Helsingfyrd Pact: Difference between revisions
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* [[Hemic language|Liturgical Hemic]] | * [[Hemic language|Liturgical Hemic]] | ||
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| established_date1 = 1 PR | | established_date1 = 1 PR | ||
| established_event1 = Signature of the Helsingfyrd Pact between the [[Kingdom of Orenaf]] and [[Races#Lycanthropes|Ulthic tribes]] | | established_event1 = Signature of the Helsingfyrd Pact between the [[Kingdom of Orenaf]] and [[Races#Lycanthropes|Ulthic tribes]] | ||
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The Helsingfyrd Pact, often shortened to the Pact, is an ancient, undead-led | The Helsingfyrd Pact, often shortened to the Pact, is an ancient, undead-led empire located on the easternmost continent of the known world. It is one of the three major powers in the known world of Izaria, alongside the [[Republic of Carcola]] and the [[Azure Empire]]. Ruled by a coalition of vampires, lycanthropes, liches, necromancers, and humans, the Pact is known for its rigid social hierarchy, ancient origins, and reliance on undeath as a political organizing principle. | ||
The Pact maintains internal stability through a complex balance of feudal obligations, magical labor, and the use of undead sprits as an energy source. Its capital is [[Helsingfyrd]], a multilayered city built atop ancient ruins | The Pact maintains internal stability through a complex balance of feudal obligations, magical labor, and the use of undead sprits as an energy source. Its capital is [[Helsingfyrd]], a multilayered city built atop ancient ruins. It is said to be the signing place of the original Pact. | ||
The historical dating system in wide use throughout the world, Pact Reckoning (PR), originates in the Helsingfyrd Pact and counts the number of years since the signature of the Pact itself. | The historical dating system in wide use throughout the world, Pact Reckoning (PR), originates in the Helsingfyrd Pact and counts the number of years since the signature of the Pact itself. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The Pact claims a lineage dating back to the chaotic centuries following the [[Fall of Lagash]]. Legend has it that the continent that would later comprise the Helsingfyrd Pact was inhabited by nomadic lycanthropic followers of the deity [[Ulfgar]], and agrarian vampiric followers of the deity [[Ekekkia]]. Centuries of wars between the mostly-settled vampires, who ruled over a sedentary human population, and nomadic lycanthropes led to cultural cross-pollination between the two groups that increased as centralization progressed on the continent. This process culminated in the signature of the Helsingfyrd Pact between the vampire-led [[Kingdom of Orenaf]] and the various [[Ulthic tribes]] that claimed suzerainty over the [[Northern Reach]], the [[ | The Pact claims a lineage dating back to the chaotic centuries following the [[Fall of Lagash]]. Legend has it that the continent that would later comprise the Helsingfyrd Pact was inhabited by nomadic lycanthropic followers of the deity [[Ulfgar]], and agrarian vampiric followers of the deity [[Ekekkia]]. Centuries of wars between the mostly-settled vampires, who ruled over a sedentary human population, and nomadic lycanthropes led to cultural cross-pollination between the two groups that increased as centralization progressed on the continent. This process culminated in the signature of the Helsingfyrd Pact between the vampire-led [[Kingdom of Orenaf]] and the various [[Ulthic tribes]] that claimed suzerainty over the [[Northern Reach]], the [[Hopgon Coast]], and the [[Ibor Strait]] to resolve decades of raiding and conflict between the two factions. The Ulthic signatories pledged to acknowledge King [[Sigusmund Orenaf]] as their Emperor, while he pledged to use the tribes who had signed the Pact as official military forces, in contrast to the mercenaries. The Pact was signed by King [[Sigusmund Orenaf]] in the year later remembered as PR 1. | ||
