Nasus

Nasus is an imposing, jackal-headed Ascended—those heroic and god-like figures once revered by the people of Shurima. Fiercely intelligent, he was a guardian of knowledge and peerless strategist whose wisdom guided the empire to greatness for many centuries. After the failed Ascension of Azir, Nasus went into self-imposed exile, becoming little more than a legend. Now that the Sun Disc has risen once more, he has returned, determined to ensure it never falls again.

Real name: Nasus Alias(es): The Curator of the Sands, The Scholar, Lost Son of the Desert Species: God-Warrior Age: 3798-3898 years old Place of origin: Shurima City, Shurima (Ancient Times) Current residence: Shurima (No Fixed Abode)

Nasus’ brilliance was recognized long before he was chosen to join the ranks of the Ascended. A voracious student, he memorized and critiqued the greatest works of Shuriman history and philosophy before he was ten.

However, his passion was not shared by his younger brother Renekton, who tended to bore quickly, and fight with other local children instead. Nonetheless, the brothers were close, and Nasus kept an eye on Renekton, ensuring he didn’t get into too much trouble.

When he came of age, Nasus was welcomed into the prestigious and exclusive Collegium of the Sun. He had the best teachers in the empire, and developed a keen understanding of military strategy and logistics, eventually becoming the youngest general in history. While a competent soldier, his genius lay not in fighting battles, but in planning them.

A deeply empathetic man, Nasus took his responsibilities seriously, always ensuring his soldiers were well provisioned, paid on time, and treated fairly. He guided the emperor’s mortal armies to countless victories, and was respected by all who served beneath him. Sure enough, his brother Renekton also entered military service, and rose through the ranks as a trusted and capable warrior under Nasus’ command.

But despite his triumphs and accolades, Nasus did not enjoy war. He understood its importance—for now, at least—in the empire’s rapid expansion, yet firmly believed his greatest contribution to Shurima was the knowledge they could gather and preserve in the wake of each conquest. At his urging, all the books, scrolls, and teachings of the cultures they defeated were added to libraries and repositories throughout the empire, to bring wisdom and enlightenment to generations still to come.

After decades of dutiful service, Nasus was cruelly struck by a terrible wasting sickness, and his physician solemnly declared that the general would be dead within a week.

The people of Shurima were bereft, for Nasus was their brightest star and beloved by all. The emperor himself pleaded with Setaka of the Ascended Host for the great man’s deeds to be weighed before the Sun Disc.

After a day and night, Setaka’s emissaries confirmed that Nasus would be blessed with Ascension. He would have to undergo the rituals at once, despite his infirmity.

Renekton, now a warleader in his own right, raced home to be with his brother. He was shocked to find Nasus’ flesh wasted away, his bones fragile as glass. So weak was he that, as Sun Disc’s golden radiance streamed over the dais, Nasus was unable to climb the final steps into its light.

Renekton’s love for his brother was stronger than any sense of self-preservation. He carried the weakly protesting Nasus onto the dais, and would willingly accept oblivion.

However, Renekton was not destroyed as expected. When the light faded, not one but two god-warriors emerged—both brothers had not only survived, but flourished. Nasus stood as a towering, jackal-headed avatar of wisdom and strength, while Renekton was a muscled behemoth in the likeness of a crocodile.

Nasus had been gifted powers far beyond mortal understanding. The greatest boon of his Ascension was the countless lifetimes he could now spend in study and contemplation... though this would also eventually come to be his greatest curse.

But he was more immediately concerned by the increased savagery he saw within Renekton. At the siege of Nashramae, finally bringing the city under Shuriman rule, Nasus learned that his brother had razed the grand library and massacred all who stood against him. This was the closest the brothers ever came to bloodshed, facing one another in the rubble, weapons drawn. Only under Nasus’ stern, disappointed gaze did Renekton’s bloodlust dwindle, and he turned away in shame.

War with the rebel state of Icathia changed many of the Ascended. The horrors they witnessed left them hollow, and quicker to anger. Nasus undertook centuries of solitary study as he tried to comprehend what had happened to his immortal brethren, and what it could mean for the future.

When the Ascension of Emperor Azir went terribly wrong, Nasus and Renekton were both far from the capital, and returned with all haste... but they were too late. Over the bodies of countless Shuriman dead, they fought Xerath—that twisted, malevolent being of pure energy who had betrayed Azir—yet were unable to slay him. Filled with rage, and perhaps seeking to atone for Nashramae, Renekton wrestled Xerath into the Tomb of the Emperors beneath the city, bidding Nasus seal them in.

Nasus refused, desperate to find any other way, but there was none. With a heavy heart, he committed Xerath and his brother to the fathomless darkness for all eternity.

