Kayn Bio/Story out

Blood Magicks·Jul 3, 2017·8 votes·5,490 views

http://universe.leagueoflegends.com/en_gb/story/champion/kayn

So he's another Noxian-born defector. That explains the looks, I guess?

33 Comments

HellioningJul 3, 20179 votes

A) Did a Noxian kill the lore team's family or something? I thought we were supposed to show Noxus as a grey nation, and we're still going full evil.

B) Kayn's short story is pretty bad, man. It tells us basically nothing.

Wrathof300Jul 3, 201710 votes

A) Kayn is their enemy, he is supposed to see them as evil scumbags. Just like how Viktor sees Jayce a a dickhead and glorified murder, and Jayce sees Viktor as a mad scientist that is willing to ignore basic morality to further his research.

B) It told us how he got Rhaast.

ChunLiiJul 4, 20173 votes

I don't know how you can make sending children to war and child soldiers subjective. There is no room for argument, they either did it or they didn't.

Wrathof300Jul 4, 20171 votes

The majority always wins, if this is want the popular/ majority of high ranking soldiers want, its whats going to happen, not that they are right for doing it. Not everyone has this mindset in Noxus, just like in Demacia, there is an order for persons with magic to be able to serve and live within Demacia, despite the majority seeing magic as a bad thing.

ChunLiiJul 4, 20171 votes

To me the idea of sending and forcing children to war is irredeemable evil. At least there was an implication of that was the practice of some commanders and not all.

Wrathof300Jul 4, 20172 votes

Now this is where it gets interesting, as we see on Kayn's page, Darius is marked as an affiliated champion duh duh duh!

Though Darius is defined as one of the more respectable Noxians and killed his captain when he showed weakness on the battlefield. If this is the point at which they interacted in their lore, then it is possible that was the general that sent Kayn, just my personal theory.

Whyte LyonJul 4, 20173 votes

I for one really like maybe even love this new information about expendable soldiers and how worse that becomes when they are children. I know that a lot from this community have taken a huge interest in the moral gray areas of lore; heroes can be flawed and all. But being classified as black or white isn't a bad thing by any means. Just because the honorable culture of Demacia has a rust spot in it doesn't make them any less honorable, nor does Noxus' corrosive nature need to be entirely polished out.

SalsonJul 3, 20171 votes

I think it's the pre-Swain Noxus that used child soldiers, Kayn doesn't seem much older than Riven. Those are the guys that are suppposed to make Swain and LeBlanc a lesser evil.

KrabohodJul 3, 20179 votes

I think his bio is too short. Nothing on the Order of Shadows, basically just all the stuff we already new.

And short story.. Sigh.. It's not even a story. It is poor script from one action scene from mediocre film, not a champion's story. The writing of the thing was bland. Dialogue - bland. And we do not discover any new thing. Aside from child soldiers - which are very weak lore idea. We did not learn anything about darkins, we did not learn anything about Order of Shadow. Nothing about Noxus/Ionia conflict. Just this stupid idea with child soldiers.

I'm a big fan of lore and champion stories in general. But this was really bland and uninteresting.

LimrickJul 4, 20171 votes

There will probably be more, he just got a barebones origin story, one for him, and one for how he got Rhaast. Bet there will be an Ionia update that'll have more.

Lady FacelessJul 4, 20171 votes

I agree with you.

Expect a bad-written story we got nothing, no in-sight at all.

Stars ShaperJul 4, 20171 votes

Yes the Bio was a bit underwhelming also because it didn't entertwine with other characters that also did not receive any updated Bio (Aatrox and Varus mostly).

Lady FacelessJul 3, 20174 votes

Boi.

I really though, okay, I will dislike him no matter that but at least he will give us proper world-building and that should be enough... How could I have been so wrong? His bio and color text are just a mess. I mean a Mount Targon big mess.

The Demacia update was an amazing example for giving us a grey nation, but Noxus, as far as we know, is just pure evil. Riot isn't even trying to give us any reason to like Noxus, at all.
My problem aren't the child soldier itself, but how they used them. For a normal noxian child this shouldn't even be an option. As orphan, maybe, as war tribut I could take it... but it seems just too stupid to be real.
Kayn's whole characteristics seems so boring and unappeling. I mean, as much I dislike Xayah, she at least has a reason to fight. Everything about Kayn is so 08/15, it's awful, since we know Riot can do it better.
And again we got a cliffhanger, which will never be resolved. I really hope Zed will kick his stupid ass.

