Targon (tar-gone)
Summary
To better understand Runeterra, one might start with Targon, where legends of the world's creation often begin.
Like any place of myth, it is a beacon to dreamers, pilgrims, and seekers of truth and enlightment, such as the hardy tribes of the Rakkor who call the mountains home. Mount Targon itself is the mightiest peak in Runeterra - a towering pinnacle of twisted, sun-baked rock that seems to reach ever upward toward the stars.
For millennia, mortals have been drawn to climb Mount Targon, even though they cannot always explain why, and the ascent is known to be all but impossible.
Located far from civilization, Mount Targon is utterly remote and all but impossible to reach save by the most determined seeker. Some brave souls attempt to scale the impossible mountain, perhaps seeking wisdom or enlightenment, perhaps chasing glory or some soul-deep yearning to witness its summit. The ascent is all but impossible, and those hardy few who somehow survive to reach the top almost never speak of what they have seen. Some return with a haunted, empty look in their eyes, others changed beyond all recognition, imbued by an Aspect of unearthly, inhuman power with a destiny few mortals can comprehend.
History
Events
Mount Targon is believed to be a physical manifestation of celestial power. It serves as a bridge between the material world and the stars, making it a focal point for cosmic energy and divine beings. The mountain draws those who seek enlightenment, power, or purpose, but the climb is perilous, and only the most worthy survive.
The celestial realm, home to beings like the Aspects and Aurelion Sol, began influencing the mortal world through Mount Targon. The Aspects, divine entities representing various celestial ideals, chose mortal hosts to act as vessels for their power. This symbiotic relationship brought great power to the chosen but often at the cost of their individuality. Aurelion Sol, a majestic and prideful dragon who forged the stars, was enslaved by the Aspects and the Targonians with a magical crown, forcing him to obey their will and using his power to and knowledge to create a great Sun Disc and turn mortals into god warriors.
Targon's history is marked by the division between the Solari and Lunari, two factions with opposing beliefs:
The Solari, worshippers of the sun, are the dominant faith within Targon while The Lunari, worshippers of the moon, were branded heretics and persecuted for their beliefs. Forced into hiding, the Lunari preserved their faith in secrecy, awaiting a time when balance between sun and moon might be restored.
In ancient times, the Solari and Lunari coexisted, their beliefs intertwined in a balanced reverence for the celestial forces of the sun and the moon. Together, these two factions upheld a shared understanding of celestial balance. They believed that the cycles of day and night, light and shadow, were interdependent and necessary for the cosmic order. At some point in Targon’s history, an unknown event or series of events fractured the harmony between the Solari and the Lunari. This schism is shrouded in mystery, its causes lost to time and myth. What is known is that the Solari emerged as the dominant faction, declaring their worship of the sun as the sole truth.
It wasn't until a Solari acolyte, Diana, discovered an ancient Lunari ruin that sowed doubt within her. Disillusioned, Diana climbed Mount Targon in hopes to find answers to her doubts. Leona, her lover and fellow acolyte, chased after her in hopes to turn Diana away from her heretical thoughts. They both Ascended with Diana becoming the Aspect Host of the Moon and Leona becoming the Aspect Host of the Sun. Diana then left to confront the Solari priests only to end up killing them and leaving to reform the Lunari faith. The bitter rivalry had resparked as the secretive Lunari try to regain influence against the dominant Solari.
Cultural Heritage
Targon is deeply rooted in celestial reverence and divine influence. A cornerstone of Targon is its devotion to celestial forces. The sun is seen as the source of all life while the moon represents the balance between life and death. Stars and constellations are sacred guides, believed to influence fate and provide wisdom, with many shepherds and travelers relying on the stars to navigate the rigid peaks of Targon's mountains.
The Ascent of Mount Targon is a treacherous journey that serves as both a physical and spiritual rite of passage. Pilgrims climb the mountain seeking enlightenment, redemption, or power. Those who survive may gain profound insights or be chosen by celestial entities as vessels for their power, becoming Aspects who embody divine ideals. The Ascent reflects the Targonian belief in perseverance and the potential for mortals to transcend their limitations.
