Does anyone actually care for Val and Kai?

Stars Shaper·Dec 2, 2017·3 votes·2,911 views

Another thing that hit me of the new Varus Lore reception is that it looks like no1 does really care about the fate of the 2 hunters.

The arguments around those 2 are all about how they are portraied and if they are or not a worth replacement of the original being that turned into (now Darkin) Varus, but no1 of the thread and comments I've read has anythign concerning the 2 characters development in the future (nor much in the past and present either).

The 2 give a vibe of the tragicity of Romeo and Juliet in the sense that one commits a grave and lethal act because of the perceived loss of their loved one.... but overall none of them seem to have enough charisma to carry on after they triggered Varus rebirth and this is something that should be considered if we want to consider the rewritten lore as a success or a failure.

8 Comments

PlacentasDec 2, 201710 votes

I do.

From the story and comic we see they're kind people who care about their land, their people, and each other.

Personally I like Kai more. He's a sweet heart and poetic. He has skills in medical/stitching, he recites his honor vows during his fight, and he absolutely condemns the murder of innocents. Varus even mentions how Kai inside him starts going wild when Varus wants to kill defenseless people.

I think it's so cute how Val is going to introduce Kai to his mother and Kai announces several times how worried he is that Val's mother wont like him or love him.

The information and characterization is there in the story. I think a lot of people are still viewing this new lore through nostalgia tinted glasses and just ignore a lot of the good in the lore because they're stuck on wanting the old lore.

FasmodeyDec 2, 20174 votes

They are ordinary human hunters. What makes them special is Varus. Without Varus they wouldn't even exist.

They need something to make them special or they will only be side characters that no one cares as you said.

But if it happens, they overshadow Varus, which would be another catastrophe in boards (and they would be right to do that). That's why I think Varus should have complete control (kill them) and Kayn should cast out Rhaast (kill him) in future of lore.

In other say, carry of champion's name should be the dominant voice and winner. Also in that way, we would witness win and lose of darkins in their vessel. Winner Darkin = Varus. Loser Darkin = Rhaast.

Stars ShaperDec 2, 20172 votes

Yes but even in Kayn's case Rhaast has a character that is important enough. Even MF second in command got more charisma than the 2 said protagonists of the story.

I agree that Varus should ultimately consume them because the grim end would give a tragic and good touch to the story. But this won't even deliver it how it could because of the 2 guys being rather unimportant in the hearts of the readers.

AlderscroftDec 2, 20171 votes

Honestly I don't think Rhaast and Kayn will ever defeat each other unless something with either Zed or some other person important to Kayn or a Darkin for Rhaast gives one an edge.

In terms of Varus, I think the mesh of the 3 is going to be known as Varus, not just the Darkin. In the case of Varus' split, I think it's more likely that Val and Kai will change the Darkin than kill him if they win.

Darrosh JewfistDec 2, 20174 votes

I don't think Valmar or Kai were very interesting characters. They were bare bones, and cardboard cut out bland.

This may come off as a double standard, but 'straight couples where one lover dies and the other wants vengeance' is very cliche/overdone. And often, it's done poorly. So when this is played out, only with a gay couple this time instead of a straight couple, it comes off as extremely pandering by Riot. Like, it looks so obvious they're trying to score LGBT points. What does Valmar and Kai add to the story? Are they two well developed characters that can justify their existence?

I think it does a disservice when diversity is thrown in for the sake of diversity. If Riot wanted LGBT representation, at least make them good/interesting/compelling characters to do them justice, not tack it on.

MysterQDec 2, 20171 votes

Note: Valmar doesn't even lose Kai.

Some people are creating great headcannon for the backstory of Valmar and Kai. Other people... (me included) are getting confused on which is which, and calling them "red-shirt fodder."

Like, it is not a good story when readers are confused on who the main characters are.

Karn BishopDec 2, 20171 votes

They don't exist though not really. they are effectively dead, husks used to the sake of "inclusion" i wish game companys would learn that the community they try to appease with these changes simply do not care about games so why care about their opinions?

AlderscroftDec 2, 20173 votes

You know people like looking at the games they play and seeing a character that's also [insert characteristic here]. Two examples I've seen for Varus alone are gays and people with multiple personalities.