I said, as long Kayn give us some in-sight, he has every right to exist in this game. But he gives us nothing. No in-sight at all. That a waste.

Wrathof300Jul 4, 20172 votes

He is not a Noxian champ, he sides with Ionia, legit, the faction at war with Noxus. We don't even know the specifics of his childhood, just because he was born Noxian, but as far as we know he could be the child of a refugee that tried to live in Noxus after their homeland was conquered/ or he could be royalty, the whole fact of the matter is that, that was his past and he himself doesn't care. He isn't even an integral part of the Darkins or the Order of the Shadow, sure he may be a star pupil but why stuff all of their lore into the pupil's bio when the Order could have its own story or done in Zed's (the current leader/ master) lore. No one excepted anything from Kayn, we wanted to hear Rhaast's side of the story, but that looks like something we will have to wait for.

Lady FacelessJul 4, 20172 votes

Basically his first paragraph says how important the Order of Shadows is for him. I mean, getting some in-sight about the Order of Shadows was too much to ask... it's not like he is a star pupil, which Zed took under his wing... But no, no in-sight about the Order, no real in-sight about the Ionia-Noxus-War, expect Noxus is more evil™ than expected, no in-sight about the Darkin history at all. As you mentioned, not even Rhaast got any real spotlight, and he is as important as Kayn.

For me it's just a slap in the face, 'cause we know Riot can do it better. There is no reason to enjoy his side of the story, to actually like him as character. I mean, we probably need such character as well, but could at least get some proper world-building then?

Wrathof300Jul 4, 20172 votes

He did give us some insight into the Order, we know that acolytes are expected to specialize in one specific weapon and hone their shadow magic to suit their fighting style. Kayn isn't the type of character I would expect to find the history of anything in his bio, yes in your words, Riot could have done better/ more, but Kayn isn't the character to convey that information. To prove that point, he had the opportunity to explain in detail the history of the darkin when he gained Rhaast's memories, but he didn't dwell on it, because these things just like the fact that he was thrown away as a child soldier, are extras to him and all that matters is him achieving his goal.

Lady FacelessJul 4, 20172 votes

Specialize in one specific weapon is actually a logic conclusion, so I wouldn't call it really a great in-sight. Ofc, we got some lore bits for the bigger picture, but nothing special or important. I remember reading the Xayah color text and suddenly we get the information, that the Order of Shadow use the souls of the fallen to empower themself. You read it and suddenly you understand, why the shadow magic is considered evil. Here we get nothing. I mean, I'm not even angry 'cause it's bad-written, but more 'cause of the missed opportunities. Rhaast didn't get any spotlight either and he is as much a champion as Kayn. Maybe we get some insight at all, who knows, but currently it really looks incredibly grimm.

RalanrJul 3, 20172 votes

Yeah...I'm not like him. He's really playing up the edge (with thankfully no wangst) but I just can't help think, "You're a dick" even when he doesn't do anything dickish.

AND RHAAST NEEDS MORE SCREENTIME IN LORE!

Edit: Damn cowardly Noxians. Own up to your hype, you maggots!

OleandervineJul 3, 20172 votes

He's a "white savior" trope. He's the foreigner that the master saw potential in that no other person in their homeland had ever or ever could have and so channeled all of their time and resources into that foreign student who then became the absolute best that anyone had ever seen.

This trope is seen in films like Karate Kid, Last Samurai, Dances with Wolves, Ferngully, Avatar (James Cameron). It was insanely popular in the 90s, and most often was told about a white guy in Asia or some other place who ended up saving the world or country, hence the name "white savior." It wasn't a very deep concept back in the 90s, and it certainly wasn't built upon to make Kayn. He's got about as much depth as Ash Ketchum.

LanceworksJul 3, 20173 votes

Wouldn't really call him a "saviour" since he's being built up more as a villain.

Chromatic EagleJul 4, 20172 votes

Villain against who? So far he's against Noxus, who are villains by half the world.

NevrankroatonJul 3, 20179 votes

I don't think Kayn is made to create a bunch of fans over an overdramatic or dramatic/complex story, if anything, I think his current situation match very well his life.

He was 'created' as a war weapon/tool and was excellent at it, he survived and only thrived on living. He has no attach except Ionia and he is a 'stranger' in it, he see weapons as tools, see no value in the design of armor. He thrive in the shadows, which despite the edgy side of it, show also someone who find comfort in the notion of void. It is someone who is edgy because he has a damn unstable life man.

