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| “ | Noxus prizes strength above all else. But sacrifice is the mark of a true warrior. | „ |
| ~ Ambessa |
| “ | Desperation is the doorway to oblivion, child. | „ |
| ~ Ambessa after stabbing Caitlyn. |
| “ | You are the wolf... | „ |
| ~ Ambessa's last words, directed to Mel. |
Ambessa Medarda, also known as the Matriarch of War, is one of the two main antagonists (alongside Silco) of Netflix's 2021 adult animated steampunk action-adventure series Arcane, an adaptation of the 2009 multiplayer online battle arena video game League of Legends, in which Ambessa also serves as a playable champion. She will appear as the titular main protagonist of the prequel novel Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf.
A warlord from Noxus, Ambessa is a firm believer of the term "might makes right" and is notorious for her aggressive stance in both wartime and diplomacy. She is the estranged mother of Kino and Mel Medarda and leader of the Medarda Clan. Despite being a loyal and proud follower of the Noxian Empire and their violent, warmongering ways, deep down lies a woman who wishes to protect her family no matter the cost.
After discovering the invention of Hextech and realizing it's potential for war, Ambessa manipulates the conflict between Piltover and Zaun to satisfy her own personal agendas and quarrel against the Black Rose, going through extreme methods to get what she wants. She is the arch-nemesis of Mel and Caitlyn Kiramman, as well as the latter's former mentor.
She is voiced by Ellen Thomas.
Appearance[]
Despite being in her fifties, Ambessa is incredibly tall and muscular woman with scars around her face, and grey messy curly hair.
Personality[]
| “ | I would set the world ablaze to protect our family. | „ |
| ~ Ambessa's fierce devotion to her family. |
Ambessa is a grizzled, aggressive, and at times barbaric woman who takes what she wants without a second's hesitation. Using her brutality and cunning, she rose to the position of Warlord within the Noxian army and cemented herself as one of its premiere warlords. Exposed to death from a very early age, Ambessa believes that only the strong have the right to rule and that the weak need to be trampled underfoot to make way for progress. Despite this, she is more than capable of being very affable and civil when visiting foreign nations and has even demonstrated certain tastes and desires in male company. As a result of her social darwinist viewpoints, Ambessa has a distaste for mages and magical beings, seeing their powers as being opposed to the idea that on the battlefield, everyone is equal and can win through sheer willpower. Despite this, her desire to win still ultimately leads her to form an alliance with Viktor, whose interaction with Hextech and the Arcane has transformed him into what basically constitutes a mage.
She loves her family dearly and they are usually her primary concern, but she struggles greatly to show her love and affection towards them due to being raised in the warmongering ways of Noxus. She is fiercely protective of them and displays a heightened sense of advanced planning, as Ambessa would rather kill and destroy in the present if it meant preventing tragedy in the future. She is completely loyal and faithful to the Noxian ideals, but secretly has begun building a sense of remorse for her actions over the years as her commitment to Noxus and their destructive, hostile treatment of others has bitterly eroded her relationship with her children. While on the surface she stated she sent Mel away because her benevolent and diplomatic nature would be far better suited in a land like Piltover, in reality it was because she was distraught that her ways continuously and increasingly soured her relationship with her daughter.
Biography[]
Past[]
Ambessa Medarda was born to a warlord in Noxus, a militaristic warmongering nation of Runeterra. At the age of 10, her father brought the young girl to the aftermath of a deadly battle known as "the Battle of Hildenar", and told her to collect any blades she could, in exchange for gold coins. Though he claimed the reasoning was the necessity of the steel, Ambessa was able to realize that her father wanted her to see the carnage and devastation caused by war.
Over time, Ambessa would come to become the head of the Medarda clan, and one of the most powerful generals in all of Noxus. She also came to birth a child named Kino. According to what LeBlanc tells Mel while disguised as Kino, Ambessa, after enjoying the spoils of a particular conquest, passed through a town, and had an affair with a member of the Black Rose, giving birth to a second child named Mel. Ambessa raised Mel alongside Kino, but hid the affair and Mel's magical lineage from everyone. Despite this, the Black Rose and its leader LeBlanc, became embroiled in conflict with Ambessa.
