Post by The Exile on Nov 28, 2013 0:58:59 GMT -5
RIVEN, THE EXILE
Basic Information:
In Noxus, any citizen may rise to power regardless of race, gender, or social standing -- strength is all that matters. It was with committed faith in this ideal that Riven strove to greatness. She showed early potential as a soldier, forcing herself to master the weight of a long sword when she was barely its height. She was ruthless and efficient as a warrior, but her true strength lay in her conviction. She entered battles without any trace of doubt in her mind: no ethical pause, no fear of death. Riven became a leader amongst her peers, poster child of the Noxian spirit. So exceptional was her passion that the High Command recognized her with a black stone rune sword forged and enchanted with Noxian sorcery. The weapon was heavier than a kite shield and nearly as broad -- perfectly suited to her tastes. Soon after, she was deployed to Ionia as part of the Noxian invasion.
What began as war quickly became extermination. Noxian soldiers followed the terrifying Zaunite war machines across fields of death. It wasn't the glorious combat for which Riven trained. She carried out the orders of her superiors, terminating the remnants of a beaten and fractured enemy with extreme prejudice. As the invasion continued, it became clear that the Ionian society would not be reformed, merely eliminated. During one bitter engagement, Riven's unit became surrounded by Ionian forces. They called for support as the enemy closed in around them. What they received instead was a barrage of biochemical terror launched by Singed. Riven watched as around her Ionian and Noxian alike fell victim to an unspeakably gruesome fate. She managed to escape the bombardment, though she could not erase the memory. Counted dead by Noxus, she saw an opportunity to start anew. She shattered her sword -- severing ties with the past -- and wandered in self-imposed exile. Now she seeks atonement and her own way to serve the pure Noxian vision in which she believed.
"There is a place between war and murder
in which our demons lurk."
―Excerpted from the poem, "Scarlet Shon-Xan"
Detailed Information:
Full Name: Riven (Family name lost)
Nickname: "Exile" "The Exile"
Meaning/History of Name/Nickname: The word "riven" effectively means broken, to be torn apart, and Riven certainly follows this motif.
Gender: Female
Age: ~27 Years Old (League's Timeline is bonkers)
Blood Type: AB-
Date of birth, if known: September 9th (Day of her Sneak Peek / League Judgement)
Hair color/style/length: Riven's hair is silvery white due to a genetic anomaly that prevents her hair follicles from producing pigment in her hair. She wears it tied up into a somewhat spiky ponytail, however, if left to hang loosely, her hair is just about shoulder length.
Eye color: Amber
Vision capabilities: [Distance - 20/15] [Near - 20/18]
Skin tone: Lightly Tanned
Marks (freckles, birthmarks, tattoos, scars): Riven has a single white chemical burn scar under her left eye, as well as another on her right thigh, usually hidden from view by her tunic. Her body is also covered in several smaller scars from wounds suffered during combat. Riven is actually somewhat self-conscious of these scars.
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 135 Pounds
Build/Body shape: Riven has very little body fat and is fairly muscular. However, she is not what one would call bulky. Her body is built for speed, dexterity and strength rather than brute force. Her shoulders and back have significant muscle definition, as do her thighs and glutes. Her waist is very thin but muscular, and while her biceps have some definition, her forearms are more defined. Riven's breasts are somewhere between a middle B and a small C cup, making her on the smaller end compared to most League Women. She is not overly self-conscious of this fact, but rarely worries about maintaining her femininity with her body type and build.
Notable mannerisms: Riven is soft-spoken in what little casual conversation she has, and her posture lilts somewhat to the left due to years of training with a large weapon in her right hand. When upset, her voice will be more stern, though Riven's eyes are the biggest indication of her mood. Riven is much more easily understood through nonverbal communication as she is very good at hiding her emotions vocally.
Country of origin: Valoran - Noxus
Type of living space: Outdoors at a small camp.
Condition of living space: Tidy, efficient, minimalistic.
Character's best trait (to character): Strength in body and mind while adhering to her principles of personal strength and honor.
Character's actual best trait: Riven's ability to pick herself up after falling and her tenacity to fight as hard as is needed to see her goals met.
Character's worst trait (to character): Not being strong enough to save Fury Company.
Character's actual worst trait: Riven is far too hard on herself for her own perceived failures. She sees herself as unforgivable, and sees herself as a monster regardless of the acceptance or forgiveness she gains from others.
Character's motto: "What is broken, can be reforged..."
Hopes/Dreams/Desires: Riven wishes to see Noxus reformed and rebuilt, wiping out the current school of thought and replacing it with an older and more honorable notion of strength.
