The Oasis of Dawn is one. The spot where the Godwillow was growing is another. The Spring of Life on the Blessed Isles was another. Arguably Bandle City is probably one. I'm tempted to say that Mount Targon may be one as well.
So.
Focal points of magical power.
A nexus if you will.
Is this how nexuses (nexi?) are manifesting in the new lore? Places of incredible magical potential rather than simply VERY powerful magical crystals?
Sharjo3 votesI feel like World Runes replace the concept of a Nexus in the scope of this new canon as incredibly powerful fonts of magic, though I could see Nexi as being their own unique kind of font, formed deep within the earth and uncovered by humans ages ago. Given how you can apparently crystalize starlight crystals might be the coalescing of celestial energies, and since just about everything in the cosmos would've been made because of such energies they can collect and manifest physically on worlds.
I feel like the Godwillow, the Oasis of the Dawn and the sacred pools of the Blessed Isles all share some major connection such that I'm gonna be paying them extra special attention in the future. In contrast to any kind of arcane or celestial energies or whatever, these natural fonts are seemingly linked in to life energies and thus I'd imagine it's sort of linked in with Nagakabouros, but how I dunno really. Potentially the Godwillow and these pools were what allowed life to emerge on Runeterra in the first place, or perhaps accelerated its development at some point.
Rebonack1 votesI feel like World Runes replace the concept of a Nexus in the scope of this new canon as incredibly powerful fonts of magic, though I could see Nexi as being their own unique kind of font, formed deep within the earth and uncovered by humans ages ago.
The impression I've gotten thus far is that World Runes are a little more... discrete, I guess? They're something you can pick up and go traipsing around with. I'm pretty sure the thing Ryze is holding in his splash art is supposed to be a World Rune (maybe?). A Nexus on the other hand appears to be a geographical location.
Given how you can apparently crystalize starlight crystals might be the coalescing of celestial energies, and since just about everything in the cosmos would've been made because of such energies they can collect and manifest physically on worlds.
I still think getting a straight answer on 'what is magic in Runeterra?' would help us work this stuff out tremendously.
I feel like the Godwillow, the Oasis of the Dawn and the sacred pools of the Blessed Isles all share some major connection such that I'm gonna be paying them extra special attention in the future. In contrast to any kind of arcane or celestial energies or whatever, these natural fonts are seemingly linked in to life energies and thus I'd imagine it's sort of linked in with Nagakabouros, but how I dunno really. Potentially the Godwillow and these pools were what allowed life to emerge on Runeterra in the first place, or perhaps accelerated its development at some point.
Given Sol's line to Ryze, I suspect there isn't any difference between arcane/celestial/life magic when you get down to the bottom of things. Could be wrong, of course. This is another place where an answer to 'what is magic?' would be pretty handy.
I can see the life angle working with the Oasis and the Pools, both water and both related to the life and rejuvenation. The Oasis resurrected Siv. The Pool, however, basically did the opposite. Trying to rez the queen went and messed everything up pretty majorly. Maybe that had to do with cause of death?
The Godwillow, less so. We don't see any resurrection going on there. Just a fount of incredible magical potential.
Targon manifests a bit differently. The pale mists that pull in weird things, not all of which sound like they're related to the Void at all. It's magic manifests as a gateway. A crossroads between places, so to speak.
And Bandle City really doesn't need any explanation to describe how magical it is given the place is apparently Tir nah nOg now.
What I find very interesting is that places where the Void is bleeding over into the physical world magical abilities are enhanced in addition to all the other weird and marvelous things that happen (before stuff starts getting warped, poor Scuttlecrab). The Void itself appears to be a potent source of magical power as well. Or maybe just a magical enhancer? Guh. Need more concrete information.
Sharjo1 votesIn terms of Oasis to Pools, I'd have to imagine there's a distinction between dead for minutes and dead for days, weeks, maybe even months, but I suppose it all depends on the nature of souls and how they work. A case can be made that other forces were at play, since magic within the city itself brought Azir back to life first with Sivir's blood acting as the catalyst, but it's quite murky right now. Either way ressurection in and of itself is rare as sod in Runeterra (seemingly) and in the case of both Azir and Sivir it seems to be a special case. An exceptionally special case.
