Captain Sarah Fortune has seemingly won it all. After vanquishing her rival Gangplank, she rules as undisputed pirate lord of Bilgewater. But her life is about to take a turn.
The Black Mist is once again approaching Runeterra. A Harrowing bigger and more fearsome than has ever been witnessed is coming to Bilgewater. Viego, the undead Ruined King of the Shadow Isles, has finally stopped twiddling his thumbs and is pursuing his lost love with a force unbound.
With her world in peril, Captain Fortune sets out for the Shadow Isles to put a stop to his evil. And she's not alone: Two wanderers from Ionia, a mighty priestess of Nagakabouros, a hearty shield-toting warrior from the Freljord, and a bloodthirsty Revenant are with her to stand in the path of Viego's assault.
Will they stop him? Or will Runeterra fall to Ruination?
Originally set for release in 2020, the game was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After over a year long delay, the game was shadow dropped on November 16, 2021.
Ruined King provides examples of:
- Action Girl: Every playable female counts as one
- All There in the Manual: Throughout the game are several pieces that expands on the world building on Runeterra, such as Thresh's origins.
- Arbitrary Headcount Limit: Only 3 characters can be active during combat. All members gain EXP though, so you won't need to use every character in order to farm EXP.
- Ascended Fanboy: On the Shadow Isles, the group encounters a Mist Walker called Necrit, named after a famous Youtube channel host known for making videos about League of Legends' lore. Befitting his namesake, he's the one who informs the champions about the origins of Viego and the Shadow Isles.
- Badass Crew: The playable roster of champions:
- Miss Fortune, a pirate captain and expert sharpshooter.
- Illaoi, a Badass Preacher who can call on the power of an ancient sea god.
- Yasuo, a wandering swordsman who can manipulate the wind.
- Ahri, an immortal half-fox woman with powerful soul magic.
- Braum, a jovial and absolutely ripped folk hero whose shield is his sword.
- Pyke, a sea-dwelling revenant with a vicious kill streak and ghostly powers.
- The Bad Guy Wins: An Implied Trope in a way, as while the heroes inevitably defeat Viego, one of the final cutscenes in the game shows that Miss Fortune's otherwise green eyes are glowing blue— implying Viego is manipulating her to some degree, which is confirmed in The Will of the Dead sequel comic.
- Bag of Spilling: While on the way to the Shadow Isles, Braum's ship was attacked and he lost his legendary door in the process. It can be obtained in a a side quest and upgraded to something even better.
- Bittersweet Ending: On the one hand, Viego is defeated, saving Runeterra, and most of the heroes have found some closure. On the "bitter" end, however, Miss Fortune and Illaoi permanently break their trust when Illaoi confesses that she saved Gangplank, Gangplank escapes execution, and Miss Fortune slips into becoming a monster herself— and with the implication that she's possessed by Viego, it seems Bilgewater may not be saved after all. Overall, while a solid victory for the heroes, it carries darker implications for the future.
- Byronic Hero: Yasuo is even moodier than usual here. He slowly relaxes and lets down some of his walls over the course of the game, particularly around Ahri and the ever-persistent Braum.
- Can't Hold His Liquor: When Yasuo softens enough to offer a toast of friendship to Braum, the larger man either isn't used to the kind of stuff Yasuo drinks or takes a bigger swig than is advisable. He ends up on the floor, much to Yasuo's amusement.
- Carpet of Virility: Braum naturally has one, fitting his brave and heroic persona.
- Central Theme: Life is now; don't live in the past. The characters who fare best are the ones who live in the moment (Braum, Illaoi) or use their pasts to find new purpose in the present (Yasuo, Ahri); the characters who suffer are the ones who never manage to move on (Viego, Miss Fortune).
- Character Development: Most of the main party, with the exception of Braum (Who prompts much of it through his inherent kindness) and an antagonist, get development.
- Miss Fortune begins the game terrified at the concept of become She Who Fights Monsters. By the end of the game, she's colder and more ruthless, as shown by her burning down a tavern of Gangplank's supporters. Notably, this is the only negative development of the main cast; Fortune isolates herself completely after Illaoi tells her the truth of Gangplank's survival, and is one of the only ones not celebrating their victory at the end.
- Illaoi realizes that her goddess works in more mysterious ways than she believed, and that she can't always take her at face value; sometimes, to achieve her desired result, she has to do the right thing, fitting with Nagakabouros' philosophy.
- Yasuo realizes that he needs to forgive himself, slowly warming up to the others and recognizing that his self-destructive loner personality isn't helping him at all. He becomes much more emotionally open.
- Ahri rejects her self-hatred and belief that she can never be more than a monstrous killer.
- Pyke lightens up considerably on the List, learning to bond with the rest of the crew and even coming to an accord with a couple of his targets. While he's still a Serial Killer by the end, he's set his sights on grander goals— namely, the Ruined King himself.
- Gangplank of all people admits that, after a few Break the Haughty events in a row, he's realizing that his hunger for power and cruelty are more harm than good, and his arrogance leads him to constantly consort with forces he can't control. He even parts with Illaoi on somewhat good terms and hands over the amulet needed to stop Viego.
