Who they are
Vladimir was once a prince of Camavor, given as a hostage to a Darkin master. He learned forbidden blood magic and killed his master to prolong his own life unnaturally.
He co-founded the Black Rose with LeBlanc and now leads the Crimson Circle, sustaining his immortality through dark rituals.
Their story belongs to Noxus. An empire that rewards strength, wherever it comes from.
Their story, step by step
- Step 1
A hostage prince
Vladimir was a prince of Camavor given as a hostage to a Darkin master. His father broke faith within a year, and Vladimir, one of many heirs, chose to lead the Darkin's armies against his own kingdom rather than be executed. He brought his father's head to his master and was taught hemomancy.
- Step 2
Killing his master
When other god-warriors united against the Darkin, Vladimir betrayed his master, struck the killing blow himself and absorbed enough power to live unnaturally long. He also visited the Blessed Isles before they were destroyed and took nightbloom seeds.
- Step 3
The Black Rose
In the age of Mordekaiser, Vladimir met the pale sorceress LeBlanc, and their dark meeting led to the Black Rose, a cabal that steered Noxus for over a thousand years. Together they rallied the Noxii tribes against Mordekaiser and cast him out of the material realm. When Queen Isolde was poisoned, Vladimir tried to offer his distant relative King Viego aid, but Viego ignored him and invaded the Blessed Isles.
- Step 4
Living in Noxus
Vladimir settled in Mortoraa in the capital. He appeared at noble courts at important moments and then vanished for decades so no one would notice he did not age. Under Grand General Darkwill he helped with the hemomantic revival of Sion and created the blood golem Briar, a failed experiment that had to be shackled. The Black Rose used both against Swain's coup, and Swain defeated them.
- Step 5
Break with LeBlanc
LeBlanc went after the Darkin glaive holding Zaahen, and her plan to find a host at the Silken Danse was spoiled by Katarina. Vladimir disliked the scheme but went along with it, and Atakhan died when Zaahen broke free. Later Vladimir commissioned a portrait and let it be known that he wanted to leave the Black Rose and claim a kingdom of his own.
- Step 6
The Daring Darling
Years later he and a devotee, Vaquer, infiltrated the Daring Darling inn to loot its vault, killing guests and binding ships with blood chains. A dying guest called on Kalista, and in the fight Vaquer died. Vladimir escaped with the vault's bell and lost his stolen artifacts, then bargained passage to Bilgewater from the innkeeper Fayette.
Turning points
- Turned on his father and then his Darkin master
- Founded the Black Rose with LeBlanc
- Resolved to leave LeBlanc's shadow
- Fled the Daring Darling with Kalista's wrath behind him
Where their story stands now
Vladimir is alive and wants independence, yet he is still tangled up with LeBlanc and the Black Rose. He fears Darkin vengeance for killing his master. Kalista knows him as a betrayer and hunts him.
Who they are tied to
- LeBlanc →They founded the Black Rose together, but Vladimir disagreed with her plans and wants to break free of her.
- Mordekaiser →Vladimir and LeBlanc rallied the Noxii tribes to cast Mordekaiser out of the material realm.
- Briar →Vladimir made Briar as a blood golem that needed only blood, and the experiment failed and had to be shackled.
- Swain →The Black Rose sent its weapons against Swain's coup, and Swain defeated them and became Grand General.
- Kalista →Kalista, summoned by a dying guest at the Daring Darling, now knows him as a betrayer and hunts him.
- Elise →Elise hosted the Silken Danse, where LeBlanc's plot to find a host was set in motion.
- Galio →A colossal petricite golem built to defend Demacia against enemy mages.
Where this fits in the story
- Noxus · step 1
From tyranny to tribes
Before Noxus existed, the Immortal Bastion belonged to Mordekaiser, whose reign is remembered as the Age of Tyranny. After the Rune Wars the Noxii tribes took the fortress and founded modern Noxus.
- Noxus · step 2
The rivalry with Demacia
Noxus and Demacia fought on and off for centuries. Sion's killing of King Jarvan I is the war's most famous moment.
- Noxus · step 3
The invasion of Ionia
For about five years Noxus invaded Ionia, conquering territory and taking magical artifacts. The campaign finally failed, and Irelia led the Ionian resistance.
- Noxus · step 4
The Trifarix
Around 990 AN Swain overthrew Emperor Darkwill and a council of three replaced the emperor. The wiki describes a second invasion of Ionia as looming.