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Unpopular opinion: I don't like the Darkin

Ralanr··4 votes·1,742 views

Aatrox: The Darkin blade. The title that tries to make him unique actually makes me less interested in the character. Whenever Aatrox pops up in lore based discussions, talk about the Darkin as a race will inevitably follow. This is what I know about the Darkin and feel free to correct me:

-There are five in total. -Only three know of each other. So two are hidden (do the hidden two know each other?) Three are known to history (Thank you Duke Anax) -They all have wings -They are long lived if not immortal.

So what does that tell us about Aatrox? Nothing. We already know he is long lived due to his appearance in several cultures and we can see that he has wings. I do not know if he is meant to be one of the three that know each other or one of the two hidden.

Let's separate Aatrox from the Darkin for a moment, what is his character like? First off, he does not see war in the same way we do. He has no real empathy, "Some fight for honor, some fight for glory, all that matters is that you fight." and treats combat as a form of art, "This is no mere massacre; This is my masterpiece!" "Nobody understands me! They call my work a hack job!". Granted these are his jokes, but then we have his taunt towards Tryndamere, "Tryndamere, my greatest creation." which can lead us to believe that Tryndamere ability is possibly supernatural of some sorts (Or he's the best conduit of Aatrox's bloodlust).

From these three quotes I interpret Aatrox as an artist of some sort, or at least he views himself as an artist. Specifically one who is obsessed with a concept and uses it in all of his works. Consider the following quotes:

Aatrox: Violence is elegance. Aatrox: Peace is the greatest lie of all. Aatrox: I know what lurks in the hearts of men. Aatrox: War reveals what is within us. Aatrox (casting ult): Witness truth! Aatrox (casting ult): Behold!

He is obsessed with war, with conflict, and with truth. His truth. But why is he obsessed with it? Is he trying to prove someone or something wrong?

Let's go to his "affect" on people. He shows up when all hope is lost (Sounds like he's needed in the rift) and turns the tide. But the people he helps are haunted by the horrors they have committed. Almost like they're suffering from PTSD. Now it's possible that Aatrox is to blame, but if he is so obsessed about his truth then he wouldn't be fully responsible for the carnage they wrought. It's more like he taught someone how to use a gun, they chose to keep firing (please keep moral debates out of this analogy). He has the experience to back up, "I know what lurks in the hearts of men." because he's seen it. Again and again and again.

All of this has to connect to the Darkin in some way, and personally I think he works better as a fallen celestial. Yes, fallen, like Soraka. Aatrox seems to be trying to prove a point, but to who? If he was a fallen celestial, then he'd be trying to prove (to things like Bard) that they are wrong. Bard's job seems to be about cosmic balance, why should he care about Aatrox's points? I honestly don't know, I'm probably grasping at straws.

As a Darkin...well we don't know what a Darkin is and Riot (no offense to you all) doesn't seem interested in exploring that path. It's a subplot that I can't see going anywhere, or even how Tryndamere would relate to it considering he's got business up in the Freljord (and those frozen watchers).

I had something, but I kinda lost my track of thought. TLDR: Aatrox works better as a fallen celestial (imo) then a Darkin. Sadly because of his title he's stuck with the Darkin race. If they changed the title (which I don't think they will since people seem to like the idea of Darkin) I'd recomend something like, "The Herald of Violence."

P.S. I haven't even tackled how his sword is alive. If the Darkin are winged beings, then what is his sword?

What say you all?

54 Comments

Pyrodinium4 votes

There is a widespread theory that posits that Aatrox is actually the sword.

Aatrox being a fallen celestial sounds a little too trite for me, as it plays too much in the Generic Demonic Guy vibe that he has been criticized for before.

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

There is a widespread theory that posits that Aatrox is actually the sword.

Aatrox being a fallen celestial sounds a little too trite for me, as it plays too much in the Generic Demonic Guy vibe that he has been criticized for before.

Also consider the one TRUE DEMON we have -Reds have said that Demons in Runeterra are not judeo-christian demons. Nonetheless, with Tahm Kench they did take some inspiration from the classic Cross-Roads Deal with The Devil. I have a hard time seeing him as a celestial being, from the celestials we have seen. Plus, not the only Darkin.

LordHippoman4 votes

That's an unpopular opinion?

