Bilgewater

"Bilgewater" redirects here. For the item, see Bilgewater Cutlass.

File:Bilgewater.jpg

Port Mourn, Bilgewater

Bilgewater Union (commonly referred to as Bilgewater) is an island nation of the Blue Flame Islands, which are located in the southeastern coast of Valoran. Bilgewater was officially founded on September 19, 150 years ago.

Lore

Bilgewater, over the years, has become a vital stop for trade ships traveling near the Blue Flame Island. While this increased the nation's wealth and influence over Valoran, it has also made the nation a major refuge for piracy, and the island itself a tempting target for pirate raids. Rum is the nations major export, which is made in the various pubs and taverns down the Fleet Street. Before sailing into the port, onlookers can see the image of a white skull on the large rock behind the city.

Culture

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Bilgewater Sea Serpent Crest

Sea monster hunting and harvesting is a common way of life in Bilgewater, and seeing behemoths rise from the deep is just part of a normal day for grizzled veterans of the criminal haven. As a result, you’ll see sea monster iconography all over the city as part and parcel of Bilgewater’s unique appearance.

The bustle and grind of a busy port betrays the wide variety of influences on the city. Between inverted Freljordian longships against the carved cliff-faces and the slow evolution of indigenous carvings and hints at other regions of the world, the depth in the narrative behind the streets and the culture finds new forms of expression.

The native inhabitants of Bilgewater are rugged seafaring folk and many, naturally, are also pirates. While some vessels are kept protected within safe waters, their nation has little jurisdiction over what occurs in the open seas. Sailors intrepid enough to venture out there are free to decide their own fate and fortune. Many Bilgewater pirates also sail to other nations and are known for their raids on settlements. The port-cities are the home to Gangplank, the Saltwater Scourge. He arose to represent his nation, though his true motives, as he is a pirate, are questionable. Gangplank and Miss Fortune, the Bounty Hunter, often bicker over their nation's future direction. Both strove to unite the people of Bilgewater in order to turn them into a strong and independent society.

Bilgewater is a relatively lawless nation, particularly in the pirate-run slums. The majority of the Islanders denizens carry a variety of weapons, which range from cutlasses to pistols, in order to protect themselves at all times. Traditionally, the Bilgewater warriors coat their weapons with the remains of their drinks the night before a battle or raid. This has the effect of increasing the pain of wounds caused and often spreads diseases such as gangrene, inhibiting their enemies' ability to fight back. Many of their larger ironclad ships are also outfitted with multiple cannons that can strike targets over long distances.

Bilgewater Days

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Grey Harbor, Bilgewater
(by Riot Artist Patrick Faulwetter)

On September 19th, 150 years ago, the port city, later known as Bilgewater, was officially founded, creating a haven and destination to pirates and seafarers everywhere. What started off as a one-day celebration of Bilgewater's origin became a weekend, and due to the raucous nature of the islands inhabitants, celebration spread through the entire month. September has come to embody sailors enjoying the end of the temperate season, drinking the last of the summer ales and participating in unruly games to prove their worth as the fiercest pirate in Valoran.

A sampling of the festivities include:

Lady Luck

A continuous gambling tournament where skill is just as highly prized as being quickest to draw the knife in your boot. A vast assortment of games and competitions await, with gold Valors passing hands after every blackjack and snake eyes on the table. Lady Luck can be a fickle mistress, easily swayed by a card up your sleeve and the words "all or nothin'".

Drink The Water!

An indisputable challenge, a pirate orders the Bilgewater Special, which is a foul, unidentifiable mix of liquor from behind the bar, with each pirate mixing in a bit of whatever they can find around the table or in their pockets. The brave one to drink it all gets a pat on the back, all the Valors that can fit into the empty mug, and an evening's worth of indigestion.

The Ruckus

Armed only with a wooden club or an abandoned peg leg, pirates leap aboard a ship in a King Of The Hill competition to see who can stay atop the Crow's Nest longest, and is crowned the Captain of The Ruckus for the year. Beard protection is accepted, but shoes are prohibited.

Brands of Rum

The relative peace that has kept over Valoran has led to an increase in trade and the desire for worldly imports. The demand for Bilgewater's famous rums is especially high.

