Runeterra (Very Important Setting Chapter)

This chapter is a brief introduction to the main universe of League of Legends and the setting of this book.

In the main universe of League of Legends, the stories of the heroes take place on a planet called Runeterra, which is the favorite creation of the Star Forger, Aurelion Sol.

It was named Runeterra because life was nurtured by the magical energy scattered from the "World Runes."

The world geography in this book is completely consistent with the map of Runeterra on the official website: there are two continents, north and south, namely the southern continent of Shurima and the northern continent of Valoran.

Where the two continents connect is the land where Piltover and Zaun are located.

These two city-states were originally one. Due to crustal activity caused by explosions during the excavation of a canal connecting the eastern and western oceans in the early years, the city-state split in half, gradually forming Piltover to the north and Zaun to the south.

However, due to the completion of the canal and the convenience of sea transport, they quickly prospered after the disaster. Currently, these two city-states are managed by the powerful oligarchs within them.

In the southwest of the northern continent of Valoran, in a fertile basin, lies Demacia, which emphasizes national glory and strict discipline, and has a noble class system.

Demacia is a country with an anti-magic policy because its founders were refugees who fled here due to the "Rune Wars." Therefore, they fear and hate the power of magic. Demacia has a vast Nullstone Forest that can suppress the power of magic, giving them a sense of security. Currently, Demacia is ruled by the "Lightshield" family, to which Jarvan IV belongs.

To the east of Demacia, separated by a large expanse of wilderness and barren plains, lies a powerful city-state that adheres to the principle of strength ruling and is militaristic—Noxus.

Anyone can gain power and respect as long as they demonstrate the necessary ability, regardless of social status, background, or personal wealth. Noxians revere strength above all else, and of course, there are many forms of strength. Noxus is ruled by the Tripartite Council—Swain, LeBlanc, and Darius, representing strategy, cunning, and force, respectively.

On the northernmost part of the Valoran continent, this extremely cold, frozen tundra is called Freljord.

Freljord is a land of harsh and unforgiving environments. Where demigods tread, everyone is born a warrior. Although there are many different tribes within Freljord, the three largest factions are the Avarosans, the Winter's Claw, and the Frostguard. Their different ways of survival also make them distinct from each other. At the same time, this is the only place in Runeterra where Anima can be found.

Let us now turn our attention to the other continent: Shurima.

On the westernmost corner of the Shurima continent stands the highest peak in Runeterra, Mount Targon.

This was once the birthplace of the Aspects, with a glorious history. However, as the Aspects expanded to other star systems, only a few Aspects remain to guard their birthplace. In the rugged mountains at the foot of Mount Targon, a nomadic people called the Rakel also live. In Rakel mythology, if one can climb to the summit of Mount Targon, they can gain extraordinary divine power...

In the central part of the Shurima continent lies a vast desert. Above it, there was once a civilization as dazzling as the sun—Shurima.

This incredibly powerful empire was not only strong in national power but was also guarded by dozens of powerful beings called "Ascended." The Ascended gained the power of the sun, transforming them from ordinary humans into beings comparable to demigods.

Shurima's territory once covered the entire southern continent. But with the death of the mythical emperor Azir, the prosperous and shining capital turned into ruins, and the ancient empire disintegrated, scattering like yellow sand in the wind.

However, this mythical emperor was awakened by an accident caused by a conspiracy, by the bloodline of his descendants.

Shurima's power is slowly accumulating, plotting a resurgence. And its people are all waiting for the time when the sun's radiance will shine again.

Further east lies a vast, continuous primeval forest called Ixtal.

Outsiders know little about it, and human development has only just begun to enter it. However, a tribe with a thousand-year history is hidden within this forest. They built an exquisite capital called Ixtal within the forest, where the people have inherited the ability to control multiple natural elements.

The ruler of Ixtal, the family to which Qiyana belongs, adheres to a policy of isolation, which has allowed them to avoid the conflicts and wars on Runeterra for thousands of years. However, with the arrival of outsiders, how will they make their choice?

