Helmia

The country of Helmia is a secular and multi-ethnic country located in the continent of **Gezelim** on the Central Regions in Trapcraft, and sits between the two large straits, **Xlonaga Strait** and the **Strait of Rio Grande**, bordering the countries of **Xlonokarta** and **Mexico** respectively. Established in 1904, it is a nation of rich history, one of the highly developed nations, with the majority of its citizens believing in **Konosim** and is known for their love of purple colors and their bureaucratic/technocratic approach towards politics.

tbc summarize history

## Map

### Form of Government

Triarchy
Elective
Technocratic

**Supreme Chancellor**
Supreme Chancellor Soupious

**Chancellor(s)**
Kentut
Gilbertus

### Population

**Estimate**
85,000,000

### Religion(s)

Konoism (96%)
Junai-Sigmaism (3%)
Christianity (1%)

### Ethnic Groups

Lotusian
Geugan
Ayanamian
Opslaani
Others

### Language(s)

**Standard**
Helmic

**Recognized**
English

### Demonym(s)

Helmian
Helmic
Helmysian

## **Etymology**

The word "Helmia" was derived from the late 19th century by the **Helm Coalition** during the **Axonopus Civil War**, which resulted in the victory of the Helm coalition (the Helms) and later establishing their own state and it would be named *Helmia*.

Though, quite a lot of Helmian historians claim that the name Helmia came from the **Ayanamian** word "*Helim*" which roughly translates to turtle shell. This would symbolize the Helmian lands as a protector from harm. It could also be that the word used by the Helm coalition during the civil war to symbolize their determination to protect the legacy of the **Kono** and their nation.

## **History**

### **Mythical origins**

The helmysian plains used to be ruled by the ancient 4 major clans, namely the **Ayanamia**, **Lotus**, **Geug**, and **Xlono** during 2000-1000 BCE which lasted a millennium. It is mythically believed to be that the 4 clans started with 4 brothers who divided up their father's realm during a scuffle after the death of **Allfather Lisius** according to the ancient folk-religion of **Lisium**. Many speculate the beginnings of the 4 kingdoms since not much is known, but recent archeological excavations suggests otherwise and their confirmed reign of a thousand years.

**[INSERT MAP OF 4 KINGDOMS PERIOD]**

### **Early dynastic rule**

According to Helmic tradition and historians, the first dynasty that unified the 4 clans of the land was the **Kogon** **Dynasty** which became prominent during the 950 BC - 750 BC. The Kogon dynasty was established when the kings of the four clans (**Ayanamia**, **Lotus**, **Geug**, and **Xlono**) came to terms to form one single alliance/confederation and end the ancient-old rivalry between the four. It was a historical feat, as the lands were no longer divided, and quite possibly the first of its kind. This event is known as the *Ikigus* (One Land). To ensure fairness, the **Kogon Empire** was ruled in *fours*, forming a *tetrarchy* and a council. For the 10th century BC, this was quite an odd form of government and a one of a kind system of rule not found anywhere else.

**[MAP OF THE KOGON EMPIRE AND LIUSIUM RUINS]**

The successor of the Kogon Empire was marked by the eldest of the imperial council, *Hux the First*, finally taking the step to rule as Emperor and came the **Kithirin Dynasty**. The coronation of **Hux** & **Lilia** marked the start of the Kithirin Dynasty, where Hux declared himself emperor and Lilia as empress. The Kithirin empire lasted for about 300 years around the 749-400 BC. Under Hux's rule, he brought peace, stability, order, and the formation of a central government along with an autocratic rule.

Under Hux, the tetrarchy as well as the council was disbanded by force. Consequently, the Kithirin Empire grew powerful and wealthy, however there were problems with exercising of the emperor's rule in territories who disagreed with the new state of things, coupled with warlords. Taxation was used, and documents were revealed that the Kithirin Empire had ministers and officers who operated in all forms of societal tasks which all reported directly to the emperor.

**[INSERT MAP OF KITHIRIN EMPIRE GREATETS EXTENT]**

#### **The Kithirin Empire and The Arrival**

Towards the end of the Kithirin Empire around the 450 BC, the empire experienced a golden age of science, wealth, and a flourishing of a new religion, **Konoism**. Kono-theologists and historians believe that this was the time when the divine prophet **Erru** descended to Earth from the stars along with two companions, **Saint Semon** and **Saint Garr**, and settled in the island. In Konoism this event is called **The Arrival**. These holy beings called themselves the messengers of Kono, and were revered for their scientific knowledge and divine presence, which later they would be worshipped as a god altogether by humans. These three resided in the island for about 2 years, before departing in their *heavenly carriage* towards the stars. Afterwards, this sparked a new birth of science, architecture, and astronomy. The emperor heavily funded intellectuals and astronomers to research about the stars and the foretold planet of paradise, **Planet Klepton**.

