塔姆 Tahm Kench

河流之王 the River King

台词

“世界，就是一条河流，而我，是它的国王。”

''The whole world's a river, and I'm its king.''

传记

塔姆在历史上有许多不同的名字，他游历于符文之地的各条水道，用大意之人的悲惨喂养自己贪得无厌的食欲。虽然他的外表可能富有古怪的魅力和得意，但他在物质领域的漫游只是为了寻找毫无戒心的猎物。他的舌头像巨大的鞭子，即使是全副武装的重甲士兵也会被他从十几步以外的距离击晕，而如果跌入了他隆隆作响的肚子里，就相当于掉进了九死一生的绝命深渊。

Known by many names throughout history, the demon Tahm Kench travels the waterways of Runeterra, feeding his insatiable appetite with the misery of others. Though he may appear singularly charming and proud, he swaggers through the physical realm like a vagabond in search of unsuspecting prey. His lashing tongue can stun even a heavily armored warrior from a dozen paces, and to fall into his rumbling belly is to tumble into an abyss from which there is little hope of return.

瓦洛兰的水道由来已久，但是恶魔塔姆·肯奇的来历更加久远。从蟒河流域泥泞的帐篷赌档，穿过比尔吉沃特盐霜板结的赌博大厅，再到皮尔特沃夫和祖安镀金的赌桌上——任何一个对旁人的财富投去垂涎目光的人都会知道，与河流之王相遇后心里泛起的饥渴是什么样的滋味。

The waterways of Valoran are old, but far older still is the demon Tahm Kench. From muddy gambling tents along the Serpentine River, through the salt-crusted dice halls of Bilgewater, to the gilded wagering tables of Piltover and Zaun—all those who have given a covetous glance to another’s wealth know the unending hunger that comes from an encounter with the River King.

关于这家伙最早的传说来自于一群在蟒河流域来往的流民。他们提到过一条硕大的鱼，嘴巴又阔又深，引诱着欲壑难填的人。有个故事说的就是一个诚实著称的年轻人。虽然他生来就是做撑船人的命，但他已经看腻了贫瘠的河岸，向往着更好的生活。河流之王向他许诺，只要他撒一次小谎，就会给他一份难忘的经历。看起来是白给的好处，所以撑船人就和自己的兄弟在聊天时就说了大话。那天晚上，这个恶魔冒出来向他指了一条河汊，而他之前从来没发现过。顺着汊道，他来到了一处外地人的营地。他们端来吃喝，跟他称兄道弟。天快亮时，撑船人已经吃饱喝足，准备回家。恶魔这时又来了，许诺说要是他再撒一次谎，就有更开心的体验。他被勾起了兴趣，于是同意了这笔交易，骗了自己的雇主。河水再次分出新路，他顺流而下，度过了更为奢侈的一夜。如是再三，夜复一夜，这个曾经诚实的撑船人如今扯起谎来不费吹灰之力。

The first tales of the creature were told by a traveling people who plied the Serpentine. They warned of a giant fish with a cavernous mouth, who would lure in the dissatisfied with the promise of more. One such story was that of a young man renowned for his honesty. Though born to the ways of a raftsman, he desired a life beyond the poor banks he knew so well, and the River King promised him an unforgettable experience if only he would tell one little lie. It seemed harmless enough, so the raftsman bent the truth in conversation with his own brother. That night the demon appeared, revealing a fork in the river the raftsman had never noticed before. He followed it to a camp of foreign folk who offered him food and drink, and fresh companionship. As dawn neared, and the raftsman was full and ready to return to his people, the demon appeared again, promising an even greater experience for another lie. His interested piqued, the man accepted the bargain, telling falsehoods to his hosts. The river parted again and he followed it to an evening of even greater luxury. This continued, night after night, until the once-honest raftsman’s deceits came as easily as breathing.

