My problems with the Apects (and a minor talk on the void)

Talos of Altmora·6/12/2016, 12:24:12 AM·20 votes·2,477 views
My problems with Targon

Well, I think i have made my point very clear about targon. But there is one last thing that I need to let out., the second largest problem i have the Targon; the aspects. I've gone into detail with them in My problems with new!Taric, but I thought I might go into depth with them.

Let's start with Pantheon, he paints a very poor picture of the rest of his kind. Pantheon removed Atreus from his mortal body, and now works for targon. He also is the one in charge of overseeing Sol whenever they need him to blow something up. Let me get this out of the way; like all of the other aspects, he is a flat character. What we do see of him paints him as not caring about his host, and... that's about it really. In sol's short story, she is a slave-driver who is incarnated by sol. Honestly, the way he goes about it is cruel. He Uses the bodies of his host, and if they said no (and strangely, nota single one of the hosts ever said no) I have a feeling he won't care.

The Sun aspect is a interesting case. He shows up at the beginning and at the end of Linda's (see the other post for details) story and is the source of her powers. when he enters Linda's mind, her hatred of Diana is changed to be simple waiting to go navel-gazing with her. It's creepy. He is a deus ex machina to get Linda into a place that she can work together with Diana. Ill get into my little theory on the aspects on a whole later, but he creeps the hell out of me.

The Moon aspect manages to be darker, it takes a hipster by the name of Diana, and leads her up the mountain and gains the aspects. It takes control of her and gets it's host some armor and a sword, and then sends Diana back. When Diana gives her speech to the solari, but instead of Diana killing them in self defense, the moon does it for her. It uses her body to kill the elders... and quite strangely leaves the leader of the Ra-Horak alive. Of course, perhaps the moon aspect and the sun aspect were working together, but that's later.

The Protector is honestly the nicest of the bunch, but even he is suspect. I like that he is at least concerned with people, but he strangely seems very manipulative. He's honestly the best of the bunch, but that's because he's a person instead of a magic plot device. He also doesn't seem to object to, say, The "misguided" Soalri who are implied to have killed "Heretics" before. He's honestly a strange on, that's for sure. I personally feel that the main problem i have with Taric is he's new ego. In fact, i like to think that is his short story, the two armies look at one another for a brief second, and then promptly beat the crap outta him. Why? i think it's funny.

Now, Let'sd talk about SOl's Slavery. Sol destroys my sympathy towards the targonians. Yes, he's an egotiscal asshole, but he is honestly the most likeable of the bunch. The aspects and the Targoinan slave empire treat him like a tool, and if he disobeys, one of his stars will be destroyed. He views the stars as his children, and given that the original lore implied that the sun was senitient, it may not be metaphorical. Not to mention that they never say that the other worlds those stars orbit have sentient life on it (or life in general) so for all we know, they commit genocide for the benefit of stopping the void and getting their toy to work. Granted, i doubt it, but given their behavior, they seem to be the type to do anything to stop the Void. Anyways, enslaving a thinking being, and killing something that he loves if he disobeys is a great way to lose my sympathy.

Now, my theory on the Aspects; they are the type of aliens that work for 'The Greater Good". (No, not the Tau's philosophy, even they have their limits.) The Greater good, as in, to quote Litch from DOTA 2 "For the greater good! Mine!" They seem to be only be interested in their empire and preserving it. They only care about Targon because it holds significant to THEM, they oppose the void because, well, it's the one thing that could destroy the universe. The Aspects do not care for their hosts. Pantheon kills his host and uses their body as a meat-puppet, the sun aspect controls his host by altering her mind until it better suits it. the Moon aspect takes over Diana and does all the work, and the protector is... well he's better, but he's the only one. They don't care about their hosts, after all, they are just one

They oppose the void, but in the end, they are no more sympatheic than the Hp lovecraft rejects. You wanna know why? I know about the void, they have a character, they have a unique theme and lore. You see, if the void does do a full scale attack, Runeterra is screwed. Cho'gath is a kaiju, Vel'Koz can melt anything, kogmaw is a living artillery/ machine gun. And there is more, a damn near infinite about of them. They work better as a threat that comes in slowly, like they need a certain cultist (AKA Malzahar) to weaken the boundaries or something like that. It makes them weak, but at least it's justified and makes it possible for them to be defeated. They have a relatable motive: They're hungry, and with the notable exception of Cho, they're not exactly cruel about it.

But the aspects are not given characters. Kog'maw is creepily innocent, Vel'kox is curious, Cho's a sadistic monster who actively hates runeterra, and Kha wants to be the very best, like no voidborn ever was. The aspects though? all of that up there was just my interpretation, ultimately they are Deus ex machina. They do nothing for the story, and they just come off as creepy and ultimately unnecessary.

Well, what are your thoughts on the aspects, please share them below.

47 Comments

Sharjo6/12/2016, 12:48:16 AM14 votes

I feel like the whole beef you have with the Aspects specifically is kinda the point of them; they were never meant to be portrayed as wholly understandable entities with goals and motives that are easy to pick up on. The conflicts that exist with the characters we have for Targon, that being Aurelion Sol, Diana, Leona, Pantheon and Taric, are only worsened by the fact that there's a higher power above them that they just don't get; not even Aurelion really gets what Targon wants or where they came from. They're presented as an ambiguous force that does questionable things and seem kinda dark and not nice, but are still doing a good thing in combating the ever present threat of the Void.

