Arrr, Champion backstory

Karthus

th' Deathsinger

Arrr, Read the backstory Arrr, Abilities and gameplay guide

3Arrr, Story chapters

1Arrr, Story connections

1Arrr, Named place connections

Arrr, The person behind the champion

Arrr, A story to start with

Arrr, The harbinger of oblivion, Karthus is an undying spirit whose haunting songs are a prelude to the horror of his nightmarish appearance. The living fear the eternity of undeath, but Karthus sees only beauty and purity in its embrace, a perfect union of life and death. When Karthus emerges from the Shadow Isles, it is to bring the joy of death to mortals, an apostle of the unliving.

Arrr, Short biography by Riot Games · Data Dragon 16.20.1

Arrr, What shapes their story?

Arrr, Karthus approaches death with devotion rather than the terror his listeners might expect. His song joins personal fascination to the Shadow Isles' suffering, turning the promise of release into something whose meaning the living may not share.

Arrr, Reading note by VRC.LOL

Arrr, Read Riot's full biography ↗

Arrr, Follow the story

Arrr, Story timeline

Arrr, Follow the main developments in order, then explore their consequences. Use each chapter's links to explore the people, regions and places involved. Artwork shows the character or wider world, not an exact reconstruction of each event; calendar dates are not assigned here.

Arrr, Riot Games · Regional world artwork
Arrr, A mortal fascinated by death
Arrr, Karthus approached death with fascination rather than the fear most people feel. The Shadow Isles offered him a way to pursue the union of life and death that his songs celebrate.
Shadow Isles
Arrr, Riot Games · Regional world artwork
Arrr, Undeath becomes a welcome transformation
Arrr, Undeath fulfilled that longing instead of feeling like a punishment. What other champions resist as a curse becomes, to him, something beautiful that should be shared with the living.
Shadow Isles
Arrr, Riot Games · World artwork
Arrr, The gift others experience as a curse
Arrr, Karthus brings his songs toward the living because he believes undeath should be welcomed. His calm does not make the encounter safe. Yorick and Maokai resist the condition he celebrates, giving the same islands sharply opposed meanings in the lives of those who endure them.
Helia Shadow Isles

Arrr, Story guide by VRC.LOL, based on the linked Riot stories. Older biographies and newer stories can differ; no exact date or current whereabouts is implied unless stated.

Arrr, Picture the setting

Arrr, A world behind the story

Arrr, Official Riot setting artwork, not illustrations of these exact events. Open an image to see the complete composition.

**Arrr, The Harrowing**Arrr, Riot Games · World artwork

**Arrr, Citizens of the Blessed Isles**Arrr, Riot Games · World artwork

Arrr, Explore the wider region

Arrr, People who shape the story

Arrr, Relationships and allegiances

Arrr, Discover the companions, communities and powers that matter to this champion. Each card explains the connection, rather than treating every nearby character as a friend.

Arrr, Not everyone important to this story is a playable champion. The reading suggestions below are labelled separately from these story connections.

Arrr, Follow the story

Arrr, Known places and connections

Arrr, Origins, journeys and documented events. A connection here does not mean this champion lives there now.

Arrr, Regional connection

Shadow Isles

Arrr, Explore the regional timeline

Arrr, More about the region

Arrr, Once the Blessed Isles, this land was transformed by a magical catastrophe. The Black Mist binds restless dead to a ruined civilisation, while some survivors still resist what it has become.

Arrr, Lost capital

Helia

Arrr, The coastal capital of the Blessed Isles became part of the catastrophe that created the Shadow Isles. Ruined libraries and vaults preserve traces of its former pursuit of knowledge.

Arrr, Explore this place

Arrr, Another perspective

Arrr, Stories to read next

Arrr, Continue with related characters, regional stories and other perspectives on the same themes.

Maokai

th' Twisted Treant

Arrr, Read backstory

Yorick

Shepherd o' Souls

Arrr, Read backstory

Arrr, The character, in detail

Arrr, Champion artwork

**Karthus**Arrr, Classic champion artwork · Riot Games
Arrr, View full artwork

Arrr, Explore the wider settingArrr, Shadow Isles

Arrr, The story beneath the scenery

Arrr, What makes this place matter?

Arrr, The name hides an earlier identity: the Blessed Isles. Knowledge and sanctuary gave way to the Ruination and the Black Mist. Viego and Kalista connect to the catastrophe, while Maokai and Yorick show why the region's story is also one of resistance.

Arrr, Look closer

Arrr, A window into this world

Arrr, Official Riot artwork. The gallery includes the regional setting; not every image depicts this exact landmark. Open an image to see the full composition.

**Arrr, Suspended Between Life and Death**Arrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map

**Arrr, The Blessed Isles**Arrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map

**Arrr, The Ruination**Arrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map

Arrr, Sources and story contextArrr, Official stories, artwork credits and reading notes

Arrr, Where the stories come from

Arrr, VRC.LOL writes the introductions, reading notes and connections using linked Riot Universe biographies and regional guides. Short champion summaries use Data Dragon version 16.20.1. Longer histories link to the official story used; some champions currently have a shorter official overview.

Arrr, What the pictures show

Arrr, Artwork belongs to Riot Games. Scenery comes from Riot's Runeterra world map; champion art depicts the character. A regional illustration sets the scene when a landmark has no dedicated image. It does not show a confirmed event at that exact place.

Arrr, A world still being written

Arrr, Older biographies and newer adaptations can differ. These guides introduce connections rather than declaring a final chronology or a character's current whereabouts. Translations help you explore and may keep original proper names. Follow the official sources for full context.