Arcane RPG

Ximena Talis is the matriarch of House Talis and mother to Jayce. Rooted in Piltover’s artisan nobility, she safeguards her family’s reputation within the city’s structured social order. Though not a political actor herself, her influence lies in preserving status and navigating the expectations of Piltover’s elite society.

Vladimir is a Noxian noble and master of blood magic who moves within the empire’s highest aristocratic circles. Sustained by hemomancy and centuries of influence, he shapes events through social dominance rather than open force. In an Arcane-era setting, he would remain distant from Piltover and Zaun’s direct conflicts—an immortal presence in Noxian elite society, where power is cultivated quietly and patiently.

Viktor is a Zaun-born scientist afflicted with a degenerative illness that has defined his life. Determined to eliminate suffering and human frailty, he co-develops Hextech but soon pushes beyond ethical limits in pursuit of survival and evolution. His brilliance is inseparable from his desperation—driven not by conquest, but by the belief that weakness itself can be engineered away.

Vern is a Zaunite chem-baron whose influence stems from industrial control within the Shimmer economy. Pragmatic and politically cautious, he prioritizes operational stability and territorial leverage over revolutionary ambition. Within Zaun’s hierarchy, Vern stands as a calculated stakeholder—one who maintains power through industry and alliance rather than open confrontation.

Vander is the former protector of Zaun’s Lanes, a one-time revolutionary who chose peace over perpetual conflict. Governing through personal authority and community trust, he maintained a fragile balance with Piltover while safeguarding his people. As guardian to Vi and Powder, Vander embodied strength tempered by restraint—believing that survival sometimes demands compromise rather than conquest.

Councilor Torman Hoskel is a leading figure within Piltover’s aristocratic establishment, focused on preserving economic dominance and civic stability. Measured and reputation-conscious, he supports progress only when it strengthens Piltover without destabilizing its foundations. Within the Council, he represents tradition and continuity over experimentation and risk.

Tobias Kiramman is a prominent Piltover noble and merchant patriarch of House Kiramman. While not a councilor, he wields influence through wealth, trade connections, and social standing. Composed and protective of his family’s reputation, Tobias represents Piltover’s prosperous aristocracy—invested in order and continuity rather than political upheaval.

Thieram, known publicly as Rakan, is a Vastayan resistance fighter in Ionia opposing Noxian occupation. Charismatic and fiercely devoted to his homeland, he operates far from Piltover and Zaun, fighting to preserve Vastayan culture and Ionian sovereignty. In an Arcane-era setting, he exists as a distant geopolitical presence—part of the wider consequences of Noxian ambition, but not directly involved in the twin cities’ affairs.

Within House Medarda, Menelik and Ta’Fik serve complementary roles. Menelik secures the House’s economic and logistical backbone, ensuring campaigns are funded and influence sustained. Ta’Fik manages aristocratic alliances and political positioning within Noxus, preserving reputation and strategic leverage. Together, they stabilize Medarda power behind Ambessa’s visible strength, representing finance and courtcraft supporting conquest.

Steb is a Piltover enforcer operating within the city’s centralized law enforcement structure. Bound by chain of command and institutional discipline, he executes policy rather than shaping it. In the broader political landscape, Steb represents the steady, procedural force that maintains Piltover’s order at ground level.

Smeech is a Zaunite chem-baron whose influence derives from industrial control within the Shimmer economy. Pragmatic and profit-driven, he aligns with leadership that ensures operational stability and territorial leverage. Within Zaun’s hierarchy, Smeech represents the bureaucratic face of the underworld—power maintained through production and calculated alliance rather than open rebellion.

Sky Young is a Piltover Academy researcher assisting in Hextech development, known for her intelligence and quiet dedication. Passionate about innovation but grounded in collaboration, she represents the idealistic heart of Piltover’s academic community. In a world where ambition can eclipse caution, Sky stands as a reminder that progress is meant to serve people—not consume them.

Singed is a Zaunite chemist and experimental biologist whose research laid the foundation for Shimmer. Detached and relentlessly curious, he pursues scientific advancement without regard for political allegiance or ethical restraint. Operating from the shadows of Zaun’s industrial underworld, he provides innovation to those who can fund it—concerned not with ideology, but with discovery.

