Serpent Isles

Serpent Isles
Serpent Isles
Sociocultural characteristics
Nation(s)	Buhru Bilgewater
Government(s)	Gang syndicates and Religious tribes
Attitude towards magic	Employ and Utilize
Level of technology	Varied
Physical characteristics
General environment(s)	Tropical Archipelago
Universe(s)	Runeterra Prime  Runeterra Legacy

Serpent Isles, or Blue Flame Isles, is an island archipelago off the southeastern coast of the Valoran mainland. Notably, it contains Bilgewater.

Lore

The culture of Serpent Isles is deeply tied to Bilgewater, the island's nation. Bilgewater, over the years, has become an important stop for trade ships traveling near the Serpent Isles. While this increased the nation's wealth and influence on Valoran, the trade routes also brought piracy, and the island's inhabitants found themselves caught in a frenzy of pillaging. Things have relatively settled down since those days. Many inhabitants now strive to unite under Bilgewater in order to make themselves into a strong and independent society.

While much of Valoran knows the archipelago as the Blue Flame Isles, to the indigenous people of Buhru they have only ever been the Serpent Isles. Buhru's ancient culture is highly respected, reflected, and sometimes imitated in the daily life of Bilgewater—including traditional medicine, and monster hunting techniques.

More recently, the Isles have been under assault from the Shadow Isles, that attacks in the form of "Black Mist" and probably in undead armies. The threat has been successfully fought off by the combined efforts of a Leviathan, Gangplank, Miss Fortune , Nautilus  and its own residents, however, Hecarim  has successfully raided the island at least 2 times, leaving no survivors on the attacked towns.

Champions of Serpent Isles

Fizz

Gangplank

Graves

Illaoi

Miss Fortune

Nautilus

Pyke

Other Related Champions

• Hecarim is as specter that attacked Bilgewater during the Harrowing and laid waste to the port of Grey Harbor.
• Kalista is as specter that punishes betrayers in Bilgewater.
• Karthus is as specter that attacked a Bilgewater ship.
• Lucian defended Bilgewater against the Black Mist.
• Olaf defended Bilgewater against the Black Mist.
• Swain is antagonistic towards Gangplank after the latter stole his personal warship, The Leviathan.
• Tahm Kench is a glutton that preys on Bilgewater victims.
• Thresh is as specter that attacked Bilgewater during the Harrowing.
• Zed is antagonistic towards Gangplank after the latter ransacked the Temple of the Jagged Knife in Ionia.

Locations

Other locations part of these archipelago are, Bilgewater, and Isle of Buhru.

Bilgewater

Bilgewater

The Bilgewater Union (commonly referred to as Bilgewater) is an island nation of the Serpent Isles, which are located in the southeastern coast of Valoran. Over time becoming a vital stop for trade ships traveling near the Serpent Isles. While this increased the nation's wealth and influence over Valoran, it has also made the nation a major refuge for piracy, and the island itself a tempting target for pirate raids. Rum is the nation's major export, which is made in the various pubs and taverns down Fleet Street. Before sailing into the port, onlookers can see the image of a white skull on the large rock behind the city.

Buhru

Buhru Temple

On the isle of Buhru, one of the isles of the Bilgewater island chain, battle isn't considered a test of strength but of will. These Isles are the location from which the Religion of Nagakabouros and its priestess originate from.

Strait of Daray

A dangerous passage of water in the Serpent Isles where sea creatures and birds seldom visit due to a looming darkness. In truth, it is where 2 Ibaaros, the Darkin Harpoon is imprisoned.

Winddrake Isle

One of the isles of the Bilgewater island chain. Wind magic is exceptionally strong here and can manifest one's deepest regrets.

Wildlife

• Land
• Aquatic

Wildlife diversity is fairly low around Bilgewater; you're most likely to see wharf rats, seagulls, and Scuttle Crabs.

Various monsters from across Runeterra are shipped through the black market, trained extensively and sold as living commodities for entertainment, industrial use or simply as loyal underlings. The illegal trade is especially prevalent in a pirate haven such as Bilgewater. As is the principle in the black market trade, those who pay more Krakens undoubtedly get better monsters than those who pay less. Examples of these mercenary beasts are: Ironbacks, Ocklepods, Plundercrabs, and Razorfins.

Dredge Dredgers

• Dredge Dredgers
• Warf Rat, Ocklepod, Plundercrab, and Ironback
• Powder Monkeys
• Monkey Idol
• Miss Fortune with Powder Monkeys
• Lariette Rose riding a Sea Horse

1/6

Dredge Dredgers are goblin-like creatures that live around the Serpent Isles and the Guardian's Sea. The are sentient and sapient beings able to wear humanoid clothing, use tools, and express themselves. It is unclear if they have one eye or two, since members of their race often wear squids as hats. They have yellow skin and share some visual similarities with Yordles.

