Istanboulder

The Boulderist Republic of Istanboulder, more commonly referred to as simply "Istanboulder", was a Schnozist Republic found on central Cymru. It was originally founded by the Old Guard of Boulderov on February 14th, 2021 on an abandoned VIR port given to them by Loic the Uniter, after the Great Migration from Haven.

It was re-founded by players Bagelinian Yale, Rosanto Yale, and Owen Yale on January 16th, 2022, following the Fall of Old Boulderov and subsequent transformation into an Absolute Monarchy. Ironically, the land was re-given to Bagelinian Yale and his friends, again, by Loic the Uniter.

The Republic was considered a continuation, and the last bastion, of the oldest form of Boulderovian Culture and Orthodox Boulderism. It prided itself on its deep, rich history, with its people having stretched three corners of the world, constantly being steadfast in their beliefs.

On Janurary 26th, 2022, Istanboulder obtained the Haven region of Patria (Also known tradionally as Southern Boulderov) and the old Boulderov capital of Pedregal, under the conditions of the Twin Boulder Treaty. A few days later, it subsequently merged with the Boulderist Kingdom of Harria to re-form the Nation of Boulderov on Janurary 29th, 2022, both sides coming together to write a new constitution which combined elements from both governments. Under the new Boulderov, Istanboulder was incorporated as a Province, although many residents of Istanboulder quickly moved back to their fatherlands in Haven.

The Province of Istanboulder was finally annexed by the Autokratoria Sirradra on March 3rd, 2022, following the signing of a peace treaty created to end the Boulderov-Sirradra War. The remaining Boulderovians within Istanboulder were forced to hand over the ownership of their town claims. Though the treaty claimed that Sirradra would protect Boulderovian culture, they employed a strategy of cultural suppression as Boulderovian culture was systematically denied. After news broke that the New Yurian Mayor of Istanboulder City planned to re-design it into a Yurian city, the Boulderovians sent an appeal to the Provincial Diarchs of Valron-Yuria - which was promptly denied. Seeing no other option than to fight back, a few Boulderovians formed a terrorist group known as Al-Istanboulder, which would monitor Sirradran actions and coordinate resistance. Once the group was discovered, every Boulderovian was purged.

Istanboulder's culture and previous presence has since been erased. Various Boulderovian cities, national, historic, and religious landmarks or monuments have been demolished or scheduled for 're-design'. This cultural genocide paved the way for Sirradran settler-colonialism and marked the end of Boulderovian culture on Cymru. The event is commonly referred to within Boulderov as the Istanboulder Genocide.

Etymology
The name "Istanboulder", comes from the ancient Boulderov settlement of its time back when the Old Guard of Boulderov first established the city, shortly before departing back to Haven.

At a first glance the name seems quite odd, if not nonsensical, but its origins contains meaning that reveals the very character of the nation. The name is hypothesized to come from two places. The first theory, albeit more popular with the simple citizens rather than intellectuals, claims that the name of the Nation comes from the mythical fictional city of 'Istanbul', a popular setting for children's books and novels of the fantasy genre. The second, much more believable theory, is that the name itself is a play on words, roughly meaning "I-Stan-Boulder", the land where one "stans", or worships, the Holy Boulder.

This is by far the most popular theory, but thanks to the unfortunate lack of historical evidence regarding Istanboulder's earliest days, the birth of this name may forever remain a mystery. We can only theorize about what the name truly holds, although our imaginations may take us in wild directions

History
Most of Istanboulder's entire history covers the history of the Boulderovian people and the Boulderist religion. The Boulderovian people were present in Istanboulder for a short time, until their departure to Haven during the Great Migration. Until their return centuries later, Istanboulder was subjected to varying degrees of control from Viodoxa, The Imperial Archonal Union, Seratovia, and other forms of the Viodoxan Archonates and Empires.

The history of Istanboulder comprises nine distinct perspectives: Ancient Istanboulder, the Valdreach Era, the Old Boulderovian Era, Ferrymen rule, Seratova Rule, Archonal Union rule, Independent Nation, Boulderov Times, and Sirradran Rule era.

Origins of Istanboulder
The origins of Istanboulder are in essence also the origins of Old Boulderov. The term "Old Boulderov" refers to the Boulderovian people and the Nation of Boulderov, which was a nation in Haven and a primary province during the Second Empire of Uldarash. Old Boulderov lasted from its founding on January 16th 2021, to its collapse in late July, after which all its original founders and OGs left the server and mimek established an Absolute Monarchy in their place.

The Boulderovians who lived in Istanboulder considered the history of Boulderov also a part of their history. This section will briefly cover Boulderovian history when it relates to Istanboulder, but farther depth on the story of Boulderov can be found on that wiki page, located here

The Auroran War
The full article covering this topic can be found here "The Auroran War"

After the formation of Boulderov by Bolton Yale and his followers, the fledgling nation felt threatened by the ambitions of the powers around it - Aurora and Uldarash in particular. Seeking allies, Boulderov signed a Mutual-Defense Pact with Paloro. However, the Boulderov High Council knew that against both Uldarash and Aurora, they would need stronger allies. Reaching out to Archon Loic of Viodoxa and conducting brief negotiations, Boulderov joined the new Empire, seeing benefits in its military prowess, organized bureaucracy, and protection from other Havenite powers. Loic, in turn expanded his Empire and gained a new foothold on the continent of Haven.

A week prior, Boulderovian LickenChittle successfully infiltrated the Auroran ranks, hoping to gain intel in case of a war. With the help of Senior_Raviolli, the pair robbed the Auroran treasury, hoping to "do a little trolling" and avenge prior Auroran raids on their Palorian Ally. Their attempt was successful, and caused Aurora to declare war against Boulderov. Loic's Viodoxa, and its allies, quickly declared their support. While Aurora ostensibly stated their primary motivation as revenge, they also hoped to stunt Viodoxa's influence in Haven as they sought to become the continent's foremost power.

Despite assistance from Archon Loic and Viodoxa's forces, Boulderov's capital Pedregal was exposed to aggression and frequent raids from Aurora. Loic and his followers helped defend Pedregal against Auroran invasions, but the city suffered damages from TNT blasts and griefing. With the war heating up and the Boulderovians fearing the integrity of their Capital - especially now that Aurora had a strong personal vendetta against Boulderov - Boulderov leadership decided that Haven was no longer safe for their people, and exiled themselves to find a new home until the war abided.

Great Migration to Cymru and Loic's Bargain

After a brief stint establishing a small icy village in Plagos, (named Ghiaccio) the Boulderovians ended up on an expedition to Cymru lead by Zealious, with Signore_Ravioli representing Boulderov. Their destination was a refugee camp, which later became the city of Valentum. Unbeknownst to the Boulderovians setting up Valentum, their movements were noticed by the Auroran forces. Hoping to abuse land mechanics, the Auroran army traveled to Valentum, seeking to kill a Boulderov citizen in order to claim victory. When they arrived at Valentum, they were met with fierce resistance, and a Viodoxan counter-attack crushed their forces. Boulderovian Im_cooming (Also known as Schnoz the Younger), killed the leader of Aurora, Canine14, with his Diamond Axe.



