I like it. Its not exactly my cup of tea, but I think its probably the best "magical girl" show. (even though the magical girls in this case are ponies)

I love Rucka's stuff. prob my . favorite american comic writer.

Homosexuality probably isn’t taboo in the freljord. Unless it affects your obligations— and roles. But probably gender norms are pretty severely enforced. (Though what they consider “normal” is very far from what we would recognize). I think the relationships between the various oathbound are kinda up in the air. Sometimes brotherhood and a tight bond other times drama and fighting. I dont think these bonds are taken lightly and thus aren't done without a fair amount input and discussion. It would be poor leadership to force someone on the group. But its important to keep in mind they have very different idea of marriage than we do. It’s about protection instead of property. So probably unit cohesion and battle synergy is a marriage consideration too. You might “marry” someone because love them, but more often you are marrying them because you think they are strong and will protect your children—you might especially marry someone because you already have different lover/spouse and are looking for a way to secure your current children's position. I think several if not most of Grena’s oathbound never slept with her— maybe they were single, maybe they had families (which would make those kids “kin of kin” and thus a part of grena’s family/retainers. Maybe they married her to cement the peace between tribes. And I think Grena married Yriel because he was a natural leader and a strong warrior. He completed the unit because he was older, experienced, and got along well with the other men. Then seeing him lead, working with him, Grena fell for him. Hopefully the complexity is all something we can see Sejuani and Ashe struggling with in the future. Because i will say— in my proposed timeline. Tryndamere is not the first man ashe asked to “marry” her.

that's probably store by store. I would hit their online stock list.

Well my real name is Odin. So I kinda feel like I've been hyper-aware of all the shitty version of norse myths and that sort of germanic gothic fantasy my whole life... and largely disappointed by how it was approached by media. (Thor: Ragnarok being the first I've liked) But also as an American, I was interested in finding a way to make those myths more universal-- so even prior to working on it I was always looking for (and finding) parallels to-and-with Native American cultures, northern asian cultures, and norse cultures. **But probably a much, much more important factor was when I started at riot no cared about the Freljord. ** A lot of the chief mucky-mucks thought it was kinda a dumpster fire-- and didn't care about it. So unlike Noxus or Demacia, I knew if I did some work in the freljord I wouldn't have to go thru ninety layers of approvals and feedback. So I might actually get to do something cool and unique. Actually, a lot if not most, of the work I've done in riot were in the places our IP that our leadership didn't like, places that didn't previously exist, or characters leadership didn't have strong opinions on how everything should be. ( Illaoi from buhru in bilgewater, Freljord, the vastaya, mythical creatures of legend, a ninja's dead dad etc...)

I read manga as a kid and teen, (I'm old, so it was kinda the first wave-- i.e. when Akira, Appleseed, Ranma 1/2 etc first landed) , but didn't really get into American comics till art school. My college roommate (Chris Walton a concept artist-- his stuff is good check it out) was horrified that I hadn't read Dark Knight, Sin City, Xmen, etc.. He literally put a pile of Hellboy books on my bed and told me he couldn't live with me if I didn't read them. I did. Then bought my own copies (and later some BPRDS) After that, I kept up with comics, buying mostly Dark Horse and Image ..in addition to manga purchases. I was never an every Wednesday guy, but I went to the comic shop once a month and bought stuff. However, I think my buying reached it's peak when i was working on_ The Walking Dead_ TV show and the first version of Bendis's _Powers_ (The FX version never aired. The Sony one you can download-- i didn't have anything to do with). Because I ended up talking to Kirkman and Bendis about comics writing during those shows-- I never thought I was gonna work in comics-- but I was trying to understand where they were coming from and how to better work with them. Their viewpoints really helped me understand of the medium's artistic language and made me appreciate American comics more. (I think my taste in terms of pacing and storytelling still leans towards manga though) So I was probably going to comic store every Saturday during that period of my life. But my wife then having a baby cut it completely out for a couple years... I was too busy being tired. And my wife (who also reads them) was too tired to read them, let alone have fun convos about them. Fast forward 5 years and I started going to the shops again (a little before I started writing Ashe) because my daughter was older.... and she loves, loves, loves the Avatar and My Little Pony books. So now I'm going almost every other week. I usually buy a floppy or two for me plus a trade or graphic novel and then a graphic novel and couple floppies for her. sorry. -long answer

Thank you so much. I was a super weird transition from TV scripts. I def have things I would have done differently --mostly regarding pacing. (but also more pages for Yriel) . I learn some stuff on this book which will hopefully make me a better comix writer on the next.

