Kindred – The Eternal Hunters | League of Legends Lore
Introduction
Kindred, the Eternal Hunters, are a unique duo in League of Legends, consisting of Lamb and Wolf. They embody the concept of death, representing both the gentle and inevitable end that comes to all living beings. As the personification of death, Kindred ensures the natural cycle of life continues. Lamb, the graceful and calm figure with a bow, symbolizes the peaceful aspect of death, while Wolf, the wild and fierce companion, represents its chaotic, untamable nature. Together, they balance life and death, hunting down those whose time has come.
Origin: The Hunt for Souls
Kindred’s origin traces back to the beginning of the world, existing as the first representation of death itself. When the world was young, death had no shape or form, but as the cycle of life began, Kindred emerged to shape its rules. Lamb and Wolf were born as two halves of the same entity, existing to guide souls to their rightful end. While Lamb provides a swift and peaceful release, Wolf enjoys the chase, symbolizing the hunt that follows.
Kindred’s purpose is eternal—to remind all living creatures that death is inevitable, but not something to fear. While the entity of death is often portrayed as grim and cold, Kindred’s approach is both respectful and understanding of the natural order. They move across Runeterra, seeking those whose time has come and allowing them to pass peacefully.
Personality: Calm, Compassionate, and Wild
Kindred’s personality is divided into two distinct parts: Lamb and Wolf. Lamb is calm and compassionate, providing comfort to those who must pass. She is serene, understanding, and capable of delivering death without causing fear. Lamb’s demeanor is graceful, embodying a quiet, guiding presence, offering peace in the final moments of life.
In contrast, Wolf represents the wild, chaotic side of death. He is relentless and enthusiastic, enjoying the chase and the hunt. Wolf is loud, untamed, and thrives in chaos, seeing the hunt as a necessary part of the cycle. He serves as a reminder that death is not always a peaceful event and can be as unpredictable and violent as the world itself. The two personalities, while opposite in nature, come together in perfect harmony, fulfilling the dual role of life and death.
Abilities: The Hunt and the Release
Kindred’s abilities combine Lamb’s peaceful touch with Wolf’s ferocity, making them an unpredictable and powerful champion on the battlefield. They are often played as a marksman or jungler, with a focus on range, mobility, and healing.
Here are some of Kindred’s key abilities:
- Passive: Mark of the Kindred: Kindred marks a target enemy champion or jungle monster, and when the marked target is killed, Kindred gains stacks of Lamb’s Blessing, increasing their power. Kindred can use this ability to track down targets and gain strength over time.
- Q: Dance of Arrows: Kindred fires a series of arrows in a cone, dealing damage to enemies. This ability can be empowered by the marks accumulated from Mark of the Kindred, increasing its damage and effectiveness in battle.
- W: Wolf’s Frenzy: Wolf assists Kindred by enhancing their attacks, causing Kindred to deal additional damage to enemies near them. This ability also summons Wolf to attack enemies, giving Kindred additional damage in close combat.
- E: Mounting Dread: Kindred attacks a target, slowing them and dealing bonus damage. If the target is marked, they are briefly rooted in place, preventing escape and ensuring that Kindred’s attacks remain on target. This ability reflects Wolf’s relentless pursuit of his prey.
- R: Lamb’s Respite: Kindred’s ultimate ability allows them to place a large area on the ground that grants immortality to all allies within its radius for a short time. While in the area, champions cannot die, even if they would otherwise be killed. This ability represents Lamb’s peaceful nature, offering a final moment of peace before death takes its course.
Kindred’s Combat Style: A Dual Nature
Kindred’s combat style is both strategic and aggressive, with a focus on adapting to the needs of the situation. As a marksman jungler, Kindred excels at both farming in the jungle and engaging in skirmishes. The Mark of the Kindred passive allows Kindred to scale their power over time, making them a constant threat as the game progresses. By marking enemies and killing them, Kindred gains strength, which amplifies their abilities and ensures they remain relevant in late-game team fights.
The combination of Mounting Dread and Wolf’s Frenzy allows Kindred to dive into fights and deal significant damage. However, it is Kindred’s ultimate ability, Lamb’s Respite, that sets them apart. This powerful tool can save allies from certain death, making Kindred an excellent support champion in addition to their role as a damage dealer.
Relations with Other Champions
Kindred’s relationship with other champions is deeply tied to their dual nature as both the harbingers of death and guides for souls.
- Thresh: Thresh, the Chain Warden, shares a complex relationship with Kindred. While Thresh is obsessed with capturing souls and collecting them for his own purposes, Kindred represents the natural release of those souls. Thresh’s eternal pursuit of souls contrasts with Kindred’s more peaceful approach to the end of life. However, there is a mutual respect between them, as both champions deal with the souls of the dead.
- Yasuo: Yasuo, the Unforgiven, has a significant connection to Kindred. As a man who once killed his master in a moment of anger, Yasuo now struggles with guilt and the consequences of his actions. He is frequently pursued by death, and Kindred often marks him as a target. Yet, Yasuo’s will to survive and atone for his past deeds makes him a constant challenge for Kindred. There is a sense of inevitability in their relationship, as Yasuo knows that one day, Kindred will come for him, but he fights against his fate nonetheless.
- Ivern: Ivern, the Green Father, embodies the nurturing side of nature, in contrast to Kindred’s role as a bringer of death. Despite their contrasting roles, Ivern and Kindred share a mutual respect for the cycle of life. Ivern believes in the preservation and growth of life, while Kindred understands that death is equally important. Their interactions are marked by an understanding of each other’s place in the world.
Conclusion
Kindred, the Eternal Hunters, is a unique champion in League of Legends, embodying the dual aspects of death: the peaceful release and the chaotic hunt. Lamb’s serene presence and Wolf’s wild nature make Kindred an unpredictable force on the battlefield. Their abilities offer a balance between supporting allies and dealing devastating damage to enemies. As the personification of death, Kindred serves as both a guide and a predator, moving across Runeterra to hunt down those whose time has come. In the end, Kindred reminds all of the inevitability of death and the importance of embracing it as part of the natural cycle.