Helpis (Terran state)

Helpis was an independent state that covered most of the southern half of Pangea Proxima 1. It was taken over by Portia during the Portian colonial period, with its inhabitants being subjected to Portian systems of government and belief.

History
Helpis emerged from the Terran Mingle along with the early Portian, Hyllus, Mopsus, and Coastal Mopsus cultures. In 400 PT, the Helpis state officially formed, peacefully splitting from Vast Mopsus, which would go on to be one of its closest allies and trade partners. The successful defeat and subsequent annexation of the coastal Mopsus Prefecture, as well as a campaign of expansion into the largely-spiderless western half of the lower continent, cemented the status of Helpis as a world power in the pre-colonial period.

Despite having a largely ethnocentric perspective, with mostly Helpis salticids in power throughout the course of the state's history, Helpis was known for its multispecies population. Nearly a third of the population consisted of other species of salticids, with Helpis being a common destination for members of other nations who were exiled or otherwise unable or unwilling to live in their home countries. Multispecies canopies were uncommon, but not unheard of.

When Portia invaded Vast Mopsus through 720-730 PT, Helpis declared war on the superpower, which already had its sights on the state. A ten-year war played out, over the course of which Helpis was pushed further and further back into itself until its defeat in 739 PT. It was transformed by Portia into the semi-independent Helpis Prefecture and ruled by a series of Portian-assigned puppet leaders.

Society
Helpis had its own belief system born out of the Proto-Terran Religion. In this belief system, the figure of Sun was held up as a mighty warrior and trickster god worthy of massive praise and worship. In turn, the role and figure of the Vital was held in high regard, with heavy restrictions on salticids who could not live up to the ideals of physicality, beauty, and strength represented by the Sun character.

In contrast to other societies, which often painted other species of spiders as having been separated from the whole for some wrongdoing, Helpis Sun worship taught that all species were created at the same time, and while each was different they all traced their ancestry back to Sun and were therefore equal.