Hells yeah.

Thanks for reminding everyone Ice! If I can make a request. For you (and everyone reading who bought the book from Amazon) please consider giving it a review. (Metrics are a thing!) . Please Please do the reviews, 'cause I really want to make make book 2!! There's not really a sticker for me begging... maybe this is closest? {{sticker:sg-soraka}} Thanx!

> [{quoted}](name=The Iceborn,realm=EUNE,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=waZyGtNY,comment-id=00010000,timestamp=2019-05-15T11:30:35.868+0000) > > I believe that the physical edition is only available in english. However you can purchase the issues individually in many other languages on comicology, kindle, amazon. Look at the thread linked for more details. Yeah, I think the non-english versions will be released as they are translated and printed. (At least that was the strategy last I heard).

Ended shortly before I posted.

Wow, this is like a thesis. Can't comment on a lot of stuff as "things" are in motion.{{sticker:slayer-pantheon-popcorn}} But very cool, and well thought out.

Demi is half, though my memory of latin is a bit rusty. Most of the greek depictions assume a god is the parent (though sex in the normal sense, frequently does not happen). I do not assume a god is the “parent” in our IP, at least not in the common use of that word. {{sticker:slayer-jinx-wink}}

Nice! I love that you were able to break it down into all of the editions. (They just exist in my mind as a confused jumble)

I don't remember them all off the top of my head. But "Macbeth" and "Richard the III" were both big inspirations too. Also certainly Trumbo's "Johnny get your gun" influenced this-- though I'm not the biggest fan of that book.

Thank you so much d00mface! And yes you are right on the money. (Even spotting how I carefully worded the description of Aatrox's previous form.) When we were just staring on Aatrox, the main narrative pillar was "The Devil." So I absolutely looked at how that archetype was used previously-- and I absolutely did re-examine "Paradise Lost." And yep, the goal with this sort of character is to both deliver the archetype that people clearly connect with, and also hopefully find a way to make this incarnation, unique from the various characters that inspired it FYI: We usually aim to have a minimum of 3 to 5 reference characters that we can use to define the archetype's core traits in early production and to keep us from attached to a single point of reference. {{sticker:slayer-jinx-wink}}

Also yeahs... the best way to purchase the comic is physical book from your local shop. Most comics are sold at local shops, and are selected by the retailer to showcase, carry. So buying a book there raises awareness of the books potential to that retailer. (Also they will probably flip thru your copy and might just choose to carry the book because they like it.) Also Thanx for the shoutout/reminder for everyone, Iceborn!

I assume so. That team is spinning up.

I can't speak to the Lux comic. I donno where they are with it. I've only seen snippets. But you can probably apply the same math that was used for Ashe (plus 1 issue) to figure out it's release date. (I mean Marvel's schedules are pretty locked.) Ashe is still due for release on the day we mentioned previously. (mid may I believe) Sadly, I don't know what's in the book, and I haven't seen it. The exact insides are decided by our editors without the authors feedback (I guess?) Zed is spinning up production soon... and I'm not allowed to say much about him. I can say he has 6 scripts done, and first script is locked (I.e. ready for the artist). This is probably because we are in a place where the team doesn't have much to report... yet. (Heck. I don't even know the answers)

So “standard military training” is probably a misnomer. Iceborn are raised to be warriors. They aren’t trained in a military boot camp or college. They are trained by their family and begin learning as soon as they can hold a weapon. This is a society that relies on warriors and raiding to survive.

