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Why does noone talk about just how horrific the darkin truly are?

JoeAnarchy·8/26/2018, 8:42:23 AM·20 votes·11,218 views

when we talk about the Darkin, we kinda just glance over their true nature.. sort of assuming the person they infest is kinda still alive in there or something. but the Darkin are parasites and cast the souls of their host into oblivion.. we're not even sure they actually get to die or move on to an afterlife or whatever..

with the story of Varus, Kai, and Valmar, we get to truly see into the struggle (more so than with Kayn) Varus' story literally lets us see just how Lovecraftian the Darkin are.. Varus literally intertwines Kai and Valmar's minds, hearts, and bodies, into one flesh.. the only thing keeping them from being cast into the darkness of oblivion is the light of their love (which is ironic, considering when Varus was still human, he chose his duty over his wife and family, which is what earned his ascension to begin with, which ultimately led to his imprisonment as a darkin, so them choosing love and it fighting him off, could be his subconscious guilt, that maybe he should have died with his family and chosen love instead.)

Aatrox supposedly has had MULTIPLE hosts, even training them to be his new host, while lying to them about why he was training them.. and once his host body is used up and dies, he goes back into the sword, but the host soul doesn't live on..

Kayn and Rhaast is alittle less horrific, because Kayn is such an edgy hardcore "badass" that even in the darkness of oblivion, he'd prolly find a way out eventually, or thrive amongst oblivion (i think the comment Rhaast makes about Kayn weeping in oblivion, is just him trying to flex).. honestly i believe Kayn could overpower Rhaast and wield the blade of millennium as his own..

think about the infestation process, and how violated it must make you feel, knowing that something is writhing around in your skin, shaping your flesh, trying to suppress who you are..

why does noone talk about just how horrifying and unsettling this concept is?

18 Comments

Xilixer8/26/2018, 9:43:17 AM8 votes

because Urgot's story takes a dump on all of them.

Crow Nebula8/26/2018, 1:44:19 PM5 votes

Please don't ever describe Varus' story as Lovecraftian ever again. A story in which the power of love can hold back evil is the very opposite of Lovecraftian.

On topic, most people don't find the Darkin lore that horrific because it's been done a million times before. Possessing other people's bodies and sending their souls to hell are two of the most tired horror tropes there are.

The Ecdysiast8/26/2018, 11:35:18 PM5 votes

The simple answer is just that no one's talking about the darkin at all. And yeah, what they do to their hosts is horrific. But what's been done to them to need hosts in the first place is equally horrific.

They've been sentenced not to death-- oh no, that would be too fair considering all their kin were killed--, but to an eternity of consciousness with no senses whatsoever. Even after this whole debacle with the Void ends, even if Runeterra is destroyed, they may live on trapped in their prisons with no hope to find a new mortal to wield them.

Lady Faceless8/26/2018, 1:41:47 PM4 votes

As far I'm aware, Oblivion is a place where the souls is stucked and can't reenter the reincarnation cycle. Basically, people who are in oblivion are cheated their afterlife. However, it seems to be possible to escape but not by the person on it own, but by an outer force see Azir's resurrection. It seems the poor hosts from a Darkins land at this place as well. Back to the topic.

Anyway, I full agree. Overall, I love Kayn and his dynamic with Rhaast. Since I see a child with a clearly trauma, which does has no idea what he got into. It is not just the physical changes Rhaast is doing him, they are linked together. Rhaast is also mentally corrupting Kayn. And I would love to know that he is whipsering in Kayn's head and how he slowly changes Kayn...

Anyway, Darkins are extremly more powerful than humans. Their bodies and souls means nothing them, they do as they pleased. I mean, Rhaast seems to be aware that happens with Kayn and he simple doesn't care. They used to be humans - but they gave up their humanity a LONG time ago.

Hayaishi8/26/2018, 2:28:31 PM3 votes

Riot kinda killed my hype for it by making Darking ascended so i just don't care anymore.

SSmotzer8/27/2018, 12:28:49 AM2 votes

Just imagine if somewhere like Noxus or Demacia weaponized a Darkin, throwing billions of souls at it to make it stronger. Then having someone pure enough to wield it without being possessed by the Darkin. They could Ascend to the powers of a god.

Like in Full Metal Alchemist, with Father making philosopher stones by just dumping millions of souls into a single rock, in order to fight god.

Good thing Kayn stole Noxus's Darkin.... Can't say the same for Demacia though. Makes you wonder just what is beneath that Lightbringer temple huh?

Zladnyl9/11/2018, 7:56:54 AM1 votes

This isn't the worst case of a story, considering we first off, do not truly know of their soul got to pass on, they may have gone someplace better, either after losing control or after dying physically, but for people like Urgot, we know for a fact, no question, his body was ruined, his loyalty and work in Noxus all for nothing, his mind shattered, and he was given a new reckless, careless, cold, and callous nature focused only on survival, not even happiness, power, or an end goal, no good for him or for others in his way, just death, survival, and suffering in a random and chaotic cycle. Urgot also became more machine and chem-tech than man, not just because of his own will and doing, but possibly because there was no other choice due to what had become of his physical body during his imprisonment below Zaun, he may have had no other choice but to lost most of his own body to machines and chemicals that now power him.

There are also other worse cases such as whatever might be going on with Swain, just as much bad things can be assumed about him as the Darkin, as we don't know all of his secrets and sacrifices besides the obvious dark ones he has made, and the secrets he has kept. Not to mention some of the lore surrounding Tahm Kench and his many victims throughout time and all across Runterra.

And then finally Aurelion Sol, a celestial being of wonder and peace, corrupted by what was done to him by mortals, giving him his drive for freedom, and how willing he is to kill to get it, and how arrogant, callous, and careless he is in his new ways, a once graceful, peaceful, majestic, and lifegiving being now turned into a cosmic wonder and marvel to be feared, as he could be an entity that causes end times for Runterra and all of life, if driven to that point, since he could literally just start things over himself if he needed to.

Chalze8/26/2018, 11:29:47 PM1 votes

The real reason is, is because the Darkin stories are more grounded in fantasy whereas Urgot's story is more science. It's more relatable.

Besides, all the Darkins in game are more or less portrayed as cool whereas Urgot is portrayed as terrifying.

Aatrox's new voice lines doesn't do that any favors either.

FlameHalbrdOkido9/3/2018, 7:26:57 PM1 votes

Theres 2 theories: The soul is completely taken over/or destroyed OR the soul of the Darkin and the host switch places. The Darkin soul takes over the body and shoves the host soul into the weapon in its place giving the host the same treatment as the Darkin had, (this might allow the host to try to fight back reversing the process though its highly unlikely)\

Riot has stated that in Kayn's version where he becomes the shadow assassin he subjugates Rhaasts soul and essentially silences it with oppressive shadow magic. Rhaast ISN'T dead, just basically shoved deeper in the oblivion of his jail cell. When Kayn dies or lets go of the Scythe for and extended period of time or were to release his magic, over time Rhaast would come back