Military and Noble Hierarchy and Behavior, Demacian Canon
Dec 17, 2013 18:09:17 GMT -5
Naiyu Persici Lu and The Half-Dragon like this
Post by Exemplar of Demacia on Dec 17, 2013 18:09:17 GMT -5
This is a development thread detailing the structure and procedures of the Demacian military, their ranking system and unit structure, and the Demacian royal hierarchy, including noble ranking and etiquette. I would like to include a section on military training and discipline.
THIS IS SPECULATIVE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED AS CANON BY THE ADMINISTRATION OR DEMACIAN BOARD LEADER. UNTIL SUCH A TIME AS IT IS APPROVED, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING THIS IN MS RP. Feedback or differing opinions are WELCOME as this develops.
The Demacian Royal Military consists of approx 600,000 men and women soldiers. Both genders have equal opportunity for advancement, based off of achievement and perceived skill. The ranking system is as follows.
The Royal Army:
Under the direct guidance of the King, who acts as supreme commander of all military operations, the Royal Army consists of approximately two thirds of the Demacian military. The command of four hundred thousand men is divided between two Field Marshall Generals. Each group is called a Front. Each Front is further organized into four Corps, each fifty thousand strong under the command of eight Knight Commander Generals.
The Corps split in half to form Divisions, which Officers ranked Major General command. Their command is split into five brigades, breaking twenty-five thousand into groups of five-thousand. A Brigadier General, the lowest rank of General, command each. From here they split in half again, forming Regiments under the command of a Colonel. These Regiments of two thousand five hundred split into five once more, and these Battalions of five hundred men report to their Lieutenant Colonels.
Each Battalion is five Companies of one hundred men, led by a Knight Captain. From here even finer divisions can be made, Troops of fifty men to a First or Second Lieutenant, Patrols of twelve can be left to a Corporal, but below Knight Captain the command and organization, including all promotions, are left almost exclusively to the Knight Captain himself. Promotions are recommended to him by his subordinates, and he approves them as he wishes. As a member of the military rises in ranks of command, their advancement becomes more directly tied to the opinion of their immediate superior officer, right up to the King himself who is always the highest source of command.
The Royal Army consists of soldiers equipped and trained for every purpose. Pikemen, Halberdiers, Archers, Light and Heavy infantry, Light and Heavy Cavalry, Siege line, Mages, Supply Train, Scouts, Military Engineers, etc. This leaves extensive room for Demacian OCs with varying military ranks, and I can see only the rank of Field Marshal General being scarce at only two spots. Continuing down this line of exploration we have an additional military headcount of Two-Hundred Thousand men and women remaining.
The Royal Navy:
The first group that comprised of this number is the Demacian Royal Navy, an expansive fleet of ships whose officers and midshipman number near one hundred thousand souls. It is important to note that all officers of the Navy above captain are in command of their own vessels. Underneath the command of the King, The First Admiral of the Fleet divides his control over two Admirals, each over five Vice Admirals. From there the ranks are as follows.
Because the size and complement of a ship, from a clipper to a corvette, a gaff to a galleon, varies with the ships size, the exact number of officers and the crew is not determined. Anywhere from one hundred to five hundred crew members might be required to operate a ship, depending on its size, and large ships used to transport soldiers might move three to five thousand at a time.
Ships:
The level of engineering involved, and the amount of metal involved is entirely up for interpretation. Bildgewater is a city of pirates, thus they must be able to keep up with the basic trading vessels of the age. The Demacian military would, In my opinion, use a strategy much like the British Ships of the Line. Large durable ships with powder cannons, blockade strategy, region control, troop and trade transport would seem appropriate, with perhaps a few coal driven or ironclad advancements on the way, courtesy of Piltover or whatever source.
The Dauntless Vanguard:
As their name implies, the Dauntless Vanguard are a hardened and fearless military branch of first responders. Commanded and organized by Garen Crownguard, who holds the rank of Knight Commander General of the Dauntless Vanguard, this branch of twenty thousand has specialized units that work together to respond swiftly to delicate situations.