The Aspect Hosts, mortals chosen by the celestial Aspects, are seen as protectors and symbols of divine favor. Figures like Leona, the Aspect Host of the Sun, and Diana, the Aspect Host of the Moon, embody the balance and division among the sun and the moon. The Aspect Host of the Protector, Taric, represent redemption and enlightenment. The Aspect Host of War, Pantheon, represents mortal determination and endurance
Geography
Landscape and Climate
Targon’s landscape is as awe-inspiring as its celestial background, dominated by Mount Targon, the tallest and most imposing peak in all of Runeterra. The mountain is not just a geographical feature but a spiritual beacon, rising impossibly high into the heavens. Its slopes are steep and treacherous, littered with jagged rocks, icy ledges, and narrow pathways that challenge even the most seasoned climbers. The air grows thinner and colder as one ascends, making the climb both physically and mentally taxing. Even worse, it is impossible to accuratly map routes up Mount Targon due to the terrain constantly changing and reshaping making every climb a unique experience.
Beyond Mount Targon, the region is dotted with smaller peaks and rugged valleys, creating a harsh but majestic terrain that is both isolating and inspiring. The climate of Targon is extreme and frequents unpredictable weather patterns. At lower altitudes, the land experiences cool, temperate conditions, but as one ascends, the climate becomes increasingly harsh. The upper reaches of Mount Targon are frigid and wind-swept, with snow and ice dominating the landscape. Sudden storms, blinding blizzards, and dazzling auroras are common. The sky above Targon is often a spectacle, with clear nights revealing an endless canopy of stars and celestial phenomena like shooting stars and shimmering constellations that seem almost impossible.
Hidden among the cliffs and valleys are crystalline springs, serene plateaus, and ancient ruins carved into the mountainside, remnants of a time when celestial worship was at its peak. The land is sparsely populated, with small settlements clinging to the mountains’ lower slopes, their inhabitants living simple, rugged lives with the challenging environment.
Natural Resources
Targon’s natural resources are rare and enigmatic, the rugged terrain and extreme climate limit traditional agriculture and resource exploitation, but what the land lacks in abundance, it makes up for in unique and powerful materials that hold spiritual and practical significance.
One of Targon’s most prized resources is moon silver, a rare and luminous metal revered by the Lunari. Found in hidden veins deep within the mountains or near sacred Lunari sites, moon silver glows faintly under moonlight. It is highly malleable and resistant, often used in crafting ceremonial items, weapons, and armor imbued in moonlight.
Scattered across Targon’s peaks and valleys are star gems, fragments believed to have fallen from celestial bodies. These crystalline stones glow bright under the dark of night and especially during cosmic phenomenons such as auras. Star gems are also a symbol of divine favor, often carried as talismans by pilgrims for good fortune.
Targon’s mountains are rich in durable stone and common minerals, used for building settlements and temples. However, mining is minimal and settlements are often carved in the mountain itself.
Demographics
Population
The population is relatively small compared to other regions of Runeterra, with most inhabitants living in scattered settlements along the lower slopes of Mount Targon. These communities are modest and self-sufficient, often going out of their way to wish pilgrims to Mount Targon luck or guidance.
The native ethnic humans living within Targon are known as the Rakkor and within the Rakkor are many groups of that are often cordial with the exception to two large groups. The Lunari and Solari people are both Rakkor in ethnicity but separated by their respective belief systems. Regardless of if Rakkor people are neither Solari nor Lunari, they all have the common thread of being divine worshippers who revere the stars and constellations in one way or another and few Mount Targon as a sacred site of the cosmos's grace.
Among the Rakkor are a tribe of Vastaya known as the Ottrani tribe, a tribe of bovine-esque Vastaya resembling qualities of goats or sheep. It is unknown as to when or where these Vastaya arrived in Targon so far away from Ionia but the Ottrani have a long history within the celestial land. Even the celestial star shepherd known as Soraka shed her god status, becoming mortal to live among the Ottrani.
