Revisit the Ionian-Noxian War

Omnem Occido··47 votes·3,198 views

One of the hallmark stories of League of Legends was the war between Noxus and Ionia. The implications of the battles won reverberated throughout the lore, and so many characters have their background in the war. The thing is, things have changed. There is no Institute of War anymore. Battles may still be fought on the Rift, but their importance is unclear, and their effect on the lore seems to lack any connection. There are so many story lines to weave together. From Lee Sin, Master Yi, Karma, and Irelia rising to become great warriors and leaders, to the impact of the celestial forces made by Bard and Soraka, the rise of the Kinkou Order with Kennen, Shen, and Akali, the fall of the order at the hands of Zed, the corruption of Varus, the ascendance of Syndra, the training of Wukong in the ways of Wuju, the subduing of Udyr's primal rage, and the dishonoring of Yasuo. Even the effects on the Noxians are palpable: Riven revoking her allegiance to Noxus in hopes of finding a way to bring Noxus back into power, Swain's grand schemes that led to the start of the war, with his lapdog Darius, and Singed's villainy being realized in his ruthless use of chemical warfare. The story has such a large and profound impact on Runeterra, and now that much of what was carried out within the war no longer has that glue that was the Institute of War, we are left with a smattering of stories with no real cohesive means to an ending. Thus, I ask for a revisiting of the main story of the war. Maybe it continues to this day, maybe it ends at some point. The potential for this being the next long-term story arc, like Burning Tides + 2015 Harrowing, goes on and on. A whole years worth of story could be told about this war, maybe even more. Either way, I would be personally excited about a new story, and new twists on the Ionian-Noxian War.

33 Comments

Sharjo10 votes

It really needs a relook if only so we can figure out how the sod it plays out in the new canon with any degree of certainty. Since there was no League to resolve the issue what the sod happened? Is Noxus still occupying Ionia? Did the Ionians already win? WHAT HAPPENED GAH

I know Shurima and Targon expanded lore is next up, and we'd all like to see more Yordle lore, but honestly I want them to get to Ionia ASAP so we can figure out how this whole invasion goes down with the new lore.

TzQGRUST397 votes

I think top priority is laying the foundations and world building. I mean, we have little idea how Targon is like, even less about what Shurima is like, and even less about the Yordles and Bandle City. So, I would assume that Noxus hasn't even begun to invade Ionia until a rioter says otherwise. Rito has a lot of things to patch up, hopefully they've gained some momentum from the Bilgewater event (Which was excellent) and begin to pump this stuff out faster and faster so we can get to the juicy stuff.

Blue Moon Wolf3 votes

One of the problems is that there are so many places that they have yet to cover that it's unlikely they will go back over anything they've already done no matter how long ago it was. I really want them to do expand on the Ionia lore, especially since I main an Ionian champ who has about 3 thing in his lore that say anything about him right now. But with everything they have to cover now and how slow these event get pushed out, I don't see Ionia getting an update anytime soon.

Blue Moon Wolf5 votes

I have been wanting MonkeyKing lore expanded for the longest time now. There are so many questions in his lore left unanswered. What exactly was the Runestone that made him? Is he still from the Plegas Jungles and if he is, how did he manage to reach an Island on the other end of the continent without meeting ONE human? If there is no League of legends, how does Master Yi convince Wukong to learn Wuju in the first place? Wouldn't he just constantly be wondering around for stronger opponents, technically making him independent rather than aligned with Ionia? Why is he friends with Ahri? Does he have any kind of interaction with/ knowledge of the other Ionian champs? Are they even aware of his existence? who are these talking monkeys that created him from the Runestone?

As he sits, he's just a random monkey apprentice to MasterYi, forever training in Wuju and never having any significant impact to the lore. Always being overshadowed By Yi and Wukong's Journey to the West counterpart. This would be a great chance to make Wukong into his own character within the lore.

Omnem Occido3 votes

I second this. Ionia is just filled with storylines that meander aimlessly, especially since the retconning of the Institute of War. Wukong is among the most affected, and who has the least contribution into any other story line, which is precisely why I think you are right. The lore needs this to happen.

GreenLore4 votes

Honestly,I think its possible that they might wait for Ao shin to do this.

I mean the initial description for him was that he appears when Ionia is in great danger,implying that he did play a large role during the Ionia/noxus-war,so they might not be able to tell us about the war without bringing him up.

On a side note: I would love it if Urgot actually participated in that war,I mean he is like the combination of noxus and zaun,so he is pretty much the ultimate enemy for the ionians and I think he would fit nicely as a long range artillery cannon bombing ionians to death with his chemical weapons.

Blue Moon Wolf2 votes

Honestly,I think its possible that they might wait for Ao shin to do this.

welp, I guess it'll never happen then http://www.adiumxtras.com/images/thumbs/troll_icons_2_28891_7697_thumb.png

Omnem Occido2 votes

It's sad but true.

Omnem Occido1 votes

I would love to see that too. Sion and Urgot are both grafs, reanimated dead who are stitched up, monsterized creatures ala Frankenstein, that were created for war and terror, but there is no mention of when or where they are used by Noxus.

