Which house does Lucian belong to?

CupcakeTrap··19 votes·7,686 views

http://lolwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Lucian.jpg

Is Lucian of aristocratic lineage? If so, which house does he belong to? Is it one of the principal noble houses of Demacia, or is it a minor family?

We might get a Narrative answer—even if that answer turns out to be "Actually, we felt the Demacian Great Houses were constraining characters, so we've retconned them. We know you'll be excited when you see what we have in store for Demacia!" However, this isn't just a "Narrative pls" thread; I'd like to hear proposals and speculation from the lore community. I care more about what you guys think anyway.


Based on the discussion below, here's one proposal.

Important Elements Here are some elements of his story and theme that should probably come out.

  • Lucian was not born into the strictures of the Demacian nobility, but he is educated, and he has definitely not had to toil his whole life in the fields. His outlook is more personal and individual than one would expect from a member of the Demacian ruling class, or from someone who's lived as a serf. (Possibilities for implementation: maybe he's from a minor noble family, or a family of merchants. An alternative that I'm increasingly liking: he might have been born into a priestly class. Or perhaps he was "called" to the priesthood from another background.)
  • He's something of an outsider. (Possibilities for implementation: He's not from the capital, but he's from a lesser city; he's not from the sticks, like Quinn & Valor.)
  • He knows how to fight the undead. (Possibilities for implementation: the priestly background idea is sounding stronger and stronger.)
  • He got some fighting experience somewhere. (Possibilities for implementation: He could be born to a minor noble house that supplies knights and other "non-rabble" soldiers to the King's army. But does he really seem that "military"? Maybe something related, like a family of guardsmen? Another option would be for him to end up joining some knights-errant on a quest.)

Draft Background Here's an attempt to quickly put some of those elements together into a backstory.

  • Lucian was born to a family of middling status: not common, but only nominally "landed", with a poor patch of family land in the outskirts of a smaller Demacian city. For generations, the family has made its living as guardsmen for merchants and (occasionally) as hireling soldiers for the great armies of the crown. He went to school and learned his letters. His "vocational training" was more like a police officer's and less like a soldier's.
  • His Champion power-spike came in the form of a call to the priestly class. He took his vows and joined a holy order, where he met Senna.
  • (Aside: I like the idea that Senna, who was presumably also of Champion power level, won entrance to the League and fought for Demacia on the side, while Lucian shied way from the League's labyrinthine politics and believed Demacia needed his scholarly and priestly work more than it needed another fighter on the Fields. Maybe that's where she got her initial fighting experience. Just have her taken by Thresh before 18 CLE. Then, perhaps Lucian's entry into the League is another way of him trying to live out her legacy.)
  • (Or possibly even better—thanks to 2nd Fiddle for the idea—Senna tried to join the League, but wasn't quite strong enough on her own to make the cut. This might have left her feeling ashamed and bitter, possibly driving her to take more and more risks in order to prove herself worthy and unlock her full potential, until eventually she got herself killed. This would add some complexity and inner conflict to Lucian vis-a-vis the League and Demacia: becoming a Champion was her dream, but he also blames that ambition for her unhappiness and her eventual death. He might hold a grudge against the Demacian Champions who declined to vouch for Senna.)
  • They were both particularly drawn to texts on the occult and the undead, and the means of driving them out.
  • A band of knights errant came to them for aid in their quest to purge the undead. They accompanied them.
  • The knights achieved their quest and became knights of the realm, largely retiring from their adventuring ways. Lucian and Senna continued on their own.
  • And the rest we know.

Thoughts?

59 Comments

Sharjo9 votes

I'd imagine Lucian doesn't belong to a house, and is instead common born. He probably served time in the military, as all Demacians tend to do, but he and Senna took up training to become the warriors against evil following that. I mean, you need a certain amount of guts to fight against monsterish aberations of nightmares and evil, even if you're Demacian, so the two of them being soldiers was probably a necessity.