Religion/personal philosophy: Riven is not religious, but does adhere to a strict set of guidelines she built for herself from Noxus' ideals of strength and self-worth. She relies on her own strength to see her through obstacles in her way, and is adverse to accepting outside help unless it is required for her to achieve a goal.
Involvement in politics: Considering Riven is very much against the current Noxian regime, Riven's sense of politics mainly aim to overthrowing Jericho Swain and his followers, though she understands the basics of public speaking and public opinion as it pertains to Noxus.
Default temperament: Riven is usually indifferent to a degree, but cautiously friendly to those she meets. Having been a soldier for so many years, she is bound to be fairly straightforward and rigid in her demeanor unless she is in a somber or self-reflective mood, in which case her eyes usually betray some form of sadness or regret.
Mannerisms while angry: When angry, Riven's whole body seems to bristle with her desire to settle the conflict. Her eyes are intense, like a hawk's scanning the field for prey, and her brow is furrowed and her mouth typically formed into a frown. Riven does not usually yell when angry. Her voice is usually not much higher than her normal speaking voice, but it carries with it all the venom and intensity of her anger.
Mannerisms while pleased: When pleased, Riven's mannerisms relax somewhat. She is prone to small smiles and her eyes are more gentle and less intense. She may even chuckle or laugh somewhat airily and still somewhat reserved.
Hates: Jericho Swain, LeBlanc, Singed, Warwick, needless violence and bloodshed, corruption, assassination tactics, underhanded or dirty tactics, being forced to act in a way which is contrary to her desires or wishes.
Reaction when presented with above: Riven will typically react with anger, stress, or take actions to halt whatever issue is plaguing her if at all possible. She is not the kind of person to shy away from a fight if she believes she can win it outright. If not, she will seek alternative ways to counteract it.
Loves: Noxus and her ideals.
Reaction when above are threatened: Riven will fight to defend her beliefs and her allies with her life if necessary. She lost them once, she could very possibly not be able to stand losing everything she cares about once more.
Type of self-rewards and when character feels they are deserved: Riven rarely rewards herself with anything, and even more rarely believes she deserves it. However, in small cases, Riven will treat herself to a day of relaxation to recover from strenuous situations, or do something as small as buying herself a sweet pastry of some kind, usually involving sweet cream, cake, or chocolate.
Type of self-punishments and when character feels they are deserved: Riven does not punish herself intentionally, but she does chastise herself for not being strong enough to enact change, or to achieve something. She does this almost constantly, and her dreams are plagued with reminders of her failures almost nightly.
Biggest regret and why: Failing to save Fury Company during the battle in the Coeur Valley. She feels she could have saved them or made a difference if she had simply been stronger, or had better read the signs. In addition, she regrets almost everything she was forced to do in the Ionian War, and considers herself forever marked as a monster and a murderer for her actions taken "in the line of duty." Despite her position as a solider following orders, her moral center does not allow her to forgive such horrible actions.
Default reaction to adversity: Try harder, push your limits and overcome, no matter the cost to yourself in the process.
Reaction to triumph: Relief, though likely looking ahead to the next challenge.
Behavior while alone: Riven is quiet and keeps to herself. Her mind is usually occupied by whatever tasks need to be completed for the day. She goes through her routines and training regimens and typically focuses on achieving her daily goals. If unoccupied by tasks, Riven's mind will typically wander to less positive thoughts.
Behavior around same gender: Riven doesn't particularly have any problems being around women. She will be casual and friendly. She will be at her most feminine when around women, and will more easily show her insecurities around them if she feels comfortable enough to let down her walls and her masks.
Behavior around opposite gender: Riven has less problems around men than she does around women. She is at her most masculine around men, and takes on a more authoritative presence. She is not likely to open up to men as easily as women unless she trusts them not to mock her for her insecurities and weaknesses.
Romantic Preference: Riven has no true romantic preference. She can find both men and women attractive in different ways based on their personality and actions, and on their physical shape. As a rule, she sees love as a silly thing, and something that opens one up to weakness and lapses in judgement. However, she also understand that love can be a powerful motivational factor, and that two people combining their strengths in such a way can create something stronger than either separately.
Biggest accomplished achievement in life: Becoming a command-level officer in the Noxian Military.
Official awards/recognition: Riven was awarded her Blackstone Runeblade as a reward for her great skill and accomplishments in rising through the ranks. She was so beloved by the Noxian people she effectively became something of a Poster Child for the Noxian Spirit and strength.
