Hello, I'm 용혁순, a Nexon Picker.

Today, I'd like to share some of the most memorable stories and pieces of lore in MapleStory.

I've chosen 2 in particular: a poignant love story and a piece of game lore that left a lasting impression on me.

The Story of Von Leon and Ifia

Von Leon is a familiar name to many of us as one of the Black Mage's commanders.

The summer 2024 Milestone patch gave us a detailed look at Von Leon's past!

After receiving the throne from his father, who cared deeply for his people, the young Von Leon felt he was unfit to be king. He occasionally worked as a mercenary, even slaying the Lycanthropes that terrified the villagers, and it was at the festival they held to celebrate this feat that Von Leon and Ifia met.

To understand how Von Leon became one of the Black Mage's commanders, we need to look at his kingdom: a poor, weak, and insignificant realm whose fortunes changed with the Black Mage's emergence.

The rebels who had risen up to defeat the Black Mage attacked the kingdom when it refused to join them, unwilling to accept its decision to carry on as usual despite the Black Mage's emergence. Having lost both his kingdom and Ifia, who meant everything to him, Von Leon did indeed become a servant of the Black Mage—the first commander in the story, a role he holds to this day.

As you play through the story today, you can discover an Easter egg by equipping Noble Ifia's Ring and speaking to Von Leon in the past: he recognizes the ring.

The Lore of Ludibrium

The lore of Ludibrium from the early days of MapleStory is another highlight. Time in Ludibrium stands permanently still. The king of Ludibrium personally asked Rhinne, the Goddess of Time, to stop time in the town so that his people could be happy and preserve their childlike innocence forever.

A closer look at Ludibrium reveals some curious consequences of this decision. With time frozen in the town, it flows differently in Eos Tower and Helios Tower.

At Eos Tower, time stopped in the future, which explains the presence of Omega Sector, where even alien invasions occur. At Helios Tower, time stopped in the past, giving us Korean Folk Town. Forcibly stopping time has also caused bizarre, hideous monsters to gather in the deepest levels of the Clocktower.

Even Alishar, best known as the final boss of the Ludibrium Party Quest, is said to be an unfortunate creature caught in a rift in time, flung into another dimension, and left to wander aimlessly with no way home. I was delighted to see it again when I revisited the Ludibrium Party Quest after a long absence while playing 메이플랜드, but learning its story made me feel a little sorry for it, too.

From its early days to the present, MapleStory has shown a real talent for creating memorable lore, monsters, and relationships with NPCs.

Although Ludibrium's story dates back to the game's older lore, I still found its premise fascinating. Von Leon's more recently added backstory was apparently introduced as part of a revamp of the Black Mage's storyline, and I think it is wonderfully crafted!