "tsk This is what scares people now?" "They treat you like a demon... why, I could just step on you. "Gah... people hyped me for a challenge and I get a squirrel..."
Ability quotes
upon blocking an ability (E)
"Nice try" "Heh. Sorry" "Don't think so" "Big mistake" "Step it up!"
upon hitting an enemy champion (q)
"Goin' somewhere?" "Not so fast" "You can't run" "Freeze!"
upon activating Avarosa's Will (R)
"Freljord!" "Avarosa!" "Kneel!" "Perish!"
after being revived by Zilean ult
"Could have used ya back in the day" "Heh, wish I knew that one" "I guess you really should respect your elders"
Buying Items
upon buying Frozen Heart
"I think I know where my heart went." "Huh... That explains the scar..." "Guess this one ain't thawed yet"
upon buying Guinsoo's Rageblade
"A blade fit for my fury" "Guinsoo woulda been a great friend" "I think my cousin got turned into a blade"
upon buying The Bloodthirster
"Soon they'll have no more blood for us to feast on" "This thing's got the right idea" "I don't need any shield... but I'll take it"
upon buying Zhonyas Hourglass
"I got all the time in the world" "Heh, now I'm golden!" "Stop. Zhonya time."
upon buying Randuins Omen
"This is not the first Omen to haunt me... but I hope it to be the last" "Randuin must have seen my dreams" "This must be a nightmare."
upon buying Rabadons Deathcap
"As fabulous as it is powerful" "Now this guy knew how to dress!"
upon buying Abyssal Scepter
"A grim reminder of my new home" "This from the same abyss?"
upon buying Hextech Gunblade
"If only I had this 200 years ago" "A sword... gun? Technology is wierd..." "Piltover has strange idea on "innovation"
upon buying Ravenous Hydra
"Guess I'm not the only thing that's 'ravenous'" "Never though I'd enjoy being surrounded" "Tying all lose ends" "Keep on guard"
upon buying Will of the Ancients
"A book that lets me heal? I should read more often" "See kids, this is why you stay in school" "Their will to mine... that's just brutal."
Upon buying Manamune
"Alot of hard work and tears went into this" "Never has a blade looked so tear jerking"
Dance
http://31.media.tumblr.com/6b1d95681e69c8c16d8f527b18662f38/tumblr_mr4egpQXEG1r5xby5o1_400.gif
Skins
Full Metal Nikolai: Basically Zero from the Megaman X series, with a cannon to shoot his magic and sword changed to a type of laser blade.
Forgotten Nikolai: Recolor with Dark Green clothing, silver hair and blue-hilted longsword with a full silver blade rather than his cutlass.
Battle Bunny Nikolai: Nikolai with a suit, tie, dress pants and a magical blade carrot. Also bunny ears.
Lissandra: The Story of Avarosa's Demise:
"After Avarosa destroyed the Ice Watchers, I had declared another battle to again take place on the bridge. This time however, it was my Frostguard army versus her elite forces. One boy, the youngest of them all, almost single-handedly destroyed my army. I had to find a way to level the battlefield, so when opportunity knocked, I plowed through the elite squad, leaving only him and I. We fought for what seemed like ages without rest, when finally I threw him off the edge of the bridge. But, he grabbed me and pulled me down with him. As we approached the bottom, he tried to inflict a final blow on me, but I encased us both with true ice. Within an hour I had thawed and lifted myself to the surface. I went for Avarosa's kingdom, where I snuck through to her throne room and impaled her head with an ice shard. 200 years passed, with my plans going as I wanted. But the boy came back, and now, whichever one of us lives longer wins the war."
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my good friends Harry, Jake, and Seb, helping me come up with ability concepts and Lore Ideas. Please leave any ideas you may have for this champion, all feedback is appreciated.
