Downtown Noxus

A student walks down the stairs of one of the apartment buildings, her boots causing them to creak with every step. Unobtrusively, she passes a young couple on the way, who are entwined in a very passionate kiss. Opening the back door and wandering into the street, she takes a deep breath, purging her lungs of the stale, moldy scent, and taking in the heady nighttime perfume of cold and smoke.

As she wanders, several men call out to her, asking rude- varied, and rather creative, but rude- questions about her sexuality, her sex life, and whether or not she might indulge them in their erotic tastes. She ignores them, keeping her face straight as she walks on. Once she's no longer within their sight, she grins- it's a nice night out, and she'd been bored all evening in her apartment.

Her hair is brown, with white tips that almost resemble ice, and her green eyes are painted in silver and purple, the artificial pigments accentuating their color. The grin that she wears is a lovely, glossy blood-red, a dark slash across her face to lend her the appearance of danger. The armored corset that she wears under her dark blue coat gives her a ramrod-straight posture, though it seems she's used to it- likely because she wears it so often. Her skirt is short and black, but three layers of white tights grant near-immunity to the biting cold. Should anyone look below her chest, her steel-capped boots would give most attackers pause. If the boots fail to do so, she keeps a dagger in her coat pocket, the handle prepared in her hand. In her other hand is a sweet, white-and-pink vanilla cupcake, with strawberry frosting.

Given the screaming she's just heard, it might be a better idea to go inside somewhere- so, she heads to the local gambling bar, munching on the sweet little pastry as she walks.

The Exiled Homecoming

The hustle at the city gates of Noxus was considerable. Patrons of the city were coming and going. Caravans brought supplies both in and out, stopping at checkpoints to inspect cargo or tend to visitors. It was a normal day like any other, however, there was a trio of shapes on the horizon, and as they neared, the hustle and the bustle slowly began to silence itself, like a wind of muffling magic blowing through the throngs of city-goers. The only sounds as the trio moved through the gate were the quiet whispers of hushed tones, and the occasional retort of a held object clattering to the ground. Heads and eyes turned and locked onto the figure leading the trio, her silvery-white hair, the amber color of her eyes, and the significant size of the broken blade she carried at her side.

Guards stood still save for the movement of their necks as she passes through the city gates, and into the city itself. On her face is a look of quiet, somber determination, and as she passed, slowly, feet and legs begin to move in unison, following after the woman with the broken blade. A few move to follow at first, then many. The voices continued to follow in her wake, words of "Exile" and "returned" could be heard, as well as "traitor" and "savior." The opinions were mixed, but none reacted. All simply moved to follow in the wake of the trio of women as they made their way through the city's streets.

The streets of Noxus hushed as the mob approaches, and the sound of footsteps on cobblestone grew louder with ever bit of distance traveled. Guards turned and regard the marching throng with interest, their hands on the hilt of their blades, archers on the walls trained and ready to fire at the first sign of hostility.

Riven walked through the streets of the city she had given everything to protect, given everything to serve. She could feel the eyes upon her as if they were a wave of pressure growing heavier, thickening the air more and more, as she continued to walk forward toward the city's center district. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she was thankful for the noise following her, else someone would notice her apprehension and worry. Her resolve to do this continued to drive her forward, ever deeper into the heart of her home.

Long had she thought of returning to the city, sharing her mind with her people, her fellow countrymen. But never in her wildest dreams did she believe she would be doing it so soon. However, the Grand General's plan to pull Noxus from the League had forced her to react, as she foresaw a dark and dismal path ahead for both Noxus and Valoran alike. Something of that nature could not be ignored. Her spirit demanded she speak as a Noxian, and as someone once loved and respected like no other soldier had ever been.

She returned with no fanfare. There was no parade in her honor, no medals to be awarded to her for past deeds. None ran to her side to thank her for her service, or condemn her for her actions. Despite her own guilt and worry festering in her mind, Noxus itself seemed mixed, divided, and unsure of how to react to the League Champion now walking through the city's streets. She had stated many times she wished to reforge Noxus, that she wished to see it be made strong in her eyes once again. Her actions on the fields had given strength to her words, and yet, there was still doubt.

Rumors had circulated that Riven had plotted with Demacians to gather and army to overthrow Noxus, that she had been gathering troops from all over Valoran to take the city by force. Yet, the woman returned with only two warriors at her side. Sivir, the Battle-Mistress formerly of Noxus, and what appeared to be a Noxian soldier with an odd taste in armor and weapons. There were no troops, and no other visual support for her. For all intents and purposes, Riven had returned alone.