Lol thanx. Yeah what mean is Sejuani and her scarthanes WILL know and employ battlefield tactics. Flanking manuevers, tarpits, refused flanks, feints, deceptive cavalry moves, shieldwalls, etc... this is part if being an iceborn. They are effectively professional warriors specially trained in small unit guerrilla tactics against monsters and foes with superior numbers. But even more so imagine thinking a 500 man shielwall will protect your center— then a single iceborn breaks apart your battleline with a blast of ice— before a dozen ursine slam into the now disrupted formation for cleanup. In an open field, Darius wins. But Sejuani will avoid that. She is brutal and approaches raiding as a job. She will try to starve your army, lead it into trsps and then bring death.

This is neat! Sadly, i can’t really comment on this. As obviously discovering the “truth” of the freljord’s past is a part of exploring the current story’s themes. (What is destiny? does it exist? How does your past create you and the future). But why is Lissandra the way she is? What does she really want? What was the old empire? Who was Avarosa? Etc.. these are the right questions.

Cool! Three things to consider: Under weaknesses-> you have number 3 -> army structure. I would argue that while Ashe and Sejuani aren’t at the political-strategic level of Swain and Nasus. They have other gifts Tactically Sejuani is super strong. By age 15 Sejuani is shown planning a surprise attack to wipe out another tribe. This is before she grew up. She’s cunning, risk taking, and unpredictable. If your looking for a leader that might pull off some Hannibal, Gengis Khan, or Patton type tactis — she’s your girl. I’m not saying she’d obviously best Darius, Jarvan, or Irelia— but I would bet on her doing something they werent expecting or even thought was possible. Ashe on the other hand has that rarer gift of true leadership. People are drawn to her and she brings out the best in her top advisors and warriors. People are willing to die for her because they believe and trust in her. Thus her advisors and top people really are doing their best work because she brings out the best in them. While Swain and Lissandra’s top people probably work out of fear and politics. Finally Lissandra is a wild card for Ashe and Sejuani and the whole equation. If your talking about a war between nations — who is Lissandra gonna help? I.e. Swain attacked Ashe? I’d bet on Lissandra helping Ashe — and that is super dangerous for everyone. Lissy can probably match Swain strategically. She’s not a long term ally — but any plan that he has she might counter or inform Ashe of his actions. (As long as it doesn’t infer with her goals) she might even try and curry favor or plant agents in Sejuani’s tribe by countering Swain. ( Also what are Lissy’s Real, Real goals? People should be approaching the new bio’s differently. They are an overview. We are intentionally not over- revealing. —did the bio show who Udyr was or why he was powerful? — you get that from stories. A bio can’t really convey grit, heart, intelligence or emotional struggle viscerally.)

Flawless.

1) Yes it is the helmet of the Warmother for the Winter's Claw. It was previously her mother's. 2) Now_ that_ is a story! ( Oh boy, is Sejuani a badass!) But.... Sorry. No spoilers.

1. Well the working title of the next book is "Oathfather" so seeing the details of that relationship will be part of it. 2. Yeah. But also Sejuani is fulfilling the traditional role expected of her as a leader. Grena was pretty cool with her bloodsworn too. More than anything else she is expected to be the leader and mother of war for this tribe. She's not expected to be nice. She's expected to have a plan and have the grit to see it through. But more importantly her coolness to them is supposed to hint at her closeness to Udyr. She values him ABOVE her bloodsworn. No one is closer or more dear to her in the Winter's Claw than Udyr. (maybe not even Bristle). Hopefully we will get to see how he has earned this trust in later stories. 3. Sejuani's rant, I think touched on how she felt pretty overtly. She loves Ashe like a sister, but she also resents and envies her. She resents that Ashe had an easy life (compared to her) and a mother that loved and protected her. When I think of the cruelty that Sejuani is capable of it comes from that pain-- that hole in her heart. She grew up tough, hungry, and mistreated. She's seen her tribe, really her extended family, _literally_ starving, beaten down, and dying. What if you were forced to live your whole life in that sort of desolation? And then you strolled into a beautiful valley in Demacia and saw an easy, comfortable, safe, bucolic life. Wouldn't you feel like you had been cheated? That your family had been cheated? And this is where Sejuani's heart hardens. She's gonna take that valley and then, in spite, want to punish those Demacian villagers. Because she's angry and hurt inside, Sejuani wants them to know the desolation and fear that she and her people had to survive.

