Ephardia (pronounced eh-FAR-dee-ah) is led by the hero-goddess Phileia, who ascended after completing the Seven Challenges. Under her rule Ephardia has become a major martial center in Hellea, with many prospective students traveling there to learn various styles of combat. Unease has grown in the nation in recent years as Phileia has retreated from public life while at the same time the conflicts between the Halakran League and Iaramnae inflame once more, threatening to draw in even Ephardia on the other side of the Greenwall.
Geography, flora, and fauna
Geography
Ephardia is the northwestern-most of the Hellean states, located around the Alkyonides Sea north and west of the Greenwall. The region extends somewhat west past the Eurotas River, though not so far as the Naveza River. Ephardia claims territory along the northern and western edges of the Greenwall, despite the region's notably low population. Temperate forests, grasslands, wetlands, and montane uplands can all be found within Ephardia.
Climate
The climate of Ephardia is cooler than most of the rest of Hellea. Summers are usually warm to mild and winters are colder and often bring snow. Temperatures, broadly speaking, are cooler in the north and within the Greenwall. Like with the Philiraki Peninsula to the south, storms that formed in the Sea of Khoros often make landfall in Ephardia, bringing with them large amounts of rain in the summer months.
Flora
The forests of Ephardia are primarily comprised of oaks, spruces, beeches, and black pines. The forests and wetlands are known to also hold dangerous plants, such as archer bushes, witherweed, and stranglereed.
Fauna
A wide range of animals live in Ephardia, including lions, lynx, wolves, otters, weasels, deer, and chamois. Birds such as eagles and vultures are common as well. Many magical creatures can also be found in Ephardia, especially in the frontier area of the northwest and in the mountains of the Greenwall, including rocs, hydras, chimeras, and manticores, just to name a few.
Formerly wild, the Diomedian horses have been tamed and are now kept in specially-built stables in Elos. These horses are in the sole possession of Phileia, who generally only brings them out for special occasions.
Though rare, some sightings have been reported over the centuries of cerynitis in Hellea, and especially in the forests of southeast Ephardia. Despite their intelligence, some hunt these magical beasts for their extremely valuable horns and golden pelt. Others view these animals as worthy of respect and even seek them out for advice, sometimes leading to conflict with those who hunt them.
Demographics
The population of Ephardia primarily includes humans, half-elves, dwarves, and tengu. Individuals of other ancestries are present in smaller proportions, including notably a fairly sizable orcish population.
Some centaurs live in Ephardia, mostly along the northern edge of the Greenwall away from large population centers.
Especially in the northern and southern reaches of the region, trolls, ogres, and giants (including ubues) are somewhat common in Ephardia. Some are friendly to smaller folk but most are not.
Culture
See Hellea for more information on culture, geography, and history that is common to the nations of the peninsula.
Religion
The Hellean hero-gods are widely worshiped in Ephardia; their ruler Phileia is a particularly important hero-god in the region. She resides in her temple in Elos, where she once received her faithful in person. Phileia's clergy are largely warpriests who are masters of bladed weapons, and not only lead religious services but also provide martial training to those who wish to learn. A disproportionate number of these clergy are tengu. The other hero-gods are followed as well to lesser degrees.
Besides worshiping their ruler, the people of Ephardia also follow the gods of the Hellean pantheon. Hemera, Khalkeus, and Lycia are all popular among different segments of the Ephardian population. Generally Ephardians particularly emphasize deities that include combat and/or honor among their areas of interest. The Mithraian/Lycian saint Koroibos also has a large following in Ephardia.
Languages
Hellean is by far the most frequently spoken language in Ephardia, followed by Common. Ancestral languages, especially Tengu, Dwarven, and Orcish, are also widespread. Roeda, the language of Rothurland, is also sometimes heard in Ephardian cities, as are Thadrian and Telan, if to a lesser degree.
Arts
Epic poems with accompaniment are one of the most popular forms of Ephardian music, especially those that tell tales of great heroes or past battles. Ephardian adventuring groups often include bards that perform these to provide motivation and encouragement to their party members.
Many Ephardian adventurers and mercenaries decorate their weaponry, frequently inscribing personal mottoes into their blades. This practice is generally something that one does to their own weapon, rather than having it done by a skilled craftsperson.
It is a well-established Hellean art to sculpt very realistic statues and then infuse them with magic to make them appear to come to life. In Ephardia, sculptors particularly emphasize statues depicting heroes and battles. Some even make their sculptures have eternal mock battles with each other.
The art of oration is a longstanding tradition in Ephardia, as it is in much of Hellea.
Relatively unusually for Hellea, tattooing is somewhat commonplace in Ephardia, though primarily practiced by mercenaries, adventurers, and others who are considered to occupy the space between city life and the wilds. Many particularly renowned or boastful figures get tattoos depicting dangerous creatures they have defeated.
