Runeterra
Runeterra is the fictional world of the MOBA game League of Legends. Runeterra is the world in which the continent of Valoran exists and where the League of Legends (The Institute of War) is located.
Cities
The League of Legends is an organization which was created to resolve the political conflicts in Valoran.
Twenty years ago from its present state, Runeterra was on the verge of disaster. Fighting broke out all around Valoran and other continents. Regardless of the era magical warfare has always been preferred. Runeterra holds a large quantity of raw magical power and so wars between tribes were too becoming too destructive. Within the last two hundred years the dangers of unchecked magical warfare began to expose the fragility of Runeterra and it soon became apparent to everyone residing in Valoran. The geophysical landscape of Valoran began to drastically change as a result of the last two Rune Wars - despite the use of magical energy to try and restore it. The violent earthquakes and intense magically-fueled storms that followed made life on Valoran more difficult, even before taking into account the horrific battles that were going on.[1]
Before a third Rune War could ensue and cause more damage - key magicians from all around Valoran, as well as many powerful summoners drew the conclusion that a new way of resolving conflicts needed to be found. As a direct response to the world's growing physical and political instability they decided to form an organization called the League of Legends, whose purpose was to oversee the resolution of political conflict in a controllable and systematic way. This organization is housed in the Institute of war located in the center of Valoran. There political disputes are settled in controlled areas called "Fields of Justice" the most popular of these maps being Summoner's Rift.[2]
Runeterra has several "league city states" – cities that the league of legends have deemed to have a substantial impact on runeterra-. These states are: Bandle City, Bilgewater, Demacia, Freijlord, Ionia, Noxus, Piltover and Zaun.
Ionia
Ionia is an island city-state off the east coast of mainland Valoran, northeast of Noxus. It is a haven for those who seek spiritual enlightenment and is primarily inhabited by humans. There are many spiritual centers and school located on the island. Violence is frowned upon in Ionia and most citizens try to resolve issues in a peaceful manner. That is why diplomacy has evolved into an art in Ionia. Their courts are well known for their fairness and neutrality. Also the government structure is different compared to others in Runeterra. The lack of military involvement has prevented Ionia from needing a single defined leader and so it is divided into provinces which each appoint their own Elder. Who is to become the next Elder is determined by a competition called "The Distinction" which is held every five years. These elders then gather three times a year at "the Convergence of Elders" where they decide upon important matters concerning the citizens of Ionia.[3]
However Ionians are not to be mistaken for helpless pacifists who are unable to defend themselves. They have created some of the most impressive martial art forms and orders in all of Runeterra. Notable Ionian citizens and their association are: Irelia - The Art of Hiten, Master Yi, Wukong - The Art of Wuju, Udyr - The Hirana Monastery, Shen, Kennen, Akali - The Kinkou Order, Zed - The Order of the Shadow, Lee Sin - The Shojin Monastery, Varus - The Pallas Temple Guardian.
Demacia
Demacia is a state awash with white stone and marble buildings and is seen to be the most virtuous human settlement in Valoran. The people their live strictly with good morals and a thirst for justice: anyone opposing these often finding themselves isolated or worse. The state is run by a constitutional monarchy with the royal Lightshield family. Demacia was one of the first cities to endorse the league of legends and with the biggest army in Valoran it joined with the intention of diminishing the threat of Noxus, another city league state that Demacia have a long and bitter feud with. The league allows Demacia the vast resources needed to keep its colossal army and the reason the army itself changed its target to re gain things Noxus has taken to an all out defensive army of protecting the state itself. Iconic figures affiliated with Demacia are: Fiora, Galio, Garen, Jarvan IV, Lucian, Lux, Poppy, Quinn, Shyvana, Sona, Vayne and Xin Zhao. [4]
Piltover
Piltover (the city of progress) is a city that specializes in the ecologically friendly research of techmaturgy: powering itself from the gases and liquids in a marsh atop a small mountain. The city finds itself ever expanding on the parts of science researched there both by residents and visitors featuring aspects such as archaeology and medicine. Piltover is also known as the city of progress due to its remarkably low crime rate.