Some are battle hardened fighters trained to get in and out of the worst situations while escorting dignitaries or precious cargo. Others are dedicated emergency healers, silent infiltration experts, and elite mages trained in the destruction of enemy arcane defenses, or long range snipers who eliminate threats cleanly.
Beneath Garen is one Major General, his second in command should his duties to the league or the crown prevent his ability to lead the Vanguard, and five Brigadier Generals, who command their specialized divisions in unison. These are the fingers that can enter a tense conflict and cunningly dismantle it, or remove precious cargo from threatening situations. They make a fist whose sum is a more valuable unit to the crown than any other of its size. Those chosen to join the Vanguard are volunteers who are heavily screened before they are allowed to join highly multipurpose branch, which has its own rigorous training methods and disciplines.
City Reserve:
Serving only in times of need, the City Reserve is made up of young men and women who train with less frequency than the regular military, and reside in the city with normal lives. They train with the normal troops on a rotating schedule, and are required to maintain a certain level of physical fitness that is tested each year. Approximately forty thousand men and women serve in the reserves at any time.
The Titles of Demacia:
The Hierarchy of Nobles has both historical significance, and political relevance. Noble houses are all old in one sense of the world or another. Though the Lightshield family has been the royal line for three generations, that does not make it the oldest of the houses. It is simply the most powerful. There was a Demacia before the Lightshields, but it was not as strong or as unified in purpose, leadership, and political stability at any time prior.
Currently there are a great deal of Noble houses, some greater and some lesser, and many with bloodlines dating back before the Lightshield Dynasty. However, only a select number of great houses are privileged to influence the actions of the government through a seat on the Council of Nobles. If i'm not mistaken there are Ten TBV seats on the council, each with one vote. The king himself has five votes, meaning that in order to overturn a decision he has made the Council of Nobles mus side against him, Eight to Two. This brings the total vote to Eight-Seven, in favor of the Council. The Noble houses allowed a seat at the Council are selected by common vote. Thus a noble house must be seen by the public at large as fair and honest to maintain its seat of power.
The Noble houses have titles in accordance with their lineage, as were gifted their families by Kings of old. The older, more influential houses are more likely to feel secure in their position to oppose the Kings decisions, while younger houses currying favor, or those raised from the common citizenship and given title by the Lightshield line are less inclined. Though not directly commanded by the noble houses, the military and naval officers of Demacia are with a few exceptions, mostly nobility.
Military accomplishment can lead to obtaining a Knighthood, which is the first step towards joining the ranks of nobles. From there, continued service and military advancement can lead to rewards of land and title, but it is not impossible to be advanced in military rank without being given more than an increase in salary. There are many wealthy merchants and craftsman who are non-nobility, but the age old roots of noble families grant them a much higher standard of living. Their chain of deference is as follows.
When addressed, a person with the title of Knight or Baronet would be addressed as "Sir" or "Dame". Anything above that changes the address to "Lord" or "Lady", unless where formality is favorable and the exact title itself is a better decision.
The responsibilities of a noble are many. First, they are expected to uphold Demacian morals and uphold the law. When titled but not given lands, this responsibility remains to conduct themselves in such a manner. When the noble is given lands to oversee, that responsibility extends over the citizens of those lands. They are then required to conduct their household as an example to those beneath them, to participate in judicial hearings and at times act as judges, or employ a judge, to maintain the safety and policing of their area, and collect taxes in coordination with the crown, such that one tax is levied each yeah unless otherwise needed and that the funds from their lands are divided between the King and the ruling noble.
Powers of the King:
The supreme ruler of Demacia, its King has political, judicial, and military powers as listed here.
The Powers of the Queen:
The Queen of Demacia has limited powers, though in the Kings absence, such as in the event of his death, her power would extend to the same as his.
