Kindred/Trivia

General

• Kindred is the first champion to not have their icon derived from their artwork (considering theirs is a two-for-one case) as well as the first whose release was celebrated with summoner icons (one for Lamb and one for Wolf)
• Mark of the Kindred, Traveler's Call, Siphoning Strike, Soul Furnace, and Phenomenal Evil Power are the only in-game abilities that can theoretically increase a stat infinitely.
• Kindred is one of twelve champions without a single Ability Power ratio on any ability (the others being Darius, Draven, Garen, Kalista, Illaoi, Kled, Olaf, Riven, Talon, Vayne and Zed)
• Kindred's dance references the 'Cups' tap dance performed by Christopher Rice.
  • A side-by-side comparison can be seen here.

Development

• Kindred means 'one's family and relations'.
• Kindred had been in production since 2013 (their final incaranation was conceived during Jhin's)
  • Before their release Mark of the Kindred's symbol appeared randomly over champions' heads, with the symbol being dubbed 'They are Coming'.
• Inspiration sources for Kindred include Yin and yang, The Wolf and the Lamb, Paganism (Slavic mythology, Celtic mythology, Germanic paganism)

Lore

• Kindred are Runeterra's Death given flesh and name.
  • Lamb ends those who have accepted their fate.
  • Wolf chases those in denial of their end.
    • Morality and actions in life do not matter, only the way one chooses to die.
• Kindred are a mythical being, known only in legends and folktales. They have many names (Ina and Ani, Farya and Wolyo, others, but they are always Lamb and Wolf, the Kindred) and their masks are a universal symbol of theirs, yet their existence 'per se' is only known to the dead or those few who almost were.
  • The Noxian Tally-men illustrate a case of pseudo-worship.
• In 'A Good Death' the actress Magga encountered the Eternal Hunters in Demacia (pre-Jarvan III) while it was not yet her time. This depiction is the in-game one (just like how gamblers see Tahm Kench and how he himself is seen in-game)
• Their omnipresence grants Kindred many insights.
  • The Shadow Isles are not welcome to them and in their eyes its undead are a mockery of the cycle of life and death they uphold.
  • Timeline disruption is fascinating.
  • Resurrection ( coincidental, forced, experimental) or even artificial life extension is cheating.
  • Robotic lifeforms may or may not be exempt of being paid a visit.
• Wolf was first spotted in 'Curse of the Sad Mummy'.

Quotes

• File:ProfileIcon939 Kindred Lamb.png "Have we met before?" might be referencing Burning Tides and/or Matthew Mercer voicing both Wolf and the Saltwater Scourge.

Skins

Original Kindred

• They resemble San and Moro from Princess Mononoke by Studio Ghibli as well as Moon Lady and Sky Wolf by Chiara Bautista.
• They might be referencing Unknown from Tekken Tag Tournament.
• The scene depicted resembles The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli.
• Lamb and Wolf wearing a mask styled after the other references Yin and yang while the masks themselves were inspired by Tragicomedy ones.

Shadowfire Kindred

• They were first called 'Vindicator'.
• Wolf resembles the titular character from Diablo.
• Lamb might have been inspired by Angels of Death (Michael, Samael)

Super Galaxy Kindred

• They share this theme with Super Galaxy Fizz, Super Galaxy Rumble, and Super Galaxy Shyvana.

Relations

• One of the many legends surrounding the origins of the Kindred tell of 'a pale man with dark hair' (Runeterra's own Grim Reaper) who was 'very lonely' and so split himself 'right down the middle' so he 'would always have a friend'.
  • Assuming there is some fact to this tale, one can extrapolate that his emotions (materialized in his dark hair) became Wolf, while his rationale (materialized in his pale self) became Lamb.
    • This would 'explain' why the Kindred are two halves of a whole and why one has what the other lacks (Lamb's cold reason, Wolf's hot instinct)