History of Sintra

The history of Sintra is long.

Most agree Sintra's history began with St. Peter's founding of Cathrabe. Cathrabe started as a port city. Soon, Artoosh was discovered and their diplomacy began. The race to develop more land started and both states grew. Artoosh lost after the Tazon was founded, and was later assimilated into Cathrabe after the Rebellion of Artoosh. The King of Cathrabe granted the Swamp to his brother as a subordinate Kingdom. Items in this period were later rediscovered as artifacts. The Swamp moved capital to the Outpost soon after. Trirayde was discovered and named after the three raids it suffered when diplomacy began. Cathrabe tried to expand in that direction by founding Houmoise. Varey was discovered and found after passing the Pumpkin Woods Valley. The already existing Autonomous Lost Tribe of the Swamp was discovered, and explorers reached Unsurmountable, building the stairs. Suburbton was founded and Trirayde assimilated.

Artoosh merchants developed the area south of Artoosh across the river and was recognised as a colony. Kingdoms of Chuan and Bashu were discovered and assimilated. Cathrabe Rail began as the cable car to the Cross, and then began to spread. The cable car up Unsurmountable was also built. The Three Mounts and Hillobase were founded, the Colony became Transerio and the Lost Tribe became the High Corridor. The Civil War happened.

Corner and Eriside were founded. Existing Vitu and Downton Secludius were discovered and diplomacy established. To pique growth, all states built special things to represent themselves. The lands beyond Trirayde were explored and the Pioneer States of Interlaken, Windhoek and Cassini were founded with massive terraforming. Vitu was assimilated.

Territorial growth of the Empire stalled. Rockie has been growing massively and causing problems to Varey. Unsurmountable Outpost was established, and the tribes in those mountains like Chibetto began increasing interaction and hostility to Cathrabe. Relations with the Al-Jaazier Confederacy and Higheri were established. Yelang and Amazonia in the southern forest were also discovered and diplomacy established. The island territories were consolidated. Infrastructure projects like building roads and bridges were carried out. The Dual State of DoHrany was founded. Trade with the Jungle Tribes across the Sea skyrocketed, leading to the founding of the Midway Island supply post in the middle of the Sea. Arrendle was cleared from ice by Downtoners and locals. Long distance mapping expeditions were carried out, mapping most of the coast around Sintra. This exposed another way behind the Jungle Tribes. Landing at the Eastrope Swamp Tip was recorded but no contact between Cathrabe and Eastrope peoples has been recorded. Diplomacy with Canondale was formalised and bridges and tunnels built. Downton was taken over in personal union but not assimilated.

It is said that the Empire is weakening as it overexerted itself with, for example, trying to consolidate the territories and building infrastructure, and the states have centrifugal forces. The Pioneer States' borders are also arbitrary, making conflict in the future more likely. The incorporation of DoHrany into the Empire was also special. Due to popular sentiment that the areas of Dohany and Hrad were distinct regions so cannot be forcefully combined and viewed as just like a colony, they were given separation in internal matters as a dual state. This spread into the rest of the Empire, being switched natures into a symbol of the success of nationalism in the Empire, and spreading nationalist ideals.

The rebellion led by a Cathrabe noble in Citang Hill sparked the collapse of the Empire. The rebellion was inspired by nationalistic ideals and/or Cathrabe's inadequate attention/contributions to the regions. Mustering rebel forces from Houmoise and the Swamp, the army marched towards Cathrabe, defeated the unready forces and sieged the city. The siege was exceptionally long due to the towering defenses of the city and the underground escape routes to Science Island and Hillobase. The noble tried to incite widespread rebellion to tie down Cathrabe forces, but the plan backfired and many states did not support him. Trirayde, Vitu and all the Pioneer States immediately declared independence. DoHrany separated into its two independent constituent states. A huge nationalistic rebellion broke out in Eriside but was crushed later. Varey experienced nationalistic rebellion too and was overthrown and declared independence. Bridges and railroads across the Empire were sabotaged. Bashu, Chuan and High Corridor remained neutral, implying they want to keep their distance from Cathrabe. Relief forces from Artoosh, the Tazon, Transerio and Eriside were defeated by the sieging army. Hillobase and Corner supported the besieged capital, yet were overran by Trirayde invasions. The Three Mounts was loyal yet their help was not significant. Suburbton wanted peace, and helped put down Varey's rebellions but failed. Downton Secludius, led by its brilliant general, divided its army into 3 to help Cathrabe. Part of the army controlled Trirayde ambitions by jostling Hillobase and Corner, using the Kriol Outpost as stepping stone. Another group struck DoHrany and Eriside and entered the Swamp, yet it lost. The final group, led by himself went to Cathrabe, and battled with the besieging forces when the Cathrabe King surrendered and abdicated. The noble succeeded as King and Emperor, and claimed the entire empire, yet he only effectively controlled Cathrabe, Artoosh, the Tazon, Transerio and Eriside. The Swamp still fought Cathrabe for ultimate victory. All the other states are basically independent, except Corner and Hillobase are still being fought over, and DoHrany, its components under separate occupation by Downton. Contention between the Pioneer States increased, Rockie-Varey clashes increased and Houmoise is struggling with national identity. The Unsurmountable Outpost is abandoned. The island territories are self-ruling and loosely confederated, paying lip service to Cathrabe. They balance their interests between the confederation and their nearest mainland powers. The Big Island and Manhitus Island were the leading islands in the confederation, especially in the south. The foreign nations all adjusted their diplomacies to take advantage of the chaotic situation.

