Why is Varus' only rival Riven??

Arcus Diabolus·Oct 5, 2014·6 votes·7,708 views

I thought was after EVERYONE who took part in the invasion of Ionia, so wouldn't that include and (technically Zaun, but so closely aligned it dont matter, especially in his involvement) and not JUST ?

27 Comments

RiotRiotRunaanOct 6, 201423 votes

Oooh, I love this question. :)

Rivalries are a bit more "personal" than Varus' blanket hatred of all things and people connected to Noxus - sure, he's gunning for people like Swain and Singed, but Varus finds Riven particularly guilty. Not only did she *partake *in the war in Ionia, she believes Noxus can be *redeemed *- that there's something at Noxus' core worth saving, despite the atrocities committed during the war. To Varus, this is abhorrent, hypocritical, and unforgivable. He'd like Noxus to burn, and he'd like it better if Riven had to watch.

TerraRisingOct 6, 20142 votes

So, if rivalries are more personal than general dislikes, is it safe to assume that the opposite is true?

If that is the case, just how "friendly" are Ahri and Wukong?

2nd FiddleOct 6, 20141 votes

Or Annie and Amumu? Or Veigar and Lulu? Or Draven and Draven?

MotajoOct 6, 20141 votes

Waaaiiiiit a second, you aren't xano.

LordHippomanOct 8, 20141 votes

Oh Xano. Wherefore art thou, our sweet monkey hating prince.

2nd FiddleOct 6, 20149 votes

So, you're saying Riven should beware a man with nothing to lose.

CupcakeTrapOct 6, 20143 votes

Delicious lore-snax. Thank you! ♥

I will say that the battle for the soul of Noxus is one of the most fascinating bits of lore I've picked up from Red posts on the forums. I can't recall who wrote this — I want to say it was Xypherous — but I started to respect LoL's lore much more when I read an argument that Noxus is the only Valoranian culture that honestly acknowledges the role of conflict in human existence. (I think an argument could be made for Piltover and Zaun on this front, but it's not as pure as in Noxus.)

It takes a little more thought to find a principled distinction between "slaughter everyone with an axe" and "bomb people with poison", but I think it's there. This was the subject of one of my favorite Factions interactive lore events, The True Noxus, in which Noxian Summoners had to decide whether to recruit Singed (and continue down the "victory at any cost" path) or to recruit Riven (and revive classical Noxian ideals).

I conceptualize it as a bit of a "yin-yang" arrangement. Rather than blurring everything to the same shade of gray, I prefer to think of Demacia as "The Good Guys! … with a bit of a dark side" and Noxus as "The Bad Guys! … with certain virtues that the goodie-goodie factions lack".

PtarlorrOct 6, 20141 votes

Varus = fans of old lore Noxus = Riot Riven = optimistic lore fans

Riot writes their own prophecies :)

AstropandaOct 6, 20141 votes

Oooh, I love this question. :)

Rivalries are a bit more "personal" than Varus' blanket hatred of all things and people connected to Noxus - sure, he's gunning for people like Swain and Singed, but Varus finds Riven particularly guilty. Not only did she *partake *in the war in Ionia, she believes Noxus can be *redeemed *- that there's something at Noxus' core worth saving, despite the atrocities committed during the war. To Varus, this is abhorrent, hypocritical, and unforgivable. He'd like Noxus to burn, and he'd like it better if Riven had to watch.

Is it safe to assume Riven committed some of her own atrocities during the war? Or did she just witness them? Riven has a lot of work a head of her to redeem Noxus. Noxian view strength in terms of their foes(and crushing them) and not in serving others. 0_0 Also i'm kinda sad it's just Vaus being a dick and Riven didn't actually do someting ah well.

Valaran NaraOct 7, 20141 votes

Is it safe to assume Riven committed some of her own atrocities during the war? Or did she just witness them? Riven has a lot of work a head of her to redeem Noxus. Noxian view strength in terms of their foes(and crushing them) and not in serving others. 0_0 Also i'm kinda sad it's just Vaus being a dick and Riven didn't actually do someting ah well.

Lol, Varus isn't being a dick. His views and opinions on Noxus happens to be a complete 180 from Riven. He wants all of it to burn, and Riven wants to say that they can atone for all their sins. It's a shame though. If Varus wasn't possessed by his bow (which I believe is a darkin weapon. (o.O) (O.o) I'm sure he MIGHT consider it, but naw. He's more blind than the monk when it comes to vengeance.

Samflash3Oct 7, 20141 votes

One more thing. Is Varus' bow a Darkin?

Valaran NaraOct 7, 20142 votes

One more thing. Is Varus' bow a Darkin?

There is a person on the Story & Art forum who has a thread about the "Darkin Theory"

His theory is that the Darkin are actually weapons. Which explains why Aatrox is "The Darkin Blade"

The weapon is a blade. And it is a living weapon known as a darkin. Aatrox possesses his mortal host and have it move him to different places.

Varus's bow is a living weapon. Maybe the bow is a darkin that is slowly corrupting and taking over him. It's possible if the Darkin are like that. And if a darkin champion ever appear with a corrupted living weapon, well shit. Lol. They're the weapons

Melancholy ExileOct 7, 20142 votes

See, I would frame this a little differently:

Varus' concern is more that there is this line of thinking that Noxians can better themselves - that they can change and deserve to be forgiven ... at least in the eyes of others. Through Riven the world may begin to see that there is a side to Noxus beyond the stereotypical backstabbing warmongers, and thus they may be able to take steps towards some form of reconciliation.

