Zaun

Zaun
Information
Type	City-state
Also known as	Undercity The Underground Fissures The Lanes (colloquially) Nation of Zaun (by Silco)
Founder(s)	Cecil B. Heimerdinger (while part of Piltover) Silco † (as an independent nation) Vander † (as an independent nation)
Status	Extant
Location	Valoran (northern continent) Shurima (southern continent)
Governing body	Piltover Council Chem-barons (de facto)
Inhabitants	Zaunites (also known as trenchers, fissure-folk)
Insignia	Winged chemical vial
Affiliation	Piltover (sister city)
Enemies	Piltover (formerly) Noxus The Machine Herald Machine Herald’s soldiers
League page	Zaun

Zaun, also referred to as the Undercity, is a city-state across the river from Piltover, a large portion of which runs beneath the latter. Whereas its upper counterpart is thriving and rich, Zaun is the opposite, becoming almost literally the catch basin of the waste from the city above it where its residents try to survive from scraps spared to them. One known part of Zaun is the Lanes. Individuals who hail from it are known as Zaunites, though such people come from various backgrounds as a population that includes humans, Chireans, Yordles and even certain individuals that come resided inside Piltover. Regardless of their background, however, the negligence of their sister-state caused numerous Zaunites to adopt contempt or even hatred for it, striding for freedom as an independent realm that some addressed as the Nation of Zaun.

History

Though technically under the governance of Piltover’s Council, Zaun has virtually been cast aside and isolated from whatever gains and advancements had been made in Piltover. While Piltover prospers, Zaun is perpetually riddled with crime and hardship. So heavily polluted, its air said to be denser than Piltover's, that those not native to Zaun find the need to wear gas masks when visiting, and Piltover residents deem the undercity as dangerous and look down on the denizens living there. This has caused rising tensions between the two, and some figures from the Underground, such as Silco, yearn for independence, wanting their home to become a nation of its own. Due to the lack of true supervision over Zaun, the city is silently controlled by a group of chem-barons.

Description, Society and Culture

Because of its roots in mining, the air in Zaun was thick and polluted. While the issue of the pollution was solved by Councilor Cassandra Kiramman, the air remains slightly thicker than that of Piltover. However, the clearing of the air was credited to the goddess Janna, who Zaunites quickly came to worship. Though the chem-barons held the level of control, the state lacked a true government and, as a result, became rife with various different factions, such as the Jinxers, a resistance movement that idolised Jinx as a symbol of independence.

Compared to Piltover, Zaun is actually quite advanced in some areas. They have figured out how to create and implement prosthetics as well as other body part replacements. In the case of the Firelights, they’ve also learned to modify certain vehicles to account for the thicker air.

Locations

• The Last Drop
• Viktor's Commune

Inhabitants

Currently in Zaun

• Babette
• Benzo †
• Claggor †
• Connol †
• Chross
• Ekko
• Felicia †
• Finn †
• Isha †
• Imagine Dragons (characters)
• Margot
• Mylo †
• Renni †
• Sevika
• Silco †
• Smeech †
• Singed

Formerly in Zaun

• Cecil B. Heimerdinger †
• Huck †
• Jinx
• Salo †
• Sky Young †
• Vander †
• Vi
• Viktor

Visitors

Formerly in Zaun

• Ambessa Medarda †
• Caitlyn Kiramman
• Grayson †
• Jayce Talis
• Marcus †
• Rictus †

Notable Businesses

• The Last Drop: Vander’s bar

Ways to access Zaun

• The Bridge: There is a bridge in Piltover that goes directly from Piltover to Zaun and vice versa.
• The Elevator: There is also an elevator that can go straight down to Zaun and come straight up to Piltover.
• Natural cracks: While it can be more dangerous, there are natural cracks in the land of Piltover’s more remote areas. These cracks can be used to quite literally slip into Zaun on foot, and they are not usually monitored by law enforcement unlike the bridge and elevator. However, anyone who uses this method must be agile to avoid injury or death.
• The sewers: Sliding down the sewer system can take someone into Zaun, although it is a much less savory way of entering the undercity.
• The river: Zaun is settled across the river from Piltover, though it does extend under Piltover directly. Because of this, crossing the river is yet another way to enter Zaun.

Trivia

• Zaun lies at the intersection between Valoran (the northern continent) and Shurima (the southern continent), which makes it transcontinental.
• In the Alternate Universe, Zaun has been completely transformed. The city is much cleaner and brighter, and there is no evidence of crime or famine. This is most likely due to Zaun becoming its own nation, separate from Piltover.