The Sun

Tattersall·Sep 18, 2016·7 votes·1,021 views

So, Runeterra's sun. A while ago, I wondered why it was that the sun was so significant. I mean, in Shurima, Ascension was done using the power of the sun and the Targonians also have the Aspect of the sun, but in the end, the sun is just a star created by Aurelion Sol. Geez, this is poorly worded.

Anyway, my question WAS answered, and it was pretty obvious in hindsight. Sol imbues his power into every star he makes, and he's a Celestial Dragon. So.

But I just now thought of this: In Shurima, to become Ascended, you had to actually be deemed worthy. By the sun. Otherwise, you'd just be incinerated. And Azir, even centuries after he was deemed worthy, he still became Ascended, even when he was't in the right place for the ritual. So… is the sun intelligent? I mean, obviously not too intelligent, cuz Xerath hacked the system just by pushing someone. But yeah, this is suddenly not making sense to me. Someone help.

14 Comments

SharjoSep 18, 20168 votes

Let us remember that Soraka was a herald "of the stars" so to speak, and they communicated with her in some way. At the very least I'd say there's some force that interacts with the universe using stars, or there's a higher power behind them, but yeah, they're not just giant spheres of plasma in the League universe.

The Last BalladSep 19, 20161 votes

Illaoi : My god is in all things in motion. The sea, the birds, the EVER CHANGING NUCLEAR FUSION OF THE SUN!

TBakesSep 18, 20163 votes

I wouldn't necessarily go as far as to say the sun is intelligent. It is hard to put in words, but I believe magic has this sort of trickle-down effect. The source of Aurelion Sol's creation is presumably the source of it all (to our knowledge). He then uses his imbued powers to create something inconceivably large and powerful like a star/sun. This sun is sending out all kinds of waves and rays and energies that are somewhat mysterious (does Aurelion even know what they are capable of?).

From there, the magical energies trickle-down to Runeterra. I imagine, just like our universe, these energies are useless without technology or other tools to harness them into a productive/destructive force. The Ascension is that tool. I would compare it to how we need solar panels in order to convert the solar energy (that exists independently of our existence) into electricity, which is useful for us. Now, plants can take this solar energy and have natural biological processes that allow them to convert it directly into sugar (photosynthesis). Reptiles use this solar energy to maintain the correct body temperatures. Even humans naturally absorb vitamin D directly from solar energy.

I am imagining Runeterra has similar mechanisms, but in a more fantastical way. For example, that magical energy may be funneled into the Sun Disk and then requires a suitable candidate to absorb the energy. This individual would maybe need to maintain a particular vibration or personal energy that manifests from everyone being a piece of the Source. Some individuals have probably become aware of their personal energies and exercised them in a way or may be unaware of their personal energy and exercised it anyway. I would compare this to having the correct wires to plug into the outlet. So, while Azir may have the vibrations of a copper wire and absorbs the energy of the Sun Disk in a clean, productive way, Xerath is more like an aluminum fork that got forced into the outlet. He will still conduct the current, but it will be a destructive force.

That may be a poor comparison, but that is just how I rationalize the idea of magic. As Sharjo mentioned, Soraka (and maybe others) can communicate with the stars, so there are probably several different types of energy and magic pulsing out from the Sun, and individuals/civilizations may need to create the proper tools to harness those energies. Soraka probably has natural mechanisms that allow her to have these powers that cannot be understood by others. I would compare this to birds who have internal systems for interacting with Earth's magnetic field, but most humans do not have this "power". However, we created the compass, which operates is a similar way and serves a similar function. I just is not something we have innately (or at least to the same degree as migratory birds).

The Last BalladSep 19, 20161 votes

naturally absorb vitamin D directly from solar energy

We actually kind of just use the sun's power to change the vitamin d from our food into a form we can use it(like plants!), that is why you can get vitamin d pills, it is the same stuff we make ourselves, but no sun required.

TBakesSep 19, 20161 votes

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying, but I hope it doesn't detract from the idea I was trying to get across :)

SaltyToplaneGoatSep 18, 20163 votes

Actually, the sun is an anomaly.

AurelionSol "This sun has been of its axis, it has been driving me crazy for aeons now..."

This change could have caused the sunlight to hit runeterra to be magically enchanced in some kind of way, allowing it to be used in magic rituals.

Also, this must be one tricky issue as Aurelian Sol can't just simply fly up and fix it, despite him being annoyed by it. Maybe... he can't? The magical radiation of the sun might be too strong for him to interfere with?

TattersallSep 19, 20162 votes

"This sun is off its axis - it's been driving me crazy for eons now…"

Oh geez. This is either wildly important or just one of the random things Sol says. Now that I know about it, I really hope that it's wildly important. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. The theory wheels are turning a bit harder now. [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

SaltyToplaneGoatSep 19, 20161 votes

Also this anomaly might be the cause for the sun to have a sentinent avatar.

EmbertineSep 19, 20161 votes

The aspect of the sun is Tagonian, and not actually from Runeterra's sun.

SaltyToplaneGoatSep 19, 20161 votes

What if Runeterra's sun is a targonian existence?

Not that it had been created as such, but I could imagine it like this.

1.) Normal Sun.

2.) Targonian with super-weird-space-magic bonds with it

3.) Sun gets kicked of it's axis a little

4.) Now the sun is targonian.

EmbertineSep 20, 20161 votes

The Targonian aspect of the sun came from Targon though, through the portal on top of Mount Targon which is named after it.

Aurelion Sol says the sun has been off its axis for eons, which was far longer then before Leona was chosen to embody the aspect of the sun. Before then was so long that only vague hints and crumbling tapestries are left of when the last time there was an aspect for the son on runeterra, possibly long before the fall of Shurima as Aurelion Sol had witnessed himself the construction of the sun disk, and there was only one aspect on Runeterra at that time, which was Pantheon.

I believe that Each star does in fact have a life of its own, as Aurelion does bestow one of his hearts into each of them when he makes them. But it is for the most part the star fire which was used to make them that is what makes them magical in nature, and thus able to be harnessed for use in acts such as ascension.