| Empire of the Carolinas | |||||
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 Location of the Empire of the Carolinas in North America
Official claims Internationally unrecognized claims End Portal International Zone | |||||
 Map of Carolinian claims internationally
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| Capital and largest city | Carolina Region | ||||
| Government | Absolute monarchy | ||||
| History | |||||
| - | Nation founded | May 22, 2023 | |||
| Population | |||||
| - | June 21, 2023 estimate | 8 | |||
The Empire of the Carolinas, often shortened to the Carolinas or simply Carolina, is an absolute monarchy located in North America. It is led by Empress Alex I, one of three Carolinian residents as of July 3, 2023. Considered to the most powerful and developed nation, the Empire of the Carolinas is highly self-sustainable, having a variety of different resources such as food, sugar cane products, wood, tools, weaponry, and armor, along with many specialized buildings and structures. Despite its name, the Carolinas encompass more than the Carolina Region; its borders are agreed to be within the Mississippi River, the Ohio River, and the Mason-Dixon line, with colonies in Greeland, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. The nation has close ties with Hoosierland, Vermont, and Iberia, and the creation of a formal alliance between the three has been discussed. Carolina historically had a negative opinion of Cheyenne, but relations have recently cooled and the two are now mostly neutral towards each other. As of July 2, 2023, the Empire of the Carolinas has eight official political divisions, known as regions: Carolina Region, the capital; Potomac Region; Appalachian Region; Biloxi Region; Upper Mississippi Region; the Florida Containment Zone; the Atlantic Region; and the Greenland Region.
History[]
The Empire of the Carolinas was founded on May 22, 2023. They were the first nation to acquire iron, diamonds, and ancient debris. They held an early lead in terms of development within the first few in-game days. A small cobblestone house was erected on the first night, and Alex stayed in this shelter for several days before moving to the Grand Palace, which was built to house themself. Throughout the first week of the server's existence, Carolina maintained close relations with Hoosierland and Iberia, and later Cheyenne after its founding on May 27. Carolina, Hoosierland, Iberia, and the newly founded Vermont maintain friendly relations with each other.
Conflicts with Cheyenne[]
Tensions with Cheyenne first began after Sierra, the leader of Cheyenne, was told to move out of Hoosierland. After walking through Hoosierland, Alex I noticed smoke particles coming through the ground near Ava's house. Alex I alerted Ava, the leader of Hoosierland, and they discovered a trap settled below Ava's house. It is widely suspected that Sierra placed the trap in retaliation for the forced move, but this has not been confirmed and there is conflicting evidence; Sierra denies it. This event established the distrust between Cheyenne and other nations that would influence future events.
Late on May 27, Sierra claims to have discovered a piece of rotten flesh declaring war on her, which she blamed on Carolina. It is widely suspected that Sierra placed it herself. This event worsened mistrust between Cheyenne and the rest of the world, as they saw it as trying to start conflicts.
Carolina-Cheyenne War[]
Main article: Carolina-Cheyenne War
On May 28, Sierra of Cheyenne stole an enchanting table from Carolina, believing that Alex I stole hers. After Hoosierland threatened to attack Cheyenne, Sierra returned the enchanting table to Carolina. When Alex I was alerted of the news, they declared war on Cheyenne on the basis of territorial sovereignty. After fighting a single battle, the Battle of Cheyenne, Sierra surrendered on behalf of Cheyenne. The two nations signed a peace treaty in Hoosierland, known as the Treaty of Gary, which forced Cheyenne to hand over valuables to Carolina, remain neutral in wars, and refrain from any provocative moves against other nations, among other demands by Carolina. The war lasted a total of around five minutes.
Coalition intervention in Cheyenne[]
Main article: Coalition intervention in Cheyenne
Alex I et al. v. Sierra I international court case[]
Urbanization[]
In the early weeks of June, Carolina began a period of quick urbanization. Rather than focusing on farms and agriculture, the Carolians focused on its urban center. During this time, several buildings were completed, each with their own specialty: the Carolina Brewery, which is used to make potions; the Carolina Smeltery, which has public furnaces, blast furnaces, and smokers; a netherrack farm; and villager housing, among others. This growth solidified Carolina's position as the most dense and developed nation in the world. Throughout July, Carolina continued to urbanize by building many more structures.
Rise as an international power[]
Although Carolina has always been among the most developed nations, this distinction was made clear after a series of events in late June and early July 2023. The gap between the two most developed nations, Carolina and Iberia, and the third-most developed, Cheyenne, has remained quite large. Carolina in particular has among the best technology in the world and is usually considered the world's most powerful nation when considering PVP potential. Carolina also has an active weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program, one of only two countries to have one, the other being Iberia. In late July, Carolina founded the Union of North American States (UNAS), a mutual defense alliance that guarantees military defense from Carolina and aims for peace across North America. Carolina's vast landmass gives access to an abundance of natural resources, which can be traded with other nations for economic gain. Carolina also uses its many resources to build structures or craft items that may be useful to Carolina and the Empress. As such, nearly the entirety of North America is under Carolinian influence in some form. Carolina also leads the way in international politics and diplomacy.