Current wars include Cathrabe-Swamp War (Houmoise dropped out), Trirayde-Downton Secludius War, and Frontier States Wars. Most independent states are now run by army governments. States that are weaker nationally and militarily are considering union (Chuan, Bashu and the High Corridor), so that they will not be added into the spheres of influence of the resource abundant, militarily strong, nationalistic military states/warlords. Yet as of current, the borders still remain very similar to the state borders in imperial times; this is speculated to be the result of sudden imperial power transition dropped the provincial power onto the hands of governors and their armies, so the state borders became the framework/structure/boundaries of this game of war. The initial interaction between the Cathrabe world and the T-shape World is ongoing. The rail network centered on Downton has been built.

The Central Confederation as a defense strategy was formed by Chuan, Bashu and the High Corridor, while Houmoise declined the first invitation. The Swamp eventually sued for peace, and became the chief vassal of Cathrabe. Although Cathrabe scored a victory, it still had to attend to major internal power struggles. Because the noble sat on the throne due to a coup, the populace was neutral and wary to him and his lineage at best. Powerful nobility and aristocracy stood up to the king at any chance they got. Thus while Cathrabe external expansion was a main goal, it usually does not have the internal unity to carry out wholehearted. Varey became a democracy, Suburbton is infiltrated by Canondale influence, and Eriside is infiltrated by Downton influence. Varey has a single unified population and a well-educated and functioning democracy, but is tied down by weak miliatary and political scandals. Rockie means to keep the status quo and occasionally raid Varey and Canondale. Downton excels in manipulating local national sentiments. Appearing as a protector of nationalism, it harnesses the nationalistic populace in Dohrany and Eriside and directs the hostility towards Cathrabe. Putting Corner into its sphere of influence is less justified, and involves military occupation and the compromising nature of the Corner government and people. Downton means to replace Cathrabe as the leading power in Sintra. It also established the satellite Lavia. Trirayde misplayed their hand in the Pioneer States, and Cassini was destroyed, while Windhoek and Interlaken becoming hostile to Trirayde. Because most of Cassini's land was taken by Interlaken, and Windhoek wants all the green land and more from Interlaken, their war is still ongoing. But Trirayde lost a string of defeats to the Frontier States, due to poor generals, weak army, and internal politics, so was not a major threat to the Frontier States. Trirayde also sued for peace with Downton, recognizing its claim on Corner and suzerainty over Hillobase. Only Three Mounts is under Trirayde influence. Later, Trirayde would begin expanding into the northern savannas. Higheri is the close ally of Downton. Cathrabe's next targets are the Central Confederation, Houmoise and Varey, and its main rival is Downton. Downton expansion is generally softer and more accepting than the hard military and total absorption Cathrabe strategy. Canondale aims to control the entire lower stretches of the Seenpe, and so aims to expand to its rivermouth, Suburbton and Varey, and possibly even higher. Al-Jaazier only has diplomatic ties and trading with Interlaken.

As it became more and more obvious that Houmoise was a prime target for Cathrabe, Houmoise became desperate to join the Central Confederation, but the Confederation was worried that this would draw hostility towards themselves from Cathrabe, and draw them into a war, thus initial attempts were again ignored. But after much debating, they realized independent states have to unite or else none will survive. So they admitted Houmoise into the Confederation, unifying their political entities with certain exemptions. Varey soon joined into a close defense pact with the Confederation, but not unifying their political entities. The Confederation, at this point, was no longer a mere defensive strategy for states in the swampy region, but a power to be recognized in itself. Its weakness, however, is that it is too far stretched. While it forms a wall around Cathrabe north of Eri, some of its constituents are vulnerable to a two-front war if Cathrabe attacks, for example the High Corridor from Downton, Varey from Canondale, and possibly Houmoise from Trirayde to test their luck. Canondale has captured Seenpemouth. Rockie under a young and ambitious leader, seeks to expand its influence around the Rockies.

Downton and Cathrabe launched a joint assault on the Confederation. Downton had a much more successful campaign due to underground tunnels dug prior that lead below the capital cities of the Confederation. Cathrabe only got Varey out of the peace treaty, and Downton took the rest of the Confederation. Trirayde was taken by Downton. Cathrabe was soon taken by Downton, and destroyed all the imperial signs. By promising land for soldiers, Downton strengthened its numbers even more and took Rockie, Canondale and all of the T-shape World. All the major powers in Sintra belong to Downton. The Walls of Downton, Sky Mansion and Cloud Palace were built. Efforts were made to shape the world around Downton.