Most important current relationship: Riven's relationship with Noxus and her people is her most important relationship at the moment.
Relevant friends: Riven has no "friends" really. She considers a few people, such as Leona and Sivir, allies to her cause. The closest thing Riven has to a friend, currently, is Leona after their discussion about paths and regrets.
The most bizarre thing about your character: Riven has the innate skill of channeling her Ki into attacks for combat. No other Noxian has showcased this type of power before.
Where you eventually want to see your character: I'd like to see Riven accomplish her goals, and find some manner of peace for herself and those she feels she failed or wronged.
Abilities:
Physical Abilities
Riven has trained for combat from a very young age, pushing herself to her breaking point again and again. As a result, her body is built like a professional martial artist, with thick, strong bones and muscles. She is lean, and fairly muscular despite still maintaining a curvy, and surprisingly petite, feminine shape. The lack of true body bulk makes Riven naturally preconditioned toward speed rather than bulky armor. Her body and maneuverability are her defense, and her bones are her armor for the most part. Riven is a fighter with inhuman strength, speed, and dexterity, but lacks the heavy defenses of other bulkier champions. That being the case, Riven is more likely to avoid any attacks made against her, before striking at high speed, and with terrible power. This combination of attributes makes her a problem for slower, bulkier fighters, as they can rarely keep up with her higher speed, and her high strength can strike denting blows against their armor. Fighters faster than her have a distinct advantage, but she can still fight defensively using a combination of her Ki Burst and Valor to stave off blows. Mages have a better chance at defeating Riven, as long as they maintain some form of distance between themselves and Riven. Riven can make use of her years of training to find a solution to most difficult combat situations, making her a wildcard if crossed.
Abilities Description
Riven’s abilities are incredibly similar to her abilities on the Fields of Justice, however, when unbound by the League’s magical restrictions, Riven can unleash her full power and strength, making her much more dangerous if she chooses to fight. While these are extrapolations based on her known abilities on the Fields of Justice, Riven is capable of using her abilities in ways unseen on the fields before, due to a lack of League Restrictions.
Runic Blade:
Riven’s Passive works very much the same way it does on the fields, empowering her sword strikes. However, off the fields, it is not reliant on her using an ability. Instead, Riven may willingly charge her blade with energy for a more powerful strike. The sword itself was thought to be nigh unbreakable when it was forged by the greatest smiths in Noxus, and given to her by Noxian General Marcus Du Couteau. It is attuned to Riven’s own willpower and drive, and it also has a tie to the element of wind. By charging the blade with her will and the wind element, Riven’s basic attacks can gain tremendous cutting force. Magically enhanced materials or damage barriers can be cut with enough force, but put up more resistance and are more difficult to damage. That said, Riven’s strikes can be made up to around four times as powerful as normal by using this ability to its maximum potential, unless Riven is using her fully realized Runeblade, in which case it can be even stronger, but at a cost.
Broken Wings:
Broken Wings works very similarly to how it works on the Fields of Justice. It is meant to be a combo of sword strikes designed to output as much damage to a foe in quick succession as possible. Strikes from Broken Wings are charged with energy for more damage, actually growing in power until the third strike hits home, which strikes with such thunderous force that it knocks enemies away, deals damage in a fairly large area of effect around Riven, and, at higher concentrations of power, might actually stun an opponent similar to a concussive blast. This is Riven’s most commonly used means of attack, and it makes her dangerous, especially with Blade of the Exile active. The “cooldown” on Broken Wings is approximately 12 seconds, or two posts between uses. However, Broken Wings can be delayed for roughly 4 seconds, or a post, before the combo must either continue or be halted.
Ki Burst:
This ability, too, works very similarly to how it works on the Fields of Justice. Riven calls upon her inner strength to release a burst of power around her in a fairly-good-sized area of effect. The force of Riven’s will slamming into an opponent will knock them off their feet, or cause even the heaviest opponents to stumble, acting as a stun that prevents them from reacting for a short period of time. Riven generally uses this small window of opportunity to strike, and hard, with Broken Wings, dealing incredible amounts of damage over a short period of time while her enemies cannot react effectively. Unlike on the fields, however, Ki Burst is powerful enough to serve a variety of utility functions. If grabbed or held in place by a physical force, Riven can Ki Burst to break the grapple, as well as stunning an opponent as normal if he or she is close enough. The burst of Ki can also be channeled through her body, making any of her unarmed attacks something ferocious to witness as well. Ki Burst can also be used to throw Riven into the air by focusing the force of the strike through her legs and into the ground, and can be used midair to redirect her flight-path in a similar fashion, once more adding to Riven’s mobility. The “cooldown” of Ki Strike is approximately 7 seconds, or one post between uses.
