Cheliax
Cheliax (pronounced CHEL-ee-ax) is a dominant power in southwestern Avistan, infamous for its lawful evil governance, state-sanctioned devil worship, and unyielding imperial ambition. Once the cultural and military heart of the Inner Sea, it now projects control through fear, propaganda, and infernal pacts. Though diminished from its imperial peak, Cheliax remains a political and military juggernaut.
History
Founding and Expansion
Originally a Taldan frontier prefecture founded in 3007 AR, Cheliax declared independence in 4081 AR during the Even-Tongued Conquest under King Aspex. It quickly expanded into a continental empire through military might and diplomacy. The Everwar (4305–4410 AR) marked Cheliax's peak territorial conquest, reaching into Varisia, Molthune, and beyond. This expansionism was fueled by the *Starfall Doctrine*, a prophecy claiming Aroden would lead Cheliax into a new golden age.The Chelaxian Civil War
Aroden’s death in 4606 AR shattered the Starfall Doctrine and triggered a thirty-year civil war. In 4640 AR, House Thrune emerged victorious after forging a pact with Hell, establishing a diabolical monarchy that persists to this day.Recent Upheavals
Notable rebellions include:- The Glorious Reclamation (4715–4716 AR) – a failed Iomedaean uprising.
- Ravounel’s Secession (4715 AR) – a successful legal rebellion exploiting infernal contract flaws.
- In 4722 AR, Queen Abrogail II issued the Emancipation Edict, abolishing slavery across Cheliax and its vassals, a rare reform viewed by some as a political maneuver.
Demography and Population
Ethnic Composition
- Taldans: Majority; pale-skinned, proud, and culturally dominant.
- Kellids: Minorities in northern regions.
- Cambions: Often mistreated; once enslaved.
- Gnomes: Mostly free in Brastlewark; valued as artisans.
- Halflings: Formerly enslaved until 4722 AR.
- Strix: Isolated and hostile toward Chelaxian authority.
Meritocracy and Oppression
Cheliax rewards ambition among humans. Nobility may be earned through service, scheming, or infernal pacts. Those without power or infernal ties are expendable.Cultural Legacy
Cheliax is renowned for its:- Wine and opera
- Arrogant pride in imperial heritage
- Brutal legalism
- Diabolical architecture
- Disdain for non-humans and idealization of infernal order
Military
Cheliax maintains one of the largest standing armies and navies in the Inner Sea. Its forces include bound devils, Hellknights, and elite human legions. Its navy, though diminished, remains potent, and its enforcement arms ensure internal compliance with infernal doctrine.
Religion
State Religion
Asmodeus is the official deity. Nearly every Chelaxian publicly reveres him. His worship defines law, order, and governance.Other Faiths
- Tolerated: Abadar, Erastil, Iomedae (cautiously), Zon-Kuthon.
- Forbidden or Suppressed: Achaekek, certain good-aligned or chaotic deities.
- Worship of other gods is legal but revocable, framed as a privilege allowed by the Prince of Hell.
Foreign Relations
- Isger: A tightly controlled client state.
- Nidal: A spiritual ally with shared shadowy goals.
- Ravounel: An independent but economically dependent neighbor.
- Andoran & Galt: Former provinces turned adversaries.
- Vidrian (formerly Sargava): A rebelled colony now free, but watched.
Trade & Transport
Cheliax thrives on global trade, exporting luxury goods like wine, oil, and art. The abolition of slavery in 4722 AR forced shifts in labor systems but did not destabilize its economy due to preemptive planning and coercive labor alternatives.
Type
Geopolitical, Queendom
Capital
Head of State
Gazetteer
Cheliax spans the southwest of Avistan, bordered by Nidal, Isger, Andoran, and the Inner Sea. It is divided into five archduchies:
- Hellcoast: Strix homeland, site of resistance.
- Menador: Harsh mountainous terrain, home of Hellknights.
- Heartlands: Central Cheliax; includes Egorian and major forests.
- Sirmium: Eastern mountains and rivers.
- Longmarch: Coastal trade hubs and naval bases.
Executive Body
Structure
Cheliax is ruled by Queen Abrogail II of House Thrune. Her commands are absolute and enforced by a vast bureaucracy of titled nobles, devils, inquisitors, and Hellknights. Nobility is divided into nine infernally themed ranks (barons to dukes), beneath the royal family. Loyalty is rewarded with titles and power; dissent invites obliteration.Domestic Policy
Governance emphasizes control, surveillance, and ideological purity. The Asmodean Disciplines serve as both religious scripture and legal code, enabling expansive but selectively enforced laws to punish threats and dissent.
Deities
Controlled Territories