Despite the military support, the Boulderov leadership was still distrustful of Loic and his imperialist ambitions. They set up the Wrens of Stone, a new secretive Boulderov spy organization, to keep a close eye on Loic's movements and actions. Loic, realizing this, offered the High Council of Boulderov a deal; They would get high positions in Loic's government, high military positions for the military leaders, and resources if they wanted them. He also offered them a patch of land and a city to build up - The modern day region of Istanboulder - in an effort to permanently keep the Boulderovians under his thumb. The High Council would come to accept these terms, instigating the Boulderovian Migration to Istanboulder.

First Founding of Istanboulder
On February 14th, the Boulderovians packed their bags and moved south until they hit their destination, an abandoned Valdreach Port, comprised of only 1 completed house and 5 assorted buildings. They dubbed it Istanboulder, which would become the foundations for the modern-day city of Istanboulder_City. Quickly, they began reconstruction efforts as they attempted to make the city their new home, lead by Boulderovian citizen NightSaber. He would expand the roads, spearhead the building of new walls, make more plots for building, and make new bridges over top of the canals that snake through the town.

During this time, Boulderovian culture experienced a Golden Age; with national classics such as LeGarf being written, the first Boulderov Grill-Out, the formation of the Boulderov army, the construction of the slums, and the push for Democracy resulting in the first Low Council elections being held. These events, combined with prior mistrust of Loic, allowed Boulderovian culture to form as a unique identity from the rest of both Haven and Viodoxa, with the concept of returning home to Pedregal and establishing an independent nation of their own taking hold in the minds of many Boulderovians.

Defending Pedregal and the Battle of Fornost

Militarily, Boulderov's involvement in the Auroran War was kept to defending their capital city and allies, trying to keep themselves and their culture alive - except in one instance.

While the Boulderovians were busy establishing a new national identity in Istanboulder, Aurora decided to once again attempt a raid on Pedregal. Unaware of the recent move to Istanboulder, Auroran fighters were surprised to find the city almost totally empty - with the exception of a few Boulderov stragglers - of all military presence. The Boulderovian stragglers quickly alerted the allied forces, and began to attack the Auroran skirmishers, buying time for the Allied army to arrive. Boulderov and Viodoxan warriors sprinted through the nether highway to reach Pedregal, arriving in record time. Only lightly engaging the token force in the city square, the Auroran troops were taken by surprise as they suddenly faced a counter-attack from the Allied army. They rapidly saw they were outnumbered, and after losing a warrior, retreated to the Auroran capital: Fornost. As the allied troops took time to reorganize, a council of war quickly convened and agreed stage a counter-attack into Auroran territory while they still had the upper hand.



The Allied fighters rapidly moved on foot from Pedregal, traveling thousands of blocks through Auroran territory, even through ghast infested mountain peaks. Upon reaching the Auroran swamps, Bolton Yale took the lead, using his enchanted Frost Walker boots to carve a path for the allied army through the murky rivers. Reaching the castle of Fornost, the attackers set fire to Auroran farms and scaled the walls - When Auroran resistance failed to materialize, the allied forces claimed victory. Ironically, the only causality of the short fight was, again, Canine14. While only a short episode in the Auroran War, the battle would see the last raid of Pedregal, and Boulderov gaining recognition as the fighters having led the charge on Fornost.



Treaty of Hapatmitas and the Return to Haven
After the battle of Fornost and long negotiations, the Auroran War finally concluded as leaders Loic, Canine, and RumKnight met to sign the Treaty of Hapatmitas. The treaty conceded that the war was a Viodoxan victory, compensated Viodoxa for their struggles, and recognized Loic's legitimacy as the King of Paloro - and his legitimacy as a ruler in Rathnir.



For the Viodoxans, the treaty was a massive victory, and proved Viodoxa's superiority. The Boulderovians however, only breathed a sigh of relief as they could now return to their homes in Pedregal safely. Having talked with Auroran citizens and establishing a feeling of good will, the Boulderovians saw the Viodoxan zeal against Aurora as excessively hostile, and came to dislike Viodoxa. Now, as the war officially came to a close, the Boulderovians itched to return home and escape the clutches of Loic's growing ambitions.

On March 2nd, 2021, this culminated in the Boulderov High Council putting the matter up to a vote. They could choose to return home to Pedregal and cut all ties with Viodoxa, or remain in Istanboulder under Loic's boots. In a landslide victory, the Boulderovians chose to return home, and immediately packed their bags.

A handful of citizens who had grown attached to Istanboulder remained - and as they bid their farewells to their departing brothers - prepared for Loic's wrath. A day later, on March 3rd, 2021, Boulderov officially cut ties from Viodoxa. They declared their existence as an independent nation on Haven. For the next 8 months, the Nation of Boulderov would go on to achieve great things. It became a founding sponsor of the Nomad Guild, repaired its relations with Aurora, tripled its territory, joined the Second Empire of Uldarash, won great military victories against the Khanate of Haven, Bardonia, and Falnir, and entered a new Golden Age. Istanboulder, however, was not so lucky. Without their brothers or any leadership, the Boulderovians in Istanboulder bore the brunt of Loic's fury. One by one, they slowly disappeared or trickled back to Haven, forgotten in history as the city they worked so hard on slowly crumbled without them.

However, despite Istanboulder's sad fate, this would not be the last time it saw glory before the Re-Founding.

The Ferryman War
[WIP Notes: Talk about Ferrymen. How they wardecced the world from Ferrymen_Fort/IB. Boulderov joined the coalition against Ferrymen. Fought in their historic streets. Won n shit. Happy times for all. Ferrymen got banned, Charron empire formed them promptly fell apart. IB was forgotten again. The End.]



Fall of Old Boulderov
[WIP Notes: Savernia issue causes Boulderov to experience domestic turmoil. Panda tries to coup and fails because sneaky rats him out. OGs like Schnoz, Ravi, Bolton, Tati, Ed, etc find the situation so toxic they all leave. bolton appoints cookie to save boulderov and leaves the server. mimek, w/ support from ted (scoutwit), snatches the power vacuum, establishes an absolute monarchy. old boulderov dies.]

The Return of the Four
After the Ferrymen Wars and the fall of Old Boulderov, the region of Istanboulder entered a period of great stagnation. Nominally annexed by the Kingdom of Valron, the area was ignored and left uninhabited.

Back in Boulderov, former Minister of Diplomacy for Boulderov Bagelinian, returned to Stoneworks after taking a hiatus once the summer ended. What he found in New Boulderov, now an absolute Monarchy under mimek, he did not like. To Bagel, the country was almost completely changed. No longer were any of his old friends present, Boulderism had been completely changed to a polytheistic religion, the country had lost over half its territory, and was now ruled by a totally unfamiliar Monarch. Coincidentally, he ran into Owen Yale in the New Boulderov vc, and they discussed what had happened while Bagel was on hiatus. Wishing to learn more, Bagel reached out to all the former friends he could find, and they told him about the Savernian issue, mimek's seizure of power, and the transformation of Boulderov. With Boulderov on a different course, Bagelinain contacted Pandas_Da_man747, Owen, and Tati Yale, and discussed with them a plan he had been forming since the old days.

