Helios

HELIOS - Where the fire was blazed.

Bordered by the Howling Depth in the West, the Center of the World in the North and North-east.. It is mostly a summery weather territory where the heat is common and so are common precipitations, leaving freshness and cold to the bitter seasons. The lands of Helios are varied with small mountain ranges, extensive conifer forests, vast  plains and a tropical peninsula. For the locals of Helios, the territories nearly have it all: many different vendors and specialty cafes to feed their population, access to two different coasts plentiful of seafood and ores, small mines spread around the countryside, and several forests and lakes with sweet water. No matter what your hearts desire, you will find it in Helios, the land of modernity. The disposition of resources has also allowed the region to become quite independent, even though trade is still necessary for some common resources, Helios could be somewhat self-sufficient (relying mainly on the trading with Regius). The one flaw in he city would be the resources cant keep up with the ever expansive lifestyle of the high class. Many Helians are sold on the idea that if the trade deals keeping the regions open where to cease, Helios would continue to flourish but this may not be completely true…

Helios is the homeland of electrical technology and all the similar scientific practices based on its application. Where many have lost it, Helians have achieved recovering and putting into practice many advancements affecting the dynamics of the area similar to those of the ancient times of old. Many come to the lands and are taken aback by the contrast to other regions. There are constant sources of light permitting the land as development of work in a complete day to night span was achieved first here. The use of Radio technology making official communication time faster than any mail bird, there is an actual news organization keeping updated the population in the most important events happening regionally, machines that can raise or lower temperature and the automatization of labor in many cases, leading to minor industrial development. So, when it comes to any exchange of goods, Helios provides blueprints, know-how and specialists in exchange for raw resources, especially rare ones that are not native to the southern lands. It is the only nation that can brag about trading with ideas more than any material, and they would be right. Many offensive and defensive capabilities of allies come from some sort of upgrades or inventions already common in its use. Unavoidably, Helios is the land of progress and modernization, its capital is a jewel city and it is always center stage when it comes to influence. The main access to the continent are two seaports, one in the capital and another one belonging to the Diver’s in Dessos, the southern peninsula facing the abyssal ocean. And when it comes to the history of the region, nobody can deny the overall influence the divers have had from the beginning. They were created to investigate the sea life and help the Huma comprehend the mysteries of the ocean. In the center of this research one can find the discovery of numerous metals, super foods such as the sea cucumber and the establishment of subaquatic stations. However, most income for the Divers come from the installation and maintenance of “Rigs”. Deep sea mineral harvester, and one of the main enterprise behind the technological leap in Helios. Rigs fall under the jurisdiction of the Blue Titan Orcas, BTO. On the other side, the Silver Trident is a second organization dedicated to the security across the waters of trade by keeping criminality under control and letting the nation reap the wealth of the seas. Although, there is a big conjugated effort to control the sea, its vastness is not enough to be held and avoid the appearance of criminal parties, giant monsters and a multitude of unexplored caves that would make any explorer go crazy with excitement.

Important Places: These are really important locations that are essential to the operations of the zone or just very peculiar for a visitor to miss.


 * News Towers: One signature sky-scraper like building is found in the city of Joshtown. It is the JoshCorp headquarters. A unique organization that prides itself on informing the public about all the events occurring locally and in the rest of the overworld. It is a gigantic structure only comparable to the architectural wonders found in certain civilizations. Most of the building is a series of offices dedicated to its network maintenance, broadcasting service and array of engineers keeping the complex system from falling apart. The groundbreaking company works with permission and funding of the government, so there is a bias known on positive news about the actual politics. The information here depicted is transmitted to public screens


 * Pizzeria Piccolo: Strange even for the most innovative thinker of their era is to see a place such a dedicated restaurant to grow in status as this one has. Taverns, inns and local cuisine experts witness in both awe and jealousy, as a pizza restaurant has taken over an entire block of the most expensive quarters in the capital. The worst part is that it is not even dedicated to serve the well-paying nobility. No, they make ends meet by selling cheap and big quantities to commoners such as farmers, artisans, engineers and other workers. In addition, the founders of this


 * Minebay: Another of the big companies that are growing thanks to the preponderance of technology. In the beginning, repurpose items collected in an unclose manner were delivered in auction houses and retail shops. Nowadays it is a much more elegant service that uses advanced engineer technology called drones to deliver these items wherever you are. Still, there is some reputation of having shady deals with bandits, smugglers and other dealers with poor reputation. However, most people seeing the practical functionality of its service and delivery, keep using the organization en masse making it as rich as the government’s taxes. There are some daring investigative groups who are looking to take minebay to justice as it is considered a black market gone legal.