Finally, there is a peninsula in the southern part of the Shurima continent. This was once a country called Icathia. This country was subordinate to the then-powerful Shurima, but Icathia, unwilling to be ruled by Shurima, chose to rebel. When the powerful Ascended came to suppress them, they discovered how irresistible the Ascended were. In despair, the Icathian mages unleashed their final trump card: they opened a void rift!

When countless Void Creatures, corrupted and shaped by the Void, appeared, Shurima mobilized its entire nation, dispatching almost all of its Ascended to barely seal the Void rift. Shurima was severely weakened, and many Ascended were secretly corrupted by the Void, becoming a prelude to the "Void War." Icathia was also destroyed in this cataclysm.

To the east of the two continents, across the boundless Sea of the Watchers, lie three island chains. From north to south, they are Ionia, the Blue Flame Isles, and the Shadow Isles.

Ionia is a tranquil land brimming with magical energy.

Also known as the First Land, Ionia is vast, filled with natural beauty and primal magic. Its inhabitants are spread across various provinces, revering spirituality and pursuing a harmonious way of existence. Ionia's long-standing neutrality was shattered by the Noxian invasion—the brutal occupation forced Ionia to re-examine its place in the world, leaving its future path uncertain.

The Blue Flame Isles are very close to the continent of Shurima, with Bilgewater as its representative city.

Bilgewater is a haven for smugglers, pirates, and outlaws. Here, fortunes can be made or lost in an instant. For those fleeing judgment, debt, or persecution, the city offers a new beginning, for on Bilgewater's winding streets, no one cares about your past. That said, at the break of dawn, the careless often float in the harbor, pockets empty, throats bleeding...

Although Bilgewater is an extremely dangerous place, it is also full of opportunity, unburdened by any government, law, or morality. Whether it's illicit Hextech or the subservience of local gangs, anything can be obtained if you have the money.

The Shadow Isles were originally called the Blessed Isles.

It was once a beautiful and blessed land, but it was destroyed by a magical disaster long ago. Now, the Miasma eternally shrouds the island, and dark magic has corrupted everything. Souls who perish within the Miasma are cursed to become undead, forever part of the Miasma.

Even more terrifying, the Miasma expands every year, seeking to consume more souls across Runeterra.

Finally, there is the most mysterious of all: Bandle City.

Where is the homeland of the Yordles? People speculate endlessly on this question, though some mortals claim to have passed through invisible portals into a strange magical realm beyond the material world. They all describe a place of wild magic, where the reckless and impetuous are led astray by countless wonders, ultimately getting lost in dreams, never to return...

One thing is certain: Bandle City and its inhabitants possess a certain timeless quality, which perhaps explains why mortals who return from there seem to have aged many years overnight, while many others never return at all.

Next, we will introduce two devastating world wars in the history of Runeterra: the "Void War" and the "Rune Wars."

"Void War"

After sealing the Void at a great cost, many Ascended who survived the war were secretly infected by the Void.

The Ascended became brutal, and with the demise of Azir, nothing could restrain their ambition and desires. They plundered, fought, and warred against each other across Runeterra. When the former Ascended began to act wantonly, they brought utter destruction upon mortals... People scornfully called them "Voidborn."

Seeing the former Ascended ravage Runeterra, turning the mortal world into a living hell, the Aspects on Mount Targon could no longer stand idly by. They united with humanity to fight against the Voidborn, successfully sealing them within the weapons they once wielded.

But did it all end there? These weapons were scattered across the world, and how many mortals who wielded them could resist the Voidborn's corruption?

The Voidborn are awakening...

"Rune Wars"

It was only after the Void War that people began to understand the secrets of the "World Runes," the magical source that gave birth to life on Runeterra.

On the Blessed Isles, which had not yet become the Shadow Isles, there was an ancient society. When this ancient society discovered the power of the "World Runes," despite their best efforts to conceal the information, walls have ears.

