Ask the Fourth

He suppressed the old fear of fire and destruction. Shyvanna had been patient. Shyvanna had gone willingly to Piltover authorities. He was yards from her cell. Surely, this was almost over.

And then he woke.

I was thinking of what I said before about exile and Demacia and this song came to mind.

Think of feudal systems, where the land is all owned and controlled by the King who then assigns stewardship of lands to various lords and vassals. In a protectorate, there is less emphasis on the idea of all land belonging to the King. Instead of a singular kingdom government, Protectorates function similarly to member states of a union. They have limited powers to make decisions without the approval of the King, and are allowed to have a local identity and allegiance. If you are familiar with the way the Northern Houses in Game of Thrones manage their own lands with relative autonomy, as local representatives of the King’s justice, I think you’re close. I would assume that each protectorate mirrors the centralized Demacian government in that there is a clear executive position along with a small council of nobles. Demacia is a constitutional monarchy in its current form. It would be fair to speculate that the members of the Demacian Council who serve as the nation’s legislative body are all representatives of the largest and most important protectorates. Then one begins to wonder which noble family stands at the head of High Silvermere, and which is steward of Uwendale.

Demacia began as a shelter in a storm. It has evolved into a fiercely proud and independent nation, with a highly structured culture and class system. The idea that Demacia is well organized and well trained, with some of the best military and equipment, stems from the head start they had in the cataclysm. They had a safe place to build upon when others didn’t, and it allowed them to grow and advance to the state the currently occupy. The question of Demacia’s future is this, can clinging to the stone that saved them ever be a mistake? Their traditions, their isolationism, and their shunning of magic are to some degree artifacts of a past that is long gone. The temptation would be to say that progress for Demacia should mean a return to magic and expansionism and new ideas. Sure, some change is necessary for a nation to survive in a changing world, but how much? How far can they stray from the warnings of their forefathers before the lessons of the calamity are lost, and history threatens to repeat itself? How much can Demacia change, before losing itself to the same lust for power that Noxus lives and breathes? Those are questions the next generation of Demacian leaders must answer, if Demacia is to survive.

Do not disappear like that without leaving word. I don’t begrudge you your flights or your freedom, but surely it is no great pain to leave word. There is no shortage of messengers in the capitol, and you’ve no shortage of paper or ink. If you need either, I will have it sent. If you cannot be bothered to write a simple note, I will have to have a minder dog your wanderings day and night, and I know how much you will enjoy that dear. You do not know the headache and the worry you would save me. Please? -J

Spire. Tempered. Solstice. Road east of Raleclyff is watched. Stay west of river. Keep count, continue with mission. -J

L, I was five when I met your brother. Even then he seemed older than me, more a soldier than a boy. I do not know what it is like to be the younger child, but I know what it is not to have a brother, when you might desperately wish for one. Forgive me, that I saw him more in those years than you had the chance. Forgive him his absence, which was none of his own design despite how easily he bends to carry every burden laid at his feet. He speaks of you with only love and pride. There is no one like your brother, my friend.  -J

Thank you.