The Helvet’ine is a tribe of the Kuglimz’torik ("Home Tribes") that resides in the Southwest area of Northern Sarvonia. As the type of tribe, Kuglimz’torik denotes, this is one of the Kuglimz that centers its life around the hills of the Celeste Lowlands and the fortresses that are inevitably constructed upon those hills. This tribe holds some of the prime land in the Celeste Lowlands. Their land is cupped by the Heir’jyrl ("Horn River)" to the southwest and the Heir’otorm ("Snake River"), both rivers are out branches of the Luquador River. Also contained in their land is the group of tall hills known as the Beinaz’mur ("Three Sisters"). Because of the amount of land this tribe holds, along with the natural protection of the two rivers, they are considered the most powerful of the Kuglimz’torik.

Image description. A Helvet'ine Kuglim lancer patrolling his territory on his heavily armoured Kev'lor war horse. Picture drawn by Eratinalinfalah.

Appearance. The Helvet’ine are like most Kuglimz, the men are on average between 2 and 2 ¼ peds in height. They are of big bone and fair complexion. While the Kuglimz’ura of the west coast have red hair, many of the Kuglimz’torik seem to favor more of a blonde color. They of course have their hair hang in braids with iron rings throughout it. The women are all nearly 2 peds in height as well as having long blondish hair, though they wear theirs in one long braid.

Coat of Arms/Sign. The Brave Helvet tribe's coat of arms consists of a golden eagle spread upon it. Grasped within the claws of the eagle is a golden lance. The design comes straight out of the Helvet’ine myths. It is told that when Helvet left Sur’tyan, the All-Father, he was gifted with a great lance, with which he wrought great pain and sorrow upon his enemies. Then, during the time of the Great Darkness, Helvet was taking his people and safeguarding them from the orcs. During one of the many days of night, a golden eagle appeared to Helvet and led him and his people to the place they are today.

Territory. As the type of tribe, Kuglimz’torik denotes, this is one of the Kuglimz that centers its life around the hills of the Celeste Lowlands and the fortresses that are inevitably constructed upon those hills. This tribe holds some of the prime land in the Celeste Lowlands. Their land is cupped by the Heir’jyrl ("Horn River") to the southwest and the Heir’otorm ("Snake River"), both rivers are out branches of the Luquador River. Also contained in their land is the group of tall hills known as the Beinaz’mur ("Three Sisters"). Because of the amount of land this tribe holds, along with the natural protection of the two rivers, they are considered the most powerful of the Kuglimz’torik.

People. The Helvet'ine are the center of the Kuglimz'torik, and thus they have a strong sense of pride in this position. Others among the Kuglimz have at times thought of the Helvet'ine as brusque and arrogant. This is true of many of the men, however others are simply confident of their personal strength and the power of their tribe.

Picture description. The standard of the Helvet'ine Kuglim. Designed by Koldar Mondrakken.

Housing. The Helvet’ine have three main cities, each city is located on a separate hill of Beinaz’mur. A strong fortress of cut stone with strong bulwarks crowns the top of each hill. Below the fortress is the town where the craftsmen and merchants live. In many Kuglimz’torik this is enclosed with a sharpened timber wall, the Helvet’ine though have used stone around these towns as well. Although the stonewalls are not nearly as thick or high as that of the fortress they are still solid. A straight road runs from within the fortress, through the town, and to the base of the hill, this better allows a mounted charge to deploy with great force behind them. Clustered at the base of each hill are the homes of the farmers, herders, and foresters. These are not protected with a wall; the villagers simply go up the hill into the town when there is trouble.

The three main cities are as follows:

• Lu’Cargnathia (City of Cargnathia)
  This is the most northerly city. It is the Helvet’ine center of trade. Items traded with the Trk’matiu and the Fird’gormz come through this city before heading to the other two cities. There are also quite a few blacksmiths as the raw iron that comes from the Fird’gormz is smelted and then finished products are sent out to the other cities and tribes.

• Lu’Weilima (City of Weilima)
  This is the central city of the three. It is the center of government, and of the Helvet’ine as a whole. Here the Chieftain of the tribe sits, governing and meeting out justice as needs be. The great temples of Sur’tyan and Helvet are here as well. The city boasts the most grandiose temple in honor of Sur’tyan. Many who travel through the land of the Helvet’ine stop through Lu’Weilima, if for no other reason then to admire the great temples.

• Lu’Diedrema (City of Diedrema)
  The last city of the Beinaz’mur is a strange mixture. On one hand it is pastoral as it is the center of agriculture, looking over the most fertile land of the Helvet’ine, but on the other due to it’s proximity to three other tribes it is also the most fortified. Time after time troops have broken against it’s walls and the town below its fortress has been rebuilt, but it still remains the cornerstone of the Helvet’ine power.

Clothing. Every tribe seems to prefer one color or a set of colors above several others. This tribe is no exception. The Helvet’ine tend to prefer golds and black. Getting the rare gold color from the Alth’tiert ("Yellow Plant"). As with nearly all Kuglimz, there is a set of summer and winter clothing.

