Housatonic: Difference between revisions

|image_flag =        Flag of Mukō, Kyoto.svg

|image_coat =        Emblem of Mukō, Kyoto.svg

|image_map =        

|alt_map =           <!--alt text for map-->

|map_caption =         

Housatonic is located in the far northeastern portion of [[Cusinaut]] and is comprised of a mainland area as well as a chain of small islands known as the Unnuaq Chain. The country sits astride the {{wp|polar circle}}, and accordingly its climate is very cold. Housatonic is divided into two government established regions known as the "Urban Geography" and the "Insular Geography", with the Urban Geography being all lands south of the Polar Circle and the Insular Geography sitting to the north of it. Both regions embrace the Unnuaq Bay, an inlet of the [[Nysdra Sea]].

The Insular Geography comprises the Unnuaq Chain, which prior to 2030 was an overseas territory of [[Urcea]]. The Chain is comprised of three islands which sit immediately to the north of the polar circle and Urban Geography. The Insular Geography is almost entirely comprised of tundra and is otherwise unremarkable in terms of climate and topography; the three islands are all somewhat elevated off of sea level with sheer rock faces on most sides and a few gradual sloping regions where historic human settlement occurred.

Housatonic is among the oldest cities in northwestern [[Crona]], with historical evidence tracing its existence back to 200 BC. The city most likely formed as a stopping off point to the Unnuaq Chain, as the inconsistent freezing patterns of the Unnuaq Bay made the city the easiest location to cross over to the Unnuaq Chain by either boat or over ice. During the ancient period, the Unnuaq Chain was excellent fishing ground and consequently sustained a much larger population than the present day. Consequently, the city has a long-attested history as the "gateway to the Unnuaqs", as fishermen from the island would often cross to the mainland to sell their excess fish to mainland tribes in or around Housatonic, which became a preferred trading destination between the mainland and island tribes. Despite its long history and relatively permanent economic activity, the city has never grown larger than 75,000 at its peak in the 1300s, and many scholars attribute this to the poor climate for agriculture to support the residents of the city. Like [[Pachaug]], Housatonic enjoyed a minor power position in Crona as Occidental goods began to flow into its ports, but an increasingly menacing posture from [[Occidental]] traders lead to the city joining the [[Northern Confederation]] in [[1728]].

Most scholars believe the Unnuaq Chain was settled in ca. 600 BC by a people thought to be from the region of [[Shenendehowa Bay]] pursuing better fishing opportunities. Since its initial settlement, fishing has been the primary means of survival - and only primary trade good - produced by the islands. Favorable climate conditions lead to a population explosion in approximately 250 BC, and some historians believe the islands may have supported a population close to 50,000 people at the high end around 1 AD. Throughout much of its history, most major settlements on the Chain have occurred near the coast on or near the few slopes into the islands' interiors; the island's steep cliffs were largely avoided by settlers throughout the ages. The "dense period" lead to the establishment of population centers adjacent to the islands, including Housatonic, which most scholars think was established to facilitate trade with the islands. Global cooling facilitated a mass depopulation of the islands by 300 AD, with a minority of scholars believing the ancestors of the [[Algosh]] were among the residents who left in the subsequent migrations. Population levels stabilized at a few thousand by the medieval period. The islands, which consisted of several dozen villages, were not formally part of a polity until the 17th century, when it was put under the influence and protection of the Northern Confederation.

