The Long Downfall of the Kingdom of Helia

- The Long Downfall of the Kingdom of Helia -

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Alicia Ravenwood
Historian
The Free City of Centrum Historical Society
2nd Edition, published 1277AGC

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Helia wasn't always so militaristic and zealous in its pursuit of a world unified under its own rule. In fact there was a time when many applauded Helia's ambitions. What many didn't realize all those years ago was that Helia's vision for Awldor's future would come at a steep price. Helia seems to still be unaware that their uncompromising and brutal approach is the spark that has incited rebellion against them. A rebellion they must address with force at every turn. An unrestrained zeal that is in action a scorched earth campaign. How did such a bloodthirsty war come to be in a world that still remembers all that it had lost?

- A Radiant Seed -

The Kingdom adopted the sun motif for a reason. Helia was meant to represent the brightest ray of hope for the revitalization of a unified and prosperous Awldor. A sun shining brightly a fertile world open to new possibilities not possible under the The Ancient Order. A world that could learn from the past's mistake and maybe even prevent its own demise. Perhaps it would surprise most readers that Helia's first ruler was not a King but a Queen Primrose Solus.

Queen Primrose had seen the shattered world around her and too great pity on it. She saw that conflict between tribes arose with ease over meager scraps of resources. She believed that if the tribes would unite under a common set of strict rules that their chances of survival would improve.

Primrose had another motive: to reclaim glory of the of the pre-collapse world. She would leverage her indomitable will and her strong voice to great effect over the remainder of her life to plant the great seed of her vision. That seed became the Radiant City of Sol and its steward the Helian People. The location of the city was a statement in and of itself having been built atop an ancient ruin.

- A Ray of Light for the Future -

Primrose knew that she would never live to see the fruits of her labors, and so she saw to it that she cultivated a strong family. She chose her mate carefully and sought the best minds she could find to train her offspring. If the vision of a reunified Awldor was not Primrose's greatest contribution, then leaving behind a strong family line was.

The accomplishment and great skill displayed by the growing Helian tribe convinced many others to join them. Helia's prosperity and power grew so quickly that news of it quickly traveled to many ears across the continent. The Helians leveraged this newfound attention and the promise of their vision to establish their order over more lands. For a time, the Helians would wisely use their words and never the sword for which they were admired. Again, other small tribes willingly took their place in Helia's vision of a better world.

- The Growing Shadow -

So where did it all go wrong? Why did Helia put such an overemphasis on the prospects of one city? What motivated them to assemble the largest and fiercest army the continent has seen since the collapse? There are many ideas floated about and debated among those facing the looming prospect of being the next conquest of the Golden Horde. The Helians grew impatient over resistance to their gift of order. That someone loosed an ill-fated arrow against a representative of the proud Kingdom. The list goes on.

Not one idea seems to explain the slow downfall. Perhaps all reasons are valid and are best considered as an unholy concoction unleashed by the fates to keep the world down. A great joke of which all mortals suffer. The Helians still believe that they are bettering the world through their order. The Helians would flood the world with blood to purchase the next world order.

- Actions, not Intent -

Perhaps what the Helians forgot is that it is actions, not intent, that tend define one's place in history for all time. Intent will be rewritten and changed depending on who gets to write history. If the Helians write it, they are the saviors. If another writes it, the Helians will be remembered as monsters. This of course has no accounting for the preference of those who will come after. A scant few seekers will have a glimpse much less an understanding of the murky truth of motivations. What will remain long after the fact is the memory of those lost in the bloodshed. At least one would hope.

The Helians may yet see some semblance of the order they so zealously strive for. But their descendants will remember the blood that was spilled and they may not understand the reasons why. Should that day come the Kingdom of Helia, or rather the Empire of Helia, will collapse under the weight of its sins.

This duplicate was donated by the Free City of Centrum Historical Society to the Archivists Guild on the 4th of Terra 1277AGC with the author's and Chief Historian's signed permission.

— Marco Vassemeur, Chief Historian

Note(s) from the Archivists:

It's a very dramatic story when you think about it. Maybe I should've been a historian. - Archivist Bob 
Unfortunately we have to live through it. Or try to anyway. And by the way, being an archivist is way cooler. - Archivist Enna 
I think the Helians will face their collapse sooner than later. And yeah, being an archivist is cool. - Archivist Bob