Illaoi's Path to Ruination: A Lore Deep Dive
League of Legends | Lore
The Prophet of the Great Kraken
Illaoi is the Truth Bearer of Nagakabouros, the kraken god worshipped in the Serpent Isles. A woman of imposing physical strength and unshakable faith, she acts as the direct will of her god, testing the worthy and protecting the living from the scourge of the undead. Though she is native to the holy island of Buhru, she has chosen to make her home in the chaotic port of Bilgewater, where she serves as a spiritual anchor and a formidable guardian against the encroaching darkness.
Illaoi's life is dedicated to serving her god, Nagakabouros, also known as the Great Kraken or the Bearded Lady. Her religion is central to her identity and actions. As her official biography explains, her faith is built on three core tenets:
...every spirit was born to serve the universe; desire was built into every living being by the universe; the universe only moves toward its destiny when living creatures chase their desires.
As the Truth Bearer, Illaoi has two primary duties. First, she is the "spearhead in the war against undeath," directly confronting the spirits of the Harrowing and the Black Mist, which she views as abominations against the natural flow of life. Her second duty is to administer the Test of Nagakabouros. Using her massive golden idol, the Eye of God, she rips the spirit from a person's body and forces them to confront their own truth and will to live. Those who fail are destroyed, but those who succeed find the strength to pursue their true destiny.
A King's Broken Heart
Illaoi shares a deep and complicated history with Gangplank. They were once lovers, but Illaoi ended the relationship, choosing her devotion to her god over a life with him. In her color story, "The Burden," a broken and defeated Gangplank seeks her help after Miss Fortune destroys his ship and usurps his power. Instead of offering sympathy, Illaoi sees that he has become stagnant, trapped by his past and his desire for control.
Believing he must be tested, she subjects him to the trial of Nagakabouros. He is nearly destroyed, but ultimately finds the will to survive and reclaim his purpose.
He screamed as his soul was ripped from his body. His doppelganger stood unmoving before Illaoi. The spirit of Gangplank smoldered an almost blinding blue, its body crackling and flickering through his previous lives.
...Bloody and exhausted, he finally stood in front of Illaoi. His eyes bulged with hate and pain, but full of purpose. With his final ounce of strength, he walked into the glowing visage of his spirit.
“I will be king.”
Having helped him find his "motion" again, Illaoi instructs her followers to support his bid to retake Bilgewater, believing he is still the leader the city needs.
Guardian Against the Harrowing
Illaoi's role as a protector becomes paramount during the events of "Shadow and Fortune." Recognizing the signs of the approaching Black Mist, she confronts Miss Fortune at a funeral, offering a cryptic warning and a token of her goddess.
“You're not wrong,” she said with a slow nod, “but you still don't hear. You let a razor-eel off the hook and you ought to stamp on its neck and walk away before it sinks its fangs into you. Then your motion will be gone forever.”
When the Harrowing descends, Miss Fortune and her allies are eventually forced to retreat to Illaoi's temple. There, Illaoi becomes the last line of defense against the spectral knight Hecarim and his wraith army. She uses the power of Nagakabouros to create a sanctuary, ultimately unleashing a wave of divine light that purges the Black Mist from the city and forces the spirits to retreat. The immense effort leaves her drained but victorious, having saved Bilgewater from total annihilation. Her actions solidify her as a spiritual and physical guardian of the city, preparing her for the even greater threat of the Ruined King.
Her journey and alliances in Ruined King will further explore her role as a spiritual leader and a powerful warrior against the forces of undeath.
The Trial of the Kraken Priestess
Want to take on the Trial of the Kraken Priestess? You can!
Test your will against Nagakabouros in this interactive experience.
