Ephardia (pronounced eff-ARR-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 methods of combat. While the interior of Ephardia is mostly safe, trolls and ogres become much more common as one travels farther away from the cities.
Geography, flora, and fauna
Geography
Ephardia is the northwestern-most of the Hellean states, located north of the Greenwall and around the Alkyonides Sea. The region extends somewhat north and west past the Eurotas River. Ephardia includes the northern edge of the Greenwall (though few people live there), as well as the hilly lands at the northern terminus of the mountain range. The region also includes forests and grasslands, especially in the north and east. Many wetlands are located around the Eurotas River as well.
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 are broadly speaking 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. Giant devil’s teeth are also rumored to be found in the northern reaches of Ephardia.
Fauna
A wide range of animals live in Ephardia, including lions, lynx, wolves, otters, weasels, deer, and chamois. Birds such as pelicans, 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. Rocs, hydras, chimeras, and manticores are all unfortunately somewhat common.
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
Most of the population of Ephardia consists of 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, but not a large number. These centaurs mostly live in 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 often receives 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. Racial languages, especially Tengu, Dwarven, and Orcish, are also widespread. Roeda, the language of Rothurland, is also sometimes heard in Ephardian cities, as is 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 soldiers, mercenaries, and adventurers 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. It is important to note that these are not full constructs, as some have discovered when trying to use these statues to protect themselves - the statues are effectively animatronics.
The art of oration is a longstanding tradition in Ephardia, as it is in much of Hellea.
The udaeoi of Hellea carve depictions of dragons, weapons, and shields into their skins as body ornamentation. While most other people do not do this, tattooing of similar subject matter is commonplace. Many Ephardian mercenaries and adventurers will 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.
It is traditional for deceased Ephardian soldiers, mercenaries, and adventurers to be buried with their weapons used as grave markers. When hastily buried, these may just be set into the ground, but when afforded the time they are set into stones to ensure the weapons remain in place for longer.
Society
Joining the Ephardian military is seen as a respectable and honorable choice for a career. Many who join remain soldiers for life, whether they move up in the ranks or not. Some Ephardians who receive military training also become adventurers, using their experience to seek wealth and employment elsewhere. A disproportionate number of Hellean adventurers come from Ephardia. Most Ephardians, however, work as laborers of some type, whether agricultural or in urban environments. 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 regardless, 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 of the peninsula, 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 northeast side of the region. While parts of the Greenwall are considered to be Ephardian, few people live here and the area is rarely guarded save for the occasional patrol. The rural population 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 people 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 the 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 autocrats or noble republics. 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.
Economy
The Ephardian economy is broadly self-sufficient, and does not import or export large amounts of material. The food necessary to feed the region’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.