New Aphelios Lore

TLDR: Aphelios' lore sucks, here's my version. More realistic and elaborated. Worth the read? You tell me.

I tried to do this as a story, but I can't get the flow right at the moment. So here is it a rant. Riot needs to work on consistent story writing for all their characters. Aphelios is character that is supposed to embody the universal principles of faith and resilience, but the story instead paints him more as a talented kid who turned to drugs because he liked his sister too much (feel free to give me your takeaways on the original lore as well as my own). It is plainly obvious by that the gameplay was the main focus, as it should be, but the story was so far an afterthought that the major point I see people taking from the story is that he is in love with his sister. So here's me trying to correct that oversight and actually give some weight to the newest addition to Leagues' edgy sadboi roster. I understand it's a game, but there’s a certain sense of realism and relatability are essential to any artistic product so if your criticism of my piece boils down to "lol tryhard" please troll elsewhere. what I have written below is an attempt to develop Aphelios' lore in the context of the history on Mount Targon, with parallels drawn to The Song of Fire and Ice book series and a new narrative accounting of his biography that gives proper weight to events that might have forged the talented son of an oppressed people into a proper hero.

_Also, because I am trying to maintain a sense of realism I am issuing a TRIGGER WARNING here. My narrative style comes from a sense of logic and empathy that I have developed over the years and this piece presents situations and emotions as I am best able to understand and communicate them. I have done my best to interpose logical breaks, some lighter hearted sequences, generally try to resolve events and feelings in a way that is realistic and heroic to alleviate the sinking feeling a piece like this might give. I encourage anybody interested in Aphelios, league of legends lore, or just compelling narrative to give this a read. Ultimately I encourage you to do what is best for your state of mind and take breaks where you need to or completely ignore it if it doesn't seem like your cup of tea.

_ Surprisingly enough Jaime Lanister from Game of Thrones does come from a similar background as Aphelios in the sense that they were both, along with their twin sisters, talented individuals that from birth had great responsibility and expectations placed upon them. In Jamie's case it was by his father, in Aphelios' case in was his "faith". The reason why I have faith in quotes is because to understand the type and gravity of it in this context you have to understand what kind of situation the Lunari lived in. While Jaime and Cersie learned the arts of war and subtleties of rule in the comforts of one of Westeros' most prosperous city, Casterly Rock, Aphelios and Alune grew up as part of an oppressed faction on Mount Targon. Their childhoods were probably more like those of Aryaa and Bran Stark after the death of their father Ned; dehumanized, feared, hunted or supposedly dead. Their faith not only refers to the teachings of the Lunari tradition, but also the belief that even in spite of their harsh conditions there is a better life for them if they work hard to achieve it.

So shielded by the thin veil that anonymity and insignificance granted to those dead and forgotten, they were able to come into their powers mostly undisturbed. This is not to say they came into power easily, for the dire circumstances that sparked the need for strength such as theirs necessitated that they develop those powers quickly, often pushing themselves past their limits through a combination of their immense talent and enduring faith. Aphelios spilled not only his blood, but likely the blood of his classmates, colleagues, or teachers as they pushed him to be the Lunari's deadliest weapon. Alune spent her days in meditation trying to channel the powers of the moon for her counselors and elders, at times almost losing her mind in the process. But no matter how talented either of them were, they were still only human and the weight of expectations would at times be on the verge of breaking them, so when either of them faltered the other caught them, listened, and reassured them that they were not alone. Alune helped Aphelios kept hold of his humanity in the wake of the ever growing list of lives he was tasked with taking and in turn Aphelios served as Alune's anchor, guiding her back during times when she dove too far. In a world where they were told they would be the solution to all problems, they were the only ones who told each other they did not have to face those problems alone.

