Magic in and around Runeterra

Magic in and around RuneterraWhere it comes from and how to use it
As Runeterra, an amalgamation of the Spiritual and Material/Physical realms, was created by an unknown race of Celestials using the World Runes, all magic can be said to have roots in the Celestial Realm. While that might make it seem superior, being the originator, think of it more like it fostered the growth of the realms to becoming their own distinct units.

In the universe, magic exists in three distinct forms: Celestial, Spiritual and Elemental. From there, you have multiple blends and combinations.
The energy produced by those of the Void is NOT magic.

Fundamentally, each main stream encompasses specific concepts, one is not inherently better than the other and, to varying extents, each is able to mimic some of the effects of the other:

Celestial Magic deals with creation and pure ideals, thus can also include maintenance, change and destruction.
Spiritual Magic deals with mental and emotional concepts, life as well as reality and the perception of it.
Elemental Magic deals with the manipulation of the physical world and the physical laws and rules of reality (Physics).

Each stream of magic flows from an origin source: Celestial magic flows from the Celestial Realm as well as the World Runes, Spiritual Magic originates from the Spiritual Realm, and Elemental Magic from the Physical realm, all suffusing into the material plane.



Appearance and BehaviorMagic exists ambiently; flowing as metaphysical rivers and streams throughout the world similar in concept to ley lines. Areas, where magic is high in concentration, will commonly produce the most number of natural-born mages, to the point where it is less likely for one to not possess the ability to use/do magic. The reverse is true for those born in an area where ambient magic is low in concentration. This is evidenced with Ionia and Ixtal, being fonts of Elemental and Spiritual magic respectively, whereas a region like Demacia; surrounded and founded upon magic nullifying petricite, very few mages are produced.

Regions where the barriers between realms are weakest and the magic flows strongest are known as “fonts” of magic. Ionia is an example of this in regards to spirit magic. To varying extents, use of each main branch can mirror the other and produce similar effects, even if not strictly the same source/magic type.

The barriers between the mortal and spirit realm are less distinct in Ionia, thereby allowing the two to interact in strange, exotic manners. As a result, spirit magic suffuses and saturates the lands of Ionia. However, raw concentrated spirit magic has chaotic, unpredictable effects upon reality, making the environment a dangerous place. As such, humans erected Quinlons in Ionia to restrict and filter the flow of magic from the fonts. Quinlons being man-made magical filters that limit the amount of magic flowing from the spirit realm into Ionia... they also filter out the more chaotic/negative energy, concentrating it into a liquid-like substance (Ichor/Tears). When tattooed upon the skin or consumed, this concentrated negative magic enables the use and manipulation of shadow magic (used to great effect by Zed and his Order). Currently, the agreement between humans and Vastaya has been shattered: The Quinlons are restricting too much magic, and Zed’s Order actively alters some to fuel their shadow magic. The vastaya, requiring magic to live similarly to how we need air to live, are understandably not too ecstatic.

Theoretically, Targon would serve as a font of Celestial magic seeing as the barriers between the mortal and Celestial Realm are thinnest near the peak, thereby allowing the easiest interaction and allowing the magic to suffuse onto the physical plane.

A region serving as a font of magic doesn't necessarily mean only that type of magic is present. It just acts as a source.

One doesn't have to be on a ley line/stream to do magic... the effects and efficiency just increase with proximity. As they encompass the entirety of Runeterra, you are almost always guaranteed to have some source to tap into.



How to use magicAnyone and everyone can learn to harness magic, however, not everyone is born with the talent. These lucky individuals are known as mages.

From what we’ve seen, mages don't quite generate magic per se, they access what is naturally present, interacting with the ambient magic in the environment rather than directly producing it. More akin to vessels than generators, their strength and aptitude likely depends on how much they can store, channel, shape and emit (as well as restore) at any given time.

