((Champion Concept)) Neema, the Sandstorm's Wrath

Wassup homeslices. I just noticed there hasn't been an evil Shuriman character in years, and since so many of the newer and reworked characters are "evil"/villainous, I thought there could be an assassin from Shurima, yo. So here's an idea for one.

So let's start with their name and looks. Her name is Neema. She's on the tall side of things, standing at about 5'9". She has olive skin and eyes, and wavy jet-black hair down to her chin. Her face is somewhat triangular, with a high-arched nose and strong cheekbones. Neema has long legs, slender and toned, her shoulders and back are rippling with muscles. Her chest is firm and buxom; her stomach flat. Neema wears a turban(khaki wrap over white cap) and sandy brown scarf, a loose white sleeveless top, and a khaki cloak tattered around the edges. On her hands she wears fingerless gloves made from hide, wrists firmly wrapped with white cloth and with a metal plate on the back of the hand. Neema wears loose sandy brown pants held up with a white sash and tucked into hide boots with leather soles; on her hips are the scabbards for her daggers.

HER STORY: Neema was born in the Shurima desert as her parent's first child. They tended an oasis deep in the desert, far from the common trade and seasonal routes. As such, from her youth, Neema learned how to track and trap animals in the desert, and how to fight off the savage wild beasts her oasis home attracted.

While she was stlil in her youth, Neema's parents bore another child, who they named Adad. It seemed like he was magic to them; their attention shifted away from Neema, and she was tasked with more trapping and hunting. But, as it turned out, Adad was literal magic- there were simply too many unexplainable phenomena around him. As her parents watched Adad's gifts growing, Neema's efforts to sustain her family went increasingly unnoticed, and she began to spend more time out in the desert, hunting for treasures instead of game.

When Adad first knowingly called up a rainstorm was when Neema decided it was time to leave. At that point she had been self-sufficient for years, and her parents could no longer see her, having been blinded by Adad's gift. Without notice, Neema vanished into the desert, not looking back. She joined several caravans, hunting for them and warding off raiders with swift dagger work. Eventually after many months, this led her to joining the expedition of a group of Piltovian explorers- Neema helped them navigate the desert and forage, and in return she was given small portions of their finds.

It was on the cusp of their biggest find yet that Neema began her current career. At the site of the ruins, Neema warned the explorers and scientists of human tracks not from the party. They tasked her with standing watch and eliminating anyone else that came close, promising her a much larger share of the findings than normal if successful. Neema took watch in the shadows at night, waiting for any signs, when she spotted someone slowly crawling towards the camp. She dashed towards them, and suddenly lunged sideways with her dagger into the ambush spot by the column she had noticed earlier, and struck down the counter thief's accomplice; quickly springing away, she nailed the fleeing counter thief with her other dagger, then closed in to finish the job.

After her success with the explorers from Piltover, Neema decided to hunt man full-time. Her ruthless executions and ghost-like presence put her in high demand for merchant caravans traveling the desert. As her own legend grew, she began to receive requests to deal with a mystic known as The Rainmaker; her suspicions were confirmed when the two finally crossed paths: The Rainmaker was none other than her younger brother, Adad. He towered over her now, and she saw in his eyes the boy wonder had long since been replaced by a man who knew exactly what he was capable of. Only to put a bit of truth in their excuses, they dueled, the siblings finding the other to be skilled beyond their imagining- and in the process, Neema realized she had had her own magic all along.

After the duel, Neema couldn't find hatred for her brother, but she did find resolve to be the epitome of what Adad fought against: the utterly merciless heat and winds of the desert, claiming child, merchant, and empire alike. Before, Neema had a trade. Now, she had a purpose.

IN-GAME/PEDIA BIO: Born to a couple who tended a lonely desert oasis in Shurima, Neema's youth was one of learning self-sufficiency- which proved useful when her younger brother was born, as her parents directed their attention onto him and his growing gift of magic. After her brother finally came in control of his gift, Neema realized it was time for her to leave home.

For years, Neema acted as a hunter and guard for merchant caravans and treasure seekers, until one night when her Piltover adventurer employers told to use lethal force to stop anyone intruding on their dig. Neema caught two interlopers, and the thrill of the brief chase made her realize the prey she was most interested in hunting- man. Turning her stealth and tracking sklils to assassination, Neema became a ghost-like presence that haunted the desert, swiftly and mercilessly striking down anyone who had the misfortune of being her target.

But one day, she was sent to target a mystic the Shuriman people had begun calling The Rainmaker. Upon confronting him, Neema found it was her younger brother, his power and the burden it placed on him now evident. They briefly dueled to satisfy their employers and those under their care, but each walked away whole- Neema realizing that she had possessed magic of her own all along. Realizing the extent of her power, Neema vowed to become the fiercest and harshest scourge upon the desert of Shurima, cutting down the lives and legacy of any and all she was sent against.

STATS: Health 480 – 1850 Attack damage 48 – 97 Health regen. 6 – 17.5 Attack speed [*] 0.665 (+ 0 – 46.1%) Mana 290 – 1170 Armor 24 – 78 Mana regen. 7 – 15.2 Magic resist. 32 – 53.3 Range 125 Move. speed 340

KIT: Passive: Mirage After not entering a command and/or moving for 1.5 seconds, upon moving Neema leaves behind a clone and gains Stealth and 15-37% bonus move speed for three seconds. The clone will perform a damage-less auto attack if a target is in range, but will otherwise stand still.