Councilor Shoola is a senior member of Piltover’s governing body whose primary concern is economic stability and trade supremacy. Pragmatic and measured, she evaluates policy through financial and diplomatic consequence rather than ideology. Within Piltover’s political structure, she represents the mercantile backbone of the city—guarding prosperity through caution and calculated governance.

Shimmer is a volatile Zaunite compound that enhances strength, resilience, and regeneration at the cost of stability. Developed through experimental research and industrialized under Silco, it serves as both weapon and commodity within the undercity. Addictive and mutagenic in high doses, Shimmer embodies Zaun’s transformation—power extracted through risk, desperation, and chemical force rather than sanctioned innovation.

Sevika is Silco’s chief lieutenant and one of Zaun’s most formidable fighters, wielding a Shimmer-powered mechanical arm. Pragmatic and fiercely loyal to strong leadership, she supports Zaun’s ascent through decisive action rather than ideology. In the undercity’s hierarchy, Sevika stands as disciplined force—unyielding, efficient, and committed to power earned through strength.

Scar is a senior Firelight operative and close ally to Ekko, serving as the group’s physical enforcer and tactical support. Masked and formidable, he fights not for conquest but for protection—standing as disciplined resistance against Zaun’s exploitation. In the undercity’s fractured hierarchy, Scar represents strength guided by purpose rather than power.

Rio is a small mutated creature kept in Viktor’s laboratory, sustained through Shimmer and experimental arcane research. Though harmless and non-political, Rio embodies the fragile boundary between compassion and dangerous innovation. In an Arcane-era setting, the creature serves as a living testament to how far scientific desperation can reach.

Rictus is a Noxian warrior in the service of Ambessa Medarda, serving as her personal guard and martial enforcer. Towering and disciplined, he represents Noxian strength made tangible—loyal, efficient, and unquestioning. In political spaces, his presence is silent warning; on the battlefield, he is decisive force.

Verren is the son and heir of Renni, raised within the insulated but volatile sphere of Zaun’s chem-baron elite. Groomed to inherit industrial control and territorial leverage, he understands that power in Zaun is maintained through calculation as much as force.

Renni is a Zaunite chem-baron whose influence derives from industrial control tied to Shimmer production. Pragmatic and politically aware, she prioritizes stability and sustained profit over ideological conflict. Within Zaun’s hierarchy, she stands as a calculated power broker—operating through leverage and alliance rather than open confrontation.

Ren is a Zaunite enforcer operating within Silco’s network, serving as street-level muscle in the undercity’s power hierarchy. Loyal to authority and sustained by Shimmer-backed dominance, he enforces order through presence and force rather than ideology. He represents the operational backbone of Zaun’s criminal infrastructure—visible power beneath strategic control.

Rell is a Noxian ferromancer forged by the Black Rose through brutal experimentation. Gifted with the power to command metal, she escaped her handlers after uncovering their betrayal. Now a fugitive, she distrusts empires and authority alike. In an Arcane-era setting, she would exist in the shadows—an unstable and hunted weapon whose presence threatens the secrets of Noxus itself.

The Piltover Enforcers serve as the city’s centralized law enforcement arm, operating under direct Council authority. Led by a Sheriff, they maintain civic order, guard trade routes, and enforce the fragile boundary with Zaun. Structured and disciplined, they represent institutional power—protectors within Piltover, but often viewed as instruments of control beyond it.

Orianna Reveck is the mechanically augmented daughter of Piltover inventor Corin Reveck. After a severe illness, her body was gradually replaced with intricate clockwork mechanisms to preserve her life. Neither fully human nor machine, she exists as a private testament to Piltover’s ingenuity and its unintended consequences. In an Arcane-era setting, she would remain largely out of public view—an experiment in survival rather than spectacle, embodying the fragile boundary between progress and humanity.

Mylo is a quick-witted Zaunite youth skilled in infiltration and lockpicking, raised under Vander’s protection. Competitive and sharp-tongued, he masks insecurity with bravado, measuring worth by competence in a dangerous world. He embodies the restless edge of the undercity—eager to prove himself, wary of weakness, and shaped by survival above sentiment.

