Champion Idea - Babuor the Young Revenant (rebelled student of Karthus)
Babuor, the Young Revenant
Lore
Babuor grew up as an orphan in the streets of Zaun, and he made his name up himself having had no family. He found himself doing what was necessary to live: stealing, lying, blackmail. From a young age, he noticed that during stressful moments, he could make illusions appear in people’s minds or even bend their will to his own for short periods. He had natural talent in dark magic, and as he got older he became able to make ordinary people lose their minds when he wanted them too, and feel pain that wasn’t really there. All this time, however, he never felt compelled to hurt anyone and was always afraid of death. Some nights when he dreamt he saw visions of Kindred and knew that Wolf was always hungry for his soul. Eventually, he chose to journey to the Shadow Isles to search for something greater than himself; he had always been proficient as a dark sorcerer and sought to leave behind his life of squalor and mere survival. He was able to steal a small vessel and although his conscience wrestled with committing further to the practices of dark magic, he knew that there was no future for him on the streets of Zaun. When he came upon the Isles, he saw Karthus’ newly reborn form as a lich, and although frightened, he approached. Karthus asked whether Babuor feared death, and he replied, “Yes”. Karthus grinned and as he drew closer to grant Babuor the gift of death, the boy’s eyes glowed bright red and Karthus’ movements stopped. Karthus strained against himself, but he began to retreat from the boy, whose eyes now glowed bright white. Suddenly, the tension was released and the glow was gone from Babuor’s eyes.
“I do not seek death. I seek another life.”
Karthus was taken aback, and studied the young boy with interest for a short while. He finally remarked
“You will learn of the cycles of life and undeath in this realm, and in time, when you embrace the point of dying as I have, we will bring the joy of death to every inhabitant of this world.”
A darkness grew in the depths of Babuor’s mind-- one clouded with decadent riches, massive monuments to his greatness, legions of obedient slaves and every temptation he had ever dared to imagine. His lips parted into a small, tight smirk.
“Teach me.” On that day the Young Revenant was born.
Babuor would go on to take many titles: The Living Lich, Greyvein, along with the name his old master had originally bequeathed him, the Young Revenant.
After many months of tutelage under Karthus Babuor’s powers grew, becoming stronger but also expanding into other domains. He had watched as Karthus stripped the souls out of entire mortal families to enhance his own power, glimpsed the Void and the awful monsters that dwelt within, and read from ancient manuscripts and books detailing some of the most evil magic he’d ever come across. In his heart, though, it hurt to take the lives of others. His master assured him that this was only a temporary attachment and would fade with time, but it never did. As they continued to search for empowered artifacts and perform great but terrible magical feats, Karthus sensed the reluctance in his pupil. He sought to prove to both of them whether Babuor was truly worthy of the gift of death, and from this desire he conceived of a test that would truly test the limits of Babuor’s mind and powers.
Their travels thus far had generally been within the Northern and Eastern parts of Valoran, never venturing too far from the familiarity of the Ironspike Mountains save for their meeting in the Shadow Isles. However, one day as night fell Karthus had Babuor ready himself for a journey, one that would go further West and closer to Demacia than they ever had before. They travelled through the night and as morning was soon to break, they came upon a hill overlooking a small town in a valley. It was quiet and peaceful, as though the buildings themselves were sleeping deeply. Babuor noticed Karthus had been growing somewhat more cheerful as they approached, as he always does when he senses death is near, and knew that an event of great import was planned. After a moment of cold silence, Karthus explained to Babuor that it was time for him to give himself to the Black Mist, but first he must show that he embraces death by consuming the lives of an entire village of innocent people at once. Without a thought, Babuor began to back away, his heart instantly recognizing that he is incapable of such an act. Karthus turned towards Babuor and frowned, and it betrayed an emotion he had not felt in a long time-- disappointment. In a moment it was swept from his face, replaced by all-consuming anger. He began to glow, and ghostly-green rays broke through the dim gray light of the clouds, streaming down around and through them both. Karthus reared his shoulders and in an instant the life was ripped out of Babuor. He fell to his knees, his mind growing dark and consciousness strained. Knowing the end was near, Babuor’s mind reached desperately into its depths, determined to reject his imminent death and a stark, long, eerily calm moment passed before he dropped to the ground. As he fell, from the corner of his eye he saw a figure that looked like Wolf dart into the nearby trees. He lay there for a moment, then another, and then as Karthus began to turn away, finished with his nostalgic visit from long-forgotten mortal emotions, the air around Babuor’s body pulsed. He turned back to his pupil, confused. His body was covered in a moving, dark cloud, as though a fragment of the Black Mist had attached itself to him. Thin, insidious black tendrils sprang from the ground and lashed around, then wrapped around Babuor’s body and pulled him into the ground. He disappeared completely, and Karthus still stood there, watching, unsure of what was happening. Babuor rose from the ground slowly, earth falling off his body like water off rock, covered in black robes, emanating an energy of hate Karthus had never felt before. He waved his hand toward Karthus, and the air pulsed again, and Karthus began to feel as though his mind were imploding. Strange thoughts raced through his mind and his vision danced, his skin felt tight and his bones as though they were growing straight out of his body. Just before he lost consciousness, a vision of this dreadful lich that was once his pupil burned itself into his memory, never to be forgotten.