The continent of Cymru was undergoing a chaotic civil war, with the Imperial Archonal Union, lead by Loic the Uniter, fighting the Third Imperial Archonate of Viodoxa, led by Hazel. Bagel saw this civil war as a perfect chance to re-establish Istanboulder. He explained to his friends that they could band together, and preserve the traditions and history of Boulderov that had been all but forgotten. Owen, Pandas, and Tati all agreed, and they took the last name of Yale to cement their dedication.

City-State of Istanboulder
The Four reached out to Loic the Uniter, seeing as he was in control over the territories of Istanboulder. Though initially mistrustful of the Boulderovians owing to their previous relations - miffed by the fact that Loic falsely claimed the Old Boulderovians has previously sold Viodoxan Military secrets to Uldarash - Loic agreed to gift the Four a grant of land as a show of good will. Given on Jaurary 12th, 2022, this grant included; Istanboulder City, the slums, and the Ferrymen_Fort, all in exchange for the Four's support in the Viodoxan civil war.



With the land grant in hand and permission to settle given, the Four made their way over to Istanboulder. They were surprised to see a squatter, TheGreatDeer already present on the city. Seeing that TheGreatDeer had destroyed a majority of the old town, Owen was enraged and threatened war. Bagelinian intervened, and allowed TheGreatDeer to stay as the city's vice-mayor if he transferred the claim over and swore loyalty. TheGreatDeer accepted this proposal, and Istanboulder was re-established as the City-State of Istanboulder.



After the situation TheGreatDeer was sorted out, the City-State of Istanboulder entered deeper negotiations with Loic. Istanboulder stated that it would join the IAU once the civil war ended, granted it became its own Province, got economic support from the IAU, and was allowed a say at the constitution writing table. Loic agreed to this proposal, and promplty sent Istanboulder 30k as a sign of acceptance. During these negotiations, Bagelinian Yale reached out to Istanboulder's neighbors; Shaloma and Valron. They discussed for a short while, touching on their mutual interests in peace and cooperation, Shaloma's troubles with their squatters known as JHorde, and Istanboulder's long history. They quickly agreed on borders between each other - shown below. When Loic learned of the settled borders a week later, he was mildly suprised that the Provinces had already sorted themselves out, as he intended to do that himself.



[WIP Notes: IB briefly threatened by hazel. threats are laughed off. hazel dies, and IAU is formed. IB joins IAU as province.

Province in the IAU
This section covers Istanboulder as it was during its time within the Imperial Archonal Union, having agreed to join after the Viodoxan Civil War's conclusion. As one of 10 Provinces on Cymru, the Province of Istanboulder gradually developed its culture and cities, recruited new members, and negotiated deals with its neighboring Provinces. Istanboulder was also restricted from having a milita, a Union-wide rule.

[WIP Notes: IB also cements its first flag. lywik is recruited and builds the senate house before dipping.]



Small Island Sale to Shaloma
[WIP Notes: IB Sells small island for 10k to Shaloma on 2/15/2022.]

JHorde War
[WIP Notes: Shaloma enters war with annoying squatters of jhorde. IB offers to let Shal use Fortress_Boulder as attacking war claim. on 2/12/2022]

Land Sale to Shaloma
[WIP Notes: IB sells Forest area to Shaloma on 4/09/2022 for 80k.

Sale of Fortress_Boulder
After the JHorde war, Fortress_Boulder became the point of distress between Istanboulder and Shaloma. Though the area was owned by Istanboulder, Bagelinian Yale asked Shaloman Citizen LePaul to claim the fort for the JHorde War, letting him know he expected its return after the war ended. LePaul misunderstood Bagelinian's instructions, and believed Bagel was trusting him to keep the Fort. After the war ended, Bagelinian asked LePaul return the Fort. Unbeknownst to him, LePaul had already spent hours constructing a massive basement. LePaul refused the request, and offered to become a citizen of Istanboulder - which Bagelinian refused.

Wishing to find a peaceful solution, Bagelinian Yale and Oliver, Etriarch of Shaloma, both sat down to attempt to find a solution. Since LePaul wished to keep the fort, and Bagelinian believed that natural geography dictated the Fort was better suited as part of Shaloma, both Provinces were able to reach a deal. Shaloma would return the forest previously sold to them, and Fortress_Boulder and its surrounding area would be sold to Shaloma for 150k. After this deal, Istanboulder's borders would remain nominally the same until its annexation



Archon Havi expressed surprise at the dispute having been solved so quickly, as he expected the need to use his Archonal powers to intervene in the issue. The speed of a successful solution helped cement the friendship between Istanboulder and Shaloma, and both groups remained in close contact, even after Istanboulder's independence was achieved.

Constitution of Istanboulder
[WIP Notes: Bagel finishes consti of IB on 6/30/2022. first lc elections are held.]

Declaration of Independence from the IAU
Istanboulder's declaration of independence from the Imperial Archonal Union was precursored by dissatisfaction at how being a part of a larger empire suffocated Istanboulder's activity, disaffection at the Union's restrictive laws abolishing any regional militias, the lack of a voice in government, and the popular feeling that the Union had done nothing for Istanboulder. Istanboulder was filled with a longing desire for independence and the ability to decide their own future, which set the stage for their actions up until they declared independence from the IAU.

IAU's Humiliation by Paradise

During the disastrous Paradise War, the Imperial Archonal Union entered a period of rapid decline and political instability. The 4 outermost provinces of Avertico, Regonia, Eisenland, and Aussay, feeling neglected and disrespected under the boots of the central government in Cymru, declared their secession from the IAU as independent nations. Having planned this scheme with the Provincial Leaders, Paradise quickly capitalized on this opportunity, declaring their support for the newly independent nations and signing Mutual-Defense Pacts with all of them.

On July 20th, the IAU was forced to sign a humiliating peace treaty yielding vast tracts of their Tovarishian holdings in Sparwood to Paradise, Avertico, Regonia, and Borhammer, establishing new nations carved out of Tovarisha such as Grand Castell, Shizumor, and Certaria, as well as paying Paradise an exorbitant sum of 5 million in cash. Viodoxa, afraid of continuing the war and sparking the empire's total collapse, conceded to the demands

The IAU's morale plummeted as people began to lose faith in the Archonate's ability to effectively govern. Even the legendary founder of the IAU, Loic the Uniter, exclaimed in a vc, "Well, we had a good run!", and promptly left the server for good, only sending the low morale crashing through the floor.

New Viodoxan Leadership

The Old Archon, Havi "Goldbeard" Asagrim, tired in his old age and unwilling to deal with this new crisis (as he had been on vacation when the war against Paradise was declared and humiliatingly lost), announced his abdication, appointing Ryou Bakura, the Regent Archon from the Province of Silvay, in his stead. Ryou's ascendancy was met with a certain skepticism among the higher ranks of government, who tended to see Ryou as an ineffective leader (due to his totalitarian rhetoric), and thus incapable of pulling the IAU out of this crisis. He would spend the only nine days of his reign attempting frantic promises of reform and attempting to lure in the former provinces with images of autonomy and prominence, which were promptly denied as the former provinces formed the Bazinga Pact, a Mutual-Defense Pact between Avertico, Regonia, Eisenland, Aussay, with the country of Galadonn on the sub-continent of Aldvoir being included for good measure.

