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Questions about Zed's updated short biography compared to the outdated long biography.

Jasiwel·4/3/2018, 3:07:12 PM·1 votes·470 views
Zed - Champions - Universe of League of Legends

"Utterly ruthless and without mercy, Zed is the leader of the Order of Shadow, an organization he created with the intent of militarizing Ionia’s martial arts traditions to drive out Noxian invaders. During the war, desperation led him to unlock the secret shadow form—a malevolent spirit magic as dangerous and corrupting as it is powerful. Zed has mastered all of these forbidden techniques to destroy anything he sees as a threat to his nation, or his new order."

I know Riot is in the midst of updating the long-biographies of champions, but Zed's reasoning for "unlocking" his shadow abilities is notably different between short and long biographies with the updated lore. The long biography, which is still his older lore, notes that he sought the Shadows due to feeling inescapably inferior to Shen and wanted power. The short biography, on the contrary, notes that the war drove him to desperation in order to unlock the secret Shadow form. That leaves a few questions with me:

  • Did Zed still kill Kusho in the same fashion as the old lore and massacre most of the Kinkou Order?

  • Was Kusho's demise and the Kinkou Massacre done before (pre-Shadow), during, or after the war?

  • Can we expect nominal changes to how Zed's betrayal occurred (like Varus), or simply the basis of his motives (from jealousy to desperation)?

Some might not think it pertinent to discuss the details, but keep in mind how much influence Master Kusho and the Kinkou Order had throughout Ionia - even Shen (Eye of Twilight) is massively revered throughout Valoran. If Zed did slaughter the Kinkou during the war, wouldn't that massively impact Ionia's defensive strength? Did Zed betray the Kinkou Order due to their potential apathy towards the Invasion, given the Order's primary responsibility was to regulate conflicts between the Spirit and Mortal worlds? How long did it take Zed to amass an order of his own during war time against Noxian invasion, teach them the art of the shadows, and further overthrow the highly trained ninja of the Kinkou Order?

2 Comments

Nintendo 3DS4/3/2018, 4:42:25 PM2 votes

Here it goes it went thanks to new lore and supported by a Rioter post on the boards a few months ago.

Zed was a student of the Order of Kinkou and Shen's friend. He is noted as being already the best student of the Kinkou Order (mentionned in Jhin bio too) so his previous rivalry with Shen is probably no more. He followed the Kinkous ways until the whole Jhin story. Here, his master Kusho decided to spare Jhin, a psychopathic killer who ruined countless lives. Zed was about to kill him, but Kusho had mercy for such a man. At this point, Zed is starting to put the Kinkou teachings in consideration. It is said that even Shen does not agree with Kusho but follow still. Zed however, is so focused on the horrors he had seen and the Kinkou lack of response that he start to not focus on his studies and would end up diving in the Shadows Arts.

Trying to follow the timeline. After Jhin emprisonnement, Zed start to studies forbidden shadow magic. Perhaps out of curiosity, but it sound like a middle finger to the Kinkou and a way to gain the power they would not give him. In old lore he did that to win against Shen but even more important to impress his master. At this point new lore Zed probably hates Kusho so it sound more like a way to get stronger for himself. Maybe a defense after all he witnessed. Oddly, i really understand this. Zed's detachement from the Kinkou was a long and slow one. He would leave after getting in trouble for this. And then the war happens. Kusho refuses to help. (so its canon the Kinkou did nothing). Zed is not affiliated with the Kinkou anymore. He is going to make his own military group to drive Noxians invaders, if the Kinkou are so unable to do it. And this is the actual reason for the Shadow Order existence.

This is the one part that fit with the old lore : he came back after the war to get the box. Kusho tries to stop him. He kills him. (so he actually kill Kusho out of hatred for his former master, who still stand in the way after all these years). Shen is then almost forced to become Eye after Kusho dies, and this is when that Shen would be mad at Zed for killing Kusho.

Now remember, the Kinkou is revered by they have many haters as well. Ionia currently is divided in many different factions. Its heavily hinted the Kinkou did not act in the War (they are all about balance, and taking one side, even for their country, wouldn't be a balanced judgement. Plus, maybe they consider wars as part of said necessary balance. Chaos is requiered too.) Starting from here, many people would probably doubt and hate the Kinkou. They have powerful warriors, but they did not do anything. Irelia herself mentions that they did nothing, and apparently even Xayah despise them for never moving. The Kinkou is antagonist to everyone who wants a change.

Zed and his Order are part of a different faction, the kind who act and fights and he certainly gained his followers amongs those who wanted to defends their lands through offensive power. Irelia resistance is of the same type, though the Order of Shadows are real radicals. TDLR; after the war, the Kinkou is more like an Order among many, and one that is hard to agree with. From what i remember, they are even self governing, they do get requests as seen in Shen bio but aren't part of Ionia council or anything high like this. It might be dangerous to let them do whatever they feel like this but they are necessary after all.

As a TDLR; the jealousy deals probably does not exist at all (it doesn't make much sense when you read Jhin story) and his real reason for opening the war is to get an advantage against Noxians.

Shen wasn't yet the Eye when Zed came and slaugheterd the previous Kinkou. Its almost as if Shen became Eye because Kusho died abrutly and his son was the best next candidate.

I didn't find the actual Riot answer on boards post but i found a screenshot of it

Hope it helped ! Sorry for the edit. Had to clarify.