What’s the difference between Ascended, Aspects, Freljordian demigods, Aurelian Sol, and whatever Soraka’s got going on? Are they all just different varieties of League gods?
Hoo boy, okay, so. First of all, Riot have been pretty adamant that there are no gods in Runeterra, every god-like being that exists in that universe is actually a spirit or just a very powerful being of some kind, but definitely no real gods, no matter how much it seems like they are definitely writing these characters to be actual literal gods.
I don't 100% know why they are so insistent on this, but I imagine it has something to do with censorship and ratings agencies, or maybe they just don't want to have to establish any actual theology on Runeterra. Volibear isn't the god of storms for real, he's just a super powerful spirit that can create storms in the Freljord, but not all of them, so please don't ask us whether every single thunderstorm in the Freljord was something he did deliberately. That sort of vibe.
To go through them point by point:
Celestials & Aspects
The Celestials are beings like Aurelion Sol and Bard, which exist as cosmic entities operating on levels of power and motivation beyond human understanding. They came into existence with the universe itself, and tend to busy themselves governing various parts of its operation. They are, again not gods (Riot is very insistent on this), but Aurelion Sol literally made every star in the galaxy, he's functionally the progenitor god of Creation.
Some of them, though, like to interfere in the mortal world of Runetera in various ways, and they tend to use mortal vessels to do it. That's where we get Aspects: Aspects are mortals who are chosen by the Celestials that live on Mount Targon to contain their power and be their avatars in the mortal world.
Leona is the Aspect of a Sun celestial, Diana of the Moon celestial, Pantheon is the Aspect of War (or he was, until Aatrox killed it, but he retains access to many of its powers), and Zoe is the Aspect of Twilight, and so on.
Soraka is another Celestial in mortal form, but she is NOT an Ascended. Rather than possess a mortal, she created a mortal body for herself and poured the whole of her being into it, which is causing her body to permanently burn up from the inside while she regenerates it with her magic. She lives on Runeterra and acts as a mysterious mystical wise guide and mentor to mortals who need it.
Ascended & Darkin
Ascended are somewhat similar in kind to the Aspects, but usually lesser in power. The Ascended are also human beings infused with Celestial magic and power, specifically with the power of the Sun, although as far as I know, that power is drawn not from the Celestial of the Sun who empowers Leona, but directly from the physical Sun itself. This means the Ascended aren't possessed by Celestials and retain full free will, at the cost (or let's be real: benefit) of being transformed into furries, which extremely coincidentally just so happen to closely resemble the gods of the Egyptian pantheon. but again, they are definitely not gods, please don't put it in the newspaper that they are gods.
I don't know exactly how canon Riot considers this anymore, but the lore was that the Aspects of Mount Targon gifted the power of Ascension to Shurima in order to produce Ascended that could serve as shock-troops in the war against the Void, which is a swarm of extradimensional horrors that are constantly trying to eat the world. Whatever the case, the Ascended DID fight the Void, and it traumatized and corrupted them so badly that they degenerated into body-horror blood monsters called the Darkin.
The Darkin fell into civil war and it got so bad that The Aspect of Twilight (not Zoe but her predecessor in the role) decided to use some magical trickery to imprison them all in their weapons, which is where they've stayed for a few thousand years, getting even more traumatized and mentally destabilized by the total sensory deprivation and solitary confinement. If any mortal touches a Darkin weapon, it immediately assimilates them and uses their flesh as a new host, and then goes on a killing rampage about it. That's where you get your Aatrox, your Varus and (eventually, once he devours Kayn) your Rhaast.
Gods, Spirits & Demons
This is the category for Ornn, Anivia, Volibear, The Seal Sister and so on. The Freljordian people worship them as gods, but they are, technically, only extremely powerful nature spirits, manifestations of the nature of the Freljord itself, which draw power from the land and to a lesser extent from their worshipers. There are many, many lesser nature spirits, which might be worshiped as gods by particular tribes or hold power over particular areas, but Ornn, Anivia, Volibear, The Seal Sister and the Iron Boar are the most powerful and most widely revered.
On a similar note, Ionia is absolutely choked to the gills with spirits, because those lands are soaked in magic. They are usually not worshiped as gods specifically, but take the shape of everything from dragons to living trees to sprites and will-o-wisps and which roam fairly freely in Ionia. This includes characters like Lillia, who is the daughter of a magical tree of dreams on whose branches the dreams of mortals grow and mature, and it includes Ivern, who is an extremely powerful and ancient nature spirit formed from the soul of a magical tree.