The secret of the "World Runes" still spread throughout Runeterra. When various factions learned of the power contained within the World Runes, they all sought to seize them, intending to use them in war to obtain even more World Runes.

Within the ancient society, a young mage, following his teacher Tyrus, traveled between different races and nations, urging the factions possessing World Runes to exercise restraint and attempting to persuade them to hand over these dangerous artifacts.

However, no one was willing to hand over such a powerful weapon.

Finally, within Noxus, Tyrus's counsel to the two nations failed. The two nations stood opposed, the tense atmosphere escalating, and eventually, they used the power of World Runes against each other. A world-shattering, devastating strike occurred: the ground collapsed, and seawater surged in from who knows where...

If you open a map of Runeterra, you will find that on the easternmost side of the continent of Valoran, along the coast of Noxus, there is a huge indentation. The area of this indentation is roughly the same size as Demacia. That is the consequence of this strike.

Along with that earth-shattering roar, the "Rune Wars" began. Various factions used runes to strengthen their soldiers' weapons, and mages unleashed magic without restraint...

A young mage witnessed the unfolding of this human tragedy. His hometown was Noxus, the place where the tragedy began.

To end this catastrophe, the young mage and his teacher, Tyrus, began to travel the world, collecting World Runes. The young mage discovered that his teacher was becoming increasingly distant from him. He was horrified to find that Tyrus already possessed two complete World Runes. Due to prolonged contact with the World Runes, Tyrus's mind had changed. He wanted to use the power of the runes to fight violence with violence!

With no other choice, the young mage killed his master. At the same time, he realized that he could never entrust the World Runes to any living being for safekeeping.

The mage shouldered his master's scrolls and continued to walk across Runeterra, fulfilling his mission.

Years later, due to prolonged contact with the World Runes, the mage possessed a long life, and his body also underwent a transformation: his skin turned blue-purple, with lines of runes glowing faintly upon it.

He wandered through Demacia's vast Nullstone Forest, treading on the scattered withered yellow leaves on the ground, and came to a giant tree that had fallen at its roots.

The giant tree had long since withered and died. The dense growth rings on its cross-section bore witness to its history. The mage bent down and touched the ground with his hand, forming a circular magic array that shone with a blue light.

Although the Nullstone could suppress the spellcasting of ordinary mages, he was clearly not an ordinary mage.

The fallen leaves were stirred into the air, but the mage disappeared from his original spot.

As the blue radiance faded, the mage within appeared in a vast, empty stone hall beneath the Nullstone Forest. Huge, withered white tree roots extended from the walls and ceiling of the stone hall.

The mage walked to the center of the stone hall, where five withered white pillars stood. They had wooden patterns, and in the middle of each pillar was a hollowed-out compartment resembling a cage. These pillars looked as if they were carved from those giant tree roots.

He took out a deep red rune, held it, and inserted it into one of the empty compartments.

The moment he was about to let go, countless memories flooded his mind.

From the instant that world-altering catastrophe erupted to the scenes of him searching for runes in various places across Runeterra, they flashed by one by one.

Fear, grief, helplessness, anger... all sorts of emotions filled his heart.

The runes are affecting my mind again.

The mage's eyes snapped open. He hastily let go and retreated, gasping for breath until the light emitted by the deep red rune in the pillar gradually dimmed.

He breathed a sigh of relief, tightened the scrolls on his back, walked back to where he came from, and activated his magic to construct a magic array.

"When I find them all, I will disappear of my own accord."

He thought.

"People say I'm dangerous, and they're not wrong."

The mage smoothed the ripples of his emotions and muttered to himself.

"But there is only one kind of power I wield, and that is the power to let go."

The mage disappeared from the stone hall. The visible blue magic ripples quickly dissipated. In the stone hall, only four runes—red, blue, yellow, and green—floated quietly within the pillars...

The mage's name was Ryze.