So, about the "Wolf" and the "Lamb" teasers on the PBE...

SaltyToplaneGoat··30 votes·10,384 views

I did some research about these specific figures in connection with Shadow Isle themes and found something: BOTH are connected to graveyards in celtic/english/skandinavian mythology.

The wolf is also widely known as "Black dog" or "Church Grim" that is supposed to guard the last rest of the dead and haunt graverobbers until the gates of hell. Here, a wikipedia link to this in case you think I'm making stuff up here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Grim Also interesting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_dog_%28ghost%29

Now, but what about the lamb? Here, let me copy&paste something from this link, as there it's quite good explained. I did some checking on these stories and they go along with the other myths. Also, the "tomb sow" takes over the role of the "Black Dog" in this version, a simple change due to different ways people told the stories.

In Scandinavia it was an old pagan tradition to bury an animal alive under a house. The belief was that it would then haunt the house and keep it clean of other spirits.

While there has never been found any written records or animal bones under a church, people non the less thought the church had picked up the tradition, and they thought these Christian "spirit animals" was more powerful than any.

The tomb sow was a big black sow who was believed to protect the graveyard from intruders. She chased off playing children or simply people walking through it at night. If people saw her coming at them they'd better run, because if she caught up with them she would run between their legs and cut them open from the bottom up using the stiff hairs on her back. When she was not busy scaring and killing people, she chased the spirits of evil people who didn't deserve to be buried in holy ground out of the graveyard, or showed the priest where to bury the next grave.

The church lamb on the other hand protected the church against nature spirits like trolls and elves. It also walked around the graveyard looking for a good place for a grave, then went out to collect a person to put in it. The sight of a church lamb was a sure sign of one's own death.

So, the lastest champ might be a dual entity of graveyard guardians (or maybe two different champions? Who knows? ^^) At least that sounds good enough for the Harrowing for me ^^

74 Comments

Sharjo18 votes

I feel like this new champion won't be tied with the Shadow Isles specifically, but Runeterra's afterlife. That's one thing we've never actually seen before; what life after death is like in Runeterra, but we know it exists because souls and the unliving do exist.

What you've found is actually really cool and the whole thing kinda brings to mind the idea of a shepard of the dead for me, herding souls in to the afterlife.

Something I wanna add, because it makes me wonder; all the teasers say "They are coming". We've all been asking who's coming but really, why are they coming? If things are tied in with this year's Harrowing I can only dream about the implications.

SaltyToplaneGoat2 votes

Well, the Shadow Isles ARE kinda the afterlife - that got kinda messed up with the living world thanks to the ruined king. Also, we should not forget that the isles are not a unified group. There are at least two different positions, as it can be seen on the different altars on the Twisted Treeline.

To why they are coming... either they are natural forces, so they always have been there but we have simply not noticed by now (Such as Bard) or someone has done something very specific to piss them off. Or maybe it's just the Harrowing that causes them to be somewhat out of control...

Sharjo7 votes

Well, the Shadow Isles ARE kinda the afterlife - that got kinda messed up with the living world thanks to the ruined king. Also, we should not forget that the isles are not a unified group. There are at least two different positions, as it can be seen on the different altars on the Twisted Treeline.

I would say it's more of a corruption of life via deathly magics rather than just straight outta Runeterra's hell or whatever they have. The folks who're serving at the Shadow Isles didn't come back from the dead; their souls and bodies were warped and twisted by the energies of the Shadow Isles. Sion's a better example of something ripped straight out of hell; he died and then was brought back in ways no one predicted.

On the not so unified forces; I'd recon it has to do with memories more so than anything else. Hecarim, Thresh and the male altar spirit forgot who they were a long time ago, where as folks like Kalista, Yorick and the female altar spirit still have bits and pieces. Hell Yorick seems to have a great deal more memories than most, perhaps as a result of him still being almost entirely physical? Perhaps the more spectre-like you become the more your memories fade away.

SaltyToplaneGoat2 votes

Nah, I think Yorick remembers because for him dieing was not that much of a difference. Before he was digging graves, now he is digging Graves and in the future he will be digging graves. His job just got a little more complex, that's all, but his identity is still the same.