等到河道最终淌入了大海，他发觉自己孤身一人，不知所措——再没有人给他骗了。这么多次愚昧的选择，都是他咎由自取，再也找不到回家的路。

When the river finally emptied into the sea, he found himself alone and lost—there was no one left to lie to. So many dark choices, all of them his own, had left the raftsman with no way back home.

大陆上苦涩的河水将河流之王的故事传到了蓝焰岛。随着传闻越来越盛，人们给他起了个名字——塔姆·肯奇。在比尔吉沃特，有人暴富，有人赤贫。潮水起起落落，财富也随之来去。很多酒馆里的故事都会提到老塔姆，说他是个活在水里的恶魔，最嗜赌博，永不满足。于是，这个多话的家伙就变成了城里许多赌窝和犯罪之所的标志。

The brackish rivers of the mainland carried the tales of the River King to the Blue Flame Isles, where the creature gained a name as his legend grew—Tahm Kench. In Bilgewater, fortunes are boom or bust, with as much wealth going out with the tide as comes in. Many a tavern yarn tells of ol’ Tahm, a demon of the water with an unending appetite for games of chance, such that the loquacious beast became a symbol for many of the city’s gambling dens and houses of sin.

日之门的开启让比尔吉沃特和皮尔特沃夫便利地通商，塔姆·肯奇的故事在进化之城以及下方的祖安也越来越广为人知。孩子们知道他叫“两件大衣”，因为这条鱼实在胖得过分，所以要把两件大衣缝在一起才穿得进去。他戴着一顶自鸣得意的礼帽，一张大嘴笑起来简直比整个城市还宽。他撩动着年轻技工们的嫉妒心。据说某一次进化日的时候，他找到了皮城里一个正在纠结的发明家，给她出了个主意，保证能让一个富裕的家族注意到。他要求的回报只是一束她的头发。这个野心勃勃的女人一口应允，而且确实，她的作品给她带来了一份丰厚的合同。但一件发明可不够，两件大衣晃悠悠地又来了。这一次他要的是她全部的秀发。为了不让自己的新雇主失望，发明家又同意了——塔姆立刻一口吞下了头发。可是，女人还是做不出名扬天下的发明。恶魔再次现身，索要的代价是一个指尖。一周后，他要了一只耳朵。过了一年，女人已经没什么能给出去的了。最后，她自己唤来了两件大衣，恳求他停止这一切。

Once the Sun Gates opened easy trade from Bilgewater to Piltover, tales of Tahm Kench became more common in the City of Progress and its underbelly, Zaun. There, children know Tahm as “Two-Coats,” a fish so monstrously large that he wears two fine jackets stitched together. With a jaunty top hat and a smile wider than the Pilt itself, he drives the jealousies of young artificers. It is said he came one Progress Day to a struggling Piltovan inventor, and offered her an idea certain to make a wealthy clan take notice. All he asked in return was a single lock of her hair. The ambitious woman made the trade and, true enough, her work landed her a lucrative contract. But one invention would not satisfy, and Two-Coats wandered by, this time asking for all of her lovely braids. Not wishing to disappoint her new patrons, the inventor agreed—and Two-Coats ate them up on the spot. Still the woman was unable to find the one great innovation that would make her name. The demon came again, offering a deal that would take the tip of one finger. The following week it was an ear. A year passed, and by then there was little left of the woman to give. Finally she called Two-Coats herself, begging him to make it all stop.

他大笑着张开了大嘴，说他会帮她一了百了地解决问题，然后立即把她整个儿吞了下去。

He laughed as he opened his jaws wide, telling her he would protect her from herself, and promptly swallowed her whole.

河流之王。大晃悠。大哈欠。两件大衣。塔姆·肯奇有很多名字，但凡是叫出过这些名字的人都明白了一个道理：无论他的花言巧语多么诱人，在他的嘴里你必将迷失。

The River King. The Great Waddler. Old Yawn-Belly. Two-Coats. The demon Tahm Kench is known by many names, but all who speak them have learned a singular truth: no matter how alluring his words may be, in his mouth you will be lost.