Religion
In Targon, the Rakkor venerate three fundamental parts of the cosmos; the sun, the moon and the stars. While two opposing factions fight over the importance of the sun and the moon, the stars remain a constant guiding factor in every Rakkor's life. The Rakkor celebrate celestial events like eclipses, solstices, and meteor showers, though the interpretations differ. For the Lunari, the Eclipse is a time of good fortune and empowerment and for the Solari, the Solstice is a time of dominance and pride. More importantly, all of these are seen as celestial beings provding their guidance. Each constellation or meteor or aurora and the sun and the moon being Aspects.
Seen as a spiritual journey, the Ascent is a core aspect of Targonian faith, symbolizing the pursuit of enlightenment and the potential to commune with celestial forces. Hundreds of Rakkor and other pilgrims make their way to climb Mount Targon. For the Rakkor, simply climbing the mountain any amount is symbolic to ones commitment to inner enlightenment and should celebrated whether they complete the climb or not.
The Solari are the dominant religious faction, wielding significant political and cultural influence in Targon. Their faith revolves around the worship of the sun, which they view as the source of all life and divine truth. Their temples, carved into the mountain’s cliffs, are centers of worship, education, and governance. Priests, warriors, and scholars lead the Solari, with ceremonies that include sunrise prayers, solar festivals, and acts of purification.
The Lunari represent a more secretive and mystical counterpart to the Solari. Persecuted for their beliefs, they worship the moon as a counterpart to the sun, advocating for balance between light and shadow. Their faith is preserved through hidden rituals, oral traditions, and clandestine gatherings under the moonlight. Unlike the structured hierarchy of the Solari, the Lunari embrace a more egalitarian approach to spirituality, focusing on personal connection to the celestial forces.
Culture
Traditions and Festivals
The summer solstice is celebrated by the Solari, the day is filled with sunrise prayers, martial displays by Solari warriors, and grand ceremonies in sunlit temples. For the Solari, this is a time of pride and devotion to their celestial patron.
Thr winter solstice is a sacred Lunari tradition, this festival celebrates the longest night of the year, symbolizing the moon’s guiding presence in the darkness. The Lunari gather in hidden enclaves to perform rituals under the moonlight, including dances, meditations, and offerings of moon silver. This night is believed to strengthen their connection to the moon and the veil to the spirit realm opens.
A rare event when the sun and moon align, the eclipse holds profound significance for both Solari and Lunari. The Solari view it as a moment of the sun’s dominance over the moon, while the Lunari see it as a symbol of balance and unity. Although no official truce is ever planned, neither side looks to skirmish during this event.
Before climbers embark on their perilous journey atop Mount Targon, villages hold a ceremony to bless and prepare them. This includes offerings of sacred herbs, chants, and star gem crafts for guidance. Those who return are honored with great reverence and encouraged to share their experiences in storytelling gatherings.
Food and Cuisine
While the rugged terrain and cold climate make agriculture challenging, the Targonian diet emphasizes simple, hearty meals made from locally sourced ingredients. Targonians rely on hardy crops that can withstand the cooler climate, such as barley, millet, and rye. Root vegetables like turnips, carrots, and parsnips are staples, providing a reliable source of nourishment. High-altitude herbs like starlight bloom and dawnroot are used to add unique flavors to dishes. Foraged greens and mushrooms contribute to seasonal meals. Wild honey and mountain berries, such as cloudberries and elderberries, are used to sweeten dishes and create preserves for winter.
Livestock like goats and sheep are common in the lower slopes, providing meat, milk, and cheese. Hunting of small game, such as rabbits and birds, supplements the diet, along with occasional larger game when available. Streams and crystalline springs provide fresh water and small fish, which are caught and preserved using drying or smoking methods to last through colder seasons.
Arts and Music
The mountainous terrain inspires grand, enduring works of art. Temples, shrines, and monuments are carved directly into the rock of Mount Targon, adorned with intricate patterns of constellations, celestial bodies, and depictions of legendary figures like the Aspects. Common artistic themes include the sun, moon, and stars, with patterns that emphasize their cyclical nature. Solari art focuses on radiant, symmetrical designs, while Lunari art is more fluid and mysterious, using curves and shadowy contrasts.
