Shuriman Continent

Shuriman Continent is the southern continent of Runeterra. The most predominant nation on this continent is Shurima from which it gets its name. This continent is now connected to Valoran through a small artificial land bridge where modern day Piltover and Zaun are located. This continent was part of Valoran before the event that shattered the continent into two. It boarders east with the Guardian's Sea.

The Legend of the Darkin

 * For more information, see Timeline

The darkin are thrice-cursed—once by the ancient enemy they faced, again by the fall of their glorious empire, and finally by the betrayal that has damned them for all eternity.

When the rebels of Icathia foolishly unleashed the Void in battle, Shurima’s defense was led, as ever, by the legendary Ascended. Imbued with the power of the Sun Disc, these “god-warriors” towered over mortal soldiers, wielding magic and blade with equal ease, and eventually they were victorious. Even so, the horrors of the war took a heavy toll, and those who lived to remember it were perhaps never quite as they once were.

Centuries later, with the loss of mighty at the very moment of his own Ascension, Shurima fell. Although apparently immortal, the god-warriors had been born human—gradually, with no emperor to lead them, many of the surviving Ascended began to falter in purpose as their older, petty ambitions resurfaced. They taught themselves forbidden sorceries, and came to view themselves as the rightful inheritors of the world. The scattered mortal populace named these new tyrants darkin, a whispered curse translating roughly in the old tongue as “the fallen.”

But even the darkin could not escape the sickness of soul that had come from fighting against the Void for so long. After centuries of uneasy alliance, they inevitably turned against one another—and so began the Great Darkin War.

This conflict spread from Shurima to Valoran, and beyond. The renegade god-warriors and the armies they raised were unstoppable, and entire nations were crushed between them. It seemed as though this would be the end of all things… until,, the mages of Runeterra learned how to contain the remaining darkin. Through secrecy and cunning artifice, the physical forms of the Ascended could be merged with the celestial power in their hearts, and all of it bound within the weapons they bore. With their leaders imprisoned forever, the rampaging hordes were broken and slain.

These darkin weapons were hidden, many of them carefully guarded by the mortal civilizations that grew in the aftermath—for it was clear that such power could be locked away, but never destroyed.

And, should such power fall into the wrong hands, the darkin will surely rise once more.

The Rune Wars

 * For more information, see Timeline



Centuries ago, magical artifacts called ‘World Runes’ have been rediscovered. Over the following decades after such event, knowledge of the Runes began to spread as more were unearthed. The world’s brightest minds studied the ancient glyphs, attempting to determine the powers they possessed. Few could even begin to understand the importance of their origins, or the sheer power held within them. Some surmised that the Runes were integral to the creation of Runeterra itself. The first use of these mysterious artifacts proved catastrophic, as they reshaped the landscape of entire nations. Mistrust quickly grew as those who knew of the Runes imagined such “Makers’ Might” being used as a weapon. Conflicts later related to these magical artifacts were known as the Rune Wars.

Open warfare raged across Runeterra. The first horrors of the Rune Wars sparked fear and aggression among those who now realized the power at their command. and his master, Tyrus, have sought out to lock away every World Rune beyond the reach of man for the protection of Runeterra. Some complied with their pleas, others dismissed them due to their new found powers and influence. After an incident in Icathia due to the faults of Tyrus, Ryze later on continued his journey alone in gathering all Runic artifacts so as to prevent another Rune War from starting and possibly destroying the world.

Locations
There are many regions and settlements on the Shuriman Continent. The most well-known are:


 * Aurma
 * Fyrone Flats
 * Kumanagra
 * Kumungu
 * Mudtown
 * Sablestone Mountains
 * Shurima Crest icon.png Shurima
 * Amakra
 * Bai-Zhek
 * Bel'zhun
 * Gereshni
 * Glacier Port
 * Imalli Lake
 * Kalamanda
 * Crystal Scar
 * Kha'zhun
 * Kiilash Tribe
 * Kenethet
 * Mother of Life river
 * Nashramae
 * Parnesa
 * Saabara
 * Sai Khaleek
 * Khaleek
 * Khaleek river
 * Shuriman Capital
 * Cycle of Ascension
 * Emperors Way road
 * Oasis of the Dawn
 * Palace of Ten Thousand Pillars
 * Scholes Palace
 * Steps of Ascension
 * The Great Library of Nasus
 * The Library of the Sun
 * The Tomb of the Emperors
 * Temple of the Sun
 * Shurima Wastes
 * Astrologer’s Tower
 * Void_Crest_icon.png Icathia
 * The Rupture
 * Kenethet
 * Nerimazeth
 * Vekaura
 * Temple of the Sun
 * Zuretta
 * Siram Fortress
 * The Tomb of Ne’Zuk
 * Tejaru
 * Odyn Valley
 * Urzeris
 * Zirima
 * Mount Targon Crest icon.png Mount Targon
 * Rakkor cave settlements
 * Threshold gateways
 * Temple of the Solstice
 * Solari prayer shrines
 * Divine carvings
 * The Peak
 * Targon Prime
 * Yordle Land
 * Bandle City Crest icon.png Bandle City
 * The Mothership
 * City Hall
 * City Square