The Bird and the Branch

ModCaptainMårvelous·Apr 28, 2016·121 votes·40,691 views

Taliyah - The Bird and the Branch

Starring "Taliyah"

New champ?

392 Comments

RiotRiot ShadowStormApr 28, 201669 votes

New champ?

New champ!

(That's all the info for now though. Speculate away!)

EDIT: Here's a full-size version of the art from the end of the story. Enjoy!

lightdragoon88Apr 28, 201689 votes

Release Skin: http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11112/111120404/3129869-toph_bei_fong___atla_by_yori_narpati.jpg

Vindictive Ex GfApr 28, 20165 votes

YAAAAAAS! that was my first thought when I read this. I don't really watch those kinds of shows often but I watched that series and loved the character of every Earthbender especially Toph, such a neat concept.

RalanrApr 28, 201618 votes

Toph is best tank.

lightdragoon88Apr 28, 201613 votes

Toph is best at almost everything, even seeing things.

The only thing she is bad at...is keeping a relationship

RalanrApr 28, 201615 votes

Yeah...though if we did look at team avatar from an RPG standpoint, Toph would be the tank.

They went a whole season without a tank. Yikes.

THE RlVER KlNGApr 28, 20163 votes

Appa?

RalanrApr 28, 20161 votes

Hmm...not as good as Toph. Plus they lost him for a bit.

THE RlVER KlNGApr 28, 20167 votes

I don't really want to start an argument, but Toph is still a little girl. She was the greatest earthbender of her time, but she never actually took hits or soaked up damage, except for when she did the rock morphsuit thing, which Aang could do too. I don't really think of her as a tank, more a mobile, AoE CC mage. Which, come to think if it, would be broken XD. But yeah, out of all the human Gaang members she's the toughest. If there's a'tank' in the Avatar world my bet would be someone like Huu. Fascinating topic! I'd love an Avatar/Korra MOBA or Smash-esque fighter.

King of FerretsApr 28, 20166 votes

[{quoted}](name=Riot ShadowStorm,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=R6WY5GX3,comment-id=0004,timestamp=2016-04-28T18:37:01.743+0000)

New champ!

(That's all the info for now though. Speculate away!)

Sling-using ADC with at least one ability that modifies her autos, probably for a utility effect - could be her passive, could be on-next-hit ala Nasus or Wukong Qs, could be an ability that works for a couple seconds/strikes like Ricochet. Also, likely to have some terrain-creation ability.

Theiki KayleApr 28, 201612 votes

W: If Taliyah hits an enemy champion 3 times, she creates a wall behind them that she can knock them into with E, dealing %HP true dmg and making herself invulnerable for 1 second.

Vayne : But muh strategic niche! Taliyah: Get owned, Bat(wo)man.

charcharmunroApr 28, 20167 votes

Anivia/Taliyah botlane confirmed. We'll call it the sandwich.

AMYS GRAVEApr 28, 201621 votes

(That's all the info for now though. Speculate away!)

come on, tell us!

https://49.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m655q5ffSa1r6x3joo1_500.gif

Velzard of KozApr 28, 20166 votes

May I have a question?

I heard you used to have a concept for Shurima sandmage who looked like Azir to me. Not sure If it was fanmade concept. http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131025103105/leagueoflegends/images/7/79/Emptylord_SandMage_Leak2.jpg

When Azir was released I thought it is him, changed concept. Now I am not sure. Is this concept right? Was Azir its final form? Has this new champion something to do with it (like when Kindred and Jhin were basically made from the same essence)?

RiotBioluminescenceApr 28, 201654 votes

Thanks for posting! :D

I read this this morning and I was totally engrossed. The moment when they're in the tavern... it's going DOWN!

arc95Apr 28, 201613 votes

{quoted}

Thanks for posting! :D

I read this this morning and I was totally engrossed. The moment when they're in the tavern... it's going DOWN!

Dude i was smiling ear to ear ...and as a 240k mastery Yasuo reading "As the captain’s body was knocked up" brought a item 3070 to my eye ^_^

oh god i love Yauso a little too much >.<

RiotBioluminescenceApr 28, 201626 votes

{quoted}

Dude i was smiling ear to ear ...and as a 240k mastery Yasuo reading "As the captain’s body was knocked up" brought a to my eye ^_^

oh god i love Yauso a little too much >.<

I'm so happy when they manage to integrate in VO lines or abilities (or a combo!) into the stories like this. :D I imagine as a hardcore Yasuo main, you knew exactly what that meant - hell, I wouldn't blame you if your finger instinctively went to the "R" key ;)

FasmodeyApr 28, 20163 votes

{quoted}

I'm so happy when they manage to integrate in VO lines or abilities (or a combo!) into the stories like this. :D I imagine as a hardcore Yasuo main, you knew exactly what that meant - hell, I wouldn't blame you if your finger instinctively went to the "R" key ;)

I mostly care about the ascendeds, please, let us a good read and make it quick. [zombie-nunu-tears]

RiotZenonTheStoicApr 28, 201619 votes

We may be able to make you happy soon [tm] then.

Tails Thee FoxApr 28, 201613 votes

Fingers crossed for Rammus to be an ascended.... Or just any info about him. Rammus

ArakadiaApr 29, 20165 votes

Shurumian people: ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY ASCENDED!

Rammus: Ok.

RiotRiotJaredanApr 29, 20168 votes

That sounds like a reasonable request.

