Master Yi

Master Yi has tempered his body and sharpened his mind, so that thought and action have become almost as one. Though he chooses to enter into violence only as a last resort, the grace and speed of his blade ensures resolution is always swift. As one of the last living practitioners of the Ionian art of Wuju, Yi has devoted his life to continuing the legacy of his people—scrutinizing potential new disciples with the Seven Lenses of Insight to identify the most worthy among them.

Real name: Yi Alias(es): The Wuju Bladesman Species: Human (Magical) Age: 41-51 years old Place of origin: Wuju, Ionia Current residence: Ionia

In the tranquil highlands of Bahrl, nestled within the central province of Ionia, stood the secluded mountain village of Wuju—a place of harmony, discipline, and sacred swordsmanship. Among its quiet stone paths and mist-veiled pagodas, a boy named Yi grew up under the care of his swordsmith parents, dreaming of joining the ranks of the fabled Wuju masters.

While other children played, Yi honed his skills. Mornings were spent sparring with his mother in the dew-soaked gardens, evenings reciting poetry beside his father’s forge. The villagers soon recognized his natural talent and unmatched focus. When Yi was old enough to begin his formal training, he did so with the pride of his family and the admiration of the entire village. He rose swiftly, mastering every form and philosophy of the blade, until even the elders called him the “Young Master.”

Yet Yi’s gaze often wandered beyond Wuju’s borders. From the highest rooftops, he would watch distant towns flicker beneath the setting sun, yearning to see what lay beyond. But the masters forbade it. Wuju had always remained hidden, founded on the belief that its techniques were too sacred to share and too refined to be used for killing. For centuries, it endured in proud isolation, its secrets guarded even from fellow Ionians.

That illusion shattered when Yi saw dark smoke curling above the horizon. The Noxian invasion had reached Ionia’s shores, burning and bleeding its way inland. Against the will of his elders, Yi descended the mountain, choosing duty over doctrine. What followed was awe-inspiring: a lone warrior cutting through battalions, wielding speed and grace unlike anything seen before. The art of Wuju, once cloistered, had become a beacon of hope.

Word of his deeds spread like wildfire. Other disciples followed his example, joining the defense of their homeland. Together, they traveled to Navori, where the resistance was fiercest. But Wuju's rise did not go unnoticed. Noxian generals, recognizing the threat these warriors posed, launched a retaliatory strike. In a single night, the village of Wuju was reduced to cinders by chemical fire—its people, teachings, and sanctity all lost.

When the war ended, Yi returned to find only ash and silence. The mountain soil itself had been poisoned. The melodies of his youth, the warmth of his parents, the wisdom of his masters—everything was gone. He became the last of Wuju, the final heir to a broken legacy. Though his body endured, Yi’s spirit crumbled beneath the weight of guilt.

For years, he lived in solitude, training endlessly, hoping to preserve what little remained. Yet without others to share in Wuju's philosophy, it began to fade. He questioned whether a single man could uphold centuries of tradition. Then, fate intervened—in the form of a brash, monkey-like vastaya named Kong.

The creature challenged Yi to a duel. Yi obliged, defeating him effortlessly. But Kong returned the next day. And the next. Again and again, he adapted, evolving his technique in wild and unexpected ways. Yi, forced to adjust in turn, felt the stirrings of Wuju’s spirit rekindled. For the first time since the war, he remembered the joy of teaching, the purpose of mastery.

Eventually, Kong knelt and gave his name. He begged to learn the true way of Wuju. In him, Yi saw more than determination—he saw hope. Yi accepted him as a disciple, crafting an enchanted staff and bestowing upon him a new name: Wukong. Now, master and student travel the First Lands.

Appearance: Yi is a thin, agile man with tan skin and dark brown hair. He usually wears a goatee of varying lengths, sometimes long enough to be tied off at numerous points. There is a red rune seemingly tattooed on his forehead. His slim-fitting armor typically features shades of silver, green, brown, and golden yellow. The most notable feature of his combat attire is a large helmet that covers his eyes with a cluster of seven greenish-yellow lenses. His main weapon is the green Wuju Blade.

Personality: Master Yi is disciplined, humble, and curious. He is also a skilled fighter who values the art of Wuju, a special fighting style in Ionia. He can meditate to heal wounds and reduce damage.

Abilities: Double Strike - Every few consecutive sword strikes, Master Yi strikes twice. Alpha Strike - Master Yi teleports across the battlefield with blinding speed, striking multiple enemies in his path at an untargetable speed. Meditate - Master Yi rejuvenates his body by focus of mind, healing his wounds. Wuju Style - He does an enhanced blade strike.

Ultimate Ability: Highlander - Master Yi moves with unparalleled agility, temporarily increasing his speed and the speed of his sword strikes as well as making him immune to being slowed down.

Runeterra, meaning “magic earth,” is a dual-realm plane consisting of the physical world—an oblate spheroid planet—and the Spirit Realm. Its known continents include Valoran, Shurima, and the Camavoran Continent, surrounded by 18 named seas and 2 oceans dotted with archipelagos such as Ionia, the Serpent Isles, and the Shadow Isles. The planet orbits a G-type star with a natural satellite moon, both of which have mirrored equivalents in the spirit realm. As the boundary between celestial creation and the abyssal void, Runeterra is a uniquely magical world inhabited by fierce and wondrous peoples.

Centuries ago, ancient magical artifacts known as the World Runes were unearthed. As knowledge of them spread, scholars theorized that the Runes were tied to the creation of Runeterra itself. Their first use unleashed devastating power, reshaping nations and igniting mistrust. As factions sought to wield this “Makers’ Might” as weapons, open conflict erupted in what became known as the Rune Wars.

The wars plunged Runeterra into chaos. Fearing the destruction the Runes could bring, Ryze and his master, Tyrus, sought to seal them away. Though some heeded their warnings, others refused, enthralled by the power. After Tyrus perished in a fateful incident, Ryze continued the quest alone, determined to collect the Runes and prevent another cataclysm.

Runeterra is home to countless sapient species, from primitive tool-users to beings capable of forging stars. These species vary wildly—some monstrous and aggressive, others peaceful or plant-based. Though most sentient life is animal in origin, plant-based sentience has been recorded. With vast biomes like the Shuriman Jungles and Ionian wilds, many species remain poorly documented or completely unknown.

Ionia, in original Vastayan nomenclature: The First Lands, is a land of unspoiled beauty and natural magic. Its inhabitants, living in scattered settlements across this massive archipelago, are a spiritual people who seek to live in harmony and balance with the world. There are many orders and sects across Ionia, each following their own (often conflicting) paths and ideals. Self-sufficient and isolationist, Ionia has remained largely neutral in the wars that have ravaged Valoran over the centuries - until it was invaded by Noxus. This brutal conflict and occupation has forced Ionia to reassess its place in the world. How it reacts and the future path Ionia will follow is as of yet undetermined, however, animosity against Noxus has led to militarization and vigilantism. Thirst for the dark arts is on the rise.