History TearJerker / LeagueOfLegends

* It's revealed in [[https://youtu.be/8PbhGt8XxSM/ Ruination]] that the Mist has been haunting Senna since childhood because she houses the soul of Isolde, the King of Ruination's former lover. When Viego forcefully rips the soul out of Senna's body, Isolde can be heard crying for her and sounds scared of being separated. When Senna comes to at the end, she's horrified that Isolde is gone and demands Lucien that they go back to save her.

*** Just to really kick Orianna in the gut as a reminder [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman for what she's become]], in her side story, ''Fieram'', she bonds with the titular automaton at a fair behind a glass booth, and they seem to get along fine enough... [[spoiler:until it turns out that the automaton is just that, a puppet [[WelcomeToCorneria repeating recorded messages, and performing pre-programmed gestures.]]]]

* The tale of the actress Magga. One fateful night, she wanders from her camp and meets [[DontFearTheReaper Lamb]] and [[EnemiesWithDeath Wolf]], who ask her how she would prefer to die: accept her fate and Lamb's arrows, or run and feel Wolf's teeth. Magga chooses the arrows, asking Lamb if it would be like climbing eternally to the highest boughs of a tree. Her response? "No, though it is a nice thought." The duo then reveal that they were [[SecretTestOfCharacter testing Magga]], who flees back to her camp. [[spoiler:When she returns, the camp is in ruins and her compatriots dead, leaving Magga alone in the world. She flees the woods and becomes an independent actor, famed for her portrayal of Kindred, but her heart is joyless. [[DeadlyDistantFinale And then there's the matter of her final performance...]]]]
-->''[[spoiler:But Magga heard no applause and saw no ovations. She didn't feel the stage beneath her feet, nor the hands of her fellow mummers in hers as they bowed low. [[HollywoodHeartAttack All she felt was a sharp pain in her chest.]]]]''
-->''[[spoiler:When Magga looked out over the audience, every single face was either a lamb or a wolf.]]''
* "Confessions of a Broken Blade" ends happily for Riven, giving her a home and a purpose after years of exile, but it's desperately sad for Yasuo, who tracked down his master's killer only to find no absolution because [[spoiler:there was no murderer. It was an accident; Souma was essentially slain by his own wind magic in an attempt to destroy Riven's sword at her request]]. Now he believes that he truly is responsible because he left his elder alone, and he can't find peace because he can't forgive himself.

* The ''[[https://universe.leagueoflegends.com/en_US/comic/zed Zed]]'' comics series is a wild ride. Among other things, it reveals that Master Kusho was a ManipulativeBastard who played a young Zed and Shen against each other despite raising them as brothers. When Zed and Shen have to pair up to capture Jhin, it reopens all the old wounds but also shows how effective they can be as partners. And then comes the revelation that [[spoiler: Kusho is still alive and [[BrokenPedestal was the one who released Jhin]] in the first place]], forcing Zed to commit an act that he ''knows'' will put reconciliation forever out of reach to keep Shen from learning the AwfulTruth.

*** Then, we have Riven's actual confrontation with her old squad. [[spoiler: After sitting down to have one last meal with each other, they confront her about turning traitor. While she's regretful, she does point out that she has a new life now, thought the other members of her squad were dead, and that if Noxus is different as they say, then she [[NoPlaceForMeThere doesn't have a place there anyway.]] It initially seems like they might be able to settle things peacefully... [[FromBadToWorse until one of the other members of the group discovers Riven's shattered Runeblade and adoptive father hiding nearby.]] Ultimately, Riven ends up killing one of her former comrades who, having fully revealed her [[TheResenter resentment]] about not being the one to be gifted said Runeblade, challenges her to a fight while her adoptive father is held hostage.]]
*** [[spoiler: Afterwards, the rest of the group is forced to kill the KnightTemplar Runesmith, who decided to try and kill Riven on the spot for breaking her Runeblade, leaving the remainder shaken. Ultimately, Riven goes with them of her own free will to spare her adoptive family any more trouble. Her former squadmate allows her to take one last look at her farmstead, treating her as both her captive and her sister, before she takes her to face justice in Noxus properly, leaving Riven's story at yet another BittersweetEnding.]]
*** [[spoiler: Afterwards, Erath is allowed to go confront his father, who seemingly betrayed the group to the [[TokenEvilTeammate Navori Brotherhood]] earlier. He arrives at his father's village, demanding to face him... [[KilledOffScreen only to be shown Jobin's body wrapped in a funeral shroud.]] One of the villagers explains that the Brotherhood ''did'' confront him for his son's location, but [[PapaWolf he refused to tell them, leading to the Brotherhood torturing him to death.]]]]

*** First of all, we find out that Riven's adopted mother [[BusCrash died off-screen]] of natural causes.

* ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4L0OkSrsI8 Kin of the Stained Blade]]'' depicts the reconciliation of Yasuo and Yone, but it's bittersweet at best. Even after Yone frees his brother from the guilt and shame of the past (personified as an actual demon), Yasuo hasn't found peace or purpose and leaves his homeland to look for his future in Bilgewater. There's no hint that they will ever see each other again, nor that they would want to.

-->''(killing a random enemy champion)'' "[[GhostAmnesia I know your face.]] [[SanitySlippage I know your face.]] ''[[MadnessMantra I know your face.]]"

