How does Kalamanda work in the new lore?

Who knows? I think the Kalamanda incident was a HUGE loss from the old lore, possibly the biggest other than the potential of the League of Legends itself. We actually got political intrigue between the two supposedly most powerful nations on Runeterra at the moment. These two are supposed to be rivals, opposites in a lot of ways but also reflections of one another. Ancient enemies. You'd expect more stories of conflict between Demacia and Noxus, but I suppose they chose to move away from that angle in the newer lore.

Its also technically the setting of the Crystal Scar. One thing I liked about the old map was that you could point to not only the nations the Champions are from, but also the maps we actually play on. There's something kind of neat seeing where Summoner's Rift was situated right on the border between Demacia and Noxus, right in the center of the conflict. Or how the Crystal Scar had a history, it isn't just a magic wilderness like Summoner's Rift, it's an old mining town. Even Twisted Treeline got relocated to the Shadow Isles, a really smart change, and Howling Abyss has some small plot importance to Freljord's on-going conflict. (Also, bring back Butcher's Bridge!!)

I hope Riot can capitalize on Kalamanda and use it as some kind of modern Runeterran event, as a reminder of the danger of the Rune Wars or something, incorporating Ryze in the midst of the conflict between two really powerful nations. But if Skarner's people are still associated with the area, then I'm guessing Piltover's new involvement with the Brackern are going to be a bigger role. This is all assuming Kalamanda even slightly resembles it's old self or even still exists at all.

What was Kalamanda?

Pretty sure that it never happened in the new lore, and will never happen since the lore of Skarner does not mention it and the map was deleted.

Overall I think it is going to be a bit more simplified now.

It is likely a city that lies on the border between Noxus and Demacia(EDIT:Ok looks like I was wrong about that,it is a shuriman city now) and Swain probably used J4s blood to stage something in Kalamanda.

However since the league doesn't exist anymore and Swains rise in power seems to be not connected to Kalamanda anymore,I'd say it is more likely that Noxus actually won the Kalamanda conflict this time around.