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Why I think General DuCouteau is alive and will come soon

Lewanor·9/23/2018, 6:51:20 PM·32 votes·13,278 views

Why I think General DuCouteau is alive?

You all must be certain that General is dead because of Swain's voice line against Katarina:

''Do they know who killed your father, or do they still blame me?''

'They' must be the nobles of Noxus or the ones against Swain's leadership. Considering Swain does not stand back to make hard choices i choose the latter. Swain of course didn't kill him himself. ''killed'' is meant as ''to get someone killed'' here. And people in higher ranks in goverment or military don't get assasinated. They dissappear. Espacially Swain wouldn't act so foolishly to kill him right away. I assume Swain got a lot of opposition so he got rid of them one by one, one at a time. When those people didn't return they knew they were killed. Same goes for the General. When he dissapeared the others of course assumed Swain got him killed. But Swain has a way with words and there can be no one to blame if General is not dead in the first place. But we also know Swain ''betrayed'' General from Urgot's voice line against Katarina:

> ''I hope your father begged when Swain betrayed him''

But why did Swain betrayed General then? To teach him something like he implies against his interaction with Urgot?

> ''Your message is your power. You've learned nothing.''

Too many questions would go unanswered if an old character like General was killed off-screen. Even in the old lore he was not dead. Journel of Justice ended too soon to continue his story. Ever since Talon is left without anything. But what if Swain didn't really betray the General? What if he was sent to a secret mission that he failed ultimately? What if he sent someone he trusted very much?

> "All roads lead to Noxus, but all visions, to Demacia."

I hope i convinced you that General is alive, because he is coming to the game itself soon.

But why is he coming to League?

1- The Continuiation of the Noxus Lore/Underdeveloped Noxus Champions

The long awaited Noxus Lore Update didn't come completely with Swain. We were told that it was meant to be continued along the year. We got three new biographies(Swain, Darius, LeBlanc) , one biography update(Katarina), two short stories. There are 11 Noxus champions right now at the universe. Of course there are more Noxian champions but they are not really connected to Noxus anymore. Karthus, Annie and Kayn are all Noxian. A little bit later after the Irelia rework we finally got a conclusion for Yasuo and Riven's conflict. Sadly it made Riven more Ionian then Noxian. Riven doesn't want to be a Noxian anymore. He found his home in Ionia. Even if we count Riven there are still 6 Noxus champions that didn't got a lore update, some of them don't even have a lore at this point. And remember Riot only updates champions after a rework or a new champion. So we need a new champion since there is no Noxian reworks currently(And honostly except Leblanc nobody needs it). Let's take a look at them:

Draven: When will Draven be something other than the brother of Darius? Draven is actually the easiest one to update because they already set his background. It seems Draven sided with Swain when he was an outcast and supported him in his coup attempt. Darius was quite suprised about this when he returned from the northern campaign he was at. And he is Urgot's replacement. But his lore is still outdated. This one should be easy to update.

Kled: Kled is a tricky one because he is kind of a joke champion but he needs to be connected to Noxus a bit more. Otherwise he will continue to be nothing relevant sadly. Why don't we see some of his stories from the past? How he got one of his titles?

Sion: Questions about Sion are endless. Just let me make a few examples. Who created Sion? Why did they create Sion? How does he fit in Noxus? Where does he stay? Do they just lock him up until a war comes up and they drop him into battlefield and let him do all the work? What does Swain think about him? Would Swain see him as a monstosity or a weapon? Did Darkwill or Swain unleashed Sion on somewhere? If not would Swain do that? So many questions and no answers.

Vladimir: Vlad's current story is like this: He is a psychopath that loves to kill. He loves blood. He kills 2 people just because he wants to then tries to escape Noxus to not face judgement. While escaping he founds dead bodies and follows them. There he founds a hemomancer monk that teaches him how to control blood. They in the final lesson he gets his master's blood and gets his powers, the power of all hemomancer's before him. Then he goes to Noxus kills a bunch of guards and terrified Noxus hires him. That's the old lore. Now how did it really go in the new lore? It's quite possible Vladimir is with the Black Rose now. But we have nothing to speculate about since there is literally nothing about Vlad in the new lore. Riot plz.

Cassiopeia: Cass is nothing but a Medusa copy right now. Even her lore update back in the days were about Shurima, not Noxus. Swain does say or imply she works with/for Black Rose right now but i'm more interested in her relationship with Katarina. Yes, they are sisters. It serves no purpose since the start of old and new lore but they are. We've seen the relationship between Garen and Lux in Demacia update. Why can't we see how is the life in the DuCouteau family? Also she is talented in politics, just like their mother. We don't know about her either. But i'm mostly interested in how Katarina reacted to her transformation.