Menelik Medarda is a senior member of House Medarda who operates within Noxus’ political and economic elite. While Ambessa commands armies, Menelik secures influence through funding, logistics, and aristocratic maneuvering. He is less concerned with glory than with the enduring dominance of his House. In the wider geopolitical landscape, he ensures that Medarda power is sustained not just through conquest, but through calculated control.

Mel Medarda is a Piltover councilor and Noxian noble who wields influence through strategy rather than force. Politically astute and composed, she guides emerging power toward outcomes that preserve stability and elevate her position. She stands at the crossroads of ambition and restraint—proof that control can be achieved without drawing a blade.

Marcus is Piltover’s Sheriff, a lawman whose ambition and fear entangle him in corruption. Publicly, he represents order and enforcement; privately, he is manipulated by forces he cannot openly resist. He embodies institutional decay—proof that power can be compromised not by ideology, but by weakness and desperation.

Maddie Nolan is a Piltover enforcer serving under the city’s command structure. Loyal to her duty and bound by institutional authority, she operates at the ground level of Piltover’s law enforcement. She represents the disciplined face of order—executing policy rather than shaping it, and standing at the front lines of Piltover’s fragile peace.

Madam Margot is a Zaunite chem-baron who wields influence through industrial power and calculated diplomacy. Composed and aristocratic in demeanor, she prioritizes stability and profit over revolution. Within Zaun’s hierarchy, she stands as a refined power broker—proof that the undercity’s elite can be as polished as Piltover’s, even while operating in its shadows.

Lorís is a Zaunite chem-baron whose influence derives from industrial operations tied to Shimmer production. Calculating and pragmatic, he prioritizes stability and profit over ideology. In Zaun’s evolving hierarchy, he stands as one of the undercity’s power brokers—less a visionary than a survivor of shifting alliances.

Lest is a Zaunite chem-baron whose influence stems from industrial control and Shimmer-linked enterprise. Pragmatic and power-conscious, he supports leadership that protects his operations and preserves his status. He is not a revolutionary—he is a businessman of the undercity, navigating chaos through leverage and calculation.

LeBlanc is the enigmatic leader of the Black Rose, a secretive Noxian cabal that manipulates power from the shadows. A master of illusion and political subversion, she shapes events through proxies and deception rather than open force. In an Arcane-era setting, her influence would be subtle—felt in whispered conspiracies, unexplained political shifts, and ambitions that seem to align too perfectly. She is not seen. She is suspected.

Lady Mion is a Piltover councilor aligned with the city’s aristocratic establishment. Focused on stability, reputation, and economic continuity, she supports progress only when it can be controlled and regulated. She embodies the conservative backbone of Piltover’s governance—measured, tradition-minded, and wary of upheaval.

Kino Medarda is a Noxian noble of House Medarda, raised under Ambessa’s doctrine that power defines worth. Ambitious and martial-minded, he embodies Noxus’ brutal expectation that only the strong survive political ascent. His life illustrates the unforgiving nature of Noxian hierarchy, where ambition must be matched by dominance—or be consumed by it.

Kindred are the twin spirits of death — Lamb and Wolf — who embody mortality across Runeterra. Lamb grants a gentle end to those who accept it; Wolf hunts those who resist. They do not rule nations or wage wars. They simply arrive when the time comes. In Piltover and Zaun, they are spoken of in stories and carved into masks, reminders that no progress or power escapes the final chase.

Katye is a Piltover journalist who covers Hextech and Council affairs, shaping public perception without wielding direct power. She exists at the intersection of progress and reputation, ensuring that Piltover’s achievements—and controversies—are seen, recorded, and remembered.

Jules is a minor Piltover laboratory assistant who works alongside Viktor in Arcane.

She appears as part of the scientific environment surrounding Hextech development, assisting with experimentation and lab operations. Jules represents Piltover’s broader academic and research community—the institutional machinery that supports innovation beyond headline figures like Jayce.

Though she is not politically influential or central to major decisions, her presence reinforces that Hextech is not a solitary effort but a collaborative scientific movement. She operates within the system of regulated research and council oversight.