Despite some rivalries with Iberia, the other international power, the two nations maintain friendly relations and often work together.
Colonization of Africa[]
After Cheyenne discovered an abundance of diamonds and other materials in southern Africa, Carolina was among the first of several nations to set up a colony in the area. A small mining camp was founded in central South Africa, which has since been connected to Carolina through the nether. The Carolinian African Territories (CAT) occupy South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, southern Mozambique, and Madagascar. A tropical tourist city is currently being built in Madagascar, which is home the the Empress's summer house.
Government[]
Empress Alex I of Carolina
The Empire of the Carolinas is an absolute monarchy led by Empress Alex I. They maintain the supreme law of the nation and punish those who violate it. They have the ability to declare war and sign peace treaties with other nations. Alex I resides in the Grand Palace, a quartz building with an amethyst floor and a cobblestone roof.
The Carolinas are divided into seven subregions, known as simply "regions". These regions are specialized and focus on a specific sector on the economy; for example, the Potomac Region is heavily agricultural whereas the Appalachian Region is used for mining and the Carolina Region is mostly urban.
Economy[]
The Empire of the Carolinas has a diverse economy. The nation relies heavily on agriculture, especially potatoes, of which it is one if the biggest producers of. Potatoes remain the nation’s largest export, and they are often traded with villagers and other nations. Sugar cane is also an important product grown in the nation; Carolina is the world’s largest producer of sugar cane. Three regions are dedicated to farming and agriculture: Potomac, Biloxi, and parts of the Carolina Region. Metals such as iron and gold are common trades with other nations, and Carolina both imports and exports these metals. Animals products such as food and wool are also traded with other nations.
Carolina is rich in natural resources. Among its most plentiful ores are iron, which Carolina has vast reserves of; coal, which is used as the nation's most common source of fuel; copper, which is abundant but not commonly used; diorite, which is a common building resource; and stone. The Carolinas also have a large quartz reserve, mined from the nether and used as an expensive building block. Among its most common above-ground resources are lumber, crops, sugar cane, dirt, and sand. Many of these resources are used domestically, such as for the creation of buildings, but sometimes they are traded with other nations for other resources. Bamboo, an imported plant from Africa, is grown en masse in the southern areas of Carolina; it is useful for villager trading, as bamboo can be crafted into sticks. A chorus fruit farm exists in Florida as well.
Several species of animals also exist in the Carolinas. In the wild, animals such as sheep and pigs can be seen occasionally. For much of the nation's early weeks, cows were scarce and close to extinction. However, over time the population of cows has increased and they are now abundant in the wild. Carolina hosts a cow farm that aims to maintain the population of cows in North America as well as for resources such as leather and beef. Sheep, pig, rabbit, and horse farms also exist in Carolina.
Climate and vegetation[]
Carolina has a variety of climates. It is dominated by a humid subtropical climate, having relatively mild winters and hot summers with high humidity. Areas in the north and in the Appalachian Region have a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. Southern areas of the Florida Containment Zone have a tropical climate, remaining hot and humid year-round. The Greenland Region has an arctic climate, as it exists on a glacier in the far northern latitudes of the world.
Carolina is also home to a wide array of vegetation. Several species of flowers exist throughout the Carolinas, including Papaver rhoeas (the poppy), Centaurea cyanus (the cornflower), Taraxacum officinaleI (the dandelion), Helianthus annuus (the sunflower), and Rosa carolina (the rose), to name only a few. Many species of trees are native to the Carolinas; they include oak, dark oak, birch, jungle, and spruce. Several invasive plants have been introduced to Carolina: these include bamboo, acacia trees, mangrove trees, and chorus fruit.
Buildings and structures[]
Skyline of Carolina at night
As of June 21, 2023, Carolina has 28 total structures, 20 (71%) of which are located in the capital Carolina Region. The nation has several different specialized buildings, each serving a different purpose. The Carolina Brewery is located in the northern Carolina Region and, as the name entails, acts a brewery where potions can be made. The Carolina Smeltery is a public-use building that contains furnaces, blast furnaces, and smokers. The oldest specialized building, the enchanting room, is a wooden building that exists to enchant books, tools, and armor. The Grand Palace is the residence of the nation's leader, Empress Alex I. A large storage building, the Carolinian Central Storage, lays in the heart of the Carolina Region and is used to store all types of items, ranging from food to weapons. The Carolina International Courthouse is the only existing court in the world, having jurisdiction over Carolinian cases and cases that violate international law, but not cases of lesser importance that take place outside of the Carolinas. Public villager housing exists to provide a safe and comfortable place for villagers to live and trade. Several memorials exist near Memorial Avenue, a road that runs through an area of different memorials relating to in-game and real life events.