Valor:
Using her own willpower and Ki, Riven manifests a “shield” of energy around her body that absorbs both magical and physical damage, surpassing her normal limits of damage mitigation. Riven’s armor is generally lacking, which lends itself to her incredible mobility, but makes this ability her biggest means of self defense, other than a strong offense to intercept things she cannot otherwise avoid. The more energy Riven puts into her body, the more damage and punishment she can take. Unlike on the fields, Riven does not have to be capable of movement to manifest this shield, though it is typically used for an advance, nor does the shield necessarily have to surround her body. In fact, by charging her Runeblade with energy, Riven can actually block or lessen spells or energy attacks launched toward her by using this ability. If used in this way, however, Riven will be unable to use it to protect her body itself until the ability’s “cooldown” has timed out. Valor has a “cooldown” of approximately 6 seconds, or one post.
Blade of the Exile
Riven’s ultimate ability also works similarly to how it works on the Fields of Justice, however, many of the limitations present there are not so outside them. When unleashing her power and reforging her blade, Riven’s strength increases dramatically, as well as her reaction time and natural defense against damage, as more of her willpower and Ki flows through her body, energizing it. In addition to this, it is important to note that all of Riven’s abilities gain a power boost as well, and a range increase. Blade of the Exile taps directly into Riven’s willpower and Ki, supercharging her body, as well as allowing any of her abilities to be supercharged beyond their normal levels. The only true “limit” to this is Riven’s body’s ability to withstand the tremendous force of her own will made manifest. This strain is not to be underestimated.
As she begins to reach her body’s physical limit on her power, it first drains her stamina, winding her if she continues to fight beyond her standard limits. If Riven continues to push beyond those limits, the raw power will literally erode her body from the inside out, causing serious internal hemorrhaging and other injuries. While the forces the blade unleashes can and do bolster her body’s resilience, it cannot be used to offset the toll the energy will inevitably take if Riven pushes herself too far. In short, if Riven pushes herself too far, she will kill herself with her own willpower and Ki.
While under the effect of this transformation, damage to the blade itself can be regenerated by a similar process to the one that created it, making it a very durable weapon. Unlike on the fields, this ability is permanent until Riven dismisses the reformed blade, but it can only be used once per day (or every full 8 hours of sleep and rest she receives), as the strain from manifesting the blade is far too heavy to do multiple times in a set of time without significant rest. Therefore, it truly has no meaningful in-battle “cooldown” to mention.
Wind Slash
The ultimate of Riven’s ultimate. This ability is the attack that single-handedly made Riven a terror to fight in the Ionian War, and the technique postulated to have killed Yasuo's charge. Groups of soldiers would fall before the onslaught of a single Wind Slash, the Ki mixing with the blade’s elemental affinity to create a cutting blade as sharp as Riven’s will, and with all the fluidity of the howling wind, molded into a single, mighty slash of energy. Unlike Blade of the Exile, Wind Slash does have a “cooldown” of 8 posts attached, or approximately 50 seconds depending on situation. However, in most cases, one use of this ability is enough to defeat virtually any foe that Riven must face, assuming it strikes its target.
Fighting the Exile:
On the surface, Riven looks to be an almost unstoppable dunking machine. After all, she has power only limited by her own fragility. However, Riven is every bit as mortal as any other Noxian soldier or human being on Runeterra. In this section, one will learn how to deal with Riven competitively, as that is where she shines strongest.
Attack Routines:
Riven is a talented duelist, but her power lies in her rapid attack routines. Her abilities come up fairly often, giving her a trump card when she really seems to need it most. To overcome Riven, one must think tactically, and plan for her moments of weakness. Everything she does is more or less predictable to some degree. Planning ahead for contingencies, then, becomes easy in some respects. If she has just used a Ki Burst and a Valor to stave off an attack and follow with an attempted stun, she will be vulnerable to attack for the next post as her defensive abilities will be unable to come to her aid. Timing and preparation are important when dealing with Riven, and a smart duelist will have no problem trading with her regardless of strength. Strength is only as good as the brain wielding it. This is no different than fighting her ingame.
