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Hesia

The town of Hesia is built around the northern-most portal in Elysia on Lake Sybil. It was made by a man named Stolos Mnester in 6,333 XA when the Anyeli factions went back to war. Tired of the conflict, and seeing no end to the bloodshed, the Apalos abandoned his race and its quarrels and set out to make a town where anyone could live peacefully. Hesia already had residents at the time who were struggling fishermen, but Stolos brought with him his family's wealth and was able to form a functioning town.

Hesia is small compared to other portal towns (especially Alexandria and Espur), but it still holds cultural significance due to it being completely politically neutral. Residents there take an oath that was written at the town's conception before being allowed permanent residence. It is not uncommon for mothers in this town to sing a melodic version of this oath to their children in an effort to pass on their peaceful values.

In modern days the town has expanded, residents typically being refugees from various wars. Places of note are the Shrine of Stolos, a life-size statue of the town's founder saving an infant from a volley of arrows; Eurynome's Orphanage, a very large, town-funded, multi-building orphanage named after Stolos' Zanaryan wife who helped him found the town; and the docks where people will sometimes come to watch fishermen bring in the day's catch at sunset. The men of Hesia now fish all year round due to the money it brings with people wanting to see the belfrense, but they secretly release most of their catch every day, only keeping what is immediately sold or what they need to survive.

Hesia has also built an oddly shaped wall that goes around its only land-based side in order to protect their peace. The town's plan is to expand to Lake Sybil's other nearby peninsula if they need to, but there is still enough space for many more people to live comfortably in the town before that is needed. The buildings of Hesia are simple in shape, but many of them have historical importance to various residents. Some were built to house famous people in need of shelter, while others were built in honor of fallen family members.

The population is moderate at a few thousand. Every species can be found here in some representation. Some residents live there willingly, while others have been forced there by conflict, or in a few instances even banishment from the lands of their own species.

Hesia's Mayor is currently an Anyeli man, as is tradition, named Phineus Teuta. Phineus is a well aged man at about 879 years old. He is an Apali Peacekeeper, similarly to the town's founder, and leads peacefully with the aid of the town's council. The council is made up of nine people, with the mayor acting as a tenth member as well as a leader. The council members change every few years, but the mayor stays in power unless they resign, die, or the council votes unanimously to replace him.

Overall the town is friendly and welcoming. There is no extreme shortage of food or water, and in general people work together to get by. It is not uncommon that when someone new seeks refuge inside the borders of Hesia that they will not have food, clothing, or shelter, but it is just as common for someone else in the town to find them what they need at no cost. The rumor is that the town still has money from Stolos' supposed fortune, but there is no evidence to support that apart from how well kept the town is. Hesia is only so nice, though, because the people living there work very hard to keep it that way.

The town depends greatly on its fishing, but also has many farmers that are considered residents of Hesia but reside outside of the walls and harvest food that is brought into the town. Many denizens of Hesia work on these farms in some way, be it as a stable hand or in the harvesting of crops.