Helinika

The Kingdom of Helinika ( : Vasíleio tou Helinika), is a  located in eastern Artemia, in Anterra.

Helinika is a Stratocracy in which 8 provinces are ruled by military governors and one is ruled by the Emperor. The Emperor is commander in chief of the Helinikan Armed Forces (HAF) and wields significant power having the final say in matters concerning the executive branch of government. The current emperor is Emperor Ajax III, crowned on September 11, 2003. The capital of Helinika is Drachyro which has a population of xxx.

History
The Kingdom of Helinika was founded in XXX following the Third Unification War in xxx. Helinika was initially a complete monarchy where in theory, the Emperor had complete control. In practice, much of the power was held by the Emperor's advisors. overtime, the Emperor began delegating more and more responsibilities to his advisors and by 1272, almost all of the governing was being done by the Emperors 8 advisors. Initially, the Emperor's council was made up of the best and brightest individuals but for most of history, the council was made up of relatively incompetent individuals put in power to make political alliances. By the time the XXX revolt happened in 1324, the Emperor's advisors had come from the same 8 families for nearly a century and a half.

XXX Revolt
In July of 1324, concerned about Emperor Dimitrios VI's aggressive attitude towards the powerful Council of Advisors, Lord Kondos of Deimos, advisor of War, rallied the other members of the Council of Advisors and marched on Drachyro with 40,000 soldiers including 35,000 soldiers levied from Vassal states of the 8 lords of the Council of Advisors, and 5,000 mercenaries. During the 8 month campaign, 5 major battles were fought along with countless sieges and skirmishes. In March of 1325, the rebel army met the Royal Helinikan Army on the field of battle outside of the historical town of Palais which was roughly 15 miles away from Drachyro. The battle resulted in a decisive rebel victory crushing the Royal army killing 15,000 Royal Soldiers and clearing the way for the march on Drachyro. The Siege of Drachyro took an additional 6 months and ended when starving peasants who had taken refuge in the city revolted and opened the gates. In the aftermath of the revolt, Emperor Dimitrios VI was executed and Kondos I ascended the throne. In a power grab, the 7 other Lords leading the revolt refused to support Kondos I's claim unless he agreed to provide them more power. This demand was met readily and thus formed the Council of Higher Lords which would later be known as the Council of Governors.

Vosjiky War
Helinikan Participation in the Vosjiky war began on . Due to relatively low popular support for the war, the Helinikan Rovsnovskan frontline was for the most part stagnant. In , sensing the war was drawing to an end, Grand Marshal Alex Kostatos began Operation Blue Claw which involved a spearhead designed to push deep into Rovsnovski territory and seize as much land as possible before the war's conclusion.

Geography
The Kingdom of Helinika is located on the continent of Artemia east of Propyrgia and west of Rovsnoska and Poja. It shares a maritime border with Zamakia. It is hilly with fertile land. It has a short mountain range along its coast.

Climate
Helinika has a Mediterranean climate in the south along the coast and a humid continental climate in the interior.

Gun Ownership
The Kingdom of Helinika permits the ownership of small caliber handguns and requires additional licenses for the ownership of long rifles and short-barrel rifles. The Private Ownership of explosives by individuals is outlawed as well as the ownership of automatic firearms.

Women's Rights
The Helinikan Government believes in total equality provided that it does not impede or reduce the efficiency of Helinikan assets and initiatives. Women are subject to the same conscription laws as men but while female soldiers do exist, they are considered rare and more often than not, women are assigned to non-combat or relatively low-risk roles. Due to this, female soldiers often serve as tankers, aviators, sailors, or support personnel such as nurses, cooks, truck drivers, etc.

Abortion
Due to the common belief of xxx religion, abortion in Helinika is reserved for pregnancies that would risk the life of the mother or if the child has extreme risk of mental deficiency. In cases of physical deformity, parents are offered the choice of keeping the child or giving the child to the xxx program.

Welfare
The Helinikan Government provides welfare to those who require it in the form of actions or services rather than money.

Homelessness
The Helinikan Government provides homeless peoples with the choice of living in government-provided housing or finding some other stable source of shelter. Those who elect to use government-provided housing are moved to a housing unit. These housing units are constructed out of concrete and designed to have the bare minimum. They provide residents with housing as well as other services such as free utilities, food, job location services, and limited healthcare.

Unemployment
Once somebody in Helinika is considered unemployed or without a stable source of income for over 6 months, they are given an ultimatum by the Helinikan Government. They must find a stable source of income within the next six months or they will be provided a job by the HUA (Helinikan Unemployment Administration). Those who find themselves employed by the HUA will often be sent to state-owned corporations where they will be assigned a position fitting to their education level.

