SOZ'RATH, THE LICH PRINCE: Full Champion Concept!

THE RlVER KlNG·5/19/2016, 4:25:39 AM·15 votes·3,773 views

http://www.komarckart.com/new_17.jpg

Death is but a reawakening, and Soz’rath embraces that ideal to the fullest. A terrifying solo lane mage, Soz'rath unleashes a slew of vile debuffs and damaging spells that leech life and inflict misery upon his foes, thriving on their torment and despair. And when death eventually comes, he simply respawns elsewhere to wreak havoc on those who dared end his last life.

TL;DR Lore

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Many decades ago, Soz’rath was the young prince of a province in Kumungu, shrouded in mystery and folklore. His notoriety only grew as he valiantly explored the whole of the continent, turning heads as well as hearts, trekking throughout all of the diverse lands and cities Valoran had to offer. Always accompanied by a crew of daring explorers and fortune-seekers that only multiplied with each journey, the prince reached nigh-demigod status as a fearless, nameless explorer who single-handedly helped to put his nation on the map. The nation-states of Demacia and Noxus were eager to make allies with this young, powerful prince, and each extended alluring promises of gold, power, and protection to he and his people. Soz'rath politely refused each offer, hesitant at accepting either nation's help for fear of becoming little more than a political province, wasting away in the shadows after its purpose had been fulfilled and its resources depleted. Angered at the insolence of the prince's actions, Noxus sent their armies to usurp the upstart prince in order to place puppet Noxian loyalists in power. Not long after, Demacian armies arrived as well to contest their perceived claim at the land, not willing to let their Noxian rivals lay claim to it either. Blinded by their petty desires and even pettier egos, the two armies met, ravaging Kumungu in the process. Thousands were slaughtered in the destructive battle, and the prince numbered amongst the few survivors of the catastrophy. Distraught and ashamed of his survival, the prince considered slitting his own throat. Moments before he may have ended his life prematurely, a mysterious agent of the even more mysterious Black Rose appeared at the doorstep of his palace's rubble, carrying an iron totem bound in chains. Urging the prince to leave with the box, and instructions to open it away from prying eyes, the sorceror disappeared in a wisp of shadow.

The prince, disguised as a beggar, found shelter in an inn on the outskirts of Shurima. Consumed with hatred towards Noxus and Demacia, and an unquenchable sense of misanthropy and self-loathing, the prince opened the top of the totem in his dark, drafty room, and found a bundle of carefully inscribed strips, each written in an old runic tongue he could not decipher. Upon closer inspection, he found one note, written in a clumsy Kumngu dialect, with strange and eldritch intructions on the blackest and most vile of sorceries - the perverse ritual of becoming a lich. Consumed by a need for revenge and seeing no other option, the prince's eyes hungrily scanned the page, reading knowledge no mortal should ever see. Brewing a potion made of ingredients acquired only through murder and further betrayal, the prince's descent into evil had already begun. On the night of the full moon, with the chained totem, glowing green at his feet in the dunes, he ingested the fel concoction. Falling to his knees, the prince began his transformation.

The next day he awoke, the sun burning down on his new form - his tattered black robe now hung over sallow grey flesh, his once-handsome face now a wasted skull with eyes of violet fire. His garments hung in ghostly strips around him, and he felt the dark hum of magic coursing through his black, twisted veins. He no longer felt hunger, or thirst, or exhaustion, and his soul now resided not within him but within the totem - a phylactery; his new soulstone that would forever preserve him as he was now, in an unending cycle of perpetual undeath. Knowing now what he must do, the once-virtuous prince hunted down and murdered all who once knew him as the prince of Kumungu, to preserve his true name, now locked away in his phylactery. Rumours spread of the untimely demise of the legendary Kumungan prince, and the dark horror systematically hunting down his once-valiant crew of explorers. Taking a new name, Soz'rath, which means 'dark one' in his native tongue, the young lich did nothing to quell those stories. The world would burn in his black fire - and Noxus and Demacia would be the first to fall.