The Rules of Succession:
The King is a mortal man. Should he die, the nation must have provisions for the selection of a new King.
Judicial System: [WIP]
Demacia as a nation is structured around the law, and a strict interpretation of it. Crime is punished severely, expectations are high, and the law is ever present. Because of this predilection for swift justice, the Demacian Judicial system is core to the health of the nation. Those who are trusted to serve as judges over the fates of the people are honored for it. Any noble with the title of Baronet or greater can serve as a judge for the citizens of their titled lands, however their decision can be appealed to this specific judicial branch of the government, or they may decide to leave judicial matters to the Courts, retaining only the responsibility to arbitrate disputes and enforce the law as defined by the Court.
The Blameless Court is a collection of appointed judges from throughout the city-state that travel to and from regional court houses delivering the letter of the law. Their lives work is the recordation, preservation, and interpretation of the Demacian system of law. The judges of The Blameless Court train for decades in the complex and strict system of law that Demacia has cultivated over time. To join the judges for a noble is akin to joining the church in the English monarchy. It is an alternative calling to family politics, providing a sizable pension at the higher ranks of the Court. Part of the meaning behind their name is their fervent devotion to Demacian ideals, and the lies in the fact that if the decisions of the Blameless Court or the High Blameless Court are challenged by the King or the Council of Nobles, they judges cannot be held responsible for a difference of interpretation of the law. It is also possible for the King to pardon the judged, and meddle with the decisions of the Court. This is heavily frowned upon, but the King does have the ability to change the law, and if a law is ever found to be out of date or conflicting with another law, changes can be recommended to the king for his consent. The law is valued above all, as the backbone of a society that strives to be entirely crime free. Any changes to the law are not taken lightly, and it would be a grave error for the King to attempt an indelicate change tot he law without a deep and abiding knowledge of it, as well as strong argument for the merits of said change.
Dueling:
Duels have been a part of Demacian culture for centuries. Historically, a duel is a fight between two individuals to resolve a dispute in matters of honor or justice, or in response to insult. Considered a barbaric and outdated practice by some, the duel is now an uncommon, legally permissible event, which is most often concluded when the victor scores "first blood" being the first one to draw blood with his sword. In certain cases the offense is so great that a duel is fought to the death. It is important to note that duels are infrequently so dangerous, and that a duel cannot be instigated unless one party challenges and the other subsequently accepts. No one is forced to accept a duel or fight in one, but it is considered shameful in some cases to refuse a duel that is challenged, or seen as an admittance of guilt. Likewise, there are circumstances when simply challenging someone to a duel is poor form or publicly shameful. Should you find yourself drinking in one of the city's taverns seriously insulting a soldier of Demacia, you should expect a fist fight. Then again, you shouldn't press your luck. There might not be an officer present. Swords are drawn when tempers flare so be ready to watch your tongue or defend your honor.
Military Strategy:
[WIP]
THIS IS SPECULATIVE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED AS CANON BY THE ADMINISTRATION OR DEMACIAN BOARD LEADER. UNTIL SUCH A TIME AS IT IS APPROVED, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING THIS IN MS RP. Feedback or differing opinions are WELCOME as this develops.
The Demacian Royal Military consists of approx 600,000 men and women soldiers. Both genders have equal opportunity for advancement, based off of achievement and perceived skill. The ranking system is as follows.
The Royal Army:
Under the direct guidance of the King, who acts as supreme commander of all military operations, the Royal Army consists of approximately two thirds of the Demacian military. The command of four hundred thousand men is divided between two Field Marshall Generals. Each group is called a Front. Each Front is further organized into four Corps, each fifty thousand strong under the command of eight Knight Commander Generals.
The Corps split in half to form Divisions, which Officers ranked Major General command. Their command is split into five brigades, breaking twenty-five thousand into groups of five-thousand. A Brigadier General, the lowest rank of General, command each. From here they split in half again, forming Regiments under the command of a Colonel. These Regiments of two thousand five hundred split into five once more, and these Battalions of five hundred men report to their Lieutenant Colonels.