For several minutes Riven walked through the city streets until she came to the central district. She climbed atop the steps of a fountain, the statuesque figure of General Marcus Du Couteau serving as the backdrop as she then turned to face the enormous crowd that had taken to following her through the city's streets. Men, women, and children of all walks of Noxian life had followed her. Soldier were gathered with commoners. Nobles and their attendants stood side by side with beggars and street rats. Guards and ruffians alike simply stood, their faces showing their uncertainty and confusion, their eyes asking countless questions. And as Riven looked on, she swallowed her unease, stood up straight, like a commanding officer ready to address her troops, and began to speak...

"What - is - strength?" Riven was silent to allow her words to flow over the people before her. She could see them looking back and forth, eyes darting from side to side as they considered the question. Riven allowed herself a small grin as she continued.

"Ask any Noxian, and he will give you a different answer." She motioned to a heavily-built man. "Is it the ability to lift more than your fellows?" Then, she motioned to a swordsman. "The skill to overcome another in combat?" She then motioned to a woman wearing the clothes of someone grieving the loss of a loved one. "Or, the will to keep going after you have lost someone dear to you...?" Riven swept her eyes across the crowd. "Regardless of each Noxian's definition of the word, one thing is clear. There are many kinds of strength." Riven sighed and placed her hand on her chest. "As Noxians, we respect strength, and respect our own honor above all else. 'Only the Strong Survive' is our battle cry. It is the chant we say to ourselves every day we wake from our slumber and break our fast. It is what we teach our children. It is the cry of soldiers and merchants, beggars and nobles. All of us fight for our survival every day in our own way..." She paused a moment. "...But there is more to life, more truths than simply that." Riven sighed, looking downtrodden.

"Some of you know the details of what I have been through. Others do not. Some of you see me as a hero or a savior, others of you see me as a traitor and a deserter." She shook her head. "I do not think of myself as anything but a single woman, living a life for my own ideals and goals, but I assure you, despite my losses, my heart has never left Noxus. I fought hard for you, for Noxus. I gave everything a person can give for Noxus, and lost everything because of the corruption of our most cherished ideals." Riven then reached down, and pulled free the bandages that covered her left hand and forearm, revealing scars from the chemicals unleashed by Singed.

"These scars, I suffered for Noxus, even as Noxus ordered her allies to bombard her own men and women, simply to attempt to ensure victory, at the cost of none surviving. They are just a few of the wounds I have suffered at the hands of the corrupted state that our homeland has become." She motioned to the Northwest. "Noxus allies itself with Zaun, uses their chemical devices to achieve victory, rather than relying on its own strength. Our Grand General consorts with conspirators within the League to achieve his position, and the only one to challenge him for this is slain, and not even by his own hand..."

"And now, Noxus pulls out of the only organization that has seen fit to keep Valoran, and even Noxus itself, safe, from yet another devastating war and conflict. This is done even as the Void invades in Icathia, and seeks to establish itself in Valoran." Riven is quiet as she looked over the crowd once more, gathering herself before continuing once again, her voice quivering with emotion. "I have seen my share of needless death and violence. I have seen the cost of greed and corruption upon our brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, sons and daughters. Men and women dying in droves as cowards shelled our position from afar, lives dying for nothing, voices crying out, helpless against the weapons of their own country and their allies." Riven's hands curled into fists and her head bowed. "I do not fear death. I have lived it, experienced it firsthand. What I fear most, my brothers, sisters of Noxus... What I fear most, is dying without making a difference for those were were lost, because of this blackness that corrupts the country all of us love and call home."

"I seek to change Noxus, to reforge her and bring her back to the path of true strength and honor. The Noxus I seek to create shall not be condemned by Valoran, but embraced as a beacon of strength and determination. No longer will we be regarded as a scourge upon Valoran. No longer will corruption breed in the halls of the High Command. And no longer will our countrymen be sacrificed and sent to slaughter because on one man's desire to gain power to sate his greed. We will stand tall against the threats that seek to destroy us, and seek to corrupt our strength for their own uses and goals. We will crush those that would seek to do us harm, and show others the might of those who embrace honor, strength, and determination." Riven stood tall once again, her eyes burning with an inner fire.