When Karthus awoke it was mid-day. He slowly got to his feet, and glanced around. The small town, the trees, the nearby hill were all gone. The land was flat and cracked, with some plant life and tall, dry grass in sight, however the lush, tranquil valley that they had come to the night before was nowhere to be seen, as though it had never really existed. Karthus brushed off his robe and retrived his staff, taking a few moments to gaze toward the blue sky before he began the journey back East. He knew, though, that somewhere out there on this expansive continent was his former apprentice, learning and growing stronger, and that they would meet again, perhaps as enemies, perhaps as allies, but always as rivals of the dark arts. Since then Babuor has brought his abilities to the League of Legends to find his place among the most powerful beings in Runeterra.
{note to self} finish this concept: eventually while on his own he gets lost in a bad storm and finds shelter in a cave where Janna is. She teaches him to meditate and that accepting nature (& by extension death) is just another path. He has trouble but by the 2nd day he’s successful & unlocks light-themed lich abilities and uses them to take in the raging storm outside, bring it into himself and quell it.
Stats & Model
Base Stats (515 HP, 51.5 AD, 330 MS, 0.625 AS, 460 range, 210 mana, 7.8 mana regen/sec, 4.4 health regen/sec, 20.15 armor, 31 MR) Level 18 Stats with no bonuses (1796 HP, 105 AD, 330 MS, 0.75 AS, 460 range, 1410 mana, 18.8 mana regen/sec, 16.05 health regen/sec, 77 armor, 31 MR) with proportionate increase per level for all stats, excluding: movement speed, range, and magic resist.
I tried to create a unique & powerful long range mage that must be protected by allies to be effective. He's very easy to kill when caught, and his more powerful abilities consume health along with mana. He will do best in mid-to-late game when his mana pool is big enough to accommodate the reduced ability cooldowns from leveling up, allowing him to strategically intervene with consecutive spells in fights. Also has some support-type capabilities so he can distract and deter enemies as well.
Babuor looks like an unassuming light-brown skinned and bald teenage boy, holds an semi-ornate ritual dagger and is dressed in a simple tunic and sewn pants, with an old book chained to his belt. He shuffles evenly when moving while slightly crouched, but uses dramatic flourishes and fierce movements when attacking somewhat like Ryze. Opens his book during channeling abilities and animations. Babuor is intentionally rather plain-looking, but his abilities should have interesting or vibrantly colorful VFX along with distinct model overlays so that the focus is on his abilities rather than his model, at least until his passive procs during death. A recurring theme is his struggle to reconcile his ambition and talent with his desire to help people and avoid suffering. To this point, his powers vary depending on whether he struggles against or accepts death. Inspiration was taken from the Fate/Stay Night anime character Angra Mainyu “Avenger”.
Related champions include Kindred, who have watched Babuor with interest from the shadows for years, arguing with each other whethr he would accept death or not. Karthus, his old master. Lastly, Janna is a possibility as a new master & equivalent opposite to Karthus, leading Babuor to the realization that he can access all his power by skirting the line between the dark and the light.
VFX & Abilities
Death animation when passive is on cooldown: Thin black tendrils pull him below ground as he resists, also occurs to his upgraded model after he returns as a lich from his first death. Ritual (passive) Babuor gains a dark aura & takes slightly more damage if his enemies' kill totals are greater than his allies', and he returns from the dead with 1/2 health and huge spell upgrades, but is 3x as susceptible to physical damage. The lich gains a light aura & takes slightly less damage if his allies' kill totals are greater than his enemies', and upon death will inflict 1/3 his base health to his killer, taking his soul with him to the next life if the enemy dies. If kill totals are equal, he gains a smoky/incomplete gray aura, the ritual fails and the lich is consumed by magic, releasing a very loud, powerful, long range burst of damage in the area that ripples in all directions, with damage reducing as it travels outward, affecting both enemies & allies. When any of the 3 possible scenarios begin to happen for Ritual, the corresponding aura begins behaving erratically, pulsing, rippling or sort of whipping around. [Simplified- if his team has fewer total kills than the other team, he gets a revival with vulnerabilities upon death. If his team has more kills, he has a chance to execute his killer upon death. If the kills are equal he blows up everything around himupon death. If it's on Cooldown he just dies.] VFX/particles: Death animation for dark aura should be have thicker, ominous, dark red tendrils around him when he dies, appearing to pull him into the ground while he struggles, then return him above ground as a lich with void-themed model upgrades. Death animation for light aura should have white tendrils pull him below ground while he DOES NOT struggle, and he throws tendrils to his killer and rips a ghost version of his killer’s model out of the enemy, and if the enemy dies he pulls the ghost below ground with him. Death animation for failed ritual should show grey tendrils burst out of Babuor, followed by a large flash of harsh colors. (180 second cooldown during which stats are still compiled for when active) VO: “I will be reborn…” (when dark ritual is completed) “Fool! * laugh*” (when light ritual is completed) “Nooo!” (when ritual fails). Also, soft mumbling to himself when any ritual is begun.
