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Worldbuilding: Marriage and Partnership

KestrelGirl·12/23/2018, 12:57:26 AM·18 votes·14,065 views

It's lore brain time again! This is my biggest swing in the dark yet so feel free to correct me/raise points!

Demacia - The most conservative and familiar in terms of marriage, though we'd have to see if anyone specifically decided it should be a man and a woman. If someone or something did, then I'd imagine same-sex relationships are either "don't ask don't tell" or allowed to exist but not marry. Otherwise, see Piltover.

Noxus - Marriage feels like it would be less common than just about anywhere else with the practice - but that isn't to say it's uncommon. It seems impractical for some of the population, given that a large percentage of it is is away at war and only one partner, or none, can stay home to manage a household. That said, nobles definitely do marry to carry on bloodlines and alliances (probably only heterosexual marriages allowed) and tradespeople and craftspeople with stationary jobs may also marry (less restricted). There is one system of partnership that I can see being used in Noxus: the ancient Greeks encouraged homosexuality among soldiers so that they would fight more fiercely for their boyfriends. In Noxus, love for the sake of war might be encouraged in couples of any orientation. (Darius and Quilletta?)

Freljord - We know that their system of partnership involves oathsworn (which can be applied to close friends as well as less close partners) and bloodsworn (who are sometimes sexually involved, though the term is also applied to sisters). This system is rooted in polyandry thanks to the Freljord's matriarchal society - one woman has several "husbands" so to speak. But that doesn't mean one man couldn't be bloodsworn to several women; he just doesn't have a harem in that case like he would IRL.

Piltover - I assume Pilties have a take on marriage similar to the real world. You can choose to have a fancy celebration (which is what would usually happen if you're a noble or upper-class), or not. Heterosexual and homosexual marriages would be allowed, but nobles would typically prefer straight marriages because bloodlines and whatnot.

Zaun - I don't think there is enough information for me to guess on this one, though there seem to be married couples (Ekko's parents?) so it could be inherited from Piltover.

Ionia - Not enough info. All we know about is heartlights from a human point of view, which can be heterosexual or homosexual. Vastaya - at least Lhotlan - do seem to marry in a fairly conventional sense, but no word on whether same-sex partnership would be allowed. (Neeko's existence points to "yes"; we know vastayan reproduction is magical and it could possibly take place between a same-sex couple.)

Bilgewater - Probably no formal institution of marriage, though there may be civil unions that are celebrated with copious amounts of alcohol.

Shurima - Varies from tribe to tribe. Some may do things "normally," some could be polygynous or polyandrous.

Targon - Not enough info, but I imagine the ancient Greek battle-partner system could exist here too (Pantheon and Atreus?).

41 Comments

Sexy Jack Rabbit12/23/2018, 11:08:30 AM7 votes

Noxus is explained to be the most culturally diverse and 'accepting' culture.

Also as far as we know, Bloodline's aren't actually all that important at all. So I can't see heritage being a major major thing.

Beast Brawler12/23/2018, 9:15:34 AM6 votes

Tell me why they should be okay with homosexuality when many places are warring and don't have massive populations. I get the "fight harder for your boyfriend" and that makes sense, but why not fight harder for your wife and children at home? That would make me fight much harder tbh, or at the very least about the same. Not only is it the natural way, it helps to make more soldiers, craftspeople, farmers, etc.

Now tell me why you have to get into this at all.

Chromatic Eagle12/23/2018, 12:31:17 PM3 votes

Meta-speaking, but I believe Riot is building a universe where LGBT+ is as accepted as straight relationships. I don’t think Demacians have a problem with same sex relationships.

Jerry SeinfeId12/23/2018, 5:08:58 PM2 votes

Noxus: PRobably not to far off, tho i'd expect most relationships to form during campaigns when it comes to soldiers. As you said i doubt marriage is something many of them worry about. Obviously the higher classes play their games with it but more for personal gain than the whole family.

Zaun: as anything in zaun morals don't apply. any marriage is possible. ANYTHING. Though i suspect it to work like irl, where people do their thing and some think of actually getting married. As there is no government it'll prolly not be managed by one0.

Piltover PRolly like zaun but with some restrictions, i doubt they'll let you marry your hextech gunblade. with the nobles acting like nobles.

Freljord:

I can agree with what you said, however there are strongholds led by men. In ryze's story we see him fight a mage who was in charge of a stronghold, i think it's safe to say the matriarchy is in the grand scheme of things, or at the current time. But If a man can end up in control of a village i wonder if he'd be allowed to have his own bloodsworn.

Demacia They'll no doubt allow same sex marriage, far too risky for public image. nobles might be more open than we think. J4 shyvanna might not be cannon but he atleast seemed willing to accept her. I think painting them as elitist might be a mistake, demacia seems to be build on the foundation that anyone can be a hero through hard work. Marriage isn't magical and neither are the gays, so they'll prolly be gucci.

nosafterburn12/24/2018, 10:27:34 PM1 votes

[{quoted}]

Bilgewater - Probably no formal institution of marriage, though there may be civil unions that are celebrated with copious amounts of alcohol.

Just like Riot or any After Con party...

Larriet1/12/2019, 1:16:32 AM1 votes

Don't have much to add, but I always enjoy your threads!

glow fox3/8/2020, 7:07:03 PM1 votes

Hi guys sorry for necroing this old-ish post, but with the release of Legends Of Runeterra it has been confirmed that Noxus does allow same-sex marriage. The card Legion Veteran has the following description: "He returned from the war on the brink of death, restored only by his husband's touch and the apothecary's balms. Noxus spared no expense to ensure his expert counsel, long after his fighting years."

The legion veteran is an old man, and it is clear that he has a husband, and it is accepted. I'm not sure how further noxus culture goes, but this is something.

Card Link: https://leagueoflegends.fandom.com/wiki/Legion_Veteran_(Legends_of_Runeterra)

Stars Shaper12/23/2018, 8:05:56 PM1 votes

aka, something we'll never see concerning our champions.

IcyPepper12/23/2018, 10:40:15 PM1 votes

Bilgewater - Probably no formal institution of marriage, though there may be civil unions that are celebrated with copious amounts of alcohol.

Doesn't count if they're on sea, if you know what I mean.

Icy Hot Shoto12/23/2018, 10:43:24 PM1 votes

I don't have much of an opinion/thought on this as a whole, but I'm just curious where any of the vastayan lore points to magical reproduction? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the only vastayan with lore that could be even slightly related is Neeko's, since she is trying to rebuild her tribe. But she wants everyone to be part of it and not just vastayans.

Again, please correct me if I'm wrong and point me to where it's said.