Each Battalion is five Companies of one hundred men, led by a Knight Captain. From here even finer divisions can be made, Troops of fifty men to a First or Second Lieutenant, Patrols of twelve can be left to a Corporal, but below Knight Captain the command and organization, including all promotions, are left almost exclusively to the Knight Captain himself. Promotions are recommended to him by his subordinates, and he approves them as he wishes. As a member of the military rises in ranks of command, their advancement becomes more directly tied to the opinion of their immediate superior officer, right up to the King himself who is always the highest source of command.
- King - Apart from his other responsibilities, the King is the military's highest authority. Trained by his father from a young age, tutored by the greatest military minds of his time, the King is a formidable tactician. While he may not reach the pinnacle that a Field Marshal General attains, he is no common soldier. Where as they know battle in the physical and mental sense, the King's responsibility in war is to conduct the creation and maintenance of allegiances, direct the Royal Army on a path that furthers the interests of Demacia, and to give final judgement on when to begin and cease aggression after weighing the advice of the active and retired Generals that comprise the his War Council.
- Two Field Marshal Generals - The Field Marshal Generals are not soldiers. They are artisans. They display unnatural understanding of warfare, uncanny intuitive response to enemy movements, and the ability to swiftly outmaneuver, deceive, suppress, and annihilate their opponents. These are in no way average men. They are the best of the best, such that only two stand atop their army fronts of 200,000 men. Not only adepts in practice, but in teaching and maintaining their subordinate officers to absorb their knowledge as is possible. They are knowers of men's hearts.
- Eight Knight Commander Generals - Understanding alone does not grant ability. Where a Major General conducts war, a Knight Commander General Composes it. These are commanders grown wise through experience, and tempered by uncommon failure. To them, every element of military operation is as familiar as breathing. Their presence on the battlefield could maintain order and control through reputation alone, if not for the ceaseless attention that every Knight Commander pays to his subordinates. They fight with a finesse that borders on genius.
- Sixteen Major Generals - Understanding every nuance of military movement, defense, attack, landscape and terrain advantage, a Major General is chosen for their ability to understand and react to their enemies movements beyond the skill of a veteran soldier. They must understand the enemy generals, their habits, their weaknesses, and study every aspect that can be used to gain an advantage in battle. These are conductors of war. They understand the martial cadence of a full scale assault, and they understand the peacetime operations of the military, city guard, and
- Eighty Brigadier Generals - An significant level of skill is required to manage 5,000 men. All levels of military command are trained in tactics, drilled with maneuvers, and selected for talent. Few rise to the level of prowess required to be selected for this responsibility.
- One Hundred and Sixty Colonels - The left and right hands of every Brigadier General, they must prove themselves capable of understanding battle on the highest of scales, having more than a rote memorization of geographical information throughout Valoran. They must understand their positioning as well as any veteran soldier knows his footwork.
- Eight Hundred Lieutenant Colonels - Knight Captains called to a higher command because of their tactical prowess, intuitive or calculative decisions, or the success of their units through unforeseen circumstances or against great odds.
- Four Thousand Knight Captains - A Knight Captain is the front line hero of any engagement. He leads his company as told, little to no questions asked. No task is too big or small, and no enemy insurmountable. If he must die, it for his country. If he lives, it is only to continue his fight.
- Eight Thousand First and Second Lieutenantes - Knight Captains in training, they must show both physical and mental prowess, an ability to stay clear under pressure, and command the attention and loyalty of his fellow soldiers to some extent.
The Royal Army consists of soldiers equipped and trained for every purpose. Pikemen, Halberdiers, Archers, Light and Heavy infantry, Light and Heavy Cavalry, Siege line, Mages, Supply Train, Scouts, Military Engineers, etc. This leaves extensive room for Demacian OCs with varying military ranks, and I can see only the rank of Field Marshal General being scarce at only two spots. Continuing down this line of exploration we have an additional military headcount of Two-Hundred Thousand men and women remaining.
