Shadow Isles lore hinted by Kalista

GenoXx··4 votes·4,767 views

So I just listened to the VO for Kalista. Some very interesting lines. Here: "Once, he was a noble king. Until grief overcame his reason." "In the end, it was not his blade that stole our eyes. As once it symbolized hope. So now shall it insight despair" Those are the lines she will say when Blade of The Ruined King is purchased. She also says "This place was once so beautiful."

So I am deducing that Kalista is an old Warrior of The Predeath Shadow Isles. Heres her short-in-client lore: "Kalista is an eternal spirit of retribution, who possesses a cold-burning hatred for all betrayers, deceivers, and traitors. In life, she was a legendary warrior, but while trying to avert tragedy she was** betrayed and slain by those she trusted most**. Now, she is an undying entity that can be invoked to exact vengeance, but only at great cost: the supplicant’s soul becomes forfeit, bound to her for eternity"

If Fabullista stated that Morde walks the same path as Kalista, the main person I am suspecting is Hecarim.

Hecarim Betrayed Kalista

I can't See any other way why Hecarim is on her hit list. However, This confirms my Theory of the Ruined King. Someone close to him died and he sought to bring them back using Necromancy. I would think Kalista died before this happened. Because she knows how the king was in life, It narrows it down to the fact that she's from the pre-death Shadow Isles. She also know how they looked before the king made his decision.

This is getting interesting. And here I thought Narrative was not going to give us lore about the Shadow Isles. Even if it isn't stated Narrative, Giving out clues is more than enough for me to solve the puzzle.

41 Comments

Diahane6 votes

My two cents: Kalista realized the foolishness of the Ruined King and tried to avert the Shadow Isles tragedy, but Hecarim, maybe a chief royal guard, whom she trusted, stayed faithful to his sire, the Ruined King, and killed her without heeding to her warnings about what would come from the King's big mistake. In all this I'd say Mordekaiser is probably the one who swayed the King for his own purposes.

GenoXx2 votes

Mordekaiser was dead around that time. Before anyone actually. He was never alive when the king was active.....

Sharjo1 votes

But he was one of the un-living, meaning this could all be a part of his grand design, whatever the hell that may be.

GenoXx1 votes

I wouldn't think that people would generally speak to an undead. Especially if he is a wraith would manipulates pain....This is why I think Morde had no interaction with what Really killed the Shadow Isles. He, perhaps, was one the king's generals, who died somehow. It did state that Morde is an undead general. Maybe someone perform necromagic to bring him back. Maybe the king summoned the Same person who was skilled in Necromagic. He refuses, so the king decided to order his mages, who knew nothing if Necromagic, And that whole Accident happened. This is possible but about how it went I am not sure.

Sharjo2 votes

Something to consider about the situation is the following:

  • Morde doesn't look like the other undead. He entirely clad in armour, and if we already didn't know he was undead we would be speculating as to what he really was. Not that strong evidence, but he does have some differences in there.

  • A man driven by grief will do whatever it takes to make ammends. The king may not have even recognised anything about Morde's true nature.

  • Morde may have come to the King in a different form, or communicated with him in ways that didn't involve actually getting close enough to be seen.

Not saying anything you've said it wrong, or anything I'm saying is right, just some things to consider. We can definetly agree that Morde has some deeper connection to the Shadow Isles and probably to the King specifically.

GenoXx1 votes

Yes, he is different. It was also hinted that Mordes armor maybe his prison. Well, from the West Altar." Are you also a prisoner Mordekaiser?" Mordes all mystery, I can't really lay a finger on him. Because he is different, it may imply about the different Techniques of Necromagic that was used. The possible mystery one that I mentioned, and the kings mages way. The king's mages way turns out different. I believe that's the same armor morde wore when he died.

Stars Shaper1 votes

I have a theory about Mordekaiser being the one that once caged the Black Mist in his armor and now is on a quest to try to get it back for him as a power boost.

Think about the Black Mist, it steals the souls of its victims and enslave them, the same way Children of the Grave works. Also Morde appearance is far different from all other spectres of the SI.

Diahane1 votes

I have a theory about Mordekaiser being the one that once caged the Black Mist in his armor and now is on a quest to try to get it back for him as a power boost.

Think about the Black Mist, it steals the souls of its victims and enslave them, the same way Children of the Grave works. Also Morde appearance is far different from all other spectres of the SI.

