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Celestial Titans in Ionia - Balance, Syndra, Awaken

Falrein·10/21/2019, 5:30:09 PM·10 votes·11,194 views

Hi everyone! As a follow up to another thread of mine, I’d like to talk about the recent addition to the Vastaya’s lore page.

We now know that in an ancient time, there were titans that plagued Ionia. They came “From the skies above”, which implies that they were Celestials or, at the very least, of Celestial construct.

######Possible plot hook for Ionia?

So obviously, at first, I’ll mention what that means for Ionia.

You’ll notice that the page tells that the titans were defeated but it does not specify that they were killed. The end of the page even hints towards the fact that these things may be coming back…

This would be very interesting as a plot hook for Ionia, because right now they don’t have much. There’s a conflict stirring… And that’s about it. And most of Ionia’s lore revolves a lot around Noxus… Which is problematic because, from Awaken… Noxus is coming back. And I’d like Ionia to have intern storylines. And I think that’s the perfect opportunity! Imagine celestial titans coming coming back, and Ionians having to unite (which would be interesting to see) to defeat them! It would finally get things moving!

But why and how? Bear with me, for what is about to follow is gonna be very, VERY mindblowing.

Disclaimer, I'm probably going too far, but I love doing crazy theories so...

######Balance, trees, Syndra, Awaken

Balance is a shield

So let’s talk about that first. We know the balance between realms was restored, and that it caused the Vastayashai’rei’s powers to wane. Why? We know Ionia is highly spiritual, but if the balance was so bad for them, why did they put their effort into keeping the balance? After all, other mortals lived there too, so it’s a proof that they had the possibility to do so.

I think that the Balance was installed because of the titans. I do not think they were killed, but that they were trapped. And that Balance is a shield, preventing them from coming back, which would be why the Kinkou was formed, and why the Spirit of Ionia is guiding Ionia on a path to Balance as well.

Syndra, destroyer of shield and harbinger of doom

Because a post of mine wouldn't be a post of mine without some Syndra in it...

The reason why I think the previous thing is partly because of what happened to Syndra. When she threw her tantrum and disrupted the spirituality of Fae’lor, she was causing a mass disruption in the Balance.

While there are many different possibilities as to why the Spirit intervened to stop Syndra, I believe that this could be one of them. By disturbing the Balance, Syndra could shatter this shield that I’m talking about, leading to the awakening of these titans.

Another thing I’d like to mention is that this could very much tie in to Syndra’s powers and their origin. As some of you may know, very powerful characters in other IPs often get their powers by their association with another entity. The one closest to my theory is Wanda with Chthon.

What if Syndra had been gifted these powers from one of these titans to serve as their harbinger? Not that she would follow that path, but it could be interesting since she’s all about making her own choices, how would she feel if some ulterior forces had made her the way she is?

It would give her Celestial and Spiritual powers, a blend of the two making her the powerhouse she is today. She did create a crown out of nothing, and creation is the proper of Celestial magic isn’t it? I think it could fit, and it’d be interesting?

But why her? Well…

The trees, the locks of the prison

So… Again, do remember that this is some crazy theorizing.

What if there were trees, VERY important trees around Ionia (not the God-Willow from Ivern’s story) that are the “locks” to these titans’ prison?

Syndra’s story said that she would often flee to her favourite hiding spot, the ghost-willow, a very important tree that had nourished the land and its people, who in turn nourished it. What if this tree was one of the locks?

By going there very often, one of these imprisoned titans maybe managed to “touch” Syndra and imbue her with celestial powers, hoping that she would set them free due to her uncontrolled emotions, destroying the balance in the process. It’s a bit far-fetched and I myself am not sure how I like this, but it could work?

Okay, but this is just one tree. What can make you say that with this much confidence?

Awaken, everyone to the rescue of a tree

As we can see in Awaken, Irelia is protecting a village with some random villagers who appear not to be good fighters. Why? Why stay when they could just flee, gather more forces? Why force some random villagers to fight…?

Well, let’s see it that way. What if the village was very important? We can see, in a few shots, that there’s a tree that particularly stands out at the centre of the village. What if this was another “lock”?

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/457316449594245150/635891196778250250/unknown.png

That could explain why 5 champions decide to go to one place just to defend a single village. Furthermore, Kennen’s presence as a member of the Kinkou would also be explained – if destroying the village has such a terrible cost for Balance, the Kinkou would intervene. And it would be a better explanation than “Kennen just left Shen to fight lul”.

So that’s it! Hope you enjoyed this crazy theory time with me! Tell me what you think! Can it be an interesting plot hook for Ionia? Does it make sense to you? Or am I going too far? Just let me know!

18 Comments

Lady Faceless10/21/2019, 6:28:31 PM2 votes

Okay, overall the theory is not bad. While we don't have much which actually supports it, it does would kinda fit into the Ionian concept of balance. However, at the same time you have to be aware you have too little so if a new source which doesn't align with your theory, you shouldn't be too sad about it.

