Return of the Ruined King

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Return of the Ruined King
Basic Information
Year(s)	994 AN - 997 AN
Event Chronology
← Previous	First Demacian-Noxian War
Next →	Future Events
Related Events
Main Event	Recent History 989 AN - Onward
Simultaneous Events	Great Mage Rebellion 996 AN - Onward
Included Media
Confessions of a Broken Blade Burning Tides The Burden Shadow and Fortune Homebound Dark Passage The Climb Shadow's Embrace Then, Teeth Fortune Smiles The Voices of the Dead Destiny and Fate Double-Double Cross Don't Mess With Yordles Sisterhood of War Brotherhood Perennial Kin of the Stained Blade Awaken Redeemed Ruination (Video) Ruined King The Will of the Dead Rise of the Sentinels

The Return of the Ruined King is a recent historical event which refers to the return of Viego and his defeat at the hand of the Sentinels of Light. This historical event starts with the death of Senna and ends with Viego's defeat.

Lore

This snippet is from the dev post Looking Back on Sentinels of Light, which outlines the key story beats that form the canonical narrative of this historical event's conclusion. To this day, these story beats remain the only definitive record of what occurred during the Rise of the Sentinels event.

During Sentinels, we released four versions of the story through (1) Rise of the Sentinels, (2) the Ruination, Before Dawn, and Absolution cinematics, (3) Wild Rift's in-client Sentinels HQ, and (4) their Steadfast Heart comics. Each of these teams made changes to the story to fit their specific storytelling vehicle, though we tried to keep the same core story the same. And for the sake of final clarity, here's the core story:

• Thresh resurrects Viego
• Viego attempts to take the piece of Isolde's soul inside Senna, but Senna and Lucian escape
• Lucian and Senna travel across Runeterra, attempting to stop Viego from collecting the other pieces of Isolde's soul. They encounter Ruined champions and recruit new Sentinels along the journey.
• Akshan is one of those Sentinels. He had been training under his mentor Shadya, the Lost Sentinel. Shadya was recently murdered by a Shuriman warlord, and when we met Akshan, he was attempting to kill Shadya's murderer with the Absolver to resurrect her.
• As Viego's quest nears completion, the Sentinels take the fight to him in the Shadow Isles
• Senna willingly surrenders to Viego, as the piece of Isolde inside her insists it's the only way to save the world
• Senna dies as Viego completes Isolde's soul and resurrects her
• Isolde secretly tells Akshan to kill her, resurrecting Senna since the cause of her death was Isolde's soul leaving her body
• The Sentinels defeat Viego
• Thresh siphons the souls from the Ruination, gaining enough power to restore his human form and leave the Shadow Isles

Prologue

990 AN

After the invasion of Ionia, Riven started working as an Ionian farmhand. After an unknown time, the local militia took notice of her and took her in for questioning. During her hearing it is revealed that she was the responsible for Elder Souma's death. While waiting for her sentence, she is confronted by Yasuo, who had been listening to the hearing. In their scuffle, Yasuo realizes that she did not murder his master on purpose. She had asked his master to break her sword. And while Master Souma was able to break the sword, it had burst into pieces, killing him in the process. After the truth is revealed, Riven's sentence is reduced to community service. Yasuo, cleared of his crimes but not of his guilt, continues to wander Ionia.

991 AN

While scouring a forgotten vault for a cure to her curse, Senna and Lucian were attacked by the sadistic Thresh. So close to finding answers about the Ruination and Senna's curse, Lucian refuses to turn back and attacks Thresh blindly. When the wraith gained the upper hand, Senna stepped into Thresh's path to protect her husband and had her soul sealed within the Chain Warden's lantern.

993 AN

Miss Fortune concocts a plan to get rid of Gangplank once and for all. She commissions Twisted Fate to steal a magical dagger from Gangplank and then tips off his former partner, Graves. The two start fighting across Bilgewater, creating the perfect distraction for Fortune. Miss Fortune destroys most of the Jagged Hooks and Gangplank is believed to be dead. With Gangplank gone, a power vacuum forms and Bilgewater descends into chaos.