Healthcare
Helinika offers Universal healthcare within reason. Most injuries and illnesses are treated with minimal cost to the people but certain cases, such as drug consumption or injuries obtained while resisting arrest will not be covered and will instead be paid for by the injured party.

Government
The Government of Helinika is comprised of two parts. The Council of Governors and the Senate of the People. The Council of Governors is comprised of the 8 governors of Stymphos, Meridos, Aethos, Spatha, Thebes, xxx, xxx, and xxx as well as the emperor who serves as the governor of Drakos. The senate of the people is comprised of 400 senators with 2 senators per 100,000 constituents.

The Council of Governors
The Council of Governors primary goal is to maintain peace and stability as well as offer counsel to the emperor. While the Council offers advice, they do not have much actual power as the Emperor's word is final despite the governors. That being said, the governors can depose the emperor should the need arise. If a 3/4 majority deems the emperor unfit to rule the emperor is required by the constitution to step down. Should the emperor refuse to step down, it is the responsibility of the governors to forcibly remove him. To date, no emperor has been forcibly removed. The Governors are also responsible for the selection of a new emperor. Each emperor is selected from the previous council of Governors by a 3/4 majority vote. Each governor must vote for someone other than themselves. Each governor rules over one state and is responsible for enforcing the law, collecting taxes, and maintaining peace and stability, as well as recruitment and conscription of soldiers in times of war. Each governor receives command of 1 legion for border defense and law enforcement and serves until their death or removal.

Election of Governors
Each governor is selected when the previous governor either dies or is deemed unfit to rule. Once a governor is removed or dies, the province he represents holds an election in which the people are given a list of approved candidates. The candidate with the most votes is selected and sent to represent that province on the Council of Governors.

The Senate of the People
The Senate of the People is the civilian legislative branch that is responsible for passing laws. The Senate is comprised of 400 individuals elected in regional elections. These representatives are then sent to Drakhold where the senate will remain in session for 3/4 of the year. For the remaining quarter of the year, they will be in recess and allowed to raise election funds and return to their homes. While The Senate of the People has power in writing laws, the majority of the laws they write are to legitimize the decisions made by the Council of Governors. Additionally, the Council of Governors is allowed to put forth legislation they believe to be beneficial to Helinika for the senate to pass. Each senator serves for 6 years and is allowed 2 terms as senator.

Parties

 * Nationalist party
 * The primary ruling party, the Nationalist Party believes in a strong central government and maintaining a powerful nation.
 * Green Party
 * The smallest party, the Green Party believes that Helinikan Industrialisation is harmful to the environment and must be curbed.

Law Enforcement and criminal justice
The Kingdom of Helinika has a Draconian legal system in which crimes are punished by lashes, fines, prison time, and death. All accused criminals are given a trial in which to plead their guilt or explain the causes behind the crime. Each Criminal receives a public defender and receives a trial from 3 judges who will decide the guilt and the punishment of the accused.

Local Police
Due to the proliferation of firearms within Helinika, police officers are typically armed with Hand Guns and wear body armor. They patrol in pairs and respond to normal calls. Special Police Units are a QRF force of 4-6 officers armed with Sub Machine Guns, handguns, and body armor. They typically remain out of sight in a specific region of the city and respond to calls involving multiple or dangerous individuals. Within their van, they typically carry additional equipment including riot gear and medical gear. Police are typically maintained and funded on a local level although provincial and federal police do exist.

Provincial Police
Provincial Police is a provincial-level police force that typically patrols areas in between local Police jurisdictions including in the countryside.

Federal Police
Federal Police is a nationwide level police force that deals with organized crime and large threats to domestic security.

Narcotics Intervention Division (TPN)
The Narcotics Intervention Division is a subgroup of the Federal Police Force responsible for counter drug smuggling operations. They often partner with the Coastal Defense Force, Naval Security Force, and Border Security Force to protect Helinika from drugs brought in abroad.

Police Response
Helinikan Police Response is typically divided into 5 levels. Level 1 is the most common and includes a single patrol unit responding and is normally used for most crimes. Level 2 includes multiple patrol units responding and is used in case of a suspect with an active warrant or resisting arrest. Level 3 involves a Special Police Unit intervention and is typically reserved for violent crimes involving armed individuals. Level 4 involves OMAA (Federal Urban Response Unit) intervention and is reserved for high importance crimes including the hostage crisis or any crime involving a high-value target. Level 5 is a Civil Guard response and is only used in times of great civil unrest including extended riots or foreign invasion.