Jayce Talis is Piltover’s leading Hextech innovator and a sitting councilor, serving as both architect and regulator of the city’s most transformative technology. Charismatic and ideal-driven, he believes progress should uplift society—but as Hextech’s influence expands, he finds himself forced to defend it politically and, if necessary, militarily. He stands at the intersection of invention and power, trying to ensure that progress does not become destruction.

Janna is Zaun’s wind spirit—an ancient guardian sustained by quiet belief. In the undercity, her shrines are humble constructions of scrap and fluttering cloth, hidden in alley alcoves where the air still moves. To the faithful, she is the breath in a suffocating world, and when the wind shifts at just the right moment, they believe she is still watching.

Irius Bolbok is a member of Piltover’s ruling council in Arcane.

Distinct for his mechanical augmentations and measured demeanor, Bolbok represents Piltover’s technocratic elite. He approaches governance analytically, favoring logic, regulation, and structured oversight. Where others debate from emotion or ambition, Bolbok speaks with calculated restraint.

He is cautious about destabilizing innovation—particularly concerning Hextech—supporting controlled advancement rather than reckless expansion. His perspective reflects Piltover’s institutional mindset: progress is valuable, but only when properly regulated.

At his core, Bolbok embodies institutional rationalism—authority grounded in order, precision, and belief in systems over sentiment.

Huck is a minor but thematically important Zaunite character in Arcane.

He is an undercity resident who becomes dependent on Shimmer, physically and emotionally altered by its effects. Unlike figures such as Deckard who use Shimmer as a weapon, Huck represents its civilian cost—the everyday people consumed by addiction and desperation.

Timid and visibly unstable, Huck reflects the broader suffering of Zaun under industrial exploitation. His condition illustrates how Shimmer is not merely a tool of power, but a corrosive force within the community.

At his core, Huck embodies the human fallout of Zaun’s transformation: not revolutionary, not powerful—just someone caught in the machinery of forces far larger than himself.

The Hexcore is a sentient arcane construct developed by Viktor and Jayce in Arcane.

Originally conceived as an advanced evolution of Hextech, the Hexcore is designed to adapt and respond to organic input rather than simply channel stored magical energy. Unlike standard Hextech crystals—which are stabilized and engineered—the Hexcore behaves unpredictably, reacting to emotion, biology, and intent.

As Viktor experiments with it, the Hexcore begins exhibiting autonomous behavior, reshaping matter and interfacing directly with living tissue. It blurs the line between machine, magic, and organism. Where Hextech represents controlled progress, the Hexcore represents unchecked evolution.

It becomes a symbol of ambition surpassing caution—innovation pushing beyond ethical and scientific boundaries. Its development highlights one of Arcane’s central tensions: whether progress can ever truly be contained once it learns to grow on its own.

At its core, the Hexcore embodies transformative potential—both miraculous and catastrophic—depending entirely on who wields it and why.

Gustove Jowler is a renowned Piltover musician mentioned in Arcane.

He is referenced early in the series as a cultural figure of prestige, emblematic of Piltover’s refined and prosperous society. Though he does not play a major on-screen role, his inclusion helps establish the tone of the city: affluent, educated, and proud of its artistic achievements.

Jowler represents Piltover’s cultivated identity—where innovation is not only mechanical but cultural. His name signals status, sophistication, and the social world that exists far removed from Zaun’s struggles.

At his core, Gustove Jowler is world-building texture: a reminder that Piltover sees itself not just as powerful, but as enlightened and civilized.

Sheriff Grayson is the former head of Piltover’s Enforcers.

Pragmatic and measured, Grayson understands the fragile balance between Piltover and Zaun. Unlike more rigid enforcers, she favors negotiation over escalation, maintaining an informal understanding with Vander to prevent open conflict. She prioritizes stability and minimizing bloodshed, even when pressured by Piltover’s council for harsher action.

Grayson is not naïve about Zaun’s realities, nor is she blindly loyal to Piltover’s political elite. She operates in the gray space between law and practicality, recognizing that peace sometimes requires compromise.

At her core, Grayson represents institutional restraint—law enforced with awareness, authority tempered by realism.

Gert is one of Zaun’s chem-barons in Arcane.