PRIMARY ROLE: MAGE SECONDARY ROLE: N/A

Health: 532 - 1816 Health Regen: 7.1 – 16.54 Mana: 343 - 1401 Mana Regen: 6.0 – 21.2 Auto Range: 475 Attack Damage: 53 – 106 Attack Speed: 0.625 [+0% - +34.8%] Armor: 23.2 – 84.8 Magic Resistance: 30.0 Movement Speed: 340

The art was done by Michael Komarck, an incredibly talented artist who does work for Magic: The Gathering and Game of Thrones. This piece isn't necessarily what I would want Soz'rath's final look to be, I just thought it was really cool and would serve as a suitable template. IN-GAME ICON: http://i.grab.la/06512-330c17bc-1677-434a-ab84-7e052d02be4f.png LOADING SCREEN SLICE: http://i.grab.la/06512-04895a15-6671-4b9b-b9fe-6fb57d1bad33.png

ABILITIES

http://i.imgur.com/rJCJm0Q.jpg Passive - Phylactery: Soz’rath can place his phylactery down at a target location, granting vision. Upon death, he will revive at his phylactery’s location. If the phylactery is destroyed, this effect goes on cooldown and Soz’rath is revealed and heavily slowed.

Soz’rath is a lich, fueled by the necromantic energies within his phylactery. Upon game start, Soz’rath can place his phylactery anywhere on the map within his auto-attack range, where it will stealth after 1.5 seconds and remain there until he dies, and cannot be moved until that occurs. The phylactery grants vision in an area around it and has 4 health, losing 1 health upon being hit by a champion basic attack or single-target spell. Upon Soz’rath dying, he will be transported to his phylactery’s current location and enter stasis for 3 seconds, slowly regenerating back to life, with [253.8-937.2 health][+100% Life Tap bonus health], based on level, and the mana and cooldowns he had upon death. His phylactery is invulnerable during this time, and regenerates back to full health as well. It is then disabled for a static 30 seconds afterwards. During this time it can remain at that location or Soz’rath can move it somewhere else. Soz’rath’s killer will still be rewarded with full kill experience and gold regardless of whether he resurrected.

If an enemy champion destroys the phylactery in any way, then the cooldown is refreshed/applied and it will blink to Soz’rath’s current location, where he can pick it up and replace it somewhere else again. Soz’rath is also revealed to the enemy team for** 6** seconds after it is destroyed and slowed by 70% for 2.

Ability Notes:

Soz'rath's phylactery stealths upon being placed, but functions in the same way that wards and traps do, being revealed by Oracle's Lens, pink wards, Raptor buff, and other abilities that grant vision. Soz'rath's phylactery itself gives vision in a roughly ~450 unit radius.
WIth full possible Life Tap stacks, Sol'rath can revive with up to [475-2225 health].
In case I wasn't clear; say Soz'rath has not died yet, but someone still destroys his phylactery, it will go on cooldown. If he has died and resurrected, and has only 4 seconds left on the internal cooldown of the phylactery, and someone destroys it, then the cooldown will go back up to 30 anyways.
Soz'rath dies for real if his phylactery is on cooldown, or if he fails to place it anywhere. Keep that in mind.
THe phylactery is placed by using the 'Z' key and clicking the location. The phylactery is roughly the size of a Thresh Lantern.

http://i.imgur.com/e59WGW0.png http://i.imgur.com/29VewSu.jpg**Q**: Mortal Coil: Soz'rath shoots forth a spirit skull that deals magic damage to the first enemy hit. If it hits an enemy, he can cast this ability two more times for free. Successive skulls deal reduced damage against champions. Each skull that hits an enemy heals Soz'rath, increased against champions.

Soz’rath projects a spirit skull in a line, dealing 60/90/120/150/180 [+50% AP] magic damage to the first target hit. If hits a target, then he can cast this ability for free up to two more times within 6 seconds. Champions take 50% reduced damage from successive skulls, up to a maximum of 120/180/240/300/360 [+100% AP] magic damage. Soz’rath heals for** 5/8/13/18/21 [+9% AP]** for each skull that hits an enemy, doubled against champions, for a potential maximum heal of 30/48/78/108/126 [+54% AP].

Range: 1050 Cooldown: 7/6.5/6/5.5/5 seconds Cost: 40 mana

Ability Notes:

If the first skull is blocked by a spell shield or destroyed in any way, then this ability will go on cooldown and Soz'rath cannot cast the second two. However, if the the first skull hits, then he can cast the second two regardless of whether the second one hits.
's Unbreakable and 's Wind Wall will block Mortal Coil.
This ability has no cast time, meaning Soz'rath can move freely while casting it.

http://i.imgur.com/lw5mXSA.jpg W: Debilitating Blight Soz'rath creates a cloud of plague gas at the target location. Enemies within are slowed and take damage over time. If he lands a spell on a champion within the cloud, then it detonates to deal extra damage and inflict nearsight on all enemies within it.