Generally riot has _managers_ (Product Owners) make all strategic choices. It doesn't have _craft experts _(people like me) make those calls. _Sometimes_ we (craft experts) are asked to pitch ideas. (i.e. Who should a comic star? How does magic work etc...) Sometimes not. But we don't make the call. Or even the call of what we should be working on or pitching too. With casting a book, Larger choices by Product Owners are generally discussed with _Leaders_ (managers of managers). And casting a book (like Ashe or Lux) would fall into those discussions-- after a pitch was created. I would like to be more involved directing the overall story strategy. But I'm not a manager and I'm not a fan of office politics, which seems to be the largest requirement. So maybe it wouldn't be worth it for me. (Ah behind the scenes in the the _glamorous_ world of writing for a living!) For this comic, I was given the task of working on an Ashe origin story. I didn't choose her. But, when I decided that I wanted to show her with Sejuani-- I pitched that. That direction was okay'd. And that then later allowed me to explore Sejuani and Grena as having some sort of relationship both in the real world and within Ashe's heart.

1. "Fate" is one of the main themes of this comic, and Imho the freljord as a faction. Because the faction's earliest narrative depiction was of 3 sisters destined to fight each other. So I wove it more directly into the worldbuilding here. This is a warrior society that believes in fate and oracles etc... What is fate? Is your destiny your own? Or are we all cursed to follow some predetermined path? This is a theme hopefully all of the freljordian characters will express in different ways. 2. They died as babies. 3. I've basically assumed having magically gifted children is difficult-- in a society that probably already suffers from high infant mortality. But it hasn't been fully fleshed out at this time. 4. Honestly, I don't think about age in numbers. They are teens. They were tweens. Previously they were kids. They would be in the same grade. Exact numbers only create problems for other writers conforming to a specific timeline. So I prefer to leave wiggle room. 5. Hopefully all of the characters here are at least in some ways likeable and sympathetic. I tend to view "evil" as weakness and as a blindspot to your own selfishness. So no, I think Kalkia is very different from Ashe. She lacks Ashe's capacity for hope and as a visionary. Ashe's strongest moment for me in this comic is where she fights Sejuani-- but then reveals her deep empathy and understanding of her rival. That, in my opinion, is why she is worthy leader and hero. She cares about people. She understands feelings. But she doesn't let those feelings cloud her own moral choices. Back to: Kalkia. Ultimately, as a father, I'm not sure if I can forgive Kalkia for abandoning Sejuani to a situation she knew would be bad-- but I understand she was deeply unhappy, felt trapped, and has ultimately done the best she was capable of. She is not meant to be good or bad.... unfortunately she is tragic. 6. see 4 7. no spoilers. 8. Sejuani gets into a lot of fights. With the people in her tribe, with the Frost Priests, with her mom, and with her grandma. She's troubled. I viewed the scar as indicator of that part of her personality. Perhaps somewhere we'll examine the exact incident-- but at this point its not needed.

They are carrying dark ice. (Color is a bit weird -true)

Honestly, I’m not sure what you’re asking. But Ashe is pretty heroic here— she’s just not flawless. And Sejuani is still a villian, but hopefully one you have some sympathy for and understand. Hopefully they feel like real people.

