Is there and afterlife on Runeterra

Mandalorian 117··5 votes·1,182 views

Runeterra is full of gods, goddesses, demigods, and aspects, but do any of them, or any other god we don't know yet have a type of afterlife? I might be wrong on this, but it seems like there isn't any kind of deity of afterlife like the biblical God and Satan, the Greek god Hades, Nordic goddess Hel and so on and so forth.

What made me think if this is when I started playing Yorick Yorick and he questions if there is anything beyond in his dialogue. He also spoke with the dead since he was a child, and tried to lay them to rest. Now he tries to raise the dead to bring justice to the blessed isles. Does he bring them back from an afterlife, or are they not at rest and he uses them? In Greek mythology, if someone has not received a proper burial, they are forced to roam the earth, not going to Tartarus or Elysium. Does this work in a similar way, where he takes advantage of these ghosts?

Another is Illoui Illaoi when she kills someone in the name of her god, does the person just die, or do they go to a realm of censored Japanese tentacles?

One more thing is that if a person dies, and are brought to rest, are they just gone? No afterlife, nothing happens, they just go. This is possible, but somewhat anti-climactic (I guess it wouldn't, matter but still). Plus Illoui's E rips the soul out of enemies and beats the crap out of it. This might be something made for the sake of gameplay, but at the same time it could mean there is such thing as a soul in the universe. If there is a soul, wouldn't that mean it goes somewhere?

There are other questions I have about certain champions that are undead Amumu Sion or possessed Pantheon but that's pretty much the gist of it.

31 Comments

Ebonmaw Dragon4 votes

Considering that actual ghosts exist (not undead creatures), yeah.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueoflegends/images/c/c5/Howling_Abyss_Shop1.png/revision/latest?cb=20130522203027

And Rafen mentioned the "seven hells" in the lore... so we know that the word "hell" is a thing in Runeterra. So, the concept exist... It is real? no idea.

Mandalorian 1171 votes

Hopefully this will be explained later. Maybe a Karthus rework can make him the god/demon of afterlife. Who knows.

Ebonmaw Dragon1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Mandalorian 117,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=b73Ea9si,comment-id=00000000,timestamp=2017-12-20T20:44:16.735+0000)

Hopefully this will be explained later. Maybe a Karthus rework can make him the god/demon of afterlife. Who knows.

I doubt that Riot would do that with Karthus considering that he already received a rework.

Mandalorian 1171 votes

Oh he was? I need to catch up.

Ebonmaw Dragon1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Mandalorian 117,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=b73Ea9si,comment-id=0000000000000000,timestamp=2017-12-20T21:08:26.677+0000)

Oh he was? I need to catch up.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hu11058SLE0/U31t-00uGqI/AAAAAAAAQTE/eoH_6vpYiKw/s1600/Karthubbasecompare.jpg https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueoflegendsoficial/images/4/4a/Karthus_0_old.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150710030101&path-prefix=es Just look at that.

Mandalorian 1171 votes

I meant lore update, where he gave his life to the shadow isles.

Ebonmaw Dragon1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Mandalorian 117,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=b73Ea9si,comment-id=000000000000000000000000,timestamp=2017-12-20T21:27:14.748+0000)

I meant lore update, where he gave his life to the shadow isles.

Well, before that he was a lich from the Howling Marsh, not related with the Shadow Isles at all. Changing him to the Shadow Isles WAS the lore update... so it wouldnt make sense to change him again to something different.

Mandalorian 1171 votes

Riot has been updating so many champs recently, it's hard to keep track. Ryze is on number 117 right? Joke's aside, I didn't know anything about the older lore, I just knew of that story, and thought it was his original one. Sorry.

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOO3 votes

There’s likely a multitude of understandings of life and death in Runeterra. We do have ghosts and the spirit realm, and Illaoi claims to be capable of destroying souls.

It’s likely that in ionia there’s a strong belief in reincarnation or some other cycle. Demacia and Noxus would likely have more western views on the concept (Noxus maybe)

The Kindred seem to be only involved in the process of death itself, they don’t ferry souls to some afterlife or anything.

Mandalorian 1171 votes

I forgot the kindred part of my post. Kindred seems like the Valkyries. They "escort" people to the afterlife, but how you get there depends on whether or not you accept your death. Demacians believe in some kind of Veiled Lady. Lux mentions her in her short story with Garen and Nocturn (possibly, but I think we all know it's him). Who is this veiled lady, and why do Demacians believe in her? Illoui also says things about "bearded lady (some unpronounceable guy) names don't matter!" The bearded lady is also mentioned in the startup screen saying she/it is one of, or one of the names of bilgwater's deity or deities. I can't remember which one.

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOO1 votes

I’m pretty sure kindred just shoot/hunt down people. In their color story they don’t do much escorting, just killing.

Mandalorian 1171 votes

That's what I saw in her, I'm probably (most likely) wrong. There is the thought that kindred isn't real, but the good death short story says otherwise since the woman came in contact with kindred. There is a hint if kindred is not real. Lamb represents a quick painless death, while wolf represents a very slow painful death. If they are real, that's what they do, they hunt those who are about to die, and give them the choice. Accept your fate, go out in a blaze.

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOO1 votes

Well it just depends on if you meet Death or Run from it. Painless has nothing to do with jt

Mandalorian 1171 votes

That's just how I interpreted the story, as well as seeing a lot of kindred theories.

