The Terror Beneath

Sharjo·Nov 24, 2014·32 votes·36,865 views

We're going back to Shurima guys! Who knew it'd be so soon?!

So, a new champ's potentially on the horizon, I think she's a Brackern, others think she's Voidborn. What do you guys think?

262 Comments

DJ Hatsune MikuNov 24, 201437 votes

I'm just hype about the fact it's a girl that's monstrous and not something like Elise/Zyra. I really hope she's a jungler that has a semi-stealth like ult where she can burrow underground and go around unnoticed. Given the size of her in the animation I figure she'll be a tank, so if I get a fancy new monster jungle tank that's a girl I'm going to be maining that asap~

But from the visuals of the animation it does hint she's voidborn. The purple effects are kind of reserved for them but if she's a myth in Shurima she might not be. The void is, I believe, something that's kinda recent in the lore and it would take awhile for an urban legend to really kick off. Non-void purple champs? Aww yeaah. Although with Void generally being purple and shadow isles generally being a sickly green, Demacia blue, Noxious red, etc etc, I feel like if they mix up colors we might get a little bit of visual overlap and confusion thematically. But hey, purple is my favorite color and I'd like non-void champs to have it, since I rarely seem to click with void champs.

Rew711Nov 24, 201415 votes

I hope she's a tank/support

PS Skarner love affair?

A Superb VillainNov 24, 201417 votes

I bet she eats her partner after mating. You know, like most insects in the natural world.

SharjoNov 24, 201412 votes

NO SKARNER WHY :(

A Superb VillainNov 24, 20146 votes

Good thing he thinks bugs are disgusting then.

A Superb VillainNov 24, 201429 votes

That is one gosh darn sexy lady.

Chogath : I say! Congratulations, Anivia! Khazix : Grats, Niv. Maokai : You're no longer the only lady-monster on Runeterra, Anivia! Rengar : (sharpens knives) Nasus : We seem to have a mild infestation. Also, congratulations, Anivia. Renekton : OCEANS OF BLOOD! Twitch : Salutations and congratulations! Alistar : CONGRATULATIONS! Rammus : Yup.

Anivia : I'm so excited! I'm not the only one!

Skarner : I think I'm in love... Velkoz : I SAW HER FIRST!

Jokes aside, I think she is a Void creature. The purple bioluminescence does seem reminiscent of the Void's aesthetic, and her design carries a very organic appearance. Not enough crystals to be considered a Brackern.

D2VincentNov 24, 201418 votes

KogMaw : Mommy is coming!

Alderon WolfBaneNov 24, 201412 votes

: Mommy is coming!

Chogath Is she pretty <3

Error ScreenNov 24, 201415 votes

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq159/dabigshow2227/Other/Scorponok.gif

And mommy is a Transformer.

TheSaltyScourgeNov 24, 201415 votes

Man I was hoping Azir would come out at the last second.

A Superb VillainNov 24, 201410 votes

You would think with a Sun Disc that big his passive would fire off a few shots.

Tough GuyNov 24, 20141 votes

Well the vid never showed his fate at the very end. For all we know Azir could have saved him.

A Superb VillainNov 24, 201413 votes

The wet crunch at the end of the preview doesn't leave much room for interpretation.

Alderon WolfBaneNov 24, 201415 votes

A part of me is hoping certainlyT has nothing to do with this character :P

I mean we all know what his champ's are Darius Yasuo Zyra Zed Thresh Kalista strong or just flat out broken on release.

Forbidden SirenNov 24, 201412 votes

So happy it's a monster that is FEMALE! I hope this champion isn't one of those champions that turn into a hot woman like Elise or Nidalee. Let this one stay as a monster!

A Superb VillainNov 24, 201411 votes

I would also like to point out this is the first time we are seeing Shurima natives that are not champions, ie. the civilian population. Also, Azir's restoration is ongoing, judging from the state of disrepair the palace(?) is in and the expansive desert.

SkiasNov 24, 201418 votes

I like that guy's camel crow's nest. He should be a champion.