At some point during Mel's childhood, Ambessa took her daughter to the castle of a regime she had recently disposed of, and discussed how to replace the government system. She brought out the last member of the royal family, and, despite Mel's pleas that they should let her go, decapitated her, citing that a "wolf has no mercy". Mel's unwillingness to cooperate with her mother's brutal tactics caused Ambessa to grow increasingly conflicted, and she ultimately sent her daughter to the city of Piltover to "oversee family interests", as she saw Mel's pacifistic nature as wearing her. Ambessa still fought the Black Rose, and when Kino discovered the truth of Mel's lineage, he was killed. Knowing the power of the Black Rose exceeded her own, Ambessa, years later, traveled to Piltover, where Jayce Talis, an inventor who had a romantic relationship with Mel, had used crystals to harness the power of magic through science, in what he called Hextech. Knowing this, Ambessa sought to use the power of Hextech to create weapons. Ambessa also found out about the brewing conflict between Piltover and the Undercity, the slums in which the poorest citizens of Piltover reside in.
Arcane[]
Season 1[]
Ambessa sends a letter to her daughter, speaking of her arrival, which horrifies Mel. The following day, Ambessa meets with Mel and her assistant Elora, claiming she has traveled due to "tales of Piltover's hospitality". After Mel quickly deduces her mother's lies, Ambessa reveals to her daughter the death of Kino and her intentions to secure Hextech weaponry, and confronts her about the fact that Piltover's lack of care for the Undercity has allowed it to fester and become a problem. Mel argues with her mother about the fact that going to war isn't their only option, with their conversation interrupted by the arrival of a Piltover escort, whom Ambessa departs with. She later secures a meeting with Jayce, who has become promoted to a councilor after the Undercity terrorist Jinx stole Hextech blueprints and prototypes. She attempts to convince Jayce to go to war with the Undercity, citing her wisdom and experience as a potential gift to give the council. Though Jayce is apprehensive of the idea, she does still convince him that he must "accept certain realities".
When Mel discovers this, she goes to and lashes out at her mother for attempting to engineer a war simply for Hextech weaponry, to which her mother responds that she is motivated by protecting their family. Mel then accuses Ambessa of not caring about her, leading to Ambessa to admit that her love for Mel weakened her. She then attempts to convince her daughter to let the war unfold, and offers her a place by her side again. Just as Jinx fires a rocket at the council, Ambessa goes to Mel's chambers and witnesses a painting of Noxus that Mel had been drawing vandalized.
Season 2[]
In the aftermath of the explosion, Ambessa rushes to help Mel, who was protected from the blast by her magical abilities. With Jinx's attack irreparably damaging any change of peace between Piltover and the Undercity, Ambessa sees a chance to insert herself directly into Piltover politics. She manipulates Salo, a self-interested councilor who was paralyzed in the attack, into sending enforcers to the Undercity to capture Jinx, which Mel agrees to under the conditions that no Hextech weaponry is used. To further push Piltover, Ambessa sends her right-hand man Rictus to give resources to Renni, an Undercity Chem-baron whose son was killed by Jayce during a raid on one of Silco's Shimmer factories. Renni, alongside Shimmer-enhanced soldiers, attacks the memorial commemorating the councilors who died in the attack, only for Ambessa to arrive and double-cross Renni just in time, painting Noxus as a viable asset to Piltover in the war.
Despite this, Piltover doesn't send the entirety of their army, instead only sending Caitlyn Kiramman, daughter of the deceased councilor Cassandra Kiramman, and a strike force consisting of Jinx's sister Vi, and the enforcers Maddie Nolen (secretly a Noxian double agent), Stev, and Loris. During their mission, the leader of Piltover's merchant guild, Amara, begs Ambessa for a meeting. When Ambessa agrees, Amara reveals herself as a member of the Black Rose, who threatens Ambessa and reveals her knowledge of Ambessa's schemes to gain new weaponry. Using anti-magic rocks wielded by Rictus, Ambessa is able to kill Amara, though the latter claims her death is meaningless. With the knowledge that the Black Rose is aware of Ambessa's schemes to gain Hextech, Ambessa has Salo schedule a meeting with all of Piltover's most important houses. At the same time, Caitlyn's strike team fail to capture Jinx, and Vi is abandoned in the Undercity, while their battle with Jinx leads to Piltover being vandalized. As a result, during the meeting, Ambessa pins Amara's death on Undercity assassins, and convinces the houses to appoint a general to rule over Piltover and declare martial law until the Undercity problem is dealt, successfully nominating Caitlyn. She also willingly grants Caitlyn access to both her wisdom from her experience in war, and her entire army of Noxian Soldiers.
