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So Aurelion Sol's Intro Paragraph on the PBE reads as follows...

Sharjo··29 votes·4,823 views

"Aurelion Sol once graced the vast emptiness of the cosmos with celestial wonders of his own devising. Now he is forced to wield his awesome powers at the behest of a space-faring empire that tricked him in to servitude. Desiring a return to his star forging ways, Aurelion Sol will drag the very stars from the sky, if he must, in order to regain his freedom."

So while stuff on the pbe is subject to change and the wording here might be changed somewhat, especially considering there's no quote from Aurelion Sol himself, it seems that our all powerful star-forging dragon is actually a slave! But to who?

Well given his VO it points to Targon as that empire, and not Targon the mountain, but Targon the city, specifically the city of gold and silver seen by Diana, Pantheon, Leona and Taric (Who's basically been confirmed to be an aspect at this point). Targon has, in Aurelion Sol's own words, used him as a weapon, and he really hates them. And given the way Aurelion Sol talks about Runeterra, it seems he's been trying to find his way there because he thinks (or just knows) that it holds the key to his freedom. How I don't know, but this is the most likely reason as to why there are four Targonian Aspects on Runeterra right now; they're prepping to deal with the mighty Star Forger, but now one has to wonder who the bad guy is here, since Aurelion Sol really just wants his freedom, and we don't know Targon's motives for tricking/enslaving him.

Some interesting details without even having seen his full lore yet! So guys, thoughts?

78 Comments

Malicious Metal20 votes

People were pinning Sol as a bad guy once his teaser hit but I personally think for a being with such immense power he's actually rather benevolent. Sure, he's smug and has a really big ego but there aren't many beings in the universe matching his might so a bragging rights have been earned.

Sharjo8 votes

I'm almost inclined to believe that, based off this limited perspective, that the Targonians feared Aurelion Sol. I don't think this space-faring empire is about total domination of the universe, but perhaps about bringing enlightenment and guidance to under-developed lifeforms. Or maybe they are just arseholes who thought enslaving one of the universe's greatest forces would help them conquer all of it.

Difficult to say.

Malicious Metal2 votes

Perspective.

Is enslaving a star forging universe-creating dragon ok? Probably not. Yet helping civilizations prosper is something rather nifty.

Sharjo2 votes

And do those things align? I mean would Aurelion Sol really care if his star-forging ways destroyed a few billion planets along the way?

Haresay1 votes

a few of the quotes Sol does say relate to his imprisonment, 'good to be making agian, I missed forging stars, It feels great to be forging once more' usually is what he says, he's pretty happy about fighting to be free

Nechronia19 votes

Yeah, people who enslave dragons are such assholes aren't they? :^)

Du Ma Mi11 votes

What you did there.

I see it.

Ironclad Dragon10 votes

Use this in the future, dear friend: http://i.imgur.com/ohYY5.jpg?1?fb

Du Ma Mi2 votes

Upvoted and saved.

I've always loved yo--- I mean thank you, friend!

charcharmunro3 votes

Aurelion is probably one of those "What the fuck should I care for good and evil I MAKE STARS YOUR PETTY MORALITY NOTIONS ARE NOTHING TO ME." guys.

Vistha Kai18 votes

"Aurelion Sol once graced the vast emptiness of the cosmos with celestial wonders of his own devising. Now he is forced to wield his awesome powers at the behest of a space-faring empire that tricked him in to servitude. Desiring a return to his star forging ways, Aurelion Sol will drag the very stars from the sky, if he must, in order to regain his freedom."

A-ha-ha! Oh, boy. That's a good one.

Haven't they retconned IoW and Summoners to free themselves from champion backgrounds exactly like this one?

Ironic.

http://media2.giphy.com/media/brDwVn5kGIz3W/giphy.gif

Gentleman Gaston10 votes

The problem isn't with a powerful champion being in servitude, it's that their servitude could never be broken under the IoW and Summoners. They had to stay locked up in order to explain how they were playable characters, otherwise there's no way they would have fought for the Summoners. At least now, Aurelion Sol can best this empire and become his own master once again without it having any affect on his gameplay.

Xulsigae5 votes

But if he does that, why should he stick around and continue to be playable and interact with other characters? I think it's the same issue- A never ending quest, but without the IoW to give a reason for that.

Sharjo5 votes

Not really because he has an obtainable goal by way of there being a solution to his problem. Runeterra itself holds the key to his freedom, or at least he believes it does, so there's a clear path and direction for Aurelion Sol here.

Xulsigae2 votes

If Narrative actually finishes his story (or at least moves it forward enough for him to achieve his goal) then what keeps him around and interacting with Runeterra? One complaint with the IoW was that it kept champions in a state of stasis with their quests and such (like Nami and the moonstone). While I reject that claim and say it was the writers that kept the champions static and not the IoW, I ask what makes Aurelion's quest any different or more likely to be achieved.

