Messala - Shadow of the Emperor

Messala - Shadow of the Emperor (wip; will be reposted when done; feedback needed)

MCCC Lore: Ahimoth watched as Azir's body began to disintegrate. "What a shame... You could have served me well. But you wanted to keep your little empire." A portal appeared behind him. "Oh well, I will have to find other help."

A week later, The Legion's camp.

"Who dares to challenge the great Ragon!" an announcer's voice shouted. A massive golem in steel armor slammed its mace into the ground. The juggernaut stood in a stone arena, surrounded by a mass of cheering soldiers. "Remember, the last man standing will earn 1000 gold pieces!" the announcer continued yelling. On a floating, rusty steel platform above the arena, a demonic, crimson colored being sat, watching the event. The throne he sat on was covered in gold and gems, and the name Ahimoth was carved into both sides of the throne. Next to Ahimoth, a shadow wearing a blood red cloak and silver armor with blue, glimmering eyes expressed his concern: "Are you sure about this master. Even if there is a winner, can we trust these people?" "Your worries are well placed. However, I ask that you remember who I am..." The blade in Ahimoth's right arm shifted slightly as he responed. "Yes master," the shade relented.

"Who dares!" the announcer shouted. Suddenly, a path began to form in the crowd. A man clothed in gold plated armor and a red cloak stepped out. Woven clearly into his cape was the insignia of Shurima. In his hand, a gold handled short-sword with a silver blade shone in the afternoon sun. "What is your name," a gaurd asked him. "Messala." the mysterious man answered. "And the next challenger is Messala!" shouted the announcer a few seconds later, "Will he be able to survive Ragon's great onslaught! And will he be able to cripple the great golem!" The croud erupted into even louder cheers. "SILENCE!" Ahimoth’s voice boomed. "Let us see what this Messala can do. Begin the fight."

On Ahimoth’s words, the goliath charged Messala, mace swiging. However, by the time it had reached him, Messala had disappeared. The confused golem paused scanning the area. A second later, Messala had blinded the construct with a cloud of sand and was tearing into the construct’s circuitry. The bot vainly tried to land a blow on Messala as he ran circles around it, constantly fading in and out of view. The fight only lasted 52 seconds.

"Impressive," stated Ahimoth as his platform slowly lowered towards Messala, "I think we both know why you're here. You wish to serve me as I have defeated your leader." Messala stepped back. "You look suprised. I know you were holding back to impress me. You could have won that fight before it began. And there are very few who would still display Shurima's crest." "Yes, you are correct. It is only due process that the conquered now serve the conquerer," responded Messala. "I am glad we agree. I hope to see you when I begin building my Legion," spoke Ahimoth. "I hope you know what you're doing Ahimoth," whispered the Shade as they entered a portal behind them.

“Here is your first mission,” a guard told Messala as he handed him a sealed letter three days later. Attached to the letter was a magical relic. “When you have finished your task, the Shade will be waiting for you here.” As the guard walked away, Messala broke the seal:

My master seems to accept your allegiance, but I leave it as no secret that I am not so trusting. I think you will find this particular target to your liking, and when you are done carrying out your task, your are to bring what remains to me.

Target: Xerath, the Magus Ascendant Location: Somewhere within the Shurima Desert Priority: ★★ Additional Information: The magus was responsible for your emperor's first downfall, my lord Ahimoth responsible for his second. In his current state, Xerath cannot die, but he can be hurt. The task will not be so easy, but I need to to defeat the Ascendant, and seal him back inside his sarcophagus with the attached relic. I am uncertain if you will see this through, but feel free to surprise me, Messala.

S

"Hm interesting," Messala thought as portal opened by his sword sent him to the Shuriman desert.