I feel like whoever taught Lucian was of noble birth, or head of some kind of order.

CupcakeTrap6 votes

I imagine there are ample opportunities (and "opportunities") to become a soldier in Demacia, even if you're a commoner. Perhaps that was their background.

Another possibility: what if they were of the priestly class? Not quite noble, not quite common? That'd explain their knowledge of undead-slaying, and their freedom to go wander off on quests instead of working the farms. Actually, it'd also likely give them more freedom than they'd have as nobles. As Lux's story indicates, Demacians of noble lineage often get jerked around by their families.

Possible backstory: a band of Demacian knights-errant want to go fight monsters to earn their full knighthood. They know that Senna and Lucian have been researching means of purging the undead, and they ask them to join their quest. Perhaps they've both already had their "Champion power spike", so it's a little less weird for them to be brought along without a lot of formal combat training. They quest with these knights for a while, then decide to strike out on their own.

(I'm assuming that Senna was also of Champion power level. I'm not sure if she ever actually gained entrance to the League; that's a separate discussion.)

Sharjo2 votes

I suppose it comes down to how Demacia handles religion. I mean, Demacia kinda screams holy and righteous and stuff, but not a single mention of anything religious at all, unless I missed it somewhere. In regards to being low born, high born, caste systems and such, I'm kinda thinking now that Lucian would've grown up in some decent housing, almost middle class but probably a bit lower than dead in the middle, if that makes sense. I'd imagine territory like that would be towns that border the capital of Demacia; pretty urban by medieval standards, but not to far out from the farmland and wilderness that lower class Demacians probably live at.

CupcakeTrap5 votes

I suppose it comes down to how Demacia handles religion. I mean, Demacia kinda screams holy and righteous and stuff, but not a single mention of anything religious at all, unless I missed it somewhere.

I imagine Demacian religion is centered more around abstract concepts of "light", "law", "order", "good", etc. than personalistic "deities", though I could see them venerating Soraka-esque saintly figures of a quasi-divine stature.

In regards to being low born, high born, caste systems and such, I'm kinda thinking now that Lucian would've grown up in some decent housing, almost middle class but probably a bit lower than dead in the middle, if that makes sense. I'd imagine territory like that would be towns that border the capital of Demacia; pretty urban by medieval standards, but not to far out from the farmland and wilderness that lower class Demacians probably live at.

That sounds about right. Maybe from a more "civilized" area than (e.g.) Quinn, who seems to have grown up in the sticks.

Sharjo3 votes

I imagine Demacian religion is centered more around abstract concepts of "light", "law", "order", "good", etc. than personalistic "deities", though I could see them venerating Soraka-esque saintly figures of a quasi-divine stature.

Per chance...possibly...KAYLE?!?!

?!?!?!

I can definetly see it as more of an abstract thing, I mean playing as a Draenei in World of Warcraft, they worship the most abstract of abstract concepts: the Light. It's literally light and the things you associate with something holy. The beings associated with it are the Naaru, who are essentially light elementals. Light this, light that, you get the idea. Demacia's idea of justice could literally be around the idea that Justice is a force of its own and the power showcased by Demacians like Garen, Lux, Lucian and Senna is them calling upon this raw power.

On a side note, I always liked the idea that Demacian justice was a manifestation of their will to enact justice, based on how strongly they believed in the Demacian concept of justice, so when Garen screams "JUSTICE!" He literally just wills justice to be enacted.

I've said Demacia and justice way to many times there.

CupcakeTrap2 votes

Per chance...possibly...KAYLE?!?!

YES PLEASE.

I can definetly see it as more of an abstract thing, I mean playing as a Draenei in World of Warcraft, they worship the most abstract of abstract concepts: the Light. It's literally light and the things you associate with something holy. The beings associated with it are the Naaru, who are essentially light elementals. Light this, light that, you get the idea. Demacia's idea of justice could literally be around the idea that Justice is a force of its own and the power showcased by Demacians like Garen, Lux, Lucian and Senna is them calling upon this raw power.