Sharjo6 votes

Then nothing does and he goes somewhere else. His story isn't bound to Runeterra solely, so where the next chapter lies is anyone's fucking guess at this point. Alternatively there is some important reason as to why he has to stay, I mean Bard keeps a particular good watch on Runeterra and Aurelion Sol seems to hold him a bit highly than most, so maybe Bard'll be like "Yo Sol, you've gotta stay around Runeterra for a while. The universe kinda depends on it." I dunno. There are ways and means to keep him involved with Runeterra or not. It depends on what they want to do with him in the grand scheme of the Targonian narrative.

Xulsigae2 votes

I agree with that new chapters and reasons can be made for him to stay, and that's how a good continuing story is told. I feel that Narrative has failed to do that in many past iterations, such as claiming Trundle's story was done and so they had to make him into a new character. I'm a bit doubtful about their willingness to actually close out arcs and then think of new ones rather than just get bored with a champion and shuffle their story again.

Haresay1 votes

what keeps him around is his desire to destroy rune terra, or atleast to destroy the Targonians and maybe then blow up the sun (Jinx would love him)

Xulsigae1 votes

That'll make for a short story.

Vistha Kai3 votes

Couldn't it? The fact stands that IoW was still managable with few changes to it - think of a rework. Some champions in the old lore had to be subdued with considerable power or tricked into it. How is it any different? Riot decided to ditch the IoW, before it got really fleshed out and had those important questions answered.

A Superb Villain6 votes

If you look at many old myths and legends, it is a fairly common trope that a dangerous or powerful monster is overcome via trickery or guile. While it seems safe to assume Aurelion is, in fact, the victim of his situation, I would like to posit that he isn't nearly so innocent.

We don't always have the luxury of noble methods to achieve a satisfying means. Sometimes keeping a leash on the devil is the only way to keep him in check.

Sharjo3 votes

I feel like the implication is that while Aurelion Sol's work is essential to universal stability, he also endangers sentient life by making the universe a more volatile, hostile place. I can see why the Targonians would have more or less good intentions in keeping him on a leash if they want good things for life across the cosmos in general.

Stars Shaper3 votes

"A Dragon's loyalty is a priceless gift... Do not waste it in the service of fools"

He probably let Targonians tap into celestial magics, we know there are dragonkins (half human hybrids too?) in the Solari's "Targon city". He migh have misjudged humans Aeons ago and now he is rightfully pissed off.

Fasmodey1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=4gzWBqcL,comment-id=0005,timestamp=2016-03-08T22:53:17.174+0000)

"A Dragon's loyalty is a priceless gift... Do not waste it in the service of fools"

He probably let Targonians tap into celestial magics, we know there are dragonkins (half human hybrids too?) in the Solari's "Targon city". He migh have misjudged humans Aeons ago and now he is rightfully pissed off.

I think he is talking about Shyvana's loyality on Jarvan IV.

Stars Shaper3 votes

True, but that sounded as "I know what I'm talking about about" stuff.

Sharjo1 votes

Remember that there's a distinction between the empire and the mountain. The denizens of the empire are probably in no way human.

LANWhale3 votes

I find it interesting that he mentions both Bard and Kindred. He shows no resent towards them but oddly knows who they are and what they wear. Is it to far of an assumption that Bard and Kindred live in the "Constellation", that's what I call the city in the sky by the way. Is it as well to large of a stretch to now assume that the "cosmic egg" Bard carried away was not Sol at all? But rather the very reason to why he was turned into a slave which then means that Bard lives in the "Constellation"?

Also it was hard for me to ignore the amount of interactions he has towards those who have Ascended and how much he laughed at them. Which leaves me to believe that the Sun Disc did indeed come from the "Constellation". I mean think about it the Sun Disc draws its powers directly from the sun, a star, and makes who ever is ready for Ascension become god-like, sounds familiar huh? Which makes sense because Sol seems to say there just knock offs and bewilders them. also Sun Disc and Solari, the obvious right there.

Man, at least Sol has some interesting things to say when he runs that mouth of his.

Xulsigae3 votes

So we still haven't had a champion that could not have existed with the existence of the League intact. Hmm.

Igotlazy6 votes

I don't know man. Summoning death itself Kindred doesn't seem like a thing that could be done in the old Lore.

Xulsigae1 votes

Why not? I think there is a story there to be told. Summoning does not equate to having complete control over.

50000000000000004 votes

Sure, if you want an extremely flat lore. Retcon was about 2 years ago (I can't find the exact date), and here are the champions released since 2 years ago from now (3/8/2014). There are reworks and lore updates to some champions too, but for them lore worked before retcon so I won't mention those. Gnar Azir Kalista RekSai Bard Ekko TahmKench Kindred Illaoi Jhin, and Aurelian Sol.

It would feel forced to make these characters work with the Institute of War. The old lore was mostly

  1. I fight for my country (practically all of Demacian/Noxian/Piltovian/Zaunian/Ionian/Yordles)
  2. I fight to kill/eat (almost all Void creatures, Rengar, Aatrox, etc.)
  3. I want more power (almost all mages)

There are some exceptions, of course, but creating a new champion and not having a real motivation to fight for the League and just filling it with one of those 3 is lazy and uninteresting. Then there's champions like Evelynn and Shaco, who has no known motivations.