New Constitution

After Ryou's ascendancy to the Archonate, he sought to reverse the rapid decline the IAU was experiencing. Ryou hoped to reconcile with domestic opposition, and attempting to prevent any farther provinces from declaring independence from the empire. He introduced his version of a constitution for the IAU, claiming to be his vision for a constitutional monarchy where the Archon's power was restricted. Importantly, Ryou promised a system whereby the Provincial Leaders (Known as Etriarchs), would form a voting body to introduce laws and approve the Archon's decisions.

For the Etriarchs, this completed constitution filled with Ryou's promised provincal council were a big deal. Up until Ryou's constitution was introduced, the IAU had for its entire lifespan been running without any ruling documents, while the centeral government would constantly make promises that a constitution would "come soon". The Etriarchs in particular had always been angered at their lack of voice or power in government. The Etriarchs hoped this new constitution would bind the Archon to the rule of law and allow them a concrete say in the Empire's descion-making process.

However, as the leader of Istanboulder, Bagelinian Yale, examined the document in farther depth, he was shocked to uncover severe issues with the constitution; There were various loopholes which would have allowed the Archon to claim emergency powers and return to his status as an autocrat on command, extremely limited surrendering of powers on the Archon's part, and the Etriarch's council essentially amounting to a rump parliament with no real powers. He promptly revealed his findings to the remaining members of government, and affirmed his belief that Istanboulder no longer had a prosperous future with union in Cymru.

Declaration of Independence and War on Istanboulder

Two days later, after a brief 15-1 vote on July 22nd, Istanboulder delivered a note to the Viodoxan government notifying them of Istanboulder's secession from the IAU and subsequent declaration of independence. They cited the lack of any voice in government, the tyrannical rule of the Archons, the IAU's inherent instability, the current Archon's incompetence, and the Boulderovians holding the inalienable right to self-determination, as their reasons for pursing independence from the Imperial Archonal Union. The note was delivered with the assumption that the IAU was too weak to do anything about it.



This was followed up with an announcement in r-national on July 25th, with a farther announcement on the 28th clarifying the reasons for independence and responding to defamation by the IAU. The IAU, hoping to maintain a level of prestige, declared war on Istanboulder with the intent to reconquer them by force. Istanboulder entered negotiations with the IAU, but no battles were ever fought. Both sides hoped to find a diplomatic comprise, but negotiations stalled as no agreement could be made.

Visible State of Confusion and Ainsel

On July 30th, in a move most Cymruians viewed with horror, a Kartek-backed incursion known as the Visible State of Confusion & Ainsel (VSoC&A) was launched in Cymru. It was immensely successful, as the provinces of Doiro, Demiarbéz, and the fractions of Valron targeted immediately surrendered to occupation by the oncoming forces. This incursion lead to the cementing of the VSoC&A as a military junta on Cymru, althougth it would not be recognized as legitmate by its neighbors until much later. This sudden loss of territory caused severe chaos and anxiety on the continent, as suddenly all provinces were afraid the VSoC&A would come for them next. Combined with the panicked state of the IAU's government, this event served to be the final nail in the coffin for the Viodoxan Empire.



IAU Military Coup d'etat

After the province's surrender to the VSoC&A, combined with both the stress of the current crisis and Istanbolder's declaration of independence, the IAU finally collapsed a day later on July 29th.

As the IAU drew its last breath, a military coup by Kogan - the popular Grand Marshall of the Union's Army, prevented its complete fracturing. Supported by several members of the higher government and prominent Viodoxan ministers. The remaining provinces on Cymru opted to throw their lot in with Kogan's promise of stability and protection under his junta. Shaloma, Valron, Adytum, Silvay, and Fortuna all joined on the very day the coup was announced. Despite the threat posed by the VSoC&A, Istanboulder polietly refused Kogan's offer to join his junta, as the Boulderovians sought to decide their own future.

On August 1st, shortly after his coup of the IAU turned out successful, Kogan announced he would be forming a new state out of the remnants of Viodoxa, birthing a new nation unshackled by the restraints of the system of Archons and Empires. He dubbed it, the Autokratoria Sirradra, and appointed himself as its head.

Diplomatic Crisis between Istanboulder and Sirradra
After the collapse of the IAU and the birth of Sirradra, Istanboulder took a cautious stance towards Sirradra. While Istanboulder hoped that under Kogan they would secure many of the rights the IAU refused them, many of the same prominent government officials who had pushed for the IAU to war Istanboulder were still present. Istanboulder stated it would explore the possibility of joining later down the line, but only after tensions cooled off. Until that time, in Istanboulder's mind, securing the independence they had was the first priority. Cautiously, Istanboulder opened negotiations with Sirradra, seeking to secure their sovereignty. However, negotiations quickly broke down as Istanboulder came to the view that Sirradra was barely different from its predecessor, and despite supposed promises of reform from Kogan, the newly signed constitution of Sirradra seemed to be no different from Ryou's Faux Constitution.

Both sides repeatedly antagonized each other, as tensions reached a boiling point. In one specific incident, Jericho, the general of Sirradra's army, entered Istanboulder City and killed 8 citizens with prejudice, terrorizing the peaceful inhabitants of the city. Enraged by this horrible act, Istanboulder swore revenge, just as Sirradra promised war and destruction if Istanboulder did not join them.

However, at the last moment, Spades of Valondor offered himself to the grueling task of mediating negotiations. Slowly and painfully, over the course of a month a new treaty was gradually constructed, with Istanboulder agreeing to enter as a protectorate of Sirradra. Through the Treaty of Nara, Istanboulder agreed to surrender its control over external affairs, in exchange for Sirradra agreeing to non-interference in Istanboulder's internal affairs and an offical renouncation of the claims of patrimony inherited from the IAU.



Istanboulder breathed a sigh of relief, and Artigas Bagelinian Yale, rewarding Mayor Voodliedood for his assistence in negotating with Sirradra and staying loyal during the threats of war, promoted Voodlie to the esteemed position of High Councillor.

Sirradran Protectorate and the Election Crisis
As the Treaty of Nara allowed tensions between Istanboulder and Sirradra to cool off, Istanboulder focused its attention on its domestic matters. As part of the terms of the treaty, Bagelinian Yale agreed to step down from his position as Artigas and refrain from acting in regional politics. As such, a new election was needed to decide the next candidate. Bagelinian agreed to oversee the election process, and many prominent members of Istanboulder threw their hat into the ring.

While all candidates for the Artigas played fair, acting on established convention from earlier Low Council elections, High Councillor Voodliedood had other plans. When election day came, Voodlie used alts to vote for himself, invited friends to do the same, and used an illegal technique of combining votes with other candidates at the last minute. Through these illegal tactics, he acquired 15 votes, 7 of them from combining with fellow candidate turned supporter, Rickermerico. As the next runner up was High Councillor Pandas_da_man747 at 13, Voodlie claimed the election was his win.

