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What are people expecting the relationship between Swain and Darius to be?

Oakleaf Ranger·7/23/2017, 9:00:35 AM·6 votes·1,025 views

People are speculating the relationship between Swain and Leblanc yet what of Darius?

Darius doesn't seem to like pencil pusher/political players and even went and rooted out those he considered weak in positions of power. Yet Swain is a political player along with Leblanc. Is Swain's combat leadership skills and prowess on the battlefield that impressive that he is willing to overlook a trait like that in him? He doesn't seem the type to idle around either and would rather be outside doing things. I feel like while they believe each are working towards a common goal that are very few setting where Darius would be an area Swain is when not on the battlefield. I imagine they rarely or don't even "hang out" and very likely don't drink tea together. If Darius went to drink it would be in a bar (probably one that is known to be rowdy) which is not the type of area Swain would be in.

Also very interested in the relationship between Vladimir and Darius. Vladimir being in a situation similar to Darius only flipped. Preferring the way of the upper class. Darius always struck me as the guy who had in little faith in magic and the only thing he believed in is his weapon. So I would be very interested the relationship between the two who would ordinarily not associate with each other unless required. Yet only tolerate each other due to their relationship with Swain.

10 Comments

Krabohod7/24/2017, 12:50:07 AM3 votes

I will copypaste my comment from other same post:

I think Darius is not disgusted with Swain. He is more in-line with him. He seems to see Swain as something that Noxus need. All in all, Swain got his power absolutely in-line with Noxus' perspective of getting power. He sure did it with some shady things, blackmail, dirty schemes and betrayal of some folks in power.. But that's where Swain's strength lies. So, I think, Darius is kinda ok with that. He just uses Swain to get some power, just like Swain uses him to establish his power. They are more of a duo.

Also, Darius is not a good man. He is man, who have strength and knows how to use it. Why would he for no reason become hero and try to change the system that served him so well? Why would he rebell?

And I think that Darius uses 'purge' of Noxus' top generals just to strengthen the nation, not to rival with the super tops

LordHippoman7/24/2017, 3:29:26 AM3 votes

I feel like Darius agrees with Swain's plans, so he's willing to be the muscle. Assuming Swain's rise to power still occurred like it did in the JoJ, Darius is the guy who comes in when Swain doesn't want to get his hands dirty.

While Swain might see him as an underling, though, Darius is not stupid. He's lived as long as he has and risen as far as he has through intelligence along with his brute strength. I think he probably sees that Swain isn't the most trustworthy guy around, and he's not just going to be an obedient goon. Swain, on the other hand, probably also knows Darius isn't stupid, and knows what happens to Darius' superiors when he decides he doesn't need/respect them anymore.

It's probably a very tense alliance, since you have a leader who relies on trickery and cunning to pull off his schemes, and a follower who doesn't hesitate to pull the axe on anyone he thinks is trying to pull one over on him.

LunSeiSleidee7/23/2017, 4:14:47 PM3 votes

Hot yaoi subtext?

Blood Magicks7/23/2017, 10:28:02 AM2 votes

Jaredan hinted in an earlier post that the relationship between Swain and Darius would be "complicated".

I think he means that Darius is aware bending a knee to Swain is against some of his principles, but it is the right thing for Noxus. And that's only the tip of the iceberg of what he probably has planned.

With regards to Vladimir,I'm almost 80% certain Jaredan won't be the one writing him. Would love to know who tbh.

HalfTangible7/24/2017, 6:12:20 AM2 votes

It's important to note that Darius' ultimate goal is to unify Noxus through his purges, as well as to strengthen it in any way he can. Swain is a cunning, devious and capable leader, but more important to Darius is the fact that he's clearly not a coward. (His lore states outright that he's watching Swain's career with interest). Swain's goals seem in line with making Noxus strong, so as long as Swain remains that way, Darius is willing to put up with him.

KoKoboto7/23/2017, 1:16:36 PM1 votes

I don't think Swain plays political stuff with Noxus but has another goal in mind with the Black Rose. With Noxus I think he has the same mind set as Darius and other true Noxians. At the end of the day though he has some other goal under his sleeve.

So Swain and Darius are good buddies but Darius isn't aware of the fact that Swain as some secret stuff.

Meep Man7/25/2017, 2:18:46 PM1 votes

Darius is Swain's puppet, except Darius only does so because he believes Swain is the right leader to rule/is forced to for some reason. Many of the older, more pure Noxian champions see this and want Darius to realize Swain is just using him for his own benefits instead of actually allowing Darius to live up to the glorious general he could be. Just look at the interactions with Darius currently to see this. Kled especially:

Kled "Nice axe! Learn to use it!"

Noctkazaku7/24/2017, 4:43:42 PM1 votes

I have always though about Darius and Swain's relationship as complicated. I see Darius as believing in Swain's intelligence and strength, enough that he thought he would be right to lead Noxus, while Swain himself is much more... complicated. We know Swain is part of the Black Rose (at least for now) and that could very well mean that he isn't fully there for Noxus, as Darius believes he is.

I have always thought Swain can't fully be trusted. He may run Noxus as the Grand General, but no one really knows if he is really doing everything in Noxus' sole benefit and not his own. Swain most likely views Darius as a useful pawn, someone who helped him gain power and yet also someone who he doesn't want as his enemy. He wants to keep Darius' faith and loyalty to him intact, but I also have a feeling Darius isn't as snowed by Swain's words anymore and he may be wary of Swain's actions now.

I know I can't wait for the Noxus lore update to really see how Riot fleshes out Darius' lore and the relationship between Swain and Darius.

SolarisCorvus7/25/2017, 8:36:57 AM1 votes

I think darius would know he is being ised by swain to some extent but would not do much about it because as long as what swain does makes noxus more about survival of the fittest, Darius will go along with swain's plans. Swain would understand darius's motives and see him as a powerful pawn. So unless swain's plans begin to harm the state of noxus, him and darius would be allies to the end.

some degenerate7/23/2017, 7:56:07 PM1 votes

When it comes to Swain, I wouldn't be surprised if he sees Darius as another inevitably disposable pawn on his chessboard; and nothing more than that.

for Darius himself, I suspect he genuinely trusted and admired Swain early-on in their partnership - but if I recall correctly, Rioters implied that he's starting to see or will see behind Swain's lies and manipulation (like his affiliation with The Black Rose) and this will lead to a betrayal.