Who they are
Zed founded the Order of Shadow, a rival to the Kinkou Order that uses forbidden dark magic.
Their story belongs to Ionia. Natural magic, spirits, and a peace that war broke.
Their story, step by step
- Step 1
A boy named Govos
Zed was born Govos to a peasant family in Keth, Ionia, and his father abandoned him at about four. He worked at the Kinkou monastery, where Master Kusho noticed his determination while he sparred with Kusho's son Shen. Kusho took him in as an apprentice and the two boys grew as close as brothers.
- Step 2
Hunting the Golden Demon
Kusho sent the pair to track the serial killer Khada Jhin across Ionia for years. After Govos tried desperately to save people at the Kotha Village massacre, Kusho renamed him Usan and named him successor as Eye of Twilight. When Jhin was finally captured alive, Kusho's mercy toward the killer disturbed Usan and planted resentment.
- Step 3
Shadow magic
When Noxus invaded, the Kinkou refused to fight, which Usan quietly resented. In the temple catacombs he found forbidden shadow magic that fed his scorn for pacifism and weakness.
- Step 4
Founding the Order of Shadow
During the siege of Thanze Usan confronted Kusho over the Tears of Shadow and came out claiming his master was dead. He led a coup, killed Kinkou members, and founded the Order of Shadow as Zed. Kusho had in fact faked his death and kept guiding events in secret.
- Step 5
Jhin returns
Years later Jhin escaped and began killing again, drawing Zed with a scalpel from his Kinkou days. Zed sought out Shen and the former brothers agreed to hunt Jhin together, and at one point Zed saved a drowning Shen. After Jhin's recapture Zed learned Kusho had released him to stir up fear.
- Step 6
Facing Kusho
Kusho ordered Kayn to kill Zed, but Kayn stayed loyal. Kusho took the Tears of Shadow and became shadow itself, and Zed struck him down, finally doing the deed he had long been blamed for. Zed now leads the Order from the Temple of Thanjuul, with an uneasy accord with Shen's Kinkou.
Turning points
- Being named Kusho's successor after Kotha Village
- Seizing the Tears of Shadow and founding the Order of Shadow
- Teaming up with Shen to hunt Jhin
- Killing Kusho after learning of the staged release
Where their story stands now
Zed leads the Order of Shadow from the Temple of Thanjuul and keeps an uneasy peace with Shen and the Kinkou. How far the Tears of Shadow's power reaches, how shadow magic is affecting him, and what Kayn will do remain open.
Who they are tied to
- Shen →Zed and Shen were raised as brothers under Kusho, split when Zed turned to shadow, then fought side by side against Jhin and now keep an uneasy accord.
- Jhin →A meticulous killer who treats murder as performance art.
- Rakan →A flamboyant vastayan battle-dancer fighting for his people's freedom.
- Xayah →A Lhotlan vastayan rebel fighting to save her people from extinction.
- Kayn →A shadow assassin of the Order of Shadow who struggles for control with the Darkin weapon Rhaast.
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.