Shurima Desert
Shurima Desert is an arid territory in the southern half of the continent and the location of the newly resurrected Shurima Empire, a vast civilization that bloomed millenia ago.
Lore
A thousand years ago, the glorious empire of Shurima shone like a second sun across the desert. After a flawed Ascension ritual, the gleaming capital city was reduced to ruins. Many have been known to go mad beneath the glare of the Shurima sun.
But an oft-repeated legend stirs in the desert of Shurima. The swirling sands carry rumors of the ancient emperor 
Azir, somehow returned.[1]
Culture
- For the race, see the Ascendant.
The current inhabitants of Shurima's desert are mainly descended from the survivors of the fall of Shurima's empire. The origin of their culture reaches back to Azir's time, but has evolved as they eke out an existence in their harsh environment [2].
Shuriman Army summoned by Azir after Shurima's resurrection
The people are known to produce seers blessed with foresight. One born with this ability was 
Malzahar who was said to have great potential.
Military
Shurima once had a standing army. When Shurima returned Azir summoned an army with soldiers made of sand.
Locations
There are 4 known places in Shurima.
Capital city
Capital city of Shurima
Once the center of Shuriman society. An oasis in the desert, it fell to ruins after the flawed Ascension of 
Xerath. It has risen once again after the resurrection of Shurima's long lost emperor, Azir. The city was built around the ancient 
Sun Disc.
The Tomb of the Emperors
Deep in the city lies the Tomb of the Emperors, which in the last millenia, acted as the makeshift prison of Xerath and 
Renekton, guarded by the statue of a huge serpent. When the tomb opened the serpent came to life, impaling 
Cassiopeia on its fangs, its venom transforming her into a terrifying half-snake creature.[3]
Oasis of the Dawn
Described as the Mother of Life, the oasis is located near The Tomb of the Emperors. After his resurrection, Azir brought a dying 
Sivir here and healed her with its magical waters. This act allowed Azir to ascend and revive his broken city.[4]
Shurima Wastes
Skarner, the crystalline guardian, defends the entrance to a realm deep beneath the Shuriman wastes. The few who survive trespassing his domain describe a creature of terrifying intelligence, anger, and precision. What this merciless creature protects, no one knows.
History
Crest of Shurima
A Dire Threat To Ancient Shurima
The Sun Disc was ancient long before the pinnacle of the Shuriman Empire.[5] 
Nasus and Renekton knew of its power, and used it to ascend in order to face a dire threat from mysterious beings.[6]
Ancient Darkin Influence
In the tomb of a great Shuriman warlord 
Ezreal found a urn depicting a familiar 
dark figure. The tomb walls illustrate a handful of warriors defeating thousands of enemies in what should have been their blaze of glory.[7]
Fall of the Empire
In ancient Shurima, young emperor Azir was persuaded by Xerath, his magus, to attempt the fabled Ascension ritual – despite ancient warnings to do so only in times of direst threat. Azir’s hubris proved disastrous. As the Sun Disc focused the dawn rays into a transformative beam, Xerath betrayed Azir, shoving his emperor aside and stealing its power for himself. In an instant, Azir was obliterated – and Xerath remade as a spectral being of pure, malevolent energy – as the city around them was swallowed whole by the desert. Nasus and Renekton, Ascended heroes of Shuriman legend, sensed in an instant that something had gone terribly wrong and rushed to the Sun Disc. They hurled Xerath into a chained sarcophagus – but the magus shattered it into shards.
Renekton dragged Xerath into the Tomb of the Emperors and shouted to Nasus to seal the door. With a heavy heart, Nasus entombed his brother with a madman in the buried ruins for all eternity.
Or so he believed…[8]
A Mysterious Creature
Rammus, the Armadillo
The mysteries that surround 
Rammus are numerous. How did a simple creature of the desert suddenly become able to reason? How did he craft his vaunted suit of armor? What is he searching for as he crosses the Shuriman desert? One thing is for certain: trying to stop the inexorable Rammus is a fool's mission.
Awoken With No Memories
Amumu, the Sad Mummy
Amumu is a diminutive, animated cadaver who wanders the world, trying to discover his true identity. He rose from an ancient Shuriman tomb bound in corpse wrappings with no knowledge of his past, consumed with an uncontrollable sadness.
The Amulet Discovered
Ezreal, the Prodigal Explorer
Piltover's Grandmaster Explorer, Ezreal, has explored some of the most remote and abandoned locations on Runeterra. During an expedition to the buried ruins of ancient Shurima, he recovered an amulet of incredible mystical power. Likely constructed to be worn by one of the Ascended, the enormous talisman nonetheless fit snugly upon his arm, amplifying his raw sorcerous skill to such an extent that he's gained the reputation of a hero, much to his embarrassment.
The Battle Mistress
Sivir, the Battle Mistress
Known as the Battle Mistress, Sivir is a mercenary with a ruthless reputation. Combining unflinching bravery with endless ambition, she has garnered great fame and fortune. Faced with the revelation of her mysterious heritage, Sivir must weigh her desire to continue on her own path, or accept the burden of a greater legacy.
Descent Into the Tomb
Xerath, the Magus Ascendant
- Narrated by
Nasus
"The tragic fall of Shurima was nothing comparing to the tragedy of its rise from the grave.
