User blog comment:Dragonzzilla/Champion Preview: Azir/@comment-3087008-20140826235847/@comment-10958553-20140829065620

Nasus, Renekton, and Azir are all the same race. Read Nasus' lore. It states that he is a beast race their to guide and help humans of an ANCIENT DESERT NATION, and that some of his kind began thinking of themselves as more than protectors. As RULERS and GODS.

Nasus, Renekton, and Azir have been pulled through time to the current world. Shurima was so long ago that it seemed to be another world from the perspectives of Nasus.

The minions that Azir uses are human (well... at least the memory of a human warrior). They look avian because they are wearing armor to emulate and honor their god-emporor.