He argued that even though he used shady tactics, he legally won the election because the techniques he used were not specially outlawed by the Istanboulder constitution. He threatened to secede his town of Nara and get military assistance from Sirradra if he did not get his way. Bagelinian Yale argued that even if his blatantly criminal actions had been legal - ignoring even his ignominiously traitorous threats - his unethical tactics and violation of the spirit of Democracy would no doubt spark a disastrous Civil War. He offered Voodlie a re-do of the election, but Voodlie, perhaps aware that his chances of legitimately winning an election were extraordinarily low, especially now that the population knew about his threats and methods, vehemently refused. Bagel warned Voodlie that whatever happened next "is your problem, not mine", and promptly left the server. With his absence, Voodliedood declared himself Artigas.

After a protracted argument on the illegitimacy of his victory with several other members of government, Voodlie resorted to kicking High Councillors who disagreed with him out of their positions, and suppressing free speech by deleting messages attacking his legitimacy. As a result of the turmoil, High Councillor Pandas_Da_Man747 introduced a resolution in the Chambers to impeach Voodlie. After the resolution passed, Voodlie refused to hand over his position, still sticking to his earlier talking points. The Head of Church, Sneaky Yale, invoked a law present in the Istanboulder constitution. In the event an Artigas refused to hand over their power after their term ended or if they were impeached, it was the duty of the Head of Church to forcefully remove them from power. Sneaky had become the Discord Server owner after Bagelinian's departure, and thus Voodlie was kicked out of his position and asked to hand over his town until he could be trusted again, a request he refused.

1st Sirradra-Istanboulder War
Though the Treaty of Nara gave both sides hope for a peaceful future, the impeachment of Voodlie threw this hope out the window. Voodlie, with the help of his ally Rickermerico, applied for military assistance from Sirradra, claiming he had been couped by the rest of Istanboulder and had to take his position back by force.

Thanks to the already bitter feelings between Istanboulder and Sirradra, the new Empire reacted quickly. After briefly examining the evidence the Government of Istanboulder presented, Sirradra announced a military intervention. Istanboulder claimed the military intervention violated the Treaty of Nara, but Sirradra disagreed, insisting Voodlie was the legitimate election winner. Their stated goal was to place Voodliedood into power, and restore peace by removing the "terrorist revolutionaries" present in Istanboulder. Realizing their intentions of removing most of the population that backed Voodlie's impeachment, Istanboulder had no option but to meet war with open arms - as the conflict was affirmed to be one of Life or Death.

The Government of Sirradra mobilized without issuing any ultimatums or engaging in any Diplomacy, knowing Istanboulder would never accept a puppet ruler in their country. While not known at the time, it is now known - Thanks to information from Rickmerico - that should the former leadership of Istanboulder have appeased Sirradra and allowed the illegitimate Voodliedood into power, he would have enacted a coup with Sirradra's support, established a dictatorial diarchy with Rickmerico, and purged the rest of the Istanboulder loyalists anyways. Istanboulder-Sirradra relations broke down overnight as Sirradra's refused Istanboulder's request to present their case in front of the Sirradran Council, and both sides prepared for the oncoming war that would decide Istanboulder's fate.

First Battle
On the 17 of September 2022, the first battle on the Sirradra-Istanboulder conflict was set. At the start, the Sirradran army had easily breached Istanboulder City. However, they quickly spread out due to bad communication, and ended being taken out one by one, by the Istanboulder Army. The battered Sirradran forces regrouped on the Eastern side of the city outside of the tall walls, but in a dramatic move the Istanboulder Army, seeing Sirradra's disorganized troops, suddenly jumped down and attacked, causing the Sirradran forces to rout. After a successful defense, the troops of Istanboulder marched to the city of Fjörgyien, where they raided the city. The troops climbed the walls of the outer city and managed to successfully blow a hole into the walls of the Fjörgyien fort with TnT, setting a chaotic battle inside the small fort-city. Istanboulder managed to outnumber the Sirradrans and took full control of the city. Istanboulder had received a siege victory on Sirradra, on what was supposed to be a defensive battle. The final score was 43-10 with a siege point favoring Istanboulder, a stunning victory. A reminder though, that this battle would not have been won without the help of the brave heroes of Kartek and Certaria. Notable fighters include BarendKramer, LilyPrism, wingsauce, KingOfHavoc, Thayff, oShotty, Prince_JD, MidoriGreen, mayynophobia, Fousas, AmyPriism and many others

A major contributing factor in Sirradra's humiliating loss was due to strategic errors made by General Jericho in organizing the Sirradran forces. Instead of using conventional tactics and grouping his forces in the same vc, Jericho made the controversial decision to split his army into separate units of five soldiers. This decision created a weakness in the the Sirradran forces, as it allowed the Istanboulder fighters to systematically isolate and crush each group. This allowed Istanboulder to gain a numbers advantage during the chaotic advance across the fields of Ferrymen_Fort, gaining valuable momentum and taking a chunk out of Sirradra's ability to fight with each unit destroyed.

In conclusion, the battle was a dramatic failure for the under prepared and disorganized Sirradran forces. Sirradra had not expected such hardy resistance, and as such was taken completely unawares by Istanboulder's robust tactics and unexpectedly strong willpower. The battle was a huge blow to the morale and prestige of the Sirradrans, who, in a battle containing upwards of 40 people on both sides, blamed the 4 Hands volunteers for their loss, calling Istanboulder a "Hands puppet". Istanboulder, who expected to be crushed or at least put up a valiant last stand, was stunned at actually winning in such pronounced manner. The battle significantly raised the morale of Istanboulder, today being remembered by the Boulderovians as a sign of their indomitable will in resisting any foreign invaders.

Documentation of the Battle can be found here, through the perspective of war photographer KingOfHavoc



Realization

After the first failed battle, Sirradra realized their mistakes. They immediately planned for a second battle and started preparing themselves, to face an enemy that they realized wouldn't simply roll over. They increased preparations for a second battle, determined not to make the same mistakes as last time. Autokrator Kogan contributed approximately 2 Million from his vast personal wealth to the war efforts, changed his attacking claim from Fjörgyien to Krigor, and even choose to end his war in the far-off continent of Aldovir, through a white peace, in exchange for Galadonian support against Istanboulder. Kogan announced that the war was a matter of the future of Cymru, and that it was Sirradras duty to win - lest the "Hands-controlled" Istanboulder conquered all of Cymru. He also announced that he considered the war a personal conquest, and would not rest until the Boulderovians who had angered him were gone. Upon hearing this, Rickmerico, who was the right hand of Voodliedood, gave up his support for Sirradra and Voodliedood. He approached Bagelinian Yale, seeking redemption. After long discussions within the Government chats, Istanboulder believed Rickmerico's sincerity. Rick was allowed to reintegrate into Istanboulder, now fighting at their side.

Negotiations between Istanboulder and Sirradra were attempted, but they failed as neither side could agree on a framework of terms. Thanks to insider information, Istanboulder discovered Sirradra's narrative of the country being a bloodthirsty "Hands Puppet" that needed to be crushed, and negotiations were promptly called off as a second battle prepared. Sirradra stalled hard during this time, and used the negotiations as an excuse to close their first war ticket and open a second one, twisting the rules in order invalidate Istanboulder's Siege Point and to change their attacking claim to Krigor.

