Mushroomica

Mushroomica is an ancient city-state on a mushroom island in northeast Eldham, founded on June 31st, 2021. In recent years it's been built up into a thriving port city metropolis, under the rule of its Trade Prince, Misha (Stabbr8) Silvertongue.

Mushroomica is the capital city of the Federation of Mushroomicania.

Foundation and Conquest
Mushroomica was founded by Chrispytitan and DiggerO, on June 31st, 2021. Soon after, Mushroomica began construction of a island castle fort called Brauguard, headed by DiggerO.

To the east, the Grand Duchy of Rhineland declares war on the island micronation on August 11th, 2021. Their bureaucracy saw the fort was near their coast. They feared it could be used to invade the Rhineland capital. Despite the small country's odds, Chrispytitan refuses to back down, and commissions an engineer named Misha to construct a better fort. But the war, quick and brutal, ended in Rhineland's subjugation of the island. Chrispytitan, already half-mad from long-term exposure to corruptive Nether flora, locked himself in a tower of the infamous Blackstone Palace, never to be seen again.

Misha settled down in Mushroomica in the aftermath. Several days of post-war conferences happened between Mushroomica and Rhineland, giving Misha a chance to demonstrate his diplomatic prowess. By the end of the conferences, Mushroomica became a semiautonomous vassal state.

Vassals to the Mainland
The island started to use Rhineland’s resources to start several projects. The biggest of which was a land bridge connecting the two islands of Mushroomica into one. Later, Misha took over Mushroomican leadership due to being the most active member in government. His ascension ushered a period of development, progress, and activity.

On November 3rd, 2021, Rhineland reforms into the Scribe Dynasty of Zhon. But despite the changes made to its government, the mainland remained stagnant for a while. Mushroomica decided to fully integrate into Zhon around this time, and so Misha formally joined bureaucracy. Soon, Misha established the Mushroomican Whaling Company, bringing trade and activity to the region.

Oh, the Turntables
As the ages passed, and Zhon continued to stagnate, Mushroomica became its most active region. The ethnic minority, once vassals, started to dominate the economy. After a series of unfortunate events surrounding the higher-ups of Zhonish bureaucracy, Misha was chosen to carry on the torch of leadership due to his sigma-male gamer grindset and proficiency with politics.

Soon, Misha “Stabber” Silvertongue was crowned as the new Trade Prince, overlord of the nation that once subjugated him.

Culture

 * Early Mushroomicans built their huts by simply putting walls around a giant mushroom's cap.
 * Later, with the influx of trade, the island began a period of rapid urbanization.
 * Now there exists a few pockets of the native flora, such as the Central Park or shrines to Phrog, amidst the crowded streets.
 * It is a Mushroomican custom, when receiving gifts or borrowing items, to give back an item of equal value
 * All kinds of cults and household gods were worshipped in early years
 * However, now the most prevalent faith is Scribism
 * A faith revolving around the gathering and protection of knowledge, and the sharpening of one's mind as a weapon against evil
 * Despite it's influence on the higher echelons of Mushroomica, it remains a "low-profile" religion, with a few churches and shrines
 * The funguses carpeting the island break down and consume structures as time goes on, and the Mushroomicans just build over the ruins.
 * A massive, labyrinthine undercity has formed of honeycombed rooms, basements, bunkers, and mines.
 * Nicknamed the Basements, the Labyrinth, or the Mushroomican Backrooms, the locals are used to these areas.
 * They reuse the shallower regions for various purposes, despite the monsters and ghosts said to roam its depths.