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Fiddlesticks and Swain theory

Tal9922·11/24/2014, 8:12:30 PM·4 votes·6,960 views

So a while ago I got to thinking about how inconsistent Swain's theme/backstory is with his gameplay. As has been pointed out before, Swain is supposed to be a cunning, brilliant military mind and that translates in game to...morphing into a giant bird and eating his enemies. His abilities give off the feel of some malevolent, raven-themed sorcerer, which sounds like something Swain COULD have been, but nothing in his lore really indicates that, or indeed any extraordinary affinity to magic, unlike any other Mage champions.

Now, recently, Riot has talked about their plans to give Fiddlesticks more meat (no pun intended) to his lore, and I started wondering about the fact that we have 2 raven themed champions. Usually when 2 champions share a common denominator this major, there is a reason for it somewhere in the lore (perhaps they belong to the same faction, for instance), and sometimes it is even acknowledged in game. So I was wondering if there might not be a connection between the Harbinger of Doom and the Master Tactician. Perhaps Swain was an apprentice to Fiddlesticks, or better yet- managed to steal some of his power somehow? Let me elaborate: I like the idea that Fiddlesticks, despite his humble appearance, is actually some incredibly ancient/powerful eldtritch entity/deity (which Riot implied was the direction they would be going with). Doesn't sound like a kind of creature that would be eager to take on students, or one that could be robbed easily, BUT, consider who we are dealing with- Jericho Swain, an iron-willed genius with a completely unknown past, so much so that no one can say who he was before he one day hobbled into a random Noxian Hospital, his leg completely mangled but himself not showing any sign of pain. Makes you wonder what happened just prior to that, doesn't it? Perhaps a fateful duel/escape sequence vs a certain scarecrow, one that Swain did not leave empty handed, but nevertheless with a damaged mind and body.

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/169/5/b/fiddlesticks_and_swain_by_sirbronson-d3j81fz.jpg

"Cool theory, but I don't see it as being more than just that"

Ah, but observe Swain's actual gameplay graphics- his Q is cast by his raven, Beatrice. Strange, that even his bird can do magic, right? *But what if the bird is the *only one doing any magic? If Beatrice is some manifestation of Fiddlesticks' stolen power (or perhaps one of Fiddle's crows that Swain managed to charm/win over to his side) it would explain her considerable magical powers, and Swain's gameplay would still makes sense (his ultimate would be him merging with her, and it drains mana because the magic is forcing 2 seperate entities into a single body- it is literally a tug-o-war against the laws of Nature/Physics).

TLDR: Beatrice was originally a part of Fiddlesticks that is now with Swain. This is where Swain's powers come from

Thoughts? Criticisms? Discuss, if you will.

5 Comments

thinking man11/24/2014, 8:15:45 PM8 votes

[deleted]

GreenLore11/24/2014, 8:56:34 PM2 votes

Well it is not uncommon for champs to have similarities without any connection. I mean there doesn't seem to be one between Azir &Leona But nice theory anyway,I really hope they explore the origins of beatrice(Or swain in general) and fiddle. Personally I think swain might have imbued part of his soul into beatrice,you know a bit like voldemort and nagini

AvariceSyn11/24/2014, 9:15:32 PM2 votes

I thought you were going somewhere cooler with this. Like the Zed/Nocturne theory.

Diahane11/25/2014, 10:42:09 PM2 votes

I guess that this part of LeBlanc's judgment needs to be posted, since it implies a whole lot of things about Swain:

A moment later she was sitting in her study, the staff cradled delicately in the crook of her elbow as she sipped tea from an ornate cup. Across from her sat a decrepit figure, his fragile body enveloped in a tightly pulled military garb. A large raven sat perched on his shoulder.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visitation, Jericho Swain?" she asked. Swain's crooked hand curled around the handle of his teacup and he put the steaming hot beverage to his lips.

"Exquisite," he rasped. "Matron LeBlanc, you have always had impeccable taste."

"I have," she agreed with a smile; but there was only sadness in it. She stretched an arm across the table, clasping his scarred hand in hers. "But then, you already knew that. You knew it before you sold yourself."

Swain pressed a thorned onyx ring into her hand. "It is true. I have made sacrifices. But I made them for us. The Black Rose is yours, Matron, but I have become something greater." As if in agreement, the raven on his shoulder cawed. "The time has come. Join me in fellowship, and we can restore what was taken from us by Boram Darkwill."

She gazed at the ring, "You have forsaken your identity to gain Darkwill's trust. The rest will not be so eager."

"Perhaps. But there are other ways," Swain continued.

A porter arrived in the doorway to announce an additional guest. "General Du Couteau is here to see you, Matron."

LeBlanc shot Swain a curious glance. "Send him up," she replied. The porter exited the study. "Du Couteau is that vulgar General's lapdog," she spat. "He will be of no use to us, Jericho."

"Perhaps you're mistaken, Deceiver. He is of noble blood," said Swain.

LeBlanc held up the ring. "But he is not one of us!"

I'd put emphasis on the "I have become something greater" and him being implied to be a former member of the Black Rose before arranging some kind of deal to gain Boram Darkwill's trust. The phrase "you have forsaken your identity" is rather relevant too.

To this, I'd add the "beware Ravens" in Sion's lore too.

The link between Swain and his raven has always been intentionally obscure and ambiguous, for one to get the feeling that it's the bird to do the magics it's just fair, I think that's intentionally implied, especially if one takes into account that in Swain's judgment a flashback puts him in the position of attempting to assassinate Jarvan with a poisoned hexbow, not with magic. And that scene seems to be supposed to be before the wound to his leg, given how the judgment continues.