BLOODLINE

Sharjo·May 31, 2016·45 votes·8,838 views

Shurima

Read on dear lore fans! A twelve section story!

68 Comments

UomoAfideMay 31, 201622 votes

after reading the story http://footballmemes.org/_nw/3/13420263.jpg

MavenSongMay 31, 201613 votes

https://media.riffsy.com/images/f792b7aaf088e3d91555c35bb613d9c2/raw

Jeddy017May 31, 201612 votes

http://i.imgur.com/0mKXcg1.gif?noredirect

Beyond LegendsMay 31, 201621 votes

scrub lord nasus roam for a millenia and forget to farm. Now is losing to squishy lightning mage.

Stars ShaperMay 31, 201612 votes

In melee fight xD

bill84May 31, 201611 votes

It's because he was roaming so much. Nasus never roam. Only stay in one place and farm. He should have started a farm.

Jeddy017May 31, 201610 votes

Clearly was a noob Nasus then. Only good Nasus players can start farms in the desert.

SharjoJun 1, 201610 votes

Could've stayed in the Sai and farmed Xer'Sai all day but NO. Gotta have that self imposed Exile. SHURIMA NEEDS YOU TO FARM NASUS GET ON IT.

LordHippomanMay 31, 201617 votes

Alright, done reading it now.

It was really good. I thought there was a bit much of the "made up words to make the setting unique" trope towards the beginning, but it settles down and it gets far better in that department. The characters were great, the flow felt really good despite changing viewpoints, which is tricky to do in a story like this, where everything is happening so quickly. I enjoyed the hell out of it.

Taliyah's a better character than I thought she was. I don't like her ingame VO too much, she felt kinda generic, but her character is very well portrayed here, she's got an almost Braum-level compassion to her, and she stood up to the giant Jackal man.

Sivir, again, bores me in game, but she was great in this. Clearly getting stabbed has taken away zero of her snark, which is fantastic.

Nasus is one of my favorite League characters, and this was a different sort of characterization than I was used to. Nasus is usually so serene, but when the shit hits the fan, he can clearly be a force of nature. And I really liked seeing that. I also love that he's basically an old man grumbling to himself about these whippersnappers and how they can't respect the good ol' Shurimas.

I think we can erase any doubts about Xerath having remorse. He's in full on "cackle as I lob meteors into a town" mode, Veigar would be proud. Still, the descriptions of his powers and the way he moves, being...a sarcophagus and all, were just top notch. I've written a story with Xerath in it and I kinda struggled to go beyond "uh he shoots blue lightning at a dude????", but this was really good, and made him READ like the demigod wizard he is in Lore.

Overall, my only two real complaints are that it didn't really drop us any big new plot elements like Burning Tides did, (Yeah, Nasus and Renekton are going to fight, Xerath is a bastard, we knew that.), and that it looks like there won't be a sequel. At least for a while. Still, I loved it, and I'm looking forward to whatever comes up next.

PyrodiniumMay 31, 201614 votes

"The caravan master advised against traveling farther south, but Taliyah told her that her family needed her, and there were no more warnings."

The whole story is awesome, but this little tidbit goes a long way in illustrating how important family is for Shurimans.

Hyrum GraffJun 1, 20161 votes

{quoted}

The whole story is awesome, but this little tidbit goes a long way in illustrating how important family is for Shurimans.

Yeah, that was one of my favorite lines in the piece. Right along with (any of) the one(s) about not breaking promises.

Sahn UzalMay 31, 20169 votes

Everyone being hyped for the new Thresh Skin Teaser

https://media0.giphy.com/media/cgsR3SfWSc8Xm/200.gif

And then Sharjo comes in with something even more important!

You sir are on point! https://media2.giphy.com/media/TE3ZlXmfr5psI/200.gif

UomoAfideMay 31, 20163 votes

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5Bin4xALN5g/maxresdefault.jpg When you are excited for new thresh skin and then you see Sharjo's post

Pontifex Ph0enixMay 31, 20169 votes

My respect for Taliyah rose so much after she stood up to Nasus. He's a legend to the Shurimans, and only more impressive in reality it would seem. Yet she stands in his way to protect an injured woman she barely knows. Respect.

HellioningMay 31, 20166 votes

Most of it was fine. I still dislike how Xerath is being treated; Jaredan can say that he isn't meant to be fully evil all he wants, Xerath is going full evil overlord right now.

333lomMay 31, 20164 votes

Fiery winds carried Xerath’s spiteful laughter, an ageless insanity that reveled in the pain of others.

Xerath went full evil overlord NPC. The sentences used to describe his deeds are completely targeted at stirring up hatred for him in the reader; what the story looks like from Xerath's point of view doesn't matter. What matters is how the readers see him. I remember his quote from the Old Lore where he said that he has no need for vengeance because at the end, only he will remain. To go from that to reveling in inflicting pain to others and becoming a slavemaster even though he was a slave, draws out a sad sigh from me.

