#helvai

I just realized It has been a little over two years since I uploaded the first drawing of my OC Dir va Sindthney. I also realized that I tend to draw him in similar poses, which is great to see how my art style changed in between these drawings. 

This map shows the part of the world where Tolka (the continent on the left) and Askol (on the right) meet, and the two strongest factions bordering the small sea. While most parts of northern Helvai are only sparsely populated, the area around the small sea has a long and rich tradition. History Humans first arrived on Askol via a land bridge from Tolka (the remains of which are today known as Chain islands). The oldest settlements in Askol are small fishing villages established all around the small sea. During that time extensive trade between these villages kept both continents connected. Worsening environmental conditions later on pushed the first settlers on Askol, and their relatives in Tolka southwards and the connection was lost. Without contact both sides started to develop independent from each other. The people known as "Ano" were forced out from the steppes and forests of central Tolka by the emerging Tscho'so and Hazreb. The remaining tribes were forced to settle in the hills behind the Rute mountains but were largely left to their own devices afterwards. These tribes later on formed the Rumanje coalition, which in various forms has endured to this day. The Proto-Askir on the other side of the sea were heavily influenced by the other cultures that arrived on Askol in the following centuries. At first the Prot-Askir began to spread across the plains of todays Novo. Most of them stayed on the northern side of the Grad mountains, only a minority moving south, following the coast line.The people staying settling the plains became the Olevit, while those who reached the eastern coast of Askol became the sea-faring Nonilinger. While the second great migration had a strong influence on the Askir living south of the mountains, those remaining in the north were largely unaffected. Only the third big migration changed this. The invasion of the Soni Empire forced many of the different cultures of southern Askol to finally cross the Grad mountains into todays Novo. This influx of new people, customs and traditions was the catalyst of the emerging of the Novir. Even though both cultures evolved separately for a long time, their shared roots can still be found in ancient myths, old sayings and the odd word here or there. Present day The Republic of Novo is by far the biggest player in the north. Its massiv population of 80 million works hard to further the industrialization of their country. Its modern, while tiny, navy in conjunction with coastal batteries all over the chain islands is strong enough to prevent any threat to Novos western coast. The Rumanje coaltion on the other hand with its population of only 5 million is limited in its growth due to rough terrain, the lack of arable land and technology. While the Rute mountains protect the coalition from raids and invaders coming from the plains of western Tolka, it wouldn't stand a chance against a sea born invasion from Askol. Even though the Republic of Novo completely dwarfs the Rumanje Coalition in almost all metrics (population, military power, technology), relations between these two remain largely peaceful. Novos attention is most of the time focused on its large southern border and its neighbors. The coalition on the other hand doesnt pose a thread to Novo and the lack of resources makes it largely unattractive. In addition, a large portion of the coastal Novo feel a certain kin ship with their distant cousins across the small sea. 

Another Character of the world Helvai. Dir va Sindthney is the Son of Lord-Regent Jan va Struss and this AU! equivalent of Lito va Struss. But instead of being of mixed Sindthney and Hasar heritage, Dir was born and raised in Sindthney. Dir is a rather quite person, he tends to overthink and only voices his opinion if he really has to. Dir was also born without his right eye. Instead of leaving it as it is, or giving him a eye badge, his overly superstitious mother got priests, mystics and medics from all over the nation to make him a prosthesis, inscribed with old wards, prayers and healing symbols. Dir feels bitter about his artificial eye and tends to wear his hair over his right eye. Sometimes people at the court call him "his fathers missing eye" behind his back. A nickname which he resents just as much as he resents his distant father. In this picture, Dir wears the traditional clothing of Sindthney nobility. Just like most people in Sindthney, Dir wears mostly muted colors. The pieces of violet and gold marking him as a prince of Sindthney. The only non-sindthney pieces are the small metal pendant and the black neckband. Both pieces he got when visited Poliis some time back. The metal pendants are a Brisbache tradition. People inscribe these small pendants with symbols, words or numbers that remind them of things they held dear. While the neckband is just a fashion fade.

Sketch of two OCs, Jan va Struss and Grís Var Paaris.Based on an old OTP Prompt I found on Tumblr. (Cant find the original, so If someone knows where this is from, message me so I can credit the creator)

A map of the Sonian Federation in an alternate Timeline Helvai. In this world Jan var Struss incident in his youth made him an ambitious and goal driven person. His rise to power started when he orchestrated the assassination of his father, the king of sindthney. After that, he formed a regency council, officially together with his other two siblings. But de-facto was he already the ruler of Sindthney. In just a few short years he transformed Sindthney with its vast resources into a industrial power house, while also, in secret, encouraging riots and rebellion in Brisbaches Territories in Askol and in the colonies. Forcing Brisbache to strain its resources. This also generated instability and even caused a rift between Normar and the government to appear. After all this preparation, in 852, Jan took a chance. A great part of Brisbaches army and navy was on its way to Tolka to crush another rebellion of the Hasar. Only garrison troops remained, most of which were of Normar origins. He got their sympathy as he presented himself as a strong leader and also emphasized his Nonilinger origins.So when the time was right, Jan started a coup de etat. Seizing the parliament, the military high command and radio stations all over Poliis. After he got the old government out of the picture he used his control over the media to make the population believe that the few loyal regiments have been the putschists. And to present himself as a strong leader who will guide Brisbache in this dark times. With both Sindthney and Brisbache under his control, Jan has become the most powerful man in Helvai. But he wasn't finished then. He either used diplomacy or simple bullying to force the nations of the sonian league into a ever closer union. Which in 857 became the Sonian Federation. The single strongest entity in all of history. Even surpassing the Soni Empire at its peak.

