(Champion Concept) Rheya, Crux of the Elements/Background

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Lore

Note: I'm not particularly experienced with character backstory fanfiction, so don't be surprised if this stinks.

Rheya started out a fairly ordinary child, born to a humble Ionian farming couple. As a teenager her natural talent for tending to the farm's soil earned her the favor of her family, though her tempestuous mood swings were infamous across the land. She lived every day without a care in the world, never thinking about what might become of her future.

Then one day, everything changed. Her rebellious younger brother, Udyr, had left the farm, giving his parents nothing more than a simple goodbye. Suddenly filled with purpose, she set out to find him. She searched across her native isle before scouring Valoran for years on end. Seemingly oblivious to the danger around her, she travelled atop frozen peaks, traversed miles upon miles of arid desert, and even skirted erupting volcanoes. When she finally returned to bring the sad news to her parents, exhausted and wracked with grief, the ship carrying her fell prey to a sudden unnatural storm and wrecked on an island. Determined to live long enough to see her family again, Rheya marched into the dense rainforest covering the isle. Half-mad with fatigue and despair, she called out her brother's name at almost every step she took.

Suddenly, the jungle parted, and what she saw amazed her: the water, the earth, even the air around her, was alive. Sprites of fire and stone danced around her, beckoning her forth. They led her to a temple at the center of the clearing, of a making older than time itself. Inside it was an enormous wellspring of swirling elemental energy, from which emerged more of the beings she had seen. As Rheya approached the monolithic orb, she saw images within, sights of what had come and what had yet to be. She saw her brother, dressed in savage garments, in combat with fearsome and incredibly powerful adversaries. She then knew what she had to do: she jumped into the sphere, letting the raw energies remold her in their image. Exuding pure elemental power, she set out for the League of Legends, knowing she would find her brother there. She now hopes to bring Udyr back to his family one day, and protect her baby brother from those who might seek him harm.

“	"She as admirable in her dedication as she is unpredictable in her temper."
	— Irelia

“	"Believe us, you do not want to be near her when she's angry."
	— Udyr

Quotes

Champion selection

• "The elements shall heed my call."

Attacking

• "I see what must be done."
• "Fickle as the tide, strong as the mountain."
• "I feel the earth, and soon the earth shall feel me."
• "You cannot hope to tame such power, summoner."
• "No-one is beyond my reach."
• "To the bloody end."

Movement

• "Where is he?"
• "Let's get there before I change my mind."
• "That seems like a good idea... for now."
• "The elements speak to me."
• "My brother is here, I know it."
• "Do not test me, summoner."

Air Charge-Specific

• "Follow the breeze."
• "May the winds guide me."
• "I feel lighter already."

Earth Charge-Specific

• "I am one with the earth."
• "Their footsteps betray them."
• "The ground is my element."

Fire Charge-Specific

• "Burn!"
• "A blaze cares not for whom it consumes."
• "Come on, baby, light my fire."

Air Elemental Form

• "You cannot outrun the wind."
• "Go on, run. I'll be right behind you."
• "Embrace the cyclone!"

Earth Elemental Form

• "You shall not pass."
• "I am immovable."
• "None can shatter the mountain."

Fire Elemental Form

• "By fire be purged!"
• "Witness inferno!"
• "I am unleashed!"

Taunt

• "How'd you like to die: battered, smothered or incinerated?"
• "(With Udyr on her team) Touch a hair on my brother's head, and there won't be enough of you left to fill a jar."

Joke

• "On the count of three: rock, paper, FIERY VOLCANIC ERUPTION! What do you mean, that's cheating?"

Dance: Caramelldansen (by Caramell) Note: Nhan-Fiction also used this for Cerule the Mystic Mermaid, one of her champions (which also probably inspired Nami in the first place).

Idea Origin

What mainly inspired me to come up with Rheya was the Invoker from the Dota series. I liked the idea of combining abilities together to produce new effects, but at the same time didn't want to copy the Invoker's playstyle, especially as it's way too complicated for a LoL champ. Instead, I focused on the more generic theme of an elemental mage (though Rheya is melee), which is so far absent in the LoL champion roster. Though she still has a lot of secondary abilities, they all ascribe to a certain elemental theme and are resemblant (and, hopefully, intuitive) enough so as not to burden the player or opponents too much.

After I figured out her passive, her playstyle started to show a few resemblances to Udyr's (though they'd likely play very differently), what with the constant alternation between abilities and the emphasis on synergy. Like him, she also switches between appearances and different aspects of a same theme. That's where the idea of making her his elder sister came from. Plus, it'd be funny to have this gruff man-beast of a champ have a big sister thinking she still has to watch over him.