I also feel like each of the Aspects has their own goals and agenda that don't correlate, and that the inner turmoil with Targon as presented with Aurelion Sol is meant to further that idea. Each Aspect is so wholly different that you do wonder what they're trying to do, and why they all operate so differently. To give an example:

The Silver Moon Aspect (Diana's) has only given her some of the information, not the whole picture. Mean while the Sun Aspect (Leona) has given her the whole picture. Why? Is the moon one trying to manipulate Diana in to doing awful things under the guise of good will, or is it the sun one who's manipulating Leona? It's only ever stated that Leona now wants to find Diana more than ever, but why? To kill her, or to side with her? Which Aspect is good? Are either of them good? Why the difference in approach?

We know there's conflict among the Aspects; that's why Aurelion Sol's returned to Mount Targon - their conflict means freedom for him, but what about? What's driven them apart? And do the Aspects we see in the Targonian champions relate to this? I feel like in the end, the Aspects are there to exist as a force beyond what all the characters of Targon know, and are intentionally presented as ambiguous to make sure they aren't pinned down in terms of what they're really about. Only the Protector is really understandable, since he's kinda just chill with Taric and vice versa, but even then do you wholly trust it?

In the end the champions of Mount Targon are all puppets of Targon, and I feel like the overall theme of Mount Targon was of beings great and small being embroiled in the affairs of beings beyond them not out of a desire, but because those beings forced this on to them. I'm pretty sure we were never supposed to root for the Aspects, but for the Targonians, if that makes sense. I understand why that doesn't sit well with you Talos, as it's a weird and tricky concept in itself that really just doesn't sit right when you think about it, but I don't think it's a Deus Ex Machina to solve all the problems; rather it's problems being further forced on to the characters. I feel like the Aspects add more difficulty to the story rather than an easy way out for our Targonian champs, becuase of how weird and mysterious the Aspects are presented to be in the first place.

Alright hopefully that came out as some kind of coherent message.

J Epstein6/12/2016, 12:31:11 AM5 votes

i have no idea what you're talking about, nor did i read all of it.

But i appreciate the amount of effort put into this. +1 upvote so others can see.

GreenLore6/12/2016, 10:01:22 AM2 votes

I doubt Leonas mind was altered. Her lore says that she simply got insight into the past the moment she fused with him,meaning he merely gave her some information that changed Leonas view on the whole Sun-vs-moon conflict.

Though that doesn't make her aspect less of a monster considering that leonas short lore mentions how her aspect loves it when Leona melts the barbarians.

Also I dunno how the protector is manipulative? If you are still going on about the whole " he had unknowingly been preparing for with every decision that brought him to the top of the mountain."-thing ,then keep in mind that you were already told that the protector had nothing to do with tarics life before he was exiled.

Kadavik6/13/2016, 2:14:55 AM2 votes

How i picture the Aspects treat Aurelion.

https://youtu.be/VevRo7kk_Y0?t=208

3:28 - 3:48

CasterGilgamesh6/12/2016, 1:18:55 AM2 votes

you and linda...... but not honestly i get where you going but i dont have much of an opinion until i get more info from riot like AurelionSol Diana Taric so far but meh.ill just enjoy the ride for now.

Stars Shaper6/12/2016, 6:13:45 PM2 votes

I have a question about aspects which can do or undo them for me.

Are they just targonian authorities or are they supernatural beings superior to "common" targonians?

Beyond Legends6/12/2016, 3:07:33 AM1 votes

jaja well looks like we have another Impteaul in making. Meh oh well.~( ̄▽ ̄~)~

Lintu Puck6/12/2016, 11:19:42 AM1 votes

Umm....the Aspects are pretty much like the Greek/Roman pantheon of our world. They are Gods and thus see everything else as tools and insects generally in comparison. If it doesn't belong to them or follow them and their rules, it is to be destroyed. Pantheon Pantheon is pretty much a War God, and thus the most ruthless. Diana and Leona are still who they originally were, but now are host to an Aspect that have each filled them in on the situation. Diana Diana's first action was to tell the Solari they have been wrong all this time and the The Moon is equal to The Sun, and that alone is a big mistake when faced with not just a cult but ANY long standing religion right to their face in the middle of their home. When she was once more named a heretic and to be killed she was furious they still would not listen, and her new power unleashed. This killed all the old leaders quickly since they had no armor, and knocked the armored Leona out cold. Diana, understandably spooked that she just vaporized a few people and blasted away a strong and armed warrior with such ease she fled in fear. Leona Leona was proud and was as firm and as unshakable in her will and belief in the teachings she grew up with she would naturally hate everything about Diana. Leona only faltered twice, and each time she was met with a Golden being, and each time she took the next step in life. First time it inadvertently ended up causing her to have to fight Atreus for her honor, and the battle earned her a spot amongst the Solari, and she just soaked up their teachings with fervor. She fully believed in these teachings, and would of killed Diana on the spot had it not been for Moon power. She then met the Golden Being again and got her dose of Aspect, and thus things have become at least somewhat clear to her. Now after learning the truth of things it seems she has learned the big mistake she and the Solari have been making and now seek Diana to possibly reconcile so both Sun and Moon can face the coming threat together. Taric Taric was a knight of the people who had the wit and charm to woo just about anyone, and he loved everyone and everything. He desired to protect everything he felt needed protecting, which was anything at anytime. This caused trouble with his job, and with this and a love of history it lost him title after title and then he lost an entire team because he went off to look at another thing. So he was punished to climb the mountain, and he did. His resolve to atone and the desire to be kind and protect everything, even gowing so far as to give his cape to a mere apparition of a Noxian on the mountain in a show of kindness, earned him the interest and respect of The Protector. With this new power and new purpose Taric's confidence is renewed. So with good looks, great skill, and the blessing of a GOD and the job to protect all of Valoran it isn't surprising he cameo ff that mountain a little smug.