#bannerstone

Notched Ovate Bannerstone

What Are Bannerstones? History and Existence at Heartland Artifact Auctions

Piltover is mostly marshland. As such, any permanently-solid ground has been quickly claimed, settled, and linked to the heart of the nation. You can see in the background of the Get Jinxed video that outer Piltover has broad, wide streets connecting the major city off into the wide blue yonder, and it is canonical that Piltover has trains (more than just a leap and a bound ahead of every other city in Runeterra… with the exception of Zaun, perhaps? Then again, Zaun is too densely populated along the coast and chemically ravaged elsewhere to consider needing such cross-nation transport). The lack of solid ground would make train transportation incredibly valuable: fast, efficient, straight lines from A to B. Zeppelin transport isn’t out of the question, but when it comes to human nature you want to secure your land by making your mark on it, and the train tracks are an undeniable Piltovian signature. And thus, each township would take good care of their trains, and how they’re run.

Trains, traditionally, have always been for the transport of goods. It wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century that the concept of putting people on trains even became a thing. So then in this fictional context, it makes sense that all the townships would be linked (as in this map here) so that the resources they produce could be sent to the city, matching the trains’ original purpose. Piltover would be swift to also realise the potential of moving people, and they have a habit of using technology for ‘frivolous’ reasons to it isn’t too much of a stretch to make use of passenger cars or even luxury people-only trains. Having a population that is not confined to one area for work or leisure is something else that sets Piltover apart from the rest of the world; the concept of commuting is another bizarre Piltovian thing.

The seven major settlements/townships outside of Piltover City are Grimdark, Bannerstone, Berkfordshire, Haven-On-Sea, Brigham Point, Trylford, and Pentir North. Each of them would take great pride and pains in maintaining their station, their trains, and their tracks. Piltover City might be the heart of the nation, but each of the villages keeps the city itself well-supplied, as well as having their own purpose and lifestyle. As such, I have developed the following:

Grimdark, south of the city, is now synonymous with the Battle of Black Pools, and currently under the united Zaunite-Noxian banner of control. Most would consider Grimdark to be currently ‘lost territory’, but several suburbs consider themselves staunchly (and characteristically-stubbornly) Piltovian. The major train station in the area is at Baker’s Hill; the area is infamous for the oil rigs, the walking vegetables, and spies, diplomats, and double-agents.

Bannerstone, the grassy green heart of Piltover. Due west of the city, it boasts the fertile plains and copses and overlooks the nation’s dam and water purification. It is the home of many large festivals, including Piltover’s two-week long Harrowing celebration. People in this township concern themselves with farming (mostly grains and fruits), forestry, border protection, water purification, and game hunting.

Berkfordshire, Piltover’s in-joke of a farming township. If there are hicks to be found in the City of Progress, they are said to originate from here. However, the ‘Westies’ maintain and practice many traditions that modern Piltover has forgotten; their language, too, is proudly practiced, obscure enough to be a challenge to even a native speaker’s ear. It isn’t ‘famous’ for much at all, really, though vegetables, cheeses, and preserves are produced in great number, and peat collected from the nearby swamps and minerals and metals from the mountains. Hunting is also good, year round, for those who dare to brave a trek up the mountainside. This township recently gained some level of respect for the opening of the museum/tomb of a centuries’-old dragon that was recently uncovered.

Haven-On-Sea, Piltover’s only coastal township. It goes without saying that fishing is a significant business here, as well as trade with Ionia and Bilgewater before Jinx’s attack (and subsequently before the borders of the nation were closed). The white cliffs are also harvested for their limestone; limecrete is, after all, the secret of Piltover’s architectural success. Filthcatchers, vessels designed to minimise the ecological damage caused by Zaunite runoff into Bluewater Bay, are also launched from here. Recently, Haven-On-Sea has seen something of a mass exodus, since Gangplank razed much of the outer limits, and the fallen spirits of those killed in his raids rose during the Harrowing. Portions of the town remain abandoned, even after the exorcisms and rebuilding.

Brigham Point, Piltover’s furthest settlement north. Mining, fishing, ice-harvesting, hunting, and border protection (particularly against troll invasions). Brigham Point is also famous for its sheep and goats, as well as the birthplace of the red fluffy cows that are a ubiquitous livestock signature across the nation.

Trylford has the dubious honour of being built overlooking what is known as the King’s Marsh, the largest body of uncharted marshland in the western side of the crater. They have access to fields, farmlands, fresh water, and grazing land that puts them on equal footing with Bannerstone, Berkfordshire and Brigham Point in terms of food production, but the population of this township is generally far smaller. To the northwest, a powerful observatory has been built by the YASP. 

Pentir North, on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Much of the work in this area is focused on grazing land. Piltover’s largest airstrips, runways, and hangars are kept on the northern edge of the nation, as far from the borders and foreign curiosity (and interference) as possible. Developments in aviation and aeronautics, thus, make up much of what is done… and yet, so much of it is hush-hush that it’s almost assumed that all Pentir North serves as is a storage space for whatever zeppelins and aircraft are not currently being used.

Each village maintains itself to be almost entirely self-sufficient, and yet inextricably linked to Piltover City, and to each other. If it weren’t for the train lines, none of the rural settlements would be possible… and nor would it be possible for Piltover City to be as productive and populous as it is.