The Royal Navy:
The first group that comprised of this number is the Demacian Royal Navy, an expansive fleet of ships whose officers and midshipman number near one hundred thousand souls. It is important to note that all officers of the Navy above captain are in command of their own vessels. Underneath the command of the King, The First Admiral of the Fleet divides his control over two Admirals, each over five Vice Admirals. From there the ranks are as follows.
- First Admiral of the Fleet - The greatest of the Admirals, The First is responsible for all of the Navy's movements. He is the head of the top three Admirals, being only a slight step above them in power. Every First Admiral is old, first a seasoned veteran of naval warfare, second a leader of peerage among sailors, and is likely to have many stories told about him in dockside taverns and rocking ships hulls. He understand the sea and its passage to the highest extent.
- Admiral - Two - Masters of seamanship, armada strategy and all the mechanical workings of the fleet, an Admiral has reached the apex of Naval knowledge.
- Vice Admiral - Ten
- Rear Admiral - Approximately Fifty
- Commodore - More than Five Hundred
- Knight Captain - More than Five Thousand
- Commander - A preliminary rank that serves as a trial period for captains rank, leadership of boarding and landing parties, and the direct attention of the captain. The captains right hand
- Lieutenant Commander - A this rank, navigation skills are necessary. Before a higher rank can be obtained, the officer must know how to chart a course, navigate in all weather and depth.
- First and second Lieutenant - To become lieutenant an officer must master the communication system of the Demacian Navy, including flag based communication and fleet maneuvers.
Because the size and complement of a ship, from a clipper to a corvette, a gaff to a galleon, varies with the ships size, the exact number of officers and the crew is not determined. Anywhere from one hundred to five hundred crew members might be required to operate a ship, depending on its size, and large ships used to transport soldiers might move three to five thousand at a time.
Ships:
The level of engineering involved, and the amount of metal involved is entirely up for interpretation. Bildgewater is a city of pirates, thus they must be able to keep up with the basic trading vessels of the age. The Demacian military would, In my opinion, use a strategy much like the British Ships of the Line. Large durable ships with powder cannons, blockade strategy, region control, troop and trade transport would seem appropriate, with perhaps a few coal driven or ironclad advancements on the way, courtesy of Piltover or whatever source.
The Dauntless Vanguard:
As their name implies, the Dauntless Vanguard are a hardened and fearless military branch of first responders. Commanded and organized by Garen Crownguard, who holds the rank of Knight Commander General of the Dauntless Vanguard, this branch of twenty thousand has specialized units that work together to respond swiftly to delicate situations.
Some are battle hardened fighters trained to get in and out of the worst situations while escorting dignitaries or precious cargo. Others are dedicated emergency healers, silent infiltration experts, and elite mages trained in the destruction of enemy arcane defenses, or long range snipers who eliminate threats cleanly.
Beneath Garen is one Major General, his second in command should his duties to the league or the crown prevent his ability to lead the Vanguard, and five Brigadier Generals, who command their specialized divisions in unison. These are the fingers that can enter a tense conflict and cunningly dismantle it, or remove precious cargo from threatening situations. They make a fist whose sum is a more valuable unit to the crown than any other of its size. Those chosen to join the Vanguard are volunteers who are heavily screened before they are allowed to join highly multipurpose branch, which has its own rigorous training methods and disciplines.
City Reserve:
Serving only in times of need, the City Reserve is made up of young men and women who train with less frequency than the regular military, and reside in the city with normal lives. They train with the normal troops on a rotating schedule, and are required to maintain a certain level of physical fitness that is tested each year. Approximately forty thousand men and women serve in the reserves at any time.
The Titles of Demacia:
The Hierarchy of Nobles has both historical significance, and political relevance. Noble houses are all old in one sense of the world or another. Though the Lightshield family has been the royal line for three generations, that does not make it the oldest of the houses. It is simply the most powerful. There was a Demacia before the Lightshields, but it was not as strong or as unified in purpose, leadership, and political stability at any time prior.