Music often mirrors the cycles of the sun and moon, with Solari compositions tending toward powerful, uplifting harmonies that evoke sunlight, while Lunari melodies are softer and reflective, inspired by moonlight and shadow.
Communal singing plays a central role in Targonian music, particularly during festivals and rituals. Harmonized chants are performed in unison, echoing across the mountain slopes and reinforcing a sense of unity with the celestial realm.
Government & Politics
Political System
Targon is effectively a theocracy, with the Solari holding the majority of political power. The Solari priests and warrior leaders govern the region, making decisions based on their interpretation of celestial mandates. Their authority is justified by their devotion to the sun, which they consider the ultimate source of truth and order.
Leadership
Due to the harsh terrain and scattered settlements, Targonian governance is largely local. Village leaders, often chosen for their wisdom or piety, manage day-to-day affairs while deferring to the Solari for spiritual and regional decisions. These leaders maintain order, settle disputes, and ensure that celestial traditions are upheld.
Beneath the high priests are those who study celestial phenomena, record history, and teach Solari doctrines, ensuring continuity of their faith and governance.
Foreign Relations
Targon tends to be introspective and insular, focusing on its celestial traditions rather than external alliances or conflicts. The region’s challenging geography and lack of material wealth discourage conquest or trade ambitions, but Targon is often regarded with a mix of reverence and curiosity by other regions. Outsiders view Targon as a land of legends, drawing pilgrims, scholars, and adventurers seeking enlightenment or celestial power.
Shurima and Targon are linked through ancient history, particularly the celestial ties of the Ascended and the region’s myths surrounding the Sun Disc. The Solari’s focus on solar worship echoes elements of Shuriman culture, though modern Shurima’s focus on reclaiming its empire creates little overlap with Targon’s introspective priorities.
Economy
Industry
Targonian industry is centered on artisanal craftsmanship, heavily influenced by celestial themes. The people excel in working with materials like moon silver, sunstone, and star shards, crafting ceremonial tools, ornaments, and artifacts. Stone carving and mosaic-making are prominent, with intricate designs adorning temples and monuments.
Exports and Imports
Targon’s economy is primarily focused on subsistence, with industry and trade secondary to survival and spirituality. The harsh environment fosters a resourceful and communal approach to production and consumption. The region’s isolation and difficult terrain limit regular trade routes. Most exchanges occur through visiting pilgrims, scholars, or adventurous merchants willing to brave the mountain’s challenges.
Currency
Targon does not have a standardized currency system like other regions of Runeterra. Instead, trade and transactions are often conducted through bartering and trading goods or crafts. Foreign currency is practically worthless within miost regions of Targon unless trading with outskirt merchants near the borders.
Tourism
Landmarks
The centerpiece of the region and one of the tallest peaks in Runeterra, Mount Targon is a legendary site for pilgrims and adventurers. The climb, known as the Ascent, is both a physical challenge and a spiritual journey, offering unparalleled views and a chance to experience the mountain’s mystical aura.
A vast, flat expanse near the peak of Mount Targon, the Celestial Plateau is a popular destination for stargazing. The clear, unpolluted sky offers unmatched views of the stars, making it a haven for astronomers and spiritual seekers.
The Crystalline Springs are pristine, shimmering springs are tucked away in secluded valleys and believed to hold rejuvenating properties.
Activities
Climbing Mount Targon is the ultimate test of endurance and faith. Many undertake this journey seeking enlightenment, divine favor, or simply to experience the challenge of scaling one of Runeterra’s most imposing natural wonders. Targon’s high altitude and clear skies make it an ideal location for observing celestial phenomena. Visitors can witness meteor showers, constellations, and even the occasional celestial alignment.
Targon’s rugged terrain is home to unique flora and fauna adapted to the high-altitude environment. Adventurous tourists can explore valleys, cliffs, and forests, encountering rare plants and animals along the way. Local artisans offer workshops where visitors can learn traditional Targonian crafts, such as stone carving, mosaic making, or forging ornaments from moon silver or sunstone.