Eventually their training separated them from each other, with Alune stepping away from home to delve deeper into her study of leadership and arcane arts. Truly alone for the first time and with the demands of his own missions ramping up more quickly than ever, Aphelios did what he could to keep moving towards his destiny. When faith wavered again, he attempted to catch himself. He went on a "ceremonial journey into darkness", another vague term to add unneeded mystique to the story at the cost of much needed clarity. Most of the heros from Mount Targon reach the summit to attain their power; Taric, Pantheon, Leo, Diana. This journey is core to what makes a hero Targonian; Taric was originally from Demacia but only achieved hero status after ascending the mountain, not merely ceremonial. Aphelios set out in the middle of the night, away from curious eyes. His physical training would've made the climb easy if not for the hallucinations brought about by the growing magical power as he approached the peak; visions of the Lunari depending on him,of those he killed and they families they leave behind, of all the doubts and distress that lead his on this journey. Deadened by the ridgid pragmatism he learned as an assassin, he closed off his heart and his mind and continue upward steadily, not knowing or caring how long the journey took. Upon reaching the top he found no aspect, no answer for his woes, no grand revelation of purpose, only a pool of water with flowers beneath.

Around the pool lay more corpses. Among them he found several with dark flowers from the pool in hand, noctum. At this point Aphelios could barely tell if they were real or more hallucinations, whether they were people he killed or others lost and looking for purpose, whether the knew what they were doing when they consumed the flower. Still seeking a purpose for his journey, for his life, Aphelios took one of the flowers from the pool and sat down next to the water. Looking around, Aphelios was reminded of the dangers he learned about growing up, of how he was brought up to face them, of the lives he took fighting against them, the seeming futility of it all; and he decided to eat the flower. If liberating the Lunari was his destiny, the flower might give him the power to face it, for he surely lacked it now; and if it wasn't then he would finally be free of a burden he never should've had.

As he looked at the flower in his hands, the only answer his journey had given him, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. The reflection in the pool wasn't of himself, but Alune. Caught off guard he immediately tried to straighten himself and hide the flower, almost falling into the pool as he did so. Alune giggled at her brothers rare moment of clumsiness and gave him a reaffirming smile before trying to glance behind him. At this Aphelios grew more flustered; he started stammering, apologizing, tears streaming down his face as he professed his weaknesses and doubts to this image of his sister like he used to when they were younger. Alune said nothing as he spoke, simply looked at him affectionately, nodded, and held out her hands to him expectantly. Aphelios confused and taken aback at the warmth being shown to him after what felt like a lifetime of difficulties, slowly and apprehensively placed the flower back into the pool - into Alune's hands.

Alune brought the flower up to her mouth and kissed it, and as she did the petals of the noctum opened, revealing a small pool of dew in the center. The dew caught the moonlight passing over head and sparked a soft glow of its own, like a small moon in a starless night sky. With the same expectant face as before, and maybe a tinge more relief, Alune again held out her hands to her brother. As Aphelios looked into the flower again he saw his life. Not all the blood and responsibility, but the gentler times; his classmates cheering him on the first time he sparred with his teachers, Alune telling him of the world she saw in her visions, all the places they would visit, and glimpses at his future as something instead of an angel of death. Without hesitation, Aphelios drank from the now open flower. As he did, all the world came into a sharp focus, once again he could feel his doubt swell and the weight of the lives he'd taken again threatened to crush him. Then the world went numb, he awoke in his room, Aluna double checking for any new wounds he may have collected in her absence. Upon talking to her, she tells him that a couple of students found him passed out in the training field and brought him back this morning. She simply ran into the as they were rummaging around his pockets for his keys on her way back that morning. She had completed the last part of her training early and was to make her journey to the Marus Omegnum to cement her connection to the Moon. It was to be her seat of power from which she would forever guide her people. Think of it as an arranged marriage, except to the moon...that's rough buddy :P

I am also putting the Marus Omegnum at the peak of Mount Targon because it serves a symbolic pinnacle in Targonian culture; a cumulation of a person's efforts as well as a target of ambition for many. Still a little numb, unsure about the events of last night, but keenly aware that this might be the last time he would get to see his sister; Aphelios offered to see her off at the summit. When the time c came for them to set off many Lunari came to see them, thank them for all they've done, and wish them luck on their journey. Whether because of the noctum, or because he now had Alune by his side, Aphelios felt none of the darkness that clung to him on his first treck up. They made easy progress, and reached the top just as the sun set behind them. The sight was familiar to Aphelios, but instead of barren land and corpses surrounding the pool, it lay in the center of a lush meadow, the majestic visage of the Marus Omegnum Temple on the other side...and then they heard it, the sounds of hard boots against the stone echoing up the side of the mountain. They both turned around and stood in awe of the sight before them. The sun had set but moments ago yet seemed to be rising again to meet them as a warm yellow glow slowly mounted in a section of the clouds beneath them. Then they heard the screams; anger, fear, pain, despair, seeming to follow the path of the sun. In its path a sliver of pale light emerged and began to grow. Aphelios' adrenaline began to kick in, but the noctum that held his anguish at bay restricted his body as well. Time went by so slowly as the sun continued on its path to crescent of pale light growing before it. Aphelios noticed the weight of his body more than ever before, it felt so heavy, like he was falling...but he was falling, because he had been pushed.

