Hebat Hari Chiefdom

## Kingdom of Hebat Hari

Ridwan Hebat Hari (????-1481)

The **Hebat Hari Chiefdom** is one of the many kingdoms of the Yanglam, located in the north of the Lupulan. It is known for dominating the Lupulan during the 13th century, something that happens only a few times throughout the history of the Yanglam, although they had only achieved this with aid from Baihon Xinh.

## History

### Early History and Founding of the Kingdom

Founded sometime during the 10th century by a Kaplakawan exile and his warriors who were on the losing side of a civil war, Hebat Hari originally didn't hold that name, only calling itself by its capital, Haristana. Up until the early 14th century, the kingdom was simply another kingdom amongst many dozens, until in 1410, Saoban Cang, Emperor of Baihon Xinh came to them, looking for a way to assert dominance in the Lupulan. He promised the king dominion over all of the northern Lupulan if he would become an autonomous vassal of the Emperor. The king accepted and a revolt by more conservative and prideful nobles were quickly quashed by Baihon Xinh's military might. Saoban Cang kept good on his promise, and provided soldiers and better weapons, allowing for the tribesmen to conquer all of the northern Lupulan and even when the soldiers from Baihon Xinh left having fulfilled their part of the deal, the newly created kingdom of Hebat Hari was able to continue conquering by themselves, forcing almost all of the Yanglam in the Lupulan to kneel and pay tribute.

### Caksak Sajan's Rebellion

In 1433, just a few years after Hebat Hari proclaimed dominion over all the Yanglam, a Tlaga chief named Caksak Sajan found a malevolent and extremely powerful spirit, which has been identified as the Great Spirit Semat Tidakhui, imprisoned in a statue at the bottom of Tlagapatung's lake. By making pacts with the spirit, Caksak was able to successfully lead a rebellion against Hebat Hari, inciting nearly every single one of their other subjects to revolt. Baihon Xinh moved to intervene, but the dark spirits of Tlagapatung drove them back, and for 6 years Hebataan and Baihon soldiers fought a losing war against the Rainforest Kings, made worse by growing instability in Baihon Xinh and the pirates of Pinghoi joining the war at the side of the rebels. Finally, in 1439 Baihon Xinh made peace with the rebels, abandoning their vassals to fend for themselves. Miraculously, Hebat Hari managed to survive, though they were essentially back to their borders before their conquests.

## Culture and Society

### Dancers of the Flood

Although most others in the rainforest would cower behind walls at the jungle's flooding, the Hebataan instead try to appease the jungle and as they call it, "sate its boredom." Using magic, a number of dancers can stand atop the water as if it were dirt, executing exotic dances day after day until the flooding ends. The floods spare them the worst of their efforts, and the populace love the entertainment, making floods a time of celebrations amongst the Hebataan instead of a time of trials.

### Bombastic War Songs

Introduced during the conquests of the Lupulan, the music of Hebat Hari is remarkable for its fast tempo and strong percussion, and the addition of metallic sounds creates a melody that is incredibly popular, not to mention loud. Hebataan soldiers march to this music, an omnipresent beat that their troops will march, fight, and die to.

### Villages Hidden in the Leaves

Having deemed their offerings of dance sufficient, the Lupulan canopy is particularly cooperative in the creation of towns and cities, allowing the Hebataan to build great complexes well above the reach of the waters. Likewise, it is easy to ascend up and down - eagles provide a route up, whereas large leaves allow for smooth glides downwards. Space is plentiful, and floods are rare.

### Feasts for the Dead

It might be considered strange and very unnecessarily costly that all royal heirs of Hebat Hari are provided with generous pensions, which also strangely ends when any one of them ascends to the throne. However, these are actually well-planned failsafes. All pensions come directly from the pockets of the king, and a significant pension is necessary. Upon the succession of a new king, they must use this pension to organize and host a great feast. This practice serves to ensure a good-natured succession, likewise guaranteeing that there will be no spurned phantoms haunting the realm as they do in nations who dare to disrespect the dead. All are invited to this great feast, and no royal dares provide a sub-par experience - for the memories of the revelers are very long.

### Paranormal Puppetry

The puppeteers of Hebat Hari are legendary for their seemingly magical puppetry - common dolls made out of cloth appear to move just like a living being would, while the hands of the puppeteers barely moved. They hold extremely popular shows where these dolls play out scenes from daily life or ancient legends while the puppeteers narrate. The dolls could run, dance, swim, and in the shows of the more famous puppeteers, even ride horse puppets and play out battles with hundreds of dolls fighting. Whatever trick or magic they use to do such wonders are of course, secrets of the trade, but the shows have amazed many foreign visitors to Hebat Hari, with a Cannorian adventurer claiming that nowhere in the world has he seen such a thing happen.