Ambessa Medarda

Background

Ambessa belongs to the powerful and wealthy Medarda Clan. ^[2] The Medarda Clan has incredibly high standards for its family members. Regarding the family, it is possible Ambessa Medarda is married because Jayce Talis refers to her as Mrs. Medarda upon exiting their conversation in a hot bath room in Piltover.

While inside a delipidated building with Mel, Ambessa retells a story to Mel Medarda when in she was in her younger years. Ambessa shares, when she was 10 years old, her father brought her to the aftermath of the Battle of Hildenard. Ambessa was offered by her father a gold coin for every blade she gathered from the slain. The reasoning being, she was told, was because they needed the steel. However, Ambessa knew that was not the truth. In fact, Ambessa recollects, she knew that her father wanted Ambessa to experience death first hand. But when Mel pushes back on the imparted wisdom, Ambessa clarifies one not only be a fox among wolves in order to last in this life, but one must be both.

Conclusively, Ambessa banished her daughter, Mel from her group and possibly Noxus entirely roughly a decade before Ambessa's visit to Piltover. Mel recalls her mother saying "Perhaps, your sentimentality will be more at home with those soft-spined idealists overseas." around the time Ambessa cast out Mel. ^[5]

Current

Ambessa is a warlord from Noxus. ^[1]

Personality

Ambessa Medarda is a confident women. Her confidence is such that she approached Jayce Talis naked while in the hot springs room in Piltover. In contrast, Jayce was rather uncomfortable. She speaks slowly and with purpose. She comes across as stern. She possesses the ability to make difficult decisions and can be cutthroat when needed. The warlord ordered a young girl to be executive for what the girl represented in her eyes. She showed no hesitation before killing the girl. Further, she showed no remorse afterwards. All of this made apparent to Mel first hand.

Mrs. Medarda also displays her blunt personality trait with others. This is especially true when trying to prove her point. She often leads with kind words and follows up with contrasting, stark realities.

In contrast to her savage capabilities, Ambessa feels guilt from the loss her son, Kino. She admits she was distracted while Kino was murdered.

Another contrasting trait is her seductive behaviors towards youthful men. ^[5]

Attitude

According to Mel, her mother, Ambessa has harsh feelings about Piltovans and considers them weak idealists.

The tough Noxian feels Mel's opinions on Mel being banished are overrated. ^[5]

Beliefs

The Noxian Warlord perceives certain individuals as symbols of the old regime, which is dissatisfactory.

She also believes the creation of weapons cannot be undone. Further, they will be used sooner or later.

In Ambessa's eyes, the reason she sent Mel to Piltover was to manage their family's affairs and help her grow. Moreover, Ambessa reinforces her belief from observing that Mel has succeeded in those two regards. ^[5] At one point, Ambessa said to Mel that she belongs in Noxus. ^[6]

Mrs. Medarda understands Noxus can be a rough place to inhabit. Like their grapes, she says, whatever manages to survives becomes hardened. ^[6]

Appreciations

The powerful warlord, as far as we've seen, is kind to her daughter, Mel. She often tried to flatter Mel to get into her good books notwithstanding Mel resists.

Ambessa has an appreciation for young attractive men as seen by her invite to explore Piltover by a young, affluent looking man. Additionally, she acted flirtatious with him, smiling and stroking his lip before she sailed off from a conversation with Mel Medarda.

She also enjoys hot baths, wine, and ^[5] and lobster. ^[6]

Strategies

The warlord used an extermination tactic to kill a girl who represented the old regime. Ambessa insisted just the girl needed to be killed. She felt, if they were to let her live, they could multiply and what could have been one kill could become a thousand.

Additionally, in order to persevere in her line of work, it's beneficial to harness skills in line with a wolf. That is, to show no mercy.

