Lionhearts

The **Lionhearts** (Euluska: *Lyvretniks* /lʏβ.ˈɾɛt.nɪks/) were a radical left-wing communist and terrorist group from Halcyon in the 250s C. They strove for violent overthrow of the fascist Halcyian regime.

## Ideology

The Lionhearts strived for the establishment of a **classless society without private property**, but they also believed in the need for a **state** in the modern world. They also believed in a **vanguard of the proletariat**, a small ruling revolutionary government as a stepping stone to ease the transition to their goal.

The point about states contradicts traditional definitions of Marxist communism, but the Lionhearts believed that in modern day Indratera, Halcyon would need to affirm itself as a state to protect its people from the threat of invasion or subjugation.

Individual views among the Lyvretniks differed. Some supported the Leninist idea of a proletarian vanguard ruling class. Others also believed that a stateless society would come about inevitably. Regardless, they were all united in their common purpose - to overthrow the Halcyian regime.

## What was the Halcyian Regime Like?

Since the God Wars, Halcyon had crept more and more into the clutches of fascism, with a constitutional traditional monarchy as its crutch. Mages were hunted, arrested, captured, blamed, scapegoated and executed in Halcyon. What began as 'retribution' for the God Wars were used as a tool by the governments and monarchs of the immediate post-Collapse period. This soon became so ingrained in Halcyon's culture, combined with Halcyon's strong reliance on technology, that the city-state's descent into fascism was inevitable and reprehensible.

The government of Halcyon was a bicameral constitutional monarchy, where the monarch held the Divine Right of Veto, but the party that held the majority of elected representatives chose a prime minister and their cabinet for all of the state's running and ruling. Whilst this system allowed for a great variation in governance, it also meant that progress was dragged down. As long as the monarchy stood, it would drag things to a halt. And the three-party-system served only to divide the lower classes.

The three parties were:

* the left-wing social democratic **Halcyon Worker's Party** (*Evaniks*), also known as the White Sashes
* the liberal centrist **Moderates Party** (*Kendaniks*), also known as the Charcoals
* the right-wing traditionalist **Classicalist's Party** (*Yxeloniks*), also known as the Canaries

## The Only Logical Conclusion

The Lionhearts believed that despite all these years of more progressive governments, the social conditions would not truly change **without violent overthrow of the regime**.

To do this, they slowly worked for years to recruit members of the Ministry and Nobility, and garner sympathisers. They spread masses of propaganda to garner attention to their views. They used terrorist attacks aimed only at Noble or Military targets to draw attention to their cause, and framed their struggle as **just** and aligning with the **majority**.

## Notable Conspirators

* Tamar Lansenvik a.k.a. Tamerlane, one of the founding members and the figurehead of the revolution, leading by example. Having grown up in Bygone's *The Strip* district, he tried running for office as a communist but was defeated, and this radicalised him. He had dedicated his whole life to the revolution, and was always prepared to die for the cause. He was an expert in rhetoric and in explosives.
* Vasilya Innëvov, Minister for Labour and Agriculture. Vasilya was one of the founding members of the Lionhearts too, but took up a double life as a Worker to get closer to Kerenka, Eleutheria, and the others.
* Vertika Lantsov, Representative of the Peasant Commission.
* Emilya Gallantea, Keeper of the Royal Palace, who was recruited by Tamerlane - they were half-cousins, sharing a grandfather, Aleksei.
* Zenya Fortaleska, Chief of the Secret Police (Hawkshaws). Her whole life, Zenya was a 'might makes right' textbook Halcyian fascist who even locked up her own mother's sister for confiding she was a wizard in Zenya. However, after the death of the Queen Volterra in 252, Zenya was berated and lied to by the new King, and she learnt that the King's aides were mages. Knowing the social conditions of the city and sensing the impending revolution, Zenya defected, holding her ideal of 'power is power'.
* Tahlia Kerenka, Prime Minster of Halcyon & Leader of the Worker's Party. Though an enthused and staunch socialist at first, Kerenka was worn down by the lack of change in social conditions, when she was approached and exploited by Innëvov. They promised she would be one of the leaders in the new communist Halcyian society.
* Renya Eleutheria, Minister of Enlightenment. Renya was a young urban socialite and easy to bring around to the idea of the Lionheart ideals once she was already in office with Kerenka's cabinet.

## Events

* Lukaio 23rd/24th - the Queen Volterra dies and names her successor as her estranged child Copper.
* End of Lukaio 252 - the Lionhearts firebomb the Northern Garrison of Halcyon, killing a few soldiers and Captain Brutus Ilyefov. The Secret Police plant dead mages at the scene and frame mages for the attack to try to reinforce their fascism and cover-up the revolutionary activity.
* Luana 19th 252 - the Bloody Hanging incident in the Narrows occurs. Tamerlane firebombs the new King of Halcyon and their entourage at a public hanging of two convicted mages. Jackboots fire on the crowd, thinking they are agitators. Eighty die in total, mostly civillians.