Soz’rath creates a miasma of deathly fumes at the targeted location, which will remain for up to 4.5 seconds. The blight will deal 25/35/45/55/65 [+15% AP] magic damage per second to enemies within, and slow for** 35/40/45/50/55%** for 1 second, persisting for 0.75 seconds after leaving the blight. If Soz’rath lands a spell on an enemy champion within the blight, then it detonates, dealing 40/60/80/100/120 [+40% AP] magic damage to all enemies within the blight, who are also inflicted with nearsight for** 1.25/1.5/1.75/2/2.25** seconds, and are briefly silenced for half that duration as well. This consumes the blight regardless of its remaining timer.

Range: 800 {cast range} \ 450 {radius} Cooldown: 20/18/16/14/12 seconds Cost: 70 mana

Ability Notes:

The blight gives vision within it.
The ability does not count as a projectile, and will thus not be blocked by Wind Wall. However, Braum will still take 30% reduced damage if he is within the blight, regardless of which direction he is facing.

http://i.imgur.com/AOcK1RD.png E: Life Tap: Soz'rath deals damage to a target equal to a small flat amount plus a portion of their maximum health. He will send the % health portion of the damage dealt as bonus health back to his phylactery, which is used as bonus health in his next resurrection, up to a cap. Heals for a percentage of the damage dealt when at full stacks.

Soz’rath deals 35/50/75/90/115 + 3/4/5/6/7 [+1.5% per 100 AP] of the target’s maximum health as magic damage, and will send the health amount back to his phylactery as bonus health that will additionally be replenished upon reviving. Maximum of** [221.2-1287.8 health]**, based on level. Killing a minion or monster with this ability resets its cooldown and refunds its mana cost. At full stacks, this ability heals for 30% of the damage dealt instead, but will not benefit from the cooldown reset upon killing a minion or monster.

**Range: 600 Cooldown: 10 seconds Cost: 65 mana **

Ability Notes:

Soz'rath will briefly glow green when he reaches full stacks.
Upon learning this ability, a bar will hover over his phylactery showing the amount of bonus health currently stored.
Naturally, the amount of health gained by this ability is reset upon reviving or the phylactery being destroyed.
Soz’rath’s base resurrection health is actuallly quite low. However, if he manages to farm this ability to full, he will potentially respawn with full health. Make sure to keep your stacks topped off whenever you can.

http://i.imgur.com/GXw85dy.png R: Horror of the Beyond Soz'rath hurls a massive curse to the target location with huge range. Enemies caught in the blast are feared and take magic damage. If this ability hits his phylactery, then it deals bonus damage and refunds the mana cost.

Soz’rath hurls a devastating hex at massive range to the target location, arriving after a delay based on distance. All enemies within the blast take 200/300/400 [+70% AP] magic damage and are feared for 1.25/1.5/1.75 seconds. If the phylactery is anywhere within the blast radius, then it is restored to full health, the mana cost is refunded, and enemies within the blast take 50% more damage, for a possible total of 300/450/600 [+105% AP] magic damage.

Range: 4800/5000/5300 {cast range} \ 500 {radius}
Cooldown: 120/110/100 seconds Cost: 100/125/150 mana

Ability Notes:

Yes, that says fear. As in Volibear fear. They dont flee from the impact or whatever - targets hit by this ability will be slowed and run aimlessly about for the duration.
I tried to guesstimate the cast range of this ability as best as I could, based on Ziggs and Bard ultimates, but I couldn't find the numbers for their rank 1 and 2 cast ranges. I did my best but I'd appreciate if anyone had the appropriate cast ranges to bring this ability in check.

                                                                                      **THE PHYLACTERY**

First and foremost, Soz'rath is going to have to figure out where to put his phylactery - potentially for the rest of the game, and preferably before minions spawn or the enemy team invades. It may seem smart to simply plop it down at the outer turret, so that if you die you can just respawn there to clean up whoever dove you, but what happens when that tower falls? The enemy team will already know where it is because the enemy mid saw you respawn; they'll simply pink ward it and destroy it, not only locking you out of your crucial respawn, but inflicting a crippling slow and vision debuff that can lead to your death. And Soz'rath gets pissed when he actually dies. Drama queen.

