Epsilucia

> "*An Epsilucian never forgets kindness he has received, nor wrongs he has suffered.*"
> ― Epsilucian proverb
>
>

## Epsilucia / Häpsiluuki

### Ethnicity

Predominantly Epsilucian along the coasts, overwhelmingly Häpsiluukian in the interior, small Ruawi Orcish populations in the north-west

### Religion

Orthodox Christian majority with small but notable Elvetan, Ettimenkian and Geranite minorities

Epsilucia is a country within the Nesarian Empire, known for being the coldest, rainiest and most mountainous. Its head of state is the King, and its national animal is the Bear.

Epsilucia is an Elvic nation, though it is typically regarded as the least Elvicised of all Elvic nations, retaining its native culture almost entirely intact. Only a slim majority of the populace natively speaks Elvic Epsilucian as their first language, and there are very few ethnically Elvish colonists compared to Avamorica.

The name Epsilucia is the Elvicised form of Häpsiluuki, the name that the native Epsilucians give to the country. The "Häpsi" component almost certainly derives from the legendary ancient founder of the Häpsiluukian nation from the Titanic period, King Häpsen, a name which remains fairly common to this day (though it is usually in an Elvicised form, typically either Apsen or Epsen). The origin of the "luuki" component, though, is debated. Some scholars believe that it is a loanword from some precursor language which has been frozen in time, meaning "kin" or "family" (compare to modern Häpsiluukian *lokke*, "family", and Walmóricíngas *loce*, "child"), whereas others believe it is a corrupted form of the Häpsiluukian word *luok*, meaning "mountain"; specifically a mountain with sheer slopes, which are common in Epsilucia.

Epsilucia stands as the only Imperial Country to have a definite Christian majority. Elvetan missionary efforts had long been fruitless beyond the Elvish colonies themselves, with even Elvicised Epsilucians often sticking to their ancestral faith, typically Ettimenko, but the Christian missions proved to be exceptionally successful at converting both Epsilucians and Häpsiluukians. Although exact statistics are difficult to come by, it is known that by the turn of the 15th century, the Christian majority was well-established, and Christianity was embraced as the state religion in 1522 by King Miklas, successfully surviving through the tribulations of Emperor Athdus V's anti-Christian legislation. The most obvious sign of Epsilucia's strong Christian heritage is the colossal twin statues of Archangels Michael and Gabriel guarding the main gate of the capital city of Mikelatti, Michael standing on the right and Gabriel on the left, clad fully in plate armour and wielding halberds.

The modern state of Epsilucia originates as a colonial territory of Saveria, which eventually achieved independence from its mother country. However, unlike Avamorica, which waged open war upon Saveria to gain independence, the colony of Epsilucia (which at the time did not consist of all of modern Epsilucia, only most of the coast) was invaded and overrun at some time between 200 and 190 BC by King Valtes of the Hapattonen dynasty, a noble house which had been fully Elvicised but remained politically separate from the colonies. King Valtes moved his court to the ruins of the ancient great city of Mikelatti and declared himself the King of All Epsilucia, proceeding to begin a campaign to conquer the entire country which was fulfilled by his descendants. Mikelatti was rebuilt into a thriving city, and the Hapattonen dynasty remains on the throne to this day. Whilst King Valtes Hapattonen was the founder of modern Epsilucia, he was not the first to be named as King of All Epsilucia; that honour belongs to the mythical hero Kehi Pinkblood.

## Geography

Epsilucia is the most mountainous country in the Empire, which leads a great accumulation of clouds, making Epsilucia the coldest and rainiest country of the Empire despite not being the southermost country (which is Sevaliara). What little land there is available for large-scale crop cultivation is situated almost entirely along the coastline; the green spaces of the interior are given up to livestock, primarily sheep and cows, as the land is either too uneven or not fertile enough to support crop farms. Trihorns are only raised along the coast, as the interior does not support plentiful enough vegetation to sustain their large appetite.

The tallest mountains, in the interior and towards the north, are usually capped with snow all year round, and snow is certain to cover the peaks of the other mountains in winter. The snow-melt creates many small streams all across the country, flowing through the great multitude of valleys, sustaining small but dense patches of forest. Due to the isolated nature of each river valley, cut off from the rest of the country by sheer mountainous slopes, each forest in each valley commonly holds unique subspecies of creatures or different species entirely.

### Worldpeak Mountain

The tallest mountain in Epsilucia, which is also the tallest mountain on the Inecurian continent, is named Worldpeak Mountain, situated in the north near the border with Keloruela and Roulonne. Worldpeak Mountain stands at 5824 metres (19,108 ft) above sea level, jutting out from the surrounding mountains rather substantially; the tallest nearest peak, which is also the second-tallest in Inecuria, stands at 5691 metres (18,671 ft), 133 metres (436.4 ft) shorter.

