Silver Citadel

The Silver Citadel is a large fortified settlement located on the Vetyastal Isthmus, a grassy stretch of land connecting Helmia and Khanji.

The Citadel was established in 17 TE (Traveller's Era) under an initiative headed by Mimmy (Mimtipp) of Lamebah to serve as an administrative headquarters and capital for the Silver Coalition. By the time construction was finished, after the New Year's Revolution, the Citadel was made the capital Sterling Crownlands and remained so until its dissolution.

After the end of the Sterling Crownlands, the Citadel suffered from a brief period of abandonment and was subject to change of hands between multiple successor-states given the old capital's symbolic value and prestige as well as its defensiveness and strategic location on the Vetyastal Isthmus, controlling the flow of trade and armies between Helmia and Khanji. Of the successor states to hold the old capital of the North he Republic of Alamayn has done so for the longest.

Currently, the Citadel has gained the right for self-determination in the aftermath of Alamayn-GoonGuard War and the utter destruction it caused to the city, with an autochthon Noble Republic administering the city and its surrounding territories as a city-state, the Serene Consulate of the Silver Citadel. This period is marked by the reconstruction and redevelopment of the Citadel as one of the cities at forefront of the North in both political and cultural terms.

Prior to the Capital Decree
(Before 17 TE)

Around 450 years before the beginning of the Traveller's Era the small village of Limerick-Havn was founded on the southern shores of the isthmus. As far as the scant records of the age allow us to infer, this early settlement was likely founded by Noxnorric tribes moving south after the Nox-Aulmer War. However, textual and archaeological evidence also point towards a much older Phelmian settlement prior to the Noxnorric arrival in the region.

The town remained of small size until it was surveyed and declared the prime site for the construction of the Silver Coalition's capital in 17 TE.

One of the most notable legacies of this period is the name of the Vetyastal Isthmus. Though its origins are clocked by time, it is believed that it is named after a Phelmian dynasty that was established in the region at the time of Noxnorric arrival and settlement.

A New Capital
(17 TE - 30 TE)

The new capital would begin construction in 17 TE some leagues north of Limerick-Havn, where the Noxnorric settlement had been established four centuries prior. The construction effort was headed by Mimmy of Lemebah, who was responsible for the design and urban planning of the new city. Notably, Vroghyn Benilwyn (FroggyFlippers) of Bern Vralas led the construction of the old town with Mimmy, while Avreham Basha (StarSixSeven) of Najera'Jad headed the construction of the walls, fortifications, and the Silver Hall. The construction of the Citadel, whilst smooth would take over a decade, with Sovdal remaining the defacto-capital during the New Years Revolution and the creation of the Sterling Crownlands. Though already established and made itself capital of the newly formed kingdom, the settlement continued to develop up to the start of the Trillium War, when development was halted temporarily due the war effort.

The Trillium War and the Battle of the Silver Citadel
(30 TE)

Main Article: The Battle of the Silver Citadel

Soon after the proclamation of the Sterling Crownlands, a world wide war broke out, known to the north as the Trillium War (also known as the First Coalition War). It was heard by Avreham Basha (StarSixSeven) that the forces of Yimmu-Audal, of which declared war against the Trillium Alliance, were headed to the Crownlands Capital. The king armed various former citizens of Noxnorr for the coming conflict, but was unaware that Noxnorr's ruler, Gwaendal Fievleii (DarkBlade_T2), had made a secret alliance with the Empress of Yimmu-Audal, Carpicious. When the Empress challenged the idea that the Crownlands were as unified as Avreham Basha believed, he handed the Silver Crown to the high priest of Noxism, to show that the unity of the country relied not on the crown, but on the king that led it.But with a swift command from the Empress, the Noxnorric people revolted, and in the process, despite the Kingsguard, the first High Silver King, Avreham Basha, was slain in the citadel. The battle was decided to be a victory for Yimmu-Audal and the Noxnorric rebels. "Get em' boys!"

- Carpicious, Empress of Yimmu-Audal With their victory, the ruler of Noxnorr, Gwaendal Fievleii was crowned High Silver King. Soon after it was announced that the Sterling Crownlands would depart from the Trillium Alliance; they would join the Coalition alongside Yimmu-Audal. A Kingsguard, primarily an individual by the name of Piggles (TNTPiggles), recounted the moments of Avreham's assassination in his book "The Day Before". Though, he just like the other Kingsguard, were prepared to slay Gwaendal Fievleii while being crowned in the Citadel, they stayed theirs hands, leaving bloodshed for another day. These events would lead to another great battle in the Sterling Crownalds history: the Battle of Urnu-Arrak. At the time, it was said that the blood of Avreham, soaked and stained the grounds of the Noxist Temple within the Citadel.

The Silver Age
(33 TE - 98 TE)

Following the Trillium War and the death of Gwaendal Fievleii, Juli Aulder ascended to the throne and him and the remaining High Kings would preside over a period great construction in the Citadel, It was during this period that the founding of the Silver Herald, the Bank of the Sterling Crownlands and the creation of the Royal Citadel Guard took place. However all good things come to an end and the Citadel and Crownlands begin to dwindle in population and power, Declining birth-rates and a pivot of power from the north of Rathnir to the south caused the disbandment of the Sterling Crownlands.

