Héléz
Sunken palace (Héléz)
The kingdom worships an idol, one sent by the ones above to protect and provide. This idol possesses a human form in order to communicate with the sunken citizens. What this idol provides is the utmost protection. They possess the core of the palace. The very core that allows it to remain below the waves, protected from those on land.
That said, the palace itself is disguised as three small islands in the midst of the tropical sea.
If that core were the break, the palace’s hideout would be compromised.
They say the story behind the idol’s human form is a sad one.
A millennium ago, around about when the palace first sunk, a young boy wracked with curiosity swam down to the heart of the palace where the core was kept in its purest form. Upon coming into contact with said pure energy, he was absorbed into the centre. Now, when the core has to communicate with the civilians, it will appear in that form…just about.
The boy's consciousness remains but fleeting. His parents did manage to see him so they knew what happened, but with his mind taken over by the core, he had no clue who they were. His soul only surfaces when the core isn’t active.
Though coincidental, his sacrifice marked a great benefit for the citizens, bringing them closer to the very being that protected them.
As such, the day he disappeared was marked down in Hélézan history as ‘The Binding’. Every year, it is celebrated without fail in a ceremonial gathering of all civilians. A choir of the purest of voice sing their song of thanks, honouring the wayward child’s sacrifice and offerings are left to end the event.
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Héléz is remote. The only land being the three islands that disguise the palace’s spire. The same sea surrounds it.
Also, Hélézans are sealed off within the palace grounds. The only trading they do is on the islands.
People are fooled by the guise of their island life. They feel like Hélézans are very few and a simple kind of people.
Living in small huts with a tropical farming lifestyle.
No nation has witnessed what’s beneath the islands. Nor have they seen the true population of Héléz.
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The boy’s name is Lua but he’s referred to with ‘most high’ pronouns. His consciousness will only surface during certain intervals depending on what the core is doing. The core will go dormant during times of no urgency.
Within the core, there are four personalities devoid of gender or name. A senior, vice, affair and general. They lie within the core and dictate what the core/their body will do. Lua is their subordinate, so he will most likely take on job of messenger often.
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Hélézans do worship an idol, believing that Gods or higher forces embody it. Given that Lua is one with the core and its forces, he can also return to idol form. He can also use the numerous idols that Hélézans worship within their houses as a form of travel.
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In terms of straying from Héléz, explorers tend to hold small idol charms with them when they go out on their journeys. These explorers, are another form of transport for Lua and extensions of the core.
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The heart of Héléz itself, the core, is underneath the structure but in something much like a pool. Children who find themselves in the forbidden shrine can stumble upon said pool and manage to swim down. This is how Lua met his fate many eons ago.
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As well as being pure energy, the heart is volatile. Much like electricity, it can travel across virtually anything that comes into contact with it— like mould. Which means that it’s not so difficult to imbue objects with the power of the core e.g. weapons or charms.
These customs are only used for unforgettable special occasions. Birth, marriage, death. Milestones like graduation, or even first ever day at school. To Hélézans, the core is sacred and so, anything it imbues becomes holy— Lua.
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After becoming one with the core, Lua was stripped of his mortal status and forced to ascend hence the markings engraved into it. As such, the core’s energy flows through every cranny of his body— slicing at him is not ideal.
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Héléz is somewhat ‘Americanised’ as they were under the roof of a much bigger country that was basically Trilovian America. They basically fed and nurtured Héléz until it was large enough to fly the nest and stand alone. This happened millions of years ago. Hence why the influence is so strongly rooted in Hélézan culture.
That said, to begin with, their mother country did adopt Hélézans as slaves right at the beginning. They thought the tribal people to be mindless and in need of direction (A power trip mindset). It was until the people of Héléz had an uprising that the mother country realised that Héléz wasn’t for them to own and control. All it needed was supplies and direction. Just as a mother would only guide a child towards standing on its own.
With that, Hélézans do not hate the mother country. They know where they came from and who helped out. But the mother country knew that there are boundaries up until the country appeared to condense into the three islands that stand now. Mother knows not of the sunken palace.
This explains why Hélézans speak English in such a way. The mother’s prints are still very visible to this day.
This is a small group of rough sketches. Just to get more of a feel for Héléz's shape and atmosphere.
Lua
Lua is basically a water cat. He’s pretty much antisocial and somewhat spiteful in general. He also likes his space and tends to be rather reckless in times of need. He doesn’t have a good rapport with the system, however, due to the disciplinary actions they take, he has no choice but to obey. As a cause of the strain on his mortal self, his voice is naturally raspy. The other personalities can speak just fine.
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As for day-to-day life, all he does is for the sake of Héléz. Whether it be gathering resources, intel and or transporting the system to places unreachable to themselves. On a typical day, much like a spirit, Lua will wander the grounds of the sunken palace. Saving those who are drowning and warning mortals who stray too close to the core’s secrets. He’s been made an example of hence why no children have been absorbed into the core after himself. This is one of the reasons he feels spiteful.
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Senior, Vice affair and general don’t embody the heart as to give it a mind. The heart is the very foundation that allows them to live. If anything were to go amiss, the core would feel as if there’s a rupture in their veins.
The core in all its foreign, immeasurable power and energy does have a kryptonite. Not one to kill it, but one to disperse it into fragments and possibly destroy Lua if concentrated at the right point in his body.
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During Lua’s ‘imprisonment’, as said prior, he’d have the job of deterring other beings from coming into contact with the heart. Small children lead by curiosity. There was one in particular however, that he’d have to ward away more than once.
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A child with fire in his eyes despite being beneath the waves. He’d constantly wear a smile and move with such profound energy in every step.
After the fifth meeting they had, he never saw the child again.
A compilation of sketches. Both Lua and a design for Mago. This was mostly an opportunity to get accustomed and shape Lua's character.
Mago
This child had managed to migrate from Héléz to a mangrove where he became known as the ‘beast tamer’.
His feral nature made it easier to connect with the numerous beings around him. One in particular was his first friend. They cultivated a strong bond over his first years of living in the Mangrove Forest. The story of his arrival in said area was one of wonder and tragedy.
The boy didn’t intentionally migrate. He was instead swept away by the current of a powerful storm. Everyone was advised to remain within the palace grounds, staying clear of the water outside but he did not heed the warning. Truth be told, he did remain indoors with his family but could not find any trace of his little sister in their cove. Fortunately for the family, she was with another household but as a big brother, it was his job to leave no stone unturned. That meant getting in the water…
That was somewhat of a thousand years ago. The boy has aged since then… but not in body. The Mangroves carry their own myths with their whimsical nature. Secrets that other beings strive to uncover yet always meet their demise. Mago, the boy, was swept right into that chamber of secrets, now being the one to protect them. He knows their power and why it shouldn’t be one for others to harness.
Mago in all his sweetness is no less than a wild animal and has a feral mode wherein his eyes will turn sharp and nails will sharpen like claws. Generally, he's a very nice jungle boy. Just that he chills more with animals than actual people. You can also provoke feral mode by stressing him out. He's open to social situations but the moment things get uncomfortable, he'll shrink into a shell. Don't poke the shell unless you want gashes in your face.