Where will League’s animated adaptation plans go after Arcane? These hints give a strong possibility

With Arcane’s second season on Netflix coming to a close, it’s likely that it’ll be a long wait before we see more of League of Legends’ world adapted for television. Most of the dangling plot threads set up through Arcane were resolved by the end, but not all. These plot points, along with a couple of clues near the ending of the third act, point strongly at where we might be headed next: Noxus.

A Roman-style expansionist empire and brutal meritocracy, Noxus shows up in the first season of Arcane, and has a strong presence in the second season. Led by Ambessa Medarda, a feared general, the Noxians manipulate the political tension between the two cities of Zaun and Piltover for their own benefit. That situation is further complicated by the arrival of the Black Rose, a mysterious faction with access to powerful magic. 

The Black Rose have deep roots in League of Legends lore as a Noxian illuminati. The order is dedicated to holding back an evil, ancient warlord at the heart of the Noxian empire by any means necessary. This means starting at least two evil schools meant to train youth in magical war crimes, which produced the champions Annie and Rell. It also includes the animation of an ancient hero, Sion, putting him in a constant limbo that swings between confusion and violent rage. The secret order’s shadowy matron even emerges to chat with Mel in Arcane’s second season. That character is very likely LeBlanc, the sorceress running the Black Rose, although that is not officially confirmed in the show.

Ambessa stands in opposition to the Black Rose and everything they represent, arguing that their secrecy and magic undermines the empire’s core principles of strength and vision. She makes use of some Noxian magic – during a critical battle, we see her using runes that look very similar to Riven’s runic blade – but she has a very hostile history with the Rose. Their very presence complicates things through the entire story, and it doesn’t seem as though they’ve been thwarted in many major ways.

Then, in some of the final moments of the show, we see a red-eyed raven land and survey the aftermath. That raven is likely associated with Jericho Swain, the man who pulls a daring coup on Noxus in the League of Legends lore. Swain is closely tied to the Black Rose, and we know that Fortiche and Riot Games are looking at Noxus (as well as Demacia and Ionia) as options for potential future shows. None of this is set in stone, but it’s fun to speculate during the long wait for more news.