Hillia

The Hillian People's Republic

Type	Nation
Government	Socialist Parliamentary Republic
Location	Osugbo
Inhabiting Race	Human

The Hillian People's Republic, formerly known as East Hills, is a socialist parliamentary republic on the continent of Osugbo bordering the Noman Federation. Since the revolution, Hillia has emerged from decades of isolation to become a nation defined by scientific progress, international cooperation, and hope for the future.  

About

The Hillian People's Republic, formerly known as East Hills, occupies the eastern reaches of Osugbo and stands as one of the Known World's youngest and most optimistic nations. Following the Hillian Revolution, the republic emerged from decades of authoritarian rule determined to build a society founded upon cooperation, public investment, scientific discovery, and the belief that the prosperity of a nation should be shared by all who contribute to it.

In the years since the revolution, Hillia has transformed itself through an ambitious program of reconstruction. Railways once neglected by the Regime have been modernized, roads and bridges restored, hospitals and schools expanded, and public utilities extended to communities long overlooked. Rather than directing the nation's wealth toward military expansion or the accumulation of state power, successive governments have prioritized infrastructure, education, healthcare, scientific research, and cultural institutions, viewing these investments as the foundation of a stronger society.

This renewal has been accompanied by a profound change in the country's relationship with the wider world. After generations of isolation, Hillia has opened its borders to international trade, scholarship, tourism, and cultural exchange. Foreign artists, engineers, scientists, educators, and students are now common sights in the republic's major cities, while Hillian universities and research institutes actively collaborate with partners across the Known World. Humanitarian assistance from organizations such as the Ascendancy has also been welcomed, though the republic maintains a clear constitutional separation between religion and the affairs of state.

The arrival of new ideas has reshaped Hillian culture. Foreign cinema, literature, music, theater, cuisine, and sport have flourished alongside longstanding Hillian traditions, creating an atmosphere of curiosity and optimism unlike anywhere else in Osugbo. Young Hillians, many of whom grew up after the fall of the Regime, have embraced this exchange with remarkable enthusiasm, viewing international cooperation not as a threat to national identity but as one of its greatest strengths.

Few projects embody this spirit more clearly than the Unity Games, founded in Vostroya as an international celebration of peaceful competition, and the revitalized Hillian Space Agency, whose civilian mission has become a powerful symbol of humanity's shared future. Together, they represent the ideals that have come to define modern Hillia. Nations need not compete through war, scientific discovery belongs to everyone, and the future is best built through cooperation rather than conflict.

Yet the republic's remarkable progress has not erased its past. Across Hillia, abandoned military installations, forgotten laboratories, and sealed government archives remain as reminders of the Regime that once ruled the nation. Beneath its cities lie even older secrets. Vast Vaelonic ruins have begun to challenge long-held assumptions about history itself. As Hillia looks confidently toward the future, the ancient past beneath its feet has begun to stir once more.

History

Like every nation on Quelmar, much of Hillia's earliest history has been lost to time. Records predating the Fracturing of the Weave are fragmentary, contradictory, and often indistinguishable from folklore. The civilizations that once occupied the region, the causes of their decline, and much of humanity's earliest history have disappeared from collective memory. Scholars generally agree that these gaps in the historical record coincide with an ancient turning point, likely an extinction-level event that humanity only narrowly survived. Even this event endures today as little more than scattered myth, incomplete archaeological evidence, and obscure academic theory.

What is known is that the lands now comprising Hillia have long been home to farming communities, mining settlements, industrial cities, and centers of learning. Beneath many of these settlements lie the buried ruins of the ancient Vaelonic civilization, whose monumental architecture and seemingly impossible engineering continue to puzzle archaeologists. For centuries these ruins were regarded as little more than the remains of a forgotten people, their true significance obscured by the same historical amnesia that erased so much of Quelmar's distant past.

