Boards›Story, Art, & Sound

Shadow Isles champion teased in the Academy Skins Spashart?

SaltyToplaneGoat··2 votes·2,964 views

So, getting champ teasered through skins artwork is nothing new, I mean just think of Jinx who appeared in the Poolparty skin.

My focus here is on the two figures behind the window that can barely be seen. One is a big male figure, probably Jayce or Sion - although Jayce might make more sense in this setting.

The other one seems to be female, but there is something weird about her: she does not have a neck! You can even see her upper body and notice that he head is in absolutely no way connected to the rest of her body. So maybe it's Orianna? Well, she usually has a neck apart from her Esports skin... also the long, very biological looking hair speaks against that.

Then it struck me: we have the Harrowing soon and there is one type of undead archetypes that we do not have as a champion yet: A Dullahan (or comnmonly called "headless knight/horseman". Now, despite the name, the head is not gone, just not connected to the body and it can speak in some variations of the story. Generally the Dullahan is seen as an omen of approaching death that could kill others with the touch of his hand (or cut off the heads of others, depending on tale) - Sounds pretty shadow isles to me, no?

Also, I'm not sure about the clothing in the Academy Splash... is this an uniform? Or more some kind of armor? It's really hard to tell...

Tl,Dr: Female Headless Deathknight confirmed!

56 Comments

GenoXx2 votes

That's orianna and Jayce. Nice to see more anime skins.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

Well, Jayce might make sense, but in all of her skins ori has metallic, short hair, as that is a core aesthetic to her theme. The person in the splash on the other hand seems to have biological hair...

Stars Shaper1 votes

Professor Jayce and his massive Teach-Hammer xD

Can't wait

GreenLore2 votes

I always hoped that when we get a Dullahan champ it would be Kieran darkwill,the guy who tried to become the grand general of noxus and who got beheaded by Darius.

I mean we have a champ who likes to behead people,so it would be fitting that a headless champ would be one of his victims that returned from the grave.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

I think that all over Valoran there are a LOT of people that lost their head (as in medicval times this was one of the most common ways of execution)

Also I think, that if they run with the Dullahan theme they make it a woman. Mostly because that is something more unusal and apart from Kalista the entire Shadow Isles cast is male (if corpses can even have a gender / not counting eve here) - but it's also a less common way of showing this character and therefore might appear a bit more "fresh" as a concept.

GreenLore1 votes

Yeah it would be definetly more unique if the dullahan was female.

However I would actually like to see Kieran ingame and since he was beheaded by Darius,I think his best chance to get into the game would be as a dullahan. (but then again he could become a champion anyway,considering that champions can die now,it would be possible to simply put him into the game before he died and treat his death as a champion death).

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

I think Noxus takes precautions that political rivals are not coming back - something that really COULD happen. I highly doubt that they will bring in another faction fighting for power in Noxus. Right now you have the military, the Black Rose, the old aristocracy and the Blood Cult all taking their share of political power... Everyone trying to get into this struggle would be torn apart between those factions.

GreenLore1 votes

The thing is that a power struggle is more or less being built up in Noxus. Right now we have the champs who support SwainSwain ,Darius Leblanc and Sion while under swains control(Vladimir &Draven might also count,but we can't be sure,they could be neutral) And those who are not happy with Swains reign,Katarina Talon & Sion if he was his old self again(most likely Cassiopeia too). Then there is Riven who is probably not happy with either new or old noxus(because the ionia war happened during borams reign).

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

Well, it's more like this: On top: Swain tries to hold everything somewhat under control.

Faction 1.) Military. Darius, Draven and technically Riven (I think Riven and darius would get along great as they kinda share the same ideals)

Faction 2.) Old aristocracy, represented by the DuCoteau Family (kat, cass, talon, the vanished Marcus DuCoteau)

Faction 3.) The Black Rose: Le Blanc

Faction 4.) Vladimir's Blood Cult, relationship to black rose unclear, also Sion is counted in here as Vlad did the revive...

