So with the revelations about the Blessed Isles, what does this mean for Maokai?

Sharjo··9 votes·2,377 views
Maokai | League of Legends

So looking at the new lore we've got, we now known about the pre-ruination Shadow Isles: the Blessed Isles. We know of the Ruination itself and how it was caused. We know that Morde lords over most of the Shadow Isles, but one question is burning in my mind right now, concerning our Twisted Treant. How does Maokai fit?

For those who don't know, because maybe you just haven't checked his lore in the past two years, Maokai was retconned to be from the Shadow Isles at the end of 2013. You can read his current lore there but basically he was the most powerful spirit of the sacred forest of the isles, and when the Ruined King ordered the breaking of the barrier between life and death, Maokai did what he could to preserve the sanctity of life by drawing natural energies from the land and sealing them, along with himself, in the great oak at the heart of the forest. He succeeded, but he was transformed by the event, becoming a warped, twisted abomination. He still carried the life essences of the isles though, and so he threw himself to the sea and put his faith in nature to guide him to safer shores, shores that might give him what he needs to fix things once and for all.

So with the new lore, how does his 2013 lore fit? Well assuming nothing has actually changed for Maokai in the interim, I think it'll be something like this:

Maokai is the strongest spirit of the Blessed Isles as a whole, and likely had good relations with the order guarding all the ancient artifacts and stuff, although they probably had to do some convincing for him to trust them with guarding such things. Things were good for centuries even after Morde's skull was brought there, until Hecarim, Kalista and the Ruined King arrived. Through their actions the Ruination occurred, but it wasn't immediate, and Maokai did what he could. He collected as much of the life essence of the isles as he could hid in the Oak tree and hoped for the best, but the results are what we would expect; he was twisted in to a treant but succeeded in protecting the essence of the Blessed Isles. As in the prior lore he raged and thrashed about, tormented by his new existence and in immense pain, and when he calmed down Morde's Liches were on the way. Maokai would've known of Morde considering the revenant's skull was located on the isles, and fearing what the revenant could do, the great spirit pulled himself together and threw himself to the sea, putting his faith in nature to guide him to safer shores so he could figure this out, but this time it's not just to fix the isles, but to overcome Mordekaiser himself.

So what do you guys think? Considering Maokai's essentially the hero of the overarching Shadow Isles storyline (if such a thing exists), how do you think his lore is affected by these new developments and revelations?

14 Comments

Boulderox9 votes

Maokai VILE MAGICS Kassadin Y'ALL motherfuckers didn't listen now did ya

Sharjo8 votes

Maokai THE HELL, I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS FOR CENTURIES. GET ON MY LEVEL SHURIMA SCRUB Kassadin YOU WOT MATE

Ralanr8 votes

Azir: DID SOMEONE SAY SHURIMA?

Zair Umbras1 votes

GarenJarvanIVLux: DEMACIA

Melledoneus9 votes

Sivir: Azir, please sit back down.

Azir: Sivir, my child, you will address me as "Father."

Sivir: Yeah, no. That's not happening.

Azir: Sivir... what must I do to reach out to you?

Sivir: Stop acting like you govern my life?

Azir: Sivir, you are my daughter, and I love you. Do you know how much I love you?

Sivir: That's nice and all, but I'm leaving.

Azir: YOU SIT BACK DOWN, YOUNG LADY!

Sivir: Pouts You never let me do anything. I liked my mercenary life better without you.

Azir: You would reject everything I have given you?!? After all I have done for you?!?

Sivir: ...you're angry with me, aren't you?

Azir: I'm not angry, just... just disappointed.

Sivir: ...can I leave now? I'm tired of this stupid empty city. Shurima's dead.

Azir: YOUNG LADY, THAT IS THE LAST STRAW! BACK TO YOUR CHAMBERS!

Sivir: Ugh, fine. Whatever.

Ralanr1 votes

This just makes me think the Blessed Isles was a druidic coven.

Sharjo1 votes

I'd like to think so. I'd like to imagine Bard had a word with them a few times and swooped in to take the majority of the artifacts right as the Ruination was calming down.

Ralanr1 votes

I'm not sure Bard could have gotten past the black mists.

Sharjo1 votes

Well he's like beyond physicality and stuff. He's made of star dust. The Black Mist might not affect him at all, considering he likely doesn't die in the same way as Runeterra native lifeforms.

Ralanr1 votes

That depends on how the black mist effects celestials. Plus there is Mordekaiser. Can you imagine him allowing anything to waltz into his new territory and taking something out?

Again?!

Sharjo2 votes

I suppose that depends on how much time would've passed between a potential Bard artifact recovery and Morde's liches travelling overseas to revive him. I REALLY want Bard's long lore. REALLY BADLY.

Ralanr2 votes

I hope Bard doesn't mind a little METAL.

Malicious Metal1 votes

Well, his tempered fate might have been enough for him to dash in and retrieve those vile artifacts before Morde could get his cold, armored hands on them.

Wind Whistler1 votes

I didn't even know that Maokai used to not be part of the Shadow Isles conflict, so thanks for that.

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