Captain Morgan Rackham gives a few samples:

Rapture Rum

If you've got a bit of jink to spare and don't mind paying for a bit of celebrity, you can head on over to Fortune's Favor on Fleet Street for a bit of Miss Fortune's private stock. Rapture is clear as diamonds, with a pleasantly clean aroma of cut cane. To shake things up, Miss Fortune adds a hint of pepper and hot cinnamon to keep you warm on deck during stormy days at sea. To be enjoyed with your favorite tropical fruit, Miss Fortune's Rapture Rum is every bit as much the exotic beauty that she is!

Gangplank's Black Pearl Rum

Let me ask you a question, sailor. Have you ever chewed rum? No?! Well then you've probably never run afoul of Gangplank and his fabled Black Pearl. Aged in charred oak casks and infused with some of the richest spices that Valoran has to offer, this rum comes out blacker than pitch and about as thick. Gangplank's Black Pearl is a draught for the true rum enthusiast, only. The rest of you blokes are just going to wind up feeling barmy and running for the deck rails. So be careful! I've seen a bit of the black stuff lay out even the roughest blighter with nary a hint of warning.

Myron's Dark Rum

This rum is the trademark drink of Myron's Murderhole, one of the most famous and historic bars in all of Bilgewater. Dark in color with the aroma of woody molasses, this infamous spirit is a veritable staple of Bilgewater sailors on the high seas. Richer than its lighter relatives, this dark beauty finishes with an uncanny sweetness that's just perfect for taking the edge off. Enjoy with hot water, or even straight from the bottle. Either way, Myron's Dark will keep you warmer than a pea coat on a blustery day.

Mount Atin Eclipse Rum

This rum is characteristically served at Plankwalkin' Pete's, a newfangled bar run dockside by a barmy lad with a peg leg. Light amber in color, Mount Atin will assail your senses with the aroma of sweet grass, molasses, nutmeg, and just a hint of citrus. A bit dry on its own, your typical dose comes served with tonic and a lime, so after a glass or two you're well on your way to warding off both scurvy and malaria.

Wildlife

Sea

In Bilgewater one can come across many astounding creatures brought from the dark and mysterious Guardian's Sea, such as: Dragon-Sharks, Sea Serpents, Giant Squid, Four-eyed Shark Creature and Kraken.

There are also more mundane creatures inhabiting the sea, coastlines and docks such as: octopi, hammerhead sharks, clams and fish.

Land

The Land and coastal areas house an large assortment of astounding creatures, such as: Wharf Rats and Scuttler Crabs.

There are also more mundane creatures inhabiting the coastlines and docks such as seagulls.

Wharf Rat

A Bizarre vaguely rat-like fish creature, it can be found on the docks. They are small, purple and walk on four legs.

Scuttler Crab

Scuttler Crab Scuttler Crab or Rift Scuttler lives in the fresh waters of Valoran and can be found near the docks of Bilgewater and in Summoner's Rift. They are small green-shelled crustaceans with 3 pairs of legs and one pair of front claws. They sometimes bury themselves into the muck of the river to avoid predators.

Relations

Bilgewater is a sea-monster-hunting crime haven, a home to a wide variety of unsavory people. While the pirate-friendly town obviously isn't particularly popular with other nations, their populace is made up of people from all the world's corners.

Shadow Isles

Blue Flame Island is closer to the Shadow Isles than any other area, and the first to be enveloped by the yearly Harrowing. Areas close to Bilgewater, like the Gray Harbour, have been culled by spectral assaults in the past.

Freljord

At least some inhabitants in Bilgewater are of Freljordian decent, and occasionally one finds inverted Freljordian longships againt the carved cliff faces.

Piltover

As Runeterra’s biggest black market Bilgewater trades all manner of illicit hextech pilfered from Piltover.

Bandle City

Ties between Yordle Land and Bilgewater have always been a little tense, mainly due to the occasional pirate assaults on yordle vessels.

Ionia

During Noxus' hostilities on Ionian soil, many pirates from Bilgewater sailed to the island nation. For years they ruthlessly pillaged the settlements along the island's coastlines and fought naval battles with Ionian vessels when engaged. Even after the war, many Ionians still feel deep enmity towards Bilgewater due to their denizens' actions.

Noxus

While the two nations have no true alliance, Bilgewater and Noxus are on relatively beneficial terms with one another. Bilgewatian pirates on occasion will assist the Noxian military, should they see the endeavor profitable. Though the Noxian military campaigns were eventually stopped, Katarina, the Sinister Blade, is a mainstay down at Bilgewater's Fleet Street. She can often be seen poking her head into the pubs and taverns in search of sailors down on their luck, offering an even share of the plunder to those willing to sail under her command.

