Scholar's Rock

Scholar's Rock is a northern nation founded on and known primarily for their attempts at preserving any written knowledge they can for all to access. They are known for their close knit population, culinary tradition, brewing of alcohol, and scenery.

### Motto

Through knowledge we thrive

Scholar's Rock as viewed from the sea

##### Members

This faction has five active players:

* Stary105
* Android\_Sierra
* Uganith
* Phoebe\_Plague
* WasherCogtoon

This faction currently has nine player characters currently residing in it:

* Maron Cogton
* Raine Illus (Unknown status)
* Madeline Cogton
* Phoebe Rekavor (deceased)
* Warren Cogton
* Sapphire Illus-Cogton
* Andromeda Illus
* Vivian Velarosa
* Sarah Hellsmire

### History

##### Original Scholars

Scholar's Rock was founded by Maron Cogton (formerly Prof. Maron S. Beloved) and her associate from the Old Empire, Argore Austirbergi. They settled along the mountainous northern coastline and began working on the settlement with the assistance of two newcomers, Lilliput and Quinn Fellcrest. The four of them worked together on the construction of Scholar's Rock's main library tower and workshop room, living and working closely with each other. It was in this time period that the iconic Scholar's Rock robes, sashes, and golden beads were created by Argore.

During this time, Scholar's Rock recieved an anonymous donation on an abandoned ship found at their docks. Amongst it's contents (the majority of which were items from the old empire, were three boxes of books taken from the Astrean and Ta'Tan public libraries. The origins of the ship, which bared a flag of Ta'Tan, and the anonymous donor remains unknown to this day.

##### Alliance with a Dying Empire

Scholar's Rock's first major alliance was with the nation of Eastrock, a fragment of the dying Ta'Tasian Empire run by former Empress Tatiana Piragova. The founder, Maron, having previously known Tatiana in the old empire, began arranging an alliance with Tatiana over a shared project of reinvigorating the Old Empire faith of Pathonic. This new faith, later dubbed Terraonic, was codified in The Gria, a holy book written in collaboration between Maron and Tatiana.

Aside from religious matters, Scholar's Rock also served as a key player in the Eastrock v. Thaustein conflict. Eastrock, having stolen Thaustein's original holy book, entrusted it to Scholar's Rock, fearing Thaustein recapturing the text should it remain in their hands. This dealing was overseen by lead Scholars Maron Cogton and Argore Austirbergi. Eventually, after pressuring by Thaustein, Scholar's Rock was given permission by Tatiana to return the book should it come down to their safety. Maron Cogton and Lancelot Mourningwood met and signed the Agreement for the Preservation of Neutrality (APN), officially pulling Scholar's Rock from the conflict and granting them neutrality in future proceedings.

Maron, as the founder, would serve as the sole diplomat to the First World Congress. She mostly kept out of discussion and did not make herself prominently known. She had to leave the Congress early due to illness, causing her to miss the legal proceedings and entire Five Minute War. Maron would later learn of the war, death of Empress Tatiana, and establishment of Cowrock (now Ivotus Republic) through word of mouth. While Scholar's Rock had no knowledge of the bombs or other threats the Empress had planned, it is unclear if they would have remained allied (or at least sympathetic) to her cause should Maron have stayed for the duration of the Congress.

##### The Quiet Period

Prior to the First World Congress, Scholar's Rock began to change significantly in terms of internal dynamics. The original Scholars, that being Quinn Fellcrest, Lilliput, and Argore, began disappearing and/or dying. First it was Quinn Fellcrest, who, after a short stint of time at the Rock, disappeared without much of a trace. His diary is still in the care of Scholar's Rock in the "Personal Accounts" section. Second to go was Argore. While returning from a trip to Astrean territory, their ship was sunk, killing them in the process. Many of their personal accoutrements (including their journal) were returned to Scholar's Rock by Sofus Tanael, the person who had found the wreak. The final to depart was Lilliput. Maron and her remained in correspondence through notes in the workshop, but seldom saw each other. Eventually, the notes stopped appearing and Lilli had disappeared entirely.

Finding herself all alone in Scholar's Rock, Maron devoted much of her time to small infrastructure improvements, seldom interacting with other nations outside of Congress. Many of the previous member's items collected dust and Maron took care of the animals they had left behind. Many of these items, including the entirety of Argore's old room at the main tower's summit, remain and are seldom visited. It was also during this time period that the memorial graveyard found at the peak of the main mountain of the Rock was established.

After a long period of no contact, Maron received an inquiry from one Hema Tenor asking to join the ranks of the Scholars. Maron agreed to meet her, taking her from Prismaran shores to Scholar's Rock and giving her a tour. Hema would soon join the ranks of Scholars as an apprentice and began working on expanding what was already there. Hema would begin writing a journal here, detailing her life in Scholar's Rock and her research into ruins. This journal would be left behind when, like all previous Scholar's before her, Hema disappeared without warning. She currently does not have a grave at the memorial site in Scholar's Rock, unlike all previous Scholars.

##### Finding Hope

Scholar's Rock's Quiet Period began to wain with Maron's adoption of Sapphire Illus-Cogton (previously Sapphire Hellsmire). This would kick start a chain reaction in which a variety of people would come to live at Scholar's Rock, seeking family, togetherness, and escape from the stresses of their previous nation states.