During the early decades of the Current Reckoning, political instability, economic hardship, and a catastrophic flood that devastated much of East Hills created widespread social unrest. As the nation struggled to recover, growing international tensions and domestic uncertainty paved the way for the rise of an authoritarian government that would become known simply as the Regime. Promising security, stability, and national unity, the new government steadily centralized power, restricted civil liberties, censored public discourse, and isolated East Hills from the rest of the Known World. Scientific advancement continued under the Regime, but increasingly served military and state interests rather than the public good. Massive resources were devoted to classified research, strategic stockpiles, surveillance, and the expansion of internal security while public infrastructure and civic institutions gradually fell into neglect.

The Regime's rise to power culminated in the invasion of Noma and the outbreak of the Great No Man's War in 27 CR. For three years, war engulfed the continent of Osugbo as East Hills brought recovered Vaelonic technology and magick to bear against the industrial innovation and technological ingenuity of the Noman Federation. The conflict became one of the bloodiest wars in modern history, leaving devastation across both nations and profoundly reshaping the political landscape of the continent.

East Hills ultimately emerged defeated. The nation never fully recovered from the economic hardship, political instability, and international isolation that followed the war. Despite the loss, the Regime maintained its grip on power for more than a decade, relying on propaganda, surveillance, and increasingly repressive measures to preserve its authority. By 38 CR, years of hardship had eroded what little legitimacy remained. Workers, students, academics, artists, engineers, soldiers, and ordinary citizens united in a nationwide uprising that became known as the Hillian People's Revolution, bringing an end to the Regime and marking the birth of the Hillian People's Republic.

Notable Places

Vostroya

The capital and largest city of Hillia, Vostroya is the political, cultural, scientific, and economic heart of the republic. Home to approximately 1.5 million residents, it serves as the seat of the People's Assembly, the Hillian government, the Hillian Space Agency, and many of the nation's leading universities, museums, research institutes, and cultural organizations.

Since the Hillian Revolution, Vostroya has undergone one of the most ambitious reconstruction efforts in the Known World. Former government districts have been restored rather than demolished, public transportation has expanded dramatically, new housing and parks have been constructed, and investment in education, healthcare, science, and the arts has transformed the former capital of East Hills into a thriving international city. Cafés, bookstores, theaters, museums, and public squares bustle with students, artists, engineers, and visitors from across the globe, reflecting Hillia's commitment to openness and cooperation.

Among its most recognizable districts are the Government Quarter, home to the People's Assembly and national ministries; the Archive Ward, which houses the National Archives and many of Hillia's archaeological institutions; the University District, one of the foremost academic centers in the Known World; and Unity Park, site of the Unity Games and one of the republic's most significant civic developments.

Beneath the city lies an immense network of abandoned transit tunnels, Regime facilities, and ancient Vaelonic ruins. Excavations associated with the restoration of the Central City Line continue to uncover remarkable archaeological discoveries, reinforcing Vostroya's reputation as both the heart of modern Hillia and one of the world's most important windows into its forgotten past.

Krasnytska

Situated along Hillia's western frontier with the Noman Federation, Krasnytska is the republic's principal rail gateway and busiest international border crossing. Built around an expansive railway junction, the town serves as the primary point of arrival for travelers entering Hillia by land.

Since the revolution, Krasnytska has become a symbol of Hillia's renewed relationship with the outside world. Passenger trains, freight traffic, tourists, scholars, and merchants pass through the city daily, while modern customs and immigration facilities facilitate travel between Hillia and its neighbors. The railway remains the foundation of the local economy, supporting mechanics, engineers, freight operators, customs officials, warehouse workers, and railway maintenance crews.

Much of Krasnytska's architecture reflects its industrial heritage, with concrete stations, brick warehouses, rail depots, and modest apartment blocks defining the skyline. Although remnants of the former border security infrastructure remain visible throughout the town, many have been preserved as historical sites or repurposed for civilian administration. Today, Krasnytska serves not as a symbol of isolation, but as one of Hillia's most welcoming gateways to the world.

