Thoughts on the new season?
((And Xin Zhao got a rework πππ))
I'll be honest, I'm very happy the darkin are getting some more attention lately! They're a really cool concept that dont get touched on very often. As for darkin in Demacia, there's some precedent if Legends of Runeterra is still canon. Lady Fortis has been tasked with keeping an eye on the Darkin Aegis, housing the darkin Joraal.
I'm intrigued to see an AU where the darkin take over Demacia (what with the Jarvan and Garen skins), but this DOES make me even more worried for retcons regarding the Mage Rebellion.
Xin Zhao's visit to Ionia happens before J3 dies, but the actual years between the climax of Arcane season 2 and the Mage Rebellion haven't been set in stone yet. Currently, it's around seven years (Swain overthrew Boram Darkwill and created the Trifarix in 989, and the Mage Rebellion starts in 996), which makes Jarvan IV 19 years old, Garen 17, and Lux 13 during Xin's visit to Ionia. I think the darkin plotline Riot is pursuing could easily fit a full arc (climax and resolution) before Lux is 20, thereby not retconning the Mage Rebellion at all...but as I've said before, I don't really trust Riot to stick to previously established canon anymore. π
In general I'm still very excited to see if LeBlanc plans on using the darkin to attack/undermine Demacia. In the fic I'm writing, I've theorized that she suspects Ryze hid the World Runes in Demacia, so I'm SO curious to see if I was right: that LeBlanc is less focused on Noxian Expansion (like Swain is), and more focused on her personal goals of preparing for Mordekaiser's return, using Swain's expansion as a useful tool to do so.
I hope the new darkin champion isn't taking the place of someone we know, like Xin Zhao or Jarvan IV. (Meaning that two versions of the same character at different points of the timeline would be fighting on the rift.) That retcon would feel as much like a spit in the face of that champ's fans as Viktor's rework was. Then again, we never thought Riot would outright kill a champion, and as far as we know Ambessa is super dead.
And Xin's voice lines...I'm honestly not a huge fan. He seems very cold towards Jarvan IV, he doesnt sound hurt or betrayed or resigned to find themselves enemies on the rift. C'mon, Riot, that's his SON NEPHEW!! Have a heart!