The latter is more a matter of him being an earlier champion, designed when the Shadow Isles were not thought of yet. Of course they may leverage this legacy to have him be someone special in the lore, but I don't think it's something which was really planned from the start.

Stars Shaper1 votes

Indeed, but it would fit each part of his lore. Remember the quote: ) "The common perception is that the encompassing armor protects him, I fear that – for the fragile time being – it actually protects us."

And in his most recent lore and the retcon is explicit that he has been the first undead/wraith ever.

Diahane1 votes

Indeed, but it would fit each part of his lore. Remember the quote: ) "The common perception is that the encompassing armor protects him, I fear that – for the fragile time being – it actually protects us."

And in his most recent lore and the retcon is explicit that he has been the first undead/wraith ever.

That one quote too is from the old version of his lore and I do not really know if they intend to go further that route. What I wanted to say it's just this: his state is more the result of retcons than anything else, I wouldn't dig too far, for I fear nothing is to be found yet. We may have to wait another retcon for some clarity on him.

Stars Shaper1 votes

What I meant is that Riot can play this card that will fit basically 100% of what they've ever done with Morde :3

Also I hope that the retcon of all the SI characters means that we are gonna have a Shurima-like exploration of most of them.

Diahane2 votes

What I meant is that Riot can play this card that will fit basically 100% of what they've ever done with Morde :3

Well, it's true, I agree, but it's too easy, because quite anything could be done with such a vague character as Morde xD

Also I hope that the retcon of all the SI characters means that we are gonna have a Shurima-like exploration of most of them.

Shurima-like as in "show not tell rule infringing videos", "characters' core changes" or "wait a month for two pieces of story" =P? Jokes apart, I hoped for a Shurima-like event for the Harrowing, but it looks like that all the fog thing on the webpage and the mark thing were just a teaser for Kalista. I mean, it's fine to tease champions this way, but this strengthens the idea that the only "events" they do are marketing ones. We may get some Shadow Isles' tidbits of lore when Kalista comes out, but yet again it will be the umpteenth marketing initiative and not lore for the sake of delivering and progressing lore, which is a thing which seems to have been deserted since the closure of the IoW - sigh!

Stars Shaper1 votes

Well hopefully they should have learnt from Shurima event what NOT to do xD Xerath is my main so I had my dose of Rage towards them.

btw the Black Mist thing is fowing on: The Drowned Anchor. One element of the Harrowing stalled. Reports of a large figure encased in a rusted diving suit seen in the heart of the fighting.

Nautilus being a victim of the Black Mist and probably now part of it.

The Death of the Conqueror. The mighty galleon Conqueror is lost to the depths, along with 30 battleships. Some have claimed to have seen the Conqueror riding the Black Mist in subsequent Harrowings. Flying Duch.. Bilgewaterman.

The revenant Mordekaiser leads the Harrowing on a night of slaughter, and Port Mourn falls to darkness. It is said that specters now haunt its empty streets.

Quite strange.. I hope it's not a retcon that now Morde is a slave to the SI will too...

A flag with the Mark of the Betrayer scattered in ship debrids in a short video.. hint that Kalista was from Bilgewater?

Diahane2 votes

Well hopefully they should have learnt from Shurima event what NOT to do xD Xerath is my main so I had my dose of Rage towards them.

Like they said they had learnt from the Trundle and Karma reworks? xD Nah, they'll just do whatever they'll see fit in their incredible artistic grandeur which us, poor mortal shells and fleshlings, couldn't ever hope to fathom nor comprehend, lest we be consumed by the hubris of such an act. (I know, it's a pretty bitter comment, but I like using a hyperbola from time to time)

Besides, I was just, at last, about to buy Xerath and go all "b****** don't know 'bout my true magic!" and "I see the forces which hold the universe together" on the Rift; then the retcon came and I was all "wait wut?" Seriously, from Magus Ascendant to Embittered Slave was a serious downgrade for him.

btw the Black Mist thing is fowing on: The Drowned Anchor. One element of the Harrowing stalled. Reports of a large figure encased in a rusted diving suit seen in the heart of the fighting.

Nautilus being a victim of the Black Mist and probably now part of it.

The Death of the Conqueror. The mighty galleon Conqueror is lost to the depths, along with 30 battleships. Some have claimed to have seen the Conqueror riding the Black Mist in subsequent Harrowings. Flying Duch.. Bilgewaterman.