Q: Serpent Fangs Neema's next two attacks have 20/25/30/35/40% bonus attack speed, deal 10/20/30/40/50(+30/37.5/45/52.5/60% AD) physical damage and deal 30/45/60/75/90(+10% bonus AD) physical damage over three seconds. If the target dies while poisoned, half the cooldown is refunded. (Cooldown: 8 seconds, Mana Cost: 55/60/65/70/75)

W: Dagger Dance Neema lunges forwards to stab the target enemy, dealing 30/65/100/135/170(+30/40/50/60/70% bonus AD) physical damage and slow the target by 40% for 0.5 seconds. For 0.5 seconds, Neema can reactivate Dagger Dance to leap 350 units in the target direction. (Range: 300, Cooldown: 14/13/12/11/10 seconds, Mana Cost: 50/60/70/80/90)

E: Dust Devil Neema whirls around, dealing 70/87.5/105/122.5/140(+40% AD) physical damage and teleporting to a nearby area. The damage zone becomes a small whirlwind for 1.5 seconds, near-sighting enemies inside it. (Damage/Whirlwind Radius: 175, Max Teleport Range: 450, Cooldown: 20/18.75/17.50/16.25/15 Seconds, Mana Cost: 70/77.5/85/92.5/100)

R: Sandstorm Sandstorm passively triggers Mirage on champion kills/assists. Neema can activate it to call up a sandstorm around her for twelve seconds, dealing 1/2.5/4%(+1% AP) of current health magic damage to all enemies inside, the area of Sandstorm also Near-Sighting enemies inside it. If Mirage activates, Sandstorm stays centered on the clone until Neema is fully visible, at which point it snaps to her. (Storm Radius: 350, Cooldown: 135/120/105 seconds, Mana Cost: 100)

QUOTES: Neema's voice is a low and husky alto worn from years of harsh weather and shouting.

Champion Select: Run, if you can; survive if I let you. Champion Ban: The desert waits for everyone.

Starting A Game: The hunt begins. Nowhere for them to run... The storm's rolling in...

First Move: Nothing like a good chase. Their heartbeat is so loud... No use hiding! I had my eye on you before this began! ((global)) Their end approaches.

Movement: I was never actually there. ((Mirage activates)) Their tracks are abundantly clear. When in doubt, follow the money. A ghost on the wind... ((Mirage activates)) The land guides me to them... So overconfident. They'll never escape. That trail is as wide as the desert. The scenic route seems like a wonderful choice. Another step closer to them. Look again... ((Mirage activate))

Taunting: Your time is up, vermin. There's no escaping me. If you think the desert's harsh, wait until I'm finished with you. ((taunting an enemy Sivir)) Run away, or I shall taunt you a second time! If you can't stand the heat, get out of the desert. Join the winning side, or die by my hand.

Killing An Enemy Champion: Your life had a better chance drying on your mother's thigh. As fleeting as sand through an hourglass... Just like an eggshell breaking. Emperor, or empire- the desert claims all. ((killing an enemy Azir)) Some secrets are best kept buried. ((killing an enemy Ezreal)) The storm chose wrong. ((killing an enemy Volibear)) I've seen better. ((killing an enemy Janna or Kennen)) You see the vultures circling? They're coming for you. ((killing an enemy Sivir)) Not even your best will be good enough. ((killing an enemy while below 10% health)) Don't say you're crying because of sand in your eyes. Tastes like chicken. This is what you wanted, correct? After all, pain is only weakness leaving the body. ((killing an enemy Urgot)) It appears the only rock you couldn't manage was in your skull. ((Killing an enemy Taliyah)) Insufferable blowhard. ((killing an enemy Swain)) Your only true deception was believing you had a chance. ((killing an enemy LeBlanc)) Anyone who pays you needs a refund. ((killing an enemy Jhin, Sivir, Katarina, or Talon)) What a feculent, execrable excuse for an assassin. ((killing an enemy assassin)) This was all they had on them? Hmph. Learn to walk before you try running, reprobate. ((killing an enemy within seconds of them using their ultimate ability)) Feed. Me. MORE! ((killing spree)) The point of reincarnation is to learn. ((killing an enemy for the 3rd or more time in a match)) Those who don't learned from history are doomed to repeat it. ((killing an enemy for the 3rd or more time during a match)) Your cries for help didn't echo far enough. ((when no other enemy champions are nearby)) Mediocre to the end.

On Respawning: The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated. Death? Another mirage. As sure as the sun will rise.

On Casting Dust Devil: A little sand in your eye! Out of thin air! Don't try to escape.

On Casting Sandstorm To cloud the light. No more paths to follow. The sands of time run low for all.

Jokes: You already know what song it is. Ugh, how did this sand get everywhere?

In The Shop: A useful relic. ((buying an Ancient Coin item)) Cat-like treads. ((buying Ninja Tabi)) Expensive, but I have coin to spare. No defense against an unseen blade. ((buying a Duskblade of Draktharr)) This should give me the edge I need.

Placing A Ward: The trap is set. Now, to watch and wait. Bait prepared, and now for the capture.

Laugh: Neema's first laugh is confident and contemptuous, her second is a satisfied chuckle, her third is wild and unsettling.

DANCE: Neema's dance is a traditional belly dance, incorporating rolls and shakes.

LOG-IN SCREEN MUSIC: Neema's log-in music is percussion driven, including tambourine, hand drums, and also a kamancheh. The melody's mood weaves in and out between aggressive and violent passages, and very suggestive and sensuous sections. Whenever the music seems about to reach a crescendo, one mood evaporates into the other.