Akura, The Ashen Flame

During the dawn of the Shurima civilization. A young bard wandered the continent of Valoran seeking the songs and stories of the different races and cultures. This bard had a gift of magic that allowed for his listeners to see the song or story he told. His fame grew quite well, and he was offered places of honor in many villages and towns. Yet, his heart sought more then what Valoran could offer, and thus he headed to seek passage across the sea to the mysterious Shadow Isles.

Upon nearing the Isles themselves the young bard's ship struck some rocks, and was wrecked upon the shores. While the captain and crew began to repair the broken vessel. The young bard went off through the land to visit the villages and towns. He found few, but each one had many stories and dark tales to tell him. When asked to speak of songs and stories he would sing of the earliest ones he learned from Valoran, because he feared the ones that were entering his mind.

Upon the first night he slept in the isles he had terrible nightmares of flames and mountains of ash. A song came with them, but it's words wouldn't come. After several nights the words of other stories and songs began to disappear, and the words of the nightmare's song became more and more clear. He began to forget all, but the earliest of songs and stories he learned. He became more and more afraid of the night, and eventually stopped singing songs and telling stories.

One the last night the sailors had, before they pushed back off to sea, they convinced the young bard to sing a song. Full of drink and good cheer he began the words to a hearty tune. They stopped in his mind, and his mouth sung the song within his nightmare.

The next day a group of children from a nearby town came to see if the sailors were gone. All they found were piles of ash and bones. The youngest of them shouted, and pointed towards a cliff not far away. They saw a lady with long, black hair for just a moment, and then she disappeared like ash on the wind. A youth by the surname Mori grabbed one of the shovels that lay around abandoned, and began to dig a pit to bury the bones.

Yorick felt an odd chill as he recalled this story. He wondered why he would after such a long time, recall this most unusual of tales. Then as he was called to the Summoner's hall to partake in a battle between summoners. He saw a woman with pitch black hair with ash that fell around her.

A newcomer to the League someone said as he passed, but the cold of his heart told him differently. This was her, and they all should be afraid.

"An old tale from my homeland speaks of the ash, and how we should fear it as much as the spirits of the departed." -Yorick Mori, The Grave Digger

Unstable Form:

Upon death Akura bursts into flame desecrating the ground with her body, and causing enemies caught in it to burn for a % of their max life equal to the time it took to kill her.

Ex: 1400 damage in 14.5 seconds. Would cause them to burn for 14.5% of their max life over 5. This information is found in the death recap

Ash Flare:[ 14/12/10/8/6 CD || 25/50/75/100/125 Mana || 600 Range ]

Akura scatters a handful of ash from around her in an 80 degree cone canceling enemy channels or abilities in progress, and then ignites flames within it dealing 60/85/110/125/150 (+60% AP) magic damage. Enemy Champions hit by this are marked with fire, and burn themselves and other nearby enemies for 50% of the damage for 3 seconds. [This effect can be refreshed, but not stacked.]

Smoke and Flame: [ 25/23/20/18/16 CD || 50/80/110/140/170 Mana || 800 range ]

(Passive) Every time an ally casts a spell Akura gains a stack of Ash, and every time an enemy casts a spell Akura gains a stack of Fire. Stacking 5 times each.

First cast: Creates a cloud of ash equal in size to the number of stacks of Ash 200/250/300/350/400. The cloud acts as a temporary bush for 1/2/3/4/5 seconds, and blinds enemies that pass through it for 1/1.5/2/2.5/3 seconds

Second cast: Lobs a sphere of molten fire that creates an AoE equal to the number of Fire stacks 200/250/300/350/400. The AoE deals 2/4/6/8/10%(+.5% per 70 AP) of an enemies max health as magic damage over 3 seconds. Refreshing if they remain, or enter the AoE as the burn resolves. Lasts for 7 seconds.

Creator Notes:

The casts (First and Second) are the activation of this passive, and can be used at anytime you have at least one stack of either Fire or Ash. The casts occur right after each other. Ex: You activate and create the cloud with the first AoE, and then the fire ball with the second AoE without having to activate again. This will occur in this fashion unless you are missing stacks of either Ash or Fire. In that case it will be whichever you have stacks of.

You must have at least 1 stack of either Fire or Ash in order to use this ability.