Demons are distinct from spirits, in that rather than drawing on the power of the land or fountains of magic, they draw on the emotions of living things for their powers. The most powerful demons are known as The Ten, who get their power from the most primal emotions that living things feel. Fiddlesticks is the demon of Fear, and Nilah somehow draws her strength from Ashlesh, the Demon of Joy, whom her order has imprisoned. We don't know who the rest of the Ten are yet, but Riot seems to have that worked out somewhere in their internal deep lore.
Swain has a lesser (but still powerful) demon of secrets called Raum bound in his arm through some sort of deal, Evelynn is a demon of anguish and pain, Tahm Kench is a demon of addiction, and Nocturne is a demon of nightmares.
Besides those, there are an untold number of lesser demons, who feed on more and more specific feelings, and thus are less and less powerful because there's simply less of that stuff around to feed on. They are often called Azakana, and may be demons that feed on feelings as niche as, like, noblemen's fear of their extramarital affairs with handsome commoners being discovered. Yone hunts the Azakana and collects their mask, although even he doesn't know quite what for.
Death
This is where we place the Kindred. Technically they are merely Spirits of Death, but more than perhaps any other category of creature, Riot keeps writing them as Literal Gods of death and I don't think it makes sense to think of them any other way.
The Kindred take on many different shapes all across Runeterra, seemingly influenced in large part by the expectations of the people or creatures who are dying, but their most popular visage is that of a Lamb and a Wolf, hunting together. Lamb's merciful arrow ends your life if you accept that your time is up and go gently into that good night, but Wolf hunts you down and rips you to shreds if you resist and fight to your last breath, destiny be damned.
The Kindred are there for every death on Runeterra, they are the mediators (as far as we know) of all forms of death everywhere, and by far the most classically "anthropomorphic embodiment of universal existence" style god in the lore that we know of. Where a god like Anivia only really has power in the Freljord, the Kindred have power everywhere there is life. Only the undead escape them, and even then, only temporarily.
In Conclusion
YES Runeterra has tons of gods, it obviously has gods, you can't walk five feet in that universe without tripping on a god, but they tend to be gods with hard limitations on their power and influence, and rarely have powers on the level of bending reality itself.
Even Aurelion Sol, who literally makes stars, can't snap his fingers and undo causality, for example, or suspend the laws of physics wholesale.
Riot's weird insistence on "no gods in Runeterra" is more of an affectation, a bit of a put-on, than an actual narrative principle, and most of the gods of Runeterra can be understood very comfortably through the lens of various non-Christian religions like Norse or Greek mythology, or the hero/god characters of something like Polynesian myth.
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Drow Name Tables
Something I did as a special favor to @kimmurielsscryingmirror (@eldritchmist ) who showed interest. Because it’s...pretty big I decided to make it into it’s own post.
These are a few Drow naming tables that were originally found in an issue of Dragon Magazine. It’s two d100 tables of prefixes and suffixes commonly used in first names. The second couple of tables is a list of common house name prefixes and suffixes.
EDIT: Just a little something for those who care which I didn’t add before because it took me so long to finish the transcription I just wanted to post it lol. The gender difference is noted in the related Dragon Magazine article as being significant. Non Drow may not notice but a Drow will notice the difference. Female names sometimes borrow parts that are normally only considered male and this is considered fine...but a male with a name that borrows a typically only female part would be seen as extremely taboo.