Graves and Twisted Fate reconcile and resolve to leave Bilgewater to start their partnership anew. Their sights are set on Piltover, where they start performing heists and commission a new gun for Graves called New Destiny.

Gangplank is rescued by the Buhru and meets with Illaoi for the first time in a long time. He begs for the aid of the Buhru in reclaiming Bilgewater and Illaoi subjects him to the test of Nagakaborous. Despite his withered state, he is found worthy and Illaoi pledges the support of Buhru. Following his meeting with Illaoi, the Buhru nurse Gangplank back to health and provide him with a new prosthetic arm.

Six months after Gangplank's defeat, Miss Fortune eliminates several corrupt leaders of Bilgewater.

History

994 AN

Shadows and Fortune

A Harrowing sweeps over Bilgewater with Hecarim and Thresh leading the charge. Lucian, Olaf and Miss Fortune are brought together by circumstance and fight the Harrowing in their own ways. Illaoi manages to perform a ritual to invoke Nagakabouros, which showers Bilgewater in the goddess's light and repels the Harrowing. The ritual cleanses Grey Harbor and frees many of the souls trapped by the Black Mist. During the battle, Lucian confronts Thresh for the first time since Senna death and learns that her soul is imprisoned within his lantern. Lucian is now determined to save her and destroy the Black Mist once and for all.

After the Harrowing ends, Miss Fortune resolves to clean up Bilgewater and unite the city under her rule. Illaoi hopes to fix Bilgewater and hopes to work with both Miss Fortune and Gangplank to achieve this. Failing to die, Olaf returns to the Freljord. Shortly after Pyke returns to Bilgewater as the Bloodharbor Ripper.

995 AN

After aiding Venaru villagers ravaged by a Harrowing, Lucian decides to stop chasing the Black Mist across Runeterra and go directly to the Shadow Isles to save Senna. Having travelled to the heart of the Isles, Lucian battles Thresh and frees Senna's soul from his lantern. Senna reconstitutes as a wraith and saves Lucian with her new relic cannon. Thresh escapes the encounter after his lantern repairs itself.

996 AN

Less then a year after releasing Senna from Thresh's lantern, Lucian and Senna fight a Harrowing in Ionia where Senna realizes the Ruined King is beginning to wake.

Graves and Twisted Fate return to Bilgewater for another heist, during which, they earn the ire of a sea witch. The sea witch captures Miss Fortune's quartermaster and strikes a deal with her, asking for her quartermaster in exchange for Graves and Twisted Fate. Twisted Fate gets captured by Miss Fortune and is kept at one of the Slaughter Docks hangars. Graves attempts to rescue him from Fortune, before they both are outwitted by her. After Miss Fortune gets her quartermaster back, she slips Twisted Fate a red card, allowing both mercenaries to escape.

6 Arrel, 2 Tifalenji, 5 Marit, along with their blade squire 1 Erath embark for Ionian Fae'lor on the ship called the Atoniad. They meet up with fellow battle sister 4 Teneff, before heading off to search for their former battle sister, Riven, who is in self-imposed exile in Ionia. Riven travels with her adoptive father Asa and a merchant named Muramaat to the nearest marketplace. Riven protects the camp from a bandit attack without killing anyone, which gains the respect of Muramaat, who then examines her sword and states that someone is tracking her through the sword. The Noxian warband encounter multiple challenges from the land. On their path, they encounter Erath's father who had been thought to be dead. They later find an old battle field and are attacked by the Navori Brotherhood, causing them to think Erath's father betrayed them. The huntresses find Riven and she explains to her former comrades why she abandoned Noxus. Tifalenji reveals that she came to reclaim the rune blade and threatens to kill Asa if Riven doesn't hand it over. Arrel and Teneff object to the runesmith's plan, but Marit sides with her. Riven duels Marit for the blade and Marit dies in the ensuing fight. Tifalenji threatens to kill them all but is stabbed by Erath. Teneff takes her fallen comrades' back to Noxus, with Riven in tow, choosing to accept her fate and receive justice in Noxus. Arrel heads off on her own, while Erath goes to find his dad. He finds his father dead and learns that the Brotherhood killed him when he wouldn't give up their location. Despite an offer to stay, Erath decides to take his father's body home. Riven is extradited to Noxus and is sentenced to life fighting in the Fleshing Arena.

