Tahm Kench and the Yordles

Ghiefelstein·7/6/2015, 10:35:46 AM·12 votes·13,996 views

From the Q&A:

Tahm knows many of the champs-- both as fellows and adversaries. Certainly all of the Yordles have encountered him at various times.

To emphasize that, he has friendly and/or enemy taunts with 49 different champions. But there are almost no Yordles in that list. Why did the writer, WAAARGHbobo, specifically mention Yordles? I believe that is more than just coincidence. Riot doesn't want to reveal yet what role Tahm Kench played in the lives of Yordles. Time to speculate!

There are no taunts for Corki Heimerdinger Kennen Poppy Rumble Tristana Veigar Ziggs. Then there are interactions with three Yordles: Gnar Gnar is an ancient yordle and Tahm offers to take him back to where he belongs. Lulu Lulu only gets the mockery "The enormity of the hat doesn't hide the vacancy beneath it!" but Tahm does not have a bargain for an allied Lulu. Teemo Teemo gets the offer "Every heart has its own hunger. Tell me yours."

With most champions the demon gets very personal with his bargains and he specifically targets their weakness. But not with Teemo, the only contemporary Yordle he talks to. He just asks him what he wants. Only very selfless characters make the demon this insecure: Braum - "The heart of the Freljord must long for something." and Janna - "There's a storm in your heart, girl. Tell me what you hunger for." A peaceful and amicable race like the Yordles is difficult to feed on. And yet a writer says all of the Yordles encountered him at various times.

I think Tahm played a major role in the lives of Yordles, but Riot is keeping that story for another time. Here are some crazy and probably overthought theories:

  • Tahm Kench offers no bargains to Yordles because he already made a deal with them. He fulfilled their 'unhealthy desire' for social interaction and will one day come back for his meal.
  • Tahm Kench is the reason Yordles can't handle isolation. He tries to enhance their character flaws at this vulnerable moment of being alone (Veigar, Lulu).

Why do you think Yordles have encountered Tahm at various times? His current form is tied to the vices of Bilgewater, but what would he look like for Yordles? Is the lack of champion interactions with Yordles intentional or coincidence?

21 Comments

Noctius287/6/2015, 10:55:28 AM6 votes

Good point, maybe he is related to their arrival on Valoran?

Very curious about this

Also wondered what he meant with that comment

TheFancySkeleton7/6/2015, 6:46:25 PM5 votes

The title sounds like a band name. TODAY WE HAVE TAHM KENCH AND THE YOOOOOOOOOOORDLES!

Sharjo7/6/2015, 11:12:22 AM4 votes

I wouldn't say that Tahm is the reason why yordles can't deal with being isolated but the fact their mentality is like that makes them vulnerable targets for Tahm. I assume that, given how bonkers Veigar is, that if Tahm could break a yordle he could get a heaping helping of despair to feast on.

I recon he spent his time hanging around Yordles until about 50 years ago when Harrowings started popping up around Bilgewater. He caught wind of some extra sweet despair and misery and swan along to sample the buffet before him.

Ebonmaw Dragon7/6/2015, 10:11:47 PM4 votes

Well... here is a random theory:

What if... Tahm Kench... Helped Veigar to escape from the Noxian Prison?

Assuming that he can manifest himself everywhere.

n00th3r7/10/2015, 5:28:57 PM3 votes

Maybe he just hates digesting the fur...

Tesla Effect7/10/2015, 4:00:30 PM2 votes

Tahm Kench, the demon to be precise, having dealings with Yordles, actually proves that Yordles have inner demons just as humans do.

PoisonedAir7/10/2015, 2:03:30 PM1 votes

Loading screen tips says: "In Bandle City, the yordles have built a merry utopia, hidden from the dangers around them." What if all yordles has no dark desires because they live happy lives in their city, so Tahm Kench doesn't like them, because he tried to seduce them, but they resisted his smooth talk. Maybe it is thanks to theirs community bonds.

ABcmaSter7/10/2015, 7:37:37 PM1 votes

He is friends with aatrox for some odd interesting reason though.

Dr Oshawott7/26/2015, 5:45:15 AM1 votes

TahmKench went to Tristana and made her an ace gunner. How about that?

I don't know, TahmKench 's a complicated guy and I don't really understand this yordle specific nature stuff. I guess they're hard to manipulate when with friends?

Yo She Bop7/28/2015, 5:25:53 PM1 votes

what if aatrox and tahm are friends because they both have their "dark hungers" one for despair one for war, ps what if fizz hates tahm because tahm is the reason he got out of his old city to go roam, and as payment tahm ate everyone in fizz's old population, which is why he says "om-nomed" to fizz and why fizz's ult represents someone eating, just sayin, btw in fizz lore "a massive dragon-shark attacked the port" is tahm that dragon shark and does that mean he came to get fizz as his final price for that bargain?

Automaton1/27/2016, 2:47:35 AM1 votes

Or maybe he is known to eat Yordle kind? Perhaps his species predate them?