Plus: countless other people that want to be grand general.

GreenLore1 votes

However Swain is a part of the black rose and its implied that he only managed to seize power thanks to the black rose. Making the black rose an ally of swain.

The blood cult also supported swain by reprogramming sion(sion was revived by the black rose and simply imprisoned,Vladimir made sion just more obedient),they did this with the blood of Jarvan IV,which they got from the black rose,so we have another instance where the black rose supported swain and it looks like the blood cult is also on swains side,since they helped him.

So it appers that 3 of these factions actually work together,only the old aristocracy and/or those who supported boram darkwill,are against him.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

They might work together, but that doesn't mean they are allies. It's more of a "everyone tries to exploit and use each other"- relationship with the goal of absolute power over Noxus. They need each other, but they also hate each other's gutts and distrust each other. That would be typical Noxian I guess...

GreenLore1 votes

Its never really been implied that this is really the case. So far we have never seen any quarrel among Swain,the black rose and the blood cult.

Sure the blood cult and the black rose most likely have their own interests as their number 1 priority,but that doesn't mean they aren't happy with swains rule.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

That would go against Noxian Ideals. Voluntarely being ruled by someone is not something that is acceptable in this mindset. The only exeption from that is aknownledging that person as superior is all terms of strenght - and I highly doubt that Vladimir or LeBlanc do that, as they view themselves as the most superior of everything.

Also Swain knows that and they know that Swain knows who knows that they know he knows... it gets a bit complicated here...

In the end they all try to act friendly for their own benefit but would not hesitate for a single moment when they could kill the other once they are no longeruseful to them...

GreenLore1 votes

Darius is geniunly loyal to swain,but I doubt that darius actually thinks of swain as directly more powerful,but believes more into swains leadership and tactical skills.

Not to mention that Leblanc and Vladimir don't seem to be your typical noxians,I doubt they hold this whole "strenght to rule"-thing that high. And well Swain is a member of the black rose,so as long as he doesn't really goes against their goals,then there is little point in leblanc going against swain.

Laughing Fish1 votes

Elise is shadow isles.

SaltyToplaneGoat2 votes

Oh, I forgot her... Sorry about that. Still, the majority cast is male (if dead people have a gender that is...) until now. Karthus Mordekaiser Yorick Thresh Hecarim Maokai (he's also from there) (+ the ruined king if we ever get him as a champ) to Elise and Kalista . Not that everything has to be completly balanced for that, but I can see why they the next Shadow Isles champ would be female.

Laughing Fish1 votes

Yeah, the Shadow Isles (as well as the void) could use more female champs. On a related note, I think Piltover needs another male human, as Jayce is the only one.

SaltyToplaneGoat2 votes

But what about Ezrea- Oh... I see what you did there.

But wait, does Vi not count? Not even a little? ^^

Laughing Fish1 votes

A: I actually forgot about Ezreal. That was just a happy accident.

B: Why would Vi be considered a man? She is fine as hell.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

Dunno, but if there was a Piltover champ drinking others under the table and beating everyone to pulp in the following bar fight it would probably be Vi. That's enough for me to view someone as a man xD

Also, I have yet to see a Cait X Vi ship version/fanfic that has not Vi taking on stereotypically "male" behavior patterns, so I think people are fine seeing her like that ^^

Laughing Fish1 votes

Dunno, but if there was a Piltover champ drinking others under the table and beating everyone to pulp in the following bar fight it would probably be Vi. That's enough for me to view someone as a man xD

That is hardly masculine. It is simply badass. Also, She does wear make-up, has pink hair, and has frills on her suit. She is still quite feminine.

Also, I have yet to see a Cait X Vi ship version/fanfic that has not Vi taking on stereotypically "male" behavior patterns, so I think people are fine seeing her like that ^^

I avoid fan fics like that. Things get deeply unsettling in fan fics.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

Well, gender itself has actually zero relevance when you think about it, I'm just talking about stereotypes here. The person's biological gender barely interests me, it's their actions that define them. And those actions are bound to gender stereotypes.