The spear whistled by his head as he landed on the grass, Alune pressing a hand to his chest, trying to get herself up. She had tackled him, saving his life from a spear that would've taken his head. Glancing up on his back he saw a couple figures approaching, and though they wore no armor, their colors announced them as Ra’Horak. Alune was already on her feet as he struggled to regain his footing. She dragged him towards the temple as more Ra’Horak made their way to the summit and began their pursuit. Glancing back, Aphelios counted four warriors each wielding shield, sword, and spear. The one leading the chase had lost his spear over the side of the mountain, but was almost within reaching distancing of his sword. Aphelios drew his moonblade and cursed the noctum. They were about to reach the pool when Aphelios pulled away from Alune to parry the captains first strike. Sparks flew as he pushed Alune into the water and tried to advance on the captain. He was only able to catch one last glimpse of her before the rest of the Ra’Horak joined the captain.

Aphelios knew it was over. He knew he was better than anybody else on the summit, including the captain, but that didn't matter. After the first exchange the captain knew it too. He gave the signal and the other four leveled their shields and spears, two to each side, boxing him in. That alone would have evened the odds, but with the noctum numbing his body, Aphelios resigned himself to his fate. As a last act of defiance to the world he broke the remainder of the Ra’Horak's spears and nearly took the life of an overzealous warrior before a blow from the captain shattered his moonblade and catapulted him across the pond. Still reeling from the impact, at the edge of his physical limits, he faced the Ra’Horak again. Looking towards him in awe, the Ra’Horak advanced with renewed vigor. Aphelios reached into the water, causing the warriors to halt momentarily, before pulling out a noctum flower. The Ra’Horak advanced cautiously as he crushed its contents in a bowl shaped stone by the temple steps. Glancing back at the temple he could see the source of the Ra’Horak's awe wasn't him, but the glow the temple had taken. Mingling with the spots still dancing around in his vision he could almost see Alune take form in the light radiating off the temple. He had done it, he got her there safely, his job was done, now he could rest. He knelt in front of the temple, offered a silent toast to his sister and reaching their destiny, and drank the noctum. As the pain subsided he waited for the numbness to take him; to ease the pain of additional fighting or prolonged death, but it never came. Instead he heard Alune, "Do not look back Aphelios. I'm with you" He could sense her, she was in the temple; but her thoughts, her feelings, her voice, were all there with him. He tried to answer, but the his couldn't feel his throat. Sensing his distress, Alune let him know she understood him, whether or not he spoke. She would stay at the temple, but through it she could always be with him. In return he would be her connection back home, not just as her brother, but as a leader, heard among the people. She shared with him all her knowledge, filled his body with the moon's power, and forged him new moonstone blades. As he grasped them he knew their purpose before his sister spoke. "and this will be your voice" With that he set upon the Ra’Horak once again. Four of the warriors laid dead before the captain was able to disarm Aphelios' blade, but as it fell away a new weapon appeared in its place spewing gouts of flame that left no traces of the man who stood before him. He tossed the weapon aside and lept from the peak of Mount Targon to raging currents of lights in the clouds below.

By dawn the Solari had been routed and the ground ruins of corpses, buildings, and evaporating moonstone weapons of endless shapes and sizes. All were given to Aphelios by Alune. Through their bond Alune watched over Aphelios; using her insight and knowledge to give him the tools he needs, sometimes before he even knows he needs them. As he dropped the last pair of weapons, a massive cheer erupted from behind him. He turned around slowly and faced his people, their expectations, their respect, their hopes and dreams...but this time, he welcomed them.