He want to be recognized (be it by others or by Zed in particular), suceeding with this darkin weapon is a way for him to prove his own existence. Narcissism/overconfidence is more like a cons that come with the way his life was shape, when you feel to have any attach toward you (because he sure seem to like Ionia), the only anchor you get is yourself.

And in the game, his quote with Shen actually show respect, you can see how much he talk about potential, about how he is as 'great' as he should be. It show a lot about what his past and life left into his mind, oh yeah, edgy assassin narcissic doing shadow sh*t, sure, it doesn't look innovating but by god is he well built in his coherence. I am glad they tried to stick to a trope (kinda like how I love Urgot for being truly something horrifying/disgusting).

Hell, I even think he truly see Zed (and maybe Shen) as a father figure/someone he want to be recognised by because Zed, by saving him/seeing something worth in him, actually gave a meaning to his life. Damn, he sound so tortured/sad when he attack/kill Zed, his weapon show so much enjoyment because they KNOW it is a final step for tghe corruption of Kayn.

This kid is not cheap and I would love for people to clean their eyes to see that a character doesn't have to be "Original the lord" or "Fake deep shit story" to actually be human or interesting.

Eternal791Jul 4, 20171 votes

Well said.

Lady FacelessJul 4, 20172 votes

While you're not wrong, nothing of his bio or color story reflect this. In this case you don't enjoy the character, but the potential he has. I understand you - I have a lot of champions who I love for their potential, even if they never were fleshed out. The problem is, that Riot can easily say we have no interest to flesh them out and ruin him for you. For me, Vayne is a good example. I always saw her as anti-hero - not necessary a good person, but someone you could understand her and you felt sorry for her, since there was no way it will end well for her. The new Vayne is just a sociopath. No grey morals, no sympathy, nothing.

Kayn is a pretty similiar in this case. We could have an interesting champion... but Riot don't show any interest to do so. So, we can only feel angry and sorry for the wasted opportunities here.

SolideusJul 3, 20172 votes

Oh jeez..

SolideusJul 3, 20173 votes

Other than him "being white", I see very little of that particular trope Kayn's story. Rather compare it to the "Going Native" trope, which is much closer, imho.

LimrickJul 4, 20174 votes

How is he a savior? He's literally an assassin, a murderer, a bad guy. They don't really paint him in a heroic light.

Valaran NaraJul 4, 20172 votes

{quoted}

How is he a savior? He's literally an assassin, a murderer, a bad guy. They don't really paint him in a heroic light.

The same way the racist and genocidal Xayah is a freedom fighter.

The same way treacherous and battle weary George Washington was seen as a hero and father figure for America (remember, he was pretty high in the ranks of the British military before changing teams.)

It's about perspective. When it comes to waging war, the heros are the murderers and soldiers killing and fighting on YOUR side. The bad guys are everyone else.

LimrickJul 4, 20174 votes

But George Washington isn't a sadistic psychopath. Kayn is.

Chromatic EagleJul 4, 20171 votes

Xayah isn't genocidal, and she's no more racist against humans than Garen is a bigot against magic or Noxus.

Valaran NaraJul 6, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=Chromatic Eagle,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=fftZERjm,comment-id=0002000400000001,timestamp=2017-07-04T16:03:54.067+0000)

Xayah isn't genocidal, and she's no more racist against humans than Garen is a bigot against magic or Noxus.

First; Perhaps Xayah isn't as extreme, as I mentioned.

Second; That does not change the point that I'm making. Everybody has their flaws, and the hero of one story can be the villain of the other. It depends on perspective. The best example I can give you is Jayce and Viktor. Jayce paints Viktor as a batshit crazy basketcase who went so far as to enslave humanity by stuffing their brains into robots. Viktor, paints Jayce as an arrogant douche with a respectable level of intelligence who is so far up his own ass that he killed the people Vik tried to save by destroying the robots which supported their existence.

He may not be the typical good guy, but, at the very least, before he picked up that Scythe, most in the Order of the Shadow saw him as the one who'll help them protect and maintain what they saw as the "right" way to enforce law. Zed is about "The Greater Good." You don't have to be a radiant light to protect or do something good. You just need the right motivation and an end goal that works.

Chromatic EagleJul 4, 20171 votes

Depending on the season, Ash does have some complexity.