Talon: What about our boy? What about Talon? He is literally nothing without General. His lore, his life is connected to General DuCouteau. It seems he will be the pupil that General wanted to raise in place of Katarina but will he adopt him too? If so how will Cass and Kat react to it? He was trying too find him for all these years. If General is dead then Talon would be another case of ''Hurr durr REVENGE!''' champions. He has potential to be much more than that. Much more than to be a Assassin's Creed copy.

This is the state of Noxian champions. And the current counter-part, Ionia, has only 3 unupdated champions while having 19. Kennen is probably like the other yordles, waiting for the Bandle City lore. Soraka too has no lore but it seems she is more connected to Targon then Ionia. And the third is Jhin, because of too much changed since his release and there are some points that doesnt make sense anymore. We need justice for Noxus! But now let's take a look at the teaser, which made me write this theory

2- Remember the Chained Champion in the Champion Roadmap?

Let's take a look at the teaser

Does the color scheme make you remember any spesific country? Like Demacia? The Petricide? I think that's a Demacian prison. Demacia wouldn't imprison a magical creature. They would kill it. There is no place for magic in Demacia. Same for the mages. Lucky ones like Lux gets the chance to serve Demacia. But who would Demacia imprison in a petricide prison? Maybe a spy, an assassin? An important person from a dangerous continent? I see no reason against it being General DuCouteau. Now the question is how he ended up there? Noxus invaded Ionia, Freljord, Shurima and have plans for invading Piltover/Zaun. But they seem to have no plans against Demacia...why? Maybe the story team were waiting for the right moment. In the map there is a huge empty area between them. I wonder why don't we have a Demacia Noxus conflict, it was the main conflict for a very long time. Swain seems interested in Demacia too, but doesn't see them as a powerful foe. Riot can answer a lot of questions with General DuCouteau's release. The Black Rose, DuCouteau family and Demacia-Noxus conflict.

3- More Possible Reasons

Right after the chained champions release we have two reworks at the start of 2019. Kayle and Morgana are sisters too and probably from Targon. But interestingly they seem to be from Demacia. Remember the Swain quote from top? All visions lead to Demacia. a good continuity is essantial for story telling and like how Irelia rework came after Swain's I suppose this will be like that too.

General DuCouteau is there from the very start of the League lore. Connected to 3 champions with a family bind. And Riot adding Kai'sa means they didn't forget the old lore. Well, if Kai'sa can be added to league i see no reason for them to not add General.

Also answers from this thread really helped me finish this writing:

In the old lore General's disappearance happens a little after start of December. And here's my prediction about how reworks and new champs will be released:

  • 9 October Ezreal Reveal---24 October Ezreal Rework

  • 6 November Colorful Mage Reveal---21 November Colorful Mage

  • 1 December Chained Champ's teaser--- 4 December reveal--- 19 December Live

Well that's it from me guys. I hope i am not wrong. I want it to be true so much. And sorry for delaying it too much, it's all on me. Take care!

38 Comments

Naalith9/23/2018, 8:03:35 PM7 votes

Hmm. It's an interesting thought, I've always considered DuCouteau was more of a catalyst character than someone who was designed to be seen in game. Think of Ned Stark in GoT, he's incredibly important and a main character up until the end of the first season when he is killed. Basically everything that happens after that is more or less a direct result of his death and morality being absent in King's Landing, but he himself was never meant to be the true main character. DuCouteau is incredibly important to a lot of Noxian champions and Noxus in general, but just like Ned Stark I think he's a catalyst for the story more than a participant moving forward.

That being said, Riot has already done a few crazy reveals of characters we thought would never appear in game. Kai'sa, Azir, and ESPECIALLY Lissandra were pretty cool reveals from the past and twists on characters we never expected to see in game. I'm not against a cool twist of DuCouteau coming back being added to the game, but all signs right now point to him being dead so he wouldn't come back in a form we would recognize him as. I'm not against it and if it's done well, it could be really cool. The big issue is it seems that Talon, Katarina, Cassiopeia, and possibly a few other Noxian characters have big underpinnings of their lore being built on his death and I wouldn't want to see that undermined.

As far as this chain champion goes, I don't think it's DuCouteau for a few reasons. Number one is the framing of the camera, pointing upwards towards the champion. This suggests that the character is in control of the situation or incredibly powerful despite being chained up, meaning it's likely going to be a supernatural being or at the very least magic wielding human. This is added to by the fact those are very large chains and a normal human wouldn't need that much security. It's not a prison, it's like a holding area for this one particular individual who needs high security around him. Lots of people have pointed out what can only be described as irregularities around their feet which look like hooves, heels, or maybe large boots, which don't look right.