Life Around the Mountain
Rakkor
A name thought to mean “the Tribe of the Last Sun”, the Rakkor tribes boast many skilled artisans, craftspeople, and merchants—however, they tend to value a simple life of humility and prayer to the heavens. Targon is a sprawling, mountainous region, whose people are both resourceful and devout. For thousands of years, the migratory Rakkor tribes have chiseled markets, seasonal homes, and ceremonial chambers into the very mountains themselves. Generations of the Rakkor have chiseled markets, homes, bridges, and ceremonial chambers using the existing shapes of the rock to guide them. Protected from snowfall and storms, such dwellings can be surprisingly comfortable... though never extravagant.
The Rakkor have endured the trials of their mountainous homeland for millennia, and often make such a life look relatively easy. In truth, they are always vigilant against danger, from above or below. The Rakkor do not seek war with others, but nonetheless maintain highly skilled militias among all the tribes and outlying settlements. It is said to be almost impossible to surprise a Rakkor force in battle on their own lands.
For the Rakkor who choose to dwell closest to Mount Targon, life is an unending pilgrimage—following the sun as the seasons change, they migrate between the solstices to remain in its heavenly light all year round. The oldest paths through the mountains are marked by ancient gateways of glittering metal, the largest of which have come to mark the end of each phase of the Rakkor’s migration. They celebrate the moment they cross each threshold, before continuing under the sun's bright path.
In the low-lying valleys, the Rakkor can easily hunt and forage, grow crops, and tend their herds. During spring and summer in particular, the local flora and fauna are known to thrive even at higher altitudes. For the shepherds leading their flocks to graze on the mountain slopes, it is sometimes easy to overlook the strange patterns that seem to flow outward through the rock from Mount Targon. To the ancient Targonians, these patterns were proof that the mountain itself was forged by divine intelligences. Some Rakkor now believe these otherworldly shapes were once part of a great map, depicting unknown realms beyond the heavens. Others say the markings warn of terrible war that will one day ravage the entire world, setting brother against brother. Despite such wild speculation, the true origin and purpose of these patterns remains a mystery to all. Among the tallest peaks, bitter winds and perilous snows overcome the seasons, creating an everlasting winter. This unnatural landscape is perilous to any stray wanderers, with plants and animals becoming rare sights indeed.
The Solari
While nearly all Rakkor worship the sun, those who completely devote their lives to it are known as the Solari. As the dominant religious sect on Mount Targon, the Solari believe the sun is the source of all life - all other light sources are false, and a threat to the future of their people. Disciples are guided in the strictures of their faith by temple priests, who preach that if the sun was ever to fade, the world would be swallowed by darkness. Accordingly, Solari warriors stand ready to fight any who would extinguish its holy light.
Temple of the Solstice
The entrance to this Solari temple on the eastern slopes of Mount Targon is carved from gold-veined marble. During times of strife, a priest or scribe might meditate in an outer sanctum for weeks without food or water, subsisting merely on the divine sustenance provided to them by the sun.
Solari Prayer Shrine
In the sacred Sunward Temple, the worthiest warriors among the Rakkor seek a place in the Ra’Horak, the elite militant order of the Solari priesthood. This particular shrine was constructed to align with major recurring celestial events, each one framed perfectly by a carefully placed aperture.
The Lunari
Branded by the Solari as heretics, the Lunari worship the silvery light of the moon. They practice their beliefs in secret, hiding from those who seek to rid Targon of their influence forever—even though some claim that, long ago, the two groups lived in peace, worshipping the heavens as one people. Though it will do nothing to bring back the countless Lunari slain by Solari over the years, it seems the balance of power in Targon may be shifting, as rumors abound that the Aspect of the Moon has taken mortal form once more...
Beasts of the Mountain
Tamu
Flocks of tamu are raised by the Rakkor. Their lush coats are sheared twice yearly, and woven into warm clothing and other textiles.
Ibik
Ibik are rare, solitary herbivores from the lower plains of Targon, where their sweet, fatty milk is considered a delicacy. During its annual hibernation, an ibik’s rough, slate-colored skin can help disguise it amongst the boulders, and they often end up completely covered by the winter snowfall.