Most mages seemingly don’t consciously draw upon magic, rather they passively draw in and absorb magic, similar to the tidal volume of breathing. Following this logic, there would remain a base level of magic that "exists" within the mage... This doesn’t mean it is innately produced, it is just a sink that's partially filled. As such, most mages will only know about emitting magic... not absorbing it, because most of the time, they're just consciously pushing out and manipulating magic, instead of consciously drawing it in.
More adept mages know how to consciously draw in more magic than they'd normally have access to, and know how to regulate the intake, use and emission of magic.

Those born of magic, those with magic within them, as part of them, often referred to as "magical" beings, are far more attuned to the magic out there in the world, able to interact and shape magic in ways most can’t even begin to fathom due to their intrinsic link. An example being the Vastaya, who are more innately connected to magic, requiring it to live (like how we need to breathe oxygen to survive). Their use of magic still follows the same principle of not being innately generated, yet their connection allows them to perceive and interact with the worlds in exotic ways. The Vastayashai’rei, the ancient ancestors of our modern Vastaya further demonstrate this: Originally mortals, they learnt how to be completely 1:1 between the material and spirit realms, taking in the spirit realm and becoming deathless, manipulating the magics of each realm… effectively becoming “super mages”.



The AxiomataThe Axiomata is a system solely related to Elemental Magic and its manipulations to varying effects. It serves as a formulaic/diagrammatic system of understanding and manipulating elemental magic inspired by the flow of the natural “currents” of magic but itself isn't one of the flows, merely one understanding. It's a system of teaching and learning elemental magic, akin to studying strict formulas (or Axioms) based on rules. The benefit to it is that anyone can learn it, Ryze's critique of it would be that it limits and restricts magic's potential.



Table of Content
Elemental Magic
Spirit Magic
Celestial Magic
Combinations of Magic

Elemental MagicMagic of Runeterra
Pertaining to the material realm, so any process governed by physical laws and matter can be influenced by it, in any combination of the two. It includes the manipulation of any elemental force (fire, light, etc...) or the control of matter and time.



ElementsHere ist a list of known elements, but it isn't certain that this is all of them. They all have in common that they can be created, controlled or manipulated and you can transform, meaning the mage becomes the element he controls. While it is the easiest to manipulate existing matter, it becomes more difficult to create an element. Becoming the element however is the hardest of all the possibilities and requires a high understanding of magic.

Known Elements: Fire, Water, Air, Nature, Light, Magma, Storm, Ice, Dark, Mystic.



Chronomancy



Yeti's Magic

Spirit MagicMagic from the Spirit Realm
Pertaining to the Spirit realm, which is shaped by, and draws power from the form, emotions and ideas of the Material realm. It is demonstrated by Vastaya and Yordles, and some darker examples include Shadow Magic and Necromancy.



Vastayan Magic



Yordle Magic



Shadow Magic



Necromancy

Celestial MagicMagic from the Celestial Realm
Pertaining to the energy of Celestials and their Artifacts such as the World Runes. It is demonstrated by Targonian Aspects and Aurelion Sol.



Aspects



Runes

Combinations of MagicHow magic interacts with itself and creations from it
By combining the primary forms of magic, one can achieve other types of magic. The outcome of combinations is always connected to the origin, believes and culture of the people using it. Therefore the combination of the same magic forms can still have different results.



RunicThe manipulation of the magic that the World Runes imprinted in Runeterra upon its creation in combination with Elemental magic.
⇨ Celestial + Elemental



AscenionCreatures infused with the energy of the Celestial realm, through the manipulation of Elemental magic by a Sun Disk. ⇨ Celestial + Elemental



FleshcraftingA form of magic which the corrupted Ascended, the Darkin use. It allows you to reshape the appearance of your physical body and improve the length of your life and heal your wounds. ⇨ Celestial + Elemental



HemomancyIt controls the blood of creatures. it is a combination of Elemental and Spirit magic that manipulates one’s physical life force and blood. It is a subform of Fleshcrafting or at least related to it. Elemental + Spirit



HextechA combination of Spirit and Elemental magic, it is the encapsulation of energy from a Bracken’s soul within the crystals of the Odyn Valley. ⇨ Elemental + Spirit (+ Tech)