''(to Kayn)'' "A child who had only known hate, confuses it for love."[[note]]He's implied to have a very toxic relationship with his master and father figure, Zed, and yet he remains unquestionably loyal to him.[[/note]]\\
''(to Lux)'' "Which is the greater tragedy, that she fell in battle, or that she fell in line?"[[note]]Due to her kingdom's [[AntiMagic hatred of her kind]], she has to keep her magic secret, and her actions are dictated by Demacia's covert mage corps.[[/note]]\\

* The ''[[https://universe.leagueoflegends.com/en_US/comic/zed Zed]]'' comics series is a wild ride. Among other things, it reveals that Master Kusho was a ManipulativeBastard who played a young Zed and Shen against each other despite raising them as brothers. When Zed and Shen have to pair up to capture Jhin, it reopens all the old wounds but also shows how effective they can be as partners. And then comes the revelation that [[spoiler: Kusho is still alive and was the one who released Jhin in the first place]], forcing Zed to commit an act that he ''knows'' will put reconciliation forever out of reach.

* The ''[[https://universe.leagueoflegends.com/en_US/comic/zed Zed]]'' comics series is a wild ride. Highlights(?) include the revelation that Master Kusho was a ManipulativeBastard who played Zed and Shen against each other when it would have been more natural for them to be partners. When Zed and Shen have to pair up to capture Jhin, it reopens all the old wounds; come the revelation that [[spoiler: Kusho is still alive and was the one who released Jhin in the first place]] and the series ends with Zed committing an act that he ''knows'' will put reconciliation forever out of reach.

*** Just to really kick Orianna in the gut as a reminder [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman for what she's become]], in her side story, ''Firearm'', she bonds with the titular automaton at a fair behind a glass booth, and they seem to get along fine enough... [[spoiler:until it turns out that the automaton is just that, a puppet [[WelcomeToCorneria repeating recorded messages, and performing pre-programmed gestures.]]]]

-->'''Eclipse Leona:''' In another life, I... I'm so sorry. Diana.

* Mixed with [[HeartWarming/LeagueOfLegends a touch of heartwarming]], the story of Doran, creator of Doran's Ring, Shield, and Blade. He was born with a passion for crafting, and at the age of 15, he became an UltimateBlacksmith who got invited to the Institute to be their blacksmith. However, on route, he suffered an accident that robbed him of his genius, but not his passion, and where once he produced single, masterpiece items, he now produces simpler items in large quantities. The fact that his items are daily used in matches, and he has a permanent home at the Institute, shows that, even if bittersweet, he still got a happy ending.

* Varus. He was chosen for the honor of guarding the [[EldritchAbomination Pit of Pallas]] because he had expert archery skills and a level head. When the Noxians attacked his village, he remained behind to guard his station. Then he saw that everyone had been murdered, including his wife and child. In a moment of overwhelming grief and anger he embraced RevengeBeforeReason -- and now he's slowly, painfully being eaten alive, undoubtedly ''very'' aware that he made a StupidSacrifice but unable to do anything about it now.
** Varus' new lore is just as, if not more, tragic and painful than his previous lore: Instead of being a vengeful, broken man seeking revenge against the Noxians through said StupidSacrifice, the Arrow of Retribution is now a multi-faceted vessel that is host to three beings - Varus, who has been retconned into one of the five Darkin and imprisoned for centuries in a bow, forgotten by humanity, and a [[BattleCouple pair of lovers]], Valmar and Kai. Valmar and Kai were regular hunters, sworn to uphold balance, and bonded and fell in love over the course of time. Things seem peaceful for a while, with Valmar being introduced to Kai's family, but eventually, Noxians begin to arrive at their village of Pallas, and they both take up arms to repel the invaders. Kai falls in battle, and Valmar, grief-striken, brings him towards the Pit of Pallas, now guarding the bow that keeps Varus contained. [[DespairEventHorizon Unwilling to face a life without his lover by his side]], Valmar jumps into the pit with the dying Kai in a last ditch effort to keep Kai alive, and in the process, the two men are consumed by Varus' power and used as hosts to fashion a new body for the vengeful Darkin. Even though they still remain together, they are now doomed to WalkTheEarth, [[AndIMustScream struggling against Varus for control of the new body]].

* "Confessions of a Broken Blade" ends happily for Riven, giving her a home and a purpose after years of exile, but it's desperately sad for Yasuo, who tracked down his master's killer only to find no absolution because [[spoiler:there was no murderer. It was an accident; Souma was essentially slain by his own wind magic]]. Now he believes that he truly is responsible because he left his elder alone, and he can't find peace because he can't forgive himself.

''(to Kayn)'' "A child who had only known hate, confuses it for love."[[note]]He's implied to have a very toxic relationship with his master, Zed, and yet he remains unquestionably loyal to him.[[/note]]\\

* Twisted Fate's new lore and backstory. The guy's lost everything. ''Twice''. First he was banished from everything he knew for protecting his family when he was still a kid, lost Graves, then their entire crew trying to rescue Graves, and when Graves finally frees himself, starts hunting down Twisted Fate for 'leaving' him to the authorities! With the Burning Tides lore, Twisted Fate and Malcolm are back together, but it wouldn't be surprising if that smirk he's always said to wear has been fake for a long time.
** On the other hand, Twisted Fate's love for gambling may have given him the mental resilience to cope with life's ups and downs. Long nights at the table must have taught him that you don't always win (or lose), and sometimes you lose ''big'', but you don't let it affect you. You'll win again eventually if you just keep playing.

*** Just to really kick Orianna in the gut as a reminder [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman for what she's become]], in her side story, ''Fieram'', she bonds with the titular automaton at a fair behind a glass booth, and they seem to get along fine enough... [[spoiler:until it turns out that the automaton is just that, [[WelcomeToCorneria repeating recorded, pre-programmed messages, and repeating pre-programmed gestures.]]]]

* While Nunu's still a genuinely CheeryChild, he has several moments in-game where he it's clear he deeply misses his MissingMom.