Skins aren't canon, but this is a pretty interesting story. I do like to think about how characters could've turned out very different if just slightly different decisions had been made. As for the Avatar idea, I'm not sure that Syndra can learn the magical abilities of others...up until this point, she's really just explored what she's capable of through experimentation, rather than studying another's arts. Not ruling it out though.

She can throw him a little bit with her E...I could try and suggest lots of game-breaking stuff but Meddler would just be like "Oh I'm Mr. Reasonable and I don't want to ruin the entire game for your whims, Harrow" and I'd go sulk.

Yeah, I think this is very much a possibility.

I think there's something in the idea of exercising her power against some of the most powerful beings in the world that would be appealing to Syndra. Not really for ego, but for self-satisfaction.

No, Syndra hasn't really had reason to cross paths with Varus in Ionia.


No, there were no other students, they deliberately wanted to keep her away from others. You're right that there are gaps in her lore, we have limited space to tell the whole story. I think it's interesting to think about everything she might've been feeling but not admitting - she was excited when the mage told her that he was there to help her learn magic, but that might not have been TOO much of a silver lining around being torn from her home. Further, I think the moment she learned that the whole setup had been a lie was probably emotionally more important than not getting more powerful, even if that's the trigger that caused the confrontation.

The bio offers us a small window into the world, but it's not exhaustive. So long as there's the space to come to interesting conclusions, like you have right here, I'm happy - I'm not the kind of person who likes to constrain hypothesis and theorizing by spelling out every detail, even if I did have the writing space to do so. One of the most exciting parts of my job is seeing players developing their own ideas about characters and the world.

What does Syndra think about crocodiles?

Where did she get her outfit, specifically the headdress?

Considering what Ionia did to her, would Syndra be likely to join Noxus?

How powerful is Syndra's magical potential compared to Lux and Annie? Did she have any friends when she was growing up or was everybody afraid of her?

What would Draven think about Draven? ... I mean Syndra think about Draven? Both being egotistical and all.

Does she simply float because it looks cool? Is she physically weak?

Besides expanding her power, what else would she enjoy in life?

Okay, so, in reading through the responses here I feel like you were intending to get something completely different across with Syndra than actually came out in her lore.

Specifically, the lore says that "her reckless use of magic terrified the elders". When I think terrified I don't think "they were bothered by her defiance of their philosophy", I think "they are pretty sure that she is going to hurt someone and are astounded it hasn't happened yet". Especially since the next thing we, the readers, really see her do is kill her magic teacher in a fit of anger. That immediately made me think she was probably abusing her talents to bully other kids in her village and the elders were genuinely afraid she would kill one of them without realizing what she was doing. It therefore seems completely confusing to me to see that it looks like your intention was that she might actually be the one wronged.

So... I guess the question is, which is accurate? Were the elders actually terrified or would "scandalized" be closer to their actual reaction? Because I kind of like the idea that Ionia isn't all perfect balance and light that it's kind of seemed to be so far, but at the same time I can't reconcile that with her current lore. =\

Fair enough. I'm definitely sympathetic to the limited bandwidth a champion bio offers to deliver lore, and I hope I'm not being overly nitpicky or confrontational. It's awesome that the lore team takes time to do these AMAs to help us get more context and information about the champions you're writing. It's very much appreciated.

It is interesting, especially since she gets left in the care of this strange old mage with no one else to talk to at all. Approximately how old was she when this happened? Did her parents resist giving her up?

Thank you.

Sure, and since League champions are supposed to appeal to compelling player power fantasies and exciting archetypes, it's good to have some wiggle room to let each player fill in some of the things they find most personally interesting about said archetypes.

Thanks again for fielding my questions. I'm very interested in seeing how Syndra integrates with the rest of the world and the other champions, and quite excited by some of the questions her story raises about the downsides of Ionian philosophy.

I'm assuming most of the Ionian champions look at Syndra the same way a parent frowns at an impulsive child. I mean our general knowledge of Ionians is that they are very reserved or collected in their outward appearance. So Syndra just blew that generalization out the window.

So would people like Irelia, Master Yi, Lee Sin, etc. actually support aggressive action against Syndra IF she ever presented a threat? Just wondering since you said Karma would and she's probably the least violent of them (aside from Lee Sin). Or would some speak against such an idea?

Wanted to start by saying that Syndra is my favorite new champion since...probably since Lulu. (I must have a thing for unrestrainedly wild women.) I love her attitude, I love the way she looks, I love the way she plays. I'm super-excited for her buffs.

The question of why Syndra joined the League has already been asked, if I recall, but I would like to know specifically why Syndra joined the League considering her aversion to being controlled. I have difficulty imagining Syndra willingly signing up to have somebody else get inside her head, even if it is to use her powers rather than to negate them. It also seems like a foolhardy thing to do to place herself so squarely in the path of the Ionian figureheads and the Kinkou. Is she trying to make an example to Ionia that letting your power run free is to be commended, not condemned? Is she subtly flipping the bird at Irelia and Karma, saying "Look, I am accepted as a Champion as you are; we aren't that different after all"? Does she submit to League control because she's afraid Ionia is going to get her under their thumb again? Is it a political move to avoid backlash against her activities? Is she looking for allies? It just seems that considering her phobia of control and authority, the League would be the last place in the WORLD she'd want to be. Why does she suffer through it anyway?

Harrow, can you pass along a hug to syndra from me? I think that's what she needs more than anything.

......So why did she join the League?