THE HELIAN LEAGUE PART I
THE BRIGHT DOMINION
The Helian League is a marvel of structured society and refined governance. It stands as Calad’s dominant naval power and a foremost player in world diplomacy. Their technological advancement and ability to project military force across the globe give them unmatched influence. To outsiders, they are often seen as proud and overbearing. To themselves, they are simply fulfilling the destiny granted by their gods—to bring light to a darkened world.
GEOGRAPHY
The Helrin people rule over southern Helion, their island dominion, which is divided into eight distinct city-states and their protectorates. Though not their ancestral homeland, Helion became a sanctuary during the Age of Dusk. Driven southward by the spreading darkness that claimed the land of the present Sand Kingdoms, the Rin followed a divine vision granted by the Sun Goddess Hiperia to a chosen hero. They reached the sun-kissed shores of Helion—untainted by corruption—and claimed it as their own.
Their cities rise in pale stone and golden-white crystal, flowing seamlessly with natural beauty. Monuments stand tall to commemorate the hero who led them, and the divine providence that saved them.
Helion boasts a temperate climate, especially along its northern coast, which faces the Inner Sea and features safe harbors where its first great cities were founded. These coastal strongholds became hubs of commerce, culture, and defense. The interior is a tapestry of plains and high plateaus ringed by mountains, rich in timber and fertile soil, yet sparsely settled. Sacred temples and hidden sanctuaries lie within these wilds. The southern coastline remains largely unsettled due to cold ocean currents and unpredictable weather.
POLITICS
The Helrin govern Helion through a highly organized League of city-states, each independently ruled but unified under the High Council. The League consists of eight main city-states, with Heliopolis, the radiant capital, standing apart as the autonomous capital. At its heart lies the Citadel, a grand fortress wrapped in alabaster walls and veined with golden crystals. At sunset, these crystals blaze with light, casting a radiant glow as if the fortress is aflame from within.
The High Council includes representatives from each city and the Three Orders: Hireia, Hiperia, and Hairon. Together, the High Council oversees the League’s judiciary system, military, and high policy. Each Order governs its domain independently, yet they maintain a delicate balance of influence across Helion. Every city hosts the Halls of all three Orders, and the ruling House's chosen alignment shapes the city's character.
Day-to-day governance falls to each city's Small Council, composed of its Great Houses and led by the ruling House. These councils manage law enforcement, civil matters, and internal administration.
POPULATION & CULTURE
Helrin cities are divided into two distinct zones: the walled Inner City, reserved for Rin citizens and home to government and temples, and the Outer City, open to foreigners, adventurers, and trade. While Outer Cities bustle with markets and diplomacy, the Inner Cities are known for their cultural prosperity and harmony.
Despite their dominance in leadership and culture, the Helrin make up only one-third of the total population within the League's territories. The remaining populace consists of humans and various species of chimera, colloquially known as beastmen. These groups may be integrated members of the League by choice, or inhabitants of colonies and annexed lands—including regions on Helion, surrounding isles, and even the coastal fringes of the Great Desert. Due to their lower birthrate, the Rin population is much smaller than that of humans—a reality reflected in their urban planning. Helrin typically dwell in walled coastal citadels, while the broader population occupies settlements beyond the walls or deeper within the wilderness of Helion.
Outside the cities, the wilder folk—such as native Chimera—dwell in scattered communities, living apart from the structured order of Helian society.
EDUCATION
Helrin children are required to attend elementalist schools from an early age. During the time they spend in the school, they learn all basic skills and knowledge, and learn to use their elements through spellshaping, the novice form of mana manipulation.
The majority of the citizens have an attunement to fire mana. The ability to command the earth element is extended to a lesser number of Helrin. There are the few who posses the innate connection to divine mana – upon discovery, these are immediately enrolled into the Order of Hiperia.
When the helian children reach the age of 16, they can choose to specialize in a particular field or enroll in a more specialized school, but all must join an Order. Some are automatically enrolled in an Order due to divine blessing, prodigious skills, or lineage, while others choose their path based on ability or inclination. The Temple of Hireia is the preferred choice for further education or career training, with healthcare, social affairs, trade, agriculture, craftsmanship, and artistry being the most common paths. Choosing an Order is a lifelong commitment, but one can later seek occupation in other Orders' fields, free to pursue their chosen path while always having their Order's support.
MILITARY
The Helian League commands the most professional standing military among the four great nations of Calad. At the core of their power is the Expeditionary Force—a highly trained naval force capable of swift engagement both within Helion and across distant shores.
The Expeditionary Force serves not only as a shield of defense but also as a potent tool of diplomacy. It is often dispatched to secure strategic locations, recover arcane relics, or exert pressure on rival nations. These elite forces are the iron fist beneath the velvet glove of the League’s sophisticated diplomacy.
Led by the Grand Admiral, the fleet, adorned with insignia of burning suns, boasts magnificent war galleys made of white oak and clad with gilded plates, reinforced with non-ignitable materials that render them largely impervious to fire. These vessels patrol treacherous waters, often contending with profane sea creatures and hostile forces.
Each ship is accompanied by adept pyromancers and infantry, ensuring the Helian League’s dominance across land and sea alike.
ORDERS OF HELION (OVERVIEW)
The Three Orders represent the ideological backbone of Helian society:
Order of Hireia (Mind): Champions progress, education, and innovation.
Order of Hiperia (Spirit): Guardians of faith, divine law, and sacred tradition.
Order of Hairon (Body): Masters of martial strength and defense.
Each Order operates autonomously yet cooperatively, their Halls anchoring every city state. Together, they form a dynamic political and cultural ecosystem.
To Be Continued in Part II...