More recently, Ambessa made an in-person visit to her daughter, Mel in Piltover. With a supposed war incoming she hoping to leverage Jayce Talis' new experience with hextech weaponry to her advantage. These actions show show Ambessa has the foresight and planning to prepare for war. ^[5]

Awareness

Ambessa knows of Piltover and has heard of their hospitality.

The warlord also knows of Mel's assistant, Elora and Jayce Talis. Regarding Jayce, she is aware he is involved in Hextech, and weaponry.

At the very least, Ambessa has a fair amount of knowledge in military history. She refers to the Alornian General Sonnem Parlec when speaking with Jayce while visiting Piltover.

It appears Mrs. Medarda possesses a fair amount of self-awareness. She admits to Jayce youth is not on her side, however, she does have experience. This was in regards to convincing her to convince the Piltovan Council to permit Hextech use for war.

The Medarda warlord is no stranger to luxury. She know of wine and even compares Piltovan wine to Noxian wine. She feels Noxian wine is more bold than Piltovan wine. To add to this knowledge, she knows that the Noxian grapes are hardened by the climate. ^[5]

Story

Years Ago in Noxus

When a young distraught woman was brought to Ambessa by her guard, she attempted to teach Mel a lesson. ^[5]

Ambessa's Visits Piltover

Ambessa Medarda made an unwelcomed visit to Piltover. She came to visit her daughter after a decade of physical distance. She conversed with her daughter Mel while there. She walked in with an intimidating stride, tucking her left thumb into her belt. Dust poured out into Piltover. As she stepped out, six guards stood at he ready with weapons and armor. After some tense small talk, Ambessa breaks the news that Mel's brother, Kino has been slain. She explains Kino upset a troublesome man. She adds, that she was distracted while this happened. Furthermore, she states this error of hers is irreversible.

Aside from her political actions taken while in Piltover, Mrs. Medarda spent a fair amount of time living the lap of luxury. She indulged in massages, hot baths, and enjoying wine. ^[5]

The Real Reason for Her Visit

After briefly grieving over Kino, Ambessa switches the subject to Mel's connection with Jayce Talis. Ambessa knows Jayce has recently been combining hextech with weaponry. Mel scoffs while Ambessa sets in on using his abilities for an upcoming war. After sensing resistance from Mel, she lights in that Mel has allowed Zaun to maturate for too long. However, Mel defends her point stating Piltover is not a military minded city and Hextech was intended to Piltover. She concludes sternly by declaring to Mel she arrived in Piltover to lead her to proper decisions. In the end, Mel harshly disagreed. ^[5]

Ambessa Medarda Meets Jayce Talis

The Noxian warlord retires to a explore Piltover and finds herself having a hot bath. She's relaxing with at least one guard on standby. Furthermore, she is enjoying the luxuries of being massaged when Jayce is presumably called upon by Ambessa. Although Jayce did know know whom he was meeting when entering. Now, Jayce is in the the hot spring room, when Ambessa begins conversing with him. She asks Jayce if military history is taught at Jayce's academy. Jayce replies that he unsure.

She sets in on explaining how Sonnem Parlec, an Alornian General used to find opportunities to encounter his enemies while being blindfolded. She explain his rationale was that a man's mind hides behind his body. After a moment of thought, Jayce realized and stated, "You're Mel's Mom." Suddenly, Jayce appeared uncomfortable in the presence of Ambessa's overly enjoyable hot bath massage. ^[5]

Ambessa Medarda Criticizes the Council

Not a moment later, Ambessa stopped Jayce from leaving by getting to the point. She notes, Zaun is in fact a real threat. Furthering that, she says to Jayce, his leadership is crucial. Nonetheless, Jayce didn't take kindly to her comment. He replied that Piltover may be different than Noxus, but Piltover is not as incapable as the warlord might think.

Ambessa argues Piltover is not under scrutiny. She believes the Council is the cause for concern. At this point she connects her previous reference to Sonnem Parlec, and suggests the Council is the "mind hiding behind the body". She continues, currently Jayce is unequipped to handle dilemma with Zaun.