That sounds right.

On a side note, I always liked the idea that Demacian justice was a manifestation of their will to enact justice, based on how strongly they believed in the Demacian concept of justice, so when Garen screams "JUSTICE!" He literally just wills justice to be enacted.

I've said Demacia and justice way to many times there.

DEMACIA!!!

Motajo1 votes

Demacia's idea of justice could literally be around the idea that Justice is a force of its own and the power showcased by Demacians like Garen, Lux, Lucian and Senna is them calling upon this raw power.

Not to derail, but I feel Lux's magic is centered around actual light, not the just or holy connotations of it.

CupcakeTrap1 votes

Not to derail, but I feel Lux's magic is centered around actual light, not the just or holy connotations of it.

I agree, but I think there's some overlap. My (random speculative) intuition is that "elemental" light magic can very readily serve as a conduit for celestial energy. It's an old trope and a pretty "reasonable" one.

Motajo1 votes

I don't think I've heard of that trope, but I guess it depends on what you mean by celestial. I immediately thought of stars; were you using it more as a "heavens" thing?

CupcakeTrap1 votes

I don't think I've heard of that trope, but I guess it depends on what you mean by celestial. I immediately thought of stars; were you using it more as a "heavens" thing?

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LightIsGood

Celestial in the sense of "heavenly".

Motajo3 votes

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LightIsGood

Celestial in the sense of "heavenly".

In that case, I know the trope, ha. Anyways, there's certainly a little overlap, but I think it's more fitting that Lux's magic stems mostly from her sheer affinity for it.

Hmm, when I thought about it a bit, I noticed that overlap shows itself, among other ways, in her Light Binding. She stole it straight from Morgana, but that color change might show a liiiiittle bit more than a personal touch.

Ooooo, discussing Lux is making me giddy. I'll stop before I derail further, heheh.

CupcakeTrap2 votes

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LightIsGood

Celestial in the sense of "heavenly".

In that case, I know the trope, ha. Anyways, there's certainly a little overlap, but I think it's more fitting that Lux's magic stems mostly from her sheer affinity for it.

Hmm, when I thought about it a bit, I noticed that overlap shows itself, among other ways, in her Light Binding. She stole it straight from Morgana, but that color change might show a liiiiittle bit more than a personal touch.

Ooooo, discussing Lux is making me giddy. I'll stop before I derail further, heheh.

I had her be the lead person on Demacia's development of high-powered anti-Void/undead magic during the Hextech Revolution, because I figured her light magic would fit well with that sort of channeling. But I agree: her primary affinity is for elemental light, not holiness. (Although, being a Demacian, she's naturally inclined toward "positive" magic.)

2nd Fiddle2 votes

(I'm assuming that Senna was also of Champion power level. I'm not sure if she ever actually gained entrance to the League; that's a separate discussion.)

I would like to postulate that together Lucian and Senna were better than two champions, but separately they were less.

delonixdecaryi5 votes

Gryffindor of course.

insaiyanbacca2 votes

hufflepuff!

Slushi Simcambi1 votes

What the hell is a Hufflepuff?

insaiyanbacca1 votes

harry potter one of the four houses

Slushi Simcambi1 votes

... That's a sorta joke thing.

Of course its one of the houses.

GenoXx2 votes

If Lucian is the Gun Templar, I would imagine that there is a group who is devoted of ridding evil things like undead. And they probably hold some level of respect in Demacia. But that's just the thing. Templars I would think that Lucian is apart of the common rabble. Especially after he lost Senna. I think the family he came from isn't Aristocratic like Fiora, but maybe more to Vayne's level.

Helmight2 votes

My understanding was that the Purifiers weren't a religious group, but just a small band of individuals dedicated to combating the threat of the Shadow Isles - kinda like Kassadin's anti-Void organization. Senna was probably already a member of the group by the time Lucian was recruited and the two got paired together while he was learning. Obviously they had a connection and got married later, so the pairing stuck.