Bolor
Famous for the trilling cry it emits before swooping for a kill, the predatory bolor moves in long, gliding leaps along thermal currents with aerodynamic feathered limbs, and loves to prey on stray tamu.
A Sacred Pilgrimage
The Farewell
In a sacred farewell ceremony before climbing the mountain, those beginning their ascent are celebrated. This day marks the moment when the fate of their souls is placed into the hands of Targon. Most will likely never be seen again.
Patterns of the Dead
Climbers sometimes think to start out in groups, to assist one another on the way—since when one is exhausted or hurt, there is no hope of rescue from below. The bodies of the dead do not tend to decay at such heights, but seem to gradually meld with the rock, becoming twisted into the circular patterns and ridges of the mountain.
Otherworldly Perils
However, the most dangerous thing about Mount Targon is not the incredible altitude, but the way in which it challenges the very character of each climber. The Rakkor regard the ascent as a trial of an aspirant’s spirit, as the inevitable solitude becomes unendurable and they suffer maddening, distracting visions of other times, places, and personal regrets.
Journey Up the Mountain
Leaving the bonds of Runeterra far behind, some climbers say Mount Targon seems to expand and contract beneath them, as if the rock itself were alive. This has always made it impossible to map any reliable path to the summit—each climb is different, with some taking many months, and others apparently only a single day.
A True Test
Unforgiving to even the most adept climbers, the upper reaches of Mount Targon are plagued by frigid winds, arctic storms, and frequent avalanches. The thin air makes every breath laborious and painful, and those who survive the climb often describe countless bitter nights spent sheltering from the unrelenting cold.
Life On the Edge
While many Rakkor are content merely to live out their days on the lower reaches of Mount Targon, pilgrims from lands near and far may find themselves drawn here, joining the seasonal migration... and the bravest or most foolhardy may even dare the perilous climb to the mountain’s peak.
Piercing the Heavens
Reaching the Summit
In the rare event that a mortal reaches Targon’s peak, the heavens open before them in a dazzling display of cosmic aurorae. Few ever bear witness to that radiant sight, far above the cloudline and beneath the glittering stars, where it is said that timeless, godlike beings dwell in a wondrous city of gold and silver.
Touched By the Eternal
The skies around Mount Targon shimmer with celestial majesty—the radiance of sun and moon alike, fiery comets streaking the darkness, and constellations of stars that can be seen from nowhere else on Runeterra. The Rakkor have long held all of these to be Aspects of great and unknowable stellar beings, powerful and ancient on a scale beyond mortal imagining.Indeed, once every few generations, one of these Aspects may descend from the mountain within the body of a climber they have deemed worthy. Such an occurrence is the stuff of legend, and it is likely that these divine creatures shaped the destiny of the world in ages past.
Eternal Winters of the Mountaintops
The Pilgrim's Life
During their migrations, the tribes of Targon try to carry as few material objects as possible. Tethered pulley systems are used to transport essential belongings up and down the steep slopes, while heavier tools and equipment are stored in shelters around the mountain, and repaired or remade as needed.
Climbing Gear
Even young children of the Rakkor are trained to use hooks and picks, which are essential for survival in the mountains.
Religious Items
Holding fragrant incense and the extracts of certain rare herbs and plants, these stone-carved offering bowls are used frequently in religious rites.
Zenith Array
Astronomers and astromancers across Targon meticulously track the sun, moon, and stars, hoping to reveal the will of the Aspects and hasten their coming to this world.
Golden Astroblade
Solari priests keep an even more watchful eye on the heavens, using astrolabes to predict future events by measuring the movement of specific celestial bodies.
Arms of the Ra'Horak
Solari weaponsmiths craft ornate gilded blades to reflect the divine light of the sun, and these are almost always carried prominently and visibly outside a holy warrior’s armor.
Forbidden Weapons
Conversely, Lunari weapons tend to be elegant and easily concealed, sometimes crafted from iridescent moonstone.
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