A Theory I've Probably Overthought (Sion's W, Soul Furnace)

Ironclad Dragon··49 votes·3,939 views

From the guy who brought you his insights into LoL lore:

... comes another post!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vhxsV91WqUk/VCNLQ9D4P4I/AAAAAAAAZVU/GzQQGYuDLAA/s1600/Sion_Splash_0.jpg The reworked Sion is, without a doubt, my favorite character in League now. His story especially intrigues me. We all know he was resurrected on the orders of Swain, and that Vladimir and the Black Rose went about doing it. Sion's powered by blood magic, his mind having been "stabilized" by Jarvan IV's blood. His mind is still shattered, but he no longer kills friends and foes indiscriminately as he first did.

I don't know why, but I started to think about his Soul Furnace (W). Something about it struck me as being more than just an accessory. Indeed, an integral part of his in-game identity is that permanently increases his health every time he kills something. And Sion's all about being this unstoppable force, even in the story. But if he was allegedly killed multiple times, as mentioned in the story, what makes him so dangerous? I mean, he doesn't really feel pain, but if you could kill him once, doing it again wouldn't be that difficult, right? My mind tried to justify it... and_ justify it_ it did. I came up with a reason why Sion can just increase his health without adding anything to his physical person, and why he dies so quickly when his passive's going.

I thought it best to put in dialogue format. Think of this as an excerpt of conversation from Swain's overseeing of Sion's awakening.


Swain And what of the band around his waist?

Vladimir I call it the "Soul Furnace". The name is misleading in truth, but evocative of its purpose. It is of my own design, but its creation is, in no small part, due to our friend LeBlanc. It will prove indispensable to Sion's arsenal.

Swain Explain.

Vladimir The furnace follows the same principles of my own magic. I do not directly drink blood, as I have said before. I drain instead the "life force" of one’s body, the impetus that provides mobility and vitality. It is properly called the animus. Even bloodless creatures have an animus. It is a far more permitting font to call upon than purely blood. Alas, the animus fades from the body after death. Even I cannot draw upon a corpse. The furnace draws in and feeds on lingering animus energy. The result, our powerful friend’s own animus is bolstered. For every foe he strikes down, Sion will become all the more implacable.

Swain Did you not recognize the threat inherent to exploiting souls? I will not have my weapon possessed by the souls of the dead.

Vladimir My dear thoughtful Swain, have you taken me for a necromancer? I too am aware of the perils of imprisoning the restless dead. That is why I evaded the issue entirely. Again, the furnace feeds on the animus, not the soul, and the animus is not kept. Think of this furnace as you would a real one. The lumber you place inside is consumed –burnt, exhausted. Nothing is left remaining. The same happens to the animus. It cannot rebel even if it could, as it_ ceases to be_. A fire burns within our friend Sion. His enemies... your enemies... are but kindling.


I additionally believe Sion's passive is his furnace going into overdrive. His skin looks almost charred, and you can see the burning red light emanating from his eyes, coming off his fists, and emerging from his throat. His health starts to decay rapidly too, so it's like the furnace is using his body as emergency fuel.

27 Comments

IcyPepper32 votes

Rito, hire this man.

Ironclad Dragon4 votes

You guys are too kind.

LICENSED HOOKER3 votes

No seriously, you single minded made me even have a little interest in lore.. You were able to make me interested in the lore of a game that the game company failed to do.. +1

Sharjo11 votes

I do like this idea; it also adds to his tragedy in a way. The fuel for Sion's inferno is also tied in with his shattered psyche; as it swells and grows his mind begins to pull itself together, but as it dies down it breaks again, leaving him mindless and empty.

Sion: "I hear the screams!" Sion: "The din of the dying!"

He doesn't hear them speaking to him or compelling him, he hears the agony of life burning to fuel his very existence.

Sion literally lives and dies as battles are started and finished, fueled and damned by the lives he takes. The more he kills the more he remembers, the more he remembers the more painful forgetting it all must be. And let's not forget he is fueled by the inferno of a furnace, something that may degrade with time. One day there may be nothing left of Sion at all, leaving only an empty husk to be paraded around like a puppet for Swain.

God I love new Sion, he's such an amazing character!

