Cubic Republic of High Hermitage

= The Cubic Republic of High Hermitage =

Basic Information
Claim: High_Hermitage

Nation: Valondor

Region: Sparwood

Coordinates: 1200, 3200

Religion: Cubism

Government System: Direct Democracy

Introduction
The Cubic Republic of High Hermitage, known colloquially as High Hermitage or The Hermitage, was founded on 1 September 2021 by player Yoyo266. It was initially established as a modest cenobium where the Monastic Order of the Cube lived independently and practised Cubist Worship. The first Monks of the Cube were few in number, but their devotion to their faith soon attracted others to the mountaintop. Brother Yoyo, the Voice of the Cube and Founder of High Hermitage, would sell his Cubist books on the Auction House, and preach of the Cube in Global Chat. Cubic Expeditions to cities such as Fornost also served to spread the word of the Cube and the way of life on High Hermitage. Today, High Hermitage has grown to a Province, with around 30 citizens. The lands have expanded from the mountaintop, now including the neighbouring Dwarven city of Hirfarum and the valley to the West. Although it originally fell within the Pirate Dominion of Tortuga, the Hermitage was recently sold to the nation of Borhammer. The transaction attracted mixed reactions among the citizenry, as it occured while the Hermitage's High Council pooled funds to gain independence. Now, however, the relationship between High Hermitage and Borhammer is friendly, and citizens live freely and happily under the Light of the Almighty Cube.

Early History
Brother Yoyo had spent many years traveling Rathnir before climbing the mountain which would become High Hermitage. In this time, he grew an appreciation for the natural world, and discovered the teachings of the Cube. And so, he established High Hermitage as a peaceful cenobium, closed off from the politics and wars of the outside world. Some of the first buildings he constructed were the foundations of the Great Library and the bench outside. Soon, players oscarc1 and the_iron_chef joined. Brother Chef built the Community Chest room and Smeltery, and Brother Oscar built farms and more stone structures. Players Animonkee and Mountainduke joined soon after. During these early days of the Hermitage, the monks worked tirelessly on Cubist theology, built many Cube monuments, and began to spread the word of the Cube.

Brother Animonkee started building his house (top right corner of above image), but it was demolished to make way for the City Hall. Undisturbed, he closed off the hollow underneath the mountain and named it Deep Hermitage, building his home there. Here, Brother Animonkee bred sheep and worked on the design of the Cube Banner, which can now be seen all around High Hermitage. Meanwhile, Brothers Oscar and Yoyo developed the tunnels inside the mountain, now known as Middle Hermitage, and Sister Mountainduke, as Foreign Minister, began to establish ties with neighbouring nations.

Provocation from the Archduchy of Loria
As the monks continued to build on the mountaintop, the Archduke of Loria, Lukas Lordinger (IGN Teslaf999) placed signs reading "The Archduchy of Loria does not recognise this claim". At first, the monks were confused; as hermits, they did not yet understand the intricacies of geopolitics. At the time, Loria City's land claim was one of the largest in Rathnir, however, most of this area was undeveloped. When Brother Yoyo established the Hermitage, he assumed that the land, which was 500 blocks from any of Loria's buildings, would be sufficiently distanced from the city. Lukas saw differently, viewing the monks as squatters, and threatened to declare war on High Hermitage. As the monks prepared defenses, such as walls and lava dispensers, the threats of war seemed to subside. It appeared to the monks as though Lukas was bluffing, so they continued to build without concern for the bombastic archduke.

Since Lukas' death, following Loria City's war with Borhammer, a grave to the old Archduke can be found in the Hermitage Cemetery.

Alliance with Hirfarum
While Loria City lay to the Hermitage's West, beyond the Southern border lay the Dwarven village of Hirfarum. In late August, Dwarf King Buddha had bought much of the surrounding land from Tortuga, including the mountaintop of High Hermitage. As this transaction had occurred mere days before the foundation of the Hermitage, the monks were once again labelled squatters. Through careful negotiation, the monks were allowed to keep their land, as long as they only built on the mountaintop and paid a small amount of tax to Hirfarum. Through this legally binding arrangement, High Hermitage's land claim was finally legitimised, and accusations of squatting were quashed.

Absorption of Hirfarum
Following the banning of King Buddha, Jack'O'Ween took over as leader of Hirfarum. As he had also become leader of Lionore, High Hermitage offered to buy the land of Hirfarum and incorporate it into a new Cubic Republic. Jack'O'Ween agreed to the terms, and Hirfarum's land claim was deleted so that the Republic could exist under the claim of High Hermitage.

It was important to the Republic's High Council that the history and heritage of Hirfarum were preserved. Today, the fishing huts remain in their original condition, the old Hirfarum banners still hang proudly, and the Tempest Dwarfs are acknowledged as the indigenous people and original owners of the land.