DafTennantApr 28, 20166 votes

Integrating gameplay into the lore is absolutely my favorite thing about the lore, especially when it's a teaser such as this one. Now I can make guesses like "Taliyah has a knockup", "Taliyah has an AOE slow (or possibly grounded)", "Taliyahs' auto attacks are throwing rocks at people with her sling", and etc. I'M HAVING TOO MUCH FUN WITH THIS

TwinTon3Apr 28, 201645 votes

New Taliyah players in a nutshell: "I can move rocks!" https://33.media.tumblr.com/29539868c736e56b263d76336a925aea/tumblr_mx721eg1wU1rknfqpo1_500.gif

Meanwhile, the pros are all: "Combos for days." https://media.giphy.com/media/KPJGGe0qsTb8s/giphy.gif

RiotZenonTheStoicApr 28, 201639 votes

Can confirm.

Stars ShaperApr 28, 201637 votes

SPOILER:

Yasuo “I now understand why much of your desert is flat.”

<Taliyah> "Is that a FLAT joke!"

Celio Hogane HDApr 28, 201610 votes

She is a minor D:

Stars ShaperApr 28, 201613 votes

Has this ever stopped Japanese (Ionian) ppl from joking about it? xD

Makuta TeridaxApr 28, 201636 votes

All I understood here is that people view Azir as an evil entity who wants some slaves back and stuff.

Poor Azir.

Alas, quite interesting girl we have here. Can't wait to see more!

NullDragonApr 28, 201619 votes

I'm curious if he still wants to give up slaves, or if Xerath's betrayal made him reverse that decision.

Makuta TeridaxApr 28, 201629 votes

He just blames Xerath for that -- It's precisely the fact that Azir was humble that Ascension was granted to him finally. Pretty sure his character involves making Shurima great again -- and most definitely not Donald Trump style.

Also, I just noticed that he made rivers go backwards. Damn he's powerful lorewise.

NullDragonApr 28, 201618 votes

That's likely from restructuring the terrain of Shurima. That'll be my guess anyway.

And yeah I agree with you there. Just curious if Xerath's betrayal changed his plans at all.

Stars ShaperApr 28, 20166 votes

I'm more curious about Xerath's plan/situation now. While Azir has the power to rise Shurima again, Xerath has the power to annihilate it... again!

Also there is a quite problematic guy who just arrived to Targon.

NullDragonApr 28, 201613 votes

I want Xerath and Azir to fight it out a bit before hugging and becoming best buds again.

xerath pls

Stars ShaperApr 28, 20169 votes

Make it a cinematic and I'm in.

BrutusnessApr 28, 201628 votes

It's goddamn Toph, people. This is what we've always needed in League.

PãndaApr 29, 20168 votes

{quoted}

It's goddamn Toph, people. This is what we've always needed in League.

NO it isnt Toph, its Tara ! From Teen Titans

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/vsbattles/images/1/10/Tumblr_inline_mgzkz0sBh41r5ykii-1-.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141117002213

BoulderoxApr 28, 201627 votes

FINALLY AN EARTH CHAMPION that does more than throws a disc (boulder?) http://i.imgur.com/VJRilEe.gif

charcharmunroApr 28, 201623 votes

: Rock solid... If you wanna get technical, Malphite throws a mountain at people when he ults.

Valaran NaraApr 28, 201627 votes

OMG! The fact that it was Yasuo there! SHiiiiii---best part is, this is still during the Noxian invasion.

Now we know that Yasuo's personal timeline is during the invasion (which means not necessarily going on at the same time as Shen, Zed's, and Jhin's little reunion)

It also means that Azir appeared during the invasion as well and not just after. Wait, guys. We may get more stuff about Shurima now. Yay!

RiotZenonTheStoicApr 28, 201627 votes

This comment is making me so happy :) That's precisely the takeaway we wanted you to have in many ways. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

ElikainApr 28, 20166 votes

The thing that blew my mind was Yasuo's appearance in this story. I looked at the art at the bottom first, saw him and thought it's neat thing they're together. But how? Then i started reading and was reading the man's lines in Yasuo's voice by default, subconsciously telling myself that these poetic lesions would be something Yasuo would say. Still didn't connect the dots until at the part at the tavern and then i was all like

[zombie-brand-mindblown] [slayer-pantheon-popcorn] [zombie-brand-mindblown]

MasterkerfuffleApr 28, 201612 votes

This is good shit.

This what I've been waiting for in terms of lore! Stuff that advances the story of multiple champions and provides valuable insights into the world. This is exactly what Riot needs to do more of. Kudos to them. This is awesome.

RalanrApr 28, 201611 votes

Please be a tank/Mage. Please be a tank/Mage. She's a geomancer, so tank/Mage isn't unreasonable.

CombozoneApr 28, 20162 votes

Remember the last time riot made a mage with semi-tank properties? Ekko

RalanrApr 28, 201621 votes

Remember how Ekko is supposed to be a fucking assassin?

Just because he proved that assassins can't have utility doesn't mean we can have tank/mages. We already have Galio and Cho, but we need more to counter mid lane assassins.

SpongebobIsLifeApr 28, 20166 votes

i think that's most likely what she is going to be. Think of it this way: most feline predators are considered to be the assassins of the wild, and she, shutting it down hints at something i think.

PyrodiniumApr 28, 20162 votes

How would a Tank Mage be like?

THE RlVER KlNGApr 28, 20165 votes

Think Galio, Cho'Gath, or Vlad.

THE RlVER KlNGApr 28, 20165 votes

Swain and Malphite come to mind too. Any top lane/jungle tank with a caster-play style with AP ratios, like Gragas, Maokai, or Amumu, would fit that category as well.