Who they are
Karma represents Ionia's spiritual leadership and carries the weight of its traditions.
Their story belongs to Ionia. Natural magic, spirits, and a peace that war broke.
Their story, step by step
- Step 1
An ancient spirit in many lives
Karma is an old spirit of Ionia that has lived again and again in human vessels. One earlier vessel, Jakgri of the Northern Highlands, loved a woman named Watai but had to give up that life to serve as Karma's host.
- Step 2
Darha awakens
The present vessel, Darha, grew up in Shon-Xan with Kathkani ancestry. Around age twelve she began seeing memories that were not hers. Monks of the Lasting Altar recognized the signs and took her in to train as Ionia's spiritual avatar.
- Step 3
The Noxian invasion
When Noxus invaded Ionia, the monks taught that evil should be left to meet its own consequences. After seeing mass death, Darha chose to act. She confronted a Noxian commander aboard his war frigate and destroyed the ship and many of its soldiers with divine energy.
- Step 4
A new philosophy
The monks criticized her for breaking with tradition. Darha answered that real harmony meant accepting a changing world rather than ignoring it. In later years Watai came to the Altar for healing, and the spirits within Karma, Jakgri among them, were able to reassure her of his enduring love.
- Step 5
Ruination
When Viego loosed the Black Mist, Karma first defended the Altar. Viego exploited her lingering guilt over how little she had done in the invasion, and the Mist corrupted her. She served the Ruined King, traveling with Draven and others to Shurima in search of more soul fragments, and fought the Sentinels of Light there.
- Step 6
Freed
Akshan imprisoned Viego with his Absolver weapon, and the corruption lifted. Karma was freed and returned to her role as spiritual leader at the Lasting Altar.
Turning points
- Destroying a Noxian war frigate despite the monks' teaching
- Being corrupted by the Black Mist through her guilt
- Being freed when Viego was imprisoned
Where their story stands now
Karma is once more Ionia's avatar and elder at the Lasting Altar. The sources do not say how the Ruination changed her outlook or how she stands with the Sentinels of Light.
Who they are tied to
Where this fits in the story
- Ionia · step 1
The Vastaya
Ionian history says mortals merged with spirit-realm power to defeat invading Titans, and that this gave rise to the Vastayashai'rei, the Vastaya.
- Ionia · step 2
The Darkin war
Ancient god-warriors invaded Ionia in the Darkin war. The Kinkou Order sealed them inside weapons.
- Ionia · step 3
The Noxian invasion
Noxus occupied territory for about five years and took magical artifacts, then withdrew. Irelia led the resistance.
- Ionia · step 4
A divided peace
The war left Ionia split between those who want to stay peaceful and those who want to be ready to fight. Zed founded the Order of Shadow, a rival to the Kinkou that uses forbidden dark magic.