**[INSERT ERRU ILLUSTRATION]**

Towards the 400 BC however, the empire's golden age would slowly crumble due to tensions between Lisium followers and Konoist followers. The empire at long last fell to chaos and civil war which tore the empire apart religiously. The emperor chose the side of the Konoists, which prove to be a fatal mistake as he along with many other royal members were burnt on stakes and beheaded. The royal palace and several Konoist libraries were burnt by the Lisium followers. The Konoists remained in the south, while the majority Lisium clans and warlorlds remained in the north. With the death of the emperor, thus marked the fall of the **Kithirin Empire** and began the **Helmian Dark Ages**.

**[INSERT BURNT KONOIST RELIGIOUS BOOKS]**

### **Helmian dark ages**

The helmian dark ages began in 399 BC after the golden age sparked by the religious knowledge of the Konos crumbled which resulted in the fall of the Kithirin Dynasty, which resulted in three seperate kingdoms.

1. **Kingdom of Naperi**
2. **Kingdom of Vetiver**
3. **Kingdom of Fescues**

The Naperi in the north adhered to Lisium teachings, and despised the Konoists, seeing them as devil worshippers and their god, Kono, as a dangerous influence to their traditional way of life. The Fescues to the south adhered to Konoist teachings, and they escaped with the remains of what scientific material they had left recovered from the golden age such as books, inscriptions, drawings, astrological materials, etc. and continued working on them (albeit very little) as well as deepening religious studies of Konoism. The Vetiver Kingdom to the east was mainly neutral, they had a mix of both Lisiums and Konoists which made their kingdom quite unstable. Nonetheless, their King Hafizh, wished no more conflict and tried his best to keep his kingdom together despite the religious rivalry.

The helmian dark ages is characterized by the lack of societal development throughout 399 BC to 1312 AD. Historians cite this as the most depressing period in Helmian history, in the sense that they were not moving forward technologically nor were they advancing significantly in science for centuries. Kings and Queens came and went, warlords would have scuffles near the borders between Fescues and Naperi from time to time, but no real significant large-scale battles occurred. This dull period ended when in 1312 AD the renaissance began, which became known as **Konossance** in modern times, meaning "Konoist Rebirth".

**[INSERT MAP OF DARK AGES HELMIA]**

#### **Konossance**

The **konossance** was a historical event and transformation which rebirthed the old golden age of the **Kithirin** and studied more deeply about the Kono's scientific knowledge, which then paved way for new developments in architecture, music, science, philosophy, and the arts. The konossance was believed to have started in the Fescues Kingdom during the year 1312 when the **Fescues kingdom** began growing economically by participating in maritime trade with other kingdoms along the mexican channel. Since then, it grew rich, unlike it's two other sibling kingdoms where Vetiver still struggled with control and governance, while the Naperi thought outside influence along with science would corrupt their traditional way of life so the king closed off his kingdom to the outside.

The konossance was highly influential and would spread rapidly throughout the world, sharing their knowledge with the rest of the world mostly through trade. Mexican kingdoms to the west, kingdoms to the east, and even as far as modern day Bubahbog, they would adopt their own konossance teachings and help boost the development of arts, philosophy, religion, architecture, sciences, and many other fields. Contrary to popular belief, the religion of **Konoism** itself did not spread very well, rather, it was the scientific teachings found during the Kithirin golden age that spread where other countries worldwide would learn from and adopt.

**[INSERT KONOSSANCE ART]**

#### **1st Aztec-Helmian war**

In 1509, the Aztec Empire was a growing superpower with a vast empire stretching through the entire Aztec ocean and has colonies, trading posts, and checkpoints throughout different coastlines. The aztecs were expanding their empire and sets it eyes south to invade the **Kingdom of Naperi**. The battle lasted one year from 1509-1510, and the Aztec's managed to capitulate and bring the downfall of the Naperi, they were no match against the Aztec naval and land armies.