Years after the Noxian Invasion of Ionia, a family finally has a chance to celebrate the Spirit Blossom Festival, while Noxian ships scout the areas around Weh'le, preparing for another invasion. Here, Ahri tries to find a guard for her journey to Bilgewater. Meanwhile, Yasuo travels on the Noxian road towards Weh'le where he encounters Teo and Joab, two brothers that need some assistance getting a kite down from a tree. Once Yasuo arrives in Weh'le, he encounters a monk who offers to help him commune with the spirits. The monk is revealed to be an azakana and wants to feed on Yasuo's guilt. The azakana is interrupted by a masked swordsman, but Yasuo defends him, not realizing he is a demon. Yasuo realizes the swordsman is his brother, returned from the dead, and aids him in defeating the demon. Forced to confront his past, Yasuo makes peace with Yone and is ready to move on. Later, he accompanies Ahri to Bilgewater as her bodyguard.

Crew of the Charming Lady

A village in the Freljord is plagued by a terrible sickness. Braum sets out to the Shadow Isles in order to find the Blessed Waters, said to cure any illness. As Braum nears the Isles, he is attacked by the Black Mist, sinking his boat and losing his shield in the process. After gaining control of most of Bilgewater, Miss Fortune and Rafen meet with Captian Thorne to gain further control of the city via diplomatic means. Negotiations fail between Fortune and Thorne, resulting in a fight between the two; Fortune ends up executing Thorne and assimilating his crew. Later that night, The Black Mist attacks Fortune's Estate, killing multiple members of Miss Fortune's crew and severely wounding Rafen. In light of this event, Miss Fortune requests an audience with Illaoi, fearing another harrowing is imminent. Nagakabouros shows Illaoi a vision of the Blood Harbor Ripper and interprets it as a sign to stop him. Illaoi tracks him down to the Warrens and subjects him to Nagakaborous' test. To her disbelief, the goddess finds him worthy and he escapes. She then experiences another vision, seeing a great test coming, involving Gangplank and Miss Fortune. Braum washes ashore near Bilgewater and is nursed back to health by the Buhru and meets with their Truth Bearer, Illaoi. Illaoi and Braum are intercepted by members of Miss Fortune's crew and go to meet with her at her estate. Fortune explains the events of the previous night and requests they investigate Grey Harbor, while she prepares for the possibility of another harrowing.

As part of his deal with Thresh, Gangplank raids a Buhru temple and gathers artifacts that can fend off The Black Mist. Yasuo and Ahri soon arrive at Bilgewater, where Ahri hopes to learn more about her people. They head to one of the city's black markets and ask a merchant if he has any Vesani artifacts for sale. Ahri charms him into revealing that he sold a sunstone to Malik of the Jagged Hooks and that he was headed for Grey Harbor. Later that night, Ahri has a nightmare about how she drained her lover and sneaks off to Grey Harbor alone, fearing she may do the same to Yasuo. Yasuo shortly wakes up and pursues her, not wanting to fail his mission again. He encounters Braum and Illaoi at the entrance of Grey Harbor and they agree to venture on together. Within Grey Harbor, they find the Jagged Hooks' hideout and investigate. There they learn that Ahri had passed through and was following Gangplank to the Shadow Isles, having taken the sunstone. After dispatching members of the Jagged Hook and wraiths alike, they push towards an abandoned Buhru temple. After arriving at the temple, they defeat the false goddess, Xa'tal, and cleanse it of her influence. After cleansing the temple, a Buhru ancestor appears and reveals that Gangplank was the one who ransacked the temple and has allied himself with the Shadow Isles. Meanwhile, Gangplank meets with Thresh and informs him that he has procured the artifacts and has hidden queen Isolde's crown within Bilgewater. They then prepare to return the Shadow Isles and begin the ritual to awaken the Ruined King. The crew returns to Fortune's Estate and debrief her on the situtation. Illaoi reveals that Gangplank is still alive, but withholds the fact that she aided him. Fortune agrees to grant them access to her ship and joins them to put an end to Gangplank's life. After searching for members of Fortune's crew, they take a ship that Braum dubs the Charming Lady and set sail for the Shadow Isles. During the voyage, the crew is besieged by a giant sea monster and are saved by Pyke. He reveals that Nagakaborous has pacified the voices in his head and that Gangplank is on his list. Seeing that their goals align, he joins them on their voyage.

