What it is
Zaun lies beneath Piltover in deep canyons and valleys, in a permanent twilight where light filters through industrial fumes. It has several levels, from the Fissures and the Promenade to the Entresol and the toxic Sump.
It is an industrial oligarchy, nominally under the authority of Piltover's council but controlled in practice by the Chembarons, crime lords who run its criminal enterprises. Its science is unregulated, which is why it produces chemtech and mechanical augmentation that Piltover does not allow.
The short version
- Government: nominally under Piltover's council; in practice the Chembarons rule.
- Technology: chemtech and augmentation; the serum Shimmer was invented by Singed.
- History: an ancient seafaring port, sacred to the wind spirit Janna, rebuilt after about 772 AN.
- Tension: wealth gap, neglect from above and disagreement over regulating arcane research.
The story in 4 steps
- Step 1
From port city to undercity
Zaun began as an ancient seafaring port sacred to Janna. Around 772 AN the site was drowned in a catastrophic excavation, and it was rebuilt as the undercity below Piltover.
- Step 2
Chemtech and Shimmer
Without rules, Zaun's alchemists pushed science further. Singed's Shimmer serum can enhance soldiers and also became a major illegal drug that drives the underground economy.
- Step 3
The Day of Ash and Silco
Vander and Silco led a failed uprising on the Day of Ash, and hundreds died. Silco then built a criminal empire on Shimmer until his adopted daughter Jinx killed him.
- Step 4
A fractured city
After Silco the Chembarons split, Piltover occupied the undercity, Noxus intervened and Viktor rose to prominence. Zaun is now represented in Piltover's politics, but the peace is uneasy.