Border Security Forces
The Border Security Forces are a Police force responsible for patrolling Helinikas Borders as well as seaports of international importance, and international airports. They patrol land-based borders with ATV's, Trucks, and Camels. They Patrol the coast in conjunction with the Helinikan Royal Navy. The Border Security Forces also assist in garrisoning the Border Outposts as well as maintaining them.

Mobilization Levels
Current Level: 2 There are 4 stages of Mobilization for the Helinikan Armed Forces. Level 1 is a basic force of 7 Civil Guard brigades to defend the 7 Provinces. Level 2 mobilization is maintenance of a standing military of 4 divisions to supplement the Civil Guard Brigades and defend the borders from foreign threats. Level 3 mobilization is in anticipation of conflict and involves mobilizing reserve divisions. Level 4 mobilization is in an event of a war. All reserves are mobilized and conscription begins as well as the formation of additional divisions.

Special Operations
The Kingdom of Helinika Special Operations Command (VHEDE) is a branch of the Helinikan Armed Forces responsible for overseeing Special Operations and Counter-Insurgency operations. The Special Operations units within under the VHEDE include the Special Reconnaissance Unit and Titans.

Special Reconnaissance Unit
The Special Reconnaissance Unit is the Special Operations unit responsible for reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines. They are further divided into Sniper Scouts, and Scout Teams. Sniper scouts are amongst the best-trained snipers in the world and normally operate alone or in pairs. The Scout Teams are responsible for sabotage and partisan actions deep behind enemy lines. They normally operate in teams of 4-6.

Titans
Titans are the most common type of Special Operations unit and are used along with regular infantry as shock troopers. They are frequently used to clear hardpoints and fortifications.

Civil Guard
The Civil Guard is a province-level military force that is responsible for responding to crises within its specific province. These forces are maintained by the province they are based in but can be called upon by the Federal Government in times of need.

Mining
Helinikan Mining makes up a major industry producing metals such as iron, gold, tin, tungsten, silver, aluminum, platinum, and copper as well as precious gems like diamond, emerald, and ruby. These metals are produced and refined within Helinika fueling a large portion of the economy.

Precious Metals
Some of the primary industries within Helinika are mining precious metals, the refining of precious metals, and the production of goods using these precious metals. This industry dates back thousands of years starting with Helenik steel. One of Helinika’s first major exports was Helenik Steel blades which fetched high prices locally and abroad due to their lightweight and sharp edge as well as their unique pattern caused by the method of which they were forged. A well made Helenik Steel blade could fetch xxx Drachmas in a market in xxx. With money brought in by the sales of these blades, Helinikan mining operations expanded to precious metals like gold and silver. While eventually, the demand for swords subsided, the demand for precious metals did not. Using experience forging Helenik steel, blacksmiths and goldsmith’s worked together to create jewelry made of layered gold of varying impurities forged together and then treated in acid. This gave the gold, known as Helenik Gold, the characteristic waves and designs of Helenik Steel while retaining the shine of gold.

Metal Refining
Helinika is one of the largest producers of metals such as lead, copper, and iron. These metals are often exported or used to manufacture machined goods within Helinikan factories.

Manufacturing
Apart from the production of goods made of precious metals, Helinika also produces goods made of not so precious metals. These include machine parts such as ball bearings, prefabricated parts, wiring, etc. as well as consumer goods such as cans, tools, and some electronic parts. Helinikan manufacturing is renowned for its high quality of manufacturing and materials primarily relying on locally produced metals mined from the XXX Mountains. Due to the high quality of Helinikan produced consumer goods, they can be quite expensive but quite popular among the wealthy and middle classes due to their historical association with the upper class, officers, and royalty.

Energy
The Majority of Helinikas energy production is done by Coal-fired powerplants using coal mined in the XXX Mountains and using natural gas imported from Gradinska but in the Spring of 2020 Emperor Ajax III announced an initiative to develop Helinika's first nuclear power plants by 2032.

International Trade
Helinika has major exports in steel, machined goods, and luxury goods that are made internationally to nations across Anterra. Helinika Imports many goods unable to be produced domestically in large quantities including foodstuffs such as beef, rice, and soybeans as well as fuel from Lestykhol and Alvakalia.

Agriculture
A portion of Helinika's workforce is committed to agriculture. The Agricultural regions are located primarily in the north near the Gradinskan and Rovsnovskan border, and in the south along the coast. The Northern agricultural region produces staple crops such as wheat, barley, rye, corn, and some soybeans. The southern agricultural region produces supplemental crops and goods such as grapes, wines, and olives as well as a few staples such as lentils and chickpeas.