Placing the phylactery at successively inner turrets poses the same problem. As the game progresses, towers fall (and death timers increase), are you willing to risk the same downfalls listed above simply to get to lane faster? Placing the phylactery near to allied jungle camps grants your jungler helpful vision, but is equally as risky when the enemy team tries invading to hunt down your phylactery. Putting the phylactery at fountain guarantees its safety, but also means your passive is relegated to a glorified Revive. Choices, choices. Keep in mind that once you resurrect you can move it somewhere else, opening up new strategies for a Soz'rath player as the game progresses (and his/her KDA gets progressively worse).

The phylactery turns into a whole other tool entirely once Soz'rath hits six. Encouraging fights around his phylactery, while dangerous, also leads to a huge benefit if he manages to hit a clumped up group of would-be enemy lich-hunters. Good Soz'rath players will now be able to exploit proper phylactery placement to either become an irrepressible force in the lategame, a la the most annoying aspects of bot Aatrox and Karthus, or aggressively make plays around their phylactery for massive AoE damage. In this way, proper placement and protection strategies of an allied Soz'rath's phylactery can win a game. On the flip side, agressive players who can exploit the item's vulnerability can severely weaken the enemy Lich Prince's signature trait and damage.

LANING Starting from level 1, Soz'rath has two choices on how he wants his lane to go. Should he pick up Life Tap, and farm for health to strengthen future revives, or should he opt for Mortal Coil and abuse its incredible early game damage? Soz'rath's low mana costs and cooldowns mean that he doesn't need to be as judicious with spellcasts as others amongst his mage brethren, but the low range on his E and minion block on his Q means he'll have to get creative if he wants to pressure his enemy. Using Life Tap to drain a minion may trick melee lane opponents into thinking it's safe to come up to CS, before they will soon realize the CD has been reset and you chunk them for a percentage of their max. health, fueling your future resurrection in the process.

Learning when and how to cast Debilitating Blight is vital in pressuring your lane opponent. Soz'rath lacks hard crowd control outside of his ult, which means pre-6 he often has to rely on sheer numbers and sustain alone to survive the laning phase. However, Soz'rath is excellent at enabling ganks - if he manages to hit his full combo, then the slowed, heavily poisoned, and vision-reduced enemy will not see the jungler approaching. The sheer damage of his combo, even without¬ an enemy jungler to help, is still often enough to force an enemy out of lane (or at least make them miss a creep wave or two), granting you more time to farm more Life Taps and accrue the gold and experience you need to scale into the lategame. Soz'rath's lack of waveclear, and poor mobility, also means that he cannot shove waves effectively to force his enemy back and make his way down to bot or to contest dragons, unless he has access to his ult.

Soz'rath's passive means that he can often afford to go more aggressive than most immobile mages. Even though his killer will still get full gold and experience from 'killing him', If Soz'rath manages to trade kills nonetheless, he's free while his opponent's death timer ticks down to roam, farm, and do everything an AP hypercarry wants to do. As mentioned in the paragraphs on the **phylactery ** itself, however, its important to know the extent and possible downsides of triggering your passive - that is, do you have ample time to exploit a guaranteed, temporary 4v5 for the precious few seconds you can take it? Even if you're the one getting dived, and you die, no worries! Blink back to your phylactery, wherever that may be, and ping for your jungler buddy to stop the push. Or try to 2v1 and die again. Your choice.

TEAMFIGHTS Come late into the game, Soz’rath ult becomes a necessity to play around. Its sheer pick threat through its huge range and crippling CC means that if he catches a fleeting enemy (or potentially the entire team), they had better hope they are far away from someone to follow up. The ult also offers immense objective control. Even if Soz’rath’s team is behind, he can use the devastating AoE his ult offers to catch multiple enemies in a the dragon and Baron pits, allowing his hopefully beefy frontlines to go in and follow up. And if the enemy clumps up, all the better. Debilitating Blight, comboed with allied intitations a la Sejuani or Malphite, allows him to severely cripple enemies’s vision and spellcasts, turning the tides of a battle. Soz’rath is slow, and lacks mobility, but his ability to kite with Mortal Coil (which lacks a cast time) allows him to outplay opponents, provided their gapcloser isn’t up. And even if the Lich Prince does die, he will respawn somewhere else. Late into the game, managing the phylactery becomes as important as Soz’rath himself. Whether subtly encouraging enemies to chase him into his own phylactery, empowering Horror of the Beyond in the process, or fighting far from it in order to gain a splitpush advantage, the plays and tricks skilled Soz’rath’s can pull of with their passive is limitless. However, if the enemy manages to track down and destroy it, then the slow and vision debuff can be game-changing, especially if he was already in trouble to begin with.