The world's first high-rise building, the Carolina Office building, was finished in mid July 2023. It contains five stories, each of which contain one office room for users to claim. The building has a natural area on its roof, which was created as a part of the nation's plan for naturalization. A lookout tower, inspired by the ones built in Cuba, was built near the border with the Appalachian Region, and was built to get a better view of the city. The airport, which is technically the tallest building in the world, sits at nearly 50 blocks tall if including the spires. Otherwise, the airport lays at around 35 blocks tall, which would not be the tallest in the world.
Tundris[]
Six buildings exist in Tundris. They include the Empress's winter palace, a storage building, a small villager trading hall, two vacant research stations, and the town hall. Nearby are the mob farm (to the east) and the Greenland Correctional Institute (to the northwest). While not considered buildings, a farm and a sheep pen also exist in the town.
Carolina African Territories[]
A small mining base in South Africa includes a house and an automatic smeltery. On Madagascar, only the Empress's summer house exists on the island, but a tourist city is currently being built.
Technology[]
Regions of the Carolinas by how developed they are
Carolina is considered the most advanced nation in the world by most metrics, usually followed by Iberia. Empress Alex I has access to full enchanted netherite armor, elytra, and a full set of enchanted netherite tools. The nation itself has villagers to trade with, automatic farming in some areas, access to the End, a robust system of roads, a beacon, and access to weapons of mass destruction. With vast reserves of gold, iron, emeralds, and diamonds, Carolina has many ores to work with and often takes advantage of its access to them. Furthermore, Carolina has access to many different weapons, and its large weapons reserves are among the largest in the world; because of this, Carolina is usually considered the most powerful nation militarily when factoring in the PVP potential of the country.
International relations[]
The Carolinas has formal relations with several other nations. Below is a chart describing the relations between Carolina and other nations.
| Nation | Diplomatic relations | # of wars fought against | # of wars fought with | Part of UNAS? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoosierland | Positive | 0 | 2 | Yes |
| Iberia | Very positive | 0 | 1 | No |
| Vermont | Positive | 0 | 1 | Yes |
| Cheyenne | Positive | 2 | 0 | Yes |
| New Canada | Neutral | 0 | 0 | Yes |
| Tulsa | Positive | 0 | 0 | Yes |
| Cuba | Positive | 0 | 1 | Yes |
| Yucatan | Neutral | 0 | 0 | Yes |
| Sweden | Neutral | 0 | 0 | No |
Regions and territories[]
Carolina consists of eight subdivisions called regions. The capital and largest, the Carolina Region, is by far the most urbanized, and ranks among the largest cities in the world. It is the seat of government and the location of the Empress's permanent location, the Grand Palace. It is also home to many business and industries, having several specialized buildings. The next largest region, the Potomac Region, is a suburban region located directly to the north of the Carolina Region. The Greenland Region, where the city of Tundris is located, is the third-largest region and a planned community. As it is located in the center of the Greenlandic ice sheet, most resources must be imported from the Carolinas.
Regions act as their own cities. As such, regional limits are the Carolinian equivalent of city limits in other nations. Below is a list of the largest cities in Carolina, based on how many structures exist in the region.
| # | Region | Number of buildings | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina | 15 | Largest city in the Carolinas. It is usually contested with Lisbon as the world's largest city. Unlike Lisbon, which is dense and compact, Carolina is sprawling and spread out. Carolina is the capital and seat of government, foreign relations, and the economy, hosting the Grand Palace, embassies, and the central storage center. |
| 2 | Potomac | 7 | Largely suburban and exurban in nature, the Potomac Region includes suburban infrastructure and rural farms. Caleb's residence exists in Potomac, as well as an unoccupied house and a villager residential building. Potomac was founded as a rural region, but over time urban growth reached the southern areas of the region. It remains Carolina's largest agricultural center, with large farms of potatoes, carrots, and sugar cane. |
| 3 | Greenland | 6 | Despite being the Carolinas' largest district, Greenland is largely unpopulated with the exception of Tundris. Tundris, a small city in western Greenland, is the only community in the region and in the entire arctic circle. It was founded as a station for Empress Alex I to reside during expeditions to Greenland, but later grew into a medium-sized city. Tundris includes a farm, a nether portal, and port, and a local storage center. |
| 4 | Biloxi | 4 | |
| 5 | Upper Mississippi | 3 (1) | Two of the three total buildings have been abandoned |
| 6 | Carolina African Territories | 2 | |
| 7 | Florida Containment Zone | 1 | |
| 8 | Appalachian | 0 | |
| 9 | Atlantic | 0 |