The Darkin were a thing mentioned once and then never elaborated on again. I pretty much consider them a non-factor in League Lore right now, TBH. Maybe if they get elaborated on more beyond theories and vague "i dunno i guess there are more of them".

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

That's an unpopular opinion?

The Darkin were a thing mentioned once and then never elaborated on again. I pretty much consider them a non-factor in League Lore right now, TBH. Maybe if they get elaborated on more beyond theories and vague "i dunno i guess there are more of them".

But............what mysteries SHOULD remain?

LordHippoman2 votes

Well, stuff like the fate of General DuCouteau, Irelia's brother, Kassadin's daughter, all that is still up in the air.

The reason I'm more interested in those is because I have reason to care about those characters. Marcus had lore significance and connections to his daughters and his servant, as well as a bit of a personality. Irelia's brother has a connection to her. Kassadin's daughter is a significant loss for him, and it drives home how insane Malzahar is, where he thinks that he's "saving" someone by tossing them into the endless abyss full of monsters. So there's tension, I care about what the outcome might be.

With the Darkin, it's like "There's 5 really strong dudes somewhere. They are cool and good." I mean, okay?

Rebonack3 votes

Everything about him screams some 13 year old's OC.

Black and red immortal god of war thing that likes violence because reasons. Even the name 'Darkin' is just awful. Mechanically, thematically, and visually there's nothing the least bit compelling about this character at all. I still can't fathom how he ever made it off the drawing board.

Ebonmaw Dragon3 votes

{quoted}

Everything about him screams some 13 year old's OC.

Black and red immortal god of war thing that likes violence because reasons. Even the name 'Darkin' is just awful. Mechanically, thematically, and visually there's nothing the least bit compelling about this character at all. I still can't fathom how he ever made it off the drawing board.

+1 Because i think the same.

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

Everything about him screams some 13 year old's OC.

Black and red immortal god of war thing that likes violence because reasons. Even the name 'Darkin' is just awful. Mechanically, thematically, and visually there's nothing the least bit compelling about this character at all. I still can't fathom how he ever made it off the drawing board.

As if so many other characters dont fill a niche.

He's not the only moody anti-hero/ super grim dark character

Yasuo Lucian for example

They're all archetypes of a sort

Sion is no more or less dark, but unlike Yas and Luc he doesnt whine about the past and go emo, and unlike Aatrox while he likes it he's not a "wicked cultured" trope kind of character who sees it as an art form, and his aesthetic isn't as archetypal as Aatrox -or if it is, it's less often seen. Aatrox is a mixture of Khorne and Slaanesh, whereas Sion is pure Khornate. Purest brutality. True, Sion's also a flat character that doesnt have a lot of depth, but he too fills a niche.

http://orig06.deviantart.net/dae0/f/2012/301/4/d/bonus_khorne_dog_by_edmcd-d5j6g8f.jpg http://pre13.deviantart.net/9595/th/pre/i/2014/020/0/2/khorne_by_baklaher-d7335e6.jpg http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/KhorneFlakes3.jpg

Rebonack1 votes

{quoted}

As if so many other characters dont fill a niche.

He's not the only moody anti-hero/ super grim dark character

Yasuo Lucian for example

They're all archetypes of a sort

It doesn't particularly bother me that many champions have some sort of trope-boots they're filling. That's totally fine. Something doesn't have to be totally original to be compelling in a literary sense. It just has to be emotionally or intellectually engaging somehow. Lucian is a pretty bog-standard undead hunter guy driven by grief and revenge. That isn't a new idea by any means. But he manages to pull it off pretty decently. We can empathize with him.

Aatrox, though?

Aside from providing Try with his 'I'm an adventurer because some jerk destroyed my whole village except me' character genesis, he is absolutely irrelevant to pretty much everything that has happened on Runeterra. Deep-past backstory consisting of elements that are not mentioned anywhere outside of said backstory don't particularly count.

Everything about him is suggestive of a 14 year old's first masturbatory foray into forum RP (Member of an immortal race of a handful of super-beings with amazing powers? Check. Unmatched battle prowess? Check. Shoe-horned into the setting as being super-important despite the fact that he appears basically nowhere else before or since his intro? Check. Grim black and red guy with an outrageously impractical looking weapon? Check. Looks like a demon but isn't? Check.) The only thing missing is ORIGINAL CHARACTER; DO NOT STEAL

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

It doesn't particularly bother me that many champions have some sort of trope-boots they're filling. That's totally fine. Something doesn't have to be totally original to be compelling in a literary sense. It just has to be emotionally or intellectually engaging somehow. Lucian is a pretty bog-standard undead hunter guy driven by grief and revenge. That isn't a new idea by any means. But he manages to pull it off pretty decently. We can empathize with him.

