The pride of Demacia is not something to simply be adored: it is something to behold. Stringent guidelines for the life of its citizens as well as a persistent campaign to extend the city-state's moral convictions throughout Valoran has resulted in a land where any compromise of the nation's integrity is an offense of the highest order. To this end, all Demacians are seemingly born with the incumbency to uphold the tenets championed by their homeland – a pursuit carried out foremost by the military. To serve in the army is life's greatest honour. Only in death is more honour found. Those who have fallen in battle are commemorated with their names inscribed on an obelisk of white marble in the city square, and are promised vengeance by their allies. The inscription of his sister's name on that very obelisk has only given Garen's mission to avenge her more urgency, as if with each passing moment the opportunity to requite her murderer slowly fades away.
Killed by a giant recently animated by the magical forces dormant within the Shadow Isles, Lux's death evoked an outcry from not only Demacians, but her fellow champions in the League of Legends. The consequent imprisonment and trial of the forest's sentinel revealed a controversial verdict: acquittal by reason of insanity, but mandatory participation in the League of Legends. At best, the jury was confused and displeased by the leniency displayed the High Council of Equity. At worst, Garen and his fellow Demacian champions swore vows of death upon Maokai. This however, was no easy task. Having battled against the treant on the rift, Garen soon realized its strength. Its bark was tougher than forged platemail, sloughing off blows from ranged and melee attacks alike. Enemy magics only served to replenish the tree's life energy. To kill the monster required a weapon to exploit an imperceptible weakness. To corner the monster required a window of opportunity away from the Institute of War. To avenge his sister's death required more than Garen's force of will.
As the circumstances of time change, so too do the motives of those travelling along its endless passage. Garen sees himself to be an enlightened beneficiary of this change. To what could an allegiance to the Demacian way of life amount? This he asked himself while mourning for his dear sister. The Demacian government had no power to intervene now that the League mediated all political conflict. The monarchy and its accompanying traditions rendered obsolete, what little that could still be accomplished without the League's intervention was only possible away from the organization's prying eyes. And thus, in the dead of night, as one soldier went missing from his post, several legendary artifacts went missing from theirs. Among what Garen could take without being noticed was what he was looking for. Long, dark, and glowing with an unholy fire, he knew this was the weapon that could end Maokai's life. Garen had saw it in action before. A simple flick of the wrist set enemies ablaze. The sensations of amplified pain could only be extinguished with death. With a sword in hand and a warped sense of Demacian justice still in his heart, Garen will never forget what was taken from him, and will never forgive those who allowed the deed to go unpunished.
