Helegu
- Overview
A powerful confederation of nomadic tribes that were united under a great leader Khagan Temir 300 years ago. Over the next 200 years the Helegu consolidated a huge inland khaganate obliterating and subjugating many civilisations and tribes, both human and non-human. Tens of millions million were killed during these years.
The Khaganate stretched from the cold steppes in the north, then south across grasslands, plains, deserts to the tropical savanna. It is often referred to by the Helegu as the “Land under the Eternal Blue Sky”.
- Recent History
Upon the death of Mengu-Timur Khagan on the Erensari Plains 135 years ago the confederacy broke up due to internal divisions, ongoing insurgencies, constant rebellion and a series of rolling coups. After 50 years of bloody chaos five great hosts emerged 80 years ago to rule a collective khaganate reduced in size:
- Silver Host (Jumulkha Khan)
- Capital is the great tent city of Onon
- Roaring Host (Tocave Khan)
- Blue Host (Kuju Khan)
- Burning Host (Tangut Khan)
- Golden Host (Damed Khan)
- last ruler killed 10 years ago
After a 20 years of sheer nonstop brutality the Golden Host was torn apart 10 years ago and its territories are now contested over by a vast number of different contenders and Helegu factions.
The Silver Host is currently expanding, primarily into territories of the other Hosts and is now at war with the Blue Host. The Solver Host are being assisted by many exiles from the Blue Host including a number of people laying claim to title of Khan of the Blue Host.
- Ranks in the Helegu Court
- Khagan - Ruler over more than one Khan and rules over a Khaganate
- Khan - Ruler over more than one tribal chief and rules over a Khanate
- Ambassador - High ranking representative sent to foreign lands and empowered to speak on behalf of the Khan in certain matters of war, trade and tribute
- Emissary - A representative sent on an errand or mission with specific delegated powers relating to that mission
- Sub-Emissary - Deputy to an Ambassador or Emissary
- Envoy - A representative sent as a messenger or representative
- Consul - An official who looks after commercial or citizen welfare
- Agent - Any representative empowered to act on behalf of a higher ranking official
- Legate - Assistant to a General, Consul, Emissary or Ambassador
- Viceroy - Ruler as the deputy of the Khan
- Magistrate - A representative charged with the administration of the Pax Helegeus
- Client Nomadic Tribes
- Emen
- Ceva
- Sutu
- Huvec
- Vevesi
- Kelosi
- Gimu
- Dolg
- Inini
- Busuqi
- Serving the Helegu
The Helegu extract annual tribute from all client states and tribes.
Civilised areas will be under the control of a Mughal (Governor) with day to day administration will be left to viceroys or client Kings & rulers. The appointment of any client king or ruler can only be made with the consent of Mughal. A Mughal is responsible for ensuring tribute flows to the Khan, that the client people do nothing against the interests of the Khan and to demonstrate Helegu power so as to constantly remind the locals of who is boss.
Helegu vs Telehetti
After enduring 10 years of Helegu expeditionary forces making deep incursions, the western mamba plain was decimated by a huge (50,000 Helegu + 100,000 ancillaries) Helegu lead army 135 years prior to the fall of the last Khaganate. For 5 years the Helegu lead army rampaged across the Erensari destroying farms and villages but were unable to draw Telehetti warriors into a pitched battle.
The Telehetti turned away the great herds and burnt crops to deny the Helegu food, dammed rivers to slow the invaders, abandoned poorly defensible areas, melted away before the invader, engaged in an endless guerilla war campaign and summoned the dark forces of the land to drain the will of the invaders.
Lead by the Telehetti Champion Dogon the Star Holder, a small force of Erensari cut off the Helegu’s army leadership and slaughtered them. Foremost among them Mengu-Timur Khaganate, the ruler of the United Helegu Confederation. His killing struck the deathblow for the demoralised army which returned to the horse clan homelands.
Under the Roaring Host the Helegu continued to conduct raids into the Erensari for almost a century. Learning how best to strike at the Helegu from success and defeat , the Telehetti became expert in frustrating the long-term Helegu ambition in their homeland.
20 years ago a force of 15,000 Helegu and 35,000 ancillary forces were lured deep into the southern Mamba Plains where they were annihilated in less than a day. Seemingly vanished without a trace, they are now known as as Jayaatu’s lost army and are now the stuff of legend.
There have been numerous ‘unsanctioned’ raids by both sides since the comprehensive beating down of the Helegu in the past 20 years but nothing that would suggest full scale war is inevitable.
