Fiddlesticks, Shaco, and Nocturne: Their place in the lore, and possible connection to Tahm Kench

Brutusness·5/7/2016, 5:21:36 PM·7 votes·2,219 views

So right now, the champions Fiddlesticks, Shaco, and Nocturne are all in an awkward place in the lore. They're all tied to the League, either acting there out of their own desire, or being forced to. Now that the League doesn't exist in the lore, their origins are much hazier to pin down. So just where do these three come from, and what if their connection to each other? I don't believe they're from the void, because they're not alien- their entire conception is born from very human origins. And I don't believe they're from the Shadow Isles either, as their overall theme is more psychological than just specters and sorcerers. I believe they're almost celestial beings, capable of taking any form they desire, that prey on the weaknesses of sentient beings, maybe not just humans, but all life in the universe capable of our level of thought.

Fiddlesticks represents fear, the terror that strikes people down and reduces them to wrecks. His form of a scarecrow (an obvious reference to the Batman villain) is meant to inspire dread in its disturbing form.

Shaco represents madness, the frightening idea that our perception of the world may be twisted inside out, so we can no longer tell joy from terror and harm from good. His form of a clown (another obvious reference to a Batman villain, but also to Pennywise) depicts a classic illustration of madness: the clown, while supposed to bring joy and laughter, is often instead twisted to elicit thought of terror and screams.

Nocturne represents despair, the overwhelming weight of being alone and in the dark for all eternity. He uses shadows, and the appearance of a pitch-black phantom, to put this concept into form, and many of his quotes reflect the idea he represents: that the mind can be swallowed by darkness, and trapped forever in a depression (very similar to the dementors, of Harry Potter).

Altogether, these three champions act as beings bent on causing as much of their given idea as possible, but they are not alone in this. There is another champion that seeks to spread his human-born evil as well: Tahm Kench, who represents the idea of greed. Kench preys on the weaknesses of humans, making them realize what it is they truly want, and then striking a deal to ensure that not only will they get it, but also lose everything as well. Tahm Kench is also mentioned to be able to take any form, he only takes his current one because he prefers it, and it represents his theme quite nicely.

So, the point of what I'm trying to say is that with the retcon of the League in the lore, these three champions require a new explanation, and that explanation can be found by relating them to Tahm Kench. All of them illustrate a weakness in our minds: Fear, Madness, Despair, and Greed. The four (or more) are monsters that don't originate from the chaos of the Void, or the dark magic of the Shadow Isles. These champions come from something more sinister: the depths of the sentient mind, the worst things that hide in the back of our thoughts claw at us as a reminder that they will always exist. I hope that in the future, these three champions that lack a proper lore will be given one that ties them together, and fleshes out their terror even further.

14 Comments

Igotlazy5/7/2016, 9:10:40 PM4 votes

With the definite introduction of the Spirit Realm from Shen's Lore, I think it's possible that these 4 originate from that place. Maybe they're just incredibly powerful spirits that were able to cross over.

The Last Ballad5/7/2016, 5:52:41 PM3 votes

I like this idea, it makes sense and gives Tahm brethren.

Oleandervine5/7/2016, 9:02:14 PM1 votes

Saying Fiddlesticks is based on Johnathan Crane is a very far flung connection, given that Fiddlesticks has relatively little in common with Crane aside from name and the connection with fear which all scarecrows have. Fiddlesticks is based on a traditional scarecrow in the horror movie fashion; the silent effigy that is menacing, but immobile until you turn your back and it disappears, only to resurface later alive and animate and freaking you out (hence his new passive).

On to your theory about their origins, I think Nocturne and Fiddlesticks have a very good chance of being lumped in as apparitions of the Shadow Isles that have been loose on the mainland, akin to Hecarim. Shaco, on the other hand, is implied in his current lore to be a very deranged human assassin, and I could easily see him being a vagabond murderer who travels the world, and I have a hard time seeing the demonic nature being applied to him. He's just bug nuts insane with a penchant for murder, like Jhin, except he laughs more.

FloRaider425/7/2016, 9:07:34 PM1 votes

Overlapps with my headcanon quite a lot :D The only thing I somewhat dislike is the fact that Greed is very different to Madness, Fear and Despair as it is more of a trait than a reaction to trauma.

Skelecrit5/7/2016, 7:31:54 PM1 votes

i asked a rioter and they confirmed that the foundation team is working of fid, shaco and noct's lores :D

SaltyToplaneGoat5/7/2016, 11:38:51 PM1 votes

I'd see Shaco more with the Glade tho. Although it would fit: Lulu is not exactly the sanest person around either ^^

GenoXx5/8/2016, 3:16:48 AM1 votes

Every bad guy turns to demons....

Decrit5/8/2016, 9:56:44 AM1 votes

If you want, we can also add another champion here: warwick.

He is supposed to be an human transformed and should represent Noxus/Zaun, but that was always something hazy and weak. It was more an excuse to put him somewhere than else.

But honestly i don' t see that stopping Riot into leading him into that realm of possibilities, like having an human being possessed by such demon and Soraka using a spell to reveal it and to fix it in its body. It could develop things in an interesting way, since that would put Soraka at odds with such demons.

Nanuk Pihoqahiak5/8/2016, 10:05:24 AM1 votes

Someone brought up a cool point that Shaco might be from the Fae world that Lulu visited.