New LoL cinematic about Pantheon, Kai’Sa drops for season 12

TL;DR

  • Riot’s ‘The Call’ cinematic bridges multiple Runeterra storylines with canonical significance
  • Kai’Sa and Taliyah’s partnership continues from ‘Hollowspun’ story, facing Rek’Sai’s void threat
  • Pantheon’s struggle on Mount Targon showcases his mortal determination against celestial opposition
  • Freljord’s conflict hints at Ornn’s potential involvement in regional politics
  • The cinematic establishes visual canon for in-game abilities and champion relationships

Riot Games has unveiled a significant canonical cinematic titled “The Call” to build anticipation for League of Legends Season 12’s ranked launch. This visually stunning production weaves together multiple champion narratives from across Runeterra, creating a cohesive tapestry of interconnected stories that expand the game’s rich lore foundation.

The cinematic masterfully integrates three primary storylines: Pantheon’s arduous ascent of Mount Targon, the Winter’s Claw tribe’s confrontation with Volibear’s followers, and Kai’Sa alongside Taliyah combating the void menace represented by Rek’Sai. Each narrative thread carries substantial canonical weight, drawing heavily from published Universe stories released throughout the previous year.


The cinematic opens with Ornn laboring at his forge within his mythical domain, crafting a blade of unknown purpose. This scene immediately establishes the thematic importance of Freljord’s ancient demigods and their ongoing influence on mortal affairs.

We then transition to Sejuani mounted on Bristle, leading Olaf and additional Winter’s Claw warriors toward a treacherous icy gorge. Their determined march suggests a mission of critical importance to their tribe’s survival.

As the Winter’s Claw approaches the formidable crag, the perspective shifts across Runeterra. Sejuani and Olaf engage in combat against “The Lost,” followers of the volatile demigod Volibear. Their objective centers on retrieving Ornn’s legendary cauldron – a magical artifact previously stolen that possesses the capacity to provide sustenance for their entire tribe through the harsh Freljordian winter.

The conflict escalates dramatically when one of the Ursine channels lightning skyward, revealing the enormous spiritual manifestation of Volibear himself. This visual representation of the Freljordian god underscores the primal power dynamics at play in the region.

The narrative then introduces Kai’Sa and Taliyah, two champions intrinsically connected to Shurima’s ongoing struggles. Their partnership directly continues from the Universe short story “Hollowspun,” which chronicles how these marginalized figures formed an unexpected alliance while confronting void-related infestations plaguing the desert region.

We find the duo positioned before the shattered remains of Xolaani’s statue, an Ascended warrior previously featured in “The Faceless God” narrative. This setting placement demonstrates Riot’s commitment to maintaining continuity across their expanding lore ecosystem.

Following the conclusion of “The Faceless God,” a void swarm overwhelms Xolan village, the very location where Taliyah and Kai’Sa are depicted. As they advance, subterranean movement signals imminent danger from beneath the sands.

The massive sinkhole that materializes near our heroes reveals itself as the handiwork of Rek’Sai preparing to emerge. The terrifying tremor-sensing jungler bursts through the desert terrain, displaying her canonical scale and formidable presence within Runeterra’s ecosystem.

As Rek’Sai surfaces, Kai’Sa propels herself airborne, unleashing volleys of void-missiles and concentrated purple energy blasts against the monstrous threat. She strategically maneuvers to descend back into the sinkhole, compelling Rek’Sai to pursue her toward the void’s purple energy source and away from Taliyah. This tactical decision suggests the sinkhole may serve as a direct conduit to the Void dimension, potentially indicating Kai’Sa’s return to the horrifying plane from which she previously escaped.

The cinematic provides a brief but impactful glimpse of Atreus, known throughout Runeterra as Pantheon, the Aspect of War. We witness his determined climb up Mount Targon following the demise of his celestial Aspect, visually emphasized by his scarred shield bearing witness to past tribulations.

His gaze fixed upon the summit, the scene transitions back to Freljord. Olaf exchanges a meaningful look with Sejuani as she pauses before the gorge entrance, precisely as Volibear’s Ursine followers arrive adorned in ominous ceremonial decorations.

Atreus eventually reaches a Solari portal that appears to provide access near Mount Targon’s peak. Five Solari warriors emerge from concealed positions behind pillars, attempting to halt his progress as he firmly plants his spear.

Back on Targon, Atreus confronts the Solari guards utilizing only his shield, demonstrating his reluctance to harm his own people during his pilgrimage back to Targon’s heights. True to his identity as the Aspect of War, he efficiently neutralizes the opposition without resorting to lethal force.

As he momentarily lowers his guard, a sudden burst of solar energy strikes him from above as Leona materializes, radiant with divine fire.

The celestial beings appear evenly matched in combat until Leona strategically steps aside, allowing a falling star to violently impact Atreus, catapulting him from the cliff face. The celestial intervention’s origin remains ambiguous – whether mere misfortune or potentially channeled by Diana or another unseen Aspect. We subsequently see Atreus, battered and kneeling at the mountain’s base, his expression conveying profound defeat.

As Atreus kneels exhausted beneath the celestial bodies traversing the night sky, Sejuani aggressively engages the Ursine with her flail, forcefully repelling them. Atreus gradually gathers his resolve as cosmic energy circulates around him upon rising. He then spectacularly launches skyward, demonstrating the in-world visual representation of Pantheon’s Skyfall ultimate ability.

Olaf violently dispatches Ursine combatants while Sejuani remounts Bristle, freezing multiple Volibear followers in authentic Freljordian ice. As she shatters through them, fragmenting them completely, we receive a final view of Ornn completing the sword he has been meticulously crafting throughout the cinematic.

This concluding imagery strongly suggests the typically reclusive demigod may be preparing to assume a more active role in the Freljordian people’s conflict with his brother before “The Call” gradually transitions to darkness.

The cinematic’s narrative structure establishes several crucial developments for League’s ongoing lore. Kai’Sa’s potential return to the Void could significantly impact her character development, while Ornn’s apparent involvement hints at shifting power dynamics within Freljord. These visual representations provide canonical foundation for in-game abilities while deepening our understanding of champion relationships across Runeterra’s diverse regions.

Action Checklist

  • Watch The Call cinematic multiple times to identify subtle narrative connections
  • Read accompanying Universe stories ‘Hollowspun’ and ‘The Faceless God’
  • Analyze champion ability representations in cinematic for lore accuracy
  • Compare cinematic events with existing lore to identify continuity and new developments
  • Document character development trajectories for future lore speculation

No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » New LoL cinematic about Pantheon, Kai’Sa drops for season 12 Exploring League's cinematic lore: Kai'Sa, Taliyah, and Pantheon's canonical stories in Season 12