After arriving on the Shadow Isles, the crew search for Ahri in a grove. They instead find Maokai, who mistakes them for enemies, and engages in combat until they are stopped by Ahri. Maokai reveals that the path to Thresh sanctum is blocked by walls of Black Mist and offers to destroy them, if they can cleanse his roots. The crew follows Ahri to the Shadow Vault and cleanse Maokai's roots after defeating the evil entity corrupting them. Unfortunately, Maokai remains too weak to tear down the walls, but gives them a seed to get the blessing of Nagakaborous in order to rejuvenate him. They head to ancient Buhru Temple beneath the ocean and bless Maokai's seed. Reinvigorated, Maokai destroys the Black Mist standing in their way and gives Braum his leaves to cure his people. On the path to Thresh's sanctum, the crew meet a calm Wraith named Necrit, the former royal advisor to the Ruined King. The crew battles and defeats Thresh in his sanctum, but he escapes after completing the ritual to revive Viego, the Ruined King. The crew heads to the heart of the Shadow Isles and finds Gangplank just as he gets possesed by Viego. The crew fights a possessed Gangplank and defeat him, only for Viego to escape to Bilgewater to search for his queen. Through the Black Mist, Ahri was able to see Viego's memories. She learns that the pure love he had for Isolde was a lie. In truth, their relationship was imperfect and his love turned into obsession when she passed. The crew then pursues Viego by ship.

Illaoi persuades Gangplank to help them defeat Viego. He reveals that the necklace around his neck is able to control the Black Mist, but the person's will has to be strong enough to wield it. However, the amulet was corrupted during the battle. He also mentions that Thresh knew a fatal secret that could stop Viego, but he never told him. Illaoi deduces that it was the memories that Ahri discovered in the Black Mist and plans on giving amulet to Miss Fortune. As the ship catches up to the Ruined King, he sends massive winds towards the Charming Lady, shipwrecking them on a nearby island. As the crew wait for the ship to be repaired, Yasuo senses a mysterious wind on the island and decides to explore the island. He encounters shadows of his past and faces off against a shadow of his brother. After defeating the shadow, instead of killing his brother, he lets him live. Yasuo comes to terms with his past and accepts the mistakes he has made and the mistakes of others, finally able to move on. After fixing the Charming Lady, the crew beats Viego back to Bilgewater. Illaoi consults the Buhru on fixing the amulet, while Fortune and the others prepare for Viego's arrival. The Buhru refuse to help Illaoi find the Buhru Forge to fix the amulet, so they seek out Necrit instead. Necrit guides them to the Vault of the Vesani, where the entrance to the forge can be found. Ahri discovers that her ancestors lived on the Blessed Isles as scholars, researching their powers and the Hallowed Mist. They learned how to channel memories and the soul into a sunstone and used them to enchant golems. At the forge, they purify the amulet after being tested by an Avatar of Nagakabouros. Illaoi reveals to Sarah that she saved Gangplank and wishes to put their past behind them. The crew returns to Bilgewater and fights their final battle against Viego. Ahri weakens the Ruined King with his own memories and Miss Fortune seals him within the amulet, however Miss Fortune is tempted by Viego's offer of power. During the battle, Gangplank escapes from prison, much to Miss Fortune's dismay.

After the battle the crew disbands and each member goes their own way. Yasuo escorts Braum back to the Freljord, before heading to Noxus. Ahri remains near the Shadow Isles, wanting to learn more of her ancestors. Pyke returns to the deep, still afflicted by Nagakabouros, and now Viego is on his list. As a result of Gangplank's escape and Viego's influence on her, Sarah starts ruling Bilgewater with an iron fist and enters a gang war against Gangplank's allies. Illaoi takes the amulet with Viego for safe keeping.

