Holy Heliolunam Celestium

A small but grand nation dedicated to the Goddess of the Margin, Lady Cynosure. This ancient civilization is slowly coming back from their petrification to once again bring about the Celestium Court. Consisting of the Castle Town of Dogwood Castle and the port village of Altarda. Together these two lands make up the Holy nation. The nation is known for its luxury goods and knowledge of the arcane.

Geography
Mainly set on the Holy Dogwood Mountains the nation sprawls out atop the natural platforms into the fields below. With Altarda lake to the North, Altarda in the center, and Dogwood Castle atop the Holy Dogwood Mountains to the South.

Government
Run by the Houses of Helio and Lunam together they act as a court that dictates the laws of the nation. Each house is normally responsible for a different aspect of life and come together in weekly gatherings in Castle Dogwood.

The actual government is dictated by the Celestial Accords, the founding document for the Holy HelioLunam Celestium, signed by all the major houses listed below. In general, the Celestium, the governing body of the H.H.C., is made up of representatives of each of the major houses, and elected representatives of the common people. They chose one among them to lead the nation, giving them the title "The Grand lord or Lady of Celestial Light". They act as a major representative to other nations, however the majority of the governmental power is controlled by the Celestium. Chapter Houses manage the day to day of the nation, including the justice department, religious aspects and diplomacy.

Dogwood Lunam
Named for the Eternally Blooming Dogwoods of Dogwood Mountain, they have a close connection to the tree. Some say their magic stems from the petals of the flower. Dogwood flowers are seen in their house crest and the crest of Holy Heliolunam Celestium.

Well known among the other houses for being a neutral in house conflicts and national politics, it's allowed control over the de facto capital of Dogwood Castle.

Members dedicate their lives to magic, the nation, and Her Lady Cynosure. Their influence doesn’t go very far outside Dogwood Castle as they are extreme isolationists to keep their neutrality amongst the houses.

Guardians of Dogwood Mountain, blessed by the faithful flower.

Emberwynn Lunam
Holders of many secrets and magical tombs House Emberwynn is the most secretive of the houses. Many of this house's members have perverted outlooks on reality. Perhaps they have been twisted by the knowledge they have collected over the years.

Years of studying the tombs they collect has given them a reputation as the House of Useless Scholars. Many of the members know powerful magic but many of it is never used as the power easily corrupts.

Guides of Secret Knowledge, blessed by the burning passion.

Nametaker Helio
For those outside and forgotten, Nametaker greets them and welcomes them as part of their brood. Guiding those who have no place and giving them a home. They are a peaceful house who welcomes the odd in their study of History.

The house was named as such for its practice of adopting the names of mentors or important figures in one's life. For example, one of the founders of this house, Habbarsnatch the Lesser, was born with the name Edwin Porovost, but took on the name of Habbarsnatch after meeting his mentor who taught him all he now knows.

House Nametaker is best known for its sponsorship and involvement in the history guild, of which many of its members are associated with. The house plays an important role in documenting and maintaining the history of not just the HHC, but all of Kylorne.

Shield of the shattered, blessed by the sands of time.

Vemariti Helio
As the house of Fundamentalism members dedicate their lives to philosophical studies of The Margin and The Celestium Court. Known for their talismen and strict practice of The Celestium Court.

Tellers of The Court, blessed by our Lady.

Arak'ti Helio
House Arak'ti is generally considered the most powerful of the houses of the Lia. They are a native race, and their leader, Tra Arak'ti, currently leads the Holy Heliolunam Celestium. The Arak'ti are known explorers, having dedicated themselves to the exploration and understanding of anything that can be understood. Many of the specially focus on the sea, the place of their origin.

Guides of the light, blessed by the lapis waters

Grenlivf Lunam
The Grenlivf house and family is regarded as the most religious house out of the others. Grenlivf generally focus' its goals on both protecting the Pillar of Realms and nature within the Holy Heliolunam Celestium. It is believed by those in house Grenlivf that the Pillar is a gateway between the realms and/or other dimensions were gods rest, and that every religion's god used/uses the Pillar to enter the mortal realm.

Those who wish to join the Grenlivf family and house are required to follow an oath of extreme importance, along with commit to a ceremony.

Keepers of The Pillar, blessed by the earth and sky.

Holy Sites
The entirety of the nation is sacred grounds, but some areas are more holy and held in higher regards.

Dogwood Mountain
This mountain is the location of the Lunam Houses and is known for its eternal blooming dogwoods that are the namesake of the Dogwood Family and Castle respectively. Lady Cynosure blessed this mountain to be in eternal rebirth forever blooming. This blessing is known to help with childbirth so many will walk the stairs to Dogwood Castle to give birth on the top of the mountain.

Pillar of Celestium and Nether
Located in the port town of Altarda this pillar of solid bedrock reaches from the bottom of our world and continues into the Celestial realms above. It is unknown who are what created this pillar, but it is considered a holy site of all deities not just Lady Cynosure. Those who travel to take in its splendor are respected by Lady Cynosure and blessed.

Demographics
Celestials are the dominant race of the HHC and have many different physical traits. One becomes a Celestial after an extended period of practicing the teachings of the Celestium Court.

Slime are the alchemical race that dwell in the dungeons under the Holy Dogwood Mountains; some are highly intelligent and considered citizens while some are but mere servants of the Lunam Houses

The Lia are a native, local race, and are molluscoid in nature.

Magic
As the home of Dogwood Castle a leading school of the arcane arts, magic is common place and many citizens are well versed. The weapon of choice for Heliolunams is the Celestium Staff and Shield allowing for speedy casting of spells.

Amethyst Augury is a rune type of magic that utilizes amethyst crystals to alter the divine language of the world (the worlds code). This is made possible because amethyst are formed from the divine energy that leaks into our world from the Margin through rifts inside of geodes. The power of the amethyst is dependent on its size as its magic has an area of affect that radiates out of the crystal and can be told by the light that emanates from it. The two limitations of Amethyst Augury is that what it alters changes back to normal outside its area and that it can not create something from nothing.

Heliolunams use Amethyst Augury mainly to amplify their magic and to alter gravity to create floating objects. This is most commonly seen in their lanterns that line the streets of their many towns and cities.

History
The history of Holy Heliolunam Celestium.

Founding
The nation of Holy Heliolunam Celestium was founded when the tribes of the helio made peace with the tribes of the lunam, after the Helio-Lunam war. Together the Helio's and Lunam's gave their gratitude to the religion of Celestium and her lady Cynosure, and the leaders of the major ruling families, called houses, came together to sign the Celestial Accords, creating the Holy HelioLunam Celestium. A Lian Lord by the name of Tra Arak'ti was chosen to lead them.