Also I know men wearing make-up and color their hair who can lift double to three times the weight that I can lift at the gym (and I would not call myself a weakling) , so... I don't really see the point ^^

Psh, I'm not talking about any smut-fanfics here, but about simple romance/ friendship stories xD

Laughing Fish1 votes

The thing is there is simply nothing masculine about Vi. She is violence happy, but that is hardly a male only trait. After all, Jinx, Fiora, and MF (just to name a few) are quite violence happy as well. She dresses in a feminine manner, she talks in a feminine manner, and she certainly isn't built like a man.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

Uhm, there are several differences. Vi's in for the brawl and the fun.

Jinx does it for the spectacle and joy of her twsted mind (and maybe for her obsession with Vi), Fiora does it because she wants to prove she's the best fighter the world has ever seen and MF is completly consumed with cold rage and venegance.

None of the three you named would have FUN in a bar fistfight or some kind of brawl.

Laughing Fish1 votes

Jinx would have fun as long as she broke something. Fiora would have fun as long as people knew she was was greater than the person she beat. And Vi would have fun if she broke a criminals face. Vi is hardly the only female champion to enjoy violence.

MF was a bad example though, I will admit. She doesn't seam like she is ever truly happy.

Laughing Fish1 votes

Vi only is violent to criminals. She is more likely to break up the bar fight (unless there was a criminal among them. Then she would break their face).

IcyPepper1 votes

I think Vi is both feminine and masculine in various different ways. I'm not sure if there's a rule that you can't be a little bit of both, but Vi was never one to really play by the rules (hell, I'm sure Caitlyn is basically her moral leash to keep criminals ALIVE).

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

I mean, aren't ALL people able to act masculine or feminine if they want to? It's usually common sense that in terms of behavior people are both while leaning to one side a little. Some people lean to one side stronger, but that has nothing to do with biological gender.

I personally think she admires/respects Cait in some kind of way (although she would never, EVER admit that and if you tell Cait that she said that she will beat you to pulp). Well, Cait is a high-class lady and super smart and she feels more like some street dog next to her...

If she kills criminals she will get some SERIOUS trouble with Cait - and I think that's the only reason she doesn't do it...

IcyPepper1 votes

shrugs

But you might want to be careful, man. Feminine men and masculine women exist, don't mislabel their gender haphazardly. Jokes about Ezreal and video game characters are usually fine, but in a serious discussion... yeah.

Laughing Fish3 votes

https://leaguesmemes.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/cd995-2013-01-02-talesofvaloran027.png?w=714

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

That one took a dark turn... xD

IcyPepper1 votes

(as well as the void) could use more female champs

I don't think Rek'Sai would want to share her growing male harem.

Laughing Fish1 votes

Nah, Rek'Sai isn't like that. She is a lady. http://i.imgur.com/CwBoIn1.jpg

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

But even a lady has her needs sometimes... ;)

Also, who said that the Void is monogamous? Maybe it's part of Void Culture for a lady to have a harem... we don't know enough about that ^^

GreenLore1 votes

Actually there is also Evelynn ,though her lore will probably get some changes.

However both Eve and Elise seem much more.....alive than the other shadow isles champs. I mean they don't really look undead....

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

I don't think that she's directly from the isles, even back then she was not really connected to them. My personal theory is that she's a spiritual being like Tham... but while he is human flaw she is more about lust/hate in some kind of way? I mean, there must be a reasons her Q is called "hatespike"...

GreenLore1 votes

Well Evelynn being from the shadow isles is almost the only information about her background that we have.

It really depends on the way her rework goes though.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

Well, I still think that she's goign into the "deity" corner... Has no one ever mentioned the mark on her forehead? I feel kind of reminded to Diana's sign... Well, we have the Sun Leona and the Moon Diana in league, also a star Soraka , I wonder what happened to the "night"?