Notes: You are looking at about 10-17% of a targets max health (0-1000 AP). This ability is made to be used in conjunction with her E.

Nightmare's Flame:[ 10/9/8/7/6 CD || 50/60/70/80/90 Mana || 800 Range]

Akura rushes to afflicted target (becoming untargetable), and dealing 2/4/6/8/10% (+.5% per 100 AP) of their max life as damage, and fearing for .2/.4/.6/.8/1 second, and marking them with Nightmare for 12/11/10/9/8 seconds. If there are other nearby afflicted champions. Akura will rush to them, after 1 second, in the same fashion, and deal 1/2/3/4/5% (+.25% per 100 AP) of max life as damage and fear for 50% less time. If there are not Akura will float around the target for the .5 seconds, and be unable to act or be targeted.

Akura can only cast this ability if her enemies are affected by the burn from either of her first two abilities. It also refreshes any Ash or Fire debuffs on the enemies hit. Targets affected with Nightmare cannot be targets of Nightmare's Flame until Nightmare has ended.

Notes:

This ability ignores stealth. So enemies in nearby bushes or who are naturally stealthed will be targeted if they are also affected. The range is 800, and 400 to jump to nearby affected. The % life burn is in the range of 10 - 15% for a normal (0 - 1000 AP) build. In conjunction with her W you are looking at about 20 - 32% of a target's total life. This would be equal to a DeathFire's Grasp in magic damage. Mordekaiser can deal 60%+ to a single target, and Kog'maw can burn for 80% or more. Granted these are single target versus aoe, but the difference is enough I think.

Cloud the Skies and Minds[ 220/200/180 CD || 300/350/400 Mana cost ]

Akura unleashes a massive amount of ash into the air. Darkening the sky for 5/10/15 seconds. While the sky is darkened Akura will travel to all enemy champions, starting with the nearest, and dealing 200/300/400 (+60% AP) to the first enemy Champion and 100/200/300 (+30% AP) to all around them in a 200 AoE for 1/2/3 seconds and then traveling to the next enemy champion. Damage is reduced by 10% per target after the first (40% cap). Akura is target-able during each attack, and becomes untarget-able while traveling. Aktuta returns to the first champion attacked at the end of the duration.

Creator Notes:

This ultimate is a double-edged sword for Akura. While she is able to globally attack all enemies, she is vulnerable to turrents, abilities, summoner spells, and (most dangerous) the summoner's platform. She can be killed while attacking, and it will end the ability. The AoE of the ability allows it to affect nearby units and champions. Which makes this perfect for those bunched up team fights. It also can serve the purpose of a chase down.

Several months ago I was rumaging through my Magic the Gathering cards. Intent on selling them to make some money for college. When I ran across a card called Akuta, Born of Ash. It was a simple card that, although rare, wasn't something I wanted to keep. After selling it I saw potential for an interesting champion using it's theme. Thus Akura began her creation.

I spent a few hours each day refining her abilities to the point that they would sync nicely with her passive and theme. While providing an interesting and viable champion for the game itself. During this same time I found myself becoming very angry at tanky players. Everyone wanted to build tanky, and my only recourse, playing Nocturne, was to get a Madred's. Now most times it helps when you are fighting one tank, mage, and a couple others, but when all of them have 3k hp, and still do a lot of damage. It becomes hard.

So, I changed Akura's abilities from doing base damage plus ap. To doing damage based on health amounts. It weakened her early game, because of the shear lack of flat damage. Yet, it allowed her to be built either AD or AP. As both were viable options for her. Mostly she is a manifestation of my hatred of tanks, and my solution against them. I hope you all will enjoy her.

-Champion Selection

Let the ash fall in the rain.
Your victory is mine as well.

-Movement Quotes

Embers follow in my wake.
Show me the non-believers.

-Attacking Quotes

You will be mine.
Your end is near.

-Taunts

From flesh to ash.
Worship me. Or die.

-Jokes

*cough* This is bad for my lungs.
Does this color make me stand out?

-Champion Interactions (Optional)

Brand (Enemy): Burn me if you can heretic.
Yorick (Ally): Bury their bodies, Yorick.
Hecarim (Ally): They think they can run. Charge them!
Mordekaiser (Ally/Enemy): Can you tell me what they fear?