She operates within the upper tier of Zaun’s industrial power structure, profiting from Shimmer and the undercity’s fractured economy. Unlike ideologues or revolutionaries, Gert’s motivations are pragmatic—focused on maintaining influence, securing territory, and preserving her stake in the shifting hierarchy.

Politically aware and cautious, she understands that Zaun’s survival depends as much on negotiation and leverage as brute force. Her loyalty, like many chem-barons, is conditional and rooted in mutual benefit rather than belief.

At her core, Gert represents Zaun’s institutionalized underworld—power consolidated into business, where survival depends on reading the room and aligning with strength.

Finn is a young chem-baron in Zaun in Arcane.

Ambitious, polished, and openly opportunistic, Finn represents the newer generation of Zaun’s industrial elite. Unlike Silco, whose power is rooted in ideology and long-term strategy, Finn is driven by profit and positioning. He views instability as leverage and sees leadership as something to be negotiated—or replaced—if it benefits him.

Charismatic and outwardly composed, Finn masks calculation behind charm. He respects strength but is quick to challenge authority if he senses weakness. His approach to power is transactional rather than loyal.

At his core, Finn embodies rising ambition within Zaun’s upper underworld: smooth, pragmatic, and ready to reshape alliances the moment the balance shifts.

Felicia is the mother of Vi and Powder in Arcane.

She appears in flashbacks as a warm, hopeful presence during Zaun’s earlier uprising. Close to both Vander and Silco in their youth, Felicia represents the idealistic heart of their generation—the belief that Zaun could build something better for its children.

Her defining trait is optimism. Even amid conflict, she speaks about the future with conviction, wanting her daughters to grow up in a freer, safer world. Unlike the hardened figures Vander and Silco later become, Felicia symbolizes what they were fighting for before politics, betrayal, and survival reshaped them.

At her core, Felicia represents lost possibility—the original dream of Zaun before compromise and extremism fractured it.

Elora is Mel Medarda’s trusted assistant and confidante in Arcane.

Composed, observant, and politically sharp, Elora operates quietly within Piltover’s elite circles. Though not a councilor herself, she is deeply embedded in the machinery of power—managing information, gauging social dynamics, and advising Mel with subtle precision.

She understands reputation, optics, and leverage, often serving as a stabilizing presence in Mel’s orbit. Unlike more overt political players, Elora works behind the scenes, influencing through awareness rather than authority.

At her core, Elora represents refined discretion: someone who survives and succeeds in Piltover not by commanding the spotlight, but by mastering what happens just outside it.

Ekko is a Zaunite inventor and the leader of the Firelights in Arcane.

Once one of Vander’s adopted kids, Ekko grows from a curious, bright child into a disciplined and strategic protector of the undercity. Unlike those who embraced Shimmer or fell into criminal hierarchies, Ekko builds an alternative path—organizing the Firelights to resist exploitation and protect civilians.

He is inventive, agile, and forward-thinking, combining technical brilliance with tactical awareness. Where Jinx embodies chaos born from trauma, Ekko channels his pain into structure and community-building. He believes Zaun can survive without surrendering to corruption or domination.

Emotionally, Ekko carries grief and regret, particularly regarding Powder’s transformation into Jinx. Yet he does not let bitterness define him. He chooses responsibility over revenge.

At his core, Ekko represents hopeful defiance: proof that Zaun’s future does not have to mirror its past.

Deckard is a Zaunite enforcer and early Shimmer subject in Arcane.

He begins as a resentful undercity tough—physically imposing but overshadowed by Vander’s authority. Deckard is driven by frustration and a desire for dominance rather than ideology. Where Vander preaches restraint, Deckard sees weakness.

He becomes one of the first recipients of Shimmer enhancement, transforming into a volatile, chemically empowered brute. The drug amplifies his aggression and physical strength, but it also strips away restraint and stability, making him more weapon than person.

Deckard is not a mastermind or political actor; he is muscle—raw anger given chemical acceleration.

At his core, Deckard represents the undercity’s simmering resentment made literal: power without discipline, strength without vision, and ambition without structure.

Claggor is one of the undercity kids raised by Vander in Arcane.