Assault Strategies:
Riven's weakness lies in her fragility. She is fast, she can deal damage, she can not sustain heavy hits for long. Her shield can stave off attacks, her Ki Burst can stun, but if she takes a hit, Riven feels it. All defenses must crack and break eventually, and Riven is no different. Steady attacks are the best way to defeat Riven. She can only defend and block so much before she is overwhelmed. Ranged attacks are even better means to defeat her, as forcing her through a minefield of things will wear her down and force her to play on your terms. If one can attack from multiple angles with incredible speed, she will have even more problems defending, hence why champions like Master Yi, Yasuo, Irelia, and a grand multitude of ranged attackers are foes I regularly state can defeat Riven if played to their strengths. Groups are also a great way to strike at Riven, and will force her into a defensive fighting style or to make greater sacrifices.
Outlasting the Exile:
Riven is her own worst enemy in combat. The stronger the foe, the more she will push herself, and the longer the battle with said foe, the more her energy use will damage her at higher levels. If you can defend against her, she will wear herself down. It is a battle of attrition, and damage from a patient and calculated foe will combine with her own self-inflicted injuries to bring her down. Her costs are an equalizing factor. For every bit of damage she delivers to an opponent in her higher forms, she sustains damage herself. Capitalizing on Riven's costs and built-in shortcomings is the best strategy at all times to defeat her regardless of how one goes about it.
Timeline:
August 3rd, 6 CLE
Following orders from Noxian High Command, Riven and Fury Company's 2nd and 3rd Platoons assault and strike down an Ionian Elder, thought to be protected by a master of an Ionian Wind Technique. The swordmaster leaves his post, but the battle to defeat this priority target is a difficult victory for Fury Company. Riven learns to use her Wind Slash technique in this engagement.
September 1st, 6 CLE
Fury Company, under command of Company Commander/Captain Riven of the 42nd Standard is attacked by an Ionian Surprise Attack and calls for backup while acting as rear guard. The resulting counterstrike by Zaunite Melters kills fighting soldiers on both sides and devastates their commander. Riven is presumed dead...
September 9th, 21 CLE
After years of wandering and searching for her purpose, Riven joins the League of Legends in order to find atonement for the travesties she helped bring to the Ionian people, and to fight for the pure Noxian vision which she holds dear.
January 24th, 23 CLE
Riven appears in Noxus with a small group of supporters to protest the current regime and state her intent of restoring her home state. The rally effectively ends in failure as other champions and the Grand General himself effectively make her seem the fool and throw her out of Noxus. Now a true Exile, Riven wanders once more, seeking support for her claims.
February 9th, 23 CLE
Riven visits Heywan Relivash at his cell within the Institute, seeking answers about the infamous Kalamanda Incident. She finds the man is tortured and speaks in riddles. His addled mind gives her few bits of useful information, but it is clear that dark things are at work in Noxus...
February 13th, 23 CLE
As the Serpents Embrace takes her leave of the Institute of War, Riven arrives to meet with her briefly. In an effort to gather information, she winds up forging an alliance with Cassiopeia to help her bring down Swain and LeBlanc's regime.
March 1st, 23 CLE
After a great deal of traveling, Riven arrives at the Voodoo Lands, and meets with Gregori Hastur, father of Annie, and leader of the Grey Order. She manages to convince the man that Noxus is once again in turmoil, and that she needs the Order's help. The man does not make a decision, but promises that he shall get back to Riven when the time is right...
March 7th, 23 CLE
Riven arrives in Bandle City and catches a ride on a ship bound for Ionia. While she is unsure if this is the road she wishes to take, she knows that, for the moment, her path is leading her back to where it all began.
March 18th, 23 CLE
Riven finds herself, once again, on the fields of the Coeur Valley. As she thinks about her past, her present, and her future, the winged, demonic form of Aatrox, the Darkin Blade arrives and discusses his views on the conflict with Riven. While he succeeds in irritating her, it only solidifies her views that more needless violence is not what Runeterra needs.
March 31st, 23 CLE
Riven arrives at the newly completed Temple of the Kinkou Order, and seeks to speak with them. She discusses her position with Shen, imposing upon him how a powerful, all-mighty Noxus makes for a poor state of worldly balance, and gains the trust, and possibly blades, of the Kinkou should the need for conflict arise.
April 12th, 23 CLE
During a day of rest, Riven runs across Udyr, the Spirit Walker. Their clash marks the single biggest turning point in Riven's life and direction since Coeur and her joining of the League. The fierce fight forces Riven to push herself farther than ever before, and in doing so, has unlocked the true might of her abilities, and given her a stronger direction and course of action.
June 10th, 23 CLE
After healing from her heavy injuries sustained in her fight with Udyr, Riven finds herself stalking the territory of The Order of Shadows. With some new enhancements to her outfit in place to better maintain her Ki, Riven is ready to start her one-woman assault on Swain's foundations of command...