The revenant Mordekaiser leads the Harrowing on a night of slaughter, and Port Mourn falls to darkness. It is said that specters now haunt its empty streets.

Quite strange.. I hope it's not a retcon that now Morde is a slave to the SI will too...

A flag with the Mark of the Betrayer scattered in ship debrids in a short video.. hint that Kalista was from Bilgewater?

I don't think we have solid elements to work on yet, it's all a teaser of a teaser of things to come. We'll probably get something more solid when Kalista will be released.

Notice how, again, the community has been engaged of what to do with Bilgewater... *rolls his eyes*

Diahane1 votes

Yes, he is different. It was also hinted that Mordes armor maybe his prison. Well, from the West Altar." Are you also a prisoner Mordekaiser?" Mordes all mystery, I can't really lay a finger on him. Because he is different, it may imply about the different Techniques of Necromagic that was used. The possible mystery one that I mentioned, and the kings mages way. The king's mages way turns out different. I believe that's the same armor morde wore when he died.

The problem with Mordekaiser is that he was a character which was developed way before they thought the Shadow Isles thing. It's the result of an earlier retcon, it's more about plot holes than mysteries =/ From another topic in which some red posted, I've gotten the idea that they actually mean to revisit him in some way, because his original concept of a dark knight is not delivered and he is overall a character with no real characterization (<insert he controls pain, his and that of others joke>). So I think the joke's on us trying to figure out something which simply is not there. The only thing which is probably set is his overall role in the Shadow Isles lore, but not the details.

GenoXx1 votes

I see, the only thing I can say about morde is that he's not with the same beat as the other SI champs. Idk why fabulista said mordes with them. Clearly he has his own plans. And they aren't good.

Why won't Riot give the altars more lines??

Diahane1 votes

Mordekaiser was dead around that time. Before anyone actually. He was never alive when the king was active.....

And that doesn't stop him from influencing the King. I'd say that being dead and able to manipulate the dead would be a cool feature to put in your portfolio when trying to deceive a King into risky necromancy. It's all a conjecture, but the "Mordekaiser is not to be trusted, Hecarim" line of the altar in the Twisted Treeline to me always sounded like an hint that he is the schemer behind it all.

GenoXx1 votes

Well, I go off by facts given. Not making up things in my head, because it sounds cool....Nothing else has been given about morde, except the fact that he stalks the slums in Noxus and he's an ancient undead.

Diahane1 votes

Well, I go off by facts given. Not making up things in my head, because it sounds cool....Nothing else has been given about morde, except the fact that he stalks the slums in Noxus and he's an ancient undead.

That he stalked the slums of Noxus, I'm afraid. Him emerging from there was the first version of his lore, but I think it got retconned looking at the one we had until now (don't know if they put the short one in the live client already). The whole "attuned to sickness, as if it feeds and comprises part of his chilling essence" thing one can found in the second version of his old lore I think it got scrapped.

Sharjo3 votes

I thought about it myself and came to a similar conclusion. I definetly agree in that I think Hecarim killed Kalista. I'm imagining it as Kalista seeing that the King's going to wreck everything and wants to stop him, but Hecarim stops her first, because he's eternally loyal to the King.

Xtremey3 votes

hecarim turned out to be gay and loved the king so he killed kalista to get him

Valaran Nara1 votes

That moment it turns out Kalista, the King's true love, was betrayed by Hecarim.

GenoXx1 votes

No....lol to rule out that, it said that he was in grief, so either his queen died or his children

AntiSkillshot1 votes

Yet, the West Alter tells Hecarim that Morde can't be trusted.

If anything, it's Morde that's betrayed someone.

Valaran Nara1 votes

Yet, the West Alter tells Hecarim that Morde can't be trusted.

If anything, it's Morde that's betrayed someone.

But it was said that Morde and Kalista walks the same path, so...

GenoXx1 votes

Fabulista mention that karthus and morde are on the same page. So the Betrayer can't be morde. This also adds reason to why hecarim is marked

DragonShea2 votes

Fabulista mention that karthus and morde are on the same page. So the Betrayer can't be morde. This also adds reason to why hecarim is marked

that really seems odd. this looks like a plot hole or something because all evidence points to morde being the traitorous one. maybe kalista hate hecharim because he is listening to reason and is against morde. and she hate ALL forms for betrayal. but if hecarim is the betrayer then I think that he is madmen that wants to spread war and chaos for the heck of it.