Concerning Lucian's origins, I figure he's probably of a minor house. I don't think he had a life of working in fields or as a merchant or anything, but he's obviously not one of the major four houses.

Quantum Weeb2 votes

I always assumed he was a commoner, like Quinn. We need a few more commoners around.

Hell, every Demacian champion before Quinn was an aristocrat, I think Riot has a bourgeois bias.

Support the proletariat!

@OP I've had some success contacting the lore team over on Twitter, specifically about the Demacian houses thing. I'd recommend trying that and seeing if it works. It took a few days for me to get a response.

CupcakeTrap8 votes

@OP I've had some success contacting the lore team over on Twitter, specifically about the Demacian houses thing. I'd recommend trying that and seeing if it works. It took a few days for me to get a response.

Somehow I'm more scared of their response than I am inconvenienced their silence.

"Wait, Demacia? Ohhhhhh. That. Yeah. We retconned that. It's now Northern Freljord and Southern Freljord. Jarvan is an ice troll, on a quest for vengeance against Trundle. However, for now he wanders Valoran. Why? Who can say."

Ulric Greatsword5 votes

quest for vengeance

wanders Valoran

Yep. that's retconning the Riot way.

CupcakeTrap5 votes

quest for vengeance

wanders Valoran

Yep. that's retconning the Riot way.

It gives him greater agency, and allows his story to really progress. Before, he represented his homeland in the League of Legends. Now, he's an angry dude roaming around looking for another angry dude.

Ulric Greatsword3 votes

Also you forgot his browser lore update:

"This is Jarvan's new lore."

PONCHOGRANDE2 votes

"Jarvan has a dark, mysterious past."

Dotintheparadox2 votes

It is quite possible he no longer actually answers to any house. Perhaps the "Religious" order of Demacia could operate under the ideal of "Body, Mind, And Soul For The Gods", so they give up their original names and adopt ones that represent a quality given to them by a superior.

Senna is a modified version of Seanna a feminine, English form of Shawn, which is in turn an Irish form of John, which is a reference to the name of the saint who was given the qualities of love, loyalty and companionship.

Lucian is an obvious name, derived from the word lucent, meaning light... or what it's really meant to be closer to, Lucifer to represent Lucian as a dark angel, driven to commit sins by his anger.

Also Thresh is a Satan reference, so that's out there.

BlazeRiver2 votes

Maybe Lucian is part of a evil-hunting group started by Vayne? It says in Vayne's lore that she was the "first night hunter." The key word here, of course, is first. Lucian kills the undead. Vayne hunts down those who use black magic. Although they aren't the same, undead and black magic are usually related.

I've always wondered what Vayne and Lucian thought of each other. Two evil-hunters from Demacia, who have both lost family to that evil... They have to meet somewhere, whether it's in the Shadow Isles or in the Institute of War or plain Demacia.

A Superb Villain3 votes

Personally, I do not see Vayne forming an organization to combat the evils of Valoran; she is far too introverted and obsessive, though not without good reason. If anything, her character encompasses the traits of a radical, someone more extreme than even the most zealous Demacian. If anything, I would not be surprised if Vayne suspects corruption or negligence in the same order Lucain once served.

Lucian is something along the lines of a Templar knight.

Vayne is batman.

Ulric Greatsword2 votes

Vayne is batman.

This is why I am on a crusade to have the witch that killed her parents be rewritten as Shaco.

Alexander2 votes

demacian ghetto

Terra Booma2 votes

Don't know if it's been said yet but what if Senna belonged to a more important house instead of Lucian?

AntiSkillshot2 votes

I'd have thought he was from a family of the baron level.

Like, hello. There's a king and other noble families. Where's the barons?

2nd Fiddle1 votes

They're in the Voodoo Lands, obviously.

AntiSkillshot1 votes

They're in the Voodoo Lands, obviously.

