2018 Lore Party Thread! Free-For-All Time

RiotBioluminescence·12/12/2018, 9:30:31 PM·25 votes·19,236 views

Hey everyone! For reasons I can’t go into, I’ll be stopping the tournament and instead we’re having a free-for-all lore party thread!

What stories do you remember fondly from the year? What little turns of phrase turned your head? Or what would you like to see more of in 2019 (oh crap it’s almost 2019)? How ‘bout them Noxian stories, eh?

The EXPLORE tab on Universe is pretty handy for finding what stories turned up on Universe, and in what order - it was quite the trip down memory lane for me. Well, a short trip - I mean it’s still only a year, but still - you get the idea ;) Bonus; this view includes all the biographies and the alt-universe stories too!

[sg-syndra]

67 Comments

LordRedStone Nr112/13/2018, 12:41:41 AM11 votes

You really can not tell us why you had to stop? I only learned about it 3 days ago, but I really liked the idea. Giving some more recognition to the lore that so many people don't care about.

Also, you said you'll be stopping the tournament. We know how you planned it to go, so what stops us from taking it up and voting? Posts may be shorter or not as well-formatted as yours, and we would be missing that nice red Riot flair, but we could still continue. The ones that care about it will still vote regardless of the person posting it, we just need to make sure ONE person posts them so we do not spam.

Moody P12/12/2018, 9:53:03 PM10 votes

My favorite was Volibear's story, I can't wait until I get to read it in 2025

CauseSCIENCE12/12/2018, 10:46:35 PM7 votes

I loved The Principles of Strength. It gave a tonne of insight into Noxian Politics, and overall just fun to read. (ALSO WHO TF IS THE MASKED WOMAN FUTURE CHAMPION??!?!?!?!?!?)

jk, I'd rather not have every single person in Runeterra made into a champion. But seriously though, are we ever going to find out who the 3rd pillar of strength is?

Spideraxe12/12/2018, 10:15:25 PM6 votes

Its a lore battle royale, where are we dropping, i think my favorite has to be written by CarnivalKnights, The Man With the Grinning Shadow was so good

RiotInterlocutioner12/13/2018, 9:01:35 PM5 votes

Here are a few of my favorite things from 2018 that haven't really come up in the thread so far (lore tournament bias > Noxus bias [slayer-jinx-wink] ):

The Kala comic! (cough Ryze comic...) Tall tales of Bilgewater! The Kai'Sa comic! (by KneecapPhilly and Hellstern, hidden heroes who make awesome stuff for almost every champ release...)

Even things as small as the Swain promo video, and dare I say it, Swain's soul collection lines... (Lore, inside the game? THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!)

I think part of what will make 2019 an even better year than 2018 is, lore will continue to spread to these other mediums. We'll read stories as usual, but we'll also see the lore come to life in Marvel comics, in trailers, and who knows, there might even be some surprises along the way!

Blood Magicks12/12/2018, 9:35:11 PM3 votes

Stopping? Like there won't be more tournament?

Shame, I think a lot of people were enjoying it, and I had prepared my posts on "Where Icathia Once Stood" and "From the Ashes" and "Twilight of the Gods" in advance. They are my favorites, I think.

d00mface12/12/2018, 10:19:05 PM3 votes

I really liked Art Is Life, I think it was my favorite story, and I wouldn't have been surprised if it won the whole contest had it continued. I never really had an opinion on Vlad before, but this story got me interested him. Also my boys, the darkin, were mentioned in it so that's just a happy bonus for me! But, in all seriousness, getting someone to be interested in a character they previously had next to no interest in shows just how important lore is as a tool in attracting new players. It's just as important as any gameplay mechanic in that regard imo. After all it was Aatrox's reworked lore that finally got me into League after many MANY years of resisting the temptation to play. I hope everyone at Riot understands just how important the lore is and the narrative team gets all the kudos they deserve!