Ultimately I'd say there's about a 50% chance they're trapped in Demacia, 45% chance for Blessed Isles, and 5% to any other region. When the Rioter lore people were doing a pannel they said we'd see the Blessed Isles before the saw the Shadow Isles again, which means something that is going to come out is surely in development. With this champ being announced right before the panel, my personal theory is it's some evil supernatural force being kept trapped in the Blessed Isles and we'll get more lore about how it was before the Ruination as a result.

ChunLii9/23/2018, 7:50:39 PM4 votes

This is plausible theory although my first thought was that this was powerful Demacian mage who was locked up. The only two cases in Demacia where we know that a mage was killed was in the Lux and Garen story with Nocturne and the one with Vayne and Fey. The first one was only executed because they killed many Demacians and the latter was a vigilante act where Vayne decides to act as judge, jury, executioner and outside of the law.

We haven’t had a Demacian champion in a long time too.

If this was a Noxian prisoner it would be interesting too although in a different way. My question would be how they view Demacian society while actually viewing it from the capital.

Robertsmash9/24/2018, 12:23:18 AM2 votes

I don't think this is very plausible.

Demacia wouldn't imprison a magical creature. They would kill it. There is no place for magic in Demacia. Same for the mages. Lucky ones like Lux gets the chance to serve Demacia. But who would Demacia imprison in a petricide prison? Maybe a spy, an assassin?

...Or like you said, a magically-capable creature that is more useful to them alive than dead. Demacia does not, in fact, just kill everything magical without question. There are clearly some factions that are not afraid to utilize magical talent for the greater good. Not that color schemes are absolutely conclusive.

But they seem to have no plans against Demacia...why?

Aside from all the under-the-table, intelligence-related operations that probably are taking place on both sides, Demacia has been stated to have the world's most elite and well-trained military. Noxus can't do the same thing with Demacia that it's done with Shurima because Demacia is a united, technologically advanced military power. And you list the Ionian invasion, but that wasn't exactly a massive success.

In the map there is a huge empty area between them. I wonder why don't we have a Demacia Noxus conflict, it was the main conflict for a very long time.

There is a Demacia/Noxus conflict. The empty space consists of smaller neutral cities that neither party (Demacia or Noxus) can make a move on without provoking the other. In the real world, the biggest and best armies don't just run at each other across smaller states. There is no man's land, subterfuge, counter-intelligence, alliances with smaller states, and other cold war type stuff. If Noxus just sent its infantry barreling west, Demacia would hear about it and the war would be catastrophic and not necessarily end in Noxus' favor. No one on the Trifarix would endorse such a risky and destructive play.

Noxian champs need an update for sure. I just think DuCouteau is reaching. It's possible and I wouldn't be against it, but I also think that people tend to have bias for old characters. This could more plausibly be a new character, nothing about what we know so far (i.e., nothing) demands that it be DuCouteau.

Unvictus9/24/2018, 12:19:52 PM2 votes

Katarina could use a new VO while we’re at it. She literally has the dullest VO with no interactions..

Ask Kayn9/24/2018, 9:23:40 AM2 votes

Those chains look too massive for a humanoid creature. Feels more like a creature. And yes, the color totally inspires Demacia. Assuming it is petricite, then feels like a magic entity locked away.

I strongly feel Du Couteau is dead. Have you read Cassiopeia's and LeBlanc's old judgments? It was almost literally hinted he the Black Rose was behind it.

It also feels, as it was mentioned before, General Du Couteau (I don't know if they'll call him Marcus anymore) is a catalyst for Katarina, a purpose for Talon. Someone meant to be in the plot but never a real champion.

I'd love to see the General though! And the Narrative Team has been poking around with lore updates in the horizon, Talon, Sona, Soraka and Vladimir's specifically.

Also, we know it'll be linked to a new champion or a completely standalone thing.

I sort of expect a comic.

P0IS0N IVY9/23/2018, 10:25:26 PM2 votes

Elise https://universe.leagueoflegends.com/en_US/story/elise-color-story/

This is the only reason why I think he's actually dead.

''Do they know who killed your father, or do they still blame me?''

Pretty sure it's a reference to Elise here.

Andevar9/24/2018, 9:52:25 PM1 votes

I actually quite like this theory. It would be great to see the General in the game and his interactions with other Noxian characters.

I think with Talon's new lore update, we'll see a lot more light shed on this topic.

