Darius

Firm and unwavering, he is a Noxian patriot to the core, and is willing to do anything for the empire. Focused and disciplined. A fearless yet competent commander who never abandons ordinary soldiers to the flames.

Swain instituted the Trifarix system. Noxus would be ruled by three statesmen, each embodying the three principles of power: foresight, might, and cunning. Darius readily agreed to become one of the three co-rulers and pledged to create a new elite unit of the empire's most loyal and worthy soldiers—the Trifarix Legion. It would usher in a new era of Noxian conquest.

For this feat, he was appointed commander himself, and from then on, recruits from across the empire dreamed of serving under him. Darius rejected most of the applicants, selecting only the strongest, most disciplined, and most persistent. His fame resounded even beyond Noxus's borders, so much so that strongholds sometimes surrendered without a fight the moment his banners appeared over the horizon.

After shedding much blood, Darius succeeded in taking the cloud castle of the warlike Varyu people, who had long resisted Noxian onslaught. For this, Emperor Boram Darkwill personally bestowed upon him the title of Hand of Noxus. Those who knew Darius well understood that he sought neither power nor the flattery of his courtiers. What he truly desired was the complete triumph of Noxus. Understanding this, Darkwill sent Darius at the head of an army far north to subjugate the rebellious, savage tribes of the Freljord once and for all.

This campaign dragged on for many years: in the brutal standoff amidst the ice, neither side could gain the upper hand. Darius suffered assassination attempts and ambushes, and the ferocious Winter's Claw even managed to capture him once—but time after time, he managed to cheat death. Finally, the endless, grueling war wore him down, and he returned to the capital, eager to implement military reforms.

He led his veterans to Noxus, only to find the Emperor assassinated in a military coup led by Jericho Swain, who was supported by many of Darius' allies, including his brother Draven.

Darius found himself in a difficult position. Many noble houses expected the Hand of Noxus to avenge Darkville. Darius, however, knew and sincerely respected the ill-fated commander Swain, even speaking out against his dismissal after the failed Ionian campaign several years earlier. The Hand swore allegiance to Noxus itself, not its ruler; Swain, however, was eager to share his vision for a new state. Darius felt he was ready to follow him, but Swain had a better plan.

Darius grew up as an orphan with his brother Draven in the port town of Basilica. Darius scavenged for food and cared for his younger brother, protecting the boy from anyone who dared to threaten him, be it a gang of older brats or even the city guard. Every day on the streets of Basilica was a struggle for survival, and by the time Darius was twelve, he had more scars than most war veterans.

The growing empire of Noxus came under Basilicus' control, and Cyrus, the commander of the victorious army, recognized the strength of these daring brothers and accepted them into his army. Years of grueling campaigns began, in which Darius and Draven traversed the known world from one end to the other, conquering new lands and suppressing rebellions.

In Noxus, anyone could rise to high office, no matter where they were born or raised. Darius of Basilicus was the perfect example of this principle. A former street orphan, he rose to prominence and earned universal respect for his drive, discipline, and unwillingness to retreat. Once, on the blood-soaked Dalamore Plain, he even took the head of a cowardly Noxian general who had ordered a retreat. Raising his bloody axe above his head, Darius led the disparate Noxian forces into battle with a roar of rage, and to everyone's surprise, he routed the vastly superior enemy forces.