Traditions
As Ephardia has a large tengu population, the inhabitants of the region in general have adapted many cultural traditions and aspects from other peoples, more so than the rest of Hellea. This includes cuisine, holidays, art, and other related matters.
Society
With its long and storied tradition of heroic figures, a disproportionate number of Hellean adventurers hail from Ephardia. Some call Ephardia the birthplace of hero-gods, as even aside from those who have been born in the nation, many find the nation to be a fertile ground to build their legacy through heroic deeds.
Ephardian blacksmiths are known to produce exceptionally high quality works, especially swords and other bladed weaponry. Some say they can even rival the dwarves of Barat Rkund in their craftsmanship.
Especially under the rule of Phileia, Ephardia has become well-regarded as a place to travel if one wishes to receive martial training. The Ephardian military accepts recruits from foreign countries and provides them with training all the same. While most end up leaving eventually, to become mercenaries, adventurers, or the like, this is not viewed negatively. Instead, foreign recruits are welcomed as they often bring with them methods or equipment that the Ephardian masters can incorporate into their own repertoire.
Fencing and dueling are popular recreational activities in Ephardia, as are tests of physical prowess in general. More intellectually-minded pursuits are also favored, especially games like chess or wargames that emphasize strategic thinking and planning.
Architecture and urbanization
Quite similar to elsewhere in Hellea, Ephardian architecture takes a variety of forms, depending on the purpose of the building. Most immediately striking are the palaces and temples, with their tall marble columns, grand arches, gabled roofs, and detailed reliefs carved in the walls. More mundane buildings are usually built of stone, brick, and stucco. Whether buildings are ceremonial or domestic, Hellean architecture emphasizes open space - tall hallways, paths, and courtyards are all common. Floors, at least for those who can afford them, are usually made of polished stone or mosaics. These mosaics generally depict something related to the purpose of the building. An apothecary’s shop, for example, might have a mosaic showing plants sold there or the owner of the shop tending to them.
The population of Ephardia mostly lives in the northeastern parts of the nation. While much of the Greenwall is claimed by Ephardia, few people live there and the area is rarely guarded save for the occasional patrol. The rural population of Ephardia is quite sizable but proportionally comparable to other regions in Hellea.
Travel
Most people who intend to travel the Asterian Trail pass through Ephardia first, stocking up on supplies and the like before reaching Dymaza. It is not uncommon for travelers to hire Ephardian mercenaries to guard them on their journey, as most are well aware of the dangers the Trail can hold.
Magic
Those from Ephardia who are practitioners of magical arts tend to use this magic to either assist in combat, like magi, or assist their allies, like bards and skalds. Most of these individuals are self-taught or received their magical training elsewhere - Ephardia does not have major institutes of magical learning.
Government
Phileia rules Ephardia as an absolute autocrat, but her role is not hereditary. She has not appointed a successor and it is unknown who will take over after her. This is fairly standard for Ephardia - the region has switched between many rulers and forms of governance over its history. Most commonly the region is led by dictatorial autocrats or as a noble republic. One commonality, however, is that all prospective rulers of Ephardia must seek and receive the support of the Dikastes, an influential and professional unit of Ephardia's military. Without their explicit approval, any ruler frequently finds themselves deposed.
Under the central leadership, cities are mostly governed as noble republics, with mayors elected from local families of note. Smaller towns and villages are nominally under the same system but in practice are granted a large degree of autonomy.
Phileia's recent absence from public life has caused much tension and unrest in Ephardia, especially against the backdrop of the Halakran and Iaramnaen conflicts elsewhere on the peninsula. Many fear the strength the hero-goddess once projected has faltered, especially amidst rumors of her worsening health. Some have begun to talk with concerned voices about what will happen to their nation once she eventually and inevitably succumbs to old age, wondering if anyone else could resist the influences to be pulled into what looks like the embers of large-scale war.
Economy
The food necessary to feed Ephardia's inhabitants is mostly grown locally, and there are enough natural resources nearby to support the industry of the region. If one can brave the dangerous creatures living there, the northern peaks of the Greenwalls hold a trove of mineral wealth.
A sizable proportion of Ephardian mercenaries abroad send a fraction of their earnings back home to their families, which makes for a not insignificant part of Ephardia's economy.
Relations
Despite being located on completely the opposite side of the Hellean peninsula from Iaramnae, and separated from the Halakran League by the Greenwall, the ongoing conflicts between those two nations have affected Ephardia all the same. As both vie for control and influence over Hellea, eyes have turned towards Ephardia's military expertise and long and storied history of great heroes, adventurers, and commanders. While so far Phileia and her advisors have discouraged Halakran and Iaramnaen attempts to hire Ephardian mercenaries, even with their promises of great wealth and territory, many have joined both sides regardless. There have been many instances of these mercenaries finding themselves on opposite lines of a skirmish or battle, fighting for pay those they once called brethren.