Prefix (Female/Male) - Meaning
Akor/Alak beloved, best, first
Alaun/Alton lightning, powerful
Aly/Kel legendary, singing, song
Ang/Adin beast, monstrous, savage
Ardul/Amal blessed, divine, godly
Aun/Ant crypt, dead, deadly, death
Bae/Bar fate, fated, luck, lucky
Bal/Bel burned, burning, fire, flame
Belar/Bruh arrow, lance, piercing
Briz/Berg graceful, fluid, like water
Bur/Bhin craft, crafty, sly
Chal/Chasz earth, stable
Char/Kron sick, venom, venomed
Chess/Cal noble, lady/lord
Dhaun infested, plague
Dil/Dur cold, ice, still
Dirz/Div dream, dreaming, fantasy
Dris/Riz ash, dawn, east, eastern
Eclav/Elk chaos, mad, madness
Elvan/Kalan elf, elven, far, lost
Elv/Elaug drow, mage, power
Erel/Rhyl eye, moon, spy
Ethe/Erth mithril, resolute
Faer/Selds oath, sworn, vow
Felyn/Fil pale, thin, weak, white
Filf/Phar dwarf, dwarven, treacherous
Gauss/Orgoll dread, fear, feared, vile
G'eld friend, spider
Ghuan accursed, curse, unlucky
Gin/Din berserk, berserker, orc, wild
Grey/Gul ghost, pale, unliving
Hael/Hatch marked, trail, way
Hal/Sol deft, nimble, spider-like
Houn/Rik magic, ring, staff
Iiv/Dip liege, war, warrior
Iim life, living, spirit, soul
Illiam/Im devoted, heart, love
In/Sorn enchanted, spell
Ilph emerald, green, lush, tree
Irae/Ilzt arcane, mystic, wizard
Irr/Izz hidden, mask, masked
Iym/Ist endless, immortal
Jan/Duag shield, warded
Jhael/Gel ambitious, clan, kin, family
Jhul/Jar charmed, rune, symbol
Jys/Driz hard, steel, unyielding
Lael/Llt iron, west, western
Lar/Les binding, bound, law, lawful
LiNeer/Mourn legend, legendary, mythical
Lird/Ryld brand, branded, owned, slave
Lua/Lyme bright, crystal, light
Mal/Malag mystery, secret
May/Mas beautiful, beauty, silver
Micar lost, poison, widow
Min/Ran lesser, minor, second
Mol/Go blue, storm, thunder, wind
Myr/Nym lost, skeleton, skull
Nath/Mer doom, doomed, fate
Ned/Nad cunning, genius, mind, thought
Nhil/Nal fear, gorrible, horror, outraged
Neer core, root, strong
Null/Nil sad, tear, weeping
Olor/Omar skin, tattoo, tattooed
Pellan/Relon north, platiunum, wind
Phaer/Vorn honor, honored
Phyr/Phyx bless, blessed, blessing
Qualn/Quil mighty, ocean, sea
Quar aged, eternal, time
Quav/Quev charmed, docile, friend
Qil/Quil foe, goblin, slave
Rauv/Welv cave, rock, stone
Ril/Ryl foretold, omen
Sbat/Szor amber, yellow
Sab/Tsab abyss, empty, void
Shi'n/Kren fool, foolish, young
Shri/Ssz silk, silent
Shur/Shar dagger, edge, stiletto
Shynt invisible, skilled, unseen
Sin/Szin festival, joy, pleasure
Ssap/Tath blue, midnight, night
Susp/Spir learned, skilled, wise
Talab/Tluth burn, burning, fire
Tal/Tar love, pain, wound, wounded
Triel/Taz bat, winged
T'riss/Teb blade, sharp, sword
Ulvir/Uhls gold, golden, treasure
Umrae/Hurz faith, faithful, true
Vas/Vesz blood, bloody, flesh
Vic abyss, deep, profound
Vier/Val black, dark, darkness
Vlon/Wod bold, hero, heroic
Waer/Wehl deep, hidden, south, southern
Wuyon/Wruz humble, third, trivial
Xull/Url blooded, crimson, ruby
Xun demon, fiend, fiendish
Yas/Yaz riddle, spinning, thread, web
Zar/Zakn dusk, haunted, shadow
Zebey/Zek dragon, lithe, rage, wyrm
Zes/Zsz ancient, elder, respected
Zilv/Vuz forgotten, old, unknown
Suffixes (Female/Male) - Meaning
a/agh breaker, destruction, end, omega
ace/as savant, scholar, wizard
ae/aun dance, dancer, life, player
aer/d blood, blood of, heir
afae/afein bane, executioner, slayer
afay/aufein eyes, eyes of, seer
ala/launim healer, cleric
anna/erin advisor, counselor to
arra/atar queen/prince
aste bearer, keeper, slaver
avin/aonar guardian, guard, shield
ayne/al lunatic, maniac, manic, rage
baste/gloth path, walker
breena/antar matriach/patriarch, ruler
bryn/lyn agent, assassin, killer
cice/roos born of, child, young
cyrl/axle ally, companion, friend
da/daer illusionist, trickster