How would you feel if the lore said that Gnar was just given food to fight at the League? Azir for more power/to kill Xerath over and over? Kalista so she can kill betrayers over and over, which is what she can do anyway without the League's help? Rek'Sai with food? Bard, Tahm Kench, and Kindred are all more or less a force of nature. They don't have any help. Jhin to kill more? Aurelion Sol for more power?

Ekko could work for more power to protect his friends or something, I guess. That would be fair. Illaoi could try to show the power of her god, too.

Out of 11 new champions, there are two that could coexist with the old lore without making their characters extremely flat. Retcon was an okay decision. It sucks to change a foundational lore with almost no notice, but it did give us better lore. There's more work to be done, of course, but overall it wasn't a bad decision.

Xulsigae2 votes

Would it? I don't think it would do that. The League was not the problem- the writers lack of output was. There were ways to make champion motivations work and stories to be told in that setting. The League was not equally important to each champion. Some, like Jax were very much intertwined with the League. Others, like Caitlyn were not. Stories did not have to have the League front and center at all times. Character motivations could be simple or tangled as fit their character and stories. I'd find it amusing if Rek'Sai was summoned sometimes by a summoner who thought she was cute (Kinda like a Hagrid character).

EVEN ALLOWING FOR the League to be stifling (which I don't think it is) that didn't necessitate the removal of it in its entirety. One does not need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

kile1472 votes

I think that the Institute did have its limitations, but they threw away the whole thing, not just the limiting parts. That's sad because the fact that the Institute forced all these unique characters to interact in ways they normally wouldn't was one of the best part of League's lore. I'm not sorry that the Institute is gone, but I am sorry that we no longer have a tie between game and lore, and that we no longer have reasons for the kind of fights we see in a lot of the cinematics.

Xulsigae1 votes

The IoW certainly was flawed and could have been updated or fixed. I would like to point out that limitations are not inherently bad though. Pretty much every good story has limitations and world logic and the like. It keeps the world coherent and gives reasons for things to be the way they are. In Harry Potter, most of the characters had to have a reason to be at Hogwarts. Hogwarts is a positive limitation on the world of the story.

kile1472 votes

I agree not all limitations are bad. The issue with the limitations that the Institute presented was that it limited champion design. In a game like this that was unacceptable. Instead of figuring out how to change the Institute to allow for more champion designs though they deleted it, which completely removed all limitation, and thus scope and coherence, of their world.

The Last Ballad3 votes

The literal essence of death, which is omnipresent(and therefore impossible to trap), is completely capable of being harnessed by normal people? I would like to see that.

Xulsigae2 votes

I wouldn't call those who were at the League normal. I'd like to see a neat story about that as well. Just because something is many places at once doesn't mean it can't be summoned or contained. Many gods or essences, Death included, have been treated as such in fiction many times. One of the best comic books, Sandman, begins with Dream being captured by mere mortals.

Narasimha1 votes

Just to jump in, do remember that it was also said that Morpheus wouldn't have been captured if he was not incredibly weakened against the 3 gods that tried to invade his realm.

Xulsigae1 votes

Yeah I wanted to avoid that as a spoiler for those who haven't read Overtures.

My point was that powerful beings being captured or summoned isn't unknown in fiction and wouldn't necessarily break suspension of disbelief or make the League too powerful. I mean heck, the Wizards at Unseen University in Discworld have summoned DEATH a few times.

Meep Man3 votes

The whole point was "Why would they join the League of Legends?" Aurelion is one that I see having no wanting to join such matters.

Xulsigae3 votes

I disagree. Now that we've seen his powers can be limited, it would make sense for him to look to the League for help on how to break his servitude.

Narasimha1 votes

I mean.... I can't see that at all. Dude's a freaking dragon, a star dragon at that. To ask for help from 'mere' humans isn't something he'd even consider. It'd completely shatter his dignity, and pride is everything to dragons.

Xulsigae1 votes

He's in servitude though. If he's desperate enough, he'll take help from anyone. He doesn't really seem to have most personality traits we'd associate with dragons so far. Not all dragons are the same as well. Pete's Dragon is not the same as Dragonheart is not the same as Smaug is not the same as Onyxia is not the same as Saphira is not the same as Haku. Even if he is a proud dragon, I could see him using guile to try and get the League to find a solution to his problems. They might be mortals, but they are powerful mortals. Any port in a storm.

Grashnim2 votes

So Leona and Sol gonna hook up or what?

Stars Shaper4 votes

Not at all. He seems to resent Targonians.. A lot!

Grashnim1 votes

But Sol means Sun and Leona loves her some Sun.

Ironclad Dragon7 votes

Would you romance a dust particle?

Grashnim1 votes

Depends, is it better than the tissue you romance?

Ironclad Dragon4 votes

Someone got touchy all the sudden.

sp4411 votes

Which really makes me wonder... What the fuck a bunch of mountain-dwelling tribesmen could possibly do to piss off a fucking Dragon Star God so much?

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