Second Battle
On the 22 of October 2022, the second battle in this war had been set. This time, Sirradra came with extra preparation and tactics. Istanboulder still had strong soldiers on their side, this time choosing to hire a mercenary group, the Piwates, to help them. Sympathetic to the war efforts, the Piwates provided a hefty discount to Istanboulder, slashing their usual price of 2.5 million to only 1 million in an unusual move by the normally money-minded mercenaries.

After the first 40 minutes of the battle consisting of Sirradra trying to take control of the walls of the city, they finally had breached it. They had little time left, so they had to act fast. The next 20 minutes would consist of a chaotic battle in the center of Istanboulder City, with urban warfare between small groups of the competing armies. Sirradra had successfully managed to obtain a kill point advantage, however as the battle for the city center was still ongoing when the war timer concluded, the battle was considered a tie. Score 17-9 for Sirradra. The confirmed spendings were 3.5 million for Sirradra and 1 million for Istanboulder, although rumors state Sirradra spent as much as 5 million on the war efforts.

While the official result was a tie, Istanboulder considered the battle another victory. Despite being outnumbered by over 20 people (With 30 fighters on Istanboulder's side and over 50 on Sirradra's), they successfully repulsed Sirradra's attack on their capital. Istanboulder also caused a large drain on the Sirradran treasury, with the meme of "4 Mill for a Tie" becoming commonplace in Istanboulder's chats, highlighting the defender's valor and Sirradran inefficiency in prosecuting the war.

However, the battle did not come without cost. As a result of the vast use of TNT and Redstone Blocks, Istanboulder_City suffered extensive damages on its Eastern side, with the historic Ferrymen_Fort undergoing damage. A gallery displaying the damages to the city and pictures of the war are shown below.

Documentation of the second battle can be found here, once again from the perspective of war photographer KingOfHavoc

Nara Rebels and Bouldergrad Stolen

After the second battle, the city of Nara, led by Voodliedood, attempted to claim itself as independent and to join Sirradra. This however, was not taken seriously by members of the Cartography Guild, who refused to show his city as an independent nation. Disputes for the city continued all the way until the Sirradran annexation of Istanboulder, after which it joined Sirradra.

The claim of Bouldergrad, an island by the northeast of Istanboulder, was mysteriously deleted on the 31st of October. Valuable items such as armors and ores (worth 100k) had been stolen from the island. After some ticket pvp, it was discovered that moderator Max_imal, one of the most important government figures of Sirradra, had taken all the items and deleted the claim. He claimed the island was a proxy claim (even though it had existed for approximately 3 months before the war). After some more ticket pvp, admins came to the conclusion since Istanboulder never actually asserted the island as their territory via the Cartography Guild, the island would be considered a squatter claim, not a proxy one. Max gave almost all the items back, however the island was never given back, and is now occupied by Sirradrans.

Forced Peace
After the drama of the battles and attempted theft of items, the long war, which to this point had being on-going for two and a half months, began to take a toll on both sides. However, both sides could not find a reasonable peace. Istanboulder called on the return of Bouldergrad, to be compensated for being rashly invaded, and Sirradra renouncing support for the rebellious town of Nara - along with their support for Voodliedood, as their terms of treaty. Sirradra refused, insistent that the war should end in a white-peace and remaining conspicuously quiet on the matter of Voodliedood and Nara. Ultimately, they got their wish. A server event known as No-War November popped up, which disabled the war feature for the month of November, and mandated that all previous conflicts would end once November begun. This effectively meant that the war was brought to a forced close - without negotiations nor a treaty - in Sirradra's favored white peace.

Annexation of the Gigantium Isles
Following the end of the war, Istanboulder entered a period of reconstruction and repairs with great enthusiasm, with a newly re-invigorated national identity. On November 4th, 2022, the neighboring country known as the Empire of Gigantium Isles was formally annexed into Istanboulder. This came after their leader TheDanishGuy, a long-time friend of Bagelinan Yale, gave his permission to the annexation. He wanted for Istanboulder to protect and preserve his little artificial islands, and wanted to help grow the influence of Boulderism.

Shortly after its annexation, Rosanto Yale was appointed as the Town Mayor of Dakor, the largest city on the the isles. He constructed a Boulderist Church and a replica of Boulder, helping to fill the vast space the island contained.

Istanboulder Genocide
After the end of the Boulderov-Sirradra war, the Province of Istanboulder was annexed into Sirradra. Instead of retaining a provincial status, the territories of Istanboulder were unceremoniously carved up between the Sirradran provinces of Valron-Yuria and Shaloma, with Ferrymen_fort and Xersium going to Shaloma, and the rest becoming part of Valron-Yuria.

While Loaf, the new provincial ruler of Shaloma, was more lenient and adopted a policy of reconciliation with the Boulderites, Queen Alvara and Voodliedood of Valron-Yuria were not so welcoming. The Boulderovians in Valron-Yuria were given second-class status as their culture was methodically oppressed. Istanboulder_City was renamed to Annapolis (and eventually Suzakimachi), towns were mashed together, national monuments were torn down, and Valron-Yurians began colonizing the former lands of Istanboulder. The were motivated by compounded humiliation of failing to conquer their tiny neighbor for 8 months, as well as Voodliedood wishing a personal revenge for being denied the Artigas-ship and booted out of Istanboulder during the Election Crisis. The Boulderovians suffered under Valronian Rule and were expected to integrate into the majority Valronian culture in order to continue living on their lands - though they could keep their religion as the treaty specifically protected it, a fact Sirradra could not dispute.

Soon, the Boulderovians were made aware of a Valronian plan to re-design Istanboulder City into a Yurian city, tearing down the current buildings and replacing them with Japanese-styled ones. Boulderovian Bagelinian Yale made a desperate appeal to the Provincial Diarchs of Valron-Yuria, reaching out to Valronian Queen Alvara. He argued that a re-design would violate the terms of the treaty, as it constituted cultural genocide. Alvara denied his request to stop the redesign, claiming that transforming a Boulderovian city into a Yurian one would not violate the treaties terms, and the new Mayor was free to do whatever they wanted.

Al-Istanboulder

With the denied appeal, Boulderovian desperation to not see their work destroyed reached a peak. A few Boulderovians formed a terrorist group known as Al-Istanboulder, dedicated to monitoring Valron-Yurian actions and coordinating resistance. After the group was discovered, Sirradra capitalized on a brief suggestion of enacting Boulderovian raids on Valrorn as an excuse to purge all Boulderovians, even the ones uninvolved in Al-Istanboulder. Sirradra also made the unfounded claim that the group was backed by the Boulderov government, thanks to the presence of Boulderov citizens in Al-Istanboulder's discord - using it as an excuse to break Sirradra-Boulderov Treaty, though they did not re-declare war.

Modern Day
As of the genocide of Istanboulder, the modern day region is completely unrecognizable. Rockfort has been merged with Istanboulder City, now renamed to Suzakimachi. Ironically, there remains no sentiment within Valron-Yuria to actually fully populate the former capital, instead; the lands are run as a personal estate for the Yurians.

