Pontificate of Neo Boreopolis

Flag of the Pontificate of Neo Boreopolis

Map of the Pontificate of Neo Boreopolis

The Pontificate of Neo Boreopolis was a civilization in Dimension S-2020 which was later transported to Dimension S-2012 following the Great Collapse. It was located east of the Free Principality of Tomopolis. Neo Boreopolis was the centre of the Elinite Faith.

## History

### Founding of the city and the Elinite Faith (0-36AUC)

Neo Boreopolis was founded in 0AUC (ab urbe condita, which translates into 'since the founding of the city') by the Prophet Eli after a long journey from the Spawn area. He and his followers arrived at Mount Calaikastro and founded Neo Boreopolis, a council of 12 of Eli's most trusted and loyal followers governed the city. In 3AUC, the Prophet Eli finished His Gospel, describing the history of the world and the life of the Son of God, thus laying the foundations for the Elinite Faith. In July of 4AUC, the Prophet Eli passed away and ascended to the heavens. He was posthumously declared the first Pontifex Maximus of Neo Boreopolis by his successor, Pontifex Maximus Diogenus. Under Diogenus, Neo Boreopolis would quickly expand. As one by one, the original members of the governing Council pass away, they were replaced by elected members of the clergy, called "Bishops". The Council became known as the Council of Bishops and would govern alongside the Pontifex Maximus. Diogenus ordered large construction works, such as a new church on Mount Calaikastro and a public bath house in the lower levels of the city. In 36AUC, the Curia Nea was built, Neo Boreopolis' centre of government where the Council of Elected Bishops was seated.

### Pontifex Maximus SibCDC and the expansion of the Pontificate (37-41AUC)

In January of 37AUC, Pontifex Maximus Diogenus passed away and was succeeded by SibCDC. Under his rule, the Pontificate would further expand and establish relationships with its closest neighbours. In June of 37AUC, the Church of St.-Adal, which had been ordered by Diogenus, was completed on top of Mount Calaikastro, and the bath house in the lower levels was officially opened. Around this time period, other nations began to be founded around the world, and the Pontificate sent out missionaries to convert these new nations to the Elinite Faith. As a result, the Church of Eli established the Diocese of New Arcburg in the capital of the Wallaceian Empire in June of 39AUC after a very successful mission.

In November of 39AUC, the Pontificate reached out to several other nations for trade and positive relations. Most importantly, the Treaty of Neo Boreopolis was signed between the Pontificate and the Free Principality of Tomopolis, establishing formal relations between the two nations and recognizing claims, establishing free trade and mining rights. That same month, a trade agreement was also signed with the Knights of Donnersmarck, exporting leather in return for much needed coal. In June of 40AUC, the Pontificate also called upon foreign followers of the Elinite Faith to join them in a Holy League and to establish general rules for international diplomatic conduct. Both the Wallaceian Empire and the Knights of Donnersmarck accepted.

As a result of these increasing relations, merchants in Neo Boreopolis felt the need for trade outposts grow, and Byzauros was founded as a stop for Neo Boreopolean merchants on the route from the east to the west. This, however, led to the Trade Outpost Incident with Tomopolis, which was quickly resolved by amending the Treaty of Neo Boreopolis to include a clause about the outpost at Byzauros. Later in June of 40AUC, the Treaty of Tomopolis was signed to include the Empire of Wineghem in the territorial recognition of the Treaty of Neo Boreopolis and to extend free trade even further. In August of 40AUC, the Strait of Tocantis Tunnel was completed, connecting the Pontificate to Tomopolis by rail through an underwater tunnel beneath the Strait of Tocantis. That same month, the Treaty of New Arcburg was also signed, establishing formal relations with the Wallaceian Empire.