Jayce hits back with asking Ambessa what the success rate for senior Academy inventors is. He answers, a mere 3%. Therefore, he doesn't expect to fail under these circumstances. Jayce thanks her and escorts himself out. ^[5]

Mrs. Medarda Wants Jayce to Succeed

Once more, the warlord tells Jayce to wait. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Medarda rises up out of the bath, still without her clothes. She puts a hand on Jayce, leans in close and tell him kindly that she wants him to succeed regarding his leadership and the threat of Zaun. Ambessa also wants Jayce to uncover the innovative Hextech technology to the world. Despite voicing this desire, she add that she fears if Jayce doesn't acknowledge the gravity of the situation, that Jayce will have a fate similar to General Parlec, and dramatically concludes inches from his ear, "slaughtered with your eyes closed". ^[5]

Ambessa Influences Jayce

Later on during a council meeting, Jayce proposes using Hextech to quell the tensions between Zaun and Piltover. This was clearly, at the least in large part Ambessa's influence. His suggestion was met with pushback from Caitlyn Kiramann (a council member's daughter) and Mel Medarda. The rest of the council disagreed with Jayce. A Zaunite, Vi was in the council room. She boisterously shared a sobering viewpoint that Zaun is capable of aggressive behavior. Regardless, she left before she was asked to be escorted out by Piltovan enforcers.

Ultimately, Jayce was successfully influenced by Mrs. Medarda. Not long after the council meeting, Jayce forged a powerful hextech powered greathammer. ^[5]

Mel Argues With Ambessa Medarda

On another day Mrs. Medarda is relaxing on a sun tanning bed receiving a massage when Mel Medarda abruptly walks in and smacks her mother's goblet of wine out of her hand. Much of the wine splattered all over the masseur's white dress shirt. Mel barked at the masseur to leave. He waiting until receiving word from Ambessa. She waved him away.

Livid, Mel Medarda yells at her mom to stay away from Jayce. She is upset because Ambessa had altered his viewpoint in a manner than was not in line with Mel's values. Mel raises the ante by demanding Ambessa leave Piltover at once.

Ambessa snaps back at Mel to get a grip and use the manners she was taught. All while snapping a lobster open and eating it mid conversation. The mother throws the lobster to the floor and gives Mel a dirty glare. Next, she raises her arm and signals to her guard for privacy. ^[6]

Kino Medarda's Killer is Still Vengeful

In a hushed tone, Ambessa updates Mel that her deceased brother Kino's killer wants revenge and that they are in trouble. Mel kneels down. Ambessa continues, and adds that this man feels the score is not even. Furthermore, this man has more resources than the Medarda's posses. It is for this reason, Ambessa Medarda wants to claim and utilize hextech weaponry. At which point she can defend herself from Kino's killer.

Naturally, Mel was not supportive of her mother's rationale. But her mother reminded her she simply expedited what Mel had already began. Ambessa was referring to Mel's decision to invest into Jayce and by extension his Hextech invention. Mel felt pressure to do so due to her ambition and desire to prove herself as a Medarda.

In spite of that, the daughter justifies by stating her intention was to protect Piltover from individuals such as her mother. Adding insult to injury, Mel scolds her mother by stating she's in disbelief that she would start a war for personal meals. Ambessa responds in a hostile tone that she would burn the world if it would protect their family. Those words meant nothing to Mel because she says she was no longer a member of the family the day she was exiled. ^[6]

Mel Ask Why She Was Exiled by Ambessa

Mel explains she no longer felt a member of the family when she was cast out. Their tones change from anger to sadness. Mel asks her mother why she exiled her. Ambessa suddenly stands up and yells "Cause you weakened me!". She reveals further that it was difficult to see the look in Mel's eyes when Ambessa made tough decisions. Ambessa emphasized, the decisions were essential to maintaining the family's safety, which effectively increased the seriousness of her point.

