User blog comment:Umbralis/Nasus - Benevolent or malevolent?/@comment-7782121-20131128105404

Thanks for putting together what we know so far! It's definitely an interesting question you raise: Is Infernal Nasus something gone horribly wrong, or Nasus as he was destined to be? There certainly seems to be something to these beings having some form of latent, potentially limitless power that can be controlled or forcibly unleashed by dark fury.

I'm inclined to think it's more a case of 'corruption' than 'ascension', like anybody in fiction who trades crucial parts of themselves for godlike power. I would reach this conclusion by seeing there's a major difference between what Classic Nasus says and what Infernal Nasus says, and would think that Classic is reliable in what constitutes 'balanced' behaviour and progress, which is notably different from Infernal's outlook and philosophy.

Though playing Devil's advocate on how it could be the other way, I'd draw attention to Infernal Nasus's line "Do storms pity the drowned?". It's a line which ruthlessly implies that in that form, if it is indeed 'natural' for them, the species would see themselves as impersonal forces of nature rather than anything 'good' or 'evil'.

The talisman could be a relic from the Shurimans who would indeed have seen Nasus, Renekton, and their kind as ascended. It could, however, also be a cultural artifact in their society to represent this higher level of power. Kind of like a prize for reaching their final form, or whatnot. The symbol's absence with Infernal Nasus could mark either that he no longer needs it (having ascended), or is incapable of reaching it (having fallen into corruption).

As to Renekton, the easiest answer is that his Rune War skin isn't necessarily historical, but simply a 'what if' like Runeguard Volibear or Steel Legion Garen/Lux. However, I should also note that we've no idea how long they've been around or how long Renekton's been hunting Nasus. Could be decades, centuries or even millenia, which means that with how long they've been around, they might very well have been present for the Rune War itself. Perhaps one in a long line of events which led to Renekton's bloodlust and absolute loathing of humanity?

With regards to him and Infernal Nasus, I think he's in-between classic and Infernal. Infernal has taunts regarding how he's wasted his power, so I think that Renekton could very well be the first steps to his species 'unleashing' the power within, but not to the extent of embracing it like Infernal Nasus has done. Certainly, Renekton is bloodthirsty and fallen, but he came to that state while fulfilling his duties. Infernal Nasus, on the other hand, seems to have embraced an entirely different set of beliefs and functions than Classic Nasus. I'm also inclined to think that he is, in fact, the 'Tyrant' mentioned in the letters. Could it be fuel for an Infernal Renekton skin? Infernal Nasus taunting Renekton might disprove this, but I note that these are taunts to a 'classic' Renekton.

The big question to me is: Where do the letters fit in the current chronology? Are they from the actual Shurima that we know, or are they fragments from an alternate time like Infernal Nasus seems to be? Their status as promotional material might suggest it could be, but the presence of alternate-reality skins (Aether Wing  Kayle, Gatekeeper Galio, Pulsefire Ezreal, Justicar Syndra) and past/present history skins (Victory/Queen Ashe, Prototype Viktor, Arclight Varus), and the Viktor skins) as well as the fact that Nasus himself might have been plucked from time could mean they're not strictly history-as-we-know-it. Though perhaps I'm overthinking this, since it's generally accepted that most skins aren't typically canon. :P

tl;dr: Interesting question, I personally think that it's corruption instead of ascension. Renekton's probably in-between Classic and Infernal Nasus, and his Rune War skin could be 'past life skins' or 'what-if skins'. The big question to me is: Where DID those letters come from?