Ironclad Dragon4 votes

{quoted} And let's not forget he is fueled by the inferno of a furnace, something that may degrade with time. One day there may be nothing left of Sion at all, leaving only an empty husk to be paraded around like a puppet for Swain.

God I love new Sion, he's such an amazing character!

I additionally believe Sion's passive is his furnace going into overdrive. His skin looks almost charred, and you can see the burning red light emanating from his eyes, coming off his fists, and emerging from his throat. His health starts to decay rapidly too, so it's like the furnace is using his body as emergency fuel.

Sharjo10 votes

In a mindless desperation his body snatches and claws at anything living, drawing in that life force to sustain him for a little while longer, hence why he does more damage and has tons of life steal. I like it.

Narasimha6 votes

Thresh It's...it's so beautiful... I MUST HAVE IT.

James Stone4 votes

Very very good. Honestly, that's a golden idea. Keep it up, mate, you're the lore team our art team deserves

Ironclad Dragon3 votes

Inserts shameless links to lore threads of similar vein.

Finnical3 votes

At the beginning of your post I thought you were going a WHOOOOOOLE different way...

Vladimir Yes, the Soul Furnace, my finest innovation. As Sion destroys his enemies, he lifts their lifeless bodies up to the furnace and SHOVES THEM IN WHOLE, CRACKING THEIR BONES AND FORCING THEIR MEAT INTO HIS OWN BODY TO BECOME STRONGER!

Swain -HURK- OH GOD THAT IS DISGUSTING! EW! WTF MAN!

Leblanc That was ALLL Vlad, I said we should just do something with magic to him.

Sion The worst part is cleaning it afterwards...

Azteryz2 votes

This is incredible can we get a rioters thoughts on this? :O and now that i think about it a sion skin called cinder sion would be cool when he goes into his passive state he starts burning up

Ironclad Dragon2 votes

Sion does need a new skin since he was visually updated, but I don't think a fire-themed Sion would do. A skin should appeal to who they are. We just can't have everyone get a Blood Moon skin, for instance, because it simply wouldn't do for a lot of their characters. But your idea of spicing up his passive, like you suggested with bursting into flame, is worth considering. A high-quality Sion skin would tap into that, I think.

Meªt2 votes

Hey Dragonzzilla, I have an idea regarding a theory for you that I would like for you to examine and write a script about :D. Add me in game? A bunch of others liked it, I bet you would as well!

Ironclad Dragon1 votes

I'd be willing to hear it. Sorry if I declined your friend request; I only now read this.

Ironclad Dragon1 votes

I accepted your friend request.

Bhargo2 votes

Making more substantial lore than the actual lore team working for Riot

Ironclad Dragon1 votes

This? This is nothing. A thought, a musing, a justification demanded by my brain. The Wrioting Team were laid the foundations for this; the Wrioting Team cooked up the glory of Sion's new story. A fan can often take things further than the original author can.

Mister Modesty1 votes

I think I'm missing something... What's the conclusion?

Ironclad Dragon3 votes

Just me musing. No great conclusion. Just a thought.

Mister Modesty1 votes

I like a good story line- one that actually envelops the world around the champ. Which is why I don't like Rammus lore. You don't get to opt out of a backstory by coming up with one that says "no one knows anything about Rammus- the end."...Like... try harder Riot. But this Sion story is great!

Ironclad Dragon1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Son of Kolrath,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=KgGzltAW,comment-id=000000000000,timestamp=2015-06-28T00:33:11.337+0000) But this Sion story is great!

Does "this Sion story" refer to this thread or just reworked Sion? Thank you regardless.

Mister Modesty1 votes

I don't think I read his old lore. And the thread, I really like when "it's a small world" logic works itself into games. It gives it a sense of journey.

Ebonmaw Dragon1 votes

{quoted}

his mind having been "stabilized" by Jarvan IV's blood.

I thought that it was the blood of Jarvan I

Ironclad Dragon1 votes

The blood of Jarvan I's bloodline.

Mister Modesty1 votes

His 'jaw' is the crown of Jarvan I... according to loading screens

Sharjo3 votes

Nope it was Jarvan IV. To quote the Grand General himself:

"The blood of the Demacian prince. How much remains"?

Transgressor1 votes

Oooh, neat.

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