'The Lunari/Solari dispute' or 'How Nami fits into Runeterra lore'

Hey there,

Since I'm really hyped about all these lore changes (finally) taking place and Riot's statement that Mt. Targon is next, I wanted to share my idea of how Nami fits in with other champions and the origin of the eternal fight between the worshippers of moon and sun. Be warned, I wrote this about two years ago, Runeterra's lore (and my English skills) underwent some drastic changes in the meantime. Important events like the fall of Shurima were quickly added to the story. I'd love to hear what you guys think about my theory!

Psst! Here starts the important part!

Conflicts raged all over Runeterra, the Three Sisters went to war, the Empire of Shurima was torn apart by the hands of an usurper and the Rune Wars threatened to destroy Valoran.

During that time, before the Rune Wars changed the continent, Shurima was not as hostile to life as it is now and the Fyrone Flats were a prosperous region. A great river, Ite’Pi, supplied the lands with water and occasionally flooded the surrounding areas which provided fertile land. To assure the frequent flooding and therefore the survival of the Rakkor Tribe (back then living in the Fyrone Flats in a rich city called Rakkon, spiritually ruled by Helios, avatar of the sun and Selene, avatar of the moon), a high-priest of the moon had to make a ceremonial exchange with an envoy of the Marai: a moonstone traded for an abyssal pearl which allowed the priesthood to control the river. The moonstone had to be blessed in the Temple of the Moon which lay on top of Mount Targon, as close as anyone could get to the sky. After each exchange ceremony, the avatar of the moon had to return to this temple to pray in order to thank the Lunar Deity for it's aid.

The Rakkor were a peaceful tribe, rich through trade, but as the years passed by and the Rune Wars continued, the first changes in Valoran landscape caused by those wars became visible. Ite’Pi, source of almost all life southern of the Great Barrier, ran dry. Shurima's cities were taken over by the desert, it's ancient civilisation - still weakened by the fall of it's capital - broke apart and the once green Fyrone Flats rapidly became uninhabitable.

After the last exchange, Selene immediately returned to the Temple of the Moon to honour the Lunar Deity. The priesthood in Rakkon prepared the pearl for the next flooding, but nothing happened. Despair took over the city as the river slowly ran dry. Their last hope was to head to the only inhabitable place they could still call their own: Mount Targon.

The journey was hard and, bit by bit, turned the Rakkor into grim and bitter people. Savage beasts of the void suddenly started to roam the desert and survivors of Shurima's fall, looking for gold and water, attacked everyone who dared to enter the wastelands.They had to learn to defend themselves, but there was one enemy they couldn’t defeat: hunger. So the Rite of Kor was born. Only the strongest of their own could claim their most valuable resource. Crossing the new born desert, worshippers of the moon began to feel a deep hatred against the sun until one day the inevitable happened. Rakkor turned against Rakkor. But it wasn’t the Lunari attacking the followers of the sun. Helios and his Solari killed all who opposed them to prevent a revolt which would have resulted in an even bigger bloodshed. He killed the oblivious leader of the Lunari with one single beam of solar energy called down from the sky. The people, blaming the failing of the abyssal pearl on a corrupted moonstone, abandoned - and soon forgot about - the Lunar Deity.

Selene, still praying in the Temple of the Moon, one night had a dark vision about the death of her people. Shocked by Helios’ betrayal, she did the last thing left for her to do. She sealed the entrance of the temple with herself inside. Hoping for someone to read of the devious deed of the Solari, she wrote down everything she remembered of that dream. Selene watched over the temple until her last breath, but the seal was never broken.

After a thousand years have passed, one living creature dared to enter the Fyrone Flats afresh. A young Marai called Nami breached the shore with a single pearl in one of her hands. Alone.

Glossary:

Items The abyssal pearl: //it's ability to influence the tides was believed to help the Rakkor survive in the desert The moonstone: it's light helps the Marai to survive in the depths of the sea

Locations The Great Barrier: a mountain range dividing Valoran in two //Ite’Pi: based on original name of the Nile, a river rising at the Great Barrier and marking the border between the Fyrone Flats and Kumungu Mount Targon: formerly known as Mount Gargantuan, the highest mountain of the Great Barrier Runeterra: the world in which League of Legends takes place Valoran: a continent situated on Runeterra

Races/Tribes Lunari: worshipper of the moon Marai: a race of ancient water dwellers (Nami) Rakkor: a tribe now living on Mt. Targon (Leona, Diana, Pantheon, ...) Solari: worshipper of the sun

Changes to the original lore The interval of the abyssal pearl/moonstone exchange raised from 100 years to 1000(?) The habitat of the Marai moved from the Guardian's Sea (Bilgewater) to the South Coast of Valoran

Ideas for a Mt. Targon event:

Skins Abyssal Nami: after failing her quest for the moonstone, she becomes one with the depths of the sea Avatar of the Moon Diana: after retrieving the traditional ritual armour of Selene, she finally has a partner skin with Leona Avatar of the Sun Leona: after retrieving the traditional ritual armour of Helios, she finally has a partner skin with Diana

Game Mode Tidecalling: a 'capture the flag' kind of game mode on a Summoner's Rift that turned into a desert where both teams have to retrieve the abyssal pearl and the moonstone from the river (Baron/dragon pit?) the restore the land's prosperity.

What? You did not major in Valoran Geography at the University of Piltover? Here's the pretty outdated map I used as a reference: Who needs a map? For more context, I recommend you read Leona's, Diana's and Nami's lore.

TL;DR: Lunari/Solari living in peace, Marai's abyssal pearl helps them to cultivate land while Lunari's moonstone helps to survive in the sea, war changes land, moonstone doesn't help anymore. Solari blame moon, kill Lunari and search for productive land. Nami gets no moonstone anymore, is forever alone.

I may write this again as a fan-fiction with better language, but I wanted to post my theory here before Riot publishes any details about the new lore.

PS @ Riot: I hope this is the right board to post this since this is part speculation part fan-fiction. If not, feel free to move it to the fan art board. :)

Thanks for reading! Fal~