FEATURE ARTICLE

The Ronduin Government System

      From the Kingdom’s monarchy to the theocracy of Humontis, Naruta has displayed a wide variety of different political systems. However, perhaps none are quite so unique as that of Ronduin and the Parent of Waters.

      The tradition of naming the leader of Ronduin began in the nation’s founding. The first true nation held more than simply the Water types, but it was clear from the beginning that they would be the dominating, ruling element until the others could find their own homes. Since the founding took place quickly, the direct descendants of Retwa and Water were still alive, albeit now greatly aged. It was their sage advice that the people answered to. While these early elders could not be called leaders in the sense that they were given a formal office, they guided the fledgling nation into a healthy, safe place to live. It was with great affection that many of the citizens – who were often in some way related to these founders – referred to them as their ‘mothers’ and ‘fathers’. It was agreed that Ronduin would continue to function under the guidance of their most direct descendants, as often their sound advice was passed on to these children.

All went well for a time until after the war of Love and Evil. The war had changed many people, for now there was a definite mingling of intents. The current leader, a Father of Ronduin, was not greatly trusted by the people. His forebears had been split during the war – one branch of his family tree black with evil, the other still pure with love. The fears of the nation were confirmed when he began to make strange, radical decrees, both to solidify his own comfort and power and those of his pomp, noble allies. Civil war broke out, short but violent, and Ronduin found itself bereft of both a leader and most of the upper class caste.

A brave woman by the name of Starstream Paschel, who had spearheaded much of the revolution, gathered her countrymen together and gave a rousing speech, declaring that all men and women should be equal – for was that now how the Ronduin of old had been ruled? While some people may have more than others, we were all people, all with common heritage. “Give what you can, for it may have been you begging in the streets for food were it not for the whims of Etaf.”

She went on to say that who better would know the plight of the people but the people themselves? A man or woman ruling was a fine thing if they understood the needs of the common man, but that open-mindedness deteriorated over the generations as the special treatment afforded to nobility eroded away their morals and any good intentions. It should be the people leading the people.

However, this radical change wasn’t accepted as well as she’d hoped. People agreed that there had to be some change, but they still belived strongly that good blood beget good blood. Many also wanted to avoided the power struggles and backstabbing politics that was observed in other countries. The people chose Starstream to be their next Mother, but she promised to try to find some compromise before her death.

Starstream went on to have a legitimate son by her husband, but then a second in secret with a lover she’d taken. Ashamed of her weakness, she hid her pregnancy and when the child was born, gave him away to some commoner friends of hers, hoping they would raise him well.

      Twenty years later, a storm kiled Starstream and her family – a part of the then-palace had crumbled, already weakened, and the result caused the roof to collapse, crushing the entire ruling family. Lost, confused, and unsure of what to do with themselves, the people of Ronduin struggled to find some way to cope with the abrupt power vacuum. It was then that the boy’s foster parents came and revealed his true identity to the nation. The people were overjoyed that they could still have their ruler, and it was decided to immediately make the man, Rain, was made Father.

Though this twist of fate could have spelled disaster – for Rain had no knowledge of his heritage until after his family had died, and had no real idea of how to rule a nation – everything turned out splendidly well. Though he was a relucant Father, he was a kind and understanding man and ruler. He understood perfectly the needs of the people, just as his mother had. His unique upbringing allowed him insights that his mother had not, simply by virtue of having been raised by a different family. The people praised him and called him the finest Father they had ever had since the early days of the nation.

Realizing that it had been his isolation in peasantry that allowed him to know his people as well as he did, it was Rain that was able to fulfill the promise of his estranged mother. When he in turn had his own heir, he announced his intentions to the realm.

Though he loved his daughter dearly, he and his wife agreed that if the people continued to insist on a type of monarchy, then in order to secure the safety of the people, his daughter would live amongst them, a peasant, her identity sealed away from her as it had been for himself. The people took his sacrifice to heart and his daughter became well cared for. Though all were careful to keep the truth of her identity from her, she never truly went wanting while remaining unspoiled for nobody wanted to disturb the precious peace that Ronduin was experiencing by corrupting its future.

And so the tradition continued, for each time it had been tried and tested true. Though more precautions had been added to keep the purity of the heir untainted, it continues much the same to this day.