Shadow Isles, Noxus & The Black Rose Theory

Recently I've started getting into the lore of League in-depth, and I've been searching around for a full explanation to the Shadow Isles; One thing that really gets me is the actual location of the Shadow Isles, seeing how it's both Northwest of Valoran AND Southeast of Bilgewater Harbor... Anyways, time for a lore conspiracy!

Part 1: The Shadow Isles Looking into the story of the Shadow Isles and the Twisted Treeline, there is always the mentioned "Ruined King", who, according to Maokai's lore, is the cause of the Shadow Isle's corruption. Kalista reaffirms by stating that he was a "noble king until grief overcame his reason". Due to the mention of grief, I believe someone close to him (either his spouse or a child) had died, so he ordered the breaking of the barrier between life and death, causing the cataclysm of the Shadow Isles.

Only, how did the King come across such magic? Did his court mages secretly practice necromancy in their spare time? I doubt any noble mages from such an exotic life-bound island would delve into necromancy.

However, there was one suspicious character... the paladin of pain. Someone so sadistic and selfish, yet held the ear of the king of the Isles. He played the ruined king like Xerath played Azir. Mordekaiser was the only person on the Shadow Isles who is listed previously as being a deviant character of the Isles-- the rest were all twisted into deathly figures post-cataclysm.

Look at Mordekaiser's Lore:

"One girl witnessed and survived an encounter with pain's paladin. Late one night, the young mage-in-training was awoken by the sound of her master's tortured screams.....It was clear the grim intruder was looking for something, and was displeased with the results. At the center of the once-majestic chamber, the armored fiend clutched her teacher's broken form. She overheard her master's final words – that he would die before he would give up his secrets...."

According to his most updated lore, Mordekaiser had been looking for something for a Master Magician at some point. It is not recorded as to when or where this event took place, but seeing how Mordekaiser was a being of the island from before it was corrupted, perhaps he was searching for the dark spell that corrupted the Shadow Isles.

While Mordekaiser is increasingly suspicious, take a look at Hecarim. According the the events of the Harrowing and the release of Kalista, Hecarim was marked as being a traitor. Could he have been the one to torment the ruined king by forcing death onto the Shadow Isles? Perhaps he betrayed Mordekaiser and the Ruined King (and their plans).

CONSPIRACY INTERMISSION: Take a look at Ryze; his Judgement (I know, I know; non-canon, but bear with me here) states that he had stolen the indestructible abomination scroll from a woman known as "Lilith". Could Lilith have been a survivor of the Shadow Isles? Could she be a member of the Black Rose mentioned in Part 2? Find out in the next paragraph! [/end conspiracy]

Part 2: Noxus and the Black Rose

The Black Rose has been a secret organization since before the creation of the city-states, including Noxus. The current Matron is LeBlanc, and is in cahoots with several other members, notably going by other names, "Petal" and "Thorn". Throughout the wiki, Petal was recognized as Vladmir, the vampiric magi, and one of the leading nobles of Noxus. Seeing as how it's the "Black Rose", and rose petals are known for providing colored dye (usually red), it fair enough to say that Vladmir was the petal, and the dye was blood, in this case black blood (a noteworthy thing for vampire fans out there.) This just leaves "Thorn", who we'll get to in a little bit.

According to one of the conversations of the Black Rose called "Seeds of Doubt", Petal (Vladmir) and Thorn are speaking with LeBlanc after the death of Sion and King Jarvan I. They talk about how General Darkwill is stalling for time as his henchmen are searching theShadow Islesfor arcane artifacts and blood and bone rituals. Thorn mentions that those are things they (The Black Rose) can provide, meaning one of the members of the Black Rose has connections on or to the Shadow Isles (Later, these rituals were used to resurrect Sion, suggestively using one of the Jarvan's blood. Resurrection spell? sounds like a spell the Ruined King would have used /kappa).

Now... as for who Thorn is, one could easily say Thorn is Morgana, hence "Blackthorn Morgana" skin AND she lives in Noxus, however that's just a nice skin, and doesn't provide a lot for the story. Remember Lilith? Well, in Ryze's judgement (again, non-canon, but still a good resource for inner thoughts and possible events in the past of each champion), Lilith comes on as a "mistress" character, and is covered in tatoos (like Ryze) and is very lustful towards Ryze in character (some BDSM type stuff, it's very weird). However, it's out of the ordinary, as she is able to manipulate Ryze using his own magic-- Thorn Magic. When she is torturing Ryze, she tells him to turn around and she sees the massive scroll, and yells out that he stole it from her, and that he betrayed her. Ryze said that she would "bring ruin to us all."

(TOTALLY not like the secluded island that now reaps and torments all of Runeterra... but that's just one secluded location. Imagine all of Valoran overrun by this dark magic, this abomination.)

Sidenote: She may have also been the "hag" to kill Vayne's family.

(Bonus) Part 3: The Battle of the Kalamanda [TRUTH]

This is for the LeBlanc/Jarvan VI theorists out there:

Late in the year 20 CLE, General du Corteau was captured and possibly slain by LeBlanc, and she used his guise to deliver a set of orders to Corteau's assassin, Talon. While completing the tasks, Talon slowly came to realize what tasks he was completing and for whom. He would inform Garen via an encoded note, and later assist in the escape of Jarven IV and Katarina du Corteau. Talon's Note

LMC1 - 125 = Loadstone Mining Consortium #1 took place on Jaunary 1st, 21 CLE. The Demacian mining camp was sabotaged by Talon.

Unkindness - 325 = Thom Garvin (A name meaning "Unkind Twin") was the prisoner that killed a few Noxians, and was played by LeBlanc (a clone illusion.) The actual person LeBlanc used was found dead with the use of Nyzer poison on March 25th, 25 LCE

Lost Will - 701 = Boram Darkwill was assassinated on July 1st, 21 LCE

Quarter Egress - 703 = "Quarter" refers to 1/4 or in this case Jarvan the Fourth (Jarvan IV, for short.) Jarvan is egressed (leaves) via a shipment from Zaun to Noxus on July 3rd, 21 CLE, where he will be used at a later time.

Mirror Play - 722 = July 22nd, 21 CLE, The day LeBlanc used Jarvan IV's illusion to "attack" Swain, causing the Battle of Kalamanda. This was to cover up any suspicions about Jarvan IV's disappearance and Swain.

Quarter to Clutter - 908 = September 8th, 21 CLE: Kieran Darkwill and Swain are both looking to take over Noxian High Command. Swain knows he can't win a duel against Kieran Darkwill singlehandedly, so he let's his prisoner, Jarvan IV, escape.... that it, make it seem like he's escaping. He was intended to run into Kieran Darkwill, where he was to kill Darkwill so Swain would become leader of Noxus.

(Opal Market) = On September 12, 21 CLE Talon found The Black Rose's secret prison where they held General DuCorteau and her daughter, Katarina du Courteau. They narrowly escaped from what would be a trap to kill Talon and Katarina, hiding all evidence of what would have been Swain's rise to power.

However, because they escaped, they traveled back to Demacia under the guise as prisoners, and Prince Jarvan IV as their captor. There, they explained LeBlanc's and Swain's plans to Jarvan in private, and were allowed to leave Demacia with impunity. Talon left subtlely whilst Katarina denounced Swain publicly in Demacia with protection from Garen and Jarven IV.

It didn't matter, though, as Swain still rose to power at the head of Noxian High Command, keeping his position with the uneasy support of General Darius.