Legacy
The full legacy of Istanboulder is long varied. While not perfect, Istanboulder formed the basis for rekindling Old Boulderovian Culture, and remains a major contributor on why the Crowned Republic of Boulderov exists today. The dedication displayed by the citizens of Istanboulder remains a beacon of the true ideals of the Boulderovian identity; showing resilience, optimism, and generosity during the toughest of times. [WIP]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgETKLR7zmg

Government and Politics
Istanboulder was a Republic with heavy Democratic elements, the only state on Cymru of its kind. Though officially committed to a Democratic system of Government, Istanboulder increasingly resembled an Authoritarian State in its later years, with the Cartography Guild classifying it as a Dictatorship. Under the constitution of Istanboulder, the Artigas was the elected head of state, serving as the country's chief representative in foreign affairs, appointing High Councilors, and setting the policies for the Nation. The Artigas could veto laws proposed by the Chambers, but could not submit laws himself.

The High Council served numerous key functions, overseeing and managing the countries administration. Though they could not submit laws into the chambers themselves, all laws in submitted by the Low Council had to be approved by them - granted that the Artigas did not veto their attempts. They were not elected, and were appointed directly by the Artigas. They served for life, but could be removed by the Artigas at any time.

The Low Council was the democratically elected council of citizens responsible for setting domestic policy, and managing the administration of the country. Usually comprised of three to five citizens, (depending on the amount of citizens running for office), they were an elected position which served in a Parliamentary Chamber alongside the High Council, for terms of two weeks. Able to propose laws within themselves, they could not pass laws into effect without a successful vote through the High Council - though this vote could be bypassed with the approval of the Artigas. Importantly, they were the only function within Istanboulder capable of proposing a constitutional amendment.

The government was broken down into the following:

Artigas

The Prime-Minister of Istanboulder. Has the power to veto laws, accept citizens, elect Ministers and High Councilors, and is the second most important government figure. The Artigas is elected by the people, and must represent their demands. The Artigas is elected through 2-Turn elections. He is the most powerful but also has the most responsibilities. 1 month term.

*Un-elected, State of Emergency **Second Term **Third Term, Given Emergency Powers

High Council

Composed only of the most prestiged, driven, and talented citizens of Istanboulder. To be a High Councilor you must have shown your loyalty for the nation, and must have done great works for it. There were only 3 seats available in the Council, and terms were indefinite. The High Council cannot propose laws, but can ask the Grand Senator to do so. They have the ability to vote on a law passed through the Low Council, after which should then be passed on to the Artigas.

The High Council was one of the main connections to Old Boulderov, where the High Councillors used to be responsible for running the nation on behalf of Bolton Yale, the then Pope of Boulderism. Their powers in Istanboulder remained much stripped down compared to Old Boulderov and they no longer worked on behalf of the Pope, but they still held immense prestige and cultural influence in Istanboulder.

Low Council (Lemas)

The Low Council was the most important part of the government, as they were the ones who propose and make laws. The number of seats depends on the number of candidates, usually being 3 or 5, and their term lasted 2 weeks. It was the job of the Low Council to create new laws, oversee the ministries, set domestic policy, and manage the administration of the country. The Grand Senator, who was chosen by the members of the Low Council, has the responsibility of taking care of all laws proposed, and to oversee the Low Council.

Ministries

Ministry of Human Resources: responsible for appointing members of the administration of immigration, keeping track of population demographics and managing court cases.

Ministry of Internal Affairs: responsible for managing land transactions, commissioning build projects, approving and planing the construction of new cities and responsible for appointing Politans (Mayors).

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: responsible for conducting foreign diplomacy, keeping up to date with allies, negotiating treaties, and identifying threats to Istanboulder on the world stage

Geography
Istanboulder was located centrally on the continent of Cymru, and covered an area of approximately ~3000 chunks. Its location was a varied mix of climates, being broken down into flat coastal areas in the northern region, high snowy mountains on its east, and a heavily forested interior in the center and southern regions. It was home to a largely spruce biome, with spruce trees at one point covering an estimated 40% of Istanboulder's land. The Bouldaran lake, home to Istanboulder City, was smaller but more densely populated area compared to the Sakura River in the east. Once a sub-section of the Cymruian Sea, the Bouldaran Lake was slowly filled with stone beds, carving the way for the floating city of Istanboulder's Capital.



Provinces
The Republic of Istanboulder was divided into three Provinces, Yalum, Hutan, and New Pedrera, each province ruled by government appointed Governor.



Provinces were subdivided into cities and towns, which made up the base of Istanboulder's administrative divisions.

Towns
The Istanboulder constituion defined a town as any land claim residing within Istanboulder, each under a respective province. The following is a list of Istanboulder's various towns, cities, and claim, as well as a brief description of them.

Istanboulder_City

Formerly a City-State in its own right, the Capital and largest city of the nation holds a special spot among the citizens of Istanboulder. Upon first joining the country, most citizens choose to join this city, owing to its cultural importance, various business and commercial opportunities, and it's central location.

Rockfort City

Rockfort City is a city west of Istanboulder City, currently under heavy development. It is led and owned by Rickmerico. The name of the city comes from the fort it had been built around, Rockfort. Current population is 7. The city is heavily concentrated on both economic and aesthetic aspects, the economic part under management of foughtspark37, and the building all done by Rickmerico himself. The city has a lot to expect and offer.

The city is replacing the old ruins of Harcos.

Xersium

A massive castle in the South-Eastern heart of Istanboulder. Designed by Rickmerico and planning to have a new city surrounding it, but the project was shelved due to more important issues and left abandoned.

Nara

Ferrymen_Fort

A fort originally occupied by The Ferrymen during The Ferrymen War was stumbled upon by Owen Yale soon after Istanboulder City was re-founded by Bagelinian Yale. The fort was originally owned by a fierce group of bandits called The Ferrymen, notable members of The Ferrymen were Masouri, Orlanth, and Adderol. The fort was used as their home for the time they occupied part of Viodoxa, a conflict part of The Ferrymen Wars. The Ferrymen soon disappeared, and the fort was left partially destroyed, and completely abandoned for a long time. This is when Owen Yale rebuilt the tower to how it used to be, he patched all of the missing obsidian in the basement, and filled every hole in the wall. Owen Yale left for a very long period shortly after repairing the fort.

After Owen left, officer Xers Yale, an experienced warrior, took over the fort after being advised to by Bagelinian Yale. Xers owned the fort for a while and soon moved elsewhere, fighting in any war he could stick his nose into. After Xers moved, DanishGuy owned the fort and lived there for a short period of time. Danish soon founded Dakor and had The Ferrymen Fort transferred to Bagelinian Yale. One day, out of the blue, Owen Yale came back, after being gone for a very long time. Bagelinian welcomed Owen back and gave him back his passion project, The Ferrymen Fort.

Castrum

A mysterious and massive clock tower that extends all the way to build height, this imposing symbol of wealth also doubles as a colossal experience farm. It was originally constructed by wanderer Yldnelf, after being given permission by Founder Bagelinian Yale. Yldnelf, rich from his old age and numerous travels, sought to place his remaining massive wealth into one final passion project, creating Castrum over many years of difficult labour. Castrum's materials and appearance reflects this attitude, being built out of expensive Blackstone, found rarely in the nether regions.

Culture
Istanboulder's culture draws on a mix of Old Boulderovian and Viodoxan elements. Its culture has developed over the centuries from its native Old Boulderov culture, adopting Boulderovian architectural techniques such as the city center. Some elements of the nation's culture have Cymruian origins, drawing on elements of Viodxa, Shaloma, and Fortuna in its architecture and cultural practices.