My read on the new Vastayashai’rei origin was more about how mortals could dip into the spiritual realm without hurting it. It should show us a healthy way to work with it. The current present has another force that interacts with the spirit world - the Zed's Order of Shadow. Also, could the disappear of the Vastayahai'rei have a different reason - you can't forever work on both planes of existence, at some point you have to choose. While yes, we do have Vastaya and Yordle which are a product of both, kinda, they are also born this way. At some point, I think they just left their physical form complete. But again, this is my read on this all and it is mostly headcanon, so yeah.

I actually really don't want to have another overall powerful force that threatens Runeterra. We have the Shadow Isles, Mordekaiser and Void... do we really need more? Especially since Riot takes on the celestial lore is, at least in my opinion, mostly hold by our headcanons because the canon offers like nothing of substance.

However, I really, really hate your take on how Syndra got her magic. Right now Syndra has so little agenda in her OWN narrative. She is basically the puppet of her hateful surrounding and all her actions are reactions, to say it blunt. One of the few things which could make her interesting is her power. They literally forsaked her whole personality for her current power level. Do you REALLY wanna take it away and make it an object of celestial origin? Especially since Riot has a history of using celestial lore/magic in such a way that creates more harm and good for the plot. Hell, Spirit of Ionia is not enough random Deus Ex Machina for Syndra's plot at this point? Do we REALLY need more?

Syndra currently suffers that she has no positive story hooks for the reader. We should I, as a reader should even want to see myself in her? She only suffered, she has no healthy ways to cope with her pain and I'm a person which powerful magic at the commend. Now, you talk about her making her power as origin of something non-human, make her natural talent not her own. At this point, why should we as a reader even try to care about Syndra if she is not supposed to be a human like us?

D4ziri10/21/2019, 5:38:49 PM1 votes

Interesting point of view. Would explain Syndra's abnormal inhumane powers. ?>>> How could a mortal being have so much potential? Gifted by another entity as you mentioned. Really intriguing theory you managed to point out :D

Kinda resembles me of original Lissandra Lore w/ the Watchers.

4 Step Cadence10/21/2019, 5:43:28 PM1 votes

I like the tree idea. That's a good theory.

The NA Ogre10/21/2019, 5:36:29 PM1 votes

While the answer to your question is yes, you are insane, you do raise an interesting point. Gotta wait and see what the gods of Soon(tm) have in store for us with these titans.

Velzard of Koz10/21/2019, 8:07:28 PM1 votes

So let’s talk about that first. We know the balance between realms was restored, and that it caused the Vastayashai’rei’s powers to wane. Why? We know Ionia is highly spiritual, but if the balance was so bad for them, why did they put their effort into keeping the balance? After all, other mortals lived there too, so it’s a proof that they had the possibility to do so.

I think that the Balance was installed because of the titans. I do not think they were killed, but that they were trapped. And that Balance is a shield, preventing them from coming back, which would be why the Kinkou was formed, and why the Spirit of Ionia is guiding Ionia on a path to Balance as well.

Harmony is another way to understand Balance. It specifically mentoins it was there before Titans and Titans shattered it. It wasn't created exclusively for Titans.

Vastaya+ were mortals who turned into Vastaya+ specifically to defeat Titans - they brought Balance, even though it hurt them, because that was their entire point, they changed themself for that purpose.

Also, Balance came much later, they might not have even known it would hurt them.

Skins Project10/22/2019, 5:42:40 AM1 votes

You're insane, but I agree!

(Neva said I wasn't insane)

Thefrostyviking10/22/2019, 1:47:55 PM1 votes

The reason Kennen&Akali turns up there while Shen doesnt is because everyone in the kinkou has bascially ditched Shen to fight Noxus while he sat back and said "let nature take it´s course" more or less.

Irelia? She was always a frontline fighter and Karma joined in on it.

The place before the village where Ionian coalition met Noxus? It was the best place to actually fight Noxus and prevent the invasion from actually getting anything, for a few reasons.

  1. By stopping the invasion early they prevent enemies from digging in and building fortifications which would enable them to do so much more.
  2. They prevent defilement of their homeland (Important for them)
  3. Home ground benefits. (Supplies,easy to rest, known terrain, ability to setup traps and their own defences)
  4. Prevent enemies from resting and gathering supplies by plundering.

So all in all it was not just a random battle on Ionia´s part, it was fairly well considered.

However its not actually impossible that Syndra has some connection to either the Celestial titans or possibly even the Spirit realm and that the reason the landspirit did not kill her was to somehow nurture her into a powerhouse that could protect it.

Which is also a hella farfetched idea given that it basically just tortured her but the entire thing about it not killing her if it hated her so much in the first place is also weird, it should't have anything to gain by just tormenting her and the risk was high.

It´s really hard to guess what the Spirit was gunning for ._.