Over time, Noxus sets up military checkpoints in the Undercity, and oppresses the people there harder than Piltover enforcers ever did. In addition, Ambessa takes on a mentor role to Caitlyn, which she sees as filling the hole left by Vi. Though desiring to find Jinx, Caitlyn argues with Ambessa's intentions, with the latter deeming Caitlyn able to forgive, an ability Ambessa claims to not possess. She also attempts to weaponize Hextech in secret, using Stillwater Prison as a laboratory. Meanwhile, during a revolutionary rally, Noxian soldiers imprison multiple Undercity denizens, including Singed, an alchemist who created Shimmer and has in secret crafted a wolf-man monster known as Warwick, and Isha, whom Jinx, now seen as a revolutionary hero amongst the people of the Undercity, sees as a little sister. Singed uses his blood to summon Warwick to the prison, and the creature attacks Ambessa, and kills numerous Noxian guards and Piltover enforcers in attempting to free him. When Caitlyn and Ambessa search the aftermath of the massacre, they realize Singed's involvement, and try and fail to interrogate him. Impressed with the beast's capabilities, Ambessa opts to instead offer an opportunity to Singed; he will lead her to the beast and provide weapons for her in exchange for serving as one of her advisors and being provided resources to carry out his experiments. Singed agrees, and reveals to Ambessa and Caitlyn his desire to cure death and revive his dead daughter Orianna.
Singed manages to track Warwick to a commune run by Jayce's former partner Viktor, who has used his newfound magical powers to heal people. Ambessa brings her Noxian soldiers and Caitlyn with her, though Singed, who served as a mentor to Viktor decades ago, convinces her to let him attempt to communicate with him. Singed is unable to convince Viktor to give up Warwick, and is tailed by Vi on the way out, who is then attacked by Caitlyn. Caitlyn, motivated by both her distaste for Ambessa's moral beliefs and enforcement tactics as well as her romantic interest in Vi, decides to betray Ambessa after discovering that Warwick is actually Vi and Jinx's father Vander. She pretends to capture Vi and delivers her to Ambessa. There, Ambessa thanks Vi for capturing and then breaking Caitlyn's heart, which allowed Ambessa to easily manipulate her, and reveals her intention to kill Vi as to not let Caitlyn be distracted. However, Vi escapes and incapacitates Ambessa. When she comes to, Ambessa, angered at Caitlyn for betraying her, sends Noxian soldiers after her, Jinx, and Vi, only for a crazed Warwick to appear, maul Rictus to death, and kill various Noxian soldiers.
All three escape, while Ambessa buries the corpse of Rictus with the goal of avenging his death. Singed uses Warwick, who was knocked out by an explosion caused by Isha, to revive Viktor, who was killed by Jayce. Viktor communicates through the corpses of his followers, and strikes a deal with Ambessa; she will allow Viktor access to the Hexgates, unknowingly allowing him to complete his goal of evolving humanity on a mass scale into emotionless machines, if he will mutate her soldiers and provide her an immortal army. When Jayce, who had learned from a future Viktor the horrors of the "glorious evolution", refuses to comply with Viktor's demands, Viktor allows Singed to begin a process which allows him to turn all his followers, including Warwick, into mindless drones for Ambessa to use. Mel, who was captured by the Black Rose and learned the truth of her lineage, arrives and converses with her mother. Ambessa, despite Mel's pleas, refuses to give up conquest of Piltover, and reveals Viktor's army to her.