Mustard NipsNov 24, 20145 votes

yes, I agree with this

SkiasNov 24, 201417 votes

Desert Guy, The Sandwatcher.

SolideusNov 24, 201418 votes

They should make a "lightweight" circuit for the likes of Helmet Bro and Desert Guy.

RiotRiotJaredanNov 24, 201428 votes

I would also like to point out this is the first time we are seeing Shurima natives that are not champions, ie. the civilian population. Also, Azir's restoration is ongoing, judging from the state of disrepair the palace(?) is in and the expansive desert.

The ornate building we see in the video is not in central Shurima. For clarity: there is Shurima, the city—the gleaming, palatial domain that Azir is residing in—and Shurima, the desert, which contains the remains of the rest of Azir's once-mighty realm. Among the crumbling remains of the empire, we can see something incredibly dangerous has taken residence.

We want to include the "regular" inhabitants of Runeterra when it makes sense, to show just how special our Champions are in comparison to them and to give a better sense of what life is like in the world they inhabit.

SharjoNov 24, 201417 votes

A Rioter posted in a thread I made...

My existence feels validated!

Thanks for stopping by Jaredan!

General KeithNov 24, 20141 votes

One day I hope I can get that too. Teach me your ways, Sharjo!

Lyger101Nov 24, 20143 votes

All hail, Sharjo!

A toast to this "summoners" success item 3174 !

eztarg3tNov 25, 20144 votes

I remember when I got a Rioter to respond to my one of my threads. Had to keep posting for 5 days straight to get a response.

Hoi Im TemmoNov 24, 20141 votes

Im so excited that you guys are finally giving the lore some loving!

Sneak DogNov 24, 20145 votes

Are they, though? Isn't this just a bit more of the classic new champion teasing? New champions often get a lot of attention, the whole Shurima event had Azir as the main character, with the rest of the characters as sidecharacters. That's fine, telling a story from a perspective, but it's also nice to then later get a different perspective as well.

I'm hoping more will come with this about the champions that got their lore shortened with the Shurima event and then went untouched. Though I wouldn't be surprised if that came with even more replacings of beloved characters by new ones.

It's a neat video, but I am not convinced this video is anything related to lore developments. Just seems some classic new champion promotional stuff to me.

LDinoriderRNov 24, 20149 votes

Judging by that organic design as well as those purple light and lightning, I would say she is a voidborn.

CupcakeTrapNov 24, 20149 votes

Here's an example of a shock reveal that's absolutely fine, because it's introducing new material rather than retconning anything.

It's sort of sad that this is a cause for celebration, but: hooray! Narrative didn't obliterate a bunch of established lore!

Not only did Riot not wreck a bunch of its own lore, but this also means it creates less conflict with community lore. For example, a Void monster being discovered in Shurima fits (kind of eerily) well with the Hextech Revolution storyline from Factions, which is about the Void contaminating the Shuriman ruins. If they swooped in and said "actually, Shurima's been a thriving empire for the past few decades", that would have been an awkward retcon that would wreck Hextech Revolution and similar community lore, because it would diverge so wildly from the established lore that community material is built upon.

In other words, by restraining itself from another drastic retcon, Narrative is keeping things reverse-compatible.

IronChefBoyardeeNov 24, 20145 votes

Here's an example of a shock reveal that's absolutely fine, because it's introducing new material rather than retconning anything.

It's sort of sad that this is a cause for celebration, but: hooray! Narrative didn't obliterate a bunch of established lore!

Heck, not only does she not wreck established Riot lore, but she seems to mesh quite nicely with community lore. For example, whether she's Voidborn or not, she'll still fit in great with the Hextech Revolution from Factions. (tl;dr: Void-contaminated sand beneath the Shuriman ruins is discovered, and proves to be an abundant and powerful hextech energy source, catalyzing the so-called "Hextech Revolution".)

It's nice that it coincides, but fan-lore shouldn't have an impact on official content. That's like saying Star Wars fan-fiction should impact the movies and licensed books.

