Housatonic: Difference between revisions

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. 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]].

During the next two centuries, Housatonic underwent considerable changes and also, notably, caused political turmoil within the Northern Confederation. The city adopted a system of government influenced by [[Urcea]]n traders in the region, dividing the city into ten wards which would elect a Chief for their ward; the body of ten Ward-Chiefs would then select a Paramount Chief to serve as ruler of the city for ten years, although the power and prestige of the Paramount Chief declined such that, by 1900, it was viewed less as a "ruler" and more of an executive office. During this period, known as the Reform Epoch, Housatonic began to assert its power inside the Northern Confederation. With a population of around 50,000 in 1908, the city took advantage of the 1908 war between the Confederation and Urcea and attempted to conquer the Unnuaq Chain in order to establish itself as a preeminent member of the Confederation. By June of 1909, Housatonic successfully overran Whenui - the largest of the Unnuaq islands - but was unable to project its power to the remaining two islands of the Chain. The war with Urcea ended in 1910 and the powers of the confederation, especially the neighboring Algoquona, threatened intervention, ending the war and Housatonic's aspirations of expansion. This defeat ended the Reform Epoch and sent the city into decline, as the loss of trade with the Unnuaq severely undermined the city's raison d'etre. This was combined with the general economic decline the Northern Confederation experienced during the 1930s-1950s with the end of Occidental investment as a consequence of the [[Second Great War]]. Increasingly, the city - though still independent - came under the political and economic influence of the [[Algosh people]], and between the 1950s and 2000s the defining political issue in Housatonic was its relationship with the Algosh, with wealthy minorities supporting union or integration into [[Algoquona]] and the majority supporting independence.

===Conquest and independence===

After the [[War of the Northern Confederation]] and destruction of the Confederation, Housatonic was besieged by forces of Algoquona. Unlike nearby [[Pachaug]], the city did not submit, and was seized by force on 8 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 Khurnwah 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.