Tainted Dagger (Q) Babuor throws his dagger in a direction. When it reaches its range limit, it will stay there for a VERY brief moment before he pulls it back to him, sticking in the first enemy if it hits and doing 8 DPS for 4 seconds after which it will be torn out and inflicting an additional 20% of the damage done. If cast again before 4 seconds the lich will tear it out early, still inflicting 20% of however much damage was done while the dagger was in its target. Can be cast while moving, meaning the dagger will return to wherever he has moved to during its travel time (like Ahri’s Orb of Deception). Has a short cooldown and minimal cost. If the target leaves Babuor’s sight while it’s stuck in them it's torn out immediately with no extra damage. 60 mana cost, 750 cast range and 14 second cooldown. Large blood splatter towards enemy on hit, smaller blood splatters away from enemy when torn out. Levelling up will reduce cooldown and increase DPS. VO: “Ha!”
Raise Wight (W) Bind a soul for 5 seconds to an ally champion or minion, causing him to gain 15% attack speed and armor, or bind it to an enemy champion or minion, causing him to go insane. The enemy is slowed by 10% and harms nearby allies (and himself) with 5 DPS in 150 unit AoE. Has 750 cast range and gains usable charges 1-3 as the ability is leveled up. 90 mana cost & 25 second cooldown. Leveling up gains a second “charge” at level 6, and a third at level 12. Each charge may be placed with no cooldown between them but still takes 25 seconds to regain a charge. Additionally, mana cost & cooldown will be reduced, slow on enemies is increased a bit, attack speed & armor on allies is increased a little and DPS in AoE is increased. VO: “Do my bidding”, “You’re mine…”
Possession (E) Channel for 1.75 seconds, pays 15% of his base health, then take control of an enemy for 2 seconds but only movement and emotes are controllable. The lich is immobile and cannot cast abilities during possession. Allies & enemies will see a red glow in affected champions’ eyes which changes to white once in possession. Recast ability to rescind possession; if target dies while possessed Babuor dies as well!! 150 mana cost, 1250 range, and 35 second cooldown. Babuor’s eyes gain red glows, and soft red lines move upward from the ground around him while channeling. When successfully in control, his eyes become bright white lights and he stands still but sways slightly. Mana cost and cooldown are both reduced upon leveling up. Cannot be cast with less than 15% base health. -VO: “You’re mine!”, “Succumb to my will…”
Gates of the Underworld (R) Sacrifice 30% of Babuor’s base health, channel for 2.25 seconds and open a gate to the underworld from which a monster will appear, and act as a very high powered minion or a low-powered AI champion. Enemies within the area where the monster is summoned will take some damage and cause them to Flee for 0.5 seconds. The monster will auto-attack and stay alive if the arch-lich dies, but lasts for only 1 minute before returning to the void. Summon lasts longer and monster grows larger as points are put into ability. The monster is a neutral creature and will attack the closest ally or enemy player or minion no matter what team, even Babuor. If this is cast and the lich has less than or equal to 1/3 base health, the monster will appear from the gate, devour Babuor, and then return right away. 350 mana cost, 200 second cooldown, 600 cast range. While channeling, Babuor gains a large glow of harsh, bright colors with darker colors strewn within, then a “rip” appears in the ground to spawn a worm-like spikey, scaley void creature that is similar in theme to the Rift Herald, with an appearance inspired a bit by the Rathtars in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and also the monsters from the film Tremors. *Stats of monster could conceivably range from sentinel-level early on to Baron Nashor-level strength when ability and champion have been levelled up completely. VO: “Rise!”, “Have a glimpse of the Void, ha-ha-ha…” “What!? No!” (As he is being devoured when ritual fails.)
Movement audio/VO’s: “I will…”, “Feel my wrath!”, “Darkness falls.”, “The battle rages on!”
Alternate skin possibilities: 1350 or 1820 RP Candyman Babuor- dressed up as the candy man from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with an apron and white hat and bright pastel colored clothing. A pie would replace his book and a pie cutter would replace his dagger, and he could be popping bubble gum. Additionally, his ult could spawn a big gummy worm! Standard sweets-themed VFX could replace his normal particles similar to surprise party Amumu. Sings “The Candyman Can” song during dance emote. Counterpart to Candy King Ivern.
975 RP Classic Babuor, the Arch Lich- dressed up in more traditional dark mage/priest clothing with a long flowing deeply colored robes and ceremonial hat, a more ornate dagger, and more deeply-colored and visually striking VFX. His ultimate could summon a Cerberus version of the worm, with 3 heads and bigger teeth, spikes and attack animations. His voice will sound booming and deeper than the teenager/young adult pitch he usually has, with similar SFX changes. Counterpart to Classic Karma.
750 RP Biker Babuor- dressed up in leather and biker sunglasses, all abilities maintain the same VFX except for the monster from his Ult, which could get a few chain-and-leather themed model upgrades, and perhaps a motorcycle to go into an animation. Counterpart to Vandal Gragas.