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The "softer" side of Noxus?

SecretAgentHulk·10/12/2015, 12:29:29 AM·13 votes·6,101 views

As far as I can tell, there's kind of an ongoing weirdness surrounding the social climate of Noxus and Demacia, two nations that define the other almost more than they define themselves. Demacia is the paragon of goodness, and so Noxus in comparison must be the haven of cutthroats and strongarms. Demacia can't be all good, though, so it is very authoritarian (almost fascist?) in comparison to the... cutthroat, social-darwinistic Noxus. I've seen quite a few posts wondering why people live in Noxus at all, and whether there is a "good" (or better, anyway) side to Noxus. Something that would appeal, even, to people in Demacia, to make both places gray instead of one good but bad and the other totally bad.

Forgive me if this is not current thinking on Noxus. Story discussions don't get moved to the front page of Boards a lot.

Anyway, I've been reading a bunch of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels lately, and I think the good side of Noxus is Ankh-Morpork. Ankh-Morpork is a city dominated by the physically and mentally strong, but where a sort of equilibrium has been reached. Assassins and thieves have their own guilds, but the guilds have standards, and police themselves. People can insult the Patrician's mother and not be forced to die in a duel. Nobody disallows Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler from selling his world-famous (almost deadly) sausages, and against all odds, he actually does sell them. In other words, Ankh-Morpork may be a city where the powerful thrive, but so can everyone else, in their own way.

So what do you think? Am I trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist? Is this the wrong solution to one that does? Are there other ideas for what makes Noxus a great empire (to live in, not just to fight for) in its own right?

Thanks for reading!

43 Comments

Ralanr10/12/2015, 1:07:41 AM7 votes

From what I gather when I look at Noxus's "The strong rule above all" philosophy, I see the magic colors black, green, and a smudge of white.

Black: Noxus is nothing if not pragmatic and amoral. They do not bind themselves to any ethical code beyond "strength above all". This means Noxus is willing to allow people to rise through the ranks by merit of accomplishment rather than birth. Swain is the best example of this, he was nothing and now he's the leader of Noxus. No one knows anything about his past, and while they may be suspicious of his crow and magical abilities, his results are good enough to let him take hold of command.

Green: Darius became captain after executing his cowardly leading officer and leading a charge to gain victory in a losing battle. He was nothing more than a street urchin with only a little brother as family. Now he's one of the highest ranking members of Noxus due to his determination and Noxus's acceptance of the strong over the weak. He is the best embodiment of green for Noxus, at least over Swain (though to be honest, both Swain and Darius are Black/Green).

White:, "Blood for Noxus" Katarina is born from the noble class, but rather than benefits of such birth she had responsibilities. Only the strong can rule in Noxus, only the strong push Noxus forward. Her backstory showcased the mistake of putting individual desires over professionalism, killing a high ranking demacian commander instead of the captain she was ordered to kill. Doing so lead to the deaths of many noxians, a failure she made quick to fix by killing her target while she had the disadvantage. Which is where she got her scar. That day she learned that Noxus comes first and her personal desires come second, she doesn't shed blood for herself but for Noxus and Noxus alone.

Noxus values the strong so much that they will accept it from anyone. Whether you had no name like Swain , were an orphan like Darius , or born of nobility like Katarina . There are no free rides in Noxus, you do or you die.

That is the good of Noxus. They will accept you as long as you prove yourself. Demacia on the other hand is less forgiving, focusing more on honor as we have seen from Fiora 's new lore. While Noxus is Black/Green/White, Demacia is White/Blue/Red.

If I had to pick champions from Demaica to best represent those colors, I'd pick Fiora or XinZhao for white, JarvanIV or Quinn for blue, and Garen for red. I don't consider Kayle as a part of Demacia yet, I'm waiting for how Riot molds her into the faction.

XIII Vanitas10/12/2015, 2:10:59 PM4 votes

I wouldn't say Demacia is authoritarian. It's just a constitutional monarchy that rules through the support of many noble families. The key words are justice, order, and honor. Noxus had a similar form of government and similar rules, but the monarchy and the noble families lost their power when Swain 's dictatorship was created by Leblanc 's Black Rose. Strength, pride, and nationalism are the new key words for Noxus.

NullDragon10/13/2015, 4:22:15 AM3 votes

Fiora lore shows the contrast of the darker side of Demacia. Extreme sexism, death before dishonor, and partly the importance over status and glory over true strength.

Ironically, Fiora would likely do very well for herself in Noxus. Proving herself through strength, even if it's a ritualized strength that has a time and a place to be shown.