PickUrMain9/23/2018, 9:42:54 PM1 votes

9 October Ezreal Reveal---24 October Ezreal Rework 6 November Colorful Mage Reveal---21 November Colorful Mage 1 December Chained Champ's teaser--- 4 December reveal--- 19 December Live

This... is totally wrong First of all, November 21th will be the preseason version (v8.23), so they not are gonna to release a new champ with the preseason changes. The colorful mage might be released on v8.24 (the last of the year, early Dec in live servers) or on v8.22 (early Nov in live servers).

Second, the chained champ will release next year. The colorfur mage will be the last champion of 2018.

And third, Ezreal will be teased tomorrow. So, he will be available on pbe on Tuesday. Why? On social medias, Riot posted a new teaser skin. So, they done this because they want to Ezreal have the spotlight tomorrow!)

Felvyne9/23/2018, 10:05:40 PM1 votes

That's... an interesting theory. Furthermore, there is something to add: last time Talon was seen in old lore was with Quinn's release (at least her diary hinted him), therefore Talon had matters in Demacia. Maybe the General was there...

YDy2ZkRq029/24/2018, 2:59:39 AM1 votes

I just want to correct your affirmation. There was a Noxus vs Demacia conflict, it is mostly in Jarvan's and Garen's bio, and is a bit mentioned in Taric's color story, Quinn's biography and in For Demacia. Here some quotes showing the conflict.

This one is from Taric's color story:

The loss of life will be immense, but I cannot save those who seek their own destruction. All those sons, all those fathers, all those futures lost. Demacians and Noxians, ever at each other’s throats, magnetically drawn to one another by something lesser than both.

Plenty of defenders exist for their lofty ideals, and they all stand in my way, almost gleefully slaughtering themselves over a scrap of land, with no idea of its true importance. Two armies entwined, both committed to their ruinous dance.

From Garen's bio:

During the Noxian assaults on Demacia, Garen gained a reputation as a particularly fearsome fighter – one of the greatest in all Demacia, willing to risk life and limb to protect his fellow soldiers and defeat the enemy.

From Jarvan's bio:

When Noxian warbands raided the farmlands near Demacia’s border, Jarvan IV led his troops to defend the nation. He and his men rode for days in the wake of the Noxians. To Jarvan’s horror, the atrocities were far worse than he had anticipated. The Noxians had razed entire townships and slaughtered hundreds of Demacians, with only a handful of injured survivors left to tell the tale. ... Jarvan split his troops, ordering some to remain and care for the injured civilians, while he led the remaining soldiers onward. They ambushed the Noxians during the night, but in the chaos of battle, Jarvan was separated from his guards. He fought fiercely and slew many enemies, but was ultimately overwhelmed. The Noxians took Jarvan IV prisoner, to be paraded through the Immortal Bastion in chains upon reaching Noxus.

From Quinn's biography:

When a Noxian assassin struck down Castle Jandelle’s commander on the Day of Lost Light, Quinn’s talents proved themselves once again. The killer escaped battalions of knights dispatched to capture him, but Quinn and Valor tracked and killed the assassin after a night of lethal traps, counterattacks and ambushes. She returned with the assassin’s blade, earning the nickname, Demacia’s Wings.

From For Demacia:

Dark of hair and keen of eye was Diadoro, the bearded swordsman who’d held the Gates of Mourning against the armored host of the Trifarian Legion for an entire day.

Edit: just for clarification, those aren't the only mentions of Noxus vs Demacia conflicts, I just sent the ones that I was remembering at the moment.

TekkenPlayer9/24/2018, 3:29:50 AM1 votes

l4 handsome middle aged red head swordplay man

RuntIronFurnace9/23/2018, 6:55:37 PM1 votes

This is very interesting. But he was cleraly labelled "assassin" so it wouldn't make sense he would be locked up rather, He would be locking people up. OR... He's been captured. Very interesting. Love it.

Elipo9/24/2018, 7:07:29 PM1 votes

I think Riot doesn't care enough about duCuteau. Katarina's new lore is trash. They only care about Darius' lore. With Swain's rework they had the perfect chance to give us a Noxus event ala "burning tides" even (the Bilgewater event for when they reworked GP and updated MF models along with their stories an TF and Graves' stories and all of he Bilgewater lore). With Noxus I feel they only care about Darius. Kat got a massive downgrade in lore. And Swain and LB got a really generic and vague story withouth using their whole potential. Just remembering all of this makes me so salty. So I have no hope for the general.

[sg-soraka]

Biscuit Bite9/24/2018, 5:13:24 AM

Chained champion? That's Morgana m8, she has chains.