 * Silver Trident Academia: This is an old academy of very traditional manners that grooms and trains young children to be ready to sail the sea  or dive into it, at the same time they study the ocean and everything that is there. The graduates actively work as low-ranking members of the navy, and as they progress in training and completing missions, they are led to different positions such as becoming a Diver, a Sailor, a Scientist or many other specialties with salty flavor. Some dare say they are the heart of Helios, protecting its water against any and all threats. Many are the young ones who join as cadets, but few ever reach the top of the rankings.


 * AMSAMS (Academy of Marine Sciences and Advanced Modern Sciences)
 * many believe that the future of all lies on the bottom of the oceans. Therefore they have focused their research efforts on the demythification of what lies beneath the sea. Ancient ruins and sunken vessels are all valuable research projects to undertake when working with the AMSAMS. For the last few years, AMSAMS also started building cities and hubs at the bottom of the ocean. Newly admitted candidates to the Diver program must ask themselves the very difficult question if they agree with the common Overworld’s view on the existence of the Jokal or if they like to follow the views of this new culture of the dwellers on the bottom of the ocean. Next to that, they must embrace the new way of thinking of the modern sciences, based on finding new means of energy and power besides traditional Redstone and experimenting with them endlessly. Entrance and admission for most is paid on loan by patrons, eagerly anticipating the results of the applicants work and gaining the copyright to all its work.

Important NPCs: These are relevant people at the top of the authorities in the region who represent influential organizations.


 * The Corresponsal: It is a popular figure who criticizes heavily foreign politics, rebels, and people fighting the status quo of Helios. His pivotal phrase is “We are the inheritors to the Golden Age of our era”. He is always wearing a mask to protect his identity as a journalist and keep his personal life out of the line. Some in his favor call him the “poignant observer” and others prefer the term the “nosy peeker”. He also praises engineers, divers, merchants and productive members of society.  This controversial figure sits in the middle of the broadcasting network as the first personnality.


 * First Minister: The leader of Helios is he or she who holds the position of first minister. This is a coveted position where hundreds of power brokers fight with influence, power and money to gain it. As a legacy of the old world, ministers were the counselors that led the government with the royal family, these were people under the grace of a king or lord. The first minister is voted every five years by the Noble Council. The remnants of the nobility in Helios and the newcomers in power such as powerful merchants, emerging leaders of the Silver Trident’s and any one consider important to keep power in check. The votes are given during the elections and after a year, the First Minister must gain the favors of their supporters or see their aid cease to exist. So, the trick is to keep rotating favors among those who hold more influence and gain their power in order to achieve being the Chairman of Helios. The current holder of the position is Ollie Vangal. A tough man who served in the Silent Trident as diver, soldier and was captain of the third fleet; known for their daring adventures and escapades. The ex-captain achieved this position in the last conflict with the Engineer’s enemies trying to sabotage and take power over the natural resources of the área.


 * The Admiral: Jhocer Khandalis the Third. An old man with no hair and a long white beard, standing in a tall throne and having more than a hundred springs of stories and errors. Lies the Admiral. If Helios ever had a figure that intimidated any invader, was this man. Admiral Khandalis has foiled more than a dozen plots to take over the Primer Minister’s position, fought giant creatures of the seas, thwarted pirate attacks and kept the rigs toiling day and night. As a pillar of the community, it is a paragon of strength and its sole presence has detained more wars than any other diplomat. Although he is more a spokesperson for the navy and an experienced counsellor, he is remembered and beloved as the “Golden Man”. Weirdly enough, one of the traditions in Helios is the Golden Man’s gift, where people dress up like him and always start giving gifts to everybody from a big bag.


 * The Master Engineer: Vaxxelia has always been a peculiar character. Since very small she decided she wanted to be an engineer. But back then the traditionalist only accepted men among the lines of their own. Same happened to their parents and all the rest of society. It was then when she famously became Valeren and joined the guild acing all the tests pretending to be a male. In the last of the trials, the apprentices were supposed to make a rig work by using redstone, but it was sabotaged by the Constructor’s side, making it a dangerous explosive. Only Vax knew what to do and forfeited the exam to hastily disarm the bombs before it was time, and she almost did it, but the last one was not disarmed on time. She recurred to covering it using a large steel bowl, the explosion resounded as thunder, but Vaxxelia had saved the people and she was made out as a woman. Receiving a medal of valor and a new mechanical arm, she was accepted as an engineer ad honorem and became the most popular engineer trainer of her generation. She opened all stereotypes and left a legacy where a woman was not to be diminished or stopped from becoming an engineer. Nowadays it is a symbol of respect and a reminder that there is too much to learn still in a world of  advanced technology.