Penyü3 votes

I feel like Yorick believes (or hopes) there is an afterlife at least

one example

I've gone through every scrap of lore I can on Yorick as I love this champion so much, but his champion update page says "morphed the Blessed Isles into the Shadow Isles—a place where the dead find no resting place" so I'm assuming because they were cursed they cannot move on, he uses the souls in his cape (that have basically mixed and each 'soul' isn't from one specific person anymore) to give some sort of sentients to his mistwalkers (and the recently deceased sailor in his short story) to help him.

Mandalorian 1172 votes

Yorick is a very interesting character. In lore, and in game. I really feel bad for him, and at the same time I'm cheering for him.

Penyü1 votes

His character update is wonderful, and utterly heartbreaking I'd love for him to eventually be able to cleanse the isles with Maokai's help, and face off against the ruined king but sob

riot don't care enough about him to write more about him

Mandalorian 1172 votes

I think riot cares, there's just a lot to talk about. After all, we finally have more info on the Darkin. Also, I think the ruined king is dead. Our friend might not know that, but he might be able to summoner 1 the isles [poppy-wink] . As of now, mordekaiser is the ruler of the Shadow Isles, and it's hinted that Shen fought him and won when he tried to take back Noxus (that's my boy!). I don't know if Morde is destroyed or if Shen pushed him back. Either way, Yorick and Maokai might have an unexpected ally.

Penyü1 votes

Yeah he probably is dead, which makes it even more sad that Yorick wants him to pay for what he did but he never will if he's not dead, he's probably corrupted and undead(??)

Mandalorian 1171 votes

I'm pretty sure he is dead. His now undead wife begged him to put her out of her misery, so he casted a spell on themselves so they would be together in what lies beyond. His selfishness and unwillingness to accept his wife's death is what made the Shadow Isles what it is today, it made his most trusted general into a spirit of vengeance Kalista and his best fighter into a the shadow of warHecarim. I kinda hope he's undead so he will reap what he has sown.

I did really love the ending of Yorick's short story though. He was so upset by the sailor's death that he resurrected him and sent him out to "find answers". I really hope if anything Yorick can find the truth, but I also want to believe he can bring the Isles back to it's former glory, but at the same time it might be to late. His arclight skin might be what he used to look like as a monk, or if it will be what he'll look like if he cleanses the Isles. I love skins like that that might connect with lore. Even if it's just a theory.

Ebonmaw Dragon2 votes

[{quoted}](name=Mandalorian 117,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=b73Ea9si,comment-id=000200000000000000000000,timestamp=2017-12-20T23:06:30.210+0000)

His arclight skin might be what he used to look like as a monk, or if it will be what he'll look like if he cleanses the Isles.

Is not, it was confirmed by a RIOT member that all the Arclight skins are from an AU where Arclight Velkoz gives people powers with his light ray or something like that.

Mandalorian 1171 votes

Oh ok. I didn't know that there was a story behind arc-light. Like, I heard that arc-light varus is the thought if he was never corrupted (or in this case darkined) so I had the same idea about this one. My bad.

Penyü1 votes

Arclight is AU so it's not related to the base lore of the game

Mandalorian 1171 votes

I know that now. Arc light varus was a "what if" theory I saw, and I assumed some of the others are along the same lines.

JustMonika133 votes

There seems to be a cycle of Reincarnation in the Runeterran universe. Both Illaoi and the Targon aspects seem to hint at it in their lore and some quotes.

Arakadia1 votes

Zoe's lore suggests it if im not mistaken.

Rayjay Redfang3 votes

There are souls, and the shadow isles is proof of this. mordekaiser imprisons souls as well so spiritual bodies exist. Where do they go, that is unknown. The only souls we see are trapped or willingly staying like karthus.

With Yorick, a lot of lower level creatures are one or more soul stuffed into corrupted flesh that are trapped there. They have no free will. They never went to the beyond, he just summons them. I Ilike to think of it as the soul is just powering the body, but something else dictates it's actions. For people like hecarim, their soul was strong enough to maintain who they are personality wise.

If we look at Sion, his life was brought back to him and his mind was imprisoned. He has the memories and body of Sion, but does he have the sould of Sion or is he more zombie related? We don't know that either, but personally I'd like to believe it is sion's soul.

The aspects are Gods that inhabit a host.

amumu just won't die. I need to reread his lore to see if he is wrapped up because of an illness or if he was buried or just sealed away.

The league after life seems to be disorganized unlike other religions where there is a permanent resident for souls. Since souls exist, they have to go somewhere, and following up on this, it is only logical that something is governing where they go and maintaining order.

We may get a better explanation of the after life with the kayle/Morgana updates

Mandalorian 1171 votes

I've been very excited about their update. I wonder if they are going to be creatures of targon, or will they be what I'm looking for in league afterlife. I would be very happy with either, but one would give me some closure.

Warlord Dienekes1 votes

Waarghobo has said that reincarnation is a thing, in our discussions on Illaoi.

But the Pantheon’s lore explicitly says that Atreus joined the celestial afterlife. Which would mean there is an afterlife, if we take the lore at face value. Which with Targon is problematic at several points.

Souls or spirit energy or whatever you want to call it must exist for the Shadow Isle’s lore to make sense.

Robert Smith1 votes

Kindred :Grim Reaper usually is the guide to the afterlife

Mandalorian 1171 votes

I was thinking of mythology. So grim reaper completely slipped my mind. Sorry.

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