- Charm Person: Ahri does this a couple of times in Bilgewater to 'persuade' reluctant storekeepers. It's the first hint of her vastayan nature.
- Continuity Snarl: Though the game is clearly intended as a prequel to the Sentinels of Light event and has some very clear foreshadowing (Pyke's development clearly leads into him becoming a Sentinel for one), pretty much everything with Viego being revived and defeated ends up being repeated in the event itself— the game can't be canon, as many other depictions of the story have elements that already happened in the game and the event reverses development from the game, such as Gangplank realizing that he can't rule Bilgewater if he lets it be destroyed, and the main cast having already fought Viego, with foreshadowing that Miss Fortune will eventually make a bargain with him. Similarly, Isolde's soul being trapped in Bilgewater contradicts Isolde being split into many pieces and scattered across Runeterra.
- Control Freak: Viego is revealed to be one, when Ahri shows him what his rose-colored past was really like.
- Deal with the Devil: Viego offers Miss Fortune one at game's end, offering her everything she desires. Miss Fortune refuses, except the credits imply Viego has a hold on her to some degree.
- The Defroster: Braum wins over just about everyone over the course of the game, particularly those like Yasuo and Maokai who had lost most of their faith in human goodness. Even Captain Fortune is charmed, though she ultimately doesn't defrost.
- Destructive Romance: As much as Viego loved his wife, their marriage ultimately ruined the world. And this is before it comes to light that he was an abusive husband who attacked Isolde verbally and possibly even physically.
- Distant Prologue: The opening cutscene takes place 1022 years before the events of the game, when Viego is attempting to revive Isolde on the Blessed Isles. We see the resurrection go awry and Isolde stab Viego with his sword, beginning the Ruination and his transformation into the Ruined King.
- Easter Egg: Zig-Zagged, as it is mentioned the game was intended to release in 2020, before Gwen's release in League of Legends; there is a doll that the player can find in the Shadow Isles that was intended to be a cameo/teaser for Gwen, but she was ultimately released about 7 months before the game in April 2021.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Gangplank hands the crew an amulet Thresh gave him to help stop Viego, noting that he would still like Bilgewater still standing so he can rule it.
- Evil Versus Oblivion: The main reason just about everyone unites against Viego — they may not want to cooperate, least of all with the current group, but they can put aside their differences to avoid having the world plunged under the Black Mist.
- Exact Words: When she learns Gangplank is behind the resurgence of the Mists, Illaoi says Sarah believed he was dead and that she herself did not expect to find him in the Grey Harbor. This is true, but it hides the fact that Illaoi knew Gangplank was alive, having helped him recover. She was even the one who gave him the Buhru artifacts, though she genuinely didn't expect him to use them against Bilgewater.
- Foreshadowing: Just before Viego is sealed, he tempts Miss Fortune to make a deal with him for power to rule Bilgewater. While she doesn't respond on screen, she tells the group afterward that she turned him down. At the very end of the game, however, she starts indulging a more ruthless side, with a Sequel Hook suggesting she didn't actually reject the offer.
- The Heart: Braum, as befitting the Heart of the Freljord. He sees almost everyone as a potential friend and encourages them to be their best.
- Heroic Sacrifice: The only sunstone at hand to capture Viego's memories happens to be full of the memories of the Vesani. Ahri gives up the knowledge she had been desperately seeking in order to defeat him.
- Honor Before Reason: Fortune, seeing Yasuo's excellent sword skills, offers him a fruitful job on her crew that would cut into the contract he has with Ahri. He refuses it on the grounds that he won't break his agreement, something she immediately lampshades as being an Ionian custom.
- Horror Hunger: How Ahri's essence-draining magic manifests. When her cravings get too strong, she will simply devour whomever is closest... or so she believes.
- I Am a Monster: Ahri has a very low opinion of herself due to the essence-eating properties of her magic. She even calls herself this trope verbatim. She is genuinely shocked when she finds out Pyke has no intention to add her to his list, he considers her a predator just acting on instincts.
- I Gave My Word: The larger part of Yasuo's motivation is merely to keep his promise to protect his employer. His determination to stay with Ahri clashes with her own fears that she'll inadvertently hurt him if he gets too close to her.
- Ignored Epiphany: Ahri shows Viego the truth of his memories as a Control Freak, which seems to genuinely shock Viego— who then rejects this realization, shouts that they are lying, and continues.note
- Infinity +1 Sword: After a good chunk of the story, players will be able to access Thresh's workshop. In there, they will be able to receive side quests so they can craft the ultimate weapons of each champion.
- Lady and Knight: Subverted with Ahri and Yasuo. While he tries to keep the vow he made to protect her, she doesn't actually need a bodyguard and makes a Sneaky Departure early in the game for fear of using her power on him. One wonders why she hired him in the first place.
- Late-Arrival Spoiler: As the game was supposed to be released before the Sentinels of Light event in League of Legends, Viego's eventual defeat at their hands is already known.