The next day, Noxian warships containing hordes of soldiers, some of whom have been mutated with Shimmer, attack Piltover, fought off by Vi, Caitlyn, and other enforcers, some of whom are sympathetic members of the Undercity. In actuality, the attack is a distraction, allowing Viktor to secretly enter the Hexgates underneath the city streets and achieve his goal. Ambessa ultimately manages to overwhelm the entirety of Piltover, assisted by Maddie, and stabs Caitlyn. At the cusp of victory, the entire undercity, led by a repentant Jinx and her friend Ekko, arrive and manage to change the tide of the battle, only for what is believed to be Viktor's cocoon is empty inside and that the attack was a diversion. At the same time, Viktor's drones arrive and help secure Noxus's victory over Piltover. Mel disowns Ambessa as a Medarda, pointing out the cost of Ambessa's ambition has led to the deaths of Kino and Rictus. Caitlyn then challenges Ambessa to a fight between Mel, Caitlyn, and her. Ambessa is able to get the upper hand, but Caitlyn is able to get rid of Ambessa's magical protection runes, allowing Mel to summon the Black Rose, who magically chain and torture Ambessa. Though Mel uses her powers to defeat LeBlanc, Ambessa is left dying, though acknowledges Mel as a "wolf" before giving in to death.
Quotes[]
| “ | Ambessa: When I was 10, your grandfather brought me to the aftermath of the battle of Hildenar. He offered me a gold coin for every blade I retrieved from the fallen. Said we needed the steel. But I knew it was a lie. He wanted me to know death. Younger Mel: Kino says war is a failure of statecraft. Ambessa: Your brother thinks he can talk his way out of anything. He fancies himself a fox among the wolves. But mark me, child, if you want to last in this world, you must learn to be both the fox, and the wolf. |
„ |
| ~ Ambessa talking to a younger Mel in a flashback. |
| “ | Mel, Elora, you didn't have to come out to meet me. | „ |
| ~ Ambessa reuniting with Mel after arriving in Piltover. |
| “ | Ambessa: Your brother's gone. Mel: What happened? Ambessa: He crossed the wrong man. I was distracted. That's a mistake I can't take back. Your Jayce Talis has turned his eye to Hextech weaponry. Mel: (sigh) I knew it. Ambessa: War is coming. You've let the problems of your Undercity fester too long. Mel: Piltover isn't like Noxus. War isn't our first and every recourse. I sponsored Hextech to protect the city, not burn it to the ground. Ambessa: It's not conjecture, it's a fact. Weapons can't be unmade and they are always used. I'm here to help guide you to the right decisions. Mel: I don't need your guidance. Ambessa: We'll see. |
„ |
| ~ Ambessa talking to Mel about weaponizing Hextech. |
| “ | Ambessa: Do they teach military history at your academy, Mr. Talis? Jayce: It's, um, Councilor Talis. And I'm not sure. Ambessa: The Alornian general Sonnem Parlec used to find ways to meet his enemies blindfolded. He said a man's mind hides behind his body. Somehow I doubt he ever tried this. Jayce: You're Mel's mom. Ambessa: Among other things. (to her escort) Squeeze, child. You won't break it. Jayce: I do have other matters, so if you'll excuse me- Ambessa: The threat of the Undercity is real. Your leadership is impotent. Jayce: Hmnn. We may not be Noxus, but Piltover isn't as helpless as you think. Ambessa: Who said anything about Piltover? The council is the problem. The mind hiding behind the body? Navigating your current crisis requires expertise you lack. Jayce: Do you know what the success rate for senior Academy inventors is? 3%. We're no strangers to failure. What makes this the City of Progress is we keep trying until we get it right. So thank you for your advice, Mrs. Medarda, but I have a city to run. Ambessa: Wait! I see why this province and my daughter have fallen for you. You have the passion of youth. I have experience. I want you to succeed here, Jayce. To grace the world with Hextech, but if you don't accept certain realities, I fear you'll end up like General Parlec; slaughtered with your eyes closed. |
„ |
| ~ Ambessa manipulating Jayce into war against the Undercity. |
| “ | Because you weakened me! I couldn't endure the look in your eyes whenever I made the decisons, the necessary decisons, to keep us safe! | „ |
| ~ Ambessa revealing the reason why she exiled Mel. |
| “ | You have no inkling what family is to me. | „ |
| ~ Ambessa to Elora as she kills her. |
