Marai

Marai
A Marai female known as Nami.
Biological classification
Designation	Sapient
Parent Species	Vastaya
Physical characteristics
Skin color(s)	Yellow Tan Teal Aqua Blue
Hair color(s)	Yellow Teal Tan Aqua Blue
Eye color(s)	Gold Yellow Red Orange
Distinctions	Underwater Adaptability Magically Dependent Advanced Tool Users
Average lifespan	Centuries
Sociocultural characteristics
Status	Extant
Language(s)	Runeterran (All known languages)
Habitat(s)	Cold Salt Waters Magical Environment Settlements (Cities, Villages, Tribes)
Diet	Omnivorous
Place of origin	Ionia
Currently inhabited place(s)	Marai Territory
Universe(s)	Runeterra Prime

Lore

Marai Champions

Nami

Other Marai

• 4 Loto, Nami's boyfriend.
• 2 Tama, Nami's girlfriend.
• 4 Greatmother.
• 3 Journeying Sandhopper.
• 6 Leo'lei.

Other Related Champions

• Diana is the Aspect of the Moon Nami is searching for.
• Miss Fortune joined the funeral of Aligh, a pirate captain claimed to be half-Marai.

History

For more information, see Into the Abyss.

The Tidecaller

Centuries ago, an ancient Vastaya of Ionia traveled to the shores of Mount Targon in search of a new home. The race built a hidden village beneath a coral reef in the sea. Though they had their enemies, the city was an impenetrable fortress, until a massive Void rift opened near their home. Their attempts to control the waters around them had proved to be unsuccessful, with countless Marai perishing. Their numbers were dwindling until the arrival of the Moonstone.

The Marai rely heavily on Moonstones, powerful objects found only on the surface world, which light altering properties help the Marai ward off larger predators that reside in the deeps. The stone's powers lasts only one hundred years and is the sacred duty of The Tidecaller's to acquire these objects. Before it's light fades, the Tidecaller must journey into the Great Deep, retrieve an abyssal pearl, and carry it to the surface. There, on the night of the winter solstice of the hundredth year, the Tidecaller makes a ceremonial exchange with a land-walker bearing a moonstone. By trading the pearl for the moonstone, the Tidecaller ensures the survival of the Marai for another century. The current Tidecaller, Nami is desperately searching for a Moonstone to help her people.

Physiology

A Marai known as Nami.

The Marai are a water dwelling form of a sentient species known as the Vastaya. They resemble a mix between Humans and fish (humanoid upper part, fish lower part), the Marai are capable of withstanding enormous pressures of the Great Deep and being able to live in salt and fresh waters.

Their distinct features are their uniquely formed scales and flaps. Their darker green scales end at the point of their chests, resembling clothing. Male Marai have their lighter scales (resembling skin) shown more prominent in their chest area than female Marai. However, female Marai have larger and more prominent flaps around their bodies (resembling laced clothing). Both sexes have flap protrusions resembling hair on their heads. These protrusions can be in various shades of yellow and green. Their eyes have dark sclera and irises in various shades of green, red, yellow, orange, and blue.

It is unclear on how the Marai reproduce. The most likely method is similar to that of surface-dwelling mammals, due to their origins as a surface-dwelling tribe of Vastaya and also because female Marai have breast-like protrusions.

Culture

A Marai group welcoming their new Tidecaller.

As Vastaya, they have deep magical connections to the world around them and are highly sensitive to its magical fluctuations. The Void Rift near their home threatens their entire existence, and as such they have found ways to combat its violent nature with the use of the Moonstone infused with the celestial magic of the heavens.

The culture of the Tidecaller was born out of necessity and is highly praised and respected within Marai society. Their legacy, as well as the legacy of each Marai, is remembered through murals, texts, or simple mementos such as necklaces made out of shells. The Marai adorn simple accessorized jewelry made out of numerous gems, coral, shells, and plant life.

Each Marai is trained to hunt from a young age. Bathystaff are a common hunting tool, also able to illuminate surrounding area during deep excursions.

Not many surface people know of the Marai. They are considered as mythical creatures by sailors. The only surface dwellers that have close connections with them are the Lunari of Mount Targon, up until the Lunari were forced into hiding by the Solari.

Trivia

The Marai (As seen on the Old Bilgewater Crest)

• Nami's Tidecaller Staff has at the base of the crown a triangle composed of streams surrounding a circle carved with what seems like the Void symbol. This could possibly represent the Tidecaller's ability of using moonlight to repel the Void.
• Each new Tidecaller is adorned with a ceremonial crown and fin plates.

Media

• Music
• Gallery

Related Music

League of Legends Music Tidecaller

Nami "First Steps" Illustration

Nami "Into The Abyss" Concept 1 (by Riot Employed Artist Viviana Medeiros)

Nami "Into The Abyss" Concept 2 (by Riot Employed Artist Viviana Medeiros)

Nami "Into the Abyss" Cover 1 (by Riot Employed Artist Viviana Medeiros)

Nami "Into the Abyss" Cover 2 (by Riot Employed Artist Viviana Medeiros)

See Also

• Into the Abyss
• Marai Territory
• Marai Village

Sapient Species

Sentient Species

Non-Sentient Species

Alternate Universe Only Species

Other Species

Mentioned Species	These species were only mentioned, but were never elaborated on. Carnotaun · Cougar · Croxagor · Devilfish · Grelmorn · Lippertick Apple · Mewlark  · Razorhide · Rhoksha · Salamander Dew · Unnamed Species
Species Alterations	These alterations are characteristics that multiple different species can have. Chemical Alteration · Cyborg · Iceborn · Magical · Magical Alteration · Void Touched