So apparently Demacian knights used to ride legendary ebony wyverns into battle.

Tattersall·Mar 16, 2017·43 votes·5,559 views

Champ Insights: Galio, the Colossus - Nexus - League of Legends

Wut.

This information was just dropped right on us. Was there some sort of buildup that I missed? Am I being an idiot right now?

"When Demacian knights rode to war,” says Lonewingy, “they were protected by the anti-magical properties emitting from the statue.” With this aura in place, few could throw the Knights from their mounts, the legendary ebony wyverns. Thus, the sculptor Durand specifically designed Galio to look like a chimeric combination of knights and wyverns, to signify the unity of Demacian warrior and beast.

Seriously, the way they say this makes it sound like these wyverns are, like, a big part of Demacian culture. Can we talk about this?

107 Comments

Malicious MetalMar 16, 201749 votes

WAIT A BLOODY MINUTE!

Shyvana being accepted into Demacian society makes sense now! They want Prince Jarvan to ride her into battle!

TyrekGoldenspearMar 16, 201743 votes

They want Prince Jarvan to ride her

lennyface

Malicious MetalMar 16, 201734 votes

https://m.popkey.co/828740/ZWyer.gif

Stars ShaperMar 16, 201711 votes

http://pm1.narvii.com/5857/e32f92671d657bf6480373e7905112c26d991de3_hq.jpg

RandomoniumMar 16, 201720 votes

Oh he's definitely riding her, but probably not in battle.

Velzard of KozMar 16, 20175 votes

I wouldn't risk that. If she loses her Fury midair it's going to look awkward.

5000000000000000Mar 17, 20178 votes

Shyvana could be a good ground mount as well, who can perform well in all terrains, such as plains, forests, hills, and bedrooms.

KnalxzMar 17, 20174 votes

Watch your words, that post is how you summon Zone-tan.

Valor BotMar 16, 201716 votes

This was actually teased back in the Universe AMA:

[Demacia's] armies are amongst the most elite, dangerous and well-trained in Valoran. Think of the 300 Spartans. But harder. And tougher. With magic weapons. And flying cavalry.

I honestly thought the flying cavalry in question would be pegasi, but hey, wyverns make sense too and could have a potential connection to Shyvana's new story somehow.

Velzard of KozMar 16, 20174 votes

Pegas would make even more sense since Demacia is so exaggorated in their virtues and shinyness and the whole few against the hordes, plus it looks like Demacia is inspired by how we thought Ancient Greek was supposed to look like.

MelledoneusMar 16, 20174 votes

I'm pretty sure pegasi weren't tough enough for Demacia.

Maybe they're used as courier mounts?

NewGuy101Mar 17, 20171 votes

Flying Calvary could also include the Demacian Bird Scouts, like Quinn, whose trained birds are strong enough to fly while carrying their falconer.

Valor BotMar 17, 20172 votes

Well as far as we know, Quinn is the only falconer of her kind, due to the fact Demacian eagles (Valor's species) are all but extinct, so she'd be unique in that regard. That could change with a lore update of course; I personally hope she isn't turned into a 'flying cavalry' for Demacia because it makes Valor feel less like a deadly bird of prey companion and more like a mount/tool, but we'll have to see. The idea of a covert ops squad under Quinn's command sounds cool though, perhaps partnered with different kinds of birds.

LostFr0stMar 16, 201710 votes

I wanna see one of those wyverns so bad.

LunSeiSleideeMar 16, 20174 votes

You already did: Shyvana.

LostFr0stMar 16, 20172 votes

Hmmm... yes Shyv is a wyvern isn't she... it would make sense but they'd have to tweak her lore quite a bit.
So, she'd end up originating from Demacia or near it to begin with, then her father is exiled with her and then after they get revenge on the other drake she's re-accepted into Demacia? If wyverns are so common it also makes it kinda awkward that they're so scared of her. Still many questions, but you brought up something interesting. Thanks^^

Mig89Mar 16, 20173 votes

Wouldnt that mean that Demacian Soldiers are hooking up with their mounts? That'd be like a cowboy having sex with his horse.. Does anyone else feel a little uncomfortable with this? XD

LostFr0stMar 16, 20175 votes

[zombie-brand-facepalm] No... omg did I write something that could be taken out of context?

Her dad was full dragon, her mother human. They got exiled due to "reasons" (probably having a non-full dragonborn child) and were on the run (her and her dad) from a full dragon. That dragon killed her father and Shyv wanted vergeance. On her way tracking the dragon she bumped into J4 and some soldiers (also hunting that same dragon) and they fought with her to take vengeance for her dad's death. She then accepts J4s offer of coming to Demacia, but the soldiers fear her.

If wyverns are part of normal war-culture one would think they'd be less afraid of her due to the desensitization of seeing wyverns more often.

Auz the RipperMar 16, 20171 votes

{quoted}

If wyverns are part of normal war-culture one would think they'd be less afraid of her due to the desensitization of seeing wyverns more often.

That really depends on how different true dragons and the wyverns are, true dragons might be much more dangerous and they know she's half that. On the other hand, the wyverns might be a touch dangerous to interact with normally and only approached by highly trained specialists so they're taught to be wary of dragon-like entities

LostFr0stMar 16, 20171 votes

Shyvana is a wyvern though. Her front "arms" are her wings which is the distinction between wyvern and western dragons.

GreenLoreMar 16, 20178 votes

No she is simply a dragon with a wyvern-type body.

After all Wyverns don't breath fire and are generally unintelligent.

LostFr0stMar 16, 20173 votes

That makes it more confusing... uggh... Riot has some explaining to do, else the Dragonborn won't be pleased.

crippler38Mar 16, 20173 votes

think about a wyvern the equal of a dragon dog. Not too smart, doesn't spit fire or do anything fancy like that, small.