Kameny Vyr

Nestled within Hillia's eastern mountain range, Kameny Vyr is a small rural village situated approximately one day's journey from Site K-12. Although modest in size, it serves as the principal gateway for archaeological expeditions and geological surveys operating throughout the surrounding highlands.

The village is home to miners, surveyors, railway workers, forestry crews, and families who have lived among the mountains for generations. Since the revolution, archaeologists, engineers, university researchers, and students have become increasingly common visitors, making Kameny Vyr an important staging point for scientific expeditions into the region.

Despite its growing role in archaeological research, Kameny Vyr remains quiet and somewhat isolated. Local folklore speaks of strange lights, distant echoes, and forgotten ruins hidden among the surrounding peaks. While most residents dismiss such stories as mountain legends, many quietly acknowledge that unusual discoveries have become more common as excavation efforts continue deeper into the mountains.

Site K-12

One of Hillia's most historically significant archaeological excavations, located within a secluded mountain basin east of Kameny Vyr. Originally established as a classified Regime research facility, the site was officially designated a geological survey reserve while military personnel secretly investigated the extensive Vaelonic complex buried beneath the surrounding mountains.

Following the Hillian Revolution, Site K-12 was declassified and transferred to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, which now administers the excavation through public funding and academic partnerships with universities from across the Known World. Although portions of the complex remain restricted due to structural instability and ongoing conservation work, much of the site's research is openly published.

Archaeological investigations have confirmed that the complex was constructed around an immense Vaelonic suppression forge. Among its most significant discoveries are harmonic glyph inscriptions, monumental forging molds, incomplete Aegis frames, and extensive evidence of sophisticated suppression technology. Site K-12 is also recognized as the discovery site of the Aegises, making it one of the most influential archaeological sites in modern history.

Site K-19

Site K-19 is one of the largest active archaeological excavations in the Known World. Situated within Hillia's eastern interior, the site was originally established as a classified Regime research facility before being transferred to civilian administration following the revolution.

Today, Site K-19 is funded through government endowments and operated by a consortium of universities, museums, and archaeological institutes from across the Known World. Researchers representing numerous disciplines work together to study an immense Vaelonic complex containing monumental architecture, extensive inscriptions, advanced engineering systems, and artifacts unlike any discovered elsewhere.

The republic's decision to open Site K-19 to international scholarship has become one of the defining examples of Hillia's commitment to scientific collaboration and the open exchange of knowledge.

Zenith

Located several kilometers outside Vostroya, Zenith serves as the primary operational campus of the Hillian Space Agency (HSA) and the center of the republic's civilian space program. Purpose-built following the Hillian Revolution, the city was designed as a community where scientists, engineers, technicians, astronauts, educators, and their families could live and work together in support of Hillia's long-term ambitions in space exploration.

Unlike traditional industrial or military installations, Zenith was planned as a walkable research community. Laboratories, engineering facilities, astronaut training centers, classrooms, public parks, apartments, cafés, museums, and recreation spaces are integrated throughout the campus, reflecting the HSA's belief that scientific innovation flourishes when research and everyday life exist side by side. Visitors frequently describe the city as one of the most optimistic places in Hillia, where schoolchildren watch rocket tests from public observation areas and researchers openly discuss projects with students and international guests.

Zenith houses the Mission Operations Center, the National Astronaut Training Complex, advanced propulsion and materials laboratories, environmental testing facilities, and the Hillian Aerospace Academy, which trains the next generation of engineers, scientists, pilots, and mission specialists. International researchers regularly collaborate with Hillian teams, making the campus one of the republic's most important centers of scientific exchange.

Although many foreign governments regard Hillia's space program as an ambitious luxury for a nation still rebuilding from revolution, Zenith has become a powerful symbol of the republic's national identity. To many Hillians, the city represents a simple conviction: that humanity's future is best pursued through curiosity, cooperation, and peaceful exploration rather than conflict.

Rocket launches take place from the separate Vostroya Launch Complex, located farther east on an isolated stretch of open plain selected for safety and recovery operations. Together, Zenith and the launch complex form the operational heart of the Hillian Space Agency and one of the most ambitious scientific enterprises in the Known World.