| “ | Half your council is dead. Your memorial is made a massacre. Well, no more. Wrath must be met with wrath! You must declare martial law. Appoint a general to lead until this threat is vanquished. Someone who will not pale when faced with Zaun's degeneracy, whose conviction never wavers. A pillar of your company, whose house has always stood for progress, who may consider my experience and entire detachment of Noxian soldiers at their disposal. Until all our families are safe. Of course, I could only be referring to... Caitlyn Kiramman! | „ |
| ~ Ambessa appointing Caitlyn to be a general. |
| “ | Ambessa: How, in a city teeming with brilliant inventors, have we managed to unearth such unrelenting incompetence?! This is their doing. Rictus: We can't be certain the Black- Ambessa: KEEP THEIR NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH! Rictus: We can't be certain the Order was also behind the disappearance of Jayce and Heimerdinger. Ambessa: Who else? The moment we seize control of this backwater, everyone with an inkling of talent vanishes! It's no coincidence. Our instincts were right. They fear Hextech. But we were too slow. How could I not secure the scientist? They have my daughter, Rictus. Rictus: Our moment will come. But you must be prepared. |
„ |
| ~ Ambessa discussing her plans with Rictus. |
| “ | Ambessa: I suppose I don't need to advise you on the hazards of professional entanglement. Caitlyn: Nor is that the advice you rushed here to provide. Ambessa: It's beyond question that the news of Jinx's return will ignite Zaunite resistance. But the blade cuts both ways. There's a trail. We have her scent. I'd expected this development would encourage you. Caitlyn: Was it for my encouragement that your man Rictus was instigating violence? Ambessa: You don't trust me. Caitlyn: The blade cuts both ways. Ambessa: Fearless child. You never shy... Caitlyn: You have a recommendation? Ambessa: If it wasn't Jinx at the checkpoint, one of them knows where she is. Caitlyn: Arrests require cause. Ambessa: What greater cause is there than returning peace to this city? Caitlyn: Why is peace always the justification for violence? Ambessa: We've lost so many. The anger, the sorrow, it's tiring, God I know, it's tiring. But, you will never rest knowing that she's out there. Or, maybe I underestimated you. Maybe you have the strength I do not: to forgive and trust in tomorrow. The decision is yours, Commander. |
„ |
| ~ Ambessa conversing with a doubtful Caitlyn about tracking down Jinx. |
| “ | Singed: I've been expecting you. Ambessa: Confident, aren't you? Singed: It's always the same look when one covets a weapon. Ambessa: I've fought battles from the blood-cliffs to the Dalamor plain. I've never seen a beast of such savagery. Singed: The beast is more savage than that. I trust you have terms. Ambessa: You will serve me. My enemies will be yours. Your weapons will be mine. In return, I will supply all your needs. You will be treated as an esteemed advisor, but I demand absolute loyalty. Do not test this, or you will yearn for Caitlyn's dungeons. You already know what I want. |
„ |
| ~ Ambessa recruiting Singed to her army in order to capture Warwick. |
| “ | Vi... you've been quite a curiosity. The one who captured Caitlyn's heart. I owe you thanks. Your absence created a vacuum I was able to fill. In other circumstances, I might have offered you a position in my organization. Your resilience is undeniable. Of course, that won't be possible. You cause too many complications. Caitlyn must not be distracted. | „ |
| ~ Ambessa after capturing Vi. |
| “ | Bold, little one. | „ |
| ~ Ambessa after Caitlyn shoots at her with her Hextech rifle |
| “ | You fought well, child. | „ |
| ~ Ambessa to Caitlyn after gouging her eye out, shortly before her demise. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Ambessa is the first Arcane-original character to become a playable champion in League of Legends.
- Despite seemingly meeting her end in Arcane, Ambessa is alive and well in League of Legends.
External Links[]
- Ambessa on the League of Legends Wiki
[]
 Villains
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Empire of Noxus Black Rose House Du Couteau House Medarda The Immortal Bastion Others Piltover & Zaun Silco’s Crew Glorious Evolved Enforcers House Medarda Sons of Ur Others Original Lore Demacia Mageseekers Ionia Order of Shadow Bilgewater The Freljord The Winter’s Claw Shurima Ixtal The Shadow Isles Others The Void Voidborn Servants of Bel'Veth Bandle City Demons Others Darkin Others | ||