A playable character in the ridiculously popular MOBA League of Legends has been killed off, ostensibly for good.

The current Bilgewater story event has seen Gangplank, the piratical Saltwater Scourge, killed by nemesis Miss Fortune and removed from the play roster.

Controversially, Gangplank is a paid character, meaning that if this twist is permanent, players will have lost their unlock money, plus whatever they spent on cosmetic items.

In response, developer Riot stated on its forums, "Champion death is unprecedented in League of Legends, and we do not take it lightly. We encourage all Gangplank fans to remain calm for a few days until we can fully assess the situation."

Riot's air of surprise may well be part of the story event itself; it seems likely that the character will be brought back in a comic-book style resurrection.

Gangplank also recently underwent a sizeable revamp, making his removal all the more transparent – or suspicious, depending on how it's interpreted.