Post-SC
Following the dissolution of the Sterling Crownlands, the Citadel became part of the new nation of Owyddnorr. However, this nation was highly unstable and underpopulated, and consequently it collapsed shortly after, briefly becoming independent before being annexed as part of a merger between the nations of Axum and Aljazair, along with much former Owyddnorr territory. It would become considered part of core Alamayni territory from that time on.

Alamayn Civil Wars

 * Main article: Alamayn Civil Wars

By mid-October 2021, the Citadel had fallen into the hands of a player called Rexaria. After seeing Alamayn's capital, Adwa fall to the Hands, and Cusless Alamay ascending to the throne of the nation, Rexaria launched a rebellion, backed by several enemies of Alamayn. During the ensuing war and succession crisis, Rexaria would have the Citadel secede from Alamayn and join the Varandoy-Aestyrian Kingdom.

Mithran-Dandelion War

 * Main article: The Mithran-Dandelion War

Following the Kingdom of Mithra's defeat in the Mithran-Dandelion War, the Citadel was returned to Alamayn by their allies in the new government of the region, the Helmian Federation, around the 10th of January, 2022.

Alamayn-Goonguard wars
During the Alamayn-GoonGuard War, the Silver Citadel yet again became a point of contention when it became known that the Empire of GoonGuard planned to war Alamayn for its ownership.

On June 11th, Goonguard marched on the Citadel. The city suffered heavy "renovations" by Drackar as part of their fortification efforts, demolishing the entire west and northeast portions of the Citadel, replacing them with Soulsand and berry trenches. Additionally, much of the city had earlier been bombed by its owner to prevent Goonguard from having it. The battle itself left the city little more than a series of craters and ruins.

Annexation into Tortuga
Following the conclusion of the Goonguard wars, the leadership of Alamayn concluded that the Silver Citadel, as an important historical site, posed too much of a liability for them to retain. Accordingly, ownership of the claim was given to a third party, RumKnight9K, and they opened the land up for sale to their allies. Eventually, it was sold to the people of Solitudinem, who had just escaped a series of wars in Plagos. Immediately, they joined Tortuga for protection, giving the pirate nation de jure control of the Citadel, although the claim itself would be retained by Rumknight.

When the Lorent-Tortuga war resulted in a Tortugan collapse, the land was sold to the nation of Sironia-Carn, who in turn sold it to the Second High Kingdom of Daelyria.

Independence
Thanks to the efforts of Najer politicians, particularly Asdrubal Hanno-faj niv Bacri, and some unique political factors, a treaty was signed between several major northern nations- Najer, Lennox, Valle, Daelyria, Zedenia, and Alamayn. The treaty united the north to jointly administer the Citadel under the guidance of the Association of the Silver Cities, forming a city-state that would be protected and governed by members of each of the nations.

Rebuilding
After a few years, plans were drawn up by the ASC to reconstruct the Citadel. Najer Alsham Talvos would take the lead in executing those plans, designing and directing efforts to build new buildings and restoring old ones. The Silver Palace was finally completed, and a new Noxist Temple was erected, along with a host of other projects that brought the city back to life.

Timeline of Construction
16th of November - Following a meeting Silver Coalition members, a location for the Citadel was scouted on a large plain on the road that linked Sovdal and Paludis. DarkBlade of Sovdal scouted the land, helping mimtipp establish the position for the Eastern Gate

18th of November - The Eastern Gate is erected, beginning the long construction of the Citadel Walls. The Walls stretch some 20 blocks to 25 blocks tall, and covers the entire northern side of the plain.

November & December - construction continued on the Citadel. The walls and towers continued to be erected and the Western Gate was begun. A town within the walls occupies the south-eastern quarter of the Citadel, servicing the administrative population. Large fields were also tilled to the East; these are common sites of constant pillaging by bandits throughout construction.

2nd of January, 2022 - The Silver Palace, situated within the Walls, begins construction, by StarSixSeven of Najera'jad. He never finished.

~11th of June, 2022 - Prior to the Battle of the Silver Citadel, much of the city is bombed or demolished in order to fortify the city against GoonGuard and to deny them any historical structures. The Silver Palace and some houses in the southwestern quadrant are the only surviving structures.

11th of December, 2022 - The ASC begins a community project to repair the terrain of the citadel, removing the fortifications and rubble within the walls. Prior to this, a plan was drawn up for reconstruction.'''

13th of December - The ASC terrain repair is completed, and restoration work is done on the still-standing houses. The old roads are also unburied and re-laid.

27th of December - The Silver Palace is restored and finally completed by Alsham Talvos, AKA Hirudo6.

10th and 11th of January, 2023 - A new Noxist Temple was designed and built to replace the old one, also serving as a memorial for StarSixSeven. Embassy plots are also opened up to the public.

14th of January, 2023 - The Citadel Bazaar opens as a new marketplace.

Geography
The Citadel is situated on a large plains biome on the road between the Second High Kingdom of Daelyria and the Republic of Alamayn. It location was scouted for the purpose of centralization; the Citadel was at the geographical center of Sterling territory, between Sovdal, Braddanoch, Paludis and Najera'jad. It was designed as a large, defensible holdout should the Crownlands be invaded.