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Were Swain and Irelia meant to mirror each other?

OneStepWalker·3/22/2018, 3:18:05 AM·26 votes·2,321 views

Just something that came to mind when I was reading through Swain's background. From Irelia's quotes, her family and friends were killed by Noxus, causing her to ruthlessly defend her homeland. But for Swain, his own ruthless defense of his homeland led him to kill his own family. It's an interesting situation.

Irelia also seems, basically, to not be entirely certain in her role. In her voice lines, she's sometimes not sure what to say to her followers and expresses horror at the thought of people seeing her blade dance in anything less than a perfect state. Swain, in comparison, is utterly composed. For Swain, it is not anything within his power to effect or see that worries him, but anything without.

Compare the line 'You do not know burden until you've seen a thousand people hanging on your every word.' and 'I've killed more men with words than by my own hand. Not for lack of trying'. Both acknowledge that their roles give them huge influence over the fate of thousands, but while Irelia secretly worries about her abilities in that regard, Swain has no such hesitation. I'm starting to suspect Swain suppressed his demon through sheer force of self-confidence.

17 Comments

AmazoX3/22/2018, 2:09:48 PM10 votes

Noxus lore used to be the most boring but with Kled, Darius Color Story & Swain it got hella interesting.

Ionia won't be easy for Noxus to take down, Zed has his own army under his training including Kayn with Rhaast technically on his side, Master Yi, Vastayns, Yasuo the legendary swordsman who is capable of wielding The Wind Itself, Shen, Kennen, Akali & the ninja's from the Temple of Twilight.

These characters are definitely not friendly towards each other but if Noxus were to ever attack, they all would have a shared enemy.

League of Legends lore just intoxicates me with pleasure so much now, the lore team is godly just like the Music Team & the Art Team

Valaran Nara3/22/2018, 7:19:27 AM6 votes

Irelia chopped off Swain's arm.

They are in fact meant to mirror each other. Especially since they are both meant to be types of figureheads or leaders.

There are some people who grown into greatness (Swain) and others who have had greatness thrusted upon them (Irelia)

I believe somebody tried to argue about how Irelia is just another extremist, but I like to differ on that. Irelia may be super passionate, but her passion is based on patriotism and the fact that she MUST lead her people. This isn't a lone renegade who is doing something because of shallow beliefs or to terrorize another group. She isn't committing any form of terroristic activities. Especially since it's not even a liberation but a defensive course of action to rescue and protect her homeland from ACTIVE threats. Not passive that has been around for a while. Active, like "they are trying to kill you right now" active.

SEKAI3/22/2018, 7:39:46 AM4 votes

Swain, while may be detestable in the kind of person he may be and the decisions he has made, is a far more sophisticated figure and super-villian with who houses an inner demon inside his body, both literally and figuratively, and he balances his wits and brawn very well and they compliment each other.

The current Irelia in comparison is just a very mad person from an unfortunately once war-torn state who goes about insulting every and anything, including her own countrymen merely for them not being interested in joining her movement. She has also more or less betrayed the teaching of her culture and her own martial discipline by letting herself being blinded by revenge, and abusing her power; and unlike Yi who managed to walk out of the shadow, albeit with the indirect help of Wukong, Irelia has yet to overcome that emotional stage, and it has corrupted her into a warmonger.

SpecterVonBaren3/23/2018, 5:52:19 AM2 votes

Irelia stole J4's rival it seems.

VelvetCrotch3/24/2018, 4:21:44 PM1 votes

interesting trains of thought, i like the idea. ^.^