CupcakeTrapNov 24, 20145 votes

It's nice that it coincides, but fan-lore shouldn't have an impact on official content. That's like saying Star Wars fan-fiction should impact the movies and licensed books.

I was just so struck by how nicely it meshed that I had to say something.

It also goes to show how, when you don't demolish your universe every six months, it becomes easier for the community to tell stories set in that universe. Shurima's always been kind of scary and kind of "wild"; adding this Champion in meshes with that established setting, and thus tends to mesh with other lore which shares that foundation.

But I do partially disagree: I think that one major problem with Riot's violently "blank slate" approach is that it overturns years and years of community lore and immersion.

IronChefBoyardeeNov 25, 20141 votes

It's nice that it coincides, but fan-lore shouldn't have an impact on official content. That's like saying Star Wars fan-fiction should impact the movies and licensed books.

I was just so struck by how nicely it meshed that I had to say something.

It also goes to show how, when you don't demolish your universe every six months, it becomes easier for the community to tell stories set in that universe. Shurima's always been kind of scary and kind of "wild"; adding this Champion in meshes with that established setting, and thus tends to mesh with other lore which shares that foundation.

But I do partially disagree: I think that one major problem with Riot's violently "blank slate" approach is that it overturns years and years of community lore and immersion.

Again though, fan fiction (aka community lore) shouldn't have a place in official lore. I have to disagree with you there. I understand the hyperbole when you said "demolish your universe every six months" because yes, it can get confusing and frustrating, but that's not what they did. The retcon only took out the League, not the rest of the setting. Now, the characters are free and even "community lore" isn't constrained by the League anymore. If that doesn't give everyone more creative freedom than before, I don't know what to tell you. The league isn't a necessary Part of Runeterra and the city-states are still around; I don't see a problem with separating lore and gameplay in a moba.

You could think of it like pre-retcon and post-retcon if you want. Just because the official lore no longer includes the League doesn't mean fan fiction can't include it.

CupcakeTrapNov 25, 20145 votes

Now, the characters are free and even "community lore" isn't constrained by the League anymore. If that doesn't give everyone more creative freedom than before, I don't know what to tell you.

It doesn't work like that. "We deleted the Empire from Star Wars. Everyone has more creative freedom now!" I'm not going to waste an hour rehashing months and months of community discussion for you here. Read the Story and Art board and you'll find plenty of threads spelling it out.

As for the characters being "free", the lore community rejected the "Champions are slaves" thing a long time ago. Nobody's advocating for that. Riot used that as a strawman, and we're still quite bitter about it. Not only were we not made part of the discussion, but they didn't even fairly represent our opinions in absentia.

One thing we do agree on:

You could think of it like pre-retcon and post-retcon if you want. Just because the official lore no longer includes the League doesn't mean fan fiction can't include it.

The lore community obviously will never convince Narrative to reconsider its "Great Retcon", or the misguided assumptions that led it there. I don't think that fight is worth fighting any longer. Instead, I believe we should direct our energy toward keeping community lore alive and driving it onward to better and better things. No more begging for table scraps from Narrative, no more pleading threads beseeching them to change their minds. I for one am done with that.

There is silver lining here: if Narrative isn't going to write about the League anymore, that means it can't screw it up. It belongs to the community now. We'll take much better care of it, and do much more interesting things with it, than Riot ever did.

And this rather brings me back to my original point, that so far most of Narrative's new stuff is pretty easy to bring into community lore. It'll always be weird when they abruptly retcon a Champion's backstory for the fifth time, but we've gotten used to that, and it certainly hasn't stopped us before.

StompburgerNov 25, 20143 votes

That's like saying Star Wars fan-fiction should impact the movies and licensed books.

Hmmm. Would that actually be any worse?

CupcakeTrapNov 25, 20144 votes

There are many reasons not to retcon everything every six months. One reason is that some measure of stability allows the community to get involved and participate in the story.