Physically strong and emotionally steady, Claggor acts as the quiet stabilizer within the group. While Mylo is sharp-tongued and competitive, and Powder is insecure and volatile, Claggor is patient, practical, and protective. He rarely seeks attention and often steps in to mediate tension.

Unlike Vi’s impulsive leadership style, Claggor thinks before acting. He prefers caution over recklessness and values the group’s safety above pride or proving a point. His strength isn’t just physical—it’s emotional grounding.

At his core, Claggor represents the dependable heart of the original crew: loyal, steady, and guided by quiet common sense rather than ego.

Chross is one of Zaun’s chem-barons in Arcane.

He operates within Zaun’s industrial underworld, profiting from Shimmer production and the instability of the undercity. Unlike Silco, whose motivations are ideological and revolutionary, Chross is primarily driven by power consolidation and economic leverage. His loyalty is conditional—aligned with whoever secures his influence and safety.

Politically aware and self-preserving, Chross represents the faction of Zaun that views conflict as opportunity. He is less concerned with independence as a moral cause and more focused on maintaining his status within the shifting hierarchy.

At his core, Chross embodies pragmatic opportunism—an undercity power broker who adapts to survive and profit in a volatile environment.

Professor Cecil B. Heimerdinger is a revered scientist, founder of Piltover, and longtime councilor in Arcane.

A yordle whose lifespan far exceeds that of humans, Heimerdinger carries centuries of experience—and the trauma of witnessing catastrophic magical disasters. This history makes him deeply cautious about arcane experimentation. He prioritizes safety, stability, and slow, measured progress over rapid innovation.

Brilliant but conservative, he struggles to understand the urgency felt by younger inventors like Jayce and Viktor. His perspective is shaped by time: where others see opportunity, he sees potential catastrophe.

Heimerdinger is not driven by ambition or politics, but by responsibility. His flaw is not malice, but excessive caution—an inability to fully grasp how stagnation can be just as dangerous as recklessness.

At his core, Heimerdinger represents wisdom tempered by fear: a guardian of progress who believes some doors should remain closed.

Cassandra Kiramman is a Piltover councilor and the mother of Caitlyn in Arcane.

She embodies Piltover’s aristocratic stability—composed, politically adept, and deeply invested in maintaining order. Cassandra believes in institutions, diplomacy, and incremental change rather than upheaval. Unlike openly self-serving councilors, she is not cynical; she genuinely believes the system, while imperfect, is preferable to chaos.

As a mother, she is protective and cautious, shaped by a worldview where security and reputation are intertwined. Her conflict with Caitlyn stems not from cruelty, but from fear—fear of instability, scandal, and the dangers lurking beyond Piltover’s polished facade.

Cassandra is neither revolutionary nor villain. She represents responsible governance from within the system: careful, pragmatic, and slow to trust disruption, even when disruption may be necessary.

At her core, Cassandra is a guardian of order—someone who values safety and continuity above idealism.

Benzo is a trusted shopkeeper and steady community presence in Zaun in Arcane.

Calm, practical, and grounded, he helps maintain a sense of normalcy in the undercity. As a close ally of Vander, Benzo supports a cautious approach to Piltover—prioritizing stability and the safety of their people over reckless escalation. He acts as a quiet mentor figure to Vi, Powder, and the other kids, offering guidance without dominance.

Benzo isn’t driven by ambition or ideology; he values community, responsibility, and keeping the peace in a place where peace is fragile.

At his core, Benzo represents Zaun’s working backbone—steady hands trying to hold their world together through patience and common sense.

Babette is the yordle proprietor of The Last Drop, a well-known bar in Zaun, in Arcane.

She is sharp-tongued, observant, and pragmatic—someone who understands the shifting power dynamics of Zaun and adapts accordingly. As a longtime fixture of the undercity’s social scene, Babette functions less as a political player and more as a survivor. She aligns herself with whoever holds control, ensuring her establishment remains standing amid chaos.

Though not driven by ideology like Silco, Babette is no fool; she reads people quickly and keeps her business intact through discretion and flexibility.

At her core, Babette represents Zaun’s enduring civilians—those who may not shape revolutions, but who know how to live through them.