**[INSERT 1ST AZTEC HELMIAN WAR MAP]**

The downfall of the Naperi brought about an alarming panic all over the two remaining kingdoms, most notably Fescues. They saw the aztecs as a threat to their kingdom as well as their expansion. With the Naperi's collapse, the king of Fescues issued a decree that he will not rest until the aztecs had been banished out of the island, he promised to liberate the island and unite it once and for all. In 1512, Fescues amassed an army of 45,000 ready to march and fight the Aztecs. In a series of wars, the Fescuesian army managed to take back the northern lands, the aztecs were not expecting a retaliation and fierce armies from the kingdoms they assumed were "weak". A treaty was signed in the city of Morte, recognizing the surrender of the aztec armies putting an end to the 1st aztec-helmian war in the **Treaty of Morte** of 1515, though the Aztecs managed to regain control of the **Diomede Islands**.

**[MAP OF TREATY OF MORTE]**

#### **Konoist Restoration**

Upon the victory of the Fescues over the Aztecs, Emperor Kusno got cocky and immediately began announcing a "restoration", of taking back and reclaiming the land to revive the legacy of the Kithirin golden age and the Kono, a crusade against the disbelievers. He would begin conscription and developed new weapons, massive cannons, and defenses around his kingdom. His next target was the neighboring Vetiver Kingdom, who had remained neutral throughout its history, now suffer a great risk of invasion. In 1517, Fescues with a massive army of 55,000 marched through Vetiver's capital, thus began the Konoist Restoration. The Vetiver armies did not stand a chance, they surrendered with 15,000 casualties and the Fescues armies paraded all-round the empire for a successful campaign. King Hafizh famously took a cigar made of oranges, grapes, and apples knowing his kingdom's fall was imminent for there was nothing he could do, though this is still highly debated among scholars.

**[IMAGE OF THE HAFIZH CIGAR]**

In the morning of 1520, 3 years after the victory over Vetiver, Emperor Kusno announced that great things are about to happen, and he had ambitious aims for his kingdom to reach great heights. On June 6 1520, the Kusno Dynasty was established.

### **Imperial period**

The Kusno Empire had risen from the Fescues kingdom first kicking the aztecs out of the region, as well as launching konoist crusades against their neighboring kingdom the Vetiver. Emperor Kusno had enacted policies to propel the empire forward and develop it to great heights. He built universities, libraries, restored works, funded many scholars, architects, astronomers, artists, etc. Emperor Kusno's ambitious vision for his empire to be glamorous, grand, and especially an emphasis on the Konoist revival. Especially during the height of the konossance, this period brought about prosperity and new breakthroughs of restoring the golden age. The konossance would soon spread across the world slowly.

**[INSERT IMAGE OF ISHA UNIVERSITY OLDEST UNIVERSITY IN HELMIA BUILT IN 1533]**

#### **Three Years Terror**

On the other side however, Emperor Kusno was ruthless in handling disbelievers. Konoism had become the empire's official state religion, and citizens were required to convert to Konoism in order to gain basic citizen status as well as access to basic facilities. In 1530, a massive protest began criticizing the emperor's policies and discriminating against Lisiums. The royal guards were deployed and killed many of the protesting Lisiums. What followed shortly after was a purge of Lisiums all throughout the empire. The emperor announced that Lisiums are given a chance to convert or be killed. Many, afraid of being prosecuted, converted to Konoism, while the rest who refused to give up their traditional religion dating back centuries were murdered by royal guards. It is estimated that about 1 million - 1.8 million were killed during the purges from 1530 - 1533, famously dubbed the **Three Years of Terror**. Lisiums were practically non-existent at this point in time due after the purges. By the 1600's, the kusno empire began sending missionaries on expeditions and religious missions overseas to spread the teachings of Kono and Konoism. There exists historical records dating back to this period where konoist missionaries travelled as far as the Shwoopty Isles, modern day Grado, Bubahbog, Azerbaijan, Mexico, Xlonokarta, and even Gandaria which was at the time the Maranta Empire. Though most of these expeditions were unsuccessful, as they failed to amass a large following, except in the Draak kingdom and some small Mexican kingdoms. Ibolaza Senayanami, a konoist missionary sent to the Maranta Empire, tells his tales of the vast and flourishing empire of Maranta. There, he writes of his experience and encounters with the Fellers, as well as life in the Maranta Empire during his brief stay from 1610-1618.

