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Let’s Talk Zilean

TheySeeMeWardin·12/9/2018, 11:22:44 PM·9 votes·9,717 views

What exactly would he be considered in this modern day of League lore? I was trying to figure out where he would be placed into the updated universe and what niche he would fill that doesn’t infringe on Ekko’s domain. So Zilean is a time mage to simplify it most. He doesn’t simply manipulate time but what I think is extremely core to Zilean (and this may be my own interpretation and not reality) is that he is partially infused with time itself... well sorta.

Before I explain more, these are two possible places in the League universe where Zilean can be placed in. With each version I’ll go in depth with why Zilean is the time lord and what are pros and cons to the overall concept. My two versions of Zilean are: Targonian and Piltovian. (I hope I spelled those right)

  1. Targonian -

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/48/bb/cd/48bbcd20c67728714350de4c2ae53337.jpg

In this version, Zilean is an aspect of time. Just as the starts show us the past and foretell the future, Zilean has the incredible ability to see it all. I like this idea for him because astrology and other celestial magics revolve around time and it fits pretty well within the universe without have to force it. The con I see in this is that he doesn’t have clocks!!!! I’m not kidding. There’s a certain mechanical aspect about Zilean, I mean he has a massive clock attached to his back. Going for a more galaxy theme can definitely take a part of that away.

  1. Piltovian -

https://d1u5p3l4wpay3k.cloudfront.net/lolesports_gamepedia_en/9/98/Chinese_Zilean_Splash_0.jpg?version=ec0365354b21c19bf00ff1e6947999ff

This concept is the opposite direction of the Targonian one and goes in depth with hextech themes and machinery. His origins can be about a time machine gone wrong and fusing him to the clock mechanism on his back. This keeps Zilean’s iconic style and this concept can incorporate Zilean not having control over his powers, jumping through time periods uncontrollably.

So my two ideas for him in the new universe are either all knowing time lord or mad scientist from back to the future. Tell me some ideas you have for Zilean and what you wish was expanded upon.

P.S. I know he’s Ithican but it just feels like a band-aid fix until his lore is actually updated.

22 Comments

mrmeddyman12/10/2018, 4:19:21 AM7 votes

I think he should stay Icathian, but just have a different approach to wanting to destroy the Void by going back to when it was unleashed rather than gathering armies and warriors like Jax would. It would be cool if Zil was one of Icathias mage-kings responsible for the discovery of the Void in the first place. If you think about it only he could find out about it. The last time the Void manifested on Runeterra it was in the Freljord, Lissandra spoke to the Watchers in dreams and prepared for their arrival only by going back to when that happened could someone even know about the Void or how to get it to manifest again.

It's a cool arc from desperate and yet arrogant king who wants to free himself from the yoke of a bigger empire mostly out of pride to a repentant old man trying to undo his wrongs.

Whyte Lyon12/10/2018, 12:35:52 AM2 votes

One thing for sure, his visuals certainly don't match the native setting Zilean belongs to and neither does the clock.

Which is why im surprised the devs (seemingly) want to maintain Zileans origins to the desert country. The continent of Shurima being Runeterra's quasi-equivalent to Africa, having a pale skin tone man seems at odds. Just as an observation, but Zilean's "Shurima Desert" skin has more grounding than default Zilean. But what's the alternative? Icathian's were somehow European looking? From an area of the world so close to the planet's equator and most tropical zone that should be extremely unlikely.

Then with the that shiny, gold cog-work clock, one could be forgiven if they thought Z was from or connected to Piltover in some way. Especially since a spring-driven clock has far more of a Piltover motif than ever a Shurima one. The time displacement obviously can explain that he got it from some future, but if the future is available to you, why the heck would the technology exceed only to a clockwork device?

For my two cents on a Zilean VGU. Because there are a lot of wild opportunities the devs could explore and some of which would require big changes. So I have fingers crossed tight for a Galio-level rework, a complete overhaul.

SangreDeNoche12/10/2018, 5:15:32 AM2 votes

Where do the celestials (e.g. Bard Soraka ) fit in again? Bard traverses time-space himself so imagine if the zilsta's experiment accidentally fused him with a celestial entity! I could see his mortal mind fashioning gears, cogs, what have you to manifest his abilities. It's maybe not the most original story but eh I just wanted to point out there are other ways to go about this than everyone here has been letting on.

Warlord Rhinark12/10/2018, 7:20:11 AM2 votes

Let's not move Zilean into a new location for the fourth time.

He's barely had any time to settle in Icathia now that Urtistan doesn't exist anymore.

Hupsis12/10/2018, 2:32:44 PM2 votes

I like the targonian concept for him. As an aspect of time he could be interested in Icathia and the spreading of the void.

He could also be an ascended sunborn mage from Shurima... but I feel like time magic would fit a targonian aspect better.

Naalith12/10/2018, 6:37:36 PM1 votes

The reason I don't think Piltover or Targon could work for Zilean is that not only is him being infused (sickened, even) by his relationship with time being key to his character, having his homeland be annihilated is also key. Icathia works extremely well for this but if he has to be transplanted elsewhere, it should be a destroyed city/region where he can live in his clocktower or mage tower. I'm excited for the Zilean update lore wise and gameplay wise when it hits, he's one of my favorite characters, I'm honestly a little shocked he hasn't gotten updated yet lore wise considering how iconic he used to be to the game.