A map of the Republic of Brisbache and the dependent regions in 857 a.A. World Map Brisbache is a republic located at the eastern coast of Askol. Its one of the biggest powers in Helvai today with territories all around the world. Brisbache owns the largest fleet ever seen and employs a highly effectiv army and a network of naval bases in all oceans. All to protect its great number of merchants. Merchants from Brisbache have the reputation to always be where there is some profit to make. Other nations even have a saying that, "its only a real harbor when you can find a merchant form brisbache." Brisbaches success is only possible because of its unique political system. Brisbache is not just one state but many interwoven levels of states, treaties and territories. Brisbache And its core, the republic is a democratic state on the Kuvir Isles. Its capital, the city of Poliis is at the same time one of the biggest and oldest cities in Askol. Its also home to all three pillars of the state. The first pillar is the president of the republic. Elected in two rounds by the people of brisbache for 5 years, with no term limit. The second pillar is the parliament. Its members are elected by representives of local goverments (like city councils). They form the legislativ body of the republic. Its head is the Speaker of the parliament, elected by a 60% majority of all members of the parliament. And the third pillar is the high command of the armed forces made up by officiors of all nations part of the sonian league. These three pillars are responsible for their respectiv field but they all are subordinated to the Triumvirate. The Triumvirate is the highest level of power in the republic. Its made of the President of brisbache, the Speaker of the parliament and the Lord-Generell. Dependent Regions On the next level you have the dependent regions. A dependent region is a highly autonoumuse entity within the political system of brisbache. On the one side, a dependent region is free to chose their own system of goverment, pass new laws (but with some limitations) and raise taxes. On the other side, they have to pay a tithe at the republic, a certain share of people have to serve in the millitary or in the merchant fleet and they have no say in the inner politics of the republic. Instead, dependent regions are organized into the council of dependent regions where a mayority of 5 out of 8 votes can block decisions that would have strong effect on the regions (like declaring war or raising special taxes) In 857. the council is made of 4 nations: Normar: Home to the Nonilinger and most popouluse of the 4. Kuvirvan: made of two parts, the island of Kuvirvan right next to Novo and the northern Islands which range from Askol to the coast of Tolka Karebras: a monk republic located on the archipelago between the Kuvir Isles and mainland Askol. Hasar: a territory in south-west Tolka inhabitated by a mix of local sinpuri and kuviran settlers that left Askol 400 years ago. Sonian League The last level of Brisbaches power is the Sonian League. In theory, the sonian league is a millitary alliance of Lazonia, Este, Colonia, Kapa and Sindthney and lead by Brisbache as its strongest member. De-facto is the league an instrument of Brisbache influenze and controll. Over the years, some members have become so dependent on Brisbache that they are not far from reaching a autonomy level of the dependent regions. Example for this is Sindthney which reaches levels comparable to before becoming independent 200 years ago. Notable Cities And at last some informations to the cities marked in this map - Poliis (Capital of Brisbache, 1.1M) - Manalrin (Capital of Karebras, 100K) - Vortanonza (Capital of Normar, 150K) - Va Stur (Capital of Kuvirvan, 80K) - Albir (Capital of the Northern Islands, important naval bays protecting the sea-lane to Tolka, 120K)

"Lonely Wizard" This is a wizard in service to one of the local lords in eastern novo. Normaly a wizard, when found will either be send into exile or killed. But some more ambitious lords take them in, hoping to gain an edge in the competition with the other rulers. But even when under protection, the life of a wizard is not a good one. They have to alway wear something over their eyes so that nobody gets exposed to their evil eye (they have to find their way with the help of their staff). They also have to either take a vow of silence or they get their tongue removed. Additional they have to wear special clothes and a collection of wind chimes and bells. All to announce their presents even from far away. So that normal citizen can avoid them. All in all, a wizard is a social pariah and he will always be lonely, even when in the middle of a crowd. Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 (nothing, sorry) Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

"Crow Goddess" Another piece for Helvai. One of the 4 gods of Novo, Wege, the goddess of death and justice. Crows are associated with death and death, for the novorians, is the ultimate form of justice with no coming back from. This also leads to the absent of the capital punishment in novo as they think only the gods can decide this. This picture is similar to my last portrait of Janus II, as both are religious painting from around the same time. Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 (nothing, sorry) Day 6 Day 7 Day 8