1. yep. More than a few died. 2. Ultimately Ashe saw how her mom was venerated by the freljord and that culture... and because she could see her mom's flaws, she also saw the injustice in her mom's worldview. 3. Yeah this was important for me. Ashe loves her mother. Grena truly loves Ashe, and wants what she believes is best for her. But Ashe is rejecting a lot of the value system that her mother and Sejuani believe in. 4. Yeah so this is the big revolution of united Avarosian tribe Ashe creates. Treating hearthbound as more than chattel and serfs (notice how Grena treats the hearthbound) In the south this is less overt --(yeoman) But the freljord is a sort of feudal society. Iceborn and other magically gifted folks have more rights, freedoms etc.. because effectively they are the "noble" class. 5. No spoilers. But I will say it is not an obvious and will have a twist. 6 thru 10. Sorry. No spoilers. 11. I don't think she really knew. She's only about 16 or so in this story-- but the responsibility fell on her. 12) She has killed, and sent people to die. But this is more about the future. To save those people and build the world she wants she did/will have to sacrifice. 13) She thinks if she can unite the freljord she can end the cycle of tribal violence and make a more just, fair, and safe society. She is willing to do some extreme things for that end. And I would not certain this heroic drive would be applied to Demacians and Noxians. 14) See above. She is viewed as an messiah figure by her supporters. Her enemies worry about her. And worry about what a unified Freljord would mean. 15) That is the implication. I don't even think Sejuani relishes killing Ashe-- but in a way Sejuani's being a "realist" soonier. They are on different, opposing paths. They both are willing to do whatever it takes to pursue what they believe is right. 16) Yeah the bio was written knowing the comic would expand that part of the bio. But also the bio is more about how she got to where she is. 1) yeah obviously. Lux is next. Then maybe the Zed thing I wrote. (I'm not sure if that is going forward at this point) I can't speak for the Lux comic, but the Zed lets the reader take a deep dive into who he is-- but also what Ionia is like. 2) No spoilers. (but yeah, almost certainly) We do have some level setting still to do. With the Ashe comic, Udyr story and Ant Reynolds story. I feel players probably have a pretty good idea of what the Freljord feels like. What about Noxus, Piltover, Ionia? etc... 3.

It's getting made. I think JohnO is a good writer. Sorry, no new news.

I strongly prefer writing film and TV scripts. I entered writing really backwards. I went to art school for undergrad. Studied animation and film. Fell in love with storyboarding. Worked in advertising. Hated it. Went to grad school to become a director or cinematographer (leaning towards the latter). Only to discover I liked writing scripts and jokes in my first writing class. I've always loved reading books and did some acting as a kid-- but my parents were visual artists and I (and they) kinda assumed that was where I would end up. I worked as a video editor before getting to write for TV and that even further pushed me away from writing description. Because of all of the above-- I prefer the more slimmed down style of screenplays (And I lean towards reading books with minimalist descriptions like Amy Hemple or Elmore Leonards). 'Cause when I'm writing descriptions, it feels kinda weird to not draw the stuff or thumbnail it-- and instead use words to describe it. It always feels kinda ugly and slow. In my prose writing I really tend to try and minimise descriptions as much as possible. Comics are even weirder because every part of my storyboardist brain wants to go at it-- but I also know that would give the artist no-freedom and make the job tedious. (because I've been on the other side of the relationship with a writer over describing.) shrug. It's weird.

No problem. I set aside time in my schedule today and tomo. (after that... its frankly when I'm waiting for a meeting. )

I think its a complicated question that hasn't come up yet. the question that immediately swirls in my head is what if the person hitting the trueice is an iceborn? Or an iceborn holding a piece of normal steel? What about cold iron? What about silver? What about... etc etc...? As I think I've said before I don't like lists I like simple rules which create a lot of variables but which can be felt. (not sure how that plays out).

elements are still influx for rito.

Crap! Never trust a writer to edit his own work!

Yeah I have to say coming from a television background trying to fit a story into 20 to 25 pages of a comic book is really hard and involved a lot of learning, which my editor helped/pushed me through(thanks Ellie!). Personally would have liked to have spent more time (pages) on this story-- but comics normally have a pretty brisk pace compared to TV and manga. So I tried to respect that. Donno, I could go faster but it might be less emotional or I could go slower and the major plot points might take even longer to get too. (ugh!)

1) It's been nice honestly to finally, finally get some of this world building and character stuff in front of the players. 2) Sadly I can't share them. (that would be a spoiler!)

Yep, Ashe's connection to the bow has not be explained yet. Sorry.

1) This will be explore much, much later. (hopefully) When we are looking at Lissandra. Sorry no spoilers here! 2) There are female frost priests. We just haven't been in a place populated or important enough for one to be there. 3) An oath is an oath. Its about the culture you are raised in and your own convictions. Sejuani was willing to break the oath her mother was forced into because she didn't think it should count. This isn't a magical oath. This is your word, honor, and reputation. (now making an oath to a magical creature... that's a different beasty). 4) no spoilers. 5) Really, really hard. But depends on what you are hitting it with. True fire? Not to bad. True ice? yeah okay. Normal earth steel? Yipes. It might shatter the steel instead or both the steel and the ice-- but it would definitely freeze and shatter the weak hearthbound, normal-human hand that you were holding the steel sword with.) Demacian steel? wow good question... donno.