The Lux Situation
When Skotos came to unleash his tyranny upon Rathnir during Halloween, the Cubist monks aided cult Harvest Havon in a ritual to trap the demon, Entropy. But the ritual resulted in a different outcome and the Gods bestowed upon them the Heart of Lux -the seed root of the world – in the form of an azure bluet. As the monks looked to the skies, they watched in horror as the sun turned red, as if blood had begun to seep from Lux’s empty core. It was assumed that the removal of Lux’s heart would end the eternal war between her and her nocturnal brother Tenebris. Without her Heart, Tenebris could bring the space below the world (the Void) to Rathnir with unknown consequences. However, the Gods mercifully gave the cult and Cubists 30 days to brandish the Heart’s power, suspending the sun in its supernova state until then. Terrified of the outcomes, the Cubist monks seized the Heart and stored it in a vault, fearing retribution from the Luxites and a coalition of empires and nations if it was not kept secret. Its location was moved by High Councillors several times to ensure that it couldn’t be found by the wrong people as they debated what to do with it. The monks believed that using the Heart was foolish as they did not fully comprehend the tenets of the Luxite faith. Ultimately, they decided to seek help from Lux’s earthly religious representative, High Priestess Emelyn H. Masaja. The High monk, Sister Mountainduke made contact with Emelyn and informed her that they wished to return the Heart in the hopes that they could perform a ritual to restore it. Her message was well received and the pair set a time to meet to perform a ritual between Luxites and Cubists to give Lux back her Heart. On the 11th of November, the Cubist monks – including Brother Yoyo and the High Council – and the citizens of High Hermitage made the journey to Solisios for the highly anticipated meeting and on the 12th of November, they met just outside the city. Sister Mountainduke gifted the High Priestess the Heart, and the collective made their way to the temple which housed the infamous Eternal Flame and the sacrificial chambers. The Luxites and the Cubists chanted for one day and one night until light blazed from the sacrificial chests. In her diary, Mountainduke reported: “Wings of light engulfed the High Priestess as she recited the verses, as if Lux herself was embracing her in gratitude. As the sun rose again, the volatile balance of nature was restored, and the Sun became whole again” The sun was restored to its original state, signalling the ritual’s success and the blood rain ceased, as if all the darkness from Rathnir had been purged. At least for the meantime…

A Cube in Solisios was created to commemorate the harmonious relationship between the Cubists and the Luxites which is cherished and upheld today.

Life at the Hermitage
Although High Hermitage sits upon a mountaintop, life is fulfilling and wholesome, not cold and bleak as may be expected. Citizens may spend their days reading at the Great Library, where many great texts, including The Cube, The Bardonian Book of Defenses, Chad's Journey, and many others may be found. Alternatively, Snowpoint Brewery offers drinks, food, and a merry time for all, citizen's and visitors alike. However, perhaps the most important aspect of High Hermitage is its routes in Cubist tradition. As the birthplace of Monastic Cubist worship, many find meaning in the study of the Almighty Cube.

The Monastic Order of the Cube
Upon the founding of High Hermitage, Brother Yoyo established the Monastic Order of the Cube. Its mission would be simple: to live in peaceful devotion to the Almighty Cube, and offer its teachings to any willing to learn. The original Monks were Brother Yoyo (yoyo266), Brother Oscar (oscarc1), Brother Animonkee Cubeus Deanis (Animonkee), Sister Mountainduke (mountainduke), and Brother Chef (the_iron_chef). The solitary life which these original monks led meant they developed their Cubist faith independently of outside input. Thus, they knew not of the Birch Cubists or the Eldham Cubists. This led to key differences between the Monastic Cubism developed at the Hermitage and others found in the lands of Rathnir and Eldham.

Rather than worshiping a single Cube, a god or group of gods, the Monks see the Cube as the all encompassing truth of our world. Cube is all, and all is Cube, so therefore all must be worshiped and protected. This leads to the Cube's followers being inherently peaceful and kind, for if all are Cube, to attack another is akin to attacking oneself.

Government Structure
High Hermitage follows a democratic system, involving a Citizens' Assembly and a High Council (which is elected by the citizenry). The former, as its name suggests, consists of every citizen of the Republic, and all have an equal vote. Any citizen has the right to propose legislation, which requires a majority vote in the Assembly to pass. Any legislation which passes the Assembly is then voted on by the High Council. If the High Council votes in favour, the proposed legislation becomes law. Constitutional Amendment can also be passed in the Citizens' Assembly, without the approval of the High Council. Finally, the Head of State, who is elected by the Assembly, holds the power to veto any High Council decisions. In turn, the Assembly can vote to oust a sitting Head of State at any time.

Oliver's Technologies and Appliances
When the Monks of the Cube first settled upon their mountaintop, their nearest neighbour seemed to be someone named Oliver. They had never met Oliver, but had seen his small oak-plank house atop a nearby hill. On the door read the sign "Oliver's Technologies and Appliances". The monks often pondered what happened to this Oliver character, and why he was no longer present in the world. Had he been labelled a squatter and expelled from the land? Or had he left of his own accord? No one knows, however, the monks have preserved his home in the hopes that he will return.

A tribute at the site of his home reads, "This was a humble dwelling when we first arrived to the lands. Often we have wondered if we would ever meet its creator, the infamous Oliver. Though we have not been so lucky we remain hopeful. We preserve this home, just as he left it, in honour of him. And if he should ever return, we hope to welcome him and live in harmony under the Divine Light of the Cube."

Key Figures
Brother Yoyo266

Role: Voice of the Cube, Founder of High Hermitage, High Councillor, Former President, Secretary for the High Council, Minister for Housing, Minister for Tea and Biscuits and Ambassador to Tovarisha

IGN: yoyo266

Brother Animonkee Cubeus Deanis

Role: President, High Monk of the Cube, Minister for Education, Minister for Urban Planning

IGN: Animonkee

Discord: Animonkee#1164

Sister Mountainduke

Role: High Monk of the Cube, High Councillor and Foreign Minister

IGN: mountainduke

ELTrojan

Role: High Councillor

IGN: ELTrojan5116

The Wonk

Role: High Councillor

IGN: wthewonk