TattersallMar 16, 20173 votes

Wyverns traditionally don't breath fire? Huh. Well, til.

Auz the RipperMar 16, 20173 votes

wyverns tend to be more snake-like in tradition so a bit more associated with venom and poison than fire

junglerboy16Mar 16, 20174 votes

She's a wyvern physically, yes, but that is probably just the way the morphology made sense to Riot when creating a half dragon.

The main point he's making is that dragons could be seen as far more dangerous than wyverns, which makes sense; classical representations of a wyvern are usually horse sized at the largest, some maybe approaching the size of an elephant, while dragons can be as large as small mountains. Since she's a half dragon, she'd probably have that sort of reputation attached, even if she herself is not that impressive in scale (heh). The other contributing factor is Wyverns are traditionally considered less intelligent than dragons (usually just more like a wild animal, as opposed to a conscious, self aware being) and Shyvana has full mental capacity, making her much more dangerous than an animal.

Mira Arya EntheMar 17, 20172 votes

No she is a half dragon

Mira Arya EntheMar 17, 20171 votes

[deleted]

LostFr0stMar 17, 20171 votes

Yeah half wyvern w/e. I want lore on it QQ

Mira Arya EntheMar 17, 20172 votes

No, she is a half dragon, her transformation looks weird because she isn't a full dragon.

LostFr0stMar 17, 20172 votes

It'd be pretty strange to just straight-up lose a pair of appendages no? Genes don't work that way >.<

Mira Arya EntheMar 17, 20172 votes

It would be pretty strange to gain a pair of appendages no? But magic just works that way. Shyvana has 4 limbs like a human. But in lore, title and even gameplay ability names, she is most certainly a half dragon.

LostFr0stMar 17, 20171 votes

Yup, both ways. I guess we just wait for the lore then? Hopefully it has a picture of her dad there.

Mira Arya EntheMar 17, 20172 votes

Also, Dragons in mythology often had no front arms. This Wyvern vs Dragon thing is newer classifications created by nerds feigning knowledge. If you look at artwork for example of knights and saints killing dragons, often they had no front legs.

http://bogleech.com/scrapbook/dragon-paololarge.jpg

But no, she is most certainly a half dragon. Even Aurelion says so, the lore is already there.

LostFr0stMar 17, 20172 votes

Chillax, it's fine. I appreciate the extra intel but since the great retcon no one can be sure of anything (yes, even if Sol says it) other than what Shyvana would do if Ez kissed her leg.

Mira Arya EntheMar 17, 20172 votes

Tell him to go climb mount targon.

XIII VanitasMar 17, 201710 votes

Tbh, "Demacian knights riding ebony wyverns" sounds like something I would find on JarvanIV 's browsing history.

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

TyrekGoldenspearMar 17, 20178 votes

http://33.media.tumblr.com/9942f1ebcbddc446965b21b13807ac36/tumblr_inline_nopkc0Jgdz1rvhwny_500.gif

PlacentasMar 16, 20176 votes

I'm wondering where the hell these wyverns were during the battle in which Galio initially wakes up? Or the one after when he fights the beast? Seems like a really random out of nowhere addition.

TattersallMar 16, 20178 votes

Yeah, like, we've never been given any hint that Demacian knights even rode horses, much less flippin' dragons.

MogarlMar 17, 20171 votes

For the most part Galio has only ever seen Demacians. Wyverns are totally normal to Galio, so there's no reason for him to say anything about them. He may even include Wyverns in the space of "fellow Demacians" It's not like he has any reason to believe that they are less than the people who ride them.

PlacentasMar 17, 20172 votes

I get what you're saying, but I feel like the visual difference between a human and a wyvern as well as the difference in noises would be enough for Galio to note and recognize there's a difference. Especially since I doubt wyverns were casually walking around the city like humans do.

I think it WOULD be interesting if what you said is true. Galio is so different from any living creature his perspective is one I can't easily wear the shoes of so it's kind of a who knows how he really perceives a lot of things until we are directly told.

We'll just have to wait to find out =)

MogarlMar 17, 20172 votes

Bear in mind, Galio had a few centuries to get used to the wyverns before his colour story. I do agree that it is a bit odd that he doesn't ever mention the thing that some of the most elite troops ride, and that's why I thought it may be that he just thinks of Wyverns as big, scaly, and winged Demacians.

ArkilusalMar 16, 20174 votes

I've got to say, This whole 'wyvern rider' angle to Demacia is going to need some expanding, and quickly, especially since most Demacian champions seem like they're happily walking everywhere as opposed to doing the whole 'dragon rider' thing...Though it being an emblem of the past strikes me as...Odd, given the whole Mordekaiser has a dragon ult angle. Maybe he had something to do with dragons going out of style in Demacia. Doesn't help that the angle of 'beast and man fighting as one unit' is already kinda swiped by Quinn , sooo...Dragon Rider? Gonna be interesting to see where they go with that!

HurstanMar 16, 20173 votes

When you see the ending part about Cactopus [zombie-brand-clap]

MogarlMar 16, 20173 votes

So where's our aerial cavalry champion? That'll be badass as all hell.

Does this mean that while Demacia lore won't be updated with Galio; it may be with a future (not to distant) release?

TyrekGoldenspearMar 16, 20171 votes

Corki ultimate skin

MogarlMar 16, 20172 votes

eww

A LiberalMar 17, 20173 votes

Wild theory but they did say that the next champ would be a longer than usual release and they would talk about the difficulties that made it like that later. If the next champ (2-3 patches) was a demacian wyvern rider it would be within frames to fit into an overall demacia event, and something like that could easily be victim to animation rig issues.