"The path the Grand General is walking is flawed and destructive. Pulling out of the only thing that has kept Valoran stable in an attempt to make us stronger is the wrong choice. It is the wrong choice for Noxus, and the wrong choice for Valoran, as it will only bring more needless death and suffering to all of us." She looked to the eyes of the crowd, meeting as many as she could as she spoke. "If lives are to be spent, if blood must be shed, let it count for something. Let it be for a cause greater than greed, bloodlust, or power."

"We are Noxian. We are strong, and proud. We aspire to be the strongest, push ourselves in all things to achieve our utmost. Our path as a country should be no different. We are a nation built upon strength, honor, and the ability to overcome. And so, I ask you, not as a soldier, not as a League Champion, but as a Noxian worried and concerned for the safety of her homeland, and the best interests of her people..."



"If we must fight or quarrel, fight for a better, stronger, and more honorable Noxus. Fight to reforge Noxus in a strong, pure ideal. Let us be respected and admired for our strength and ability, and not seen as a place of corruption and deceit. Let our enemies be in awe of our strength, not fear and despise us. Do not let the sacrifices of your countrymen be in vain. Do not let the corruption lead us down another path of destruction, war, and hardship." As Riven finished, she lifted her blade into the air above her, and with a pulse of green energy, her blade answered her call, reforging itself into its full glory, the massive size of the weapon dwarfing her own body as she held it high, her voice seemingly empowered by it.

"Stand with me, give me your support, and I swear upon this blade, and all that I am, I will always fight for the people of Noxus, for her strength and her honor, and to weed out the darkness threatening to swallow our homeland in corruption, for I love Noxus with all my heart. For her honor, and for the honor of those who were lost, I will fight, and I ask you for your support as I walk this path. Not for your blood, or even your blade, just your belief and your support in me and the ideals for which I stand." She paused for but a moment as she looked over the crowd one final time...

"So, men and women of Noxus, brothers and sisters in arms...what say you?"

And then, Riven would wait for a reply, her sword on her shoulder as she looked to her people.




((Now, this is where you folks come in. Anyone and everyone can play a few people in the crowd. Champions, commoners, random soldiers, anything. Let them speak their mind. I don't have the authority, nor do I have the ability or permission to have full control over what happens here. That's why I leave it to you folks. Reply, get involved. This is something I've been waiting for for a very long time, to have Riven actually act on her desires for a stronger, more pure Noxus, and I would like you all to have a part in that by having you control the crowd's reactions.))

Shaco was part of the enormous crowd following Riven as she entered Noxus once more. After completing Leblanc's first trial, Shaco decided to wander around the downtown area of Noxus to see if he could find any more information about what the city-state was planning. However, he would have never dreamed seeing Riven, back in Noxus once more.

Let's see what she has to say... Shaco turned towards the former Noxian, who was now standing on top of the fountain. After listening to her entire speech, Shaco was impressed. He had heard her outcries against Noxus on the Fields, but gaining enough courage to criticize her own nation within its walls was no small feat.

The Jester began to realize what this actually meant. Not all Noxians are power hungry fools... Shaco realized. If there was someone who could help him uncover Noxus's plan, it would be Riven. He would need an ally in his search, and Shaco had just found the perfect candidate.

"What. In the Night Moon?"
Adeptis stood at the edge of the crowd, Unarmed, since he had heard of the gathering and didn't want to be recognised. He had always considered Riven's ideals to be the ones he followed. But what was she thinking? He couldn't pledge support without being recognised. Swain had assasins everywhere. There is bravery, and then there is arrogance.

After seeing Riven's speech, Rose stands for a moment, thinking. The speech had moved her, unexpectedly so- she hadn't thought much of the champion before now. She looks over the crowd which had gathered, and brings her hand up to her other shoulder, rubbing it as she mulls over what's been said.

I disagree with General Swain's decision to pull Noxus out of the League, but... for now, we should focus on changing that; if we aren't a part of the League, then we hold a great deal less influence with the other city-states. And with the Void invasion in Icathia... she's right about our safety.

Feeling a bit torn, she takes a deck of cards from a pocket, shuffling it back and forth between her hands.

I think right now's a better time for a drink than for politics...



The dealer smiles a glittery, pink smile. "Fifty gold, Cardmaster." One of the players does leave, looking a little intimidated, but the rest stay, wanting to see how the hand deals out.