Shurima

Shurima is an ancient desert empire in the southern part of Runeterra, the world of the League of Legends mythos. The civilization is renowned for its sun-worship, monumental pyramids, and a highly organized bureaucracy. Its cities and temples earned a reputation for grand architecture, scientific learning, and intricate magical practices that tied governance to celestial and solar power.

Historically, Shurima expanded across the desert and established a centralized empire ruled by emperors who claimed a special bond with the sun. The empire developed an ascension tradition, whereby certain individuals were elevated to near-immortality as Ascended beings to serve the ruler and defend the realm. Figures such as Nasus and Renekton, among others, are tied to this era in lore. The empire eventually fell after internal strife and the loss or misuse of the Sun Disk, leaving behind ruined cities buried in sand and shaping a long period of desert isolation.

In modern Runeterra, Shurima has been reconstituted under Emperor Azir, who seeks to restore imperial governance and reclaim the empire’s former influence. The Sun Disk remains a potent symbol of authority and magical power, and the Ascended feature prominently in Shuriman legend and politics. Xerath, once an Ascended mage within Shurima, becomes a central adversary whose ambitions challenge the new regime. Today, Shurima continues to influence the region through a blend of ancient traditions and revived imperial institutions, with trade routes crossing the desert and a renewed capital emerging from the ruins.