Arrr, Champion backstory

Riven

th' Exile

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, Once a swordmaster in the warhosts of Noxus, Riven is an expatriate in a land she previously tried to conquer. She rose through the ranks on the strength of her conviction and brutal efficiency, and was rewarded with a legendary runic blade and a warband of her own. However, on the Ionian front, Riven's faith in her homeland was tested and ultimately broken. Having severed all ties to the empire, she now seeks to find her place in a shattered world, even as rumors abound that Noxus itself has been reforged...

Arrr, Short biography by Riot Games · Data Dragon 16.20.1

Arrr, What shapes their story?

Arrr, The weapon that once embodied Riven's belief in Noxus becomes a reminder of what that belief enabled. Life in Ionia requires more than changing allegiance, because responsibility for a campaign's effects cannot be discarded as easily as its symbols.

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 soldier believes in Noxian opportunity
Arrr, Riven once believed deeply in the opportunity and purpose offered by Noxus. Her runic sword and military rise seemed to confirm that conviction through discipline and earned strength.
Noxus Ionia
Arrr, Riot Games · Regional world artwork
Arrr, The invasion breaks that conviction
Arrr, The invasion of Ionia exposed actions she could no longer reconcile with that belief. Breaking with the empire turned a conquering soldier into someone seeking a place among the consequences of her own side's war.
Noxus Ionia
Arrr, Classic champion artwork · Riot Games
Arrr, A confession cannot undo the war
Arrr, Learning her role in Elder Souma's death connects Riven's remorse to Yasuo's exile and Yone's death. Facing that truth is different from being able to repair it. Her efforts to live beyond Noxian service remain shaped by people whose losses intersect with her own choices.
Yasuo First Lands Ionia

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, Layers of History**Arrr, Riot Games · World artwork

**Arrr, Culturally Inclusive**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, Champion connections

Arrr, A shared tragedy

Yasuo

Arrr, Riven's broken blade connects her story to Elder Souma's death, the accusation against Yasuo and his search for the truth.

Arrr, Read their story Arrr, Official story ↗

Arrr, Connections describe the linked official stories. A shared history does not establish a current alliance or location.

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

Noxus

Arrr, Riven served Noxus before the invasion changed her relationship with the empire and the weapon that symbolised it.

Arrr, Explore the regional timeline

Arrr, More about the region

Arrr, An expanding empire that prizes strength in many forms. Military ambition, old noble houses and hidden magical interests compete beneath its promise that talent can rise above birth.

Arrr, Regional connection

Ionia

Arrr, The invasion and her life after it connect Riven to Ionia. This is a history of warfare and its consequences, rather than an Ionian origin.

Arrr, Explore the regional timeline

Arrr, More about the region

Arrr, The First Lands form an archipelago where the material and spirit realms meet closely. Invasion has divided its people over whether to restore old traditions or turn their magic toward resistance.

Arrr, Archipelago

First Lands

Arrr, Another name for Ionia's many provinces and islands. Forests, monasteries and communities share a landscape shaped by living magic and the consequences of the Noxian invasion.

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.

Ambessa

Matriarch o' War

Arrr, Read backstory

Briar

th' Restrained Hunger

Arrr, Read backstory

Cassiopeia

th' Serpent's Embrace

Arrr, Read backstory

Arrr, The character, in detail

Arrr, Champion artwork

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

Arrr, Explore the wider settingArrr, Noxus

Arrr, The story beneath the scenery

Arrr, What makes this place matter?

Arrr, Noxus measures strength through more than brute force, but its promise of opportunity sits alongside conquest and ruthless competition. Swain's leadership, Darius's military loyalty and the Black Rose's secret influence show why the empire has several competing visions of power.

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, The Immortal Bastion**Arrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map

**Arrr, Old Blood, New Blood**Arrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map

**Arrr, The Trifarian Legion**Arrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map

Arrr, Explore the wider settingArrr, Ionia

Arrr, The story beneath the scenery

Arrr, What makes this place matter?

Arrr, Ionia's spiritual balance is not a single shared answer. The Noxian invasion forces champions to disagree about tradition, resistance and revenge. The Placidium offers a starting point for Irelia's resistance; the Kinkou opens a different path through Shen and Akali's stories.

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

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

**Arrr, Life as One**Arrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map

**Arrr, Cliffside Temples**Arrr, Riot Games · Runeterra world map

**Arrr, Living with the Land**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.

Riven

Arrr, A story to start with

Arrr, What shapes their story?

Arrr, Story timeline

Arrr, A soldier believes in Noxian opportunity

Arrr, The invasion breaks that conviction

Arrr, A confession cannot undo the war

Arrr, Relationships and allegiances

Arrr, Champion connections

Yasuo

Arrr, Known places and connections

Noxus

Ionia

First Lands

Arrr, Stories to read next

Ambessa

Briar

Cassiopeia

Arrr, Champion artwork

Arrr, What makes this place matter?

Arrr, A window into this world

Arrr, What makes this place matter?

Arrr, A window into this world

Arrr, Where the stories come from

Arrr, What the pictures show

Arrr, A world still being written