Messala covered his face with his cloak as a wild sandstorm blew against him. However, instead of attempting to escape the scathing sand, Messala continued to walk into the storm. "Your petty tricks won't stop me Xerath," Messala spat as the sandstorm intensified. At the eye of the storm, floated a massive sandstone temple; the great magus's "Fortress of Solitude". Messala inserted a black diamond into his sword as he entered the pyramid. "Where are you snake." Suddenly, Messala’s taunts were answered with a flurry of magical bolts. "Argg!" Messala yelled a shot grazed him. Frantically, Messala shattered a glass sphere of sand, disappearing in the cloud of sand. He hadn't expected the Ascendant to immediately unleash his full power. "DO YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL!" Xerath's vioce echoed. "Ugg," Messala growled; another near miss knocking him down. "I need to do something soon," he though. Glancing at Xerath, Messala suddenly realized that the arcane energy surrounding Xerath was unstable. "The magus must have rushed his enchantment and missed a rune," Messala inferred "if I can hit the right spot in his arcane matrix, I could make it collapse." Sword in hand, Messala quickly circled the Ascendant, looking for a weakness and dodging blasts of arcane energy. After only two laps, he spotted it. Sparks of magic were eminating from one of the arcane pillars. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING. ACCEPT YOUR FATE" Xerath yelled. "Never!" Messala retorted; throwing his short-sword at the magus.

The sword flew true, sealing the magus's fate. As the temple colapsed along with the arcane matrix, Messala made a hasty exit through a newly created portal; the Ascendant sealed away.

An hour later, Messala returned to the site of Xerath’s fall, finding a black, serpent shaped pendant and a note. On the note, Messala found a message from the Shade:

Well done, you proved me wrong. I apologize I cannot meet you in person right now, I have more pressing matters to attend to, ones you yourself should be undertaking as well. If you find yourself in need of transportation, the Legion Seal you have just received shall take you where you need to go, if you can put your trust in it. I hope to see you at the wall.

S

Messala stood silently, pondering the Shade’s note. Messala then examined the pendant, taking note of the dark aura surrounding it. "This could be of use," he thought as he pocketed the pendant and opened a portal to Demacia.

"Impressive aren't they?" The Shade bragged. It had been several days since the seige of Demacia. Messala looked out upon the crowd of legionnaires. An aura of dark magic surrounded them. "Is this all you wanted me to see?" Messala asked. "It's not impressive." The Shade grinned. "Its not meant to impress Messala. Simply a peek at the forces being put under your command. Ahimoth has tasked you with a mission in the Kumungu Jungle. Here are the specifics." The Shade handed Messala another sealed letter.

Objective: Orion Shard Location: Kumungu Jungle Priority: ★★★ Additional Information:  Orion Shards are fragments of an arcane stone called the Orion Stone. The Orion Stone was a stone that was enchanted with every known enchantment of its time. The result was a source of almost infinite power. The stone, however was destroyed during the last Rune Wars in a ritual. However, its shards still contain great power. One is hidden in a shrine deep in the Kumungu Jungle. It should not be hard to find as it is guarded by the Order's forces. When you have secured it I will personally retrieve it.

A

Kit:

Passive: Shuriman Talent

• Mirage: Messala becomes stealthed for 10 seconds. Mirage can be triggered by kills/assists, but Messala must be within 300 units of the enemy champion dying to gain stealth on an assist. 

• Artifice: Messala has craft magical gems that he can insert into his short-sword. These gems give his E and Q bonus effects. (gem details next section)

• Animation: Messala fades out of sight over 1 second (Mirage)

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Q: Winged Blade 

• Messala throws his short-sword at a target location, dealing 30/40/50/60/70 (100% AD) physical damage and applying on-hit effects. If he misses, Messala will be unable to use basic attacks during Winged Blade‘s cooldown. If he hit’s an enemy, 50% of Winged Blade's mana cost is refunded and Mirage is triggered, but he can only attack that enemy until he either attacks that champion or Winged Blade comes off cool down. When he attacks that champion, he will deal damage equal to the amount of damage his Winged Blade dealt as bonus physical damage.

• Cooldown: 6 seconds Cost: 70/80/90/100/110 mana Range: 800 units Missile Width: 50 units Missile Speed: 1500 units per second

• Animation: Messala throws his sword, the sword stays in the target it hits (cast); Messala pulls his sword out of the target (empowered auto)

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W: Sand-Screen

• Messala shatters a glass sphere of sand, creating a cloud of sand centered on him that lasts for 3/4/5/6/7 seconds. Enemies cannot see allies who enter the cloud, cannot see into the cloud, and cannot see what the ally inside the cloud is seeing. Enemies who enter the cloud lose all allied vision, become blinded, and have their vision range reduced to inside the cloud. Triggers Mirage if no enemies are initially inside the AoE.

