Despotate of Hefflas

## Overview

Hefflas is a Greek themed kingdom (Despotate) headed by a monarch called a Despot. Currently, the Despot is Spinicharios of the Branae Hefflae Dynasty. By his side the army is headed by Polemarchos Herobokos, and the Archiereus Arizonos heads the Cult of Heff.

### Race

The Despotate is home to a sub-race of humans called Heffloi. They are a people with white hair and black eyes and have been around since the gods created them several millennia ago. When it comes to other races in the world of cinder, the Despotate is generally accepting. As long as one is loyal to the Despot, all lay equal before him.

### Culture

Loyalty, Honor, and Discipline; these are the three core values of the Despotate. In Hefflas, one was loyal to the state and always served with honor and discipline, and this would apply to every level. The leaders served to bring salvation to their people, while the people followed the leaders for a better future. This type of cultural belief would allow the Heffloi to forge a great empire, and it would only fall when society became selfish and decadent.

### Religion

The Heffloi people follow in the beliefs and stories of the Cult of Heff. It is a polytheistic faith which worships various gods. The faith is headed by the Archiereus with various personally appointed priests serving as owners of shrines and temples. Each town has a patron god it worships, a priest assigned by the Archiereus, and a temple dedicated to the patron god which the priest runs.

## Basic History

The **Despotate of Hefflas** is an exile state that originated from the Aftokratoria of Hefflas which existed from 234 MA to 0 MA which collapsed due to internal struggle. During this collapse the Aftokros (emperor) Euneos Branaeos Hefflae sent his three sons away with small fleets of followers to find new lands. His last words to them were: "Go my sons, our cities lay razed, our temples crumble into ruins, and our fields lay barren. This land is done for, you three have no future here. Take the last of our ships, your families, your finest men, and set sail. Where the imperial seat falls, three new Despotates will arise and continue the legacy of the hefflites." As the three sons of Euneos would set sail, the gates to the capitol would fall and Euneos would be slain in battle. The current Despotate was founded when the fleet of Spinicharios Branae Hefflae got pulled through a rift at sea and emerged from it off the coast of a new land.

## Government

The **Despotate of Hefflas** is a Feudal Aristocratic Monarchy, meaning that a monarch is at the head of the state and rules along side a council of feudal lords called ekklesiarchs. These ekklesiarchs are ranked as such.

-Town Leader: (Varonos, Koros, Dikastikos, and Archon) Town ranks based on population.

-Doux: Ruler of a Koinon, (duchy/province) which rules over other town leaders.

-Despot: Like a king, a Despot runs a Despotate which consists of various towns and Koinon.

-Aftokros: Emperor tier title, a ruler with various Despots beneath them.

## Post-Arrival History

{1st Day of Spring of year 0 AA Spinicharian} Heffle's Landing

On the first days many hefflic refugees would set up camp on a peninsula called "Heffle's Landing." They would later find out the Shemitians claimed this land but since they never planned to completely settle there they simply mined as many resources as they could from the area and sailed further east.

{3rd Day of Spring of Year 0 AA Spinicharian} Establishment of Branaeos

The capital of the Despotate would be established next to a dacite mountain where Spinicharios would slay a giant cyclopes. The location of the city is right along the Aerizonos River on the Western side of the Zestes Sea.

{5th Day of Spring of Year 0 AA Spinicharian} Establishment of Zhelezo

The second hefflic town of Zhelezo goes up east of Branaeos under the leadership of Invictus Iron Cross.

{7th Day of Spring of Year 0 AA Spinicharian} Establishment of Rikos

The third hefflic town of Rikos goes up north of Branaeos under the leadership of Machaon Baros.

{3rd Day of Summer of Year 0 AA Spinicharian} Establishment of the Khrusos Mining Colony

The fourth hefflic town goes up far south of the homeland in a red desert along the Teloutokosmos River under the leadership of Nikolaos Fotilas. This town functioned as a colonial holding and would ship vast amounts of gold and gems back to the homeland.

{1st Day of Fall of Year 0 AA Spinicharian} Annexation of the Orcs

A clan of Orcs calling themselves the Teren-Kor'Ir Zar clan settled within the territory of the Despotic mining colony. Hearing of this, the Despot Spinicharios sailed down and subjugated the orc settlement. This subjugation was bloodless as the orc leader Zer-Rok felt it was wiser to join the ranks of the Hefflites rather than to oppose them and get kicked out of their new homes.

{7th Day of Fall of Year 0 AA Spinicharian} Founder's Day

After much of the common area was completed the Hefflites decided to throw a feast. During this feast they ate, drank, threw javelins, and sparred. Once every year on the 7th of Fall the Hefflites gather to celebrate their progress and achievements.

{1st Fay of Winter of Year 0 AA) Defensive Pact with the Golden Elves

The leaders of the Elven Diarchy of Kururuk and the Despot met to discuss terms of mutual defense, peace, and trade. Of this a defensive pact was signed along with several trade agreements being made.

{6th Day of Spring of Year 1 AA} Establishment of Steelheart

The dwarven town of Steelheart settles in the northern mountains in the region of Hethos under the leadership of Lorean Steelheart.