Hélice: The Island of Theros
Overview
Theros is the southwestern-most Isle of Hélice, and is by far the largest and most populous of all six major Isles, with at least half of the population of Hélice as a whole. It is the most developed of all Isles, clearly exemplified in the many massive statues across the island as well as marble temples, and a system of roads connecting the far majority of the island's inhabitants. For this reason, Theros is considered to be the heart of the Helian people and the core of their religion, with the island's patron deity known as Arsinos, the Helian God of Light and chief deity of their pantheon.
The island of Theros is made up of several regions that are all led by dictatorial Warrior-Kings with differing ideologies. Along the inner bay at the center of the eastern coast is the region of Thetas, crowned by the island's largest city, Delias. Thetas is led by a man known as Antoras, a 'democratically elected' monarch with a life-long term. He is considered to be the most wealthy of all Helian men, controlling much of the trade between the islands as well as Theros itself. There is also Phoryphus, King of the region of Medeas, a highly militarized area saturated in a perfectionist warrior-culture. Medeas occupies much of Theros' inland as well as sections of the western coastline.
Further, there is the region of Doreas, run by the 'Slave-King' Kilikos, who successfully carved out much of the northern end of Theros during a slave rebellion in Arc 702. His northern territory occupies the most actual land in Theros, though with considerably less development than the remaining realms. On that note, however, Doreas is - perhaps due to his leadership - the fastest growing region in all of Hélice, a chain of islands that has long been on the decline.
And finally, to the south is Athalon led by the Queen Antissa, a religiously-inclined figure with both rulership of the Arsinalis and the Grand Temple of Therybdes. She is a politically impervious figure with a highly devoted populous, with even those of other regions of the island considering her to be the Holy voice of Arsinos and Pyrrha, the Goddess of Healing and an augur of both boons and ill tidings.
Climate-wise, Theros is truly the most diverse of climates with a coastline that is largely semi-arid, but varies between tropical, sub-tropical, humid and dry, and with an interior mixed between boreal forestry and rainforests, littered with diamond-shaped mountains and high hills. Much of the inland settlements of Theros are built within valleys, and many of them are surrounded by farmlands and vineyards of olives, grapes and more conventional agricultural products.
Demographically, Theros hosts nearly thirty thousand inhabitants and therefore outnumbers all of the remaining islands combined, though slightly. These people are called Therians. Like the other islands of Hélice, Theros is largely comprised of humans but with around twenty percent of the population being biqaj. There are virtually no Immortalists and the far majority of mages live in Athalon, to the south, as surviving an initiation is seen as a requirement to joining Arsinopolis' Holy Order. Unlike on Koros, mages in Theros have some level of arcane competency as their order was originally founded by a skilled Runewright who had fled from the cataclysm.
Delias
Delias is the largest city on the Helian Isles, with over six thousand residents, therefore holding a larger population than the islands of Koros and Morovas combined. It is known for its mass of temples and villas that sit above the city from an ascended, mountainous perch, and the great valley below. Aside from this, Delias also holds the Aniphorous, a temple-like agora at the summit of the mountain, dedicated to 'healing and renewal'. It is a very social setting where those present are allowed to display their innermost feelings and desires, with an extreme cultural stigma in speaking of anything that occurs within the Aniphorous outside of the temple. Therefore, it is a place for all to go to reveal their true selves without chance for judgment or repercussions.
Within the Aniphorous are several courtesans of any gender known as adorphii, and they serve almost as Helian psychologists but with the added sensual context of their profession. Though known for legendary skill, they are companions to any and all, at the cost of considerable tithe to Pyrrha's monastic order.
Those within the city are known for their architectural capability. Many of Theros' temples, shrines and monuments were constructed by Delians, who sit on Helice's greatest repositories of stone, marble, granite and many other materials drawn by their surrounding quarries. It is perhaps because of Delias' great resources and fortuitous, defensible location between so many mountains that it has grown so quickly in the past. The upper-district of Delias is believed to be impervious to nautical or land-based invasions, risen high on cliffs on one side and protected by the natural boundary of the sea.
In terms of politics and belief, Delias is one of the oldest cities in Helice and tends to lean on the archipelago's foundational democratic ideals. It was recently taken over by sheer monopolistic might by a wealthy merchant-overlord, being changed into a King-led nation state, but with heavy resistance against the reigning monarch by the populous. Currently, much of the city of Delias is in a cold rebellion against Antoras, with productivity in the realm of Thetas dropping by considerable amounts since his take-over.
Reference Pictures
- Athalon
- Medeas
- Doreas
The Arsinalis
The Arsinalis is the grandest single structure in all of Hélice and serves as the alleged home of Arsinos, Hargalis and Pyrrha, the triumvir of purely 'benevolent' Gods within the Helian pantheon. Within it lies Athalon Doreniea, Arsinos' palace where Queen Antissa currently resides. The entirety of Arsinalis appears almost as an abandoned city, with few residents yet a vast assortment of marble temples that appear to be frequently cleaned. It is a place of great pilgrimage for all Helians and many offerings are commonly given, with gold the most 'spiritually significant' followed by food and other belongings. Festivities of all sorts occur all across the year, even in Cylus where Phorus - the Helian God of Darkness - is commonly beseeched for mercy. The seasons of Ashan and Ymiden are commonly accompanied by festivities for Hargalis and Arsinos, with Saun solely reserved for the latter of the two due to the presence of two suns, and Vhalar offered to Pyrrha.