Aatrox, though?

Aside from providing Try with his 'I'm an adventurer because some jerk destroyed my whole village except me' character genesis, he is absolutely irrelevant to pretty much everything that has happened on Runeterra. Deep-past backstory consisting of elements that are not mentioned anywhere outside of said backstory don't particularly count.

Everything about him is suggestive of a 14 year old's first masturbatory foray into forum RP (Member of an immortal race of a handful of super-beings with amazing powers? Check. Unmatched battle prowess? Check. Shoe-horned into the setting as being super-important despite the fact that he appears basically nowhere else before or since his intro? Check. Grim black and red guy with an outrageously impractical looking weapon? Check. Looks like a demon but isn't? Check.) The only thing missing is ORIGINAL CHARACTER; DO NOT STEAL

No, no , no -those "first" characters always wear a hooded cloak, have absolutely NO known history whatsoever, and wield a scythe. :^) There's also a subset of the playerbase that demands there be a character like this in addition to being a little girl (that's the twist), expect their release in the near future.

That aside, if we wanted to take the "Deep-past backstory consisting of elements that are not mentioned anywhere outside of said backstory" and MAKE them mentioned, or connected elsewhere how else would you do it? Characters are generally added to this game, and all of them are "new". If a character is NEW every connected to them will also be NEW unless of course...you had been planning this character's reveal/release for years and been dropping hints for ages. That or you do a LOT more writing to do so.

I can see with the design of the Summoner's Rift map, and the "Magelords vs The Protectorate" mentioned in his background how that aesthetic works and before the big retcon was pretty sure he was going to tie in some how to the runewars. But all that seems for nil now. Personally I don't see champions like Bard TahmKench Aatrox Kindred Shaco Nocturne Brand Chogath as ever getting "character development". I don't see the playerbase empathizing with or connecting with them because despite some of them having humanoid shapes and voices with which to speak...they are utterly alien in their thought processes and motivation. If they get used in any stories at all, it will be as a plot device.

##Which is Ironic....

Because in the past, say a year or 2 ago I recall red's saying they did not like certain characters because their "stories are finished and can't go anywhere". But the characters I just listed are not going to go anywhere themselves because

  1. We can't empathize or "feel" for any of them. How are any of them emotionally or intellectually engaging on a personal level considering they are amoral immortals?
  2. They have a limited range of emotions which they are capable of, if they have any at all.
  3. They aren't (likely?) going to struggle against anything -they are at present more powerful than many other things in the setting and seem to be (nearly?) unstoppable forces of the universe -whether incarnating cosmic balance, desire, bloodshed, death, chaos, fear, destruction & rebirth, or cosmic horror.
  4. If they are used in a story, they will DO things...and the people we become emotionally engaged with, fear for, cry with etc will be the "mere" mortals caught up in the shitstorms they cause.

So taking all that into account , I can't really imagine how anyone would improve a champion like Aatrox or the others, and make the playerbase CARE about what happens with that champion themselves. Tzeentch, Khorne, Slaanesh, and Nurgle are not characters -although they embody emotion, they are really forces. When dealing with them, you more often deal with their followers and individual religions.

Tahm Kench like Aatrox has been EVERYWHERE, although unlike Aatrox when he interacts with mortal characters he does so on an individual level rather than leading on a battlefield. Kindred IS literally EVERYWHERE stated to "omnipresent" and yet....they are stated also by Reds to be "the moment of death" and so they do not actually "CHOOSE who dies" as said in the Q&A. They are technically involved with every single death that has EVER happened in the setting. But....they don't have any grand plans, or plots, or anything. You COULD argue they too are mostly irrelevant -except they have a religion around them (which they did not start, and do not care about). But that plays into Karthus, for one thing, and potentially in the future other characters.