Currently there are a great deal of Noble houses, some greater and some lesser, and many with bloodlines dating back before the Lightshield Dynasty. However, only a select number of great houses are privileged to influence the actions of the government through a seat on the Council of Nobles. If i'm not mistaken there are Ten TBV seats on the council, each with one vote. The king himself has five votes, meaning that in order to overturn a decision he has made the Council of Nobles mus side against him, Eight to Two. This brings the total vote to Eight-Seven, in favor of the Council. The Noble houses allowed a seat at the Council are selected by common vote. Thus a noble house must be seen by the public at large as fair and honest to maintain its seat of power.
The Noble houses have titles in accordance with their lineage, as were gifted their families by Kings of old. The older, more influential houses are more likely to feel secure in their position to oppose the Kings decisions, while younger houses currying favor, or those raised from the common citizenship and given title by the Lightshield line are less inclined. Though not directly commanded by the noble houses, the military and naval officers of Demacia are with a few exceptions, mostly nobility.
Military accomplishment can lead to obtaining a Knighthood, which is the first step towards joining the ranks of nobles. From there, continued service and military advancement can lead to rewards of land and title, but it is not impossible to be advanced in military rank without being given more than an increase in salary. There are many wealthy merchants and craftsman who are non-nobility, but the age old roots of noble families grant them a much higher standard of living. Their chain of deference is as follows.
- King
- Queen
- Duke or Duchess
- Marquis or Marquess
- Earl or Countess
- Viscount
- Baron or Baroness
- Baronet
- Knight
When addressed, a person with the title of Knight or Baronet would be addressed as "Sir" or "Dame". Anything above that changes the address to "Lord" or "Lady", unless where formality is favorable and the exact title itself is a better decision.
Powers of the King:
The supreme ruler of Demacia, its King has political, judicial, and military powers as listed here.
- The appointment and dismissal of Judges.
- The summoning and prorogation of The Council of Nobles. This means His Majesty can assemble and suspend The Council of Nobles.
- Royal assent to bills. This means His Majesty is responsible for granting his approval for bills to become law. He can refuse consent, and has the power to create laws by proclamation.
- The commissioning of officers in the armed forces. Commission for officers in the Demacian Army is granted through The King. (While this is true, the King's direct influence on these decisions is usually limited to the highest tiers of military rank, where crucial and far-reaching judgement must be made. The decisions to promote up the lower ranks are approved by his seal alone, and seldom questioned. Any untoward meddling in the military command structure would be accepted begrudgingly.)
- Directing the disposition of the Military forces in Demacia. As stated, he is the supreme commander of the military forces, both on land and at sea.
- Appointment of King's Counsel. His Majesty’s Private Council has the function of advising His Majesty.
- Issue and withdrawal of writs of citizenship. The King can grant entry into Demacian citizenship and likewise eject his subjects from it.
- Prerogative of mercy. The power to pardon those judged guilty by the court is not a power taken lightly. Any affronts to the judgement of the Blameless Court must be carefully calculated. The King can create and change law, but he is also expected to be lawful himself, and cannot change law to his whim and retain the faith of his subjects.
- Granting honours. His Majesty is the font of all honour and title in Demacia and has the power to create titles and issue honours as he sees fit.
- Creation of corporations by Charter. This means a legal entity inside a company. The Demacian Postal Service is one such chartered entity. (Yes, the acronym is DPS)
- The making of treaties. The King has the power to create treaties between Demacia and other nations.
- Declaration of war. His Majesty holds the vital power of being able to declare war.
- Recognition of foreign states. The King can use his power to recognize foreign states, or to deny recognition thereof.
- Reception of diplomats. Foreign diplomats are often welcomed and accommodated by His Majesty and the Royal Household.
The Powers of the Queen:
The Queen of Demacia has limited powers, though in the Kings absence, such as in the event of his death, her power would extend to the same as his.