During the end of the [[War of the Northern Confederation]], Algosh ethnic forces launched a military takeover of the remnants of the [[Northern Confederation]] in an event known as the [[Algosh coup]]. Unlike nearby [[Pachaug]] and other cities whose Algosh garrisons quickly established control, Housatonic did not submit. After a militia ejected the Algosh garrison, the city was besieged on 9 Sepmteber and was seized by force on 29 September of 2011. Thousands were killed and the city was looted; in an ironic twist, the area hardest impacted were the wealthier quarters, whom supported union with Algoquona for generations. The city was integrated into [[Algoquona]], but the siege had the dual effect of hardening the city's resolve and destroying what pro-Algoquonan elements existed. 2012 and early 2013 saw a cycle of violence between radicals and the Algoquonan government, though Algoquona eventually afforded the city peace at the expense of autonomy, which some welcomed. Regardless, the city's leaders joined with others - especially the leaders of Pachaug - to agitate for autonomy within Algoquona and, eventually, the right of appeal to [[Urcea]]. The enmity between Housatonic and its Algoquonan overlords not only lay in resentment of domination but in relatively obscure religious issues; though both Algoquona and Housatonic adhered to the [[M'acunism|M'acunist]] faith tradition, Housatonicers mostly adhered to the [[M%27acunism#Man_school|Man School]] and constructed physical temples, structures largely viewed as abominations by the [[M%27acunism#Nature_school|Nature School]]-adhering Algoquona. The city was targeted for reprisals in November and December 2016, but [[Operation Mission Shield]] and [[Operation Western Blizzard]] thoroughly destroyed the ability of Algoquona to project power or police its territories. Housatonic joined with Pachaug to form the ''Tokorua nga taone nui'' ("two cities force"), eventually besieging Kaigwa and forcing Algoquona to enter into peace talks arbitrated by Urcea. Housatonic readily agreed to the 2017 Treaty of Electorsbourg and entered into negotiations with Urcea to establish the [[International charter city|charter agreement]] under which it would be governed. Housatonic retained more autonomy under its agreement with Urcea than Pachaug, though Housatonic's agreement included greater authority for [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] missions given the larger Catholic minority and influence within the city.

Due to the prevalence of fish and the historic connection of Housatonic to the fishing industry, fish is the primary protein in Housatoner cuisine and most dishes served in the country are either fish-based or include some type of fish-based side.

| value1 =63.3

| value2 =33.2

| label3 = [[College of Levantine Churches|Collegiate]]

| value3 =1.4

| color3 =midnightblue

| label5 = Other

| value5 =2.1

| color5 = navajowhite

The majority of Housatoners adhere to the traditional native [[M'acunism|M'acunist]] believe system, and within Housatonic the majority of M'acunists are members of the [[M%27acunism#Man_school|Man School]]. Housatoners are unique among M'acunists for their use of temples rather than committing sacrifices in open spaces, and have the second most M'acunist temples of any city in Crona second only to [[Shenendehowa Bay]].

Housatonic has developed a robust economy since its creation as an international charter city in the 2010s; the favorable economic climate created by the charter and supported by the local government lead to good conditions for [[Occidental]] firms to begin establishing offices in Housatonic. The influx of foreign capital enhanced the service economy in the charter city, and the increased demand for food has lead to major expansion of the fishing industry. It houses the world's northernmost major {{wp|international airport}}, and despite temperatures it has become a premier air hub and layover destination for travel between [[Levantia]] and [[Alshar]], as well as other destinations in [[Crona]].

Prior to its independence, Housatonic had no armed forces beyond its participation within the [[Nysdra Sea Guard]] (NSG). Accordingly, the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea]] provided for the primary air and ground defenses of the city during the charter period. With the creation of the Republic, the Republican Army and Republican Air Forces were created under the civilian control of the Chief of State and Defense Agency. The military is still in the active phase of organization, although it has already received significant shipments of surplus equipment from Urcea, which has become standardized within the Republican Army and Air Forces. Both the Army and Air Force are undergoing training from the Urcean [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] and [[Royal Air Force (Urcea)|Royal Air Force]], respectively, and both the Army and Air Force signed contracts with Urcean arms manufacturers to provide them with repairs and replacement parts for equipped Urcean surplus for the foreseeable future. When fully trained and equipped, the Republican Army is envisioned to have a single combined arms {{wp|battalion}} sized formation and the Air Force will have a single mixed use air wing. The Republican Army is intended to serve in defense of the country within the context of a greater NSTA response, and accordingly the Republican Army battalion would be integrated into a larger allied formation in the event of war. The authorizing statute which created the Republican Army also allows it to be used in peacekeeping missions and security applications throughout the [[Nysdra Sea]] region.