dia/drin rogue, stealer
diira/diirn initiate, sister/brother
dra/zar lover, match, mate
driira/driirn mother/father, teacher
dril/dorl knight, sword, warrior
e servant, slave, vessel
eari/erd giver, god, patron
eyl archer, arrow, flight, flyer
ffyn/fein minstrel, singer, song
fryn champion, victor, weapon, weapon of
iara/ica baron, duke, lady/lord
ice/eth obsession, taker, taken
idil/imar alpha, beginning, creator of, maker
iira/inid harbinger, herald
inidia secret, wall, warder
inil/in lady/lord, rider, steed
intra envoy, messenger, prophet
isstra/atlab acolyte, apprentice, student
ithra/irahc dragon, serpent, wyrm
jra/gos beast, biter, stinger
jss scout, stalker
kacha/kah beauty, hair, style
kiira/raen apostle, disciple
lay/dyn flight, flyer, wing, wings
lara/aghar cynic, death, end, victim
lin arm, armor, commander
lochar messenger, spider
mice/myr bone, bones, necromancer, witch
mur'ss shadow, spy, witness
na/nar adept, ghost, spirit
nilee/olil corpse, disease, ravager
niss/nozz chance, gambler, game
nitra/net kicker, returned, risen
nolu art, artist, expert, treasure
olin ascension, love, lover, lust
onia/onim rod, staff, token, wand
oyss/omph binder, judge, law, prison
qualyn ally, caller, kin
quarra/net horde, host, legion
quiri/oj aura, cloak, hide, skin
ra/or fool, game, prey, quarry
rae/rar secret, seeker, quest
raema/orvir crafter, fist, hand
raena/olvir center, haven, home
riia/rak enchanter, mage, spellcaster
ril bandit, enemy, raider, outlaw
riina/ree enchanter, mage, spellcaster
ryna/oyn follower, hired, mercenary
ryne/ryn blooded, elder, experienced
shalee/ral abjurer, gaze, watch, watcher
ssysn/rysn artifact, dweomer, sorcerer, spell
stin/trin clan, house, merchant, of the house
stra/tran spider, spinner, weaver
tana/ton darkness, lurker, prowler
thara/tar glyph, marker, rune
thrae/olg charmer, leader, seducer
tree/tel exile, loner, outcast, pariah
tyrr dagger, poison, poisoner, scorpion
ual/dan speed, strider
ue/dor arm, artisan, fingers
uit/dar breath, voice, word
une/diin diviner, fate, future, oracle
uque cavern, digger, mole, tunnel
urra/dax nomad, renegade, wanderer
va/ven comrade, honor, honored
vayas forge, forger, hammer, smith
vyll punishment, scourge, whip, zealot
vyrae/vyr mistress/master, overseer
wae/hrae heir, inheritor, princess
wiira/hriir seneschal of, steward
wyss/hrys best, creator, starter
xae/zaer orb, rank, ruler, sceptor
xena/zen cutter, gem, jewel, jeweler
xyra/zyr sage, teller
yl drow, woman/man
ylene/yln handmaiden/squire, maiden/youth
ymma/inyon drider, feet, foot, runner
ynda/yrd captain, custodian, marshal, ranger
ynrae/yraen heretic, rebel, riot, void
vrae architect, founder, mason
yrr protector, rival, wielder
zyne/zt finder, hunter
House Name Prefixes - Meaning
Alean the noble line of
Ale traders in
Arab daughters of
Arken mages of
Auvry blood of the
Baen blessed by
Barri spawn of
Cladd warriors from
Desp victors of
De champions of
Do' walkers in
Eils lands of
Everh the caverns of
Fre friends of
Gode clan of
Helvi those above
Hla seers of
Hun' the sisterhood of
Ken sworn to
Kil people of
Mae raiders from
Mel mothers of
My honored of
Noqu sacred to
Orly guild of
Ouss heirs to
Rilyn house of
Teken' delvers in
Tor mistresses of
Zau children of
House Name Suffixes - Meaning
afin the web
ana the night
ani the widow
ar poison
arn fire
ate the way
ath the dragons
duis the whip
ervs the depths
ep the underdark
ett magic
ghym the forgotten ways
iryn history
lyl the blade
mtor the abyss
ndar black hearts
neld the arcane
rae fell powers
rahel the gods
rret the void
sek adamantite
th challenges
tlar mysteries
t'tar victory
tyl the pits
und the spider's kiss
urden the darkness
val silken weaver
viir dominance
zynge the ruins
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