NotaRobot100612/12/2018, 11:01:08 PM3 votes

The Man with the Grinning Shadow was wonderful. I loved the way Karthus was portrayed as someone who's paving a road with good intentions and the reveal when Lucian figured out exactly where that road led.

Yes, Karthus died, but he died doing what he loved: Dying.

Naalith12/12/2018, 11:33:02 PM3 votes

RIP lore tournament, we didn't even have the chance to reminisce on most of the super long stories that served as worldbuilding yet.

I was specifically interested to see what happened at the end with Twilight of the Gods, The Dreaming Pool, Where Icathia Once Stood, The Eye in the Abyss, and all the other juggernauts from this year facing each other. I genuinely can't decide which I like the most.

Terozu12/12/2018, 11:37:05 PM3 votes

NOOOOO!!!!!

I am sad now. Like, very sad.

I was having fun losing pretty much every one.

Eldeazar12/13/2018, 12:08:25 AM3 votes

I was waiting for that Zyra lore update for so long and it nailed some of my expectations: it gave her a richer backstory, a place for her to be rooted in the universe and, most importantly, a purpose for her to blossom into in the future. Bud I believe her lore could branch into much more, because I ended the bio thinking it didn't add nothing to the character. Floral intents and purposes this was more of a lore "expansion" than a lore "update".

Grudumpf12/13/2018, 12:09:35 AM3 votes

I know it's an unpopular opinion, but please, show us some works about the 5/6 of the world which we don't know anything about. I truly wonder how you can create a whole new region and explain why we didn't get a word about it before in other stories. How can you have a whole continent which isn't by any way linked to Valoran/Ionia/Shurima (maybe the Shadow Isles with the Ruined King)?

Also, think about doing one or two in-game lore event. Everybody miss the Bilgewater one, and if it takes too much ressources, you should consider bringing a new one even if it means using less ressources !

Anyway, in my side I would say that Art is Life, the Veigar short story and Nunu's one were my favorites.

Thank you

ModCaptainMårvelous12/13/2018, 12:27:08 AM3 votes

I really hope to see some big story shake-ups for 2019. Some real progression in the league-verse as well as maybe some expansion on Zaun/Piltover stuff.

For obvious reasons.

aroza60912/13/2018, 2:57:35 PM3 votes

I loved Pyke's short story "Then Teeth" and Rakan's story "Nothing rhymes with tubebow love them so much.Rakan

AbiwonKenabi12/13/2018, 4:04:33 PM3 votes

I really liked anything to do with Ezreal. I know that might seem underwhelming to some--even I can admit that while his stories were well-written, they were not the best of the year, nor were they breaking any fantastical new ground. However, I love the characterization of Ezreal, how he's just this delightfully cocky bastard that most people probably want to punch in his pretty face, but can't because he's actually really good at what he does. I think we all knew or some of us were the kid that barely had to try to succeed in high school, and Ezreal is that guy cranked up.

The thing that really makes it work is the set up as to why he became an explorer. His parents were somewhat neglectful, and you can see that even though he's great at everything he does, he has this constant need for approval. When his parents disappear inexplicably, instead of coming to the likely conclusion that they met their demise exploring the Shuriman tomb, he is completely under the disillusion that if he was just good enough his parents would obviously return. Which adds a tragic element to his character; here's this kid who has talent and the resources to back it up, but he's really lonely and is in real need of an actual friend.

Ezreal's new lore makes me look forward to what's coming next. He has huge character development potential, and his stories could include practically any region in Runeterra, which is really exciting.

Another mention of mine is Confessions of a Broken Blade, for actually progressing the stories of two characters and finally officially connecting them. I liked the old couple that defended Riven, both Riven and Yasuo were characterized well and the blade both "confessing" the truth as its role as evidence while also being a metaphor for the "broken" Riven's confessions was nice. It was very enjoyable to read.

Cetri12/13/2018, 6:27:02 PM2 votes

No contest? That's certainly a bummer; I would have preferred to talk about the stories as they came up rather than try to think about things in one post. Though I suppose now I'm not forced to choose between Veigar and Pyke's stories, which is a plus.

