Helbrhannîon
Stronghold of the Half-Elf rebels
“They’re still patrolling the coast!” Barinthin looked worried as he entered The Two Swords. The men who met his gaze shared his concern. They were all strong half-elves, none older than 35, but they were worn down, and their eyes reflected the horrors of war.
“Damn elves,” muttered one of them. “May Khadun take them! No offense to you, of course, barkeep.” The tall elf behind the counter grinned in acknowledgment. Rumor had it that he had single-handedly sunk the ship he once served on as a mariner in the navy of Talandhir.
“That reminds me,” the elf said, still grinning, “I heard someone say that a shipment of heavy lances from Taer Boran is bound for the elves.” Barinthin and his companions looked up with interest. “They’re going to be transported through the Great Forest. Orklosh knows why…” But the half-elves were already on their feet, tossing a few coins onto the table—more than necessary for the little they had drunk. The barkeep only watched them leave with a bitter grin.
Until the year 948 TA, Helbrhannîon was a province of the elven kingdom of Talandhir. Most of its inhabitants were half-elves and humans, working in the mines of the Blithyn Mountains or cultivating the parts of the Great Forest avoided by the elves. When Talandhir enacted a law in 948 TA that stripped half-elves and humans of important fundamental rights, a rebellion erupted, plunging the province into a civil war that lasted several years. Talandhir, underestimating the threat, failed to use its massive fleet effectively, allowing the rebels, with their well-trained and highly motivated archers, to hold the narrow border with Talandhir and decimate the ineffective elven infantry. This led to the loosening of the laws in Talandhir, but Helbrhannîon remained independent.
Today, the leaders of the rebellion rule over Helbrhannîon, headed by the revered couple, Kicerin and Nicar, who were a prominent sight on the front lines of the conflict. The elven kingdom continuously tries to force the smaller realm into submission through economic pressure, mainly by blockading its harbors, and military strikes from land and from the sea. Talandhir is negotiating with Farendur, Kadorn, Taer Boran and the other former provinces of Tar Maranth for the economic isolation of Helbrhannîon. Helbrhannîon’s ships must always be on guard against Talandhir’s warships.
Helbrhannîon is surprisingly poor in natural resources, with the “green iron” (Tilhin) found in the Blithyn Mountains being its major source of income. The two mines under its control are one of the main reasons the elves are pushing for reunification with Helbrhannîon. However, there is an abundance of wood in the Great Forest, and the agricultural and livestock industries are advanced enough to provide for the country’s inhabitants.
The religion of Helbrhannîon is divided between the human faith of Tar Maranth, the younger gods of the orcs (as there are also half-orcs in Helbrhannîon), and the decadent gods of the elves.
Helbrhannîon lags behind other nations in the field of magic. Only the magical fringe sciences of herbalism, astrology, and alchemy are widely practiced, mostly by the women of Helbrhannîon. A university for astrology and alchemy was established in the capital a short while ago, and star-gazers from many lands, especially Taer Boran, Verintan and Zarandir, have since visited Helbrhannîon to hone their skills. The kinship with the mages in Taer Boran and Kadorn might offer Helbrhannîon new opportunities, perhaps even enough to balance the overwhelming power of the elves, and it has been rumored that representatives of the Circle of Twelve have been spotted in the realm as well.