Shénzhì10/13/2015, 6:34:50 PM2 votes

Colors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyzC_ULP6GI

FlashNeko10/13/2015, 1:45:01 AM2 votes

I kinda feel like you could use Riven and Sion as examples of the two utmost extremes of what Noxian philosophy represents.

Riven : Is the utmost example of Noxus' "softer" side. Strength is a mark of pride and responsibility, only meant to be wielded against others of equal or greater strength or when one needs to defend themselves against aggression. The weak are something that must be molded and guided but never abused as bullying the weak is a sign of weakness itself. In turn the weak either become strong as well or peacefully stay out of the strong's way.

Sion : One of his lines sums it all up. "Slay the strong, TRAMPLE THE WEAK!" If you don't meet a certain baseline of strength, then you don't deserve to exist and the strong will take care of that just by existing around you and wiping you out in the course of their duties. It doesn't matter if you resist or if you run, eventually, you will be tried, you will be tested and on that day you will either live as a strong warrior... or die whimpering like a coward.

Shénzhì10/12/2015, 12:20:31 PM2 votes

I imagine early Noxus stemmed from brutality and brawn. A group of exiled early Demacians that have settled to create a location later named Noxus. These settlers may have been subject to early Demacian law, which may have been exceedingly poor and inefficient at the time. Imagine a vote of the people to decide what justice should be. Well, maybe these group of settlers were subject to the immediate public chants to "Behead the villain!", "Lock them up!", and so-on, but not without contest of these first few.

I guess these settlers were Demacian exiles who accepted banishment (much to Fiora's recent and new lore update). As a band of exiles who knows what happened between them. We can assume ideas formed like 'survival of the fittest' and 'power over politics' more or less reflecting Sion. 'Slay the strong. Tremble the weak'. The weak are used to pillar the strong and constitute a nationalist culture. An outspoken extreme minority (the strong) will manipulate the adherent majority (the weak). This Noxus place may have become well-known neighbouring location for Demacian exiles, and so more may have migrated over years which eventually written 'destroy Demacia' into Noxus' agenda. Like a social phenomena of human psyche, the thought of Demacia may provoke Noxians at this point in time. Warmongering may have escalated from there if not before. It may even be Demacia who subject their whole civilization to an unending conflict with Noxus by simply disliking Noxus being too close to their expansion efforts decades later.

The softer side of Noxus could be difficult to comprehend .. unless you put yourself into the mind of Sion or Swain. It would not be 'soft' but rather 'pliable'.

Hm...

DragonShea10/12/2015, 1:11:19 PM2 votes

Well For one I think that the only ones In Noxus that have a soft side is: Darius , Draven , Katarina , Cassiopeia . Family relations is a big matter in Noxus. Pre-Swain. Borham Darkwill was the boss and he was a long lived dumbass that allowed a twisted parody of Demacia to rise in his rule. With social class, riches and political power being the core of Noxus while using those that believe in the old philosophy to be used as cannon fodder.

Noxus Needed to Two kind of Champions. One capable to manipulating the Ruling class from within, and one on the Outside that could remind Noxians of the old Philosophy of strength. Swain and Darius are the ones that were needed for Noxus reform. The question is however: What is Swains Noxus like? if it to Darius's liking? Or has LeBlanc replaced one ruler with another? Because I have always seen Noxus as a place that values the strong and training those with potential, and not those with brute strength. But any kind of strength, I.E. Living in Noxus requires you to be a born badass. As Harsh as it would have been to live there at least they would want the best for their citizens and also force them to have an high work ethic. Darkwill's Noxus was one that subjected the weak and abused the strong. Hell, Sion was not given rest while if Darius was in charge he would have objected, in fact is one of the things that he is afraid of, becoming another SIon.

So with Noxus being such hardasses. It's rare but possible that Noxus have a nice side to them. But since Swain was allied with the black Rose and they have been allied with Darkwill in the past. It's Hard to say if Swain is a going to be a good ruler or not.

Sincarnation10/13/2015, 9:30:55 PM1 votes

Personally I see Demacia and Noxus as a sort of Bant (Blue White Green) vs Jund thing (Black Red Green)

I think the ability for ANYONE to rise in Noxus is the "softer side". Noxus should never be soft, but it should/does have its advantages/allures. A social darwinistic meritocracy would be a boon for the confident and hopeful. Even some Demacians might question whether it is better to toil your life away for assured lower mediocrity strictly because of your birth or if one should put their life on the life competing with others for a life of grandeur.

I think you are looking at Noxus wrong by describing it as strictly bad, its a place were law has nowhere near as much influence as strength. Its different, not necessarily bad.