If you were to remake Aatrox what in the world would you do with him, in a hypothetical VU and Lore rewrite to make him into something appealing to you? I have strange hunch it is really only his aesthetic that just bugs the hell out of some people, and if he looked COMPLETELY different that would "fix" everything. Almost. After a hypothetical VU, what do you want to do with such champion's background?

Ralanr1 votes

I guess I don't like how the Darkin concept weighs him down. You could do the same by making him a demon or celestial. But as a Darkin he is one of 5. That's 4 other Darkin, which I'd imagine at least 2 are expected by the community to be champions.

If they were made into champions, they would need to differentiate them. They would most likely get more or (heaven forbid) less character than Aatrox.

Which characters did Riot say they didn't like due to their stories ending?

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

I guess I don't like how the Darkin concept weighs him down. You could do the same by making him a demon or celestial. But as a Darkin he is one of 5. That's 4 other Darkin, which I'd imagine at least 2 are expected by the community to be champions.

If they were made into champions, they would need to differentiate them. They would most likely get more or (heaven forbid) less character than Aatrox.

Which characters did Riot say they didn't like due to their stories ending?

...

You gave a story that people liked and now are saying it doesn't matter anymore. I have seen way to many posts lately where Riot personal has said that the stories were over and that anything added would of been forced.

http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=3333768&page=21

It was in 2013 and this post mentions it and Kitae, but I have to look around to find the specific Rioter posts. There were several champions whose stories Riot thought were "over" and not going anywhere at all.

Ralanr1 votes

Thank you for the information.

Rebonack2 votes

{quoted}

If you were to remake Aatrox what in the world would you do with him, in a hypothetical VU and Lore rewrite to make him into something appealing to you? I have strange hunch it is really only his aesthetic that just bugs the hell out of some people, and if he looked COMPLETELY different that would "fix" everything. Almost. After a hypothetical VU, what do you want to do with such champion's background?

I'll freely admit that I'm not a huge fan of his visual theme. And as you said, there are other 'alien' characters in the game. But many of them we can still relate to in some capacity. Kog'Maw is an everything-devouring eldritch abomination and yet he's still got way more character than Aatrox. (And before you bring it up, I'm not a huge fan of Rek. I still hold that she's basically just a giant Voidling).

If I were remaking Aatrox I would probably lean more toward the Justicar style Aatrox and pitch him as some sort of avatar of the God of Justice/Duty/Honor in Combat that is no doubt venerated by Demacia. I really don't see any particularly compelling reason to have Darkin as a thing in the setting. We've already got evil spirits like Tahm and neutral ones like Kindred and Bard. Having one leaning more toward the good(ish) side of the spectrum would be neat.

Basically, I'm leery of supernatural bloat. We've already got spirits, fae, gods, demons, whatever the hell Kayle and Morg are going to get retconed as, undead, the frozen watchers, and of course the menagerie of Void-based terrorhorrors. Sure, Darkin would be just one more, but what purpose are they serving that isn't covered by one of the above?

If Riot did want to keep the Darkin as a thing I would prefer if they had some uniquely defined purpose for being in the setting's cosmology. If you have classes of supernatural beings in your setting, they should all be there for a reason. That would require them to actually have a concrete story beyond 'hey this thing happened that one time' and 'oooooooh mysterious!'

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

I'll freely admit that I'm not a huge fan of his visual theme. And as you said, there are other 'alien' characters in the game. But many of them we can still relate to in some capacity. Kog'Maw is an everything-devouring eldritch abomination and yet he's still got way more character than Aatrox. (And before you bring it up, I'm not a huge fan of Rek. I still hold that she's basically just a giant Voidling).

If I were remaking Aatrox I would probably lean more toward the Justicar style Aatrox and pitch him as some sort of avatar of the God of Justice/Duty/Honor in Combat that is no doubt venerated by Demacia. I really don't see any particularly compelling reason to have Darkin as a thing in the setting. We've already got evil spirits like Tahm and neutral ones like Kindred and Bard. Having one leaning more toward the good(ish) side of the spectrum would be neat.

Basically, I'm leery of supernatural bloat. We've already got spirits, fae, gods, demons, whatever the hell Kayle and Morg are going to get retconed as, undead, the frozen watchers, and of course the menagerie of Void-based terrorhorrors. Sure, Darkin would be just one more, but what purpose are they serving that isn't covered by one of the above?