In a market at the edge of a desert. A stranger appears. Cassiopeia, a noblewoman from Noxus looking to hire a guide to take her to the fabled lost city. But not just any guide, she hires a owner of a legendary blade, the mercenary called Sivir. Sivir gathers her band of sell-swords and set out in to the desert to find the very bones of Shurima.
Five days beneath the broiling sun a scout spots towers juddering upwards and a stairway leading underground. They climb down, into the darkness.
Ancient treasures gleam in the torch-light, even Sivir is astonished of the grandeur of the ruins. Her men head deeper in only to stumble into traps and be eviscerated. Sivir is stunned with horror, but Cassiopeia does not flinch. She sees only the statue of a huge serpent silently guarding the door to the tomb of the Emperors and smiles.
The ancient weapon is a key. Cassiopeia betrays Sivir. She picks up Sivir's blade, puts it into the lock. The guardians curse is triggered. The stone serpent comes alive. It pins Cassiopeia in its jaws - the venom sears her flesh like acid.
The Tomb door opens. Renekton emerges, the brother I loved and locked away, twisted beyond insanity, followed by Xerath, an architect of his torment. My failure is complete.
Sivir drags herself away, life blood flooding from her wound and then succumbs to darkness..."[9]
Rise of the Ascended
Azir, the Emperor of the Sands
- Narrated by Nasus
"As Sivir lies betrayed and bleeding, something incredible occurs.
For though she does not know it, Sivir is the last in the bloodline of Azir, Shurima’s lost emperor. And as her blood soaks into the ancient sands, a deep magic sparks to life. Resurrection!
First Azir’s mind, then his body. Snatched back from oblivion to be reborn. Then he sees Sivir, wonders at her face, he sees himself in this daughter of Shurima. In that moment, he has no thought of empires or rituals. He only knows: she needs his help.
He must take her to the Oasis of the Dawn - the Mother of Life. He smells the waters - smells of life. He prays he is in time. He does not dream that he, Shurima’s greatest emperor, can at long last earn his Ascension and bring back his broken city. He dares not dream that if he can save her...Azir can save them all."[10]
Return of the Shuriman Empire
Once a mortal man blinded by his own hubris, Azir has recently returned as an Ascended being with unmatched dominion over the burning sands. He seeks to restore Shurima to its former glory, but some dispute his right to rule them. Azir's power, however, is undeniable.
Trivia
- The speech Lissandra holds in the Howling Abyss mentions that Shurima had not yet been swallowed by the desert when the Frozen Watchers lived in Freljord.
- For some Valorans Shurima was an Atlantis-like myth. Others, like the current inhabitants of Shurima, knew it existed a long time ago but did not believe any "true" Shurimans remained. Renekton and Nasus were also stories for them. [11]
- Shurima is described as a place that had a thriving culture, not only a strong military and a powerful emperor. It had a sense of personal identity with art, music, literature, trade, magical technology, etc. Azir's motivation to bring the golden light of Shurima to other nations neither was nor is for conquest; he truly believes that Shurima was the height of civilization, and could only continue to grow more wonderful.[12]
- The Ancient Coin, Nomad's Medallion and Talisman of Ascension are Shuriman artifacts. [13]
- Sunfire Cape bears a Crest of Shurima.
Development
Champions
| Champion | Ties |
|---|---|
| Azir, the Emperor of the Sands
|
Birthplace; Ascended being; Emperor of Shurima |
| Nasus, the Curator of the Sands
|
Birthplace; Ascended being; brother of Renekton
|
| Renekton, the Butcher of the Sands
|
Birthplace; Ascended being; Nasus's brother and enemy.
|
| Sivir, the Battle Mistress
|
Birthplace; mercenary, Heir of Shurima |
| Skarner, the Crystal Vanguard
|
Residence; guardian beneath Shurima |
| Xerath, the Magus Ascendant
|
Birthplace; Ascended being; imprisoned in a sarcophagus for a millenia |
| Rammus, the Armordillo
|
Travels the Shuriman desert |
Associated Champions
| Champion | Ties |
|---|---|
| Amumu, the Sad Mummy
|
Awoke in an ancient Shuriman Tomb |
| Cassiopeia, the Serpent's Embrace
|
Hired Sivir for a tomb raid. Was later transformed by a Shuriman guardian statue
|
| Ezreal, the Prodigal Explorer
|
Origin of Ezreal's magical artifact |
 Kassadin, the Void Walker
|
Probable Birthplace; leader of the Preservers |
| Malzahar, the Prophet of the Void
|
Birthplace; Shuriman seer; seeks to open the Void to Runeterra |
References
- ↑ Azir Shurima Azir page
- ↑ Azir Creative Q&A 1
- ↑ Shurima Story page 1
- ↑ Shurima Story page 2
- ↑ Azir Creative Q&A 2
- ↑ Ascension Game Mode page
- ↑ An ancient mystery in Runeterra
- ↑ Shurima Story page
- ↑ Shurima Story page
- ↑ Shurima Story page
- ↑ Azir Creative Q&A 3
- ↑ Azir Creative Q&A 4
- ↑ Of Shurelya, Coins and Reveries
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