Probably a reason why he's one of the more chill guys from the isles. He does not want to cover the world with death and black mist, he's just doing his job. It's hard and dirty work, but someone's gotta do it.

Placentas1 votes

LOL digging "graves"

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

I think there is even a fanfiction to that... gotta look that up at some time.

Ebonmaw Dragon10 votes

[{quoted}](name=Kyoki Shinkuro,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=YsROGQrj,comment-id=00000000,timestamp=2015-09-09T00:04:46.778+0000)

Well, the Shadow Isles ARE kinda the afterlife

I dont think so, people died before the "accident" of the Shadow Isles... and not everyone who dies goes to the Shadow isles. The Shadow Isles is not something "Natural", i think that Sharjo is talking about the natural cycle of Life and Death

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

Well, imagine it as 2 planes of existence: World one: normal world, World 2: afterlife. The Shadow Isles are the result of tearing down the border between those two things, making the isles a twisted mix of both. But with that the Isles are still connected to that "natural cycle" that is refered to...

Ebonmaw Dragon1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Kyoki Shinkuro,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=YsROGQrj,comment-id=0000000000010000,timestamp=2015-09-09T01:57:03.012+0000)

Well, imagine it as 2 planes of existence: World one: normal world, World 2: afterlife. The Shadow Isles are the result of tearing down the border between those two things, making the isles a twisted mix of both. But with that the Isles are still connected to that "natural cycle" that is refered to...

I dont know.... but metal soul zombies things are not natural. The "Natural Cycle" says, that after you die, you dont keep walking as a metallic soul zombie thing

CubedJustice2 votes

The Natural Cycle in this world, yes. But it's plausible, not likely, and I don't think that's how it works, but plausible that all the dead go to the shadow isles. After all, Yorick does have to bury somebody.

revliledpembroke5 votes

Too bad we can't ask Nasus about it, I'm sure he would know.

Auryiel1 votes

Not sure if reference to dat drunken twitter rant or the champion

LMFAO

revliledpembroke4 votes

Ummm, how about to the character that never shuts up about "the cycle of life and death"? Who had at least one lore describing him as a Curator of a great library, where he taught the worthy about the cycle of life and death, you know, all that jazz...

Auryiel1 votes

Did you seriously downvote me for making a joke and then leave a bitch reply?

LOL

The Mighty Flea7 votes

No one got the joke

revliledpembroke5 votes

I don't see any joke. I just see you laughing at your own comment.

Phife1 votes

There is no such thing, you just rez at the fountain.

Ebonmaw Dragon1 votes

{quoted}

I feel like this new champion won't be tied with the Shadow Isles specifically, but Runeterra's afterlife. That's one thing we've never actually seen before; what life after death is like in Runeterra, but we know it exists because souls and the unliving do exist.

What you've found is actually really cool and the whole thing kinda brings to mind the idea of a shepard of the dead for me, herding souls in to the afterlife.

Something I wanna add, because it makes me wonder; all the teasers say "They are coming". We've all been asking who's coming but really, why are they coming? If things are tied in with this year's Harrowing I can only dream about the implications.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ4K2zJz-4E

Wolf: Lamb, tell me a story! Lamb: There was once a pale man with dark hair who was very lonely. Wolf: Why was it lonely? Lamb: All things must meet this man. So, they shunned him. Wolf: Did he chase them all? Lamb: He took an axe and split himself in two. Wolf: So he would always have a friend? Lamb: So he would always have a friend.

And Its Death... i guess that you where right about the Runeterra's afterlife.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

This could also explain the two different altars/positions on the isles. With Death himself having a split personality that wouldn't be weird...

Meep Man2 votes

The spirits of passing. The ACTUAL governers of life and death? Nasus isn't really death, he just is themed with it. Are they DEATH?

Similar to how Bard is the Caretaker if the artifacts of the universe, could Wolf and Lamb be the protectors of natural death? (As you said) (If so they really screwed up with the Shadow Isles)

Wait, what if they caused the Shadow Isles incident? Ever heard if wrathful gods? If they are indeed the protectors of death, could they also punish those who defied them? That would be a childish, ironic punishment. Ruined King: I want immortality! Wolf and Lamb: Ok. I got you. But you will suffer and become horrible undead beasts for eternity. Ruined King: Wait what? Wolf and Lamb: TOO LATE!