If Riot did want to keep the Darkin as a thing I would prefer if they had some uniquely defined purpose for being in the setting's cosmology. If you have classes of supernatural beings in your setting, they should all be there for a reason. That would require them to actually have a concrete story beyond 'hey this thing happened that one time' and 'oooooooh mysterious!'

#Ah here's the problem....

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FantasyKitchenSink

But honestly it's like opening a Dungeons & Dragons monster manual and claiming there are way too many races of the "Monstrous Humanoid" type and go "Why have so many? Orcs, bugbears, goblins, hobgoblins, lots of frog men, lots of reptile men, various fish men, lots of degenerate cave men analogues...."

Rebonack1 votes

{quoted}

#Ah here's the problem....

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FantasyKitchenSink

But honestly it's like opening a Dungeons & Dragons monster manual and claiming there are way too many races of the "Monstrous Humanoid" type and go "Why have so many?"

Pretty much. Having a little bit of everything can make individual elements seem watered down.

I largely feel the same way about the Frozen Watchers. Do we really need a second set of eldritch abominations that ruled the world in the ancient past aside from the Void-Critters? Or at these guys supposed to be more like the Elder Things to the Void's Cthulhu? I have no idea, because Riot refuses to tell us.

Basically, I would like to see more cohesive, interrelated story elements and fewer mysterious things with no apparent connection to anything else.

And the name 'Darkin' is just dumb. Any fantasy race with the word 'dark' or any synonym thereof in their name automatically receives my ire unless they manage to be really interesting to make up for it. Aatrox and his fellow Darkin who may or may not have been retconned out of existence aren't particularly compelling.

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

Pretty much. Having a little bit of everything can make individual elements seem watered down.

I largely feel the same way about the Frozen Watchers. Do we really need a second set of eldritch abominations that ruled the world in the ancient past aside from the Void-Critters? Or at these guys supposed to be more like the Elder Things to the Void's Cthulhu? I have no idea, because Riot refuses to tell us.

Basically, I would like to see more cohesive, interrelated story elements and fewer mysterious things with no apparent connection to anything else.

And the name 'Darkin' is just dumb. Any fantasy race with the word 'dark' or any synonym thereof in their name automatically receives my ire unless they manage to be really interesting to make up for it. Aatrox and his fellow Darkin who may or may not have been retconned out of existence aren't particularly compelling.

Well see within the Mythos you had

  • The Outer Gods -Azathoth the Nuclear Chaos & Friends including Nyarlathotep the Crawling Chaos, and over 40+ entities
  • The Old Ones -worshiped the Outer Gods, with Cthulhu (who himself once belonged to a race) as high priest...but then they tried to rebel and were punished. Many of them came to be worshiped themselves by mortal creatures
  • The Elder Gods -beings mostly tied to the Dreamlands, humans have known them by many names, and they are more interested in humans well being (but only because of Brian Lumley) includes Bast (Egyptian Pantheon), and Nodens (Odin, Zeus, etc), and others.
  • Servitor Races -beings created by The Old Ones, or Elder Gods to perform their namesake including Shantaks, Nightgaunts, Star Spawn, Star Vampires, Hounds of Tindalos, Byakhee, and countless numbers more
  • **Aliens **-there's lots and lots of these from The Elder Things, to The Great Race of Yith, Yekubians, Voormi, etc etc etc
  • Weird Shit -there's lots of things ranging from bizarre monsters, to energy beings, other minor dimensional entities, etc etc that defy classification in the above -but there's also regular old Vampires, Black Magicians, and other things.

The Mythos, you see, has an extremely diverse assortment of entities BUT.....they kinda sorta fit into some categories, and those that don't still fit the big themes of They Mythos.

#Now Remember...

Once I figured the Frozen Watchers were apart of the Void -because until that point EVERYTHING that seemed Lovecraftian was, so it made sense.

http://i.imgur.com/xH79oEg.jpg

And hey the statues we were shown on the map bore a somewhat resemblance to Velkoz

##But Now....

We have Illaoi who is a "Prophet of An Elder God". And while we can draw lines between Illaoi and Malzahar "Prophet of the Void" , I don't think the Void and Illaoi are related -although BOTH take Lovecraftian influence. This makes me think now that the Frozen Watchers are not Void related.

