Helian Code

Many can and will talk about the strength of arms and armor. Fewer recognize the importance of delivering secured messages. Wars can be lost over a single message.

— Alicia Ravenwood, Historian

Overview

Conquering the continent requires sending messengers to and from the advancing front lines. These messages can contain anything from simple family letters to sensitive military orders. When the messages are really important they are sent via a spell directly to a specified listener. Whether though paper or through magic, messages can be intercepted in one way or another. Perhaps it is no surprise that Helia's army has created a code to secure their messages from prying eyes. These ciphers have made it difficult for armies resisting Helia's advance to discover and understand Helia's plans. Even the Queendom of Lunaria seems unable to decipher the Helian Code.

Usage

The cipher performs two primary functions. It encodes messages so that they cannot be understood unless one has the key, and in the advent of capture or other significant distress it allows one to secretly inform their own side of the situation.

Branches

Helia's code is not a single all-purpose language, but one with several branches. One branch is used in common correspondence between front line soldiers. Another branch is used by Helia's commanders and generals. Yet another branch is utilized by the Helian aristocracy. And a very special branch of the code is utilized by King Vimak Helia III himself and his closest friends and allies. One needs the specific key to each branch in order to decipher messages created using the corresponding branch. Should one area become compromised, such as the front line correspondence, the other branches will remain unbroken thereby ensuring the security of Helia's messages until a new branch is developed and adopted.