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

I don't think the Ruined King wa slike that. After all in the Bard Teaser it was said that he did not want to cause what he did... I assume that he was tricked by someone, but not by natural entities who exist for the sake of protecting the natural order of things. He might have messed with them in the process, but they are not the source of this.

(Altho your version sounds pretty much like 90% of how such trades for immortality go. "Yo I grant your wish - IN THE MOST FUCKED UP WAY POSSIBLE" )

Stars Shaper1 votes

Indeed, these spirits might be in a wild rampage to clean the mess in the SI and getting mad/crazy in the process seeing how the Black mist is acting and want to peace anything possible. Interactions with Mordekaiser might be imba cool since he is the ghost enslaver.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

I have this theory that Mordekaiser is a walking prison (metal controlling ghost) with the Ruined King locked up inside and forcefully using his power & aura to enslave the souls around them. After all the ruined king might be one the the very few individuals that might become dangerous for the isles, so they took their measures against that...

Not sure if those spirits would try to attack or protect the isles...

Stars Shaper1 votes

My theory on Morde is that he was in this form way before the SI fall and that he was the prison of the Black Mist. If you see, his powers concerning ghosts are really similar to what the Mist is doing on Harrowings and even his appearance makes him look.. darker.. than any other SI ghostly entity.

Edit: About the spirits I don't think they are concerned about the Islands themselves but their quest is the vigil of the soul of the deads and what happened in there could have shaken their sanity and what before was a kind entity now is a haunting presence in Valoran.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

After all "Mordekaiser is not to be trusted", no? ^^ It's interesting that we both view him as some kind of walking prison tho...

But he might be behind the Isles Incident. Kalista and Hecarim were humans who lost their minds during the "Breach" (as I call the border-break in between life and dead on the isles), Tresh (also former human) and Karthus came later as well as Yorick. Elise also pledged her loyality to Vilemaw long after the event.

I'm not counting Eve here as I don't thinks eh is connected to the Isles and she gets a rework at some point... She would go more into Tham Kench's area I guess. Some kind of demonic being, more a manifestation of a certain aspect, yet a bit more human... but we are getting offtopic now.

Mordekaiser seems to be the ONLY one who was on the isles from day 1. That's suspicious...

Stars Shaper1 votes

Indeed. His old old Lore stated: "The common perception is that the encompassing armor protects him, I fear that – for the fragile time being – it actually protects us."

His quest (which seems to go against the SI will purpose) might be to cage again the Mist.

Meep Man1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=YsROGQrj,comment-id=0008000000000000000000000000,timestamp=2015-09-10T12:48:45.906+0000)

Indeed. His old old Lore stated: "The common perception is that the encompassing armor protects him, I fear that – for the fragile time being – it actually protects us."

His quest (which seems to go against the SI will purpose) might be to cage again the Mist.

Indeed, I think Mordekaiser is basically much like Xerath in his own respect. My thoughts are that, when he was plagued by the undead curse, he was already crazy for power. He transformed into a normal undead but rebelled against the isles. Then, the Isles fought back and, at the time of course, he lost and was caged in the suit of armor. Now he marches towards his own goal. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." That would be true, but Mordekaiser is also crazy. He is biting the hand that feeds to try and take its power. He WANTS TO ENSLAVE SOULS, but he wants ALL THE SOULS!

EDIT: Upon further reading his lore, it actually says he came BEFORE the Shadow Isles, which opens up more doors. He is almost as mysterious as Rammus lore wise currently. There are some possibilities.

  1. He is the cause of the Shadow Isle plague.
  2. Him and the SI serve similar, competing goals and are against each other.

I go more towards #1, meaning Mordekaiser is, in the absence of the Ruined King, the King of the Shadow Isles.

Stars Shaper1 votes

We know for sure that what caused the SI downfall was the Ruined King.

And I also think that mordekaiser is totally sane, he is just pursuing his objective and we don't know what it is.

