With the release of Smolder on January 31, it's time to look at some backstory and show you the lore of this Fiery Fledgling.
Smolder is a cute little dragon from Runeterra. But where exactly does he actually come from? And does his mother really work for Riot? We'll tell you everything you need to know about the Fiery Fledgling!
Where Does Smolder Come From?
Smolder is, well, a dragon! And dragons called Camavor their home, a long time ago, before King Viego came to power, ruled the land and led it into chaos.
Once regular folks started to show up in the early days of the land, trouble started brewing. And the chaos only stopped when the first king of Camavor humbled himself in front of the leader of the dragons, Grandmother Viper. As he kneeled down and begged for support, the so-called Vol Visperi-Desinvein was sworn, tying their families together for ages.
The oath helped both parties a lot. The dragons stayed loyal to the throne and to anyone who performed the oath. In return, they got animals to eat, fancy gifts, heaps of gold and jewels, as well as tons of respect.
The Downfall of Camavor
Way after Grandmother Viper became a legendary tale and the dragon species got smaller, King Viego Santiarul Molach Vol Kalah Heigaari – what a goddamn name, decided to drag the imperial dragons with him together with knights to the Blessed Isles.
The dragons didn't understand how crazy this guy actually was, and even all the treasures in Runeterra couldn't save them from the terrible Ruination disaster.
And the ones left back in Camavor faced a lot of problems. They were stuck in a falling-apart palace, watching the once-awesome kingdom crumble into chaos. Tough times for the dragons, for sure.
The Birth of The Firey Fletchling
Many, many years later, a new imperial dragon finally hatched. As the little dragon grew, his mom had to go farther and farther to find some food for him. This made the nest an easy target for Noxian beast masters, who stole the young dragon and sailed back home for their reward.
Luckily, his mother came back just in time, blasted the ship with her fiery breath and rescued her child. However, in all the chaos, the little dragon got carried away by the current to an island near Noxus.
Smolder's First Steps
Terrified, with an empty belly and no one around, the tiny dragon put his mom's hunting lessons to use in this weird spot. While on one of his hunts, he unexpectedly met a human kid named Marinos. The boy gave the dragon a name, "Smolder."
As Smolder figured out how to talk, their friendship blossomed, but they had to keep it in secret. Marinos worried that if anyone discovered Smolder, they'd snatch him up, ship him to the mainland, and sell him to the highest bidder.
As time marched on, the kid grew into a grown-up with a bunch of serious stuff to do, leaving little space for Smolder's favorite playtime. So, to shake off the boredom, Smolder got the idea to try breathing fire, just like those dragons in Marinos' tales.
After a bunch of attempts, instead of the usual sparks, he belted out real flames. Smolder, thrilled about this unexpected talent, completely missed how the fire was spreading until it had swallowed up the whole darn forest canopy. Damn, he must've felt really guilty.
Reunited With His Mom
All of a sudden, a roar pierced the air. It announced the arrival of Smolder's mom, who descended with an affectionate embrace, as if they'd never been separated. Lifted away from the spreading inferno by the scruff of his neck, Smolder soared through the skies, getting his first taste of the dragon's way of life.
Nowadays, Smolder hangs out with his mom on the cliffside, the very spot where she patiently watched and waited for any sign that he was still alive. Every night, she spins tales about their dragon ancestors, the significance of being an imperial dragon, and how to refine his budding powers.
And someday, they'll head back to their old turf, teaming up to bring back a brand-new golden age for Camavor.
Fun Fact: Nilah Slayed Grandmother Viper
Well, if I think about it, the fun fact is actually not that funny. Nilah was clearly on a mission with this one. Since she got her liquid blade formed by the power of Ashlesh, she set off on a mission to slay the greatest threats of myths she read about as a child.
With the help of Ashlesh, a demon that consumes extreme forms of joy of her, but grants her insane powers, she conquered the demon of change Imago, the mad demigod Nabavelicus, but also Grandmother Viper! Does this mean, Nilah actually brought chaos upon the Camavorian empire?