History

Piracy Strikes Bandle City Merchants

The pirate Tiresias Ellington and his crew boarded a Bandle City ship and sacked the vessel of its cargo. This particular shipment was on its way to a celebration, a commemoration to Poppy, the Iron Ambassador, and her appointment to service as envoy between Demacia and the yordles. Bandle City appealed to the other nations to solicit reparations from Bilgewater for the loss of the goods, along with spoiling their anniversary plans. Bilgewater's stance was that they were not responsible for the actions of a few independent sailors.

GrugMug Grog Slog

The famed Bilgewater GrugMug Grog Slog was a yearly competition amongst privateers looking to prove their mettle as the hardest drinkers on the high seas. Both grog-drinkers and grog-crafters alike convened at the GrugMug Tavern to crown the year's best "Scab" and "Glug". The Scab was awarded to the creator of the strongest, most corrosive grog, and the Glug was awarded to the hearty soul that can drink the most of it before requesting medical attention. Historically, Gangplank had won the Scab title for 15 years, ever since he joined his father on his ship, the Dead Pool.

The most recent GrugMug Grog Slog event concluded after an exhausting 6 hour final between Gangplank and Sarah Fortune. In the end, Scab title was awarded to Miss Fortune in an unexpected upset after several tense stages of caustic tests and analysis. The panel of judges declared her the winner when her concoction melted completely through the pewter mug, table, and the floor. Gangplank's recipe stopped just short of eating through the floor, instead pooling in a steamy puddle upon the resin-coated floorboards.

Attack of the Sea

Fizz, the Tidal Trickster

After wandering the ocean for many years the fish-like creature known as Fizz discovered one of the ports of Bilgewater. He was fascinated with the existence of life above the water and could not resist exploring the one of the islands. In his endless curiosity, Fizz inadvertently meddled in the affairs of the humans who lived there, and his presence did not go unnoticed. His mischief angered many residents who eventually sought to capture or kill him. Fizz found himself cornered, and he prepared to return to the sea despite the fondness he'd come to hold for Bilgewater. As he stood at the docks, a massive dragon-shark attacked the port. Fizz defeated the beast, using his resourcefulness and knowledge of the creature's weaknesses to his advantage.

Nautilus, the Titan of the Depths

Having earned the gratitude and respect of the humans, Fizz decided to stay in Bilgewater.

The Titan of the Depths

A gigantic man in an iron diver suit appeared upon the shores of Bilgewater. Referring to himself as Nautilus, he vows to search for the men who had condemned him to die in the sea depths and punish them for the time and life he lost.

First Light after the Harrowing

Though the Black Mist fades and the souls it claimed will soon forget their past, the threat of the fell tide will not be forgotten. Worse than all previous years, those who lived are left to wonder where it will return, and whether anyone will survive when it does.

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The Black Mist map

I - 1 Year. The Battle of Knife Straits. An armada from Bilgewater, led by Miss Fortune and Captain Gangplank – sailing together under an uneasy truce – meets the Black Mist head on. Heavy casualties sustained. Fleet scattered.

II - 1 Year. The Drowned Anchor. One element of the Harrowing stalled. Reports of a large figure encased in a rusted diving suit seen in the heart of the fighting.

III - 1 Year. The Reaping of Smuggler’s Cove. No survivors.

IV - 3 Years. The Battle of the Serpent. A Blue Flame leviathan is goaded to the surface by a serpent caller to face the Harrowing. The Black Mist is dispersed before it reaches Bilgewater, but the giant from the depths is slain in the process.

V - 9 Years. The Shadow Falls. The Black Mist overcomes the defenses of the Southern Beacon, and it sinks beneath the sea. Its guiding light is now lost to Bilgewater.

VI - 4 Years. The Wild Hunt. Hecarim marshals a spectral host and lays waste to the port of Grey Harbor. Despite valiant resistance from the fishing fleet anchored there, all souls are lost. Grey Harbor remains uninhabited to this day.

VII - 21 Years. The Death of the Conqueror. The mighty galleon Conqueror is lost to the depths, along with 30 battleships. Some have claimed to have seen the Conqueror riding the Black Mist in subsequent Harrowings.

VIII - 32 years. The Battle of Port Mourn. The revenant Mordekaiser leads the Harrowing on a night of slaughter, and Port Mourn falls to darkness. It is said that specters now haunt its empty streets.

IX - 17 years. The Crimson Armada. A Noxian war fleet is caught in the Black Mist. Over 30 vessels lost. No survivors.