Meep Man1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Kyoki Shinkuro,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=YsROGQrj,comment-id=00080000,timestamp=2015-09-09T19:23:02.142+0000)

I don't think the Ruined King wa slike that. After all in the Bard Teaser it was said that he did not want to cause what he did... I assume that he was tricked by someone, but not by natural entities who exist for the sake of protecting the natural order of things. He might have messed with them in the process, but they are not the source of this.

(Altho your version sounds pretty much like 90% of how such trades for immortality go. "Yo I grant your wish - IN THE MOST FUCKED UP WAY POSSIBLE" )

That's kind of the point though. He just wanted to be immortal, but what he got as plaguing his land with the undead curse, granting him immortality (and all of his people) yet in the worst way possible.

Fowus1 votes

That is actually some pretty grotesque shit

SaltyToplaneGoat10 votes

Comparing this to what else we have in mythology... nah, not really.

Fowus1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Kyoki Shinkuro,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=YsROGQrj,comment-id=00030000,timestamp=2015-09-09T02:02:56.153+0000)

Comparing this to what else we have in mythology... nah, not really.

gotta agree with you on that

SaltyToplaneGoat8 votes

Never underestimate humanity's power to come up with weird shit - especially if they have several centuries for making that shit weirder and weirder...

Dreamspitter1 votes

#Question is...

What will people think of all of US centuries from now?

AutoreactiveCD43 votes

Japan has a god created by another god blowing his nose. Zeus screws everything to make more demigods. Greek myths are full of a lot of incest....yep. This is pretty normal compared to other things.

SaltyToplaneGoat4 votes

If you think the greek gods have family problems, look at the northern gods. Oh hey Loki messed around again swapping genders and is now pregnant with an eight legged horse. Or a giant wolf. Goddamnit Loki!

AutoreactiveCD41 votes

I knew he sometimes did that gender swap thing but I thought he was the father...as in he was the one doing the impregnating...I guess it makes sense why their big family reunion is essentially the apocalypse.

SaltyToplaneGoat3 votes

Well it kinda dependes on the story version. And even if it wasn't for it being the apocalpyse it was awkward as fuck. I mean they did so much weird shit... Thor dressed up as a woman with Loki's help once to sneak in on a forstgiant party to get his hammer back. (At that time everyone was amazed that a lady like this could eat twelve entire boars... almost blew his cover... )

And that's not the weirdest story xD

frozenfistme1 votes

Zeus eats one of his wives and Athena grows out of his head...

AutoreactiveCD42 votes

Chronos doesn't realize he ate a rock instead of a baby too. This is why we chew our food kids, so it doesn't grow and become a pissed off god of gods and rebel against you.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

Weirdness seems to run in the familiy... like that one time Zeus implanted himself the fetus of an unborn child-god and that one became the god of alcohol and sexual deviancy Dyonisus.

SaltyToplaneGoat2 votes

Yi is not any way connected to the Ninjas. Also, his entire clan/village got eradicated by a noxain attilery attack. Also this will be for the harrowing/shadow isles, not ionia.

catraven1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Kyoki Shinkuro,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=YsROGQrj,comment-id=,timestamp=2015-09-08T23:35:03.707+0000)

because if she caught up with them she would run between their legs and cut them open from the bottom up using the stiff hairs on her back.

So scandinavians invented Mortal Kombat... interesting :3

SaltyToplaneGoat2 votes

You would be surprised how explicit and gory mythology can get... you don't even have to go that far back, take late medival fairy tales for example. The "punishments" for the "evil" characters were more than horrifiying at some point...

Zyorhist1 votes

almost all mythology was very very gory...it wasn't until recent society that we've steered away.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

bumps because it suddenly got relevant again

Zethuriah Fox1 votes

Am i the only person here that knows that lamb and wolf is a very very old poem about a wolf justifying himself in killing the lamb that was trying to get water by the stream. The lamb was accused of committing injustices which she proves she didn't do, the wolf pretty much said "than someone you know did it and you will pay the price". Everyone has crazy theories, it's all about the poem you guys. Considering the wolf and lamb take place by a stream, my bet is the new champ is a jung.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

It's a Aesop fable from ancient greece, but the Shadow Isles context makes one think more of "death"... but there might be a relation to this.

Heh, even if it was not a jungler... I would jungle with it xD

More from Story, Art, & Sound

More by SaltyToplaneGoat