** QUOTES**

(I’ve had fun imaginging Steve Blum doing the voice. Ron Perlman, of Adventure Time fame, would be great as well.)

Upon selection:

At last shall I wreak vengeance upon this world.
All will know the true power a lich wields.
Prepare yourselves, mortals.

Upon starting a game:

Now, now, where to put it?
Five souls, all mine. I must say, I’m excited.
The beyond beckons us all.

Upon placing down the phylactery:

And don’t move!
Bushes are so clichéd.
Let’s hope this place was safer than the last.
Reveal what is hidden; protect what is mine.
If you insist…. Silly me, I’m always right.
Is it paranoid to think that everyone’s out to get my immortal soul?

Attacking:

Your soul shall be mine!
Your flesh offers little protection against the likes of me.
Mortals are much too fragile.
I can feel your heart beat, weakling.
Your lifeforce is weak. Give it to me.
Consider it a privilege, to feel the cold touch of death at my hands.
Waste away, and embrace the beyond.
Flee!
Cower!
Take solace in what little time you have left.
I will undo what life has so clumsily wrought.
I will show you the definition of suffering.
Do you feel it?
You shall serve as an example to others.
Your cowardice is unbecoming.
Death comes for us all. For you, much quicker.
You brand me a villain, and make vain attempts to destroy me.
I am the shadow that quells every flame.
You have only one life to offer. Such a shame.
Aren’t you cold, child?
I am the end, and I have come for you.
Darkness envelops me. It wil soon consume you.
You are utterly alone.
I will consume your soul.
I have seen a thousand worlds, all wreathed in shadow. Yours is next.
The shivers running down your spine are so……. intoxicating.
Leave this place, and drag your impotence along with you.
Your weakness is repulsive.

Movement:

I drift on the winds of the beyond.
I can hear the screams of those long past. Helps to pass the time.
_I _ am forever.
This world will fall, in time.
I can taste their fear.
Mortals have no idea what they are missing.
The beyond calls to us all.
Fear me, not death.
I tread silent footsteps. I gasp dying breaths.
Having your soul trapped in a box can be irksome at times.
I regret nothing.
And they call me an abomination.
My black heart races with each passing moment.
When all is left to ruin, only I will remain.
I will show them what true power looks like.
All places are familiar to one as ancient as I.
This place was changed irrevocably by deep magic. So was I.
I can still hear- that was another time. Another man.
Each shadow tells a story. This place is full of both.
What is life, to a being such as I?
I serve no one. All serve me. They simply don’t know it yet.
Before there was time, there was nothing. And before that nothing the first lich ruled the darkness.
Embrace what will eventually come.
They say death flies on ebony wings. I tread on ivory feet.
Where I go, others follow.
Power can be found all around us, in the lifeforce that pumps the blood of this world.
My mere presence inspires terror.
Graves are impermanent. Only I will last forever.
They flee before me.
This world is much too bright.
My name means ‘dark one’. Apt, eh?
Where are they?

Upon the phylactery being destroyed (GLOBAL):

No!
You will pay, trespasser!
(Soz’rath gasps chokingly)
None shall know my name! None!
Your death will come last. Because it will be the most painful.
How dare you strike against me!
That was not yours to take.
Your first mistake was to dare incur my wrath..
The breath you take next will soon be snuffed out.

Upon reviving:

It is in this moment that I feel truly alive.
And they thought they could beat me.
Good as new.
Pity that I must return.
I am become death….the destroyer of worlds.
I look forward to their surprise.
Look at them now, thinking themselves safe. Fools.
May this cycle prove more fruitful than the last.
Immortality is underrated.
Sometimes I pity the living. Then I feel this.
How can they be content with only one life?
(Soz’rath hums Heart and Soul)

Upon actual death: Soz’rath rises into the air, convulsing, before exploding into black dust, his robes and staff falling to the ground.

No! Morons! Idiots! I hate you!
This wasn’t supposed to happen!
No, no no no no no! I am a god! I am immortal!
This isn’t fair! They cheated me! They are nothing!
How?!
(faintly) A part of me….always continues……
(whispering, crazed) This world doesn’t appreciate me, yes, yes, that’s it. Ingrates. I will move onto another. They will miss me when I am gone. Yes, surely.
(Soz’rath laughs manically, ending on several tortured breaths)
(Soz’rath spits disdainfully) A minor setback. Nothing will stop me.
(in a normal voice) At last.
(in a normal voice) I thought I would never find peace.
(in a normal voice) Where are you, my brothers?