1) No update on Oathfather. Hoping the physical sales do well. That will probably determine the fate of a possible follow up. "Doing Okay" currently. 2) Vedmah is a role/ability. Existing across tribes and factions (and yes Lissy has many of them). It's like saying warrior. But in this case you mean an oracle or seer. The nature of their second sight an vary. Hopefully examined and seen in later stories. 3) Yes, hopefully in Oathfather. 4) No. Not to tribes which worship the old gods. 5) Keenly spotted. Notice how puny the piece of trueice is on Sejuani's and her mom's weapons. True ice is rare. The larger the piece of it the harder it is to control and the more it takes out of you. 6) Dark Ice is different from the True ice, and for the average Freljordians it is known to have better healing and regeneration powers. A person wielding it can even give warmbloods around him/her better stamina and strength-- closer to that an iceborn might have. (At this point I'm not going to answer, beyond what the common knowledge a typical Freljordian would have) 7) Valknu is very powerful. (BTW He was offering the services of one of his attendants. ) He probably wouldn't heal a broken or severed arm where anyone could see. But it is within his power, though that would really tax him and would have _other_ costs. 8). Mind reading will probably be explored in Oathfather. Sejuani believes they are lying about this ability. Kalkia thinks they are telling the truth. This is different from dream-walking. Dreamwalking is how Lissandra's faith communicates. And why the messaging is sometimes difficult to understand or do. 9) If Sejuani's magical ability was stronger-- yes. Is it? Who can say... 10) (no answer) 11) (see #10)

Ultimately at this point, it's fate will be decided by sales of the physical release. (In may I think?) It's done "okay" on universe. Obviously, the hope is people were waiting to binge when it was finished.

So on board wit dis.

The Volibear is about “wildness” and “the wilderness” so it is a friend of ivern in some ways. But only because it is an enemy of fields, domestication, civilization, walls, and rules. It hates “the lies of men” and “man’s attempt to enslave and escape nature.” The more powerful a being is, the harder it is: to understand, to be worthy of its intention, or to communicate with. Probably naga is more powerful than the Volibear or Ornn (because a god > a demi-god) but which is easier to contact? which is more likely to come to your add?

Yeah Kindred cares about death and It hates undeath because that is an abomination to the cycle of life and death — it breaks the rules— so it is an enemy of naga and kindred. Thus I would agree naga cares about “all life” and is somehow fueled by it. BUT this also assumes each life includes an end. (The possible reincarrnation and after-life of a soul is seperate though related issue). Now Illaoi’s faith assumes all “life” serves some unknowable plan — thus we all are instruments of nagakabouros moving the universe towards some greater destiny. Thus a worthy, righteous, and just life to her is one that embraces life itself. Accepting and pursuing all of its messy mixture of ambitions, loves, feelings, and chaos. Now, is she and her faith correct about what Nagkabouros wants? who knows? That is where faith is required.

One of the things I thought was interesting about a religion in a world where you can see dead people, your own soul, magic etc... was that it still required “faith.” You can have absolute proof that your god is real and can effect your world. But you can’t be sure of its reasons or goodwill. Are you worthy of its attention? Does it prefer your foe over you? Is it even possible to understand what it wants? In Illaoi’s color text she tests Gangplank, but really it was a test of her own faith. She had to trust her god’s system over her own feelings. So the uncertainty of these gods’ goodwill and motives is intentional. It leaves a place for our characters’ and audience’s uncertainty. Everyone has to judge for themselves and make choices. There is no guarantee that good will triumph or even that you are fighting for the just cause. So whether your a non-ursine shaman of The Volibear, a vastayan druid, or a worshiper if Nagakabouros — you have to choose to whether or not to trust your god and your connection to that god.

Yeah. there were about a dozen haiku's recorded. But they violated the game's ratings level, so were omited. RE: The above. Most of the characters I wrote VO for have defined syllabic and speaking patterns. (Because real people tend to speak in patterns determined by the complexity of their thoughts, comfort level, energy level, and lung capacity.)