If at least the the tiny detail of the plot twist during the Ascension was different, he wouldn't have been portrayed in such a negative light - the detail which says that Xerath decided to go through with the plan even though Azir freed him and his people. It's not implied that Xerath could not stop the sabotage.

Hyrum GraffJun 1, 20161 votes

{quoted}

It's not implied that Xerath could not stop the sabotage.

It was stated in an earlier draft of the ascension story that they shared on the boards at the time of the first shurima event. I'm slightly miffed that they've decided to remove it from the final version.

That said, Xerath does seem to be about to kill Nasus, and then Nasus' words making him decide not to. He may not admit that Nasus' words had any effect; he may stick to his story about how he wants to see Renekton kill Nasus; but I wonder if part of it is a tiny piece of humanity hidden deep inside him.

PyrodiniumJun 1, 20163 votes

I am not completely sure of that.

The symbolism of the piece is quite interesting, with Nasus obssesing over how the present-day Shurimans can ony build shoddy imitations of the old glorious days, and Xerath going all Dresden on Vekaura plus personally killing that priest dude. They are still fighting the conflict that was born on old Shurima: Nasus a protector of the empire, and Xerath doing his best to undo it.

Also worth noting: Nasus wielding slave as a slur against Xerath. The Curator of the Sands is supposedly one of the wisest people of Ancient Shurima, yet he enjoys telling Xerath that being chattel is on the same ballpark as being a traitor. Xerath is not the only monster among the Ascended.

RiotDinopawzJun 2, 20161 votes

{quoted}

I am not completely sure of that.

The symbolism of the piece is quite interesting, with Nasus obssesing over how the present-day Shurimans can ony build shoddy imitations of the old glorious days, and Xerath going all Dresden on Vekaura plus personally killing that priest dude. They are still fighting the conflict that was born on old Shurima: Nasus a protector of the empire, and Xerath doing his best to undo it.

Also worth noting: Nasus wielding slave as a slur against Xerath. The Curator of the Sands is supposedly one of the wisest people of Ancient Shurima, yet he enjoys telling Xerath that being chattel is on the same ballpark as being a traitor. Xerath is not the only monster among the Ascended.

Perceptive... :-)

Yeah, Nasus is a lover of lore and learning, fighting against Xerath and his destructive designs etc., but let's not forget that Nasus served an emperor and empire that took and used slaves on a daily basis. So while he certainly isn't the (as he sees it) villain of the piece, he has some questionable morals in play if that seemed okay to him...

RottedApplesJun 2, 20161 votes

when you live and grow up in a culture that has these things and it's been like this your entire life it's hard for him to see it like we do. He may not have even particularly supported the idea of enslaving other people or he may not have supported some of the ways people treated their slaves but to him it was a normal way of life. In his lore he was wandering the desert with a figment of his imagination. He's about as disconnected from the current world as xerath renekton or azir are and he wasn't there when azir freed the slaves.

EROTIC RAID BOSSJun 2, 20161 votes

I figured part of it was looking to say anything to hurt xerath

After all this setup of a big conflict in shurima, I hope you guys don't take forever to continue the story

Warlord DienekesMay 31, 20164 votes

Looks like your date guess was right

SharjoMay 31, 201617 votes

I got to it within SECONDS of it being put up.

I FEEL REDEEMED.

LostFr0stMay 31, 20164 votes

Yes! So excited to read this when I get home.

Ty Sharjo for the update^^ We can always count on our lore-ninja. summoner 31

LordHippomanMay 31, 20164 votes

You beat Surrender At 20. I shouldn't be surprised, but here I go.

RottedApplesMay 31, 20164 votes

i knew that woman was sivir the moment they said "only one of her enemies had not met her face to face." and i was like, fuck Cassiopeia backstabbing bitch.

Shadow HazardMay 31, 20163 votes

good distraction while draft is down

SaltyToplaneGoatMay 31, 20162 votes

Urgh, there I go out for dinner for A FEW MINUTES. And I miss this. Pfff. Congrats Sharjo, seems like I have to best you at another time [zombie-brand-clap]

Well, time to dig in now I guess - that's a lot of text tho...

[slayer-pantheon-rainbows]

Stars ShaperMay 31, 20162 votes

I wish Xerath had half of those magics in his ingame kit xD

FasmodeyMay 31, 20168 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=kaLOLWJk,comment-id=000e,timestamp=2016-05-31T19:13:06.534+0000)

I wish Xerath had half of those magics in his ingame kit xD

Lifting Nasus, earth magic, fire magic, arcane magic, mind control, lightning bolts, vastly improved magical vision or sense (or both) (superior compare to Nasus') etc.

Stars ShaperMay 31, 20162 votes

Actual magic chains (Leblanc ones are noob-crafts xD).

FasmodeyMay 31, 20161 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=kaLOLWJk,comment-id=000e00000000,timestamp=2016-05-31T19:28:13.915+0000)

Actual magic chains (Leblanc ones are noob-crafts xD).