GreenLore1 votes

By that logic we should also have someone who represents the day,but you could make a point about the sun and moon representing the day and night respectively.

Anyway Eve will get a major overhaul,so I doubt that her current design will give us any clues on what they are gonna do with her. She might be turned into a vampire,or a succubus,or something else entirely.

GreenLore1 votes

By that logic we should also have someone who represents the day,but you could make a point about the sun and moon representing the day and night respectively.

Anyway Eve will get a major overhaul,so I doubt that her current design will give us any clues on what they are gonna do with her. She might be turned into a vampire,or a succubus,or something else entirely.

Unexpected Idea2 votes

Time 4 Senna

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

Well, there has been a concept showing up on the boards regulary called "Senna, the lantern's light"...

Well, we do not know if Senna died through decaptivation (it is possible as Tresh's sickle usually hits you at the height of your neck) - or what happened to her body when her soul got sucked into the lantern...

DwarvenGiant1 votes

Huh. I thought that it was Caitlyn up until this point. Maybe Orianna? But how would that explain that hat? That's so weird. I don't think that it's a new champ though because the silhouette is too similar to Caitlyn, or at least it looks like it in the splash. :P

Vantooth1 votes

{quoted}

Huh. I thought that it was Caitlyn up until this point. Maybe Orianna? But how would that explain that hat? That's so weird. I don't think that it's a new champ though because the silhouette is too similar to Caitlyn, or at least it looks like it in the splash. :P

True it could be Cait, but then, would the neck simply be a drawing flaw? Cause it is either distorted/broken/bent as hell or just not there.

SaltyToplaneGoat2 votes

I don't think that they make a flaw in a part of the picture that was especially planned. I mean a mistake somewhere on that blackboard or something? yeah sure. But in the teaser they put there intentionally? I highly doubt that. No one forgets to draw a goddman NECK!

Matezoide1 votes

The hair is covering her neck.

SaltyToplaneGoat3 votes

Uhm, no. You can actually see that the neck is missing. She has hair, yes, but it's not in front of the neck...

Laughing Fish2 votes

Due to the shape of the shadow, the neck would have to come out of the back of her head. So either Rito really messed up the anatomy, or the woman has no neck.

DrCyanide1 votes

Du Ra Ra Ra anyone? Please Riot, if this is accurate, she needs a motorcyclist skin.

SaltyToplaneGoat1 votes

That might give them copyright issues tho... but there are lots of funny skins you could pull of with "losing one's head" (oh god imagine the puns. Phreak would love it xD)

More from Story, Art, & Sound

Petition to keep the Bilgewater ARAM map in circulation
Story, Art, & Sound154 comments
1,161
votes
[SUPER IMPORTANT PETITION] Change Sion's ban quote...
Story, Art, & Sound54 comments
597
votes
Can we get an Honor animation?! 4 ways to insult an opponent but none to congratulate them.
Story, Art, & Sound202 comments
578
votes
Petition to make Rengar wiggle his butt when there's a pounce-able target near his bush
Story, Art, & Sound140 comments
476
votes
About this years harrowing...
Story, Art, & Sound357 comments
459
votes
RIOT, please postpone Blood Moon Diana and make it into a Legendary skin.
Story, Art, & Sound236 comments
423
votes

More by SaltyToplaneGoat

As a 600k Soraka main the very existence of Senna is just a slap in the face
Gameplay198 comments
247
votes
Congratulations Riot, with this patch...
Gameplay252 comments
234
votes
Wouldn't it be possible to code the Nami Ult as a lot of tiny projectiles?
Gameplay141 comments
199
votes
The focus on Esport will be the downfall of this game.
Gameplay137 comments
175
votes
I do understand that Akali as an assassin needs massive damage and mobility, but...
Gameplay207 comments
170
votes
We shall remember the date as Caitlyn has become completly obsolte...
Gameplay201 comments
167
votes