Illium
“At its highest point, it was the home of a God. At its lowest point, it was driven beneath the sea by the fist of a Goddess thus are the fortunes of Illium and indeed the race of hailene.” ~ Jothan Blackkard, Gazetteer

Geography
The nation of Illium sits some ninety miles off the coast of Minde Forme in the east. It is an island chain comprised of four moderate sized, forested islands; Ilia, Solit, Granai, and Seti as well as a host of smaller islands. A larger island, once called Illium once sat to the east of the chain, but was destroyed at the end of the Hailene War.

The islands are the tops of gently sloped, underwater mountains and covered with lush subtropical forests. The soil of Illium is the most fertile on the plain, but the terrain is uneven and mostly unsuitable for agriculture.

History
When other Immortals were bringing humans and halflings to this world and drawing forth from them the myriad demi-humans who now walk the plane, Justicar gathered his hailene in secret on the eastern Isle of Illium and taught them what they would need to become the overseers of the young plane.

Even as Justicar withdrew from the world and the role of overseer usurped, then destroyed by the dragons, a civilization of hailene grew and flourished on Illium. Great libraries and colleges taught the militaristic hailene their way of life even as the scourge of Draconic Control ravaged the rest of the world and threw it into a Dark Age.

But when the hailene finally realized their god no longer listened and sought to bring the world under their control for his favor, the hailene were lain low by the wrath of the goddess Dey and Illium was destroyed as punishment.

It would be many centuries before the hailene would set foot on the broken island again. Today, Illium still struggles to recover, its leaders selling its history to maintain the government and the once heirs of an advanced civilization forced to pander to rich tourists.

Culture
The hailene of Illium had abandoned the tribal society they adopted on the mainland and as a people struggle with the old, ingrained superiority complex common to hailene. They try to make themselves as open to other races and cultures as they can both to ensure their children’s future as well as to erase the past sins of their race.

Golems and other constructs do most of the physical labor, so the hailene bend their concerns to craftsmanship and artistic pursuits. Some of the world’s most respected galleries and museums can be found on Illium.

As most citizens of Illium are hailene and have a racial distrust of the Greater Pantheon, worship of anything more than traditional hailene hero-gods is generally frowned upon in Illium, though it is not strictly illegal.

Secretly, however, some of the newly founded cults of Kayda have found their way onto the island and practice in secret.

Industry
With much of Illium’s mineral wealth now beneath the sea, Illium’s economy has been crippled. In recent years, the government has taken drastic measures to raise funds; selling ancient Illium artifacts, licensing adventuring parties and historical guild digs intent on plundering the ruins of the old empire, and even hosting tours of said ruins for wealthy patrons.

This has had a secondary effect of making Illium a destination spot for the vacationing wealthy. A fledgling industry has grown up around souvenirs and luxury items.

Artifacts and other lost magical techniques are also routinely sold to the highest bidder by the current administration.

Government
Illium in its current for is a representative democracy, with the population voting once every three years on their ten representatives in the Legislature and once every six for their Executive Minister. Governors in each represented region are appointed by representatives and answer to them.

The current Executive Minister is Johan Everret Goldwing (Male hailene Bard 2/ Aristocrat 3). Like his predecessors, Goldwing’s main concern is simply funding the nation while encouraging more hailene to return to their homeland. To this end, Goldwing has resorted to the relatively new method of print media to showcase his nation in hailene communities.

Organizations and Individuals of Note
The Phalanx of Justice
Founded in some fifteen years ago, the Phalanx is the elite guard of the Legislature and Executive Minister. The Phalanx is made up of combatants and wizards who have proven their unwavering loyalty to Illium.

To become part of the Phalanx is one of the greatest honors a young Illium hailene can dream of.

Major Settlements
Anda’Kanat (City 46,000)
The capitol of Illium, Anda’Kanat is built on the ruins of an ancient fortress. Towers of alabaster comprise most of the architecture, though many of the many heavy blockhouses from the war have simply been converted into shop space.

Anda’Kanat is best known for its open air bazaar where the normal legal restrictions on goods to be sold are lifted. Everything from exotic poison to powerful scrolls can be bought at the Anda’Kanat bazaar.

Silver City (City 29,000)
Silver City is the port city that most ships that come from the mainland weigh anchor at. The harbor also serves as a hub for deep sea fishing and whaling industries, though the actual companies are owned by foreign interests.

The Silver City Tournament, a competition for warriors who mix martial prowess with magical ability draws thousands each year during the gathering season.

Locations of Note
Goddess Spire
When Dey’s fury sank the island of Illium beneath the waves, the area at the center of her attack formed a spike of dull grey rock beneath the water. This spike, which is honeycombed with caves and tunnels, some of which lead to lost vaults from the war, is known as the Goddess Spire.

The Historic Society has sent at least six expeditions to the place, and have yet to produce a coherent map, suggesting that the spire is in constant motion within.

Encounters
The subtropical islands of Illium provide a home to many exotic types of birds, apes and other wild animals as well as spirit beast versions of both. Assassin vines and other dangerous plant types are abundant and a few small groups of pseudo dragons also make their home on the islands.

The hailene ruins play host to many of the remnants of the height of hailene artifice and transmutation including orbusi, golems, chimeras and other former test subjects from ancient labs.