Upon casting Mortal Coil:

Feel the kiss of death.
My children are hungry.
Three’s a crowd. Good thing I’m a people person.
Bow before my onslaught!
Kneel!
I thrive on your suffering.

Upon casting Debilitating Blight:

Putrefy!
Do your worst!
You are not worthy of that next breath!
Fester and decay!

Upon detonating Debilitating Blight:

Your time is up!
The beyond beckons.
Your arrogance is your downfall.
What visions do you see?
See what you will soon become.
The future is set in stone, as is your demise.

Upon casting Life Tap on an enemy champion:

A bit salty, but it will do.
You misuse your lifeforce. I will fulfill its true purpose.
I could hear every breath you took. Now it is mine.
Your suffering fuels my glory.
This paltry form’s hunger is nothing compared to the thirst my phylactery bears.

Upon casting Horror of the Beyond:

A little fear never hurt anyone. Good thing I tend to overdose.
Finally, your imperfections are laid bare.
The beyond brings swift retribution.
I want to see the light fade from their eyes.
Madness is but an acceptance.
The beyond awaits!

Upon Horror of the Beyond hitting the phylactery:

You are a poor excuse for a lich hunter.
You dare seek my true name?!
My soul is not a delicate thing. But you are.
Die! Be freed from your shells!

Recalling:

I shall return shortly, mortals.
My phylactery is over there, by the way. Ha! Made you look.
You amuse me. I shall grant you a brief respite.
The fountain beckons. I shall answer.

Joke:

(Soz’rath pulls out a long scroll from his robes, reading down it)

I wish for the extinction of all life, and for Jake and Finn to go….wait, what?
Frost Blast, Ice Armor, Chain Frost, hmm…….wait, wrong spellbook.
Feed Mr. Bigglesworth, check. Stare into the abyss, check. Defeat raid party…..oh darn, not yet.
Dear diary, sometimes I just want to raise a frozen, undead army, and invade the southern continents to slaughter all those I once knew in life.....wait, did I say that out loud? Oops.
It says here I’m supposed to meet with one ‘King of Worms’, in Coldharbour at eight. My memory of that name is but a Vestige.

Laugh:

(Soz’rath laughs)

Dance:

(Soz’rath performs a Charlie Chaplin-esque dance with his scepter, humming Heart and Soul. See here for reference.)

Taunt:

You may be strong, but I am beyond strength. I am the end.
You worry about ‘good’ and ‘evil’, and do not accept they are manifestations of the same thing.
Leave my presence. I have no time for the living and less for you.
Fear is a disease that only affects the weak-minded. Is that why you are afraid?
There is no good, or evil. Only power, and those to weak to seek it.

Taunting an enemy Aatrox:

Your style of resurrection is much too primitive for my tastes.
Your scope is too broad. Take a leaf out of the the demon’s book.

Taunting an Ascended:

Your power flows from the golden sun. I achieved my power beneath the desert moon.
The desert has many stories to tell. You should know.
Like you, it was the desert that fostered my creation.

Taunting an allied Ahri:

You have only begun your training in soul stealing. Allow me to complete it.

Taunting an Aurelion Sol:

Your carry a phylactery – but not your own. Whose souls does it contain?

Taunting an enemy Darius:

It was men like you who forced me down this path. I will make you suffer for it.
You are old, general. Allow me to show you into the next life.

Taunting an enemy Demacian:

_You profess justice and equality – but all you fools want is admiration.
In seeking to combat them, you have become like your worst enemy.
Good deeds done are not good if done simply for the sake of recognition. But what do I know of morals?
Let’s see how virtuous your soul is up close and personal, eh?

Taunting an allied Diana:

I admire your willingness to forge new paths in the face of tragedy.
The legends say the moon was the first lich. Can you feel her deathly glow?

Taunting an enemy Fiddlesticks:

You honestly expect me to be scared of a simulacra as poorly constructed as you? Don’t make me laugh.

Taunting a Hecarim:

So fascinating to see a once-noble soul fall to the powers of darkness and decay. Reminds me of someone._

Taunting an enemy Illaoi:

You flatter yourself in thinking you can manipulate souls. Those are but shadows. They don’t even move!
Good thing I keep my soul locked away far from here, priestess.