Omnem Occido4 votes

I think the thing I am most interested in, above all else, is to see how the characters interact with this new manner in which they divulge lore. The way they actively settled Graves' and Twisted Fate's lore, kicked up Miss Fortune's effectiveness and deposed of Gangplank, all the while setting up for the Harrowing, even giving Olaf a brief cameo, and then setting up Illaoi's release, this was the most interactive and enjoyable developments of lore I have ever seen. Imagine, a settling of Yasuo's search as he confronts Riven, or a twist in Syndra's story where she becomes the greatest traitor in Ionia's cause, siding with Noxus in an effort to gain increased autonomy and freedom, or how Soraka, who was largely not mention in the original war storyline, is the major proponent of non-violence, while the 4 Heros of Ionia, Lee Sin, Karma, Irelia, and Master Yi choose the middle ground between peace and violence. Think also of the effects the corruption has on Varus. Does it spread out from his influence and affect those around them, forcing him to live alone as a hermit? Where do these champions belong? These are the quiestions I ask.

TzQGRUST392 votes

Where were TF and Graves heading off to again? I forgot. They'll probably intervene in the event for that area in the future. Edit: Piltover, looked it up.

RastaBrotha3 votes

The institute didn't have anything to do with the war and the battle wasnt fought in the rift.

The stories are all pretty much the same as before and the Noxus vs Ionia event that happened some time ago resulted in the lore being canonically changed to Ionia pushing back the Noxian invaders

So in short

The war happened in Ionia

Champion lore still applies more or less

Omnem Occido3 votes

Ah, but the way Ionia won back their lands was through a match fought by members of the League of Legends, mediated by the Institute of War. Because of the finality of the Institute's command, Noxus had no choice but to back off, leaving Ionia and freeing the people they had virtually enslaved.

macromite1 votes

that was the rematch actually.

Omnem Occido1 votes

Right, the Noxians won the first one to legitimize their claim over their portion of Ionia.

Beyond Legends1 votes

I mean they could be easily retcon the rematch. It could go along the line of; despite the Ionia won at the battle at the Placidium and was slowly manage to regain their land. The reclamation and the war came to halt due the influence of the elders that sought out peace than war. A weak treaty was from that allowed Noxus to claim rights to the land of the three southern province. However due to death of Boram Darkwill eight years later, many of the Noxian force retreated to the capital that was fighting in a mist of an civil war. Fearing that the Ionia would take over the now undefended colonies, Noxus struck an unfair trade deal with the elders who gracefully accept the province back.

Dan Squared3 votes

Couple possibilities:

  1. Invasion and occupation never happened, but will most likely be completely retold in accordance with new Lore. Allows complete retelling of the story from the start of the invasion to the finish.

  2. Invasion occurred, but Noxus was somehow repelled by Ionia on its own or with the help of some allies...doubt this one as the invasion is such a rich place for a story arc and I doubt they would just leave it be

  3. Invasion occurred and Noxus still currently occupies a portion of Ionia...perhaps the war is still ongoing, maybe there is currently a ceasefire

Omnem Occido1 votes

I'd like to think that if they redo the war, that they'd start from the beginning: before the war, maybe with the planning of the war by Swain.

Beyond Legends2 votes

Well I have a theory that the Ionia occupy territory were given back during the Noxian civil war for leadership. They probably struck some ridiculous trade deal while retreated majority of the forces as people fought each other for power. But that my theory about who the changed it, but we'll just have to wait and see when the get to the Ionian stuff.

Personally I kinda want Ionia to have some culture diversity within the nation instead this strange group of all the east Asian country. Like you know different faction between the nation and all wanting their way of doing things that hidden beneath the layer of balance and peace.

Omnem Occido1 votes

That is something I had not considered before. A loosely connected group of fiefdoms who have to band together to fight a menacing foe. That's pretty cool.

Beyond Legends1 votes

Well considering if you look at east Asian history, it's pretty much been a bunch of culturally diverse states force into one giant empire. China it's technically 7 nations bind into one. So it would be interesting if Riot delve into that aspect in their lore. Also can we get some more chinese character in Ionia other than just MasterYi and his small village. Also to complete shove all wushu in wuju is just dumb, does anyone even know how diverse wushu is. It's like saying karate is all there to martial arts.

meh end of the rant

thepay31 votes

please

thepay31 votes

{quoted}

please

please do this

koager1 votes

Karma is my favorite so giving you all my upvotes

Maximum Ao Shin1 votes

lore is not a thing in league omg

Omnem Occido1 votes

But it could be...

Kadeem Kong1 votes

Riot realized they had enough of a cult following an starting cutting employee costs, "Oh we got a bunch of Mongoloids oh will play this game no matter what now...what can we cutt out to make that lil but of scrilla $$$$$$$$ - oh i know the lore, cuz who gives a fuck about the lore"

Omnem Occido2 votes

Did you miss the Bilgewater events? They retconned the old lore because it was static and unchanging. While there is much left unanswered, the new direction of lore is infinitely more dynamic, with plot twists and overlapping stories that tell the tale of a land that is alive with meaning and purpose.

Ironclad Dragon1 votes

There's a part of me that envisions the Ionian-Noxus War as having happened years ago, decades; far back enough that some still remember the fires and smoke, but long enough that a generation has grown with it as a fact of life. Peacetalks concluded that Noxus would hold a province they had captured as a vassal colony, but would cease further aggression. The reason I bring that up is because I also imagined loyal Noxian citizens, even if they have to be children, living their entire lives in Ionia. There's something about it that appeals to me. I don't know how Ionia would've brought Noxus to the table, and I know this would clash horribly with Riven and Yasuo's lore, etc. But I had the thought nonetheless.

Omnem Occido1 votes

Here's a thought: what if by Ionia, Riot is being broad and general? What if saying someone is Ionian is like saying someone is Asian?

macromite1 votes

we had a map once, ionia was a small area. comparable to the blue flame isles.

Omnem Occido1 votes

They did retcon that though...

macromite1 votes

true, but based on what happened with bilgewater its safe to assume that its not going to change very much.

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