BLOODLINE

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

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

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.

"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.

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

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.

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.

Looks like your date guess was right

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

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

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

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.

good distraction while draft is down

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

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]

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.

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

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

So...no chapter 2, then?