One intriguing thing about what Riot thinks about when changing a champion
Was Varus' story more about a wife and child? Or a loved one? Was it more about the tension between family and duty? Or the tension between principles and desperation? Was he defined more by having nothing left but vengeance, and his "fall" when being willingly transformed into an instrument of darker purpose? Or was it the deep emotional trauma (realized or threatened) that drove him choose a "deal with the devil" in the first place?
There's no right answer here. Players (and Rioters) saw (and still see) different parts of Varus' identity as the most primary. Some players absolutely hate what we changed because we changed the primary thing they loved - and you know what? We get it. We're not gonna try to tell you you're wrong, because you aren't.
But some players really love what we changed, because they think (as we thought) it reinforced and evolved the primary thing they loved about Varus.
Sooo... Can we expect Iralia to be turned into a black male dragon fox that controls his blades with mind, because that somehow is the only thing that would matter? Let me rewrite her story based on your standards.
Aurelion Sol sees a brave and determined fox-like vastaya called Lita train fighting, afraid that Noxus will soon invade Ionia and being decided she will help defend her homeland even when the people of the land don't understand her. Amazed by her skills, he gifts her magical blades forged out of star dust that would never rust and never go dull, empowered by a moon stone in each of them.
They fall in love, have short romance until Aurelion must leave for he feels way too attached for something way too mortal, and the only thing he leaves behind is his seed, impregnating Lita. Lita gives birth to dragon fox she names Irelion and trains the boy in martial arts similar to hers.
The Noxus invades, Lita fights in the front lines, nearly succeeds in taking down Noxian General but is cursed and dies. At the last moment, Irelion sacrifices himself by killing his soul and allowing Lita's to take his body assisted by magic of Soraka and Lita-Irelion figures out she can now control gravity around moonblades, using telekynesis to fight off Noxian invaders.
Yeah, it doesn't make much sense or pay any respect to Irelia's original lore, it actually literally kills her identity, but hey, she still controls blades so we can call her Irelia. And it creates unnecesary bounds so that she doesn't feel "isolated".