He can't have that. Varus would never allow the Noxians to put the war behind them or the world to forgive them the things they've done. His nation - his life - was left in ruins by their actions and the thought of Ionia reconciling with anyone who took part in the campaign must be anathema to him.

Arcus DiabolusOct 8, 20141 votes

Oooh, I love this question. :)

Rivalries are a bit more "personal" than Varus' blanket hatred of all things and people connected to Noxus - sure, he's gunning for people like Swain and Singed, but Varus finds Riven particularly guilty. Not only did she *partake *in the war in Ionia, she believes Noxus can be *redeemed *- that there's something at Noxus' core worth saving, despite the atrocities committed during the war. To Varus, this is abhorrent, hypocritical, and unforgivable. He'd like Noxus to burn, and he'd like it better if Riven had to watch.

Ok, but why is Riven the ONLY rival? From what you made it sound like, he would spare Riven in order to force her to watch her homeland burn, but when I see that rival tag, I immediately think that means Varus will be gunning for Riven every chance he gets, which contradicts your suggestion slightly.

Yasuo making Riven his one and only rival makes sense, as he suspects her as the murderer of his master. The truth to which has not been touched upon yet, but Riven is literally the only thing he draws a sword for.

Riven making Singed her primary rival is clear in the fact that he is responsible for killing everyone under her command and nearly killing her. She wants his head.

Varus kinda baffles me in the fact that he declares ALL Noxians will pay, but only drops Riven rather than bigger targets that would actually leave a dent in Noxus if they were killed like Darius, Swain, LeBLanc and perhaps even Katarina. These people are huge figure head to Noxian politics and military, so removing them would bring his goal of destroying Noxus far closer than killing someone who defected from it. Singed immediately came to mind because of the crap he pulled in Ionia, so I would figure Varus would at least make him the second target in addition to Riven.

Angry MonsterOct 5, 20146 votes

Riven left teh darkness and moved into the light.

Varus left the light and went into darkness for revenge.

Arcus DiabolusOct 5, 20144 votes

Riven left teh darkness and moved into the light.

Varus left the light and went into darkness for revenge.

That doesn't answer my question. If he is after revenge, both Swain and Singed are much more responsible for Ionian deaths than Riven, who was merely a soldier at the time.

Angry MonsterOct 5, 20143 votes

Rival does not mean enemy. Noxian leadership are not rivals they are enemies.

GenoXxOct 6, 20141 votes

Swain did not participate....

InsaneSamuraiOct 5, 20142 votes

Varus's rival is Riven? Poor Varus :(

GenoXxOct 6, 20141 votes

*Poor Riven...you mean.

DestínumOct 5, 20142 votes

I think it's probably because Varus might actually have met Riven. In the new lore, Riven is probably still in Ionia. After all, how would she have gotten back to the mainland?

LordHippomanOct 6, 20147 votes

Shaco Well she couldn't fly...she has Broken Wings! Shaco

CupcakeTrapOct 6, 20143 votes

I think it's probably because Varus might actually have met Riven. In the new lore, Riven is probably still in Ionia. After all, how would she have gotten back to the mainland?

It's hard to believe that Riven would survive long in Ionia. She might be a Champion, or whatever term Riot wants to use now for "super-powered individuals", but there are a lot of Ionian Champions roaming around who wouldn't think twice about cutting her to pieces.

I'm not sure how Riot's going to rewrite the Noxus/Ionia conflict. My obligatory comment against the retcon: without the League diplomacy, this will turn into just another enormous fantasy war. The most interesting elements they could throw in (which could easily fit into a League narrative as well, for the record) would be something about Ionian magic and perhaps a resolution that leaves part of Ionia under Noxian control, perhaps using Syndra as a local governor.

And on that note, let me point out again that Karma's going to be losing a lot of her core theme as an international diplomat. One of the more interesting things about her was that, as a gifted negotiator, she could gain respect and power in the League of a much greater magnitude than Ionia's comparatively mediocre military/commercial strength would warrant. More importantly, I liked the idea of Ionia as a fervent supporter of the League's internationalist mission. It seems to further the theme of Ionia as a uniquely "high-minded" faction with a sense of the larger balance.

SecretLoreOct 5, 20142 votes

If i remember correctly,then Swain didn't participate in the noxian invasion,that was all Boram darkwill,the previous grand general of noxus.

Not listing singed though is a bit weird,but would make sense if Varus s village wasn't attacked by chemical weapons,but just mowed down with brute force(which is actually rather likely considering he blames himself for not protecting it)

KeysheOct 6, 20141 votes

... because he was an Ionian acolyte/priest and she is a hot seductress Noxus woman corrupting his will and resolve?

GameloOct 7, 20141 votes

Wouldn't it make sense that Varus would not really like Yasuo either, tho their origins are very similar Yasuo is viewed by Ionia as a traitor during the invasion. And it would would make sense that Varus who is now driven to be retribution of those lost to the invasion. If I was as disciplined as Varus' lore seems to suggest I would kill the "traitor" on sight

HayaishiOct 7, 20141 votes

I don't think he cares about Yasuo. He only thinks about how Noxus stripped him from everything he loved, he's acting more under his feelings of grief and pain, i don't even think Varus thinks clearly anymore, specially after he let the corruption consume him.

I believe he has already accepted that his life will end as machine of vengeance but he believes it will be worth since he has nothing to lose right now.