Speaking of Veigar's story, it's probably the one I want to discuss the most, because it really stands as a shining example of what other League stories should be. Veigar, evil as he is, is still a fun, lighthearted character, and his color story is likewise fun and lighthearted. This is a stark contrast to the stories of other supposedly lighthearted characters like Zoe and more recently Neeko, whose color stories end up making them come across more callous and even scary than anything. Like, I'll admit I did find it a bit funny that our resident shapeshifter's story is basically a send-up of The Thing, but still. It clashes with her character so much.

Meanwhile, Veigar has a story that perfectly illustrates his character as someone who is obsessed with EEEEEVVVVVIIIIILLLLL but in the Dick Dastardly, mustache twirling ineffectual cartoon villain sort of way. Even he kills a dude, but the way it happens ends up not making it nearly as jarring as it is when death happens in other lighthearted champs' stories.

This kinda turned into a bit of a rant, but I needed to get it off my chest, haha.

Poolparty Sauron12/12/2018, 9:37:00 PM2 votes

Balrog is sad now ._.

Actually Cactus12/13/2018, 2:44:08 AM2 votes

Twilight of the Gods was the best thing I had ever read in nearly half a decade. The newfound depth of fictional world building behind the Darkin and Aspects and Ascended has greatly inspired my own imagination, as well as me as a person. The writer hit me on so many good levels and gave me a huge crippling nostalgic to my favorite book series. I just can't even... UH! - IT'S SO GOOD

The Cage and The Eye in the Abyss were also my favorites. I have such a thing for Darkin and the Void.

Lonely Shadow12/13/2018, 5:06:25 AM2 votes

I really liked the Syndra story and lore updates but i wish we could've gotten more Zed lore. The Nocturne lore was good too.

Falrein12/12/2018, 10:17:27 PM2 votes

Oh ... I hope you're okay and that this tournament didn't bring you any trouble of any sort.

I was really longing for The Dreaming Pool. It was such an enjoyable story for my favorite character. Plus after reading it several times, I found (or at least I think I did) some clues to Syndra's future, which made it even more enjoyable for me.

As to 2019... I can't wait for Morg's VgU. I really want to see what her lore is gonna look like. And of course, anything Syndra related (even a small thing) would make me happy!

Chromatic Eagle12/12/2018, 10:50:40 PM2 votes

Could the players run the contest instead?

ModKnightsKemplar12/13/2018, 5:21:50 AM2 votes

Sad that you can't continue the contest :( It was fun while it lasted!

I don't know that I'm enough of a lore junkie to pick any one story. I just love the whole universe. Looking forward to lore in 2019!

mrmeddyman12/12/2018, 11:21:54 PM2 votes

Well that sucks. Icathia woulda won anyways by far the best story.

The Void abyss and Twilight of the gods woulda been 2nd and 3rd

Eleshakai12/13/2018, 7:06:34 AM2 votes

I think the unspecified issues were that Noxus would eventually HAVE to lose. They were worried about the riots that were bound to happen when Noxus lost a round, so they cancelled the tournament.

Vizulix12/13/2018, 9:33:18 AM2 votes

My favourite story was "Where Icathia Once Stood". It was just a rush pretty much all throughout

KestrelGirl12/12/2018, 9:35:42 PM2 votes

Aw, RIP contest.

Luiya12/16/2018, 6:56:44 PM2 votes

My favorite all-time story so far is Principles of Strength. Alyssa and the Ironsoike mountains were so fascinating, and I’ve never actually wanted to see a character from the lore come onto a rift as much as her. I was hoping she’d be like the Illaoi introduction, but the Runeterra is big, and I know you can’t put every character in the game! I’m sad the contest can’t continue, and I know I just found out, later, but it makes me happy to know there’s a ton of other players as excited about the lore!! I can’t wait to see what next year brings!