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@Riot and fans, Fewer city-states in the new lore of Runeterra

Tesla Effect·3/31/2015, 2:50:15 PM·5 votes·2,326 views

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20150129125903/leagueoflegends/images/1/1c/Demacia_Castle.jpg I had came across some interesting information during my time editing faction pages on the wikipedia. In lore (Scourge of the desert) a Noxian citizen traveling in Shurima mentioned his nation as an "Empire". This may indicate that Noxus is now "The Empire of Noxus". He also mentioned that there is a Noxian Capital indicating there are more than one city in that nation and that the city we all thought was Noxus was actually just its capital( her lore indicates that there are more than one settlement in Demacia as well). All of this leads to the fact that some previously city-state nations are now considered countries in the new canon.

Countries: Bilgewater (since the 2014 Harrowing, it was stated that Bilgewater had more settlements in its control) Empire of Noxus (Reasons were stated above) Empire of Shurima (Disputed since Azirs resurrection of the Empire is not well know in all of Shurima) Ionia (Pretty straightforward, since it has a lot more settlements than just one city) Kingdom of Demacia (They have a King, which makes it a Kingdom, pretty straightforward as well) Kingdom of Freljord (Disputed since the Civil War) Yordle Lands (Bandle City being their capital)

City-States: Piltover (same as Bandle city) Zaun (same Reasons)

No main recognized governments: Mount Targon (several tribes, non of which clearly represents this place) Shadow Isles (we really dont know if they have a leader or if they have rule similar to the living nations)

My question for this is, what are the full names of all the nations besides the ones we know like Noxus, Shurima, Demacia, Freljord? And would Piltover, Zaun and Bandle City be located inside some of the mentioned countries? Why do they have such political freedom next to such large nations? Is Bilgewater called Bilgewater Union and Ionia called Ionian Eldership?

14 Comments

Ebonmaw Dragon3/31/2015, 4:12:59 PM6 votes

Well, the City States have been always been a part, and capital, of the "Factions".

Even in the old lore, they mentioned that other cities, towns and villages exist at Valoran, Kalamanda is only 1 example. There are more villages and towns around the city states (Bandle City is the "capital" of the Yordle Land. The leader of Bandle City is the Mayor Jadefellow... which means that there are more mayors in smaller towns of the Yordle Land (those towns are actually mentioned in the old lore, but not the names)... which means that the yordles have a democratic government, therefore a President).

GenoXx3/31/2015, 4:36:05 PM4 votes

"Shadow Isles (we really dont know if they have a leader or if they have rule similar to the living nations)" -West Treeline Altar"For the king"

But seriously, Bilgewater would definitely be a union. Back the the olden days, place inhabited by pirates we're often called unions. Such as when they even claimed some islands for their own in hopes to make a settlement or even a city known today. So i'd say it was a union.

I picture Ionia as feudal Japan or Ancient china. Navori, Galrin, and Shon Xon. It's prettey much like a mini Asia. It's Actually my favorite place. Ionia is pretty fleshed out though. It has landmarks and places. I would want to hear more about the cities and locations of Noxus and Demacia. Old Noxus is one place mentioned in Sion's promo. There's many houses in Demacia, would those said house have some authority over some places? Also since its clear Noxus is an Empire I wonder wat other places is under Noxus's rule?.

Theres also places like the Kumugu and Plague Jungles. Maybe theres a hidden civilization kinda like Aztec style? I know GreenLore likes that idea. Following the Retcon Nid could hint that very idea.

Edit: Btw Telsa, I'm sure your work on the wikia won't go unnoticed. I see the changes you made and nice LoL trailer too

Jeddy0174/1/2015, 3:32:13 AM4 votes

God,I would love an updated map of Runeterra.

Lost R3/31/2015, 3:53:41 PM1 votes

Have you heard of the Inland Empire? It's a metropolitan area just east of Los Angeles and is about thousand times the size of Manhattan and six times larger than the Los Angeles area in terms of square mileage. It's composed of ten different cities: Riverside, San Bernardino, Fontana, Moreno Valley, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Corona, Victorville, Murietta, and Temecula. It's also the thirteenth most populous region in the US and the third most populous in California. No one I've met who hasn't lived in California themselves at one time or another has ever heard of the Inland Empire, and for shorthand reference for people out of state, you'd just say you live in the Los Angeles area (it's about an hour or two drive to LA, traffic willing). To compound on this, I live in a town that isn't even one of the listed cities up there (and for security reasons, I can't tell you), yet neighbors them and is technically part of the Inland Empire.

When you're dealing with fiction, you have to remember that fictional cities and hubs are going to be boiled down to the Theme Park Version. It's not a negative trope in and of itself. A normal, sane writer is not going to go into the intricacies about how expansive the country's territory is and all the various names for the sectors (unless the story is focused in that area). You just have to remind yourself that those outside territories do exist, even if they're not explicitly mentioned/denied. It's easier to give the reader the Theme Park Version.