Adrius, the Helian God of Death, is worshiped in Zi'da and especially during times of great loss such as after battles between city-states or plagues. However, all across each year all of the Gods are worshiped within their specific temples, with Arsinalis the sole place in all of Hélice with a temple to all five Gods.
The Arsinalis is built into a mountain, at the flat tip of one of its peaks. To make the journey requires climbing many steps, and standing at the entrance of the holy place is the 'Titan of Arsinos', a monument even greater than Pyrrah's Observance, one considered to be the greatest single construction in all of Hélice. Due to the permanent residency of Queen Antissa, Arsinalis is manned by a considerable number of courtiers and retinue soldiers that guard over the statue and temples and ensure they are not defaced. Any vandalism of the holy buildings is punishable by public castration and execution.
Festivities
The Arsinalis has several festivities throughout the arc, typically occurring on a daily basis within particular seasons. Due to the hedonistic nature of much of Hélice, all five festivities tend to be quite dramatic and based on primal sensuality or physical sensation.
Hargalis Sensorus
Referred to in Common as 'the day of sensation', this festivity is typically one of drug consumption often through salts, scents and smoke. Generally these drugs result in visions by the consuming party, or enhanced senses of all kinds. This will typically be followed by the rituals of Arsinaeus Vivaria, drawing from one's enhanced sensations. The streets of the Arsinalis are typically littered with men and women mid trip in the seasons of Ashan and Ymiden, appearing to be having visions and premonitions of the future. Many claim to find their destiny during these festivities, and surprisingly few grow addicted to the drugs consumed.
Arsinaeus Vivaria
As Arsinos is not only the God of Light but also Life, this is a festivity that both celebrates life and encourages the production of further life. It is - most often - practiced in the form of massive orgies in the temple of Arsinos and on the surrounding streets and grass, where young individuals or those capable of bearing the burden of children are encouraged to copulate. As Helians commonly practice polygamy, it is not stigmatized to engage in such actions even whilst married and many find their secondary and tertiary spouses in such festivities. There remains encouragement even for those incapable of reproduction or of the same sex to engage in such festivities as they wish, as Helians commonly believe that sexuality is a celebration of life itself and a gift from Arsinos.
Arsinaeus Medea
This 'festivity' will occur from the middle of Ymiden until the end of Saun. It is an extended series of challenges of both physical and mental acuity beneath the observance of Arsinos, with the most impressive of challengers competing against one another in Saun where the two suns represent both of his eyes looking down upon the competitors. Though physical games of climbing, archery, running, wrestling, spear-throwing, swimming and other such categories are commonly performed, there are also competitions for dancing, songs and even building; there are even competitions for sewing and baking and other typically inglorious activities, largely due to how long the festivities last.
There are, additionally, mental-based competitions where inventions are shown or ideas are presented, often in the form of poetry. Ultimately the victors are judged by the most 'blessed' of the Pantheon, who claim to have been spoken to by Arsinos himself when issuing verdicts. In objective competitions such as running and wrestling, as examples, verdicts are given by actual victories.
Pyrrha-Gratiana
Or, Pyrrha's Gratitude. This festivity is one of rigorous prayer and most often occurs as a theatrical attempt to garner Pyrrha's attention. Flowery wreaths of fall leaves are expected to acquire her sight, though the far majority of Helice's trees are evergreens and so such tributes show immense effort by those who offer them. Baskets are often woven in her honor and reagents are offered to be made into poultices and other blends, generally given to priests and priestesses.
Many such herbal treatments are crafted by mortar and pestle amidst the festivities, with those attending most commonly individuals with severe ailments or the family or loved ones of others with such conditions. They will most often return home with these remedies and if the individual is not cured by them, it is expected to accept that they are simply beyond saving.
Phorusaelium
The Phorusaelium is not a particularly riveting festival; it is cold and bitter. It will typically take place in Phorus' dimly lit temple where those who make the journey - few people at any given time - will pray ceaselessly for the safety of their fields so that they do not grow barren in the harsh Cylus winds. Praying is essentially the only trademark of the Phorusaelium, though some make sacrifices of animal hearts.
Adriatta
Adriatta is a common festivity; it is the celebration of those who have been lost and their lives. Most commonly the purpose of attending such festivals is to request Adrius' mercy in his assignment of dead Helians, with many believing they might be able to bring their ancestors or deceased peers great fortunes in the afterlife through their devotion. This is typically a season of great financial offerings, though not entirely for selfless reasons as Helians typically believe that if their ancestors or other dead smile upon them, they will find much greater success.
Such festivities are most commonly celebrated by shows and theatrics, and other forms of great storytelling that speak of Helice's history and the achievements of the dead. Due to its most common celebrations occuring in Zi'da, Adriatta is generally practiced in Adrius' temple and its underground corridors.