I can sit down right now and write a Star Wars story about, say, an ISB agent on Kashyyyk during the Galactic Civil War. I could have written the same story five or ten years ago. In all that time, there's been plenty of development and storytelling in the Star Wars universe, but they haven't executed any massive retcons that would compromise this sort of story. They haven't said "actually, there is no ISB anymore", nor have they declared that in fact the Empire is run by giant bugs called Troknar who eat Jedi.

If Star Wars were handled like Riot lore, the universe would be completely unrecognizable by now, and any community lore written since its founding would now be totally disconnected from the "canon" universe. (I'm setting aside the issue of Episodes VII, VIII, and IX.)

So far, the lore community has managed to adapt to recent changes: mostly by ignoring the Great Retcon and just incorporating new material into the traditional framework, that bizarre League of Legends universe that (gasp!) actually contains a League of Legends. If Riot continues along the path of the "Great Retcon" much further, though, I think the community lore and the canon lore are going to start diverging more seriously.

MortabiusNov 24, 20148 votes

Malzahar has brought us a new pet to play with!

OmManiPadmeHumNov 24, 20148 votes

of the champion releases since 2013, the current meta has these champions main lanes in:

Top - Quinn , Aatrox , Gnar Jung - Zac Mid - Lissandra , Yasuo , Velkoz , Azir ADC - Lucian , Jinx , Kalista Support - Thresh , Braum

Being they haven't had a true jungler released since Zac back in March of 2013, I'm calling a Jungler.

The FrostballNov 24, 20144 votes

I think we could safely call Aatrox a jungler too, he's pretty good (sustain, mobility, some AoE damage). Quinn also shouldn't be in the "Top" section but I agree she is better there than at bot. Then again, you made your point by saying "a true jungler". We'll see what "she" will be, and I hope soon! I really am hoping on something unique (given the last 2-4 champs, we will surely have it :P)

ThatAutofillSuppNov 25, 20141 votes

sion is also a jungler since he got reworked

Blue Moon WolfNov 25, 20142 votes

just gonna put this here, read that and immediately thought of this http://youtubedoubler.com/?video1=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D4s2k1kHu4yg&start1=&video2=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMK6TXMsvgQg&start2=0&authorName=riot+silog

GreenLoreNov 24, 20146 votes

Man I always wanted some kind of Sandworm champion and while she has limbs,she comes close enough for me.

Also the fact that she is a she is cool,it finally gives us a female monster.

I am really curious if she is a brackern or a void born,I mean the brackern are said to be crystaline beings and she didn't look that much like one,but it would make sense for her to be one since the brackern were relocated to shurima.

However her abilities give a clear purple theme,which might hint at a void being.

Heck what if she is a brackern that got corrupted by the void O_o?

TaNKeDNov 24, 20144 votes

Cho'Gath needed a wife. She looks perfect.

TerraRisingNov 24, 20143 votes

At first glance, it looks like a promo for Cho'Gath or Baron Nashor.

BlackwindyNov 24, 20145 votes

At first glance, it looks like a promo for Cho'Gath or Baron Nashor.

This video is filed under "Champion Preview" on the LoL website.

IwfiKe3qjMNov 24, 20143 votes

I only think of two things about this:

Kassadin's relative
something about Zz'Rot

SkiasNov 24, 20144 votes

Apparently if they announce a sentient cooking pot from the void, it could be Kassadin's Daughter.

Maybe Barn the Sentient Barn is actually his daughter?

NobSaibootNov 24, 20143 votes

Oh dear.

How blatantly overpowered and overloaded will this one be?

IronChefBoyardeeNov 24, 201432 votes

Oh dear.

How blatantly overpowered and overloaded will this one be?

Seriously dude? No kit, no stats, not even a legitimate picture to go on and you're already bitching? Give it a break.

NobSaibootNov 24, 20141 votes

[deleted]

IronChefBoyardeeNov 24, 20146 votes

Oh dear.

How blatantly overpowered and overloaded will this one be?

Seriously dude? No kit, no stats, not even a legitimate picture to go on and you're already bitching? Give it a break.

Wow that was uncalled for. I've been playing and lurking the boards since the beginning of the year, I know the record. How about people not bitch about every little thing? At least wait until we see the gameplay style.