The traditional focuses of Istanboulder's culture are based on community, resilience, and optimism, in which a determined positive attitude about life is highly regarded. In accordance with Old Boulderovian tradition, Istanboulder shuns the glorification of individual figures, only recognizing the Humble and Noble among themselves.

Literature
[WIP]

Religion
Istanboulder is a majority Orthodox Boulderist religion, an ancient monotheistic form of Boulderism which firmly sticks to the core tenants of the religion and sees Bolton Yale as the messiah. Orthodox Boulderists believe that The Boulder, most gracious and most merciful, is the sole god, and that He created the world and its inhabitants to worship it. The Five Books of the Boulder are considered testimonies to the Boulder's power and are the main religious texts of Orthodox Boulderism.



It is commonly held that the Divine Books were sent down by the Holy Boulder, most gracious and most merciful, to Bolton Yale, for him to spread the Boulderist message worldwide. For this reason, the Books hold a prestigious footing in worship, with their divine rules being adhered to strictly, as religion is a main component of the Boulderovian identity. Istanboulder is far and away completely defined by its religion, being the reasoning for its original founding and an everyday fact of life. All Boulderovians are Boulderists, and all Boulderists are Boulderovians. It is impossible to have one without the other, just the way the Boulderovians like it.

Holidays and Festivals
Istanboulder also had many days of holiday. Whether for festivity or remembrance, these events were taken lightly, as the Boulderovians considered themselves honoring the holidays by simply being together on important days.

Independence Day

Set to take place on the 22nd of each month, Independence Day celebrates the day of Istanboulder's secession from the IAU. Parades and festivals were common, and the Artigas was expected to give a unifying speech in the capital, reminding citizens of what it took to secure Istanboulder's sovereignty. Celebrations continue into the night, where a large grill-out took place. Older people will usually give their younger relatives a small present of sentimental value, instructing the younger generation to pass down the object to their children. Fishing is also commonplace during the grill-outs. Citizens who could not afford a rod stood on the outer ring of a bonfire, until they were beckoned in by those sitting in the inner ring and given a rod of their own. It was considered improper to refuse to assist a person who lacked a rod of their own.

Day of the Ninth

This day is not much of a holiday, but more of a day of remembrance, so no Boulderovian shall ever forget why this nation exists. The Day of the Ninth marks the historic day in which the constant mounting tensions in Old Boulderov finally exploded. This left both Bolton Yale the prophet and Tati the Scholar to resign from their positions as two of the three High Councillors of Boulderov, and to simply disappear into the wilderness. Culturally, it is marked as the date in which Old Boulderov died, and a shadow replaced it.

Through the daytime, there are no celebrations. All citizens of Istanboulder are expected to go about their daily functions in melancholy silence, occasionally conversing with each other the nostalgia and old glory of Boulderov, and exchanging gifts of minor value.

When the sun sets and the moon rises to its peak, the people gather in a circle around an extinguished fire, with its embers cooled and the heat dying down. Each Boulderovian then throws a flammable item, such as wood, into the dying flame. The Artigas steps forward and attends to the fire, slowly blowing on it and seeing that it progressively grows brighter, as the Boulderites watch in absolute silence. Only when the Artigas steps away from the flame, now a roaring bonfire, himself suddenly transformed into a joyous and ecstatic figure, may the tension of the day be relieved. The Boulderites all join in on the festivities and sing songs, dance, play games, exchange stories, and talk brightly and optimistically about the future all night long. The holiday represented a renewal of faith and optimism, acting as a vehicle to 'relight' positive attitudes for the coming months ahead.

Monthly Sumo Tournament

On the first day of each month, the Boulderovians gather for the most prestigious of their sporting events. A game comprising of a simple square ring platform raised above a pool of water, with two men placed inside at opposite ends. A Sumo match, designed to test an athletes physical ability to the extreme, and the ultimate expression of Boulderovian attitudes about combat. The goal of this game is simple, knock the other contestant off, and advance through the tournament bracket until only one remains. A best of 5 match, rounds are usually grueling slugfests, with breakneck back and forths between both contenders. The winner of a round advances in the tournament, while the loser attempts again in a losers bracket match, where they must fight their way to a second chance at victory. Tournament winners typically receive eternal fame, and a hefty paycheck to boot. The losers try their luck again next month, training all the time throughout.

These games are among the most popular of Istanboulder's events, even rivaling the celebrations on the Day of the Ninth. Sumo matches, while seemingly a fun exercise, also help young men and women train for combat. The same skills needed during a Sumo Match, athletic ability, aim in strikes, back and forth dodging, and combo'ing opponents, are all invaluable skills used during a battle. It is for this reason that Sumo matches tend to be such esteemed events, as those who succeed in the games, are likely to succeed on the battlefield.



Symbolism
Important Symbols Some notable symbols of Istanboulder include;
 * Enchanted Turtle Helmet
 * A common symbol representing a great Boulderovian leader, hero, or warrior. This symbol originates from Founder Bagelinian Yale, who commonly wore nothing but a pair of diamond boots and a special Turtle Helmet, called the Helm of the Boulderite. It was enchanted with Protection 4, Unbreaking 3, and Aqua Affinity and inscribed with the following words: "There is no telling who is left and who's alive. Alone I stand on this hill of uncertainty". The meaning of this phrase is subject to much debate, but it is believed to be referencing the experiences of Bagelinian Yale himself, who upon the creation of Istanboulder and his friends sudden departure, believed he was the last true Boulderist left in the world. Regardless, the origins of this special Helmet and Bagelinian's habits are unknown, but his odd fashion choice quickly cemented itself to be a signal of prestige for Boulderovians.




 * Boulder Pendants
 * Boulder pendants have been a part of Boulderist culture since before Boulderism history started being documented. A Boulder pendant is a small part of The Boulder. Boulder pendants used to be found in dispensaries in Old Ziemia, and found in any holy site across Boulderov. It is believed that the only way to get a Boulder pendant now is in the chest in Istanboulder City next to The Boulder.

Symbolism of the Flag

The Flag of Istanboulder, while seemingly representing nothing much of importance besides a few colors here-and-there, it in itself actually contains significant meaning to the trained eye.

The Orthodox Boulderist Cross, highlights one of the more important aspects of the Boulderovian identity and the very foundation and pillar of them as a people. It is placed in the center of the flag.

The Yellow, represents relentless energy and optimism towards the future, and a mission to preserve and expand stories they share.

The White, represents purity and community. It shows how during Istanboulder's long and storied history, even in the darkest of times, there remained a strive to be the best people they could, close together as a band of brothers and generous to all.

And finally The Gray, represents sturdiness and indomitable resilience, not just on a national level, but a personal one as well. The lighter black on the flag is intentionally colored being much like Stones Istanboulder reveres.



The People
Images of the people of Istanboulder.





Common Phrases
"Praise Thy Boulder"

Being both the motto of Old Boulderov as well as Istanboulder, this saying can be heard by most Boulderovians on a daily basis. It reflects the deep religious ties the Nation contains, as well as the citizens ardent dedication to it.