Who they are
Garen is a Demacian soldier who stands for the kingdom's ideals of justice, honor and duty. He is Lux's older brother.
Their story belongs to Demacia. A proud kingdom behind high walls that fears magic.
Their story, step by step
- Step 1
A noble childhood
Garen was born into the Crownguard family of High Silvermere, one of Demacia's most prestigious noble houses. Before he turned eleven, a mage killed his uncle, a ranger-knight, and the loss hardened his belief that magic was the greatest danger to his kingdom. Around the same time he saw his little sister Lux let slip a flash of light magic, but his mother told him to forget it.
- Step 2
Squire and friend of a prince
At twelve he left home to serve as a squire, and there he became close friends with Prince Jarvan IV. The two leaned on each other's different strengths. By eighteen he had fought on the Freljord border, helped clear cultists from the Silent Forest and defended Whiterock.
- Step 3
The Dauntless Vanguard
After his aunt Tianna became High Marshal, Garen passed the trials for the elite Dauntless Vanguard. Soon after, he and four Vanguard soldiers were ambushed by five rogue Noxian mages who killed his four companions. Garen killed four of the attackers and spared the fifth as an act of Demacian justice, then personally delivered silver daggers to the families of the fallen.
- Step 4
Mercy for Taric
When his friend Taric abandoned his post and the sword-captain and a dozen soldiers died, Garen was named the new sword-captain. Instead of having Taric executed, he sentenced him to the Crown of Stone, a climb of Mount Targon meant as a chance at atonement. Other stories show Garen offering strangers a chance to talk before using force, and holding to a hard line when Lux argued for mercy.
- Step 5
A marriage plan and a mage rebellion
Garen and Tianna worried about Lux's views on mages, and Garen pitched a betrothal between Lux and Prince Jarvan to the prince without asking her. Lux had secretly been visiting the imprisoned mage Sylas, and on the day of his planned execution she helped free him, leaving the plaza in ruins. Garen fought Sylas, was badly hurt when Sylas drew on his sword Judgment, and later chased him again after King Jarvan III died.
- Step 6
Captain under a new king
Garen defeated Sylas in their second fight, but a mageseeker named Killan helped Sylas escape the capital. Garen now serves as Captain of the Dauntless Vanguard under King Jarvan IV. He knows his sister is a mage, which strains his firm views on magic.
Turning points
- Sparing Taric's life and sending him up Mount Targon
- Arranging Lux's betrothal without telling her
- Fighting Sylas after the plaza explosion
- Learning that Lux is a mage
Where their story stands now
Garen remains Captain of the Dauntless Vanguard, loyal to the new king. Sylas is still at large, the true killer of Jarvan III is not settled in these sources, and Garen has yet to square his convictions about magic with his love for Lux.
Who they are tied to
- Lux →Garen has long tried to protect her, but his plan for her marriage and his hard stance on magic pushed her to free Sylas, and he now knows she is a mage.
- Galio →A colossal petricite golem built to defend Demacia against enemy mages.
- Quinn →A Demacian ranger-knight who scouts enemy lands with her eagle Valor.
- Nocturne →A primordial demon of nightmares that feeds on fear in the waking world.
Games they appear in
Where this fits in the story
- Demacia · step 1
A refuge from the Rune Wars
Demacia was founded as a refuge from the Rune Wars, when World Runes reshaped entire nations. It built its identity on order, law and keeping magic at arm's length.
- Demacia · step 2
Petricite and the fear of magic
The Demacians discovered petricite, a magic-dampening stone, and made it central to their defense. Persecuting mages became state policy, carried out by the Mageseekers.
- Demacia · step 3
The long rivalry with Noxus
Demacia and Noxus fought for generations. One of the best-known clashes ended with the Noxian Sion killing King Jarvan I.
- Demacia · step 4
Turmoil at home
The assassination of King Jarvan III shook the kingdom, and Sylas rose against the persecution of mages. The cruelty of the Mageseekers is now openly questioned, and Jarvan IV rules a kingdom that is changing.