They take a break in conversation. Ambessa walks a round for a few moment before beginning that they need the hextech weaponry. She concludes by saying "Let the war unfold". She puts her hand on Mel's shoulder and invites her back home to Noxus and join her. ^[6]

Appearance

Ambessa has a solid frame, muscular body, and medium height. She has dark skin, short coarse grey hair and grey eyebrows to. She has crows feet wrinkles, showing her age slightly. Her body is nearly covered in scars. First, her face consists of several lighter colored scars. One coming up from her lip, another across the left side of her face spanning from her neck to cheek, and lastly one on the left side of her forehead. On her upper body, she has a long scar across both shoulders spanning front to back. There is also one on the lower part of her tricep on both arms. Unsurprisingly, Mrs. Medarda has a massive scar from left to ride side and top to bottom of her back. The majority of the visible scar is at the top portion of her back.

She was seen wearing military attire consisting of a paludamenta, signifying her military ranking, a black sleeveless undershirt, red hand wraps, a black belt with red sash above it, black pants with buttons, a light colored belt, and dark boots. ^[5]

Abilities

The Noxian warlord is incredibly skilled with a sword. She possesses an unimaginably quick swing. She performed a double arc swing with her sword to kill the girl who represented the old regime. ^[5]

Relationships

Mel Medarda

Ambessa is Mel Medarda's mother. Sometimes she refers to Mel, as 'Child'. When Mel was younger, Ambessa had given her advice and guidance in an attempt to her her maintain her position in the Medarda Clan lineage. Ambessa had shared insights about war that was passed on to her as a child. Mel displayed resistance, citing quotes from her brother Kino signifying that her values lay elsewhere.

During Mel's adolescence, Ambessa is generous with Mel on the condition Mel can demonstrate she is deserving of opportunity. For example, when Mel becomes inspired after Ambessa's speech, Mel begins to imagine how she can rebuild a tarnished building for their family. Mel suggests the regent will have a personal secret entrance. Just then, Mel proposes that perhaps Mel could be the heir and give Mel a throne eventually if she can prove herself.

She is notably wealthier than Mel Medarda. ^[2] Their relationship is strained to some degree as adults. ^[4]

Family Tension

Their relationship is incredibly constrained. Their values are quite opposed. Ambessa is comfortable using aggressive tactics to fuel her ambitions, whereas Mel is a pacifist and prefers to play a supportive role. As a result this difference has caused Mel feels resentful towards her mother and Ambessa feels she has been acting in Mel's best interest. Mel is hurt by her mother's decision to cast her out. Likely, some of Mel's resentment was reduced when she discovered she was cast out not due to malice by out of pain. He mother felt pain, when seeing Mel crushed by the tough decisions Ambessa had to make back in Noxus. [5, 6]

Roughly 10 years prior to Ambessa's visit in Piltover, she cast out Mel from Noxus. ^[5]

Ambessa Medarda knows of Jayce Talis. She knows Mel Medarda has sponsored his Hextech inventions. Nevertheless, Ambessa wants help Mel use Jayce's technology to weaponize them and prepare from an incoming war.

While she appears to be looking out for Jayce's best interest, she appears to have an ulterior motive due to her connection with Mel Medarda. Given her role as a Noxian warlord, and her goal to further establish her family's power, it would be unsurprising to discover ulterior motives for helping Jayce. ^[5]

On a more personal note, Mrs. Medarda recognizes why Jayce has won over Piltover and Mel Medarda. She see's Jayce as possessing a youthful spirit.

Kino Medarda

Ambessa Medarda had a son named Kino Medarda. In Ambessa's opinion, she believed Kino thought he can talk with way out of anything. Moreover, she described Kino as one who sees himself as a fox among wolves. Presumably sly and cunning, but lacking ferocity. In particular, she does not hold the same value as Kino that, 'war is a failure of statecraft'. Unfortunately, years later Kino was killed and Ambessa was regretful. ^[5]

Frequently Asked Questions

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