In Arcane, Noxus is portrayed as a powerful, expansionist empire built on conquest, strength, and political ruthlessness.

Unlike Piltover’s polished diplomacy or Zaun’s fractured underworld, Noxus operates on a clear philosophy: power determines worth. It values ambition, military capability, and the willingness to seize opportunity. Weakness—whether political or personal—is a liability. This worldview is embodied by Ambessa Medarda, whose presence in Piltover signals that Noxus watches for instability it can exploit.

Though Noxus is not the central setting of Arcane Season 1, its looming influence adds geopolitical weight to events in Piltover and Zaun. It represents a larger, harsher world beyond the twin cities—one where hesitation can mean annihilation and where strength is both currency and survival.

In short: Noxus is the militaristic empire of Runeterra, defined by ambition and conquest, whose shadow stretches far beyond its borders—even into the fragile politics of Piltover.

Ambessa Medarda is a powerful Noxian warlord and the mother of Mel Medarda in Arcane.

She is defined by dominance, strategic intelligence, and an uncompromising belief in strength. Coming from the militaristic empire of Noxus, Ambessa views the world through the lens of power—those who cannot defend their position do not deserve to keep it. She respects ambition and ruthlessness, even in her own daughter, though her methods are harsh and emotionally distant.

Unlike Piltover’s politicians who maneuver through diplomacy, Ambessa believes in decisive action and visible force. Yet her severity is not mindless brutality; it is rooted in survival within a brutal empire where weakness invites destruction.

At her core, Ambessa is a conqueror shaped by a ruthless homeland—someone who equates love with preparation, and protection with power.

Amara is one of Zaun’s chem-barons in Arcane.

She operates as part of the industrial underworld that profits from Shimmer and Zaun’s instability. Pragmatic and business-minded, Amara is less ideological than Silco and more concerned with maintaining profitable power structures. Her loyalty is transactional—rooted in advantage rather than belief.

Amara represents the faction of Zaun that thrives in chaos without necessarily believing in revolution. Where Silco frames independence as a moral crusade, figures like Amara treat it as leverage—supporting change only if it secures their influence.

At her core, Amara embodies Zaun’s opportunistic elite: practical, politically aware, and driven more by survival and profit than by vision or sentiment.

Councilor Salo is a member of Piltover’s ruling council in Arcane.

He represents the entrenched political elite of Piltover—comfortable, status-conscious, and primarily concerned with maintaining stability and personal influence. Often cautious to the point of self-interest, Salo resists drastic change unless it benefits him or preserves his position. His public demeanor is polished and diplomatic, but beneath it lies opportunism and political calculation.

Unlike visionary figures such as Jayce or ideologues like Silco, Salo is not driven by grand ideals. He embodies institutional inertia: someone who benefits from the system as it exists and is reluctant to risk disruption, even when injustice is evident.

At his core, Salo is less a villain than a symbol of complacent power—proof that systems often endure not just because of tyrants, but because of those who prefer comfort over courage.

Caitlyn Kiramman is a skilled marksman and investigator from Piltover in Arcane.

She is defined by intelligence, integrity, and a quiet but unshakable moral compass. Born into privilege, Caitlyn rejects complacency and political insulation, choosing instead to pursue truth and justice—even when it implicates her own city. Analytical and perceptive, she prefers careful observation over brute force, often serving as a counterbalance to Vi’s impulsiveness.

Though initially naïve about the realities of Zaun, Caitlyn confronts the corruption and inequality around her and grows more resolute rather than retreating. Her compassion and sense of fairness drive her decisions, even when doing the right thing puts her at odds with authority.

At her core, Caitlyn is someone who believes justice should protect everyone—not just the powerful—and is willing to step beyond her sheltered world to prove it.

Silco is Zaun’s ruling power broker, a former revolutionary who reshaped the undercity through Shimmer-backed industry and disciplined control. Believing freedom must be seized, he consolidated Zaun’s fractured factions into a unified force. After taking in Powder—renamed Jinx—he adopts her as his daughter, offering unwavering acceptance and forging a bond that becomes both his greatest strength and his most dangerous vulnerability.

Vi, born Violet, is a fiercely protective and physically formidable fighter from Zaun in Arcane.