• Cooldown: 20 seconds Cost: 40/30/20/10/0 mana Range: Self Cloud Diameter: 500 units

• Animation: Messala slams a glass sphere that is full of sand onto the ground, creating a cloud of sand. An indicator shows the cloud’s diameter

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E: Relic Strike

• Messala empowers his short-sword with Shuriman magic, making his next basic attack crit. Additionally, his next attack also does not reveal him and also lowers Relic Strike's cooldown to 3 seconds if it kills. However, he will still be slightly visible, but not targetable. 

• Cooldown: 9 seconds Cost: 50 mana

• Animations: Messala’s short-sword glows with a golden light and the inserted gem glows with a light corresponding to its color

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R: Will of Shurima

• Messala conveys Azir's orders, targeting an enemy champion for 8/10/12 seconds. While targeted, the target takes 5%/10%/15% more damage from champions and has his/her/its gold bounty increased by 30% if the target is killed by Messala's allies.

• Cooldown: 120/100/80 seconds Cost: 100 mana Range: 2800 units

• Animations: Fancy target indicator hovers over the target.

Gems:

Messala can buy magic gems in the shop for 410 gold. These gems are consumed when bought and modify his E and Q. Messala cannot change his gem once he has bought one.

• Ruby: Messala's E and Q sap enemies' health, dealing 20 (+10 per lv) (80% AD) true damage over 5 seconds an healing him for the amount of damage done.

• Emerald: Messala’s E and Q mark enemies for 3/5/7/9 seconds. Basic attacks against the marked unit deal 18% of the enemy's maximum health as magic damage; max (130% AD) damage vs large monsters.

• Sapphire: Messala’s E and Q deal (30% AD) bonus physical damage. This damage can crit and applies on-hit effects.

• Diamond: Messala’s E deals (100% AD) bonus physical damage, but reveals him for 6 seconds. However, if he kills a target with his E, his passive will proc instantly and he will no longer be revealed.

Gameplay:

• Overview: Messala is a versatile assassin who depends on stealth. He is best weaving in and out of fights, slowly chunking enemies down. He is weak to AoE spells and has to decide between melting tanks or picking off squishies.

• Passive (Mirage): Mirage is core to Messala playstyle, letting him chunk targets down then dissappear. The stealth is best used to safely close gaps, but is also good for avoiding skillshots in duels.

• Passive (Artifice):

 * Ruby: This gem turns his burst into sustained damage, while giving him regen in fights. Best verses teams without burst and with tanky items.

 * Emerald: This gem turns Messala into a tank shredder. However, his damage against squishies is dramaticly reduced. Best verses tanky teams without burst and with on-hit effects.

 * Saphire: This gem is Messala’s standard choice, giving him decent burst. Best verses most comps unless they dont have a carry and with standard AD caster items.

 * Diamond: This gem gives Messala more burst, but makes it riskier to use his burst. However getting a kill gives him free stealth. Best verses squishy teams and with AD crit items.

• Q - Winged Blade: Messala’s only ranged ability. Can be used to poke or start his full burst rotation. Procs Mirage if it hits.

• W - Sand-Screen: Messala’s defensive/escape spell, hiding him from enemies and procing Mirage. Can also be used offensively to isolate an enemy from their team. However, it won't proc Mirage if an enemy is caught in it when cast.

• E - Relic Strike: A basic-attack modifier and Messala’s main damaging spell. Its effect depends on what gem he buys. Resets his basic-attack timer.

• R - Will of Shurima: Amplifies Messala’s and his team's burst and helps his team focus the target enemy down. Also boosts his team's gold reward for killing the target.

• Combos:

 * Q, E (auto), run - standard harass combo (relies on landing Q)

 * W (for stealth), E (auto), run - standard harass combo (doesn't rely on landing Q and is less telegraphed)

 * Q, R, W, E - all-in combo