In October of 40AUC, troops from Neo Boreopolis and from Tomopolis led by the Pontifex and the Principe defeated the Ender Dragon, thus freeing the End and fulfilling one of the Prophecies of Eli. As a result, the Council of Neo Boreopolis revisited the doctrines of the Elinite Faith and established the Three Pillars of the Faith. In addition, the Nether Portal in Neo Boreopolis and the End Portal south of the country were both declared Holy Sites.

Later that month, the Treaty of Wineghem was signed, expanding the borders of the Pontificate in the east, as well as the borders of Tomopolis and Wineghem. In addition, the three nations established joint control over the End Portal south of the Pontificate. Just opposite of the End Portal, at the very southern tip of the Pontificate, a large statue of the Son of God was completed in August of 41AUC and work began on an underground library containing all the knowledge in the world. This library would later become the Library's local branch office in Dimension S-2020.

### The International Community and international crises (42-44AUC)

In March of 42 AUC, the Pontificate and Tomopolis drafted the Articles of the International Community, an international organization with the purpose of uniting all nations towards the common goals of peace and prosperity. While both nations were gathering support for the IC, Neo Boreopolis further flourished, with Court Mathematician Ioannis Delhopoulos theorizing that the Nether was inside the core of the Overworld, reaffirming one of the core beliefs of the Elinite Faith about the Nether. In January of 43AUC, the Hippodrome was finished and ready for use, but more importantly, the International Community was officially founded. For the next few years, Neo Boreopolis would be a very active member in its proceedings.

The IC's goals of peace and prosperity were almost immediately challenged by the 26 Minute War in March of 43AUC. While Neo Boreopolis remained neutral during the conflict, and actively sought to find a diplomatic solution through the IC, the Council did discuss trade embargoes against the Republic of the Isles of Birillum for their role in the war. The motion ultimately failed after the Pontifex Maximus was forced to break a 6-6 tie by voting against. In the aftermath of the war, Neo Boreopolis, Wineghem and Tomopolis founded the Nations of the East in response to the growing instability in the west. Through the military alliance, the Nations of the East, and by extension the Pontificate, would be able to throw their diplomatic weight around and dissuade any nation that dared try attacking a member of the alliance.

In May of 43AUC, the Republic of Birillum challenged the Pontificate after claiming land in the Nether, in an event known as the Nether Conflict. The Pontificate officially did not recognize the claim and orthodox members within the Council even called for a crusade against the Republic for their audicity to claim land that belonged to the Lost Tribe. In August, an international convention was held by the IC under the influence of the Kingdom of Desonia to discuss claims in the Nether and the construction of a Nether Highway. An agreement was eventually reached to not claim territory in the Nether and to build the Highway on the Netherroof. The agreement forced Birillum to abandon its claims.

In August of 43AUC, the Eastern Dinar was established as a common currency within the Nations of the East, further easing trade between the citizens of the member nations. That same month, a motion to guarantee the independence of the Unified Tribes of Chiyesa failed 7-5 in the Council after Chief Maplic of the Chiyesa accused the Nations of the East of using the IC as a tool for domination over the west. When Chief Maplic eventually even denounced Tomopolis, the Pontificate issued a trade embargo against the Unified Tribes. In this hostile environment, the Pontificate began constructing a star fortress outside of the city to protect against possible raiders coming from the Strait of Tocantis. Eventually, a squadron of airborn soldiers from Wineghem invaded the country during the Eastern Coalition War against Chiyesa in October of 43 AUC. Temporarily ending the Chiyesan threats and insults.

In December of 43AUC, the Pontificate began construction of a canal between the Inner Sea and the Anatolikan Ocean as part of an economic policy to connect east and west. In May of 44AUC, however, this economic policy would lead to the Strait Crises, as religious zealots took it a step further and dug a canal between the Inner Sea and the Bay of Montecazzo overnight. The zealots realized that an Elinite ally, the Duchy of Montecazzo, was on need of support from the east against encroaching Birillum imperialism. However, the Boreopolean fleet could never reach Montecazzo in time. