LoR: Get to Know the Human Forms of Some Characters Pre-Ruination!

In today's article, we'll explore the human forms of some characters from the Runeterra universe before the magical cataclysm known as "The Ruination".

We have several cards in Legends of Runeterra that tell the story of this cataclysmic event, and several main characters in this story got their very own cards. Let's see how they were before it all happened while I tell you more about The Ruination.

I'm Total, a Legends of Runeterra content creator and professional player since 2020. If you enjoyed reading more about Runeterra lore, leave us a comment down below. Tell us what is your favorite "pre-Ruination" character and why!

In a distant kingdom called Camavor, a revolt arose after Viego, the king, had been extremely negligent in his reign for many years. Both he and his queen were almost killed, but, whereas he was mostly unscathed, Isolde was poisoned, and died after several long, pain-ridden days.

Her tragic death drove Viego mad and into an unstoppable obsession - to revive his loved one in any way he could. He ordered his general, Kalista, to sail to the Blessed Isles; there, she was to consult the scholars to see if there was a way they could help at all.

When Kalista returned from the Blessed Isles, she realized her kingdom was falling apart due to Viego's absence, who was still grieving and couldn't perform his duties as king. She then decided not to tell him anything about what she found in the Shadow Isles, and was eventually accused and declared guilty of treason.

While Kalista was away, Viego named Hecarim as his general, and ordered him to "put an end" to the uprising against the reign and the king, which resulted in many deaths. Hecarim managed to manipulate Viego, and convince him that it was a good idea to invade neighboring kingdoms as a way to get revenge for the death of the queen.

Viego and his army eventually made it all the way to the Blessed Isles. When they got there, he ordered the scholars to revive Isolde. They refused, so Viego ordered Kalista to kill them.

However, Kalista, now an ex-general, refused Viego's orders, and was killed for it by Hecarim, who pierced a spear through her heart and killed all her loyal soldiers.

Years before, a Shadow Isles monk called Elok Grael was named custodian of the great Vaults of Helia, a very sacred place in the isles. He despised the title, and felt offended by it - in his mind, this role was "too low" for him, and would stop him from getting the recognition he felt he deserved. He grew to resent his masters, who gave him the job in the first place.

Throughout the years, Elok Grael grew bitter and became cruel. He watched as many of his colleagues were killed by the magical artifacts they guarded in the Vaults, and decided to dedicate his time to figuring out a way to protect himself from the artifacts. He eventually found a "nameless tome claimed to whisper one's darkest thoughts".

However, the Head Warden soon heard of his actions and tried to take the tome away from Elok Grael, who, finally, after so many years getting angrier and angrier, successfully plotted to get his master killed. Elok Grael would later on be known as Thresh.

In the present day, after witnessing many of his colleagues, scholars, and monks being killed by Viego, Hecarim, and his army, Elok Grael finally decides to get his revenge against everyone. He takes Viego the Waters of life to perform the resuscitation ritual on Isolde. This scene is depicted on Shard of Hope, one of Ryze's landmarks.

The ritual, however, failed, and Isolde came back from the dead as a terrible, scared wraith. In her fear, she attacked Viego with his magical sword and pierced his chest with it, which caused both to fall into the Waters of Life. The magic of the Waters and the sword fused, and created a black mist which blasted across the Isles and took over them completely. All living and dead beings were turned into wraiths and ghosts. This was the event known as The Ruination.

Ledros

Promotional Artwork from "The Ruination"

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