Notable Events

The Great Flood (20 CR)

The Great Flood of 20 CR remains one of the most devastating natural disasters in Hillian history. Torrential rainfall and catastrophic flooding destroyed entire communities throughout what was then East Hills, crippling transportation networks, displacing hundreds of thousands of citizens, and leaving much of the nation's infrastructure in ruins. The scale of the disaster overwhelmed existing institutions and triggered years of economic hardship, food shortages, and political instability.

The government's inability to respond effectively to the crisis severely eroded public confidence and created conditions that allowed authoritarian movements promising order, security, and national unity to gain widespread support. Historians generally regard the Great Flood as the single most significant domestic event leading to the rise of the Regime and the transformation of East Hills into an increasingly isolated authoritarian state.

The Great No Man's War (27 CR – 30 CR)

The Great No Man's War was fought between East Hills and the Noman Federation across much of Osugbo. Lasting three years, the conflict became one of the bloodiest wars in modern history, pitting recovered Vaelonic technology and magick against Noman industrial innovation and modern engineering. East Hills ultimately suffered defeat, leaving the nation economically weakened, diplomatically isolated, and increasingly dependent upon authoritarian rule.

The consequences of the war reshaped both nations for decades to come. Much of East Hills' industrial capacity was redirected toward military recovery, while public infrastructure, housing, and civic institutions continued to deteriorate under the growing demands of the Regime.

The Hillian Revolution (38 CR)

The Hillian Revolution brought an end to decades of Regime rule and marked the founding of the Hillian People's Republic. Led by a broad coalition of workers, students, engineers, academics, artists, veterans, labor organizers, and ordinary citizens, the revolution sought not only political reform but the complete reconstruction of Hillian society around democratic governance, public investment, scientific advancement, and international cooperation.

Following the revolution, the republic redirected resources once reserved for military expansion and state security toward rebuilding schools, hospitals, railways, housing, and public infrastructure. The anniversary of the revolution is celebrated each year as Renewal Day, one of Hillia's most important national holidays.

The Reopening of the Borders (39 CR)

Following the establishment of the People's Republic, Hillia formally reopened its borders after generations of isolation. International trade resumed, diplomatic relations were restored, universities welcomed foreign scholars, and humanitarian organizations were permitted to operate within the republic under civilian law.

The reopening marked the beginning of a new era in Hillian history. New ideas, artistic movements, scientific collaborations, and cultural exchanges flowed into the country, fundamentally reshaping public life and establishing Hillia as one of the Known World's strongest advocates for international cooperation.

The Revival of the Hillian Space Program (39 CR)

Although the Regime conducted limited aerospace research for military purposes, the modern Hillian Space Agency was established following the revolution as a civilian scientific institution dedicated to exploration, astronomy, engineering, and the long-term pursuit of human spaceflight.

Centered at Zenith, the program has become one of Hillia's most recognizable symbols of hope for the future. While many nations regard space exploration as an ambitious luxury, Hillians widely view the program as an investment in humanity itself. Schools organize astronomy clubs, universities expand aerospace research, and rocket launches routinely draw thousands of spectators. To many citizens, the space program embodies the republic's conviction that humanity's greatest achievements are realized not through conquest, but through curiosity, cooperation, and the shared pursuit of knowledge.

The Founding of the Unity Games (40 CR)

Founded by the Hillian People's Republic, the Unity Games brought together athletes from across the Known World for the first international multi-sport exhibition in recorded history. Combining both summer and winter competitions, the Games were established to celebrate peaceful competition, cultural exchange, and the belief that nations could pursue excellence without conflict.

Hosted in Vostroya's Unity Park, the Games quickly became one of the republic's defining achievements and remain among the largest recurring international events on Quelmar. Beyond athletic competition, the Games feature scientific exhibitions, artistic performances, educational exchanges, and cultural celebrations representing participating nations from across the globe.