Nasus broke one of Xerath's chains, what does it mean? Or did I read it wrong?

Stars ShaperMay 31, 20161 votes

He broke a link of the sealing chains he used to hold Xerath at their first clash. The chains I'm talking about are the ones Xerath used to smash down the temple.

FasmodeyMay 31, 20162 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=kaLOLWJk,comment-id=000e0000000000000000,timestamp=2016-05-31T19:46:31.207+0000)

He broke a link of the sealing chains he used to hold Xerath at their first clash. The chains I'm talking about are the ones Xerath used to smash down the temple.

Yes, I know. My message wasn't related with his specific mage chain magic. It was about his sarcophagus. Sorry for confusion.

So does it mean he will get stronger? He lost a chain on him that limited his powers.

Stars ShaperMay 31, 20161 votes

Apparently he is becoming stronger anyway with time passing probably because of him getting used to his body and the seals weakening up. I do believe that Susan didn't do himself a favor breaking it even more.

FasmodeyMay 31, 20162 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=kaLOLWJk,comment-id=000e000000000000000000000000,timestamp=2016-05-31T19:56:33.966+0000)

Apparently he is becoming stronger anyway with time passing probably because of him getting used to his body and the seals weakening up. I do believe that Susan didn't do himself a favor breaking it even more.

Xerath better to change his alignment then, otherwise Runeterra is in big danger.

SharjoJun 1, 20161 votes

Probably didn't do Xerath any favours though; I'd imagine Xerath would've liked to use the sarcophagus to keep himself together instead of relying on willpower alone, so he doesn't go all nuclear on Shurima.

FasmodeyJun 1, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Probably didn't do Xerath any favours though; I'd imagine Xerath would've liked to use the sarcophagus to keep himself together instead of relying on willpower alone, so he doesn't go all nuclear on Shurima.

Nasus knew the magus was goading him, but his hate blinded him to all else but sundering the chains that kept the unimaginable power of Xerath’s body contained.

Xerath still wants to destroy his chains. And we don't know if he explodes when he becomes free. Because Dinopawz said , may be he explodes, may be he doesn't. But he clearly confirmed his power will grow and he will learn how to hold himself even without sarcophagus.

RaptorKarrJun 1, 20162 votes

I can't wait to see Azir mop the floor with that bastard Xerath

AeszarckJun 2, 20162 votes

One minor problem I had with the story was when Sivir's name was revealed before Taliyah actually asked Sivir for her name. I knew it was Sivir already, but Taliyah didn't, and that section of the story is being told by a third person narrator with Taliyah's knowledge.

It's all "injured woman, the woman, the woman, the woman, the woman ..., Sivir, ... the woman, the woman, the woman, hey what's your name, Sivir, Sivir, Sivir"

Quote here from the middle of section VIII:

“Then you’re one of the few who don’t,” said the woman. She exhaled slowly, and Taliyah could only imagine how badly her side must hurt. She sat up and grimaced as her stitches pulled taut.

“Why would anyone want you dead?” asked Taliyah.

“Because I’ve killed a lot of people,” replied Sivir, struggling to sit up. “Sometimes because I was paid to. Sometimes because they were in my way. But these days, it’s usually because they get very angry when I tell them I’m not going back.”

“Back where?”

The woman turned her piercing blue eyes on Taliyah, and she saw a deep well of pain and turmoil within.

Kent MojoMay 31, 20161 votes

So...no chapter 2, then?

DecritMay 31, 20162 votes

There is a chapter two. Is the second among the twelve here ;)

srsly, so far it looks there is no bloodline 2

SharjoMay 31, 20164 votes

Well the way the Shurima stuff has played out, chronologically, this goes Ourobouros - Bloodline - Echoes in the Stone

So I feel like if this story gets continued any time soon, the focus will be on Azir in the capital.

Chromatic EagleMay 31, 20161 votes

I have no idea what any of those titles mean.

SharjoMay 31, 20165 votes

Short story for Nasus - Bloodline - Short story for Taliyah

Chromatic EagleMay 31, 20161 votes

Oh the part where Tali is in Azir's city?

What is Vekaura anyway? Icathia?

SharjoMay 31, 20162 votes

Once an ancient city of Ancient Shurima now pretty buried, but was built upon by scattered settlers to serve as a permanent city. It borders on the Sai.

IEatLouisMay 31, 20161 votes

I really wondered how a meeting between Taliyah and Nasus would play out... And now they really meet, but none knows who the other is :( feelsbadman

Hyrum GraffJun 1, 20161 votes

{quoted}

I really wondered how a meeting between Taliyah and Nasus would play out... And now they really meet, but none knows who the other is :( feelsbadman

They know of each other now :P

IEatLouisJun 1, 20161 votes

Well, yea they do xD I kinda wrote that comment at the end of Chapter 2 ^^