Concept for New Champion: Horacio, the Haunted Puppet

Foreword

First, I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to investigate this concept. I will do my best to make sure that time isn't gone to waste. Horacio is a concept I made a while back. I'm 'reviving' the concept because I feel like it was definitely one of the best concepts I've come up with, and I want to do a better job introducing him to everyone.

Champion Inspiration

I wanted to make a champion that scares people. Recent horror films inspired me to come up with a haunted puppet concept. This champion is meant to steal the title of "Satan" from Teemo. Making something more evil than Teemo is a challenge. Ironically, and not very ironic all together, this concept takes ideas from Teemo and Amumu. It might be easy to see where I grabbed ideas once I explain Horacio's kit. It was also pointed out that Fiddlesticks is very similar, and there are many similarities.

Champion Visual

Horacio is a marionette with a long nose, and round staring eyes. He often appears with blood mysteriously dripping from his crooked grin. If you have seen Soul Eater, the Moon is a really good visual basis for this champ. Really round eyes, large creepy grin, etc. As far as clothing, I'm not sure. Marionettes were typically dressed like people of their time, and I'm not up-to-date on the history of fashion in Runeterra. But, Horacio will be wearing the clothes of centuries past.

Lore

There was once a woodsmen who lived at the edge of the forest, his name was Horacio. Horacio was known to the whole village for his wonderful wood crafts. Every night he stayed up late carving logs into new toys for the village children, and brought new toys to the village everyday for the children to see. Oh- Horacio could make anything, and his toys never ceased to amaze people. From toy gliders to yo-yos, Horacio must have invented every kind of wooden toy there was.

But Horacio was a lonely man since childbirth had taken his wife and baby. He used to stay up late, making toys for the baby-to-be, and never really stopped. Some say it keeps his mind off the pain, while other suggested he lost his mind entirely- yet regardless of the rumors, everyone loved Horacio.

So it was no wonder the village began to worry when Horacio hadn't come by with any new creations for a while. After forming a small party, the villagers decided it was time to visit the lonely woodsmen once again. They marched off towards the woods, until the shade of the forest had engulfed them. It was all too quiet except for the slow scraping coming from within. With a fearful curiosity the villagers began poking their heads through various windows to get a look. Horacio was huddled over something in the middle of the one-room cot. A single dimly-lit lantern stood at his knee. Curiosity slaked, the villagers slowly crept away from the home and returned to the village. Whatever he was doing- it was best he be left undisturbed.

The very next day Horacio came to the village bearing a boyish smile and carrying a wooden box. Forgetting about all the mystery of the previous nights, the villagers gathered around for Horacio's new display. People began poking guesses at what was in the box, and Horacio just grinned widely in amusement until the crowd became quiet. Everyone stared trans-fixedly at the wooden box. Horacio slowly opened the box, unveiling what was inside to an anticipating audience. But what he drew from the box came as a shock. It was a puppet- or a doll, with strings of silver tied to its feet and hands. The crowd began to buzz in confusion. But Horacio picked up a wooden handle in each hand, and began making the doll dance merrily. The crowd began to cheer and applaud. The children began making requests for the puppet: spins, and jumps, and funny gestures. It was Horacio's greatest creation of all.

That night Horacio sat by the fire, playing with the puppet he had created. He sat the toy on his lap. "Nothing will happen to you, Son", he said as hell fell asleep. Hours later, a heavy knock came to the door. Horacio stirred, and the knock came again. He stared at the door for a moment. "Who's there?", he demanded. The knock came again, throwing the door open with a chill wind behind it. Horacio's light went out, and he could only see a figure standing in the doorway. "Who is it?", he demanded again. But there was no answer. Horacio stumbled for his ax, and gripped it tight. The figure approached, and picked up the doll.

"I bet you wish you had a real son. I can make this boy come to life, ...if you like."

Horacio was never seen again. When the villagers came to investigate, they found the bloody corpse of an elderly woman from the village. The doll Horacio crafted sat over the bloody mess, blood dripping from its guilty grin. The villagers believed Horacio had murdered the woman before running off into the woods. But months of searching found nothing. Horacio's valuable were pawned off, all except for the puppet. It wasn't the same cheerful, dancing and playing puppet they were introduced to. The smile seemed more menacing and cruel, and the eyes stared as if they had life.