**[INSERT MAP OF MARANTA EMPIRE AND KUSNO EMPIRE SIDE BY SIDE, AND PORTRAIT OF IBOLAZA SENAYANAMI]**

Due to the rise of mercantilism, the empire by this time had plans in mind to expand even more and fund expeditions abroad for trading and exploration. The mexican channel was dominated by the Beirea Kingdom in terms of trade, both the Kusno empire and Beirea kingdom had been competing for trade for decades and who controls the sea lanes/resources. **The Helmian West-Novaya Company**, or **Hewes Co.** for short, was established in 1602 and began trading lumber, spices, cattle, fruits, spices, etc. with the Aztec Empire, Sumengxu kingdoms, and the Maranta Empire.

Konoist missionary **Ibolaza Senayanami** and Hewes Co. delegates had famously been granted a plot of land by **Empress Synadrella** of the Maranta Empire in 1615 to conduct their business and set up their own port to operate within the empire in modern day **Brijton**, where the famous Fort Lily was built. This small plot of territory marks the first transcontinental territory and one of the factors that led to colonialism in helmian history.

**[insert image of fort lily]**

#### **2nd Aztec-Helmian war**

The second aztec-helmian war had a few factors leading up to it and was a major turning point for helmia's imperial ambitions. The aztecs had full control of the aztec ocean, and any ship or vessel that needed to pass through them are required to pay a fee/tax to the aztec navy, which the aztecs use as a monopoly on trade routes and maritime control. This raised a problem for Hewes Co. trading ships coming in and out of the Gandaria region, for they had to pay an expensive tax depending on how much goods they had gotten from the Maranta Empire, which would usually cost around 300 - 500 huxings (old helmian currency of copper/silver coins used in the 17th-20th century) which for the time was quite pricey for a tax. Nonetheless, Hewes Co. had to comply and pay up the fees to the Aztec government to avoid scuffles.

Passing through the aztec ocean also had problems of its own, such as bandits and pirates. Since the aztec ocean is important for maritime trade routes, pirates would sometimes launch raids or ransoms ships and vessels or else they would open fire and be sunk. Hewes Co. ships would suffer the fate of getting sabotaged in some occasions but mostly escape alive. The region has become unsafe and unstable, most of the time Hewes Co. ships would return back to the city of **Morte** (now Morte-Karus) with 1/3 of their traded goods gone due to pirates and taxes. This enraged the Kusno Emperor, who sent an ambassador to the aztec monarch to handle the situation of piracy in their waters. Unfortunately, the aztecs declined the offer and chose to do nothing about it. When news came back to helmia, the emperor ordered that every Hewes Co. ship going in and out of the country must be escorted by one battleship from the royal navy to ensure a safe journey.

**[INSERT IMAGES OF SPICES, QUARTZ, MATERIALS, TRADED GOODS ETC.]**

It turns out that the helmians needed to pay an extra of 280 huxings to the aztecs for the battle ship. **Admiral Oeil Namspong Bobbings** had famously pissed on the floor and cursed to the two aztec port guards as well as insulting the aztec emperor upon hearing the extra taxes he would need to pay for his battleship before sailing off back home. Such an act was heavily frowned upon by the aztec guards who later reported it to the authorities, then got heard by the Aztec Emperor. He saw this as a disgrace, and ordered the delivery of cannons and weapons to aztec pirates and gave them an order to shoot down the helmian battleship and loot the goods from the Hewes Co. ship the next time they arrive to collect their goods.

On the eve of February 15th 1620 after the helmian battleship departed from Brijton, they immediately sailed off to the open seas without stopping by the aztec port city of **Veragii** to pay their taxes/fee. This enraged the guards and almost immediately the helmian battleship encountered several dozen pirate ships a few miles off the aztec coast. They all gunned down the battleship, and in a surprise attack they successfully managed to sink helmia's battleship. They looted the goods from the Hewes Co. ship, and the ship escaped the sabotage, returning home empty handed. Admiral Oeil Namspong Bobbings had survived and returned home on the Hewes Co. ship, informing the Kusno Emperor what had happened during their departure. Enraged, the emperor declared war on the aztec empire shortly after.