On the one had, yes, they could be similar to the Elder Things in a Mountains of Madness kind of way...on the other hand...they could be some kind of Jotunheim or a combination of both.

http://i.imgur.com/uGbFng7.jpg

I'm pretty sure if we wait long enough, we will eventually get one as a champion and re-address the Freljord.

#But No Matter What Happens

We're all DOOMED

The Freljord, Bilgewater, Shurima, all Runeterra. http://i.imgur.com/DTagolt.jpg http://i.imgur.com/fI52RLe.jpg http://i.imgur.com/uaoeDDY.jpg http://i.imgur.com/nXUYO3l.png

Ralanr1 votes

Just because there are tentacles does not make her a worshipper of Cthulhu.

Ralanr1 votes

Just because there are tentacles does not make her a worshipper of Cthulhu.

Ralanr1 votes

Just because there are tentacles does not make her Cthulhu.

Ralanr1 votes

Just because there are tentacles does not make her a worshipper of Cthulhu.

GreenLore3 votes

Overall it depends on what direction they want to take with the darkins.

From the way it looks now,then the darkins could just as well be demons(I think that would be more fitting than celestials),but who knows?We simply don't have enough info about the darkins or the demons to say for sure if it makes sense to seperate the 2.

Ralanr1 votes

TahmKench only adds to the ambiguity. I think the Darkin are not demons, but at the same time they may have some connection. Maybe they're higher on the hierarchy?

GreenLore1 votes

It is confirmed that Tahm kench at least is not darkin,so I guess they are different beings.

I imagine that the darkin are a bit more physical,as tahm kench seems more like an evil spirit,than a physical being.

Ralanr1 votes

I know Tahm was confirmed as not a Darkin. But his attitude towards Aatrox makes me wonder if the Darkin have a connection to the spirit/fey world.

Off topic: Tahm has mainly Yordles as his rivals, think this could make Yordles as somewhat fey like?

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

I know Tahm was confirmed as not a Darkin. But his attitude towards Aatrox makes me wonder if the Darkin have a connection to the spirit/fey world.

Off topic: Tahm has mainly Yordles as his rivals, think this could make Yordles as somewhat fey like?

Illaoi calls Yordles "spirit"

Ralanr1 votes

That's what originally led me to consider it actually.

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

It is confirmed that Tahm kench at least is not darkin,so I guess they are different beings.

I imagine that the darkin are a bit more physical,as tahm kench seems more like an evil spirit,than a physical being.

What makes kench non physical?

GreenLore1 votes

Its implied that Tahm Kench isn't actually his real name,but the name of the gambler whose life was destroyed in the video and that when tahm kench returned to collect his "payment" the gambler actually turned into tahm kench

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

Its implied that Tahm Kench isn't actually his real name,but the name of the gambler whose life was destroyed in the video and that when tahm kench returned to collect his "payment" the gambler actually turned into tahm kench

Where is it implied?

EDIT:

That aside, have you seen this post

https://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/3bzey3/tahm_kench_originnature_possible_explanation/ http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/story-art/i2cPoBs4-is-tahm-kench-even-real

Does he or Kindred........exist at all? This is a League of LEGENDS.

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

TahmKench only adds to the ambiguity. I think the Darkin are not demons, but at the same time they may have some connection. Maybe they're higher on the hierarchy?

TahmKench -Embodies hunger, and desire of all sorts, uses it to take advantage of others and theb feeds on their misery later (according to Reds)

Maybe...

Aatrox -Embodies carnage, bloodshed, and violence, uses warfare to take advantage of mortals and then feeds on the horror of war

Shaco ? Nocturne ?

Ralanr1 votes

Nocturne is definitely fear, using nightmares as his domain.

Shaco, well it's in his name: chaos.

Fowus1 votes

Singed -Design

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

Singed -Design

Not chemistry, or pollution, or misuse of science?

Fowus1 votes

I was trying to say singed is an anagram for design

The Whamboozler2 votes

Given that Aatrox is A: a huge mess of boring champion design, and B: A huge mess of VISUAL design... I don't really see the need to care about him one way or the other. His kit is boring, his design is awful and his lore, his only redeemable aspect, is written in the manner of the "edgy" fanfic of a 14 year old boy.

He'd need a complete rework and overhaul in both kit and appearance for me to care about him in any way.