Taunting a Jhin:

I admire your intentions, but your technique lacks flair.
What is the face behind that mask?
You’ve spent your whole life scrambling around to ensure four acts, Khada. Will you be ready for the fifth?

Taunting an enemy Kalista:

The whole world betrayed me. I doubt even you could help.
In not constructing a phylactery, you have ensured your eventual destruction. One body cannot hold that many souls for very long.

Taunting a Karthus:

(Ally)

You’re on the right track, Karthus. I’ve simply gone one step further.
You and I share a common goal. I simply prefer subtler means.
Hey, can you sign my Pentakill T-shirt? Blast, I think I left it in my phylactery…..
Karthus, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

(Enemy)

Make use of that ridiculous hat and then we’ll talk.
Boy, they really do use the word ‘lich’ lightly now, don’t they?
I’ve heard you sing. Let’s just say I had to revive afterwards.
Dear Karthus, I met a wonderful ghoul today. Your mother!

Taunting an enemy Kindred:

Ooooh, I must really get your goat. Or in your case, I suppose, lamb.
I represent all your flaws and shortcomings. How does that make you feel?
Aww, look, they’re sharing phylacteries!*

Taunting a LeBlanc:

It was your organization’s ancestors that made me what I am today. I suppose I should thank you.
Funny, sometimes, how souls don’t reflect their exteriors. Yours is a prime example.

Taunting a Lucian:

By the way, I locked your sister’s soul up in my phylactery…….…..Too soon?
We’re good, right? Technically, I’m not undead. Technically.

Taunting a Mordekaiser:

(Ally)

_I’m loving the whole I-smash-up-their-physical-bodies-and-then-steal-their-souls-vibe.

(Enemy)

What’s the point of making a phylactery if all you’re going to do is wear it?

Taunting an enemy Noxian:

Your thirst for battle will ultimately prove to be your undoing.
You experiment with death, and achieve subpar results. Stop this madness while you are behind.
It was your greed and bloodlust that drove me down this path.
Death will make sport of those who made sport of death in life.

Taunting an Olaf:

You want death? I got that, dude! (imitating Brolaf).

Taunting a Sion:

(Ally)

You lived a life of glory. Noxus has cheated you into undeath.
A man who lived content has no place amongst the undead.
I pity what Noxus has done to you.

(Enemy)

You are an abomination.
Crawl back into the ground, Sion. You belong in neither of our worlds now.
A man who runs from a fight has not the right to brand others as cowards.

Taunting a Swain:

(Ally)

In my time, another despot sat on the throne. Let’s hope you are a better ruler, Jericho.
I must say, making phylacteries out of animals is usually impractical, but you’ve sort’ve pulled it off.
I could perfect you, fledgeling.

(Enemy)

Birdbrain? More like birdsoul.
You’ve hidden your true nature well. But I’d eat my own phylactery before not being able to spot a fellow lich.
Jericho Swain. Is that even your true name?

Taunting an allied Taliyah:

I would gladly teach you, child. Set down those rocks and I shall show you true power.
I can teach you magic beyond your wildest dreams.

Taunting a Tahm Kench:

(Ally)

I can’t shake the suspicion that we’ve met before.
Fostering false prosperity only to consume their self-inflicted misery later? I like you.
I’ve already locked my soul away. How bad can a deal with you be?

(Enemy)

I locked my soul away in a box. You should do the same with your mouth. And that hat.
I didn’t achive immortality just to suffer through one conversation with you.

Taunting a Teemo:

I am literally not sensing a speck of a soul in you. What is this?

Taunting a Thresh:

(Ally)

I can satisfy your thirst for victims. Simply provide me with the opportunity.
What lantern?
There are souls I whose faces I need to see. Open up that lantern, Warden.

(Enemy)

Torture is a game men play to distract themselves from their own demons.
Keep missing those hooks, Thresh. I’ve only got…..all of eternity.

Taunting an allied Urgot:

Demacia robbed you of life, and Noxus has forced you into undeath. I will unmake them both.
When my vengeance is complete, I will bring the ashes of both of their capitals to you.

Taunting an enemy Veigar:

So, I’m here, still not trembling……
I’m a bit short on souls at the moment. Mind if I borrow some?

Taunting an allied Vel’Koz:

I was going to let you have a look at my phylactery, then, not so much.
I’m eyeballing a new set of robes. Get it? Eh……

Taunting a Voidborn champion

(Ally)

After I am done with this world, you can do with it what you wish. But only after.
The beyond speaks highly of you.
You lack fear. I can respect that.

