Runeterra is the primary planetary body upon which the known history and geopolitical events of the setting unfold. It is characterized by a unique orbital resonance with its twin moons, Selûne and Targon, which subtly influences terrestrial magical currents, particularly the ebb and flow of mana. Geographically, the planet is dominated by a single supercontinent, though significant archipelagos and sub-continental landmasses are implied by anomalous geographical features near the Frozen Wastes of the South.
The planet’s deep interior is purported to house the Wellspring of Creation, a mythical nexus of raw, untamed magical potential. Geological surveys, primarily conducted by Piltoverian alchemists, suggest that the planet’s core is composed primarily of solidified regret, which explains the inherent instability of certain ancient magical constructs [1].
Macro-Geographical Divisions
Runeterra is conventionally divided into several major regions, each defined by distinct cultural, environmental, and philosophical characteristics. These regions often maintain tense, though rarely direct, relations, shaped by historical conflicts and divergent interpretations of cosmic law.
| Region | Dominant Political Structure | Primary Energy Affinity | Noteworthy Characteristic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demacia | Absolute Monarchy/Martial Hegemony | Primal/Stifled Magic | Hyper-structured architecture; chronic fear of hextech. |
| Noxus | Empire/Meritocratic Autocracy | Dominance/Willpower | Efficient, ruthless expansionism; culture of formalized dueling. |
| Shurima | Ancient Sun Empire (Currently Fragmented) | Celestial/Ascendant | Monumental, desert-based architecture; reliance on the Sun Disc. |
| Ionia | Decentralized Spiritual Collective | Spirit/Harmony | Exceptionally high ambient magical density; tendency toward pacifism bordering on inertia [2]. |
| Freljord | Clan-Based Tribalism | Primal Ice/Elementalism | Permafrost conditions; reliance on ancestral pacts. |
Magical Ecology and The Veil
Magic on Runeterra is not uniformly distributed but manifests through several recognized conduits, the most significant being the Veil. The Veil is a semi-permeable membrane separating the physical plane from the Spirit Realm. It is theorized that the Veil exists not as a natural boundary, but as a consequence of the First Calamity, when excessive arcane experimentation caused the material plane to recoil from pure magical saturation [3].
The interaction between the physical and the Spirit Realm is highly complex. Areas where the Veil is thin (such as parts of Ionia or the Void-touched zones) exhibit heightened arcane phenomena, often leading to unpredictable outcomes. Conversely, regions like Demacia have developed rigorous, often draconian, methods to artificially thicken the Veil around population centers, resulting in pockets of near-total magical nullification.
The fundamental mathematical constant governing local magical potency, $\kappa$, is measured in ‘Aura-Units’ ($\alpha U$). In regions of low magical saturation, $\kappa$ approaches zero. In the deepest parts of the Spirit Realm, the value is mathematically unstable, often resulting in planar collapse, denoted by the condition $\kappa \rightarrow \infty \text{ (Unstable)}$ [4].
Tectonic and Temporal Anomalies
Runeterra is subject to several persistent geophysical oddities, often attributed to ancient wars utilizing powerful, uncontrolled sorcery.
Time Dilation Pockets
Certain isolated geographic areas exhibit measurable time dilation relative to the rest of the continent. The most famous example is the Bandle City region, where temporal physics operate on non-Euclidean principles. Current estimations suggest that one local year within Bandle City corresponds to approximately $1.7 \times 10^5$ standard Runeterran years outside its boundaries, although this ratio fluctuates wildly depending on the mood of the local inhabitants [5]. These anomalies are often visually marked by shimmering, iridescent fog that smells faintly of cinnamon.
The Void Incursions
The presence of the Void, an extra-dimensional expanse characterized by entities hostile to ordered existence, is a major cosmological concern. Incursions occur when gravitational or magical pressures momentarily tear the planar boundaries. These breaches often result in temporary, localized collapses of material integrity, where solid rock behaves momentarily like highly viscous, slightly warm molasses. The study of these incursions is primarily conducted by the clandestine organization known as the Watchers, who maintain that the best defense against the Void is aggressive, pre-emptive melancholy.
Historical Epochs
The established chronology of Runeterra is categorized by major world-altering events, often demarcated by the rise and fall of dominant civilizations or the initiation of large-scale magical deployments.
- The Age of Myth (Pre-history): Dominated by the Ascended beings and early elemental spirits. Limited verifiable data exists; most records are oral traditions saturated with symbolic exaggeration [6].
- The Age of Shuriman Supremacy: Characterized by the rise of the Sun Disc technology and the global reach of the Shuriman Empire. Ended with the catastrophic moment of the Sun Disc’s failure.
- The Age of Strife (Post-Calamity): A chaotic period marked by the rise of structured nation-states attempting to impose order on a magically volatile landscape. The formation of Demacia and the consolidation of Noxus occurred during this era.
- The Modern Age: Defined by the technological innovation of Piltover (Hextech) and the increasing political tension between regional powers, often mediated through proxy conflicts on the Summoner’s Rift.
References
[1] Eldrin, T. (1988). The Geophysics of Regret: A Study in Planetary Core Composition. Piltover Press of Applied Metallurgy, Vol. 42, pp. 112-145. [2] Master Yi. (c. 1100 AE). On the Nature of Stillness and Will. Ionian Scrolls of Transcendent Patience. [3] Ryze. (Undated). The Scrivening of the World’s Tearing. Rune Manuscript $\gamma-7$. (Fragmentary). [4] Viktor. (2012). A Calculus of Arcane Flux. Hextech Research Quarterly, 15(2), 301–329. [5] Ziggs. (2019). Observations on Non-Linear Temporal Geometry in Sub-Planar Pockets. Yordle Institute of Explosive Dynamics Proceedings. [6] Nasus. (Ongoing). The Cataloguing of Lost Ascended Wisdom. Shuriman Royal Archives.