She is defined by loyalty, resilience, and a blunt, action-first mentality. Growing up in hardship, Vi becomes the de facto guardian of her younger sister Powder, carrying a deep sense of responsibility that shapes her identity. She relies on strength and directness—both emotional and physical—to solve problems, often masking vulnerability beneath toughness and sarcasm.

Haunted by the fallout of her childhood choices and years of imprisonment, Vi is driven by guilt and a relentless need to make things right. At her core, she is someone who loves fiercely and fights just as fiercely, determined to protect the people she cares about—even when the cost is painfully high.

Jinx, born Powder, is a brilliant but deeply unstable inventor from the undercity of Zaun in Arcane.

She is defined by contradiction: childlike yet deadly, playful yet tragic, fiercely loyal yet terrified of abandonment. A mechanical prodigy, she builds devastating weapons with creativity and flair, channeling both her intelligence and her emotional turmoil into destruction.

Haunted by guilt over a childhood catastrophe and convinced she ruins everything she touches, Jinx adopts her chaotic persona as both armor and identity. She craves validation and belonging—first from her sister Vi, later from Silco—but her fear of betrayal and her fractured mental state distort how she interprets love and loyalty.

At her core, Jinx is not chaos for chaos’s sake; she is a wounded person who internalized the belief that she is a “jinx,” and eventually chooses to become exactly what she thinks the world expects her to be.

Zaun, also referred to as the Undercity, is a city-state across the river from Piltover, a large portion of which runs beneath the latter. Whereas its upper counterpart is thriving and rich, Zaun is the opposite, becoming almost literally the catch basin of the waste from the city above it where its residents try to survive from scraps spared to them. One known part of Zaun is the Lanes. Individuals who hail from it are known as Zaunites, though such people come from various backgrounds as a population that includes humans, Chireans, Yordles and even certain individuals that come resided inside Piltover. Regardless of their background, however, the negligence of their sister-state caused numerous Zaunites to adopt contempt or even hatred for it, striding for freedom as an independent realm that some addressed as the Nation of Zaun. Though technically under the governance of Piltover’s Council, Zaun has virtually been cast aside and isolated from whatever gains and advancements had been made in Piltover. While Piltover prospers, Zaun is perpetually riddled with crime and hardship. So heavily polluted, its air said to be denser than Piltover's, that those not native to Zaun find the need to wear gas masks when visiting, and Piltover residents deem the undercity as dangerous and look down on the denizens living there. This has caused rising tensions between the two, and some figures from the Underground, such as Silco, yearn for independence, wanting their home to become a nation of its own. Due to the lack of true supervision over Zaun, the city is silently controlled by a group of chem-barons. Because of its roots in mining, the air in Zaun was thick and polluted. While the issue of the pollution was solved by Councilor Cassandra Kiramman, the air remains slightly thicker than that of Piltover. However, the clearing of the air was credited to the goddess Janna, who Zaunites quickly came to worship. Though the chem-barons held the level of control.

Piltover is a renowned progressive city-state, dubbed the City of Progress for its innovations and Academy. The city became particularly famous for its Hexgates, the scientific utilization of what was dubbed Hextech by its Piltovan pioneer, which revolutionized travel and trade for the rest of the world, for which they have since become the global shipping lane. Piltover was apparently founded to escape the warmongering of mages after a devastating event that caused mass destruction. The city is governed by the Council, which is made up of members of some of Piltover's most influential Houses or individuals.

Found beneath and in the crevices around the city is its sister city Zaun, a comparatively underdeveloped district also known as the undercity. Despite their connection and proximity, Piltover residents view Zaun and its residents with contempt and prejudice.

From the destruction of the Council onwards, Noxus began to consolidate control over the city, effectively turning it into a client state under Noxian occupation until General Caitlyn Kiramann chose to defect.

The Bridge: There is a bridge in Piltover that goes directly from Piltover to Zaun and vice versa. The Elevator: There is also an elevator that can come straight up to Piltover and go straight down to Zaun. The River: Piltover is settled across the river from Zaun, though it does extend under Piltover directly. Because of this, crossing the river is yet another way to enter Piltover.