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

Aatrox: Violence is elegance. Aatrox: Peace is the greatest lie of all. Aatrox: I know what lurks in the hearts of men. Aatrox: War reveals what is within us. Aatrox (casting ult): Witness truth! Aatrox (casting ult): Behold!

He is obsessed with war, with conflict, and with truth. His truth. But why is he obsessed with it? Is he trying to prove someone or something wrong?

Let's go to his "affect" on people. He shows up when all hope is lost (Sounds like he's needed in the rift) and turns the tide. But the people he helps are haunted by the horrors they have committed. Almost like they're suffering from PTSD. Now it's possible that Aatrox is to blame, but if he is so obsessed about his truth then he wouldn't be fully responsible for the carnage they wrought. It's more like he taught someone how to use a gun, they chose to keep firing (please keep moral debates out of this analogy). He has the experience to back up, "I know what lurks in the hearts of men." because he's seen it. Again and again and again.

Aatrox "Sow the seeds of strife."

Ralanr1 votes

Is he saying he does that or that others shall do it? It looks like an order to me.

Dreamspitter2 votes

{quoted}

Is he saying he does that or that others shall do it? It looks like an order to me.

http://i.imgur.com/ZDzgk9C.jpg

#Besides....

What does he do with the rest of his time?

Ralanr1 votes

I want to say painting. I really do.

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

I want to say painting. I really do.

It is a good question though, because he is immortal and not seen that often.

To be immortal is to have a lot of free time.

Ralanr1 votes

In all honesty he probably just practices.

StealWolverine1 votes

you are aware that in the lore he was the one that led the raid that destroyed tryndameres village and killed all his people? Tryndamere saw death and destruction engulf his home as his life slipped away. No one was left standing - only the screams of the dying remained. Unable to surrender to death, Tryndamere gave in fully to his wrath. His blood boiled and his anger consumed him, banishing his mortality. He staggered to his feet - barely able to take hold of his sword - steeling himself for the decisive confrontation with the shadowy being. But the dark figure did not even lift his blade, and instead gave Tryndamere a knowing smile as he withdrew into the shadows. That was the last time the barbarian ever saw his nemesis. this is also where he first got his death immunity. that explains him considering tryndamere his greatest creation as aatrox's magic inspired bloodlust in those around him. (something thats really lacking in his kit. to me this part of his lore would have made sense for him to have kindreds ult.)

Ralanr1 votes

I am aware of that. Why?

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

I am aware of that. Why?

Why what?

Dreamspitter1 votes

{quoted}

you are aware that in the lore he was the one that led the raid that destroyed tryndameres village and killed all his people? Tryndamere saw death and destruction engulf his home as his life slipped away. No one was left standing - only the screams of the dying remained. Unable to surrender to death, Tryndamere gave in fully to his wrath. His blood boiled and his anger consumed him, banishing his mortality. He staggered to his feet - barely able to take hold of his sword - steeling himself for the decisive confrontation with the shadowy being. But the dark figure did not even lift his blade, and instead gave Tryndamere a knowing smile as he withdrew into the shadows. That was the last time the barbarian ever saw his nemesis. this is also where he first got his death immunity. that explains him considering tryndamere his greatest creation as aatrox's magic inspired bloodlust in those around him. (something thats really lacking in his kit. to me this part of his lore would have made sense for him to have kindreds ult.)

I said on release, after kit reveal (his lore having been revealed a day or some earlier), that he really should of had a battle aura that would do something to allied units around him.

Umbral Regent1 votes

I have a slight theory about the Darkin, but it's not really likely to stand for long once people see it. My thought is that, in some way, Darkin could be something like Runeterra's "vampires", although in a much more restricted sense. Although I don't know the hugest amount of information about Vampires in reality, I know this much;

Vampires:

  • Cannot stand the sunlight, burning into ash if they come into contact with it
  • Are undead creatures
  • Require blood for sustenance
  • Are often depicted as ruthlessly fast and strong, while also sometimes being depicted as graceful
  • They are reclusive or extremely subtle, barely being known or barely appearing
  • Can dominate people to become their thralls through some means
  • Some range of thought, varying from animalistic savages to more refined and cunning, sometimes even wise creatures (Springheeled Jack for cunning, Nosferatu I think for wise; again, never quite bulked up on Vampire stuff, so don't quote me.)
  • Some Vampires, in a mix of animal forms and human appearance, tend to have wings in their depictions, while others can transform into bats
  • Those that are "often seen" tend to be depicted as frightfully pale, with narrow, bony facial features, and piercing eyes
  • With the rumors surrounding Vlad the Impaler, they can also be considered very, very brutal

Now, what we know about Darkin (rather, Aatrox in specific...)