Worldpeak Mountain draws tourists for its size alone, but it is a significant attraction for its other highly unique trait - that it is not a true mountain at all, not comprised of stone from the Earth's crust, but is instead a colossal diamond formation roughly in the shape of a mountain, undoubtedly magical in origin. Although only the few hundred metres of the crystal which jut out from the surrounding mountains is visible, the true size of the crystal is estimated to be significantly larger, reaching down to as much as six kilometres below sea level - meaning that the total height of the crystal is at least 11,824 metres (38,793 ft).

Samples taken from the crystal show that it is mostly pure, but it contains small amounts of boron - giving it a slightly blue tint - and trace amounts of lonsdaleite, which has the same chemical composition as diamond but has a hexagonal atomic structure, making it harder. The slight chemical and structural impurities mean that it is not wholly transparent, but one can still see through it for a significant distance, as much as 60 metres in places.

Scholars theorise that Worldpeak Mountain - that is, the crystal - was created during the Age of Titans to be some kind of magical energy storage, as it clearly contains a circuit of the Magestream within it, causing it to faintly glow. This glow is barely visible in modern times, only faintly detectable during dark nights, but was significantly stronger before magic disappeared in the 12th-13th century and during the magical revival of the Civil War, when it was said that one could see the glow even in daylight, and on dark nights the glow would illuminate the entire mountain range, visible from the lowlands below. Mages who went to Worldpeak Mountain were able to summon more powerful magic, particularly when at the peak, and they reported feeling a distinct tingling sensation and a rush of energy.

## Auleveau

The north-east of Epsilucia, in the panhandle directly south of Keloruela, is home to the country of Auleveau, known to the Häpsiluukians as Älevas and the Epsilucians as Oleva. Compared to the cold land of Epsilucia, Auleveau is warmer, but no less rainy. Auleveau as a nation is linguistically and culturally distinct from Epsilucia, sharing a common linguistic heritage with the Roulonnaise, and the majority of native Aulevoise are Geranite. However, Aulevoise are a minority in their own homeland due to centuries of Epsilucian rule and migration, and the fact that almost the entirety of their nation was exterminated during the War for the World, leaving a tiny and cautious population - which, according to contemporary sources, consisted of merely four families - which was never able to recover its place in its home country.

Auleveau remains sparsely populated, with most of its population living along the coast and very little in the interior of the country, in the place known as the Valley of Bones. Despite the welcoming temperate environment of the Valley of Bones, with plenty of freshwater and protected from the cold southern winds by the mountains that surround it, few settlers have ventured into it since it was rendered virtually lifeless by the Cosmovores. The place has attained something of a cursed status in local folklore, as it is not only the grave of the nation of Auleveau - said to be haunted by the spirits of the slain civilisation - but it is also the resting place of a vast unknown Titan, whose bones fossilised into rock in some places (and are still visible) and rotted away to fertilise prosperous forests in others. The Valley of Bones was designated as a nature reserve in 1937 by Emperor Adrion, legally prohibiting development within it and protecting the unique ecosystem which has developed during the two thousand years it has been left to grow by itself.

## Aristocratic Culture and Hierarchy

Epsilucia's culture, both historically and in the modern day, is steeped in the tradition of aristocratic nobility and an essentially feudal hierarchy based on blood and dynastic ties. Although many historical societies across Inecuria are academically described as "feudal", Epsilucia fits this description the most closely of all, functioning in a manner virtually identical to the feudal systems of medieval Europe.

### Feudal Classes

Each class of traditional the traditional Epsilucian hierarchy has its own role to play in society, and they are almost invariably based upon blood rather than wealth or merit - it was and is rare for families or individuals to move between classes. The classes, from lowest to highest, are as follows:

* **Penhekat** (singular **Penheka**) - literally translated as "bound-men", but may also be interpreted as "serf" or "thrall". This class no longer exists, and was abolished by King Miklas in 1522, alongside his declaration that Christianity was the new state religion. *Penhekat* were not the property of their masters and were not slaves - this was the case even before the strongly anti-slavery Elvic civilisation settled into the land - but they were indentured servants bound to work for the lord which ruled over them, with very limited rights. They could not choose which work they performed (though the lord was expected to take their preferences into consideration), could not travel without permission, could not possess weapons without permission, and had to have their marriages approved by their lord. *Penhekat* could be freed from their indentured servitude to move up a class by their lord, but this was not common.
* **Sanhekat** (singular **Sanheka**) - literally translated as "free-men", corresponding to the class of free peasants in medieval European society. This makes up the vast majority of Epsilucians today, and comprised roughly 2/3 of the common (i.e. non-noble) folk prior to the abolition of the *Penhekat*. *Sanhekat* are entirely free, entitled to all the rights which are not reserved solely for nobles. They are permitted to possess swords, but cannot openly carry them as this right is reserved for the higher classes.
* **Helriki** (singular **Helrik**) - literally translated as "house-warriors", this class originated simply as the household bodyguards of nobility but over time developed into a distinct hereditary semi-noble warrior class. They can be equated with medieval European knights or housecarls. *Helriki* are dedicated to war, historically serving as the elite warriors of the noble dynasties and in modern times they are greatly overrepresented in the Imperial Armed Forces as well as the Epsilucian police service. *Helriki* are permitted to openly carry swords, but importantly their swords are only permitted to have a plain round pommel - pommels decorated with family symbols or inlaid with gems are reserved for the nobility.
* **Kavat** (singular **Kava**) - this refers to any non-royal nobility - i.e. any noble holding a title that is not a kingdom. Within the *Kavat* there is two sub-classes, who both have the same rights and privileges but simply differ in material power. The first is the *Sokavat* (singular *Sokava*), which literally translates as "low-kava(t)" but more loosely means "count", which falls beneath the rule of the second, the *Laikavat* (singular *Laikava*), which literally translates as "high-kava(t)" but more loosely means "duke" or "earl". *Kava* dynasties are presided over by the *Etsa* (Patriarch), the chief man of the dynasty, a position which is inherited from father to son, but if a deceased *Etsa* has no heirs then it passes to the oldest man in the dynasty. If there are no viable male candidates - due to none of them being fit or willing to take the position - it is possible (but extremely rare) for a *Kava* dynasty to be presided over by a *Seletsa* (Matriarch). *Seletsa* is also the title given to the wife of the *Etsa*.
* **Aluuni** (singular **Aluun**) - the original meaning of this referred to any sovereign noble ruler who did not owe allegiance to a higher ruler, but it has since taken on the meaning of royalty, i.e. a noble dynasty holding a kingdom title. Historically, prior to the unification of Epsilucia, there were several of these, but now only one dynasty - House Hapattonen - holds the rank of *Aluun*. The *Etsa* of an *Aluun* dynasty is, obviously, the *Aluuka* (King), but in the rare case a woman comes to the head of the dynasty, it is ruled over by a *Seluuka* (Queen).

### Elvicised Class Names

The native Häpsiluukian names for the feudal classes are in common usage, but those speaking Elvic Epsilucian use the Elvic variants. Some of these are Elvic adaptations of the native words made to fit into Elvic phonology, and others are direct translations.

* **Penecce** (singular **Peneca**) corresponds to **Penhekat**
* **Sanecce** (singular **Sanece**) corresponds to **Sanhekat**
* **Elricce** (singular **Elrica**) corresponds to **Helriki**
* **Socave** (singular **Socava**) corresponds to **Sokavat**
* **Fadene** (singular **Fadena**) corresponds to **Laikavat** - this is a translation rather than an adaptation
* **Fadú** corresponds to **Etsa**, and **Fadia** to **Seletsa**
* **Redase** (singular **Redas**) corresponds to **Aluuni** - this is a translation rather than an adaptation
* **Redú** corresponds to **Aluuka**, and **Redia** to **Seluuka**

## Government

Epsilucia's government has changed very little in the millennia it has existed, undergoing no reforms as a result of the Bloodless Revolution and only briefly transitioning to a republic following the Treaty of Haguun before the feudal monarchy was restored in a coup merely two weeks later. Epsilucia's head of state and government is the *Aluuka*, the King, a position which is inherited according to the standard succession rules for Epsilucian nobility; the eldest male child of the deceased *Aluuka* becomes the new *Aluuka*, and if none are available then the oldest male in the dynasty becomes *Aluuka* instead. If there are no men in the dynasty willing or able to take the crown, first the female children of the *Aluun* are looked to and then the oldest women in the dynasty, and they are then crowned as the *Seluuka*, the Queen.

Aluuka is split into several layers of administrative divisions. Immediately below the *Aluuka* rules the *Laikavat* (singular *Laikava*), roughly corresponding to Dukes, who govern a portion of territory directly and additionally rule over a small group of *Sokavat* (singular *Sokava*), roughly corresponding to Counts, who again govern some territory directly and preside over a group of *Vaseikat* (singular *Vaseika*), a title translating to Mayor, peasants elected to govern individual towns and cities who are the only democratically chosen and non-noble rulers in the Epsilucian hierarchy.

Although the more liberal-minded Epsilucians grumble at the lack of democratic representation in the upper echelons of the state, most Epsilucians are content with this ancient system, as it enables them to have a say in local issues which directly concern them whilst also making use of the long-term stability inherent to hereditary monarchies. This system is also romanticised to a great degree in Epsilucian culture, leading the people to dismiss inefficiencies present in the system due to its cultural value.

The feudal nature of the Epsilucian form of government was directly inherited from the pre-Elvic traditions, and indeed virtually all of the ruling aristocratic houses have native Häpsiluukian origins. The Elvish invaders were happy to fit into the political tradition of stratified hereditary rulership and integrated themselves into it.