A few weeks after Viego's attack on Bilgewater, Illaoi travels to the Shadow Isles in order to find a monk that was rumored to hold the power to destroy the amulet and the Ruined King within it. Shortly after arriving on the accursed islands she meets with Yorick. Both priests soon find themselves cornered by one of Thresh's underlings, Bartek. In the battle that ensues, Bartek takes the amulet and flees, leaving Illaoi devastated for failing Sarah.

997 AN

Senna has a feeling that she must head towards Bilgewater and informs Lucian. She is then struck by dark lightning and falls unconscious. She wakes up to a soul that explains her curse and warns her about the threat of the Ruined King. After waking up, Lucian and Senna sail on for Bilgewater. Viego catches up to them in Holdrum and unleashes harrowings across Runeterra. Despite their efforts to repel his attack, Viego pries a portion of the soul within Senna, but the couple manages to escape. During this time, Darius is possessed by the mist and fights Samira in Noxus, Karma repels a black mist attack in Ionia, and Vayne and Poppy defend a Demacian city. They would later find something connected to the Sentinels of Light. Because of Viego's return, Gwen is brought to life.

New Generation of Sentinels fighting the Undead

Lucian and Senna discover a way to follow the mist by using the worldstone located in the Sentinel HQ. The Sentinels of Light travel from Demacia, to Freljord, Noxus, Ionia, Targon, Piltover & Zaun, Ixtal, Bilgewater, Shurima and then the Shadow Isles. The Black Mist keeps attacking the world. Multiple people are lost in Ruination, including Shyvana, Draven, Karma, Pantheon and Miss Fortune. To fight off the threats of the Ruination, the Sentinels recruit new members, which include Vayne, Olaf, Riven, Irelia, Diana, Graves, Rengar, and Pyke.

Searching for more recruits in Shurima, Lucian meets up with Sentinel Akshan who is able to revive people from death by killing the person who murdered them. After some consideration, he joins the fight against Viego. Viego, with the help of Vex and Thresh, manages to collect most of the pieces of Isolde's soul. The Sentinels of Light arrive at the Shadow Isles where with the help of Yorick they are able to withstand the effects of the Mist and travel safely into the center of the Isles. Yorick's maiden also joins the group. Sentinels combat the undead forces, however both Senna, Gwen, and the Maiden are captured by Viego and with the aid of Vex open up a portal to Camavor. Senna, Gwen, and the Maiden die when the pieces of Isolde's soul get ripped from their bodies. With all the pieces together, Isolde finally forms again as an entity. Akshan uses his Absolver to finish off Isolde, finally killing her. This revives Senna, Gwen and The Maiden while Viego loses his powers over the Black Mist. While weakened,the Sentinels of Light finish him off, with Gwen imprisoning him on Camavor in needles and threads made from the Hallowed Mist. Akshan, Gwen, Senna and the Maiden return safely to the Isles with the help of Vex.

Everyone who gave in to Ruin turns back to normal. Atreus regains control of his body from the Aspect of War. Every recently recruited Sentinel lays down their Sentinel weapons and cloaks to return to their regular lives, besides Vayne who decides to stay as the main Sentinel of Demacia. However, with Viego gone, Thresh takes control over the Black Mist, turning unbound from the Shadow Isles and commences a new wave of mayhem across Runeterra. Thresh travels to Noxus where he starts collecting souls of every person in a Noxian inn.

Trivia

• Due to the varying interpretations of the events of Rise of the Sentinels across multiple sources, it remains unclear which elements of the different narratives are considered canon.
  • In July 2021, Reav3 noted that only the visual novel in League of Legends was considered the canonical event. . He would later clarify that while the visual novel is the most comprehensive version, covering all the main story beats, not every line from the visual novel is strictly canon.
  • In December 2021, Reav3 further clarified Riot's stance on releasing multiple versions of the story across different games (League, Wild Rift). He provided the main story beats that serve as the definitive canon.
  • However, many details in the visual novels, the Before Dawn & Absolution cinematics, or the Steadfast Heart comics that weren’t part of these core beats can be seen as both canon and non-canon simultaneously, which still causes confusion among players to this day.

References

Lore and Events