X - 37 years. The Maelstrom. The frigate Light-Bringer’s Bane is swallowed by the sea while sailing to outrun the Black Mist.

XI - 49 years. The Shroud. Up until half a century ago, this was the furthest extent of any known Harrowing.

XII - 33 years. The Flower of Ionia. An Ionian fleet of unknown size lost to the Harrowing.

As evinced here, the Harrowing has grown bolder and stronger over the last half century. I fear for the future should this trend continue.

Harrowing End

Related Material

This section lists material and events that has added to or changed Bilgewater's body of canonical material.

Some material is no longer considered canon. Non-canonical sources include the Journal of Justice and Champion Judgements. Some outdated material, like that which include mention of the Institute of War, is set to be updated to some extent at a future date.

• Gangplank, 2009-08-19 release. The faction's first representative.

• Miss Fortune, 2010-09-08 release. A pirate hunter and foil for Gangplank.

• Bilgewater Days was a small event posted on the forums 2010-09-16. It described a celebration of the founding of Bilgewater 150 years prior, including descriptions of festivities and games.

• "Raise Your Glass!" , issue 7 of the Journal of Justice, posted 2010-10-14, described a selection of Bilgewater rums; Rapture Rum, Gangplank's Black Pearl Rum, Myron's Dark Rum and Mount Atin Eclipse Rum.

• "Katarina, Privateer of Noxus" , issue 8 of the Journal of Justice, posted 2010-10-27, described Katarina as an occasional dabbler with piracy to go along with her Bilgewater Katarina skin.

• "Piracy Strikes Bandle City Merchants" , issue 13 of the Journal of Justice, posted 2011-01-11, features a small dispute between Bandle City and some pirates from Bilgewater.

• "Gangplank Loses Coveted Prize to Miss Fortune" , issue 17 of the Journal of Justice, posted 2011-03-09, described a drinking competition called a "GrugMug Grog Slog". The competition ended with Miss Fortune claiming the title of "Grog Scab" from Gangplank.

• Graves, 2011-10-19 release. Graves was introduced as born in Bilgewater.

• Fizz, 2011-11-15 release. Settled in Bilgewater after fighting off a dragon-shark.

• Nautilus, 2012-02-14 release. Emerged near Bilgewater after his transformation.

• The Harrowing of 2014 featured Bilgewater and their history with the Black Mist.
  • Fallen Bilgewater settlements Smuggler's Cove, Grey Harbor and Port Mourn are mentioned.
  • Gangplank, Miss Fortune and Nautilus are mentioned fighting off spectral assaults during the most recent Harrowing.
• Tahm Kench, 2015 release.

• Bilgewater: Burning Tides. An event focusing on Bilgewater is set to launch during the summer of 2015. The event will, among other things, feature a Bilgewater-themed ARAM map; Butcher's Bridge.

Trivia

• The name Bilgewater a combination of two English words, bilge and water.
  • The word bilge is a modification of Middle French word bougette, the earliest known use is in the fifteenth century.
  • A Bilge is lowest compartment on a ship, below the waterline. Bilge water may contain water, oil, detergents and various other liquids and materials. The Bilges primary use is to keep the unwanted liquids and materials below decks during sea travel.
• Bilgewater was inspired by a real historical pirate nation of Nassau. During the Golden Age of Piracy, the strongest pirate factions from the Caribbean Islands had made a union with one another, which eventually formed the pirate nation.

Media

• Themes
• Videos
• Pictures

Related Themes

Tahm Kench League Of Legends Login Screen With Music

Tahm Kench The River King

Building Butcher’s Bridge the Bilgewater event

• Tahm promo 09.jpg
  Grey Harbor, Bilgewater
• Bilgewater Bithers Bridge.jpg
  Butchers Bridge, Bilgewater

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Affiliated Champions

Champion	Ties
Fizz, the Tidal Trickster	Residence; respected mischief of Bilgewater
Gangplank, the Saltwater Scourge	Birthplace; fiercest pirate captain of Bilgewater
Graves, the Outlaw	Birthplace; Bilgewatian conman
Miss Fortune, the Bounty Hunter	Birthplace; renowned pirate catcher of Bilgewater

Other Related Champions

Champion	Ties
Katarina, the Sinister Blade	Privateer of Noxus
Nautilus, the Titan of the Depths	Probable birthplace; site of emergence
Tahm Kench, The River King	Demon praying on victims in Bilgewater
Twisted Fate, the Card Master	Probable birthplace; Graves' former partner

References

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