Drained of its power by Xerath’s sorcery, the Sun Disc fell, and every remaining god-warrior felt its loss in their immortal heart. The divine waters flowing from the city’s oasis ran dry, bringing death and famine to all Shurima. For a time, the other Ascended tried to hold the fractured empire together, before their countless rivalries led them to fight among themselves. Withdrawing entirely, Nasus bore a heavy burden of guilt, stalking the empty ruins that were slowly being swallowed by the desert, and lamenting everything that had been lost.

Centuries passed, and Nasus all but forgot his former life and purpose... until the moment when the Tomb of the Emperors was rediscovered by mortals, and its seal broken. He did not know how, but he knew Xerath was free.

Ancient vigor reawakened in Nasus, and yet even he was stunned to see Azir reborn, and the Sun Disc raised once more from the sands. Though Xerath was still a grave threat, Nasus knew the new god-emperor would have great need of guidance and counsel in the years ahead.

And hope stirred within him for the first time in millennia. Did he dare believe he might also be reunited with his beloved brother, Renekton?

Appearance: Nasus is a humanoid figure with the head of a jackal. He is tall and muscular with glowing blue eyes and a body covered in short black fur. He wears golden, ceremonial armor with teal highlights, and much of his body is wrapped in pale bandages. His war staff Curator's Gatebreaker is teal and gold with a brown leather grip.

Personality: Thoughtful and reclusive, Nasus is an imposing, solemn presence, bearing all the power, wisdom, and sorrow that comes with millennia of life. Primarily a keeper of knowledge, he is not one to rush to violence despite being a fearsome combatant.

Ascended: Nasus is one of the Ascended, also known as God-Warriors or Sunborn. The Ascended are mortals that were empowered by The Sun Disc into immensely powerful demigods. Each Ascended has unique powers depending on the individual they were prior to the Ascension. Immortality: The ascended do not age, and do not need to eat or sleep. Barring beings of similar power, the Ascended cannot be killed. Regeneration: Nasus can heal from almost any injury in a matter of seconds. Superhuman Strength: Nasus is much stronger than any normal human, being able to destroy buildings by merely punching them, or break a man's entire body with his fists. Life Draining: Nasus has the power of creating a life-draining aura, aging them down at an extremely fast pace and reducing them to dust in a matter of seconds. Size Shifting: Nasus can change size to become gigantic and destroy his foes.

Abilities: Soul Eater - Nasus drains his foe's spiritual energy, healing himself with every strike. Siphoning Strike - Nasus strikes his foe, empowering the power of his future Siphoning Strikes if he kills an enemy with it. Wither - Nasus slowly (and temporarily) ages an enemy, decelerating their movement. Spirit Fire - Nasus unleashes a spirit flame at a location, dealing damage and damaging their armor.

Ultimate Ability: Fury of the Sands - Nasus unleashes a mighty sandstorm that batters nearby enemies. While in the sandstorm, he becomes incredibly empowered, growing larger and being able to use much stronger Siphoning Strikes more frequently.

Runeterra is a magical world composed of a physical realm and a Spirit Realm, forming a barrier between cosmic forces of creation and destruction. Its continents include Valoran, Shurima, and Camavor, with vast oceans, seas, and islands such as Ionia and the Shadow Isles. The planet orbits a G-type star and has a moon, both mirrored in the Spirit Realm.

Centuries ago, ancient artifacts called World Runes were rediscovered, believed to be tied to Runeterra's creation. Their destructive power triggered the Rune Wars—devastating conflicts over control of the runes. In response, the mage Ryze began collecting and sealing them to prevent further catastrophe.

Runeterra hosts countless sapient species, from beastlike beings to near-divine entities. Some are aggressive or monstrous, while others are intelligent and peaceful. Revenants—souls bound to vessels or remains—also exist, blurring the line between life and death.

One of Runeterra’s dominant powers is Noxus, an aggressive, expansionist empire known for its brutal reputation and emphasis on strength. Despite its militaristic image, Noxus values talent over lineage, allowing anyone with skill—including mages—to rise in rank. However, entrenched noble houses still influence its politics, threatening the very ideals the empire claims to uphold.

The empire of Shurima was once a thriving civilization that spanned an entire continent. Forged in a bygone age by the mighty god-warriors of the Ascended Host, it united all the disparate peoples of the south, and enforced a lasting peace between them.

Few dared to rebel. Those that did, like the accursed nation of Icathia, were crushed without mercy.

However, after several thousand years of growth and prosperity, the failed Ascension of Shurima’s last emperor left the capital in ruins, and tales of the empire’s former glory became little more than myth. Now, most of the nomadic inhabitants of Shurima’s deserts eke out a meager existence from the unforgiving land. Some have built small outposts to defend the few oases, while others delve into long lost catacombs in search of the untold riches that must surely lay buried there. There are also those who live as mercenaries, taking coin for their service before disappearing back into the lawless wastelands.

Still, a handful dare to dream of a return to the old ways. Indeed, more recently the tribes have been stirred by whispers from the heart of the desert—that their emperor Azir has returned, to lead them into a new, wondrous age.