Some of the most notable members to join during this period (not mentioned previously) were:

* Raine Illus - former president of the Northwood Union and current fiancée of Maron
* Andromeda Illus - adoptive daughter of Raine Illus
* Phoebe Rekavor - former leader of Prismara
* Madeline Cogton - ghost doctor from Ta'Tan and Maron's paternal first cousin. Acting President of the Northwood Union.
* Warren Cogton - C.E.O of WasherCog Industries Locomotives and Maron's half brother
* Vivian Velarosa - Amateur Astronomer and Musician, formerly known for secretly taking Scholar's Rock's surplus resources for her own survival

The majority of these new additions are duel citizens of either Prismara or the Northwood Union.

Scholar's Rock had also thrived as a nation during this time, expanding into nearby territory and setting up various outposts around Greater Soulrite (the most notable of which is the "Cold Site" contained within an iceburg ocean up north). Important additions at this time include: the hot springs, General Illus Brewing Company, and the City of Barley.

##### Modern Scholar's Rock

Modern Scholar's Rock is currently at a tumultuous period of history. Following the kidnapping of the founder and de-facto leader, Maron Cogton, the Rock has been on high alert and closely working with the Northwood Union. Maron, prior to her kidnapping, had begun working on a Constitution to formalize a government for SR. While the Constitution is currently unfinished, it appeared to resemble the Constitution of the Northwood Union quite closely, especially in regards to military command.

It is unclear what direction Scholar's Rock will move in next. That being said, her members are united currently by a singular driving goal: rescue Maron.

### Geography

Carved and raised in to the tall rocky cliff face, the primary body of Scholar's Rock rests on the eastern most corner of a cold ridged mountain steppe facing the ocean. Looming over a bay with a coral reef just off the coast, the settlement's main point of access being from docks lining the bay. Scholar's Rock expands along the coastline, her domain reaching out to a towering pillar of rock with ruins and farming district on her eastern front and the hot springs and Barley City at her farthest western front. The various outposts created by Scholar's Rock have varying climates depending on local geography.

The main mountain of Scholar's Rock (yet to be named) is the third highest peak in the local region. The ruins on the Rock's eastern flank are contained in the fourth highest peak. These ruins contain a strange alter holding what appears to be ornate artifacts and human remains. This region is also heavily charged with magical energy, heavy exposure to which can severely impact the health of any persons or creatures in the vicinity. It's affects on flora and terrain are currently unknown.

Scholar's Rock is on a geologically active plate boundary (believed to be the same one as the Northwood Union), facilitating her various hot springs and mineral reserves. It is unclear if there is volcanic activity present at or in the vicinity of Scholar's Rock.

### International Relations

##### Very Positive

Scholar's Rock's two strongest allies are the Northwood Union and Prismara. Many of her citizens are duel citizens of these territories, including the former president of Northwood (Raine Illus) and the former leader of Prismara (Phoebe Rekavor).

##### Somewhat Positive

Scholar's Rock has generally positive relations with both Eden's Awoken and Anterra, although direct alliances with either has never been formally discussed by the leadership.

##### Somewhat Negative

Scholar's Rock, though having no official enemies, has somewhat tenuous (at best) relations with the Acolytes of Hostina following the kidnapping of founder and de facto leader of Scholar's Rock, Maron Cogton, by the Acolytes leader, Jarka Baník. Prior to this, the Acolytes had been Scholar's Rock's oldest standing alliance.

##### Neutral/Unknown

Scholar's Rock has had very limited contact with other nations. Aside from those listed above, there was brief interaction with Bagronov and the founder of Scholar's Rock, but nothing much has come of this as of yet. Many other nations fall into a similar dynamic with Scholar's Rock.

### Trivia

* Scholar's Rock's flag is meant to represent the mountain peak (grey), the sky and sea (blue), and the snow (white)
* Loose plans for Scholar's Rock have existed since Astrea was an actively played region on the previous server
* In spite of having one of the only Terraonic chapels and housing one of it's founders, Scholar's Rock is not a particularly religiously active place
* The robe worn by Maron Cogton is a modified version of the original jacket skin piece distributed Argore, leading to the canon explanation that they made the robes
* Scholar's Rock contains a variety of hidden passageways and rooms
* Maron's player originally came up with the name on a whim. Previously, she had intended to join Anterra
* Endermen infestation, especially in the mines, is a frequent issue in Scholar's Rock
* Scholar's Rock's library has a hidden restricted section that contains classified, protected, or otherwise dangerous artifacts
* Scholar's Rock is one of the largest active nations on the server
* Scholar's Rock's national dish is mushroom stew
* Scholar's Rock currently has a Northwood warship (repurposed into a research vessel) just outside her shores. The vessel is named after Luna Stellasol,
* There is a system of buoys between Scholar's Rock and the World Congress building in Ivotus. This was created because Maron's player kept getting lost on the way to Congress.
* Maron's player has built the most in Scholar's Rock
* One of Madeline Cogton's clinics is located in Scholar's Rock
* Conduits were installed throughout the coastal waters of SR by Raine Illus's player
* Scholar's Rock is technically haunted due to the high number of ghosts residing there