- Line-of-Sight Name: Miss Fortune allows Braum to name the ship that they take between Bilgewater and the Shadow Isles. Put on the spot, he offers "The Charming Lady".Fortune: [flattered] Braum! You lady-killer.
- Love Ruins the Realm: After Isolde's poisoning, Viego was so distraught that he started neglecting his royal duties in order to save her, causing his kingdom to fall apart.
- A Lighter Shade of Grey: Pyke reveals that Sarah is on his list, but considers her a low-priority target way at the bottom, and depending on her future actions, might even remove her from the list.
- Mistaken for Romance: When Yasuo and Ahri spend their first night in Bilgewater, the innkeeper assumes they are together. (He even asks if they want the 'hourly' rate). Yasuo is not amused.
- No Social Skills: Braum and Yasuo, each in his own way. Yasuo keeps to himself and doesn't want to talk to anyone; Braum overshares and wants to talk to everyone. They eventually form an Odd Friendship through Braum's sheer persistence.
- Not in This for Your Revolution: Only Captain Fortune and Illaoi start off with the goal of defeating the Ruined King. Ahri wants to look for her past on the Shadow Isles, Yasuo wants to protect Ahri, Braum wants some of the Water of Life to heal his people, and Pyke is simply being compelled by whatever force animates him. Over time, most of them realize that Viego needs to be stopped and sign on for real; Fortune is nearly sidetracked by her desire to finish off Gangplank once she sees that he and Viego have 'allied.'
- "Not So Different" Remark: When talking to Miss Fortune, Pyke notes that both of them share the same deep hunger for revenge. She even goes further and says she's got a list of people who've wronged her not unlike him. He even muses on sharing Gangplank's kill with her.
- Power Incontinence: Ahri can't control when and how much she drains from other people.
- Really 700 Years Old: As a vastayan, Ahri is incredibly long-lived. At one point she flatly tells the group (including Braum) that she is older than all of them put together.
- Religion is Magic: How the Buhru faith seems to manifest, with the Mother Serpent functioning as a kind of chaos god whose power can be accessed by the worthy.
- Sea Monster: The party's ship is attacked by a giant sea beast when sailing towards the Shadow Isles, cue a boss fight.
- Sealed Evil in a Can: Viego's fate at the end of the game.
- Secret Test of Character: The reason Braum is in Bilgewater is because he wants to find the Blessed Waters as a terrible plague is spreading through the Freljord. However, Maokai tells him that the cure can no longer be found. Despite that, Braum still sticks with the group as he's that kind of person, and when they encounter Maokai again, he gives Braum some of his leaves, which contain enough motes of blessed water to make a cure for Braum's people.
- Sequel Hook: The ending has a couple of things regarding certain champions:
- Gangplank manages to escape during the final battle, and Miss Fortune decides she's done playing nice. She'll make it clear that Bilgewater is hers now, and if Gangplank wants it back, he's gonna have to take it. The game ends with her beginning a bloody purge of Bilgewater, personally hunting down and murdering anyone she so much as suspects harbors loyalty towards Gangplank. She is also shown with glowing blue eyes, implying that Viego is still hanging around within her.
- Yasuo tells the group that he will be heading to Noxus as there is someone there who may need his help. It's very likely that he's referring to Riven, who in recent lore was found by her former comrades in Ionia and taken back to her homeland to be executed.
- And finally, Pyke puts Viego's name on his list.
- She Who Fights Monsters: Miss Fortune is afraid of becoming a brutal pirate lord in the same vein as Gangplank. Throughout the game she teeters on the edge of going full villain but never quite succumbs to her anger and hatred. At the end of the game, she massacres everyone in a tavern just because Gangplank's flag was hanging outside, apparently playing this trope to its ugly conclusion.
- Ship Tease:
- Between Braum and Illaoi. She makes a very unsubtle overture to him on Fortune's ship, but Braum is too seasick to accept.
- Yasuo and Ahri get quite a bit, though given that Ahri is flirty with everyone it can be hard to tell. But the two certainly open up to each other more than the others and they both look forward to meeting again.
- Turn-Based Combat: Uses a version of this.
- Vampiric Draining: Ahri's power. While theoretically she could take only pieces from another person, in reality she drains their entire essence and leaves them withered husks.
- Wham Shot: Two major ones at the end of the game, each signifying a Sequel Hook.
- Miss Fortune, having grown more vicious, burns down a tavern for having Gangplank's insignia upon it and presumably kills everyone within... and just before, this sequence ends, her eyes light up blue— indicating that she either accepted the Deal with the Devil Viego offered her and that he's residing within her right now, or that he's encouraging her worst traits and she is on her way to accepting his offer.
- Pyke is shown in the water, putting Viego's name on his list.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Yasuo is more than a little irritated with Ahri for hiring him as her bodyguard and then sneaking off to the Shadow Isles without him.
- You Remind Me of X: When Ahri is comfortable enough around Yasuo to reveal her past, she tells him that he reminds her of a former Love Interest whose life she accidentally took.