  • He can stand the sunlight, unlike Vampires
  • He is clearly not undead
  • He drains blood and uses it as some sort of personal fuel, rather than requiring it to live
  • He is very ruthless, very fast, and very strong, even being depicted in his lore as graceful with his sword
  • He isn't quite reclusive, but he does tend to disappear when there's no wars to wage
  • He can inspire unholy bloodlust in others, which, in a sense, can be a form of domination, although he leaves them to their devices when the fight is over
  • He's very cunning, and to an unknown extent, wise about war and violence
  • He has wings that can be seen as bat-like, although they may also be something more like a mix of wings and warbanners
  • His face is pale, narrow, and he has somewhat burning eyes
  • Do I really need to compare him with the "brutality" point on Vampires?

Of course, I don't know a whole lot about vampires besides what I wrote above, so those points are moot for the most part. Though, given what they are, they do tie in pretty well to what we know of Aatrox. Whether Darkin are Runterra's vampires or what, it's up to Riot to say, though every theory out there is hypothetically correct given what little we know. What's up with his sword though, I have no clue. It could be an extension of his being, like some artists would compare their brushes to.

Dreamspitter1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Umbral Regent,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=ZexpcdRT,comment-id=0008,timestamp=2015-11-24T03:47:06.659+0000)

I have a slight theory about the Darkin, but it's not really likely to stand for long once people see it. My thought is that, in some way, Darkin could be something like Runeterra's "vampires", although in a much more restricted sense. Although I don't know the hugest amount of information about Vampires in reality, I know this much;

Vampires:

  • Cannot stand the sunlight, burning into ash if they come into contact with it
  • Are undead creatures
  • Require blood for sustenance
  • Are often depicted as ruthlessly fast and strong, while also sometimes being depicted as graceful
  • They are reclusive or extremely subtle, barely being known or barely appearing
  • Can dominate people to become their thralls through some means
  • Some range of thought, varying from animalistic savages to more refined and cunning, sometimes even wise creatures (Springheeled Jack for cunning, Nosferatu I think for wise; again, never quite bulked up on Vampire stuff, so don't quote me.)
  • Some Vampires, in a mix of animal forms and human appearance, tend to have wings in their depictions, while others can transform into bats
  • Those that are "often seen" tend to be depicted as frightfully pale, with narrow, bony facial features, and piercing eyes
  • With the rumors surrounding Vlad the Impaler, they can also be considered very, very brutal

Now, what we know about Darkin (rather, Aatrox in specific...)

  • He can stand the sunlight, unlike Vampires
  • He is clearly not undead
  • He drains blood and uses it as some sort of personal fuel, rather than requiring it to live
  • He is very ruthless, very fast, and very strong, even being depicted in his lore as graceful with his sword
  • He isn't quite reclusive, but he does tend to disappear when there's no wars to wage
  • He can inspire unholy bloodlust in others, which, in a sense, can be a form of domination, although he leaves them to their devices when the fight is over
  • He's very cunning, and to an unknown extent, wise about war and violence
  • He has wings that can be seen as bat-like, although they may also be something more like a mix of wings and warbanners
  • His face is pale, narrow, and he has somewhat burning eyes
  • Do I really need to compare him with the "brutality" point on Vampires?

Of course, I don't know a whole lot about vampires besides what I wrote above, so those points are moot for the most part. Though, given what they are, they do tie in pretty well to what we know of Aatrox. Whether Darkin are Runterra's vampires or what, it's up to Riot to say, though every theory out there is hypothetically correct given what little we know. What's up with his sword though, I have no clue. It could be an extension of his being, like some artists would compare their brushes to.

So considering that Aatrox has been venerated, well.........where does that put the hemomancers in relation to them?

redbull papi1 votes

The Darkin are living weapons. Aatrox is the name of the sword. The figure wielding the sword is simply a vessel.

Ralanr1 votes

That's the theory I like, but sadly all Darkin are the winged beings. So I don't think Aatrox is the blade. I wish he was.

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