LoL Lore Re-Imagined: The Legend of Shurima Pt. 2

Here's the next part of my version of the Shurima lore. This one is much shorter but I post the next half soon. Enjoy!

“Like I said, we’re just poor beast herders making a delivery to your emperor.” The palace gates glimmered as the sun illuminated its façade. It towered high above with the likeness of the Sun Disc etched into it. The palace sat in the very heart of civilization and could be seen from miles away. And even if one couldn’t see it, just behind it, the fabled Sun Disk hovered upon its Dais of Ascension and cast its radiance on everything. Every day, the people would look up to see it, shining in the sky like a second sun. It was a constant reminder of pride and power and for the people, as long as they could see its radiance, the empire would stand strong. However, that is not what had the attention of the four robed men waiting outside the gates. In a cart carrying large crates pulled by horned beasts, they awaited passage on an elevated road of sandstone and stared in awe at the gatekeeper. They had heard the rumors and had even seen him from afar, but being this close and being scrutinized by his blood-red eyes, they realized they had woefully underestimated their own resolve. No human alive could hope to stand up to this guardian, this vision of wrath incarnate. The only one among them willing to confront him was the driver, and even he had preferred to have kept quiet. Of all days, why did he have to carry out this task when he was on guard duty?

Leaning against the gates, the keeper lifted a scaled claw and scratched the inside of his ear. His tail listed lazily back and forth, grinding against the sandstone. Clad in little more than a leather tunic and a tattered cloak, the sun meant nothing to his scaly hide, as he would stand outside the gates for days on end, staunchly protecting his emperor and threatening anything that bore ill will with his giant curved blade. In days of old, when Shurima was expanding and warring with various tribes, he was at the forefront of every battle, relishing in the blood of the fallen and raging through the enemy lines. He was a bloodthirsty monster with just as much cunning and patience as his bestial counterpart. Those who survived his rampages told tales of a ruthless butcher who wandered the vast desert in search of conflict to sate his endless bloodlust. Thus, Renekton became known far and wide as the Butcher of the Sands.