In summer men wear an elbow length tunic that reaches to mid thigh and a pair of breeches. The type of material used depends upon the use of the garment. Leather and wool are mainly used for lower and middle class people, or for when work needs to be done. Wealthier people have clothes of linen, as it can take and retain dye better. The necks are done in a keyhole fashion, and embroidered around the opening. The cuffs are embroidered as well. One thing that sets the clothing of the Helvet’ine apart is the fact that they also embroider a line from top to bottom, this gives the tunic a more divided feel to it. Women wear a dress where the sleeves stop at the elbow and the bottom at a little below the knee. Fabric use follows the same rule as the men. The neck is a much more modest round cut. It is embroidered around the neck and the hem, with two embroidered lines as well. One line of embroidery runs from neck to hem, like a man’s, the other running around the dress at the hip area.

In winter fur is used liberally due to the climate. The fur of the Nul’tum is used most often due to the natural dark coloring. Men’s tunics in winter reach to just above their knees and the sleeves go all the way to the hand. These tunics have a short slit up either side to accommodate riding. The same embroidering patterns apply. A cloak of Nul’tum fur, clasped with a heavy chain that is usually gold, also often accompanies these tunics. Or, in the case of the poorer citizens a metal or leather chain that is painted or dyed. The only real difference with the women’s clothing is that the sleeves now go to the hand, and the dress falls all of the way to the floor.

Diet. The nul'tum makes up a fair amount of the diet of this tribe, as when the Helvet'ine trade with the Trk'matiu they don't only trade for the fur, but rather the whole animal. Deer and bear make up much of the rest of their diet, however woolly boar is eaten at feasts and special occasions.

Image description. View on the Kuglim territory at the western half of the Celeste Lowlands with its nine grassy hills leading up to the Celeste Mountains. Picture by Eratin.

Weapons. The Kuglimz’torik are all considered heavy cavalry, and the Helvet’ine are no exception to this. They wear a heavy chain mail or light plate mail, and cover their horses in the same manor. They use a heavy bow to fire once or twice then charge into battle. Lances, long swords, maces, and axes are all commonly used. However, the Helvet’ine are most known and feared for their use of the lance. Among the Kuglimz’torik they use the heaviest lance, and wield it more proficiently than the others do their lighter ones. When charging, especially down hill, the lance can pierce, shield, armor and flesh. It is said the most feared sight is that of a vengeful Helvet’ine charging downhill with a heavy lance.

Occupations. [...]

Government. The government of the Kuglimz’torik is a tribal system where the Dirg’mystrume ("battle leader") is the chief. This is not necessarily a hereditary position, but is rather one that voted on by the elders and wealthy men of the tribe. He then determines what is best for the tribe, though given almost complete power, if the tribe feels he has not been strong enough to make them prosper then they will either dismiss or kill him. Unlike the Kuglimz’ura the Kuglimz’torik are a bit more civilized and a Dirg’mystrume has not been killed for generations. He has simply been put in command of front line troops so that he may prove his valor. Priests are another powerful force, though they often lose most of their real world power due to squabbles between the priests of Sur’tyan and the priests of the Vir’togz.

Production/Trade. Trade is the reason for much of the Helvet’ine wealth. Internal trade stays the same throughout the Kuglimz. Labor, food, and finished goods are often traded for fabric, weapons, and the like. As far as external trade goes, most of the trading is done with the Fird’gormz tribe in the North. The Helvet’ine trade food, clothing, weapons, and finished goods for raw iron and whole Alth’tiert leaves. They then use the iron to make weapons, and the Alth’tiert leaves to make dye. These two things they trade with other tribes for a considerable profit. Another main trade partner is the Trk’matiu, though this is more of a luxury than a necessity. The trade is almost exclusively in Nul’tum fur and fish, both items that are destined for use by the wealthy.

Natural Resources. [...]

Holidays, Festivals and Observances. The Helvet’ine observe Taug’rik’tyan, and Taug’alth’ho along with the rest of the Kuglimz people. In addition they celebrate Taug’mystrume’keir ("Feast of the Holy Battle"). This is a feast that was begun by the priests the day that the great temple to Sur’tyan was finished. It celebrates his power and ingenuity in manifesting into a physical form and creating Caelereth. This is held toward late summer, during the longest day of the year.

History. Like all Kuglimz, the Helvet’ine are a fragmented part of the once great kingdom of Minar (or Mynian Kingdom), that was shattered and whose populace was scattered. A brave hunter that brought them away from their old lands safely led them to Beinaz’mur, which he had named for his three sisters that had died during the Year of the Burning Night. All of this though is shrouded in myth as no histories have been kept since the fall of the Mynian kingdom. He was aggrandized as one of the ten great Vir’togz, who fought savagely against the orcs and when all was lost struggled on to lead them to where they now are.