Ironbacks

Main article: Ironback

Ironbacks are squat bipedal creatures that resemble turtles or tortoises. Though not as tall as a human adult, they are far wider and more heavily-built. When domesticated and used for combat, they act as siege engines. Their stout strength can tear down whole structures with ease; and when outfitted with armor to complement their thick hide, they can endure the most grievous assaults.

Noxian Oranges

Originating from the conquered lands of Noxus, this citrus fruit is the primary source of vitamin C for Bilgewater pirates that prevents scurvy.

Powder Monkeys

Powder Monkeys are simian creatures that originate from a Monkey Idol currently located on the Serpent Isles. The are small of stature with fur that has a gunpowder color and glowing yellow eyes. They often live gather around people or areas where there is a heavy use of gunpowder, hence their names. They are mischievous, but can prove useful in enhancing gunpowder related weapons with unknown magical powers.

Sea Horses

Sea Horses are large equine creatures that live around the Serpent Isles. Contrary to their name, they are mostly land based creatures, being used as a mode of transportation by some Bilgewater residence. Their key features are their fin manes, long tails, as well as their scaled-like skin.

Wharf Rat

Main article: Razorfin

• Wharf Rats
• A Wharf Rat and her young

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Wharf Rats, or Razorfins, are amphibious quadrupeds which are a terrifying blend of shark and rat commonly found on the docks of Bilgewater. These creatures are larger than dogs and are known to prey upon drunks and lone fishermen on moonless nights. They often travel in packs, and are easily capable of biting a man's leg off. Their lithe streamlined bodies allude to their speed; their teeth to their ferocity. Criminal circles often train these creatures to seek out and hound high-value targets. Indeed, once a Razorfin draws blood from its target, only death will deter it.

In Bilgewater one can come across many astounding creatures brought from the dark and mysterious Guardian's Sea, such as dragon-sharks, sea serpents, giant squid, four-eyed hammerhead sharks, and kraken.

There are also more mundane creatures inhabiting the sea, coastlines and docks such as octopi, hammerhead sharks, devilfish, clams, and ordinary fish.

Fish Folk

Giant Crab used by a Fish Folk Merchant

Fish Folk are sentient and sapient fish people that live around the Serpent Isles. They key physical features resemble that of a cat fish as well as the Demon of Addiction, Tahm Kench.

Giant Crabs

Giant Crabs are native to the seas around Bilgewater. One of their key characteristics is their rough outer shell with many spikes as well as their large oval eyes. Domesticated giant crabs are used by Bilgewater merchants to carry heavy goods on their backs.

Ocklepods

Main article: Ocklepod

Ocklepods are crustacean-like creatures that magically hover above the ground unassisted. They either inhabit or have been outfitted with a metallic helm with submarine periscope jutting above, the creature's eyes peek through the helm and periscope. This creature is mostly used for intelligence-gathering and support roles as they are capable of magically shielding nearby allies as well as revealing distances. This is especially infuriating in attrition wars as the creature's telepathic sight could easily reveal an ambush and its shielding capability is able to see troops through the thickest of fires.

Plundercrabs

Main article: Plundercrab

Plundercrabs are large crustaceans that wear cannon-mounted parapets as their shell. It is unknown whether they inhabit the said weaponry naturally, or are purposely outfitted. Used as living artillery pieces, they lay down cannon fire from afar. They seem very intelligent for an animal, as they can trained to pick out high-priority targets to focus fire upon.

Scuttle Crabs

Main article: Rift Scuttler

• A Rift Scuttler
• Shellshockers

1/2

Scuttler Crabs or Rift Scuttlers live in the fresh waters of Valoran and can be found near the docks of Bilgewater (and in-game, in Summoner's Rift). They are small green-shelled crustaceans with three pairs of legs and one pair of front claws. They sometimes bury themselves into the muck of a river bed to avoid predators and usually flee from danger in any way possible. If corrupted by The Void, a Rift Scuttler turns into a Rift Herald.

Shellshockers

Shellshockers are turtle-like creatures that live in the shallow waters of the Guardian's Sea. They display some form of sentience and sapience, being able to stand up right and have poseable hands with which they use for rudimentary tools and organic cannons that shoot out magically infused bubbles.

Trivia

• The Serpent Isles are also referred by some as the Blue Flame Isles.

References

Serpent Isles

Runeterra