The Sword Shall Devour
is an Arcane fanfic by Meshakhad. The story focuses on Caitlyn, who is forced to take refuge in the Undercity after Noxus invades Piltover.
This work provides examples of:
- Alternate Universe Fic: Of the canon divergence variety. The show's plot is completely disrupted by Noxus invading Piltover.
- Accidental Hero: When Caitlin finds that Powder has the crystals she stole from Jayce's workshop, she learns that Vi's group had jammed the door when they broke in, leading Jayce to send Caitlyn to get the Enforcers. This was right before the Noxian attack, with one of their shells hitting the workshop and Caitlyn surviving since she was outside.
- Actually Pretty Funny: In chapter 5, Vi says to Caitlin she isn't surprise that Kiramman political skills translate well to crime, something she immediately regrets saying. Caitlin herself finds the statement pretty funny.
- Conveniently an Orphan: Defied. Caitlyn is orphaned at the start of the story, but she is effectively adopted by Vander. Not only is she under his authority, but she will now have to work alongside Vi and her siblings.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: The Noxians completely overpower Piltover's defenses, taking the city in a single day.
- Day of the Jackboot: Nobody in the Undercity thinks that Noxian rule will be any better than Piltover. So far, they seem to be focused on Topside.
- Decapitation Strike: One of the primary targets of the Noxian bombardment is the Hall of Progress, the seat of Piltover's government.
- Deceased Parents Are the Best: Downplayed. Caitlyn is naturally devastated by the deaths of her parents, but doesn't seem to place them on a particularly high pedestal.
- Doomed Hometown: Topside is this for Caitlyn.
- For Want Of A Nail:
- The Noxian attack comes right in the middle of Vi and her siblings raiding Jayce's workshop. Instead of Powder dropping a Hextech crystal, one of the Noxian artillery shells hits the workshop, and the explosion kills Jayce. Caitlyn survives because she went to get Enforcers after she and Jayce heard voices inside the workshop. If Vi and her siblings hadn't been there, Caitlyn would have died alongside Jayce.
- It's mentioned that some of the Noxian artillery hit the cannery Silco was based out of, killing most if not all of the occupants.
- Free-Range Children: Caitlin is concerned that Powder and Ekko have been working on volatile crystals while Vander and the older kids were working at the Last Drop. She tells Vi that they need to do more jobs so they can hire another worker and leave one of them free to watch the experimenting duo.
- Half the Man He Used to Be: Tobias is cut in half by Darius.
- Lost Orphaned Royalty: Downplayed. Caitlyn is technically the new head of House Kiramman, but that doesn't mean much given Piltover's oligarchic form of government.
- Parental Substitute: While Vander takes Caitlyn in, effectively adopting her, Vi is the one generally taking care of Caitlyn.
- Riches to Rags: Caitlyn goes from the scion of one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Piltover to living with Vander's adopted kids underneath the Last Drop, with her only possessions being the clothes on her back and Grayson's rifle.
- Ruling Family Massacre: In addition to taking out the Council, the Noxians are hunting down every member of Piltover's former ruling houses. Grayson takes Caitlyn to Vander to keep her safe.
- Secret-Keeper: While everybody at the Last Drop knows that Caitlyn is a Piltie who was taken in by Vander, only Vander and Vi know that Caitlyn is a Kiramman.
- There Is Only One Bed: Averted. Caitlyn takes the couch on the first night, and Vi makes plans to build her a bed of her own. She does consider the option.
- War Is Hell: The Noxian invasion of Piltover is portrayed as a bloody and savage affair. Noxian warships bombard the city, killing thousands of people, including Jayce and the Council. After sweeping the Enforcers aside, they hunt down and kill anyone connected to Piltover's former ruling class.