The Rules of Succession:
The King is a mortal man. Should he die, the nation must have provisions for the selection of a new King.
- The oldest living son of the King, being at least 16 years of age, inherits the throne.
- In the even that the king has only daughters, the oldest daughter of at least 16 years of age must marry a noble man who then becomes King.
- During the absence of a King, or until the coronation of the new king. the surviving Queen serves as Regnant and Steward of the Crown, holding all powers of the King.
- Should the Queen abdicate her powers as Queen Regnant, the Council of Nobles will select another Steward of the Crown.
- Should the Queen Regnant be remarried, her husband would become King Regnant, with the line of succession staying rooted in the children of the former King.
- If there is no living Queen, the Council of Nobles will select a one from among them to serve as Steward of the Crown.
- If there should be no children surviving the King, the closest living male relative of the King will succeed the throne.
- The noble bloodline of any heir to the throne must be verified with official documents of heritage.
- Should there be any question as to who will succeed the throne, and should there be a division of sides between candidates, the Council of Nobles will intervene and vote on which candidate is rightful heir, the factors of age and bloodline weighted.
Judicial System: [WIP]
Demacia as a nation is structured around the law, and a strict interpretation of it. Crime is punished severely, expectations are high, and the law is ever present. Because of this predilection for swift justice, the Demacian Judicial system is core to the health of the nation. Those who are trusted to serve as judges over the fates of the people are honored for it. Any noble with the title of Baronet or greater can serve as a judge for the citizens of their titled lands, however their decision can be appealed to this specific judicial branch of the government, or they may decide to leave judicial matters to the Courts, retaining only the responsibility to arbitrate disputes and enforce the law as defined by the Court.
The Blameless Court is a collection of appointed judges from throughout the city-state that travel to and from regional court houses delivering the letter of the law. Their lives work is the recordation, preservation, and interpretation of the Demacian system of law. The judges of The Blameless Court train for decades in the complex and strict system of law that Demacia has cultivated over time. To join the judges for a noble is akin to joining the church in the English monarchy. It is an alternative calling to family politics, providing a sizable pension at the higher ranks of the Court. Part of the meaning behind their name is their fervent devotion to Demacian ideals, and the lies in the fact that if the decisions of the Blameless Court or the High Blameless Court are challenged by the King or the Council of Nobles, they judges cannot be held responsible for a difference of interpretation of the law. It is also possible for the King to pardon the judged, and meddle with the decisions of the Court. This is heavily frowned upon, but the King does have the ability to change the law, and if a law is ever found to be out of date or conflicting with another law, changes can be recommended to the king for his consent. The law is valued above all, as the backbone of a society that strives to be entirely crime free. Any changes to the law are not taken lightly, and it would be a grave error for the King to attempt an indelicate change tot he law without a deep and abiding knowledge of it, as well as strong argument for the merits of said change.
Dueling:
Duels have been a part of Demacian culture for centuries. Historically, a duel is a fight between two individuals to resolve a dispute in matters of honor or justice, or in response to insult. Considered a barbaric and outdated practice by some, the duel is now an uncommon, legally permissible event, which is most often concluded when the victor scores "first blood" being the first one to draw blood with his sword. In certain cases the offense is so great that a duel is fought to the death. It is important to note that duels are infrequently so dangerous, and that a duel cannot be instigated unless one party challenges and the other subsequently accepts. No one is forced to accept a duel or fight in one, but it is considered shameful in some cases to refuse a duel that is challenged, or seen as an admittance of guilt. Likewise, there are circumstances when simply challenging someone to a duel is poor form or publicly shameful. Should you find yourself drinking in one of the city's taverns seriously insulting a soldier of Demacia, you should expect a fist fight. Then again, you shouldn't press your luck. There might not be an officer present. Swords are drawn when tempers flare so be ready to watch your tongue or defend your honor.
Military Strategy:
[WIP]