Wrong barons... Barons, as in ranking members of society. Normally answers to a king and watches over said king's land, but are ranked lower than nobility (Kings and Queens and their offspring) and knights. They're normally the ones that actually have the soldiers, unless the king can pay for the soldiers themselves. As you can guess, barons don't actually exist nowadays, and were used during the dark ages and early middle ages. To be honest, Houses Vayne, Crownguard, Spiritmight, Laurent, and Buvelle could be considered barons, as they answer to the king's line (Lightshield) of Demacia. But they don't "rule" over a certain part of Demacia. So, they're not actual barons, but are high ranking members of society, nonetheless.

2nd Fiddle3 votes

Alas poor joke, it died quickly.

2nd Fiddle1 votes

Thoughts?

The guns are unique, they had to come from somewhere. Where they came from should be important.

CupcakeTrap1 votes

Thoughts?

The guns are unique, they had to come from somewhere. Where they came from should be important.

Maybe they were given the weapons when they received their call, and that's part of what motivated them to start researching means of fighting the undead: they felt it was their destiny.

2nd Fiddle4 votes

The guns are labeled "L" and "S". This implies the guns were made for them. Either they made them themselves and already knew how, or someone(or something) special made those for them. Since we don't see those all over Runeterra, I'm going to guess their nearly impossible to make.

Helmight3 votes

I figure the Purifiers make each of their initiates a weapon as a way to signify their acceptance. I don't think that it's something Lucian and Senna knew how to do prior to their joining-up

CupcakeTrap1 votes

It's an interesting question whether the Purifiers are an order that Lucian and Senna started themselves (or that he started after her death), or if they were already established.

Helmight4 votes

Here's what I found from Lucian's teaser:

"When we took up these weapons, we accepted our mission with pride. Rid Runeterra of evil, they told us. Slay the corrupt. Send the filth of the world crawling back to the hole it crawled out of. Not just anyone can wield these weapons. You need a pure heart. A fearless mind. An inner light that outshines all the darkness in the world. Once I had that light. Now I'm not so sure."

So the order was assuredly around before Lucian and Senna joined up, and they were the ones who created the relic weapons. My questions then are where the order came from, how Lucian and Senna found out, and how the light-pistols were created.

CupcakeTrap1 votes

Good find.

The Soulforged1 votes

Here's what I found from Lucian's teaser:

"When we took up these weapons, we accepted our mission with pride. Rid Runeterra of evil, they told us. Slay the corrupt. Send the filth of the world crawling back to the hole it crawled out of. Not just anyone can wield these weapons. You need a pure heart. A fearless mind. An inner light that outshines all the darkness in the world. Once I had that light. Now I'm not so sure."

So the order was assuredly around before Lucian and Senna joined up, and they were the ones who created the relic weapons. My questions then are where the order came from, how Lucian and Senna found out, and how the light-pistols were created.

From the sound of it, it seems as though Lucian and Senna were just people who were given the relic weapons and not the true creators. They took up the weapons as in they were passed on to them.

Nublord1 votes

Not passed, but rather made for them. Otherwise they wouldn't have L and S on it.

Trylobyte2 votes

Not passed, but rather made for them. Otherwise they wouldn't have L and S on it.

"Pass the guns along to the new guys." "Uh, won't they know they're just guns we got from those two recruits that died last week?" "Eh, put some stickers on them with their initials, it'll be fine." "You're a genius, sir."

Narasimha1 votes

Why does he even have to be Demacian? He could just as easily be a Noxian street rat or born in Piltover.

DG Ashabel14 votes

It's been confirmed way back when he was released that Lucian is Demacian.

Chromatic Eagle1 votes

Damn. Was hoping he was from the SI for some reason.

PhoenixSlayer131 votes

While this is a great question, I'm honestly more interested in learning more about Lucian's order of undead-slayers. Is it based in Demacia? Is it an international organization without any kind of city-state ties? How does one join the order? How involved are they in the Shadow Isles? WHAT THE HECK DO THEY THINK ABOUT MAOKAI?

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