On the nature of magic in Runeterra

Hi everyone!

I am always interested in the ''rules'' behind concepts in fictional worlds. To me, good storytelling is not only about what happens, but also by what rules it happens. Having a properly laid out rulebook, like the laws of physics, is always the first thing I do myself when I write a story. That said, the nature of magic in Runeterra is currently allover the place. I believe I read that they will explore what magic is in Runeterra sometime in the near future, but I thought I'd spark some conversation! I hope eventually some people on the narrative team can bud in, of course.

I have read a lot of lore, but I haven't re-read it before writing this, so forgive any mistakes and unintended omissions, but here are some ''types'' of magic that immediatly spring to mind:

• Natural or spirit magic. The type used by Vastaya, among others, probably. This seems like the most general type of magic, I'm actually going to assume it is ''the'' baseline magic, for the sake of the other magics I will discuss hereafter. Deriving from the very essence, spirit, of nature and what makes the world ''stay in motion''.

Making a small list of champions I'd personally associate with it: Xayah, Rakan, Neeko, Karma, Irelia, yordles, Freljordian demigods. This type of magic raises some questions however: generic mages like Lux, Taliyah or Annie, do they also derive their power from this source? And Illaoi's deity, Nagakabouros, how does it tie into this concept? And are the Iceborn also a product of this type of magic? I take some liberties in assigning, for myself, most magically natured champs to the ''spirit magic'' camp (including Skarner, Sona, Lux, Annie, etc. etc. etc.) because they seem to be a part of and manipulate parts of nature.

However, aside from this ''central'' type of magic, there's quite a few more:

• Primordial, cataclysmic or creation magic. Think World Runes, Zilean, Bard and perhaps Aurelion Sol. Magic that does not spring forth from nature but has the power to alter nature itself, the very fabric of reality itself.

• Null magic or anti-magic. Only Syndra wields this (so far). It is the direct antagonist of spirit magic. Destruction incarnate, it nullifies and sucks away the lifeblood of the world, withering living creatures and bringing naught but destruction and annihilation.

• Necromancy and undead magic. I am unsure how this connects to spirit magic, but if anything it's a perversion of spirit magic. Perhaps in a different way it is an antagonist to spirit magic in that, while normally the spirit magic ''flows'', undead magic causes it to stagnate, not giving the souls it takes the chance to return to the natural flow of life.

• Ascendant magic. A weird type because it seems to derive power from the plane of the aspects. Since apparently the reality of runeterra has multiple planes of reality (void, world, spirit, shadow, aspect), I seperated it from spirit magic. Honestly a rather confusing one that I cannot really say much about because the very nature of the aspects is unknown. We do know that it is easily perverted by other types of magic.

• Shadow magic. Magic which draws upon a plane not meant to be accessed from the mortal one. Wielded by Zed, Kayn, Nocturne. I'll expand on it under demonic magic.

• Demonic magic. The nature of demons is still odd but it seems like demons derive their power from sentient beings. Perhaps demonic magic and shadow magic are the same thing? Perhaps the shadow realm is nothing but a mirror dimension that ties into and mirrors the thoughts, wants and wishes of the creatures inhabiting the mortal plane? It would explain quite some things. Evelynn's and Nocturne's ''shadow'' theme, and the fact that Tahm Kench can pop up anywhere.

• Blood magic. The type Darkin like to use. And Vladimir. The power to engrave your demands upon mortal flesh. An incredibly weird one to classify because it's certainly a perversion of nature, hence why I separate it from spirit magic, but its classification is still ambiguous. Is it ''its own thing'' or does it fit with another type of magic discussed or not discussed here?

• Void magic. I'm not sure if it's even magic, to be quite honest. But if it is, it's a seemingly simple one: power derived from the void. It seems to, both physically and psychologically, ''eat away'' at the world. However, instead of nullifying spirit magic, it merely seems to corrupt it. Or perhaps not even that, perhaps it's merely a different ''life force'' that can coexist with but affects and is in turn affected by spirit magic.

These are all the types of magic I've managed to distill so far.

Some questions arise from the above, of course:

• Petricite, following my reasoning, is skilled at absorbing spirit magic. How does it react to other types of magic? If Syndra launches her spheres at it, will they simply bounce off, given the antagonistic nature between the two? Since it seems to be able to contain primordial magic, does that mean primordial magic is nothing more than a much more powerful form of spirit magic? If the Void comes knocking on Demacia's gates, will petricite wither or withstand?

• Since Hextech tools derive from Brackern crystals, which I've put under spirit magic, will petricite be resistant to anything a Hextech tool can produce?

• What happens to the flow of spirit magic through a being when they graft their demands upon their own flesh through blood magic? Do they severe their connection to the great flow of nature, essentially dooming their souls, or are they still able to be saved? Does this tie into the fact that Darkin needed to be sealed as opposed to killed?

• Ascendant magic truly is the odd one out. Where does it fit? Is it a mere subset of spirit magic or are the Targonians truly something else entirely? And the introduction of Zoe (read below for some opinions on Zoe) makes it seem like Ascendant and primordial magic might have some connection.

• How truly different are ascendant, primordial and spirit magic anyway?

That's it for today. I'll just give some criticisms on the introduction of Zoe, which I believe warped too much of the narrative, or at least has to potential to do so.

Zoe ''has the power to warp the mathematics that govern realities''. That's honestly a really large power budget. I suppose I should interpret it as ''parts of'' since any single aspect being able to truly change realities at a fundamental level would be hopelessly overpowered and make all the others aspects seem like nobodies. So, insofar as she can only do so on a small scale, around herself, with a limit to how long the effect will last, I suppose a case can be made that she's an interesting addition to narrative since it expands the options available to the writers. However, she's travelled across dimensions and I just really dislike multiverse things. I feel like they too easily convolute narrative and give writers too many options that could really warp stories. I know that you have been pushing some level of ''alternate realities'' (Blood Moon, K/DA, Odyssey, Star Guardian, High Noon) but I truly hope none of those ever intersect. Not even in the slightest bit, not even in the sense that some characters in some stories become aware of the existence of those other realities. I suppose it's a rather minor concern and I cannot make a solid case against it, since it's merely based on my preferences of not needlessly convoluting and entangling narrative.

That's all, folks.