Years went by, and people kept mysteriously dying. And everywhere there was a gruesome murder, the woodsmen's doll could be found watching the bystanders with blood dripping from its crooked smile.

Combat/Abilities

Basic Attack: Horacio 'lazily' swings his 'handles' at enemy. (A weak throw) Role Check: Bot: Horacio lacks the physical damage output to be a serious Bot lane champ. 1/5- Do not attempt. Top: Horacio has good sustain, but sustain might not mean much against large opponents 1v1. 2/5- I don't recommend it. Support: Horacio has some nice crowd control in his kit, and his passive is best utilized the more often he's around an ally. 3/5 Support is a safe role to play. Jungle: Horacio would do well in the jungle, allowing his weak early game to be spent taking easy farm. 4/5 Jungle is a healthy role to play. Mid: Horacio works well as a Mid-lane champ. With good wave-clear, high AP burst, and good sustain, Horacio is perfect for the job. 5/5 possibly his best role.

Items to Consider

Passive- Living Relic Cooldown: 60 seconds

• If Horacio becomes immobile and doesn't take damage for 1.5 seconds, he activates "Living Relic". Moving or acting will de-activate "Living Reilc".
• (passive): While "Living Relic" is active, Horacio gains 100% base mana regen. Enemies within a 500 unit radius take 1 + 1.5% of Horacio's Ability Power in magic damage each second.
• ("active"): Allies may activate Horacio while "Living Relic" is active to pick him up for up to 3 seconds. Doing so grants +10% Movement Speed and brings up a skill-shot cursor, and the ally must throw Horacio before any other actions can be made.
• If Horacio is thrown, the ally deals 5% of Horacio's Armor + 5% of ally Ability Power in magic damage in a small AOE and causes fear for 1 second to enemies hit.
• If Horacio moves before he is thrown, the ability is cancelled and placed on 50% cooldown.
• "Living Relic" is deactivated upon being thrown.
• Cooldown is for "active" only. (skillshot looks like Kalista's Ultimate)

note: weighing the pros and cons of being able to just snatch up an ally was tedious. Then I thought- hey.. Tahm Kench does it. Yup, I went there. Kench and Horacio would be very fond of each other....)

Q- Puppet Strings Cooldown: 12 seconds Mana Cost: 35/45/55/65/75

• Horacio throws his strings in a straight line dealing 20/30/40/50/60 magic damage to all units hit, and returning health based on % damage dealt. Puppet strings will attach to the first enemy champion or large monster struck. Then Horacio tugs his strings back, dealing an additional 15/20/25/30/35 damage to target and all targets in between and returning Health.
• Puppet Strings damages minions, and passes through them.
• Puppet Strings damages monsters and champions, and attaches to them.
• If Puppet Strings attaches, Horacio has 2 seconds to yank them back to damage the target as well as enemies between him and the target.
• All damage from Puppet Strings has Spell Vamp
• +5% Ability Power added to all damage
• (Visual) Horacio throws his 'handles'. If the handle do not latch, they simply retreat back to Horacio. If the handles latch to an enemy, a small snare animation will show. Re-activating after the latch will show a small break animation before the strings are yanked back.

note: the strings don't attach to minions so that Horacio has potential wave clear for lanes.

W- Horrify Cooldown: 18 seconds Mana Cost: 55/60/65/70/75

• Horacio activates 'Living Relic' and scans the area with his creepy eyes. Enemies caught in his radar take 5% of Horacio's Ability Power in magic damage and have fear for 1.0/1.25/1.5/1.75/2.0 seconds. Alternatively, if the radar stops on an enemy, the enemy is stunned for the same duration and takes 10% of Horacio's Ability Power in magic damage. This ability can be activated during 'Living Relic'.
• Ability is a skillshot, and proceeds counter-clockwise until cancelled.
• Crowd control effects cancel this ability.
• Horacio sits down and spins his head 360 degrees, a 'laser' indicating his glance.
• If the 'laser' touches an enemy, the enemy has fear for a short time as well as taking damage.
• Horacio can re-activate to stop scanning, or let the 360 degrees run its course.
• If Horacio stops scanning, and the 'laser' is on an enemy, the enemy is stunned for a short duration instead of having fear, and takes bonus damage.
• Units can take cover behind other units from this ability. (Horacio isn't staring holes into your body)
• (Visual Perspective) Horacio scans the room, which is creepy. Then his eyes stop at you, which is terrifying.
• (Visual) Basically, a laser-like animation that acts like a clockhand, or a radar.
• (Audio) Horacio laughs as enemy becomes stunned. This laugh sounds like the clown head from Happy Gilmore.

note: my favorite ability in the kit. this ability actually kick-started this kit concept.