The 2nd aztec-helmian war was highly emphasized on naval standoff, since at this period in time both nations have caught up to each other, especially for Helmia. Both navies clashed in the Aztec ocean, as Helmian armies successfuly occupy the diomede islands they move onwards towards Donda. The helmian navy was quick and rushing towards donda, but could not shake off the aztecs who were tailing them. Ship after ship, fleet upon fleet, it was the most expensive and costly war yet for these two empires, nearly obliterating more than half of their total naval capacity and power. In the end, the Helmian royal navy got the upper hand when one of their fleets led by Admiral Oeil Namspong Bobbings had managed to distract the aztec fleet guarding Tenochtitlan, while a remaining two fleets hurried and sailed steadfast towards Donda to prepare for a land invasion. The two fleets bombarded the walled defenses of **Veragii**, along with 7,000 soldiers who faced an underprepared aztec army who did not expect the helmians to reach their coast, let alone Donda. The naval battle lasted for weeks, it truly was an arduous standoff, but helmia emerged victorious after capturing Veragii and naval reinforcements came. The aztecs offered a peace treaty for they could not risk the complete annihilation of their naval army, helmia was in a similar situation. The 2nd aztec-helmian war ended on March 4 1623 with the signing of the **Treaty of Veragii**. The aztecs surrendered the province of donda and the diomede islands and needed to start trading with the Hewes Co. more often, as well as pay a huge sum of reparations for the war and the damaged navy.

**[MAP BEFORE & AFTER 2ND AZTEC-HELMIAN WAR]**

The Kusno empire had its first overseas colony of Donda. They called their colony Nieuw-*Anwar* (meaning New Anwar) after their own city back in the mainland. The Kusno empire and it's envoys have been establishing good relations with the **Sikharian Kingdom** in the south of Gandaria, but behind the scenes they were plotting something on a grand scale, something that would both dismantle the Sikharians as well as to allow the Kusno to colonize the entirety of the feller peninsula. Gandaria not being unified, the Kusno saw the opportunity to exert 'law and order' to the region, which was a euphemism for their imperial ambitions. **Hewes Co.** had already been given a small plot of land near the port of **Brijton** where they built a trading outpost and **Fort Lily**, along with storage and a barracks. An economic recession occurred due to the recent war. Instead of handling the economic situation through various policies, the power hungry emperor had plans to militarize and unleash an internal campaign against the Fellers.

#### **Helmian colonization of Gandaria**

* *Main article: **Helmian colonial campaigns in Gandaria***
* *See also: **List of Helmian colonial wars in Gandaria***

A series of campaigns were launched to conquer Gandaria through ethnic division, funding local warlords, and backstabbing diplomacy. There were several of these campaigns that hold major significance.

1. **Iommi-Golas War**
2. **Voronei Subjugation**
3. **Conquest of the Canal**
4. **Operation Oostel**

The **Iommi-Golas War** happened from 1640 to 1641. When the helmians worked together with the various *Iommiite* dukes to stamp out the *Gollite* elves to the west who the Iommians resented. The elven kingdom of *Golas* would occasionally stage raids eastwards towards the Belehett canal which is controlled by the Iommi kingdom. The region holds fertile soil that produces quality agricultural yield, industry, as well as a strategic maritime & economic trade route. The helmians temporarily allied themselves with the Iommians, offering to defend their strategic cities from the Gollites. After the war was over in the spring of 1641, the helmians killed several high ranking generals of the Iommians while looting the very cities that they themselves agreed to "defend and protect". An internal betrayal, riots and infighting erupted throughout the iommian cities. The Iommian duke, **Duke Toniomi**, was killed by his own men as he was being escorted. The aftermath was the military occupation of the coastal iommian cities and forts, along with the installation of a new colony called **Melgeraad** governed by **Viceroy Garfunkus**.

**[insert map of melgeraad]**

The **Voronei Subjugation** was a campaign against the **Gathites** (dwarves) to the west. With the Belehett canal now firmly in the hands of Helmia, they controlled the flow of goods coming in and out of the region. This heavily upset the Gathites, who relied on merchants and goods coming in from the east and transporting them to their own lands. The Gathites had begged countless times to open up routes to the west. The Helmians refused, saying it was a waste of time, since they've got the monopoly on trade now, they were more focused on transporting extracted goods back to Helmia. To makes matters worse, the state of Melgeraad put a tax on dwarf businesses and merchants. Then on 1650, the Gathites launched a war against the helmian client state, Melgeraad, to seize important port cities along the canal to open up trade routes and end Helmian monopoly in the region. They gained major ground, with the dwarves being experienced and skilled warriors. However this wouldn't last long, as the Helmians caught wind of this and began sending reinforcements from their colonies and the mainland. 6000 cannons were deployed, and they made hell, razing the land with fire and blood. It was a victory for the Helmians, and their cavalries were sent off to quickly overrun the Gathite capital **Voronei**. And on 1651, they established another client state, **Midulstaat**, and appointed **Viceroy Moestijn** as their governor.

**[insert map of midulstaat]**

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