Culture of Honor
Helinika has an extensive culture of honor tied to one's family and one's nation. One's honor is often tied to their hair. Often times families of "Old Blood", former nobility, or Officers in the Helinikan Armed Fores will wear their hair in a knot that sits on top of their head. When one has brought dishonor upon oneself or one's family the knot will be severed and burned. Touching another person's Knot is considered an affront to their honor and often results in duels. The only time the knot will be let down is in the presence of one's immediate family, when the hair is being washed, or when the wearer is on the frontlines in a conflict.

Nobility
Helinika has a tradition of Nobility originating in the 12th century when City-States were governed by Kings and their Families. In later years, the Nobility became known as the Old Blood and maintains control over major corporations and government positions. The New Blood are members of the Commoners who hold positions typically held by members of the Old Blood. Commoners make up the rank and file and the majority of the population.

Old Blood
The Old Blood are families of the nobility. Historically they are commissioned officers, bureaucrats, and Government officials. Families of Old Blood are often wealthy and command vast resources. Historically, members of families of Old Blood have been high ranking government officials or high ranking military officers. More recently, families of Old Blood have adapted to modern times by becoming CEOS, Politicians, and other successful members of society. Traditionally, families of Old Blood are patriarchal and the eldest son inherits the family Fortune as well as the fathers position in society. More recently, however, more and more women have been the heirs to successful positions. To protect the family's honor, it is seen as imperative that the heir is extremely capable and as such, they are the recipient of extensive training to ensure they do not dishonor the family by failing. Because of the extensive resources and attention committed to the heir, younger siblings with less of a chance of inheriting a successful position often set out on their own paths becoming commissioned Officers, entrepreneurs, or entering the workforce as skilled professionals such as Doctors or Engineers. Families of old blood are often respected but despised by the Commoners due to their control over society.

New Blood
The New Blood are individuals who weren't born to families of Old Blood but through their own ruthlessness and skill rose through the ranks of government or military and earned a prestigious position in the Government or in the Military. They are often viewed as lesser by the Old Blood but are still greatly respected. Members of the New Blood sect of society are often despised by Commoners for their perceived betrayal of their own people.

Commoners
The Commoners are the largest sect of society and are the least prestigious. They are miners, farmers, metal workers, factory workers. They make up the bulk of the economy and military. Often times the older members of society approve of the Old Blood for maintaining order and making Helinika a powerful, respected nation. At the same time, the younger members of society typically resent the control the Old Blood hold on government and military. Members of the Commoners can escape their social sect and enter that of the New Blood by becoming successful business people, educated professionals, Commissioned or Non Commissioned officers, or entrepreneurs.

Military Culture
Due to Helinika's violent history of Infighting amongst Noble Families and City-States, there is a cultural emphasis on military officers. Being capable of commanding armies and thinking strategically is seen as the hallmark of a leader. Due to the emphasis on producing extremely capable officers, the Helinikan Military Academy excels at producing skilled officers who are historically amongst the best. While it is seen as Honorable to be a commissioned officer, the most highly respected individuals are those who enlist and through their own skill at leadership and strategy become Non-Commissioned Officers. Become an NCO is also a way for commoners to become members of the New Blood sect of society.

Dueling
Dueling is a popular sport in Helinika with an origin in the 10th century. Originally done to settle insults, dueling was popular amongst the aristocracy and military but was also frequently seen done by the ranks of commoners, especially those involved in livestock. Dueling was formally outlawed in 1843 following the death of Emperor Aenaes II's son, Captain Aenaes III, in a duel of honor against Captain Markos Rosselis. Outlawing dueling did not prevent it from happening. Instead, it was continued in secret. Ironically, outlawing dueling increased it's fatality rate because those injured in duels were more hesitant to seek treatment for their wounds. The ban on dueling was overturned in 1872 by Emperor Chiron I. Following the legalization of dueling, rules were put in place to reduce the fatality rate of duels. Dueling with lead bullets was banned outright and was instead replaced by dueling with improvised wax bullets and reduced powder charges. During the Grand Campaigns and Kesh war, the Helinikan Armed Forces enacted a temporary ban on dueling to prevent unnecessary injury amongst its officers but ran into the same problems as the ban in 1843. In an attempt to reduce fatalities, several alternatives were sought including using blunted swords, wax bullets, and throwing darts. In the early 1980s, a new training round was developed for use by the VHEDE in simulated operations. The round called Simulated Ammunition (ProPyro), soon found itself being used in duels coupled with body armor to reduce the chances of serious injury.