Summary - Culture rich in art in history but with long history of being conquered and oppressed.
Appearance - Skin is white to olive. Hair is often dark. Bodies are rather curvaceous.
Ethnic Origin - Southern Sula
History
Helen is located on the Southern end of the Sulan continent. Helen is loosely based on Ancient Greece but had been subject to Albienne conquest (Militaristic Roman/Spartan empire) who were then conquered by the Thule (Asian barbarians with psychic powers from over sea)
Helen was one of the last terrotories to join the Sulanese empire.
Helen has very rich soil that has historically made it highly sought after for its food supply.
Helen has been conquered or occupied so many times that there are many ruins dotting the country side.
Used to compramize much of the south now only the territory of Helen remains and it has been under foreign rule for centuries.
Major Cities
Hyssopos (Major city)
Named after the fields fo blue flowers that surrounded it.
Known for purity and purification rituals
Bathhouses and exotic incenses
Corinth (City)
Minor Cities
Yaltra
Ilia
Sipais
Limni
Dafni
Plitica
Triada
Loutsa
Dirfis
Mistros
Faros
Cities now outside Helen proper (nearby territory)
Sifne (Jharr)
Barbaros (Jharr)
Zafer (Jharr)
Tirgut (Jharr)
Camlik (Jharr)
Ege (Jharr)
Derekoy (Jharr)
Soloum (Jharr)
Bardiyah (Jharr)
Faris (Jharr)
Zaytun (Jharr)
Touba (Seth)
Dakar (Seth)
Serrekunda (Seth)
Missirah (Seth)
Sadio (Seth)
Louga (Seth)
Pout (Seth)
People
Helen is currently a nation of Helenese commoners, Albienne business class, and Thulish nobility. The Thule have been adept at playing off the tension between the Helenese and the Albienne to retain control as a minority population. Nearby nations include a somewhat primitive Aztec state, an isolationist Asian superpower, some dark skinned tribal societies, and many more human ethnicities as you get farther away. See Sula for a list of major human cultures.
Helenese people are mostly caucasions.
The merchant class has a strong albienne presence.
The ruling class is currently Thule (Tan).
Helen people take a very long view of being occupied.
So long as they are allowed to keep their culture and their art they do not care who is collecting taxes.
Pretty tolerant of other races.
They make common cause with other oppressed people.
The Helenese are used to being occupied and a cultural mecca.
Law
Most helenese law has been lost to time.
Current law is a mix of Albienne law from the occupation between the first and second invasion
With additions by Thule since the second invasion.
Law requires preservation of all things Historical.
Laws regulate magic, magical abilities, and items very closely.
Only nobels and military personel may carry arms or wear metal armor.
All others are limited to blades less than a foot long.
Bows and crossbows are likewise prohibited but enforcement is spotty in rural territories.
Two tiered court system where asians have preferential treatment in upper court.
Religion
Once common among Helen natives and commoners old Helenese religions has faded though many fine temples still exist. Religion is still practiced by some enclaves. But largely the old religions are dead. Only their shrines live on. Helenese adapted readily to the new gods and treat them in the same way they did the old gods bargaining for favor or assistance.
Pantheon of many gods with very small domains and you make offerings to gods to gain favor.
Sample domains would include
births - Janusia
celebrations - Plethor
darkness - Shads
death - Shivat
farming and animal breeding - Elinore
financial transactions - Krona
healing - Illuth
individual crafts - Seperate god for each.
judgement - Tirus
justice - Kiri
knowledge - Miseraat
leadership - Jove
light - Teray
love - Lorin
luck - Miir
nature - Errol
oaths - Oliana
revenge - Arosi
sea, dark things - Drankuk
sea, open waters - Bana
sea, safe harbor - Ferair
secrets - Eggoth
slavery - Savent
sleep - Dreamer
warfare, calvery - Wayland
warfare, infantry - Thordin
warfare, naval - Trynich
wind - Illiya
wisdom - Patra
Among Albienne merchant class there is often a idol or symbol of the old empire.
observances are made at meals and before important events.
Among the Thule ruling class commoner religion is looked upon as superstition.
The Thule instead provide offerings to dead relatives upon birth and death anniversaries.
When giving offering it is common to ask their advice,
Magic
see also thule and albiene cultures.
Magic is tightly regulated by albienne law.
Anything made with or in the presence of magic must contain a label stating so.
Exposure to magic and magical items is considered to taint people and make them impure.
Psionics and magic require registration and are tightly regulated except for the ruling class.
Traditional helenese held magic in high esteem but with the chaotic taint people are less inclined to practice privately though some rural folk hold to the old ways.
Magic used to be considered a gift and practice of magic something like art. (amongst the Helenese)
Magic ability is uncommon 1/20. Psionics are extremely rare.
Government
see also thule and albiene cultures.
Occupation
Many people have occupied Helen over time.
Helen lets them occupy feeling that preserving culture more important than the leadership.
"Bend with the wind lest you be broken" is a Helen mantra.
Over time occupations have included Sula, Burgandry (North), Albiene, Thule (South)
Helen is currently controlled by a Tan clan whom are pretty enlightened.
See Thule government for more details.
Thule nobility take a percentage of food and taxes from lands they occupy.
restrict civilian rights to bear weapons (see laws)
Military service
see also thule cultures.
Men not of asian descent may not serve in the military unless drafted.
Sexuality
see also thule and albiene cultures.
Helenese culture traditionally had very open relationships and could result in huge multiply connected families.
Sexuality is considered a form of expression.
Very common for there to be side-affair
Gay relationships are completely normal.
Marriage
see also thule and albiene cultures.
Marriages are consential and meant as a loose alliance between like individuals.
Marriages are huge affairs arranged by the individuals involved.
Guests are expected to bring gifts that more than make up for the expense of lavish wedding celebrations.
Common for there to both be marriage for convenience and an affair for love.
Couple often moves in with one family or another. Sometimes the families merge entirely.
No stigma against divorce, just means the alliance no longer works.
Only the really well off can afford to live on their own.
Even then it is very common for one or more parent to live with couple.
Names (Greek based)
see also thule and albiene cultures.
Female - Agitha, Agnes, Alexa, Alecia, Angela, Barbera, Catherine, Delphine, Dorthy, Elain, Gina, Greta, Hellena, Ivy, Katherine, Kay, Lila, Maggie, Margareta, Monica, Natasha, Page, Pamela, Rita, Sophia, Teresa, Xandra, Zoe
Male - Ajax, Alexander, Andrew, Anthony, Basil, Christopher, Denys, Eugene, Galen, George, Gregory, Jason, Miles, Nicholas, Owen, Peter, Pierre, Phillip, Sebastian, Stephen, Tiomthy, Yuri
Female rights
see also thule and albiene cultures.
Females are considered equals in the house and are often expected to work.
Child rearing often falls to grand parents.
Education
Basic education is guarunteed for all.
Education only covers
basic math,
spoken helen language,
spoken albiene language,
spoken thule language,
art and,
music.
Culture
Art and literature are highly cherished
(even though reading has become uncommon under albienne and thule rule)
Nudity is considered beautiful.
Lots of nude art
Men and women both go around topless on warm days.