Sharjo1 votes

Evidence also suggest that Mordekaiser was undead before the Shadow Isles was wrecked though. I always assumed that Hecarim was told not to trust Morde because Hecarim is loyal to the Shadow Isles where as Morde isn't, and he's up to something much darker.

Thinking about it now, the fact we know now that the Ruined King was driven by his grief, maybe it was Morde who manipulated that grief and pushed the King in that direction.

Stars Shaper2 votes

It's more because Mordekaiser isn't following the will of the Shadow Islands (while Hecarim is the herald of the SI), meaning that he might turn against them.

Mordekaiser is also said to be the first undead and a wraith that was there since before the SI fate.

Morkus1 votes

I agree, Hec definitely betrayed Kalista. My dead giveaways were that he is on the hit list and in his lore he hadn't betrayed anyone and also, Kalista's and Hec's spears look SUPER similar imo.

LANWhale1 votes

But who's not to say someone payed their soul to Kalista to target Hec, I mean she is a hit-man just one who instead of taking money takes your soul. But then the real question is who would ask for a hit on Hec?

Solideus1 votes

It would make sense for the centaur and the amazon, both from Greek mythology, to be connected.

Labcown1 votes

I would love to see a more in-depth look at Shadow Isles lore, but I love the theories about her being from Mt. Taragon even more.

It could even tie in the two previously unaffiliated regions by having Kalista be part of a Odyessus type expedition to the Shadow Isles where bad things happened that could involve most of the Shadow Isle cast and the Ruined King as well.

This of course would all be "ancient" lore in terms of the timeline, but it'd be neat to see Champions have more diversity in their origins rather than see most champions come from one area of Runeterra and stay there for what seems to be their whole life.

Zephyrei1 votes

Plot Twist: Mordekaiser IS the same Ruined King from the legend who set the Shadow Isles into the darkness it is in now...

GenoXx1 votes

An old 2012 theory.

LANWhale1 votes

Just wondering could it be possible that Mord...is the Ruined King? I don't know much about the Ruined King and I would be happy if some one told me when Riot said anything about a ruined king of the Shadow Isles.

Herdeiro1 votes

I would love if she was actually Lucians wife that escaped Threshs lantern, but when she escaped the other Thresh`s souls were attached to her. That Would be awesome.

pinwheelviper1 votes

i like your theory but i hope it's actually lucian wife senna with a new nameLucian

Albus Saijaxumis1 votes

What if Kalista is actually the Ruined King's daughter? Perhaps Hecarim was also normal before the Shadow Isles were as they are now, and at the time he wanted more power and so he devised a plan and part of it involved betraying and killing Kalista. The King lost his daughter, Kalista, pushing him over the edge. I believe Morderkaiser is connected, but I still am not sure how exactly. Also, I realize Karthus was a good many years after the event that turned the Shadow Isles into what they are, but I have a hunch he is connected in some way.

LANWhale1 votes

If Mord and Kalista walk the same path, as well as Karthus....then what path does Hecarim walk? Fabulista said nothing about Hecarim and no one at the time thought to, but could it be possible that, Hecarim din't betray Kalista but rather betrayed the SI. I mean in the old lore, which is no longer canon thanks to the retcon. All the SI champions where doing something for the SI, Karthus getting more souls, Elise feeding a giant spider, Yorick controlling the dead, and Mord taking souls and getting information....but Hec just ran around Runeterra killing people and saying fear the Shadow Isles. To me that doesn't make sense if Hec is helping the SI why would he run around telling people to be scared of it, wouldn't that make people concerned and make them try and stop the SI. I don't know what exactly went down on the Shadow Isles but there are two things i feel sure about.

  1. Hecarim didn't betray post Shadow Isles but rather plans on or already has betrayed the Shadow Isles
  2. Hecarim hasn't betrayed Kalista but rather some one payed Kalista to kill Hecarim, but who? Mord perhaps?
Pinker 101 votes

insight

in·sight/ˈinˌsīt/ noun the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing. in·cite/inˈsīt/ verb encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behavior).

You want the second one. As to kalista, she's either the princess of SI or some other prominent figure. Judging by riot's recent laziness (see: retcon) it's probably the former, cus that's easier.

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