The Rune Wars

Painkiller990·11/27/2015, 11:53:27 PM·1 votes·4,740 views

Hey guys, so I run a D&D campaign in the world of Runeterra so I'm required to do extensive lore reading. However, for some reason I can't seem to find any solid theories or explanations for the Rune Wars. I was wondering if someone could explain the Rune Wars along with any speculations and assumptions about the history of Runeterra. Thanks!

3 Comments

Sharjo11/28/2015, 12:34:18 AM5 votes

The main reason why you can't find solid theories on the Rune Wars is because one, there were so few details about them and two, they're potentially not canon as far as we know. Rune Wars was major reason that birthed the League of Legends as they didn't want a the equivalent of a magical nuclear apocalypse, and with the IoW's retconning and the development of Runeterra's actual history those wars of great calamity but so scarce details are seemingly being phased out in favour of actually developed events. The War of the Three Sisters, the Frozen Watcher's conquest of Valoran, Shurima battling against a Void invasion from Icathia, the Magelords vs Protectorate conflict, the reign of Mordekaiser and his immortal empire, these are the thing that are filling in the blanks that were previously known as "Rune Wars"

Going by what's been released and drawing some conclusions from the bits and pieces, I feel like Runeterra's history looks something like this:

Pre-history, before any civilizations existed and life was developing in various ways.
The Darkin Era, where darkin and demons existed in a much different form to now.
The dawn of man, where humans began to progress as a species and develop civilisations of their own. The previous era ended because of or before this. Kindred's first recorded appearance in human history is here. Some other sentient species may have also arose at a similar time.
The Magelords and Protectorate era, which is basically the earliest recorded time period in human history where large powers existed. Aatrox's first recorded appearance in human history is here.
The evolution and development of yordles in to beings like Gnar.
The Frozen Watcher's reign over Freljord and Valoran, which brought about an ice age. The time between this and the previous era with Magelords and stuff is indeterminable, but probably spanned a few centuries at least. I'd put my money few thousand years.
The overthrowing of the Watchers and establishment of the Iceborn's empire.
The War of the Three Sisters and the collapse of the Iceborn's empire.
A period of adjusting where the world recovered from the major climate changes said ice age brought about.
The establishment of the Shuriman Empire. The empire endured for anywhere from centuries to millennia.
Icathia's dealings with the Void, culminating in a void invasion and the first known (as far as we know) Ascension of humans in Nasus and Renekton.
Shurima's (probable) conflict with the Brackern. I dunno where this actually fits in the timeline other than it came before Shurima's fall, and was likely a result of the Brackern being pissed about Shurima becoming a desert and blaming humans for it.
The destruction of Shurima's capital due to Xerath's actions, leading to the Empire's collapse.
The founding of Mordekaiser's empire (I like to call it the Iron Empire).
The collapse of Mordekaiser's empire. This could've been centuries old or a few decades.
The establishment of the Ruined King's kingdom.
The founding of Demacia and Noxus.
The Ruination.
Bard: Mountain
Mordekaiser's Resurrection. This could've come before Bard: Mountain but it is at least fifty years ago since...
The first Harrowing, fifty years ago. Since we've gone a roughly a year since the Harrowing map in lore time everything on the map can potentially be put back a year extra.
The second Harrowing, thirty eight years ago.
Third Harrowing, thirty four years ago.
Fourth Harrowing, thirty three years ago. Morde's first Harrowing appearance.
Fifth Harrowing, twenty two years ago. Hecarim's first Harrowing appearance.
The Noxian invasion of Ionia which resulted in the occupation of the southern provinces. This is somewhere between fifteen and twenty years ago now providing too much hasn't changed.
Sixth Harrowing, eighteen years ago.
Seventh Harrowing, ten years ago.
Eighth Harrowing, five years ago.
Ninth Harrowing, four years ago.
Tenth Harrowing, one year ago. First (potential) recorded sighting of Nautilus.
Eleventh Harrowing, modern day.

Now that's all my interpretation of what little we have to go on for a time line, so it could all be utter bollocks, but hey, it's fun to speculate!

tl;dr Rune Wars aren't so much of a thing anymore really since the spot in history they've once occupied is getting filled with actual history where once there was not that much, and I put way to much thought in to this game's lore for my own sanity.

Sneak Dog11/28/2015, 12:37:57 AM1 votes

It's kind of in lore limbo I'm afraid, with the retcon going on.

In a nutshell, they were Runettera's magical nuclear war. The Rune Wars ruined nearly everything south of the Great Barrier. Rune magic ran rampant and it was the reason the Institute of War was created. So that the world wouldn't destroy itself with runemagic.

All the League stuff just helped. Remove wars, and they can't escalate to runewars.

Even now, everything south of the Great Barrier, but Bandle City, is basically magically radiated. In the jungles, abnormal creatures are the norm and evolution went all the way to eleven. Magical storms still threaten any live. Shurima is an empty desert, inhabited only by some foolhardy nomads.

Some references I know: Zileans lore Skarners lore and judgement Mogron pass has a seemingly related picture on the wikia: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueoflegends/images/e/e2/Mogron_Pass_concept.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20101003195051

Painkiller99011/28/2015, 1:44:41 AM1 votes

These really helped thanks so much guys!