IDK if you want all the lore behind the stuff because I don't want to spoil anything so I'll try to keep it general. The opening with Cait's mom narrating is the legacy of the Kirammans trying to protect the undercity by containing the 'grey.' By containing it far below ground, they also sealed places of worship for Janna, goddess of the winds. When you see them fighting at the end, it is in a place where Janna was once worshipped because you can see her on the wall behind them. Jinx also sent up the vent to blow the grey and her color bombs up to Piltover BUT she wanted VI to kill her and is upset when Sevika pulls the lever. This was NOT what Jinx wanted to happen. Salo using the shimmer is more of an 'illegal' drug to reduce his pain but we know you can easily become a shimmer addict. The cat animal woman is Lest and she is probably a Vastaya (Rakan, Xayah - bird people, Ahri, etc) or from Ionia. Also, the stage where they meet is putting on a play for the crowing of the first Demacian King, you can also see Jarvan on the banner all around Piltover. The Black Rose...this one is tough to keep spoiler free because idk what they are going to do in the last ACT but it's a Noxian order of mages and sorcs deep in secrecy. "The Trifarix (also known as the "Council of Three") is the current governing body of Noxus, embodying the fundamental tenets of the Trifarix doctrine, or the "Principles of Strength." The three are: Principal of Might (Darius), Principal of Vision (Swain) and Principal of Guile (PROBABLY the Black Rose and a certain...person I won't mention). And guess whose from Noxus in the current cast and has her daughter right now? YEAH...this sets up of SOME current characters for interesting things. There are rumors going around that the next season may focus on Ionian vs Noxus/War. That's all I'm going to say about that right now. The final scene I'm not sure if you caught what happened but Ambessa was behind the entire movement towards war: she set up Remmie for revenge and killed her off, attempted to set up Jayce to use make weapons, used Salo to keep tabs on her daughter and gather the noble houses (Salo assumed he would lead them, that's why he tried to object when she called Cait's name instead) and is now leading Piltover to fight Zaun and create weapons for her to use against her enemies. That final scene REALLY is a stark reminder of the Nazis and how they took power by using fear, war and hate in order to unite. Even the outfits/hats and hand symbols are telling. We are headed to war and nothing good comes from it. Signed, A sorta Lore Expert 😅
To Ashes and Blood sequence is the best presented in Arcane and possibly just the best sequence in general in Arcane
IDK if you want all the lore behind the stuff because I don't want to spoil anything so I'll try to keep it general.
The opening with Cait's mom narrating is the legacy of the Kirammans trying to protect the undercity by containing the 'grey.' By containing it far below ground, they also sealed places of worship for Janna, goddess of the winds. When you see them fighting at the end, it is in a place where Janna was once worshipped because you can see her on the wall behind them. Jinx also sent up the vent to blow the grey and her color bombs up to Piltover BUT she wanted VI to kill her and is upset when Sevika pulls the lever. This was NOT what Jinx wanted to happen.
Salo using the shimmer is more of an 'illegal' drug to reduce his pain but we know you can easily become a shimmer addict. The cat animal woman is Lest and she is probably a Vastaya (Rakan, Xayah - bird people, Ahri, etc) or from Ionia. Also, the stage where they meet is putting on a play for the crowing of the first Demacian King, you can also see Jarvan on the banner all around Piltover.
The Black Rose...this one is tough to keep spoiler free because idk what they are going to do in the last ACT but it's a Noxian order of mages and sorcs deep in secrecy. "The Trifarix (also known as the "Council of Three") is the current governing body of Noxus, embodying the fundamental tenets of the Trifarix doctrine, or the "Principles of Strength." The three are: Principal of Might (Darius), Principal of Vision (Swain) and Principal of Guile (PROBABLY the Black Rose and a certain...person I won't mention). And guess whose from Noxus in the current cast and has her daughter right now? YEAH...this sets up of SOME current characters for interesting things. There are rumors going around that the next season may focus on Ionian vs Noxus/War. That's all I'm going to say about that right now.
The final scene I'm not sure if you caught what happened but Ambessa was behind the entire movement towards war: she set up Remmie for revenge and killed her off, attempted to set up Jayce to use make weapons, used Salo to keep tabs on her daughter and gather the noble houses (Salo assumed he would lead them, that's why he tried to object when she called Cait's name instead) and is now leading Piltover to fight Zaun and create weapons for her to use against her enemies. That final scene REALLY is a stark reminder of the Nazis and how they took power by using fear, war and hate in order to unite. Even the outfits/hats and hand symbols are telling.
We are headed to war and nothing good comes from it.
Signed, A sorta Lore Expert
😅