Either way the life giving waters are connected to something greater. The waters from the capital all of a sudden started flowing again when Azir raised it from the dust, and the pool itself reappeared after having been dried up for ages. I'm very much inclined to believe that these waters find their source (whatever that source may be) deep within the earth, and that in the case of Shurima the city itself was built such that it was inherently connected to this source, almost like a well. Perhaps these fonts tie in with something about Runeterra itself? Perhaps the planet carries life energies within it, and when it can be accessed you get situations like Shurima and the Blessed Isles, where the Shurimans were able to reroute the rivers of their lands to flow_ in to_ the capital, and where Maokai was able to grow a natural eutopia?
In that veins the God Willow could be another version of that; a tree grown by someone to harness those life giving energies for whatever reason, or perhaps this is what is supposed to happen naturally; the energies coalesce and near the surface grow in to an actual living thing which then can affect the surroundings. I don't know if it was ever stated anywhere if the chimeric beings around Willow were as a result of the Willow itself or not, but if the assumption that they were, then perhaps the God-Willow's manifestation ties back to the origins of life itself on Runeterra? I'm getting in to highly, HIGHLY speculative territory here so take this with a lot of salt but right now I'm just considering the possibilities.
One thing on the origin of magic and the Void bleed effect I wanna bring up is the Magical Friction, a long ago off mentioned detail about the universe that apparently is emitted by all worlds. Bard interacts with this to actually make portals, so I'm wondering if this friction has anything to do with magic as a whole, and whether in the case of the Void, you see literal friction because the Void and Runeterra are close enough, which results in the energies of each world blending in to the other. Perhaps this also manifests in the glimmering mists of Mount Targon, allowing the denizens of other worlds to appear on the mountain? I dunno really, just throwing stuff out there.
A lot of rambling there so forgive me if it's a bit incoherent. Overall, I'd love for a bit of explanation as to the origins of these powers and whether or not they're distinct or have similar origins.
Rebonack1 votesOne thing on the origin of magic and the Void bleed effect I wanna bring up is the Magical Friction,
Was this a thing from one of Bard's Q&A sessions? 'cuz I can't find anything about it in any of the lore we've actually got written down.
Given how much and how often things have changed, I'm hesitant to accept stuff from Q&As as canon unless we get some kind of parallel either in champ quotes, stories, or some kind of media. Until it makes it in, it falls under 'well maybe this is how it works?'
Sharjo1 votesWas this a thing from one of Bard's Q&A sessions? 'cuz I can't find anything about it in any of the lore we've actually got written down.
Indeed it is:
[{quoted}](name=Loping Cinder,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=Ev3qQR4G,comment-id=00820001,timestamp=2015-03-06T23:14:21.371+0000)
- The green ball that sits in Bard's horn is a harmonic key that splits layers of reality and taps directly into the magical friction that all worlds emit.
I also remember asking about the friction in relation to the Celestial Firmament when Aurelion Sol's Q&A came about, and the response I got was:
I will sync up with LopingCinder (the awesome writer on Bard) about this when I see him next.
And this was a good year after Bard's Q&A. This is probably very much under the hood "fundamental properties of the universe" stuff, so when more details could or will be revealed I can't say, and whether or not it will remain I also can't say, but I for now, based on how matter of factly Loping Cinder talked about the magical friction and FauxShizzle at least reinforcing the concept that is is still a thing, I'm still keeping it in mind.
Mogarl1 votesIf you're going to throw the God Willow into that then you really should also include Anivia, and maybe Brand. Anivia seems to be in a similar place as the God Willow; while Brand isn't too dissimilar to Ivern. Brand is after all, an ancient magic force taking control of a mortal to complete it's long postponed task.
Thorgram1 votesThat would be pretty cool ! I think Ionia might have one, due to their land being really rich in magic. I agree on Bandle city, if it is a real place in Runeterra.
Well, Mount Targon could be more of a Gateway to the Targonian Empire, no ? Well, still qualify as a magic place.
Could that hint some war(s) around these areas ? New maps ?
IA9hRfpP5q1 votes
???
ModAcademy Kayn1 votesThis reminds me of Dawngate, where there were gates between the spirits (the Shapers source of power) and the human world, and in game, were the Nexus's you had to destroy/protect.
10Tickler1 votesThis is an excellent line of thought, and I'd love to see some Riot designers in the story section of the company com and talk about these sorts of topics more often.