Chapter Text
Arkhelios was founded as an individual island nation past the mountains of Copperhead Valley, South of Strangetown. Though no one is entirely sure how Abraham Helios managed to do it, it's been said that he was a powerful man, even back then.
A council was formed with four powerful families on the island—Abraham Helios, Yvette Durant, Giovanni Rivales, and Salem Bellamy.
At this point in history, the four of main founders were close—as thick as thieves, some would have said, and just as ruthless. Not a single person believed that the four founders got away with founding their new home legally—and that was thanks almost entirely to Yvette Durant. Her prowess as a prosecuting lawyer meant she had the knowledge Abraham needed in order to skirt the lines of treason while successfully forming his own nation, buying exorbitant amounts of land without proper permit, and walling himself off legally from the rest of Simatia. Though it is said the other three founders looked down on her for her lack of wealth or power, none of them could deny she was needed.
Of the other three, Giovanni brought his scientific skill-set with him for this new nation, and it's noted that that was likely half the appeal for him to be a part of Abraham Helios' team. With Giovanni in his pocket, Abraham had access to technological advances unknown to the rest of the modern world, and the bankroll of the Rivales family. On Giovanni's end, Abraham offered him something that no one else could—acceptance of his unorthodox experimental science. With him, Giovanni brought his wife, Emelia, a child actress who went far before an on-set accident damaged her good looks and ruined her career. Giovanni's medicinal breakthroughs brought her back to her former glory, but she'd lost the taste for the Sim City spotlight after it had tossed her aside so quickly and casually. Instead, she seemed to have no problem following her husband and saviour to the new land of Arkhelios.
The final piece in Abraham Helios' puzzle—Salem Bellamy. His best friend throughout their childhood, and an influential politician and society man. Even on his worst days, Salem Bellamy could rally a crowd. Though he was far more conservative than Abraham in his middling age, and he was none-too-happy that Abraham had persued and recruited Rivales and his dark sciences, Salem Bellamy was the linchpin in Abraham's success. His ability to convert people on the outskirts of Copperhead Valley into Arkhelian supporters, and then later into citizens, was paramount to the success of the small nation.
After that, nothing could stop Abraham or Arkhelios from thriving. The previously unknown man built a small country from the ground up—a place ruled the way he believed all should have been, without the rules or regulations of the larger Simatian government, and free to do as they liked. Of course, one man's utopia is another man's hell, as they say.
Arkhelios thrived. The four founding families grew together for a long decade before growing on their own as well, their values shifting as time went on. Abraham found it easy to believe he'd achieved what he'd set out to do—he alone had done the impossible in Simatian history: he's started something new.
In truth, this wasn't the start.
This was the beginning of the end.
37 Years Later.
"Founding Father, Abraham Helios, Found Dead at Age 64"
Late last night in Arkhelios, Abraham Helios, founding father of the nation, was found dead at age 64.
Though the investigation is still ongoing, foul play is confirmed—cause of death was a bullet wound to the chest, where he was then left to bleed out at Factorio Park. While there are no known suspects at this time, many believe it may have been one of the other council chairs of the nation.
Many are aware that the founding father of the nation had recently been involved in multiple disagreements involving the political climate of the nation, as well as personal scandals.
When asked for comment from any of the current council members on the board, only Salem Bellamy was willing to make a statement, saying only that Abraham's death was a great loss for the nation, and that he would be sorely missed by all who knew him. He also was sure to relieve us of worry that the council would fall into disarray, and made it clear that while the news was shocking to everyone, all of the families on the board had been hard at work securing a plan going forward to keep things out of chaos.
As we are all aware, the current council, sans Mr. Helios, consists of the surviving original founding members, Giovanni and Emelia Rivales, Yvette Durant, Cain Helios—the late Abraham's older brother, and Salem Bellamy himself. Joining them over the years, Fitz Cowden and Malika Bellamy—Salem's well known and well liked spouse, and Wanda Hydes, who took over her aunt's seat when Margaret died earlier last year. More recently, Yvette's son, Launce Durant, and Abraham's eldest daughter, Elaine Chun-Helios also joined the board.
Salem Bellamy has assured us that despite grieving their close friend and family member, all board members are aware that Abraham Helios' last wish would have been to make sure the nation continued to flourish in his absense. Mr. Bellamy claims the council is well at work on a plan to fill Abraham's seat on the council, and rearrange other duties as necessary.
On a more personal note, Abraham Helios leaves behind his current wife, Oriana Helios, adoptive daughter of Fitz Cowden, and their young son, Nicholas Helios. Though Oriana is over twenty years younger than Abraham Helios, and was his third wife in less years, we've been told she is grieving heavily, though she was not available for comment. Nicholas, only age three, is the sole male heir to the Helios fortune and legacy, despite being proceeded by three older sisters. Darcy Mishra, had little to say about her father's death, and we were unable to find Narcissa Helios for comment.
Stay tuned for more as official details are released.