Though the Pact itself only formalized the growing informal relationship between the vampires and lycanthropes, it surprisingly held and acquired great symbolic importance to both the vampires and lycanthropes. Slowly, over the centuries, their societies knit together into a complex feudal caste hierarchy. The Pact grew into a continent-spanning power through conquest, ritual diplomacy, and the suppression of rival gods. Later centuries saw the formal addition of necromancers, humans, and liches as recognized political entities, although opposition was (and remains) fierce. Colonization efforts in the continent to the west, and the colonies attracted many mortal residents of the Pact that were weary of the increasing undead domination of Pact society. | Though the Pact itself only formalized the growing informal relationship between the vampires and lycanthropes, it surprisingly held and acquired great symbolic importance to both the vampires and lycanthropes. Slowly, over the centuries, their societies knit together into a complex feudal caste hierarchy. The Pact grew into a continent-spanning power through conquest, ritual diplomacy, and the suppression of rival gods. Later centuries saw the formal addition of necromancers, humans, and liches as recognized political entities, although opposition was (and remains) fierce. Colonization efforts in the continent to the west, and the colonies attracted many mortal residents of the Pact that were weary of the increasing undead domination of Pact society. | ||
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The Pact operates through shared rituals, diplomatic obligations, and magical enforcement. Mortal bureaucrats and clerics serve under undead lords in a semi-indentured status, often elevated by loyalty or spiritual merit. | The Pact operates through shared rituals, diplomatic obligations, and magical enforcement. Mortal bureaucrats and clerics serve under undead lords in a semi-indentured status, often elevated by loyalty or spiritual merit. | ||
The Pact has been unable to elect an Emperor since the year 1207 PR due to a long-lasting political standoff, in part, | The Pact has been unable to elect an Emperor since the year 1207 PR due to a long-lasting political standoff triggered, in part, by the [[Carcolan Rebellion]]. | ||
==Society== | ==Society== | ||
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Other major deities include: | Other major deities include: | ||
* [[Ulfgar]], god of lycanthropy, wilderness, and the moon. | * [[Ulfgar]], god of lycanthropy, wilderness, and the moon. | ||
* [[Christopher Bale]], | * [[Christopher Bale]], god of time and spatial dominion, now marginal within Pact theology. | ||
The Pact is highly suspicious of gods associated with life, fire, or mortal independence, often banning their worship or forcing syncretism through ancestral rites. | The Pact is highly suspicious of gods associated with life, fire, or mortal independence, often banning their worship or forcing syncretism through ancestral rites. | ||
==Foreign Relations== | ==Foreign Relations== | ||
The Pact maintains a fragile peace with the Republic of Carcola, though relations are strained due to religious conflict, historical betrayal, and ideological incompatibility. The Pact views the Azure Empire with curiosity and wariness, regarding it as a dangerous, chaotic upstart with no respect for tradition or metaphysical order. | The Pact maintains a fragile peace with the Republic of Carcola, though relations are strained due to religious conflict, historical betrayal, and ideological incompatibility. Both nations impose mutual tariffs on the other, leading to the rise of [[Free City of Westport|Westport]] as an entrepot between the two nations. The Pact views the Azure Empire with curiosity and wariness, regarding it as a dangerous, chaotic upstart with no respect for tradition or metaphysical order. | ||
==Regions and Locations== | ==Regions and Locations== | ||
* [[Helsingfyrd]]: The capital and heart of the nation. Built into layers from a luxurious Gothic Spire layer to a subterranean cavernous Tunnel Layer. | * [[Helsingfyrd]]: The capital and heart of the nation. Built into layers from a luxurious Gothic Spire layer to a subterranean cavernous Tunnel Layer. | ||
* [[Hopgon Coast]]: A misty, economically depressed coastline known for taverns, lycanthropes, and smuggling. | * [[Hopgon Coast]]: A misty, economically depressed coastline known for taverns, lycanthropes, and smuggling. | ||
* [[Riksmal]]: A haunted, flooded city now controlled by Pact necromancers and home to the | * [[Riksmal]]: A haunted, flooded city now controlled by Pact necromancers and home to the Pact navy. | ||
* [[Ostholt]]: A melancholic port city with a strong lycanthrope intellectual presence. | * [[Ostholt]]: A melancholic port city with a strong lycanthrope intellectual presence. | ||
* [[Charnheim]]: A Dickensian mining city governed by vampires and enforced by loyal human nobles. | * [[Charnheim]]: A Dickensian mining city governed by vampires and enforced by loyal human nobles. | ||
* [[Nesskaap Reach]]: The mountainous, frosty northern peninsula of the Helskari continent. Loosely controlled by lycanthropic tribes, this region is also inhabited by [[Races#Humans|humans]], [[Races#Dwarves|dwarves]], and [[Races#Kitsune|kitsune]], who live simple lives of hunting, herding, fishing, and raiding, mostly free from control by government authorities. | |||