Noxus
Noxus is a dark and malicious city that is situated on the side of and inside of a granite mountain. The city itself, surrounded by a mote filled with liquids created by witches with only a few entrance points that are heavily guarded. The city is the polar opposite of the city of Demacia in terms of morals. Strength begets strength on those with the ambition move to the top regardless of how negatively this affects their fellow citizens. The city is ruled by “The Noxian High Command” which also acts as the head of the cities military. The leader of the Noxian Command – the grand general – was, for as long as Noxians could remember, General Boram Darkwill who was believed to have been kept alive through necromantic magic due to his absurd life span. Recently Boram was assassinated and Jericho Swain rose to power. Noxians made a strategic decision to support the formation of the League. To oppose an organisation backed by the majority of Valoran would be catastrophic and so they decided to support it. Out of which they gained something close to “peace” with their rivals the Demacians and pledged to focus their conquest elsewhere. However the feud between the two cities was merely moved into the confines of the league. The city have formed an allegiance with the city of Zaun, sometimes summoning Zaunite champions to the field. Champions associated with Noxus are: Cassiopeia, Darius, Dr Mundo, Draven, Katarina, LeBlanc, Morgana, Singed, Sion, Swain, Talon, Urgot, Vladimir and Warwick.[5]
Bandle City
Bandle City (located in Yordle Land in the south part of Valoran) is the home city of the yordle race. As with humans, yordles have both male and female genders, however they are considerably shorter than humans and rarely exceed one meter in height. Their skin texture ranges from being completely smooth, to very lightly covered in fur, to ultimately being significantly furry. They are generally a peaceful and friendly race that like to perform pranks. They are also considered to be very social creatures and thus their government is very community based. Although they lack stature, Yordles have a well organized army with several different military groups: the Megling Commandos, the Scouts of the Mothership and the Screaming Yipsnakes. Bandle City has relatively good relationships with most other cities in Valoran one exception being Bilgewater, mainly due to pirate attacks on yordle vessels. Iconic figures whose origin relates to Yordle Land are: Corki, Heimerdinger, Poppy, Rumble, Teemo, Tristana, Ziggs, Amumu, Kennen, Lulu, Veigar.
Shadow Isles
The Shadow Isles are a small group of islands covered in a thick fog far to the north west of Runeterra. The islands are rumoured to be the home for large numbers of undead creatures. All of the islands history is stored within the two mysterious alters within the Twisted Tree Line. The Twisted Tree Line was made an addition to the League of legends after one year when summoners were sent to explore the Shadow Isles, later establishing the Twisted Tree Line as an official addition to the fields of justice. The Shadow Isles are also the home to the Spider God, Vilemaw who has made its den within the Twisted Tree Line. Champions associated with the shadow isles, Yorick, the Gravedigger is the ferryman for the isles. Karthus, the Deathsinger is the ruling lich. Evelynn, the Widowmaker is thought to have originated from the Shadow Isles given her dark appearance and inability to tolerate direct sunlight. Elise, the Spider Queen, a worshiper of the Spider God, Vilemaw. Thresh, the Chain Warden is a prison guard from the Shadow Isles whose signature tools were chains. He searches for souls to return to the Isles with. More include Hecarim, Mordekaiser , and Maokai.
References
- ^ http://www.wegame.com/games/league_of_legends/runeterra/ (Date Accessed- 6th November 2013)
- ^ http://gameinfo.eune.leagueoflegends.com/en/game-info/ (Unknown. "Game Info" "League of Legends" Date Accessed- 6th November 2013)
- ^ http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=810856 (Unknown. League of Legends. Date accessed- 13th November 2013)
- ^ http://leagueoflegendslore.wordpress.com/category/demacia/ (Date Published- 22nd October 2013 Date Accessed- 5th November 2013)
- ^ http://leagueoflegendslore.wordpress.com/category/noxus/ (Published- October 22nd 2011 Date Accessed- 5th November 2013)