(Enemy)

The only threat you pose this world is your stench.
I consume souls. You consume corpses. Pretty sure I win.
You would do well to look to the Kumungan hydra. Amidst its many heads, one reigns supreme.

Taunting a Zed:

There’s much more to you than meets the eye, Shadowmaster.
If shadows could talk…..Oh, but don’t worry. Your secrets are safe with me.

Taunting a Zilean:

Even time bows to death in the end.

Upon destroying a tower:

Mortal constructions are doomed to fall from the first stone set.
Inarguably a mortal construction.
Impermanence disgusts me.

Upon placing a ward:

Reveal those who creep in the shadows.
My phylactery is superior in every way.
Foresight would have served me in life. Now it will serve me in lichdom.

Upon buying an item:

I once explored the world. I will do so again.
Us ethereals needn't worry about such things.
My human father once gave me a pair of these.
Now with extra soul-piercing.
Not as good as the one I made, but it will do.
In life, I visited his grave.
Nowhere to hide, mortals.
This is my kind of potion.
The only type of seal.
For what would a goddess need to cry for, I wonder?
The lifeblood of your sorcery shall run through me.
A book fit only for imposters and rogues. I'll take one, please.
Her torment. My gain.
No such thing as needlessly large.
There is a story to this artifact. A story not unlike my own.
This will strike dread into the hearts of my enemies.
What magic does your crystal contain?
I prefer the phylactery, but this will do.
TIme stands still, for those who bend it to their will.
Ages of suffering? Darkness? Misery? What is it? Tell me!
Some call the phylactery an echo. Perhaps you will prove just as useful.
Deathcap? Let us hope that name does not lie; for your sake. Am I really talking to a hat?
My magic shall pierce deep.

TRIVIA

Soz'rath was initially planned to be a minion-controlling champion, with spells centered around raising skeleton armies and boosting htem pasively. I scrapped this idea early on to avoid overlap with Malzahar, and then came to a more bursty, Darius-like play-style where is ult would be a point-and-click amp that for every spell you landed on that target, they would take more damage from a delayed AoE burst after a few seconds. I felt that wasn't realistic to his identity as this resurrecting soul mage, so I started tying with the idea that he could manipulate and switch around champion souls as an ultimate ability, allowing him to temporarily transfer all buffs on an ally and all debuffs on an enemy (e.g. Kayle ult enemy goes to ally while that allies' Malz Visions goes to the Kayle). This was also scrapped due to its insane balance issues (I found myself balancing the kit around that instead of the passive, which I wanted him to focus on), and, in those three kits, I feel like there wasn't rewarding interplay or emphasis on his passive, which i wanted to be his defining feature. The kit you see now is a work in progress of over two months, with hypothetical playtests on champs with similar abilities, such as Taliyah, Cassiopeia, Nasus, and Ziggs.
Soz'rath's story was concrete from the start. I wanted to stay away from stereotypical evil guy in evil tower. I wanted a real, sympathetic reason for why he would construct a phylactery - his nation was slaughtered in an unneccessary war and he's now penniless and alone. More on that in the color text I'm working on, which I'm super excited to share! It should be edited in by this weekend!
Soz'rath's jokes all draw from liches in other video games and TV shows, making references to the Lich King from World of Warcraft, The Lich from Adventure Time, and Kel'Thuzad from WoW as well. It was also fun dusting off my old Dota 2 account to play Lich one or two time as an homage, and also thinking up a suitable pun for Mannimarco, one of my all-time favorite Elder Scrolls characters and, coincidentally, a lich. Some of Soz'rath's other quotes were odds and ends from those characters as well, along with others like Voldemort, Leoric from Diablo, and even other champions like Karthus, Kindred, and Thresh.

Wow! This whole process has been really fun for me, and I've put in a lot of hours to make this champion feel succint and alive, even if he _is _a lich. I make champion concepts on my own time a lot, but it rarely extended beyond the name and barebones of a kit. I do art on the side as well, but I prefer pencil and graphite and I have only begun taking classes for graphic art on the computer. Soz'rath is the 18th champion design I've come up with, but the only one I've gone the whole yard with.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? I want to hear them! Feel free to adress any problems you have with Soz's kit, narrative, or quotes below, but please be polite!

SOZ'RATH, THE LICH PRINCE: Full Champion Concept!

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