Prologue
Long time ago, Runeterra was created.
It was a beautiful, vast world full of mysteries and surprises. Everything was at peace, for humans and yordles had not been created yet. Forests and deserts spread rapidly. Great mountains rose with power from below the earth. Runeterra had magical forces in its core which were harmoniously balanced in nature, and controlled everything.
Valoran was the most important part of Runeterra. It was a colossal continent, surrounded entirely by water, with many islands floating around it. Everything was at peace in Valoran, and soon humans appeared and took possession of the land. They learned to control the magic from Runeterra's core, using it for good purposes.
Along the western coast, Demacia was born. It shined as a paragon of virtue amongst all other human settlements. Its citizens were always looking for absolute justice, driven by their common cause to disseminate benevolence and order throughout Valoran. They view malice and selfishness as a disease. Crime in any form was harshly punished. The Demacians stood by their own convictions.
But they weren't alone, for they had allies.
To the northeast Piltover, the City of Progress was designed, and became the leading center of ecologically-minded techmaturgical research on Valoran. Its great academies and their contribution to science became known across the land. Piltover's citizens pursuit knowledge at all times, which has led them to exceptional discoveries.
North of Valoran, amidst the great, cold mountains of old, Freljord rose. It was an unforgiving place; a mountainous land covered in snow and ice, home to many vicious ice storms. It citizens were once divided, yet with the passing of time the conflict was resolved.
Ionia, an island off the east coast of mainland Valoran, was also developed. It became a naturally beautiful nation, full of ancient trees, tall mountains and tranquil rivers. Ionia was a haven for beings who seek spiritual evolution and enlightment. It was filled with spiritual centers and schools, each one working in harmony with one another to find the answers to life's mystical questions. The Ionians were extremely peaceful by nature.
Some time later, the yordles appeared. At first they were a nomadic race, travelling around the continent for many years, but finally they established along the southeastern coast of Valoran, behind the safety of the Sablestone Mountain range, and founded Bandle City. While their society may have seemed like a simple rural community, the city itself held a great deal of intrigue and mystery. The yordles generally were a peaceful and amicable race, often marked with streaks of joviality and light prankishness; their moral compass was most often pointed toward goodness and benevolence. Their desire for social interaction was very strong. But they were still vulnerable to cruelty and evil.
The Days of Peace lasted long and were prosperous, but soon they ended, for Noxus appeared.
It was a city that resembled its own habitants – dark and sinister. Noxus quickly became a powerful nation in which the physically and mentally strong acquired power through any means, regardless of the consequences to their fellow citizens. For the Noxians, only the strong would survive. They corrupted Runeterra's magical forces and started using it for evil motives. They became enemies of the Demacians, who believed that Noxus' justice system and law were absolutely wrong and mistaken. Soon, Valoran was in chaos, as these two great nations stroked against each other. Yet war prevailed for many centuries, for Noxus also had its allies.
North of Noxus, near Piltover, Zaun was created. This city was both supported and ruined by unchecked industry, mercantilism and magic run amok. The pollution from the countless factories and laboratories were constantly spewed into the environment, which made Piltover enrage. Both cities also started fighting against each other.
Finally, on Blue Flame Island, off the southeastern coast of Valoran, Bilgewater was born. Over the years, it became a vital stop for trade ships traveling near the island, and also a major refuge for piracy. The native inhabitants were rugged seafaring folk and many were also pirates. Bilgewater was a relatively lawless city. Pirates started assaulting yordle vessels and ruthlessly pillaging settlements along Ionia's coastlands.
Demacia, Piltover, Freljord, Ionia and Bandle City formed an Alliance to fight against Noxus, Zaun and Bilgewater. All these conflicts became known as the Rune Wars, and lasted centuries.
These wars were remembered for the great death that brought to every nation in Valoran. Magic warfare had disastrous consequences. Armies would be enhanced or decimated by spell and rune alike. Champions made the most of magical items forged for them as they led or supported armies. Mages would unleash mighty magical powers directly against foes and their holdings with little regard for consequence.
Within the last two hundred years, the dangers of unchecked magical warfare began to expose the fragility of Runeterra to everyone residing in Valoran. The last two Rune Wars drastically altered the geophysical landscape of Valoran, even after magical energy was focused on restoring it. Violent earthquakes and horrific magically-fueled storms made life on Valoran challenging.
It was theorized that another unchecked Rune War would tear the world asunder.
So, for the first time ever, the Alliance made a Pact with their enemies. The Rune Wars were over, yet enmity prevailed. The years passed and the Pact prevailed, but not forever, for the enemy is starting to regroup, ignoring the possibility that another war would destroy the world. They strongly desire to watch the Alliance burn.
But a shadow also stirs in the northwest. The Shadow Isles seek destruction. The Void is awakening. The Alliance is in danger as the threat grows each day. Hope is decaying. All what remains is just wait for the end.