E- Morbidity Cooldown: 15 seconds Mana Cost: 10/15/20/25/30 x Hit

• (passive): All damage dealt by Horacio gains a bonus 1/2/3/4/5 damage as magic damage.
• (active toggle): Horacio's basic attacks cost mana, deal magic damage instead of physical damage and apply 5/10/15/20/25% Spell Vamp.
• Horacio's basic attacks will scale off AP while 'Morbidity' is active.
• 'Morbidity' is deactivated if Horacio has insufficient mana upon attacking.
• 'Morbidity' is deactivated any time 'Living Relic' becomes active.
• (Visual) While 'Morbidity' is active, Horacio's "handles" glow and float in the air. Instead of being thrown physically, they strike down like snakes.
• (Audio) Activating 'Morbidity' has a very rustic, 'bouncing' note played from a heavy gong or bell. (sorry people who are musically inclined and know the proper lingo- I hope my description was at least decent)

note: this ability is meant to give Horacio some poke, given his incredibly low Attack Damage.

Ultimate- Mad Marionette Edited Cooldown: 85 seconds Health Cost: 100% -1 (all but 1 Health)

• (active): Horacio diminishes life life force to the bare minimum, preparing a nasty plot. For 5 seconds, Horacio becomes invulnerable to all damage except damage from enemy champions. If Horacio comes under attack from an enemy champion, the enemy is transformed into a motionless doll for 5 seconds, while Horacio activates "Living relic" and becomes invulnerable to all damage for the same duration. During this 5 seconds, Horacio commands a spectral copy of the cursed enemy and may devour it.
• The spectral facsimile takes 10/15/20 +5% of Horacio's Ability Power in damage each second, which applies 25/50/75% spell vamp for Horacio.
• Specter also loses pi% of its maximum Health each second.
• 30/40/50% of damage taken by Specter is returned to the enemy champion.
• Horacio can command the specter to attack or move.
• The specter has 50% of the original's stats and 100% of its Maximum Health (including equipment).
• Specter may activate Horacio, doing so depletes the Specter's remaining Health and returns 20/40/60% of that damage to Horacio in Health (spell vamp does not apply to this effect). -The cursed enemy is cured if the Specter is devoured, but still receives the damage.

Secret Lore:

"I bet you wish you had a real son. I can make this boy come to life, ...if you like." Lightning flashed and the room lit up revealing the familiar face of an elderly woman from the village. Horacio relaxed a little, recognizing the elderly woman. Horacio: "What are you doing here?" (He re-lights his lantern) Elderly Woman: "I know you miss your wife so dearly. I know how you wanted a family." (Horacio looks to the ground, emotionless) Elderly Woman: "Horacio." (He looks up and meets her gaze) "Through my years I have learned many things. I know of forbidden arts." Horacio: "You're.. a sorceress? Get out" I want nothing to do with your treachery, witch! Begone!" Elderly Woman: (In a cooing tone) "Horacio, have I ever meant you any harm? I was her midwife, Horacio. I'm here for you." (Horacio turns his head away sharply, then sighs heavily) Horacio: "What do we need to do?" (The elderly woman gently approaches Horacio) Elderly Woman: "You just need to reach for the puppet. Reach for him, Horacio. Reach out for your son." (There was a gruesome rush of red, Horacio's body collapsed as his soul stretched out for the puppet. Once the spectral hand of Horacio grabbed the puppet, the red flooded into the specter and drained it into the doll) (Horacio sputtered his last breath and the elderly woman approached the puppet) Elderly Woman: "How are we feeling, Dear?" (Horacio observed himself and became enraged beyond measure. He lunged at the woman, and began tearing her apart)

So- there it is. I hope everyone likes him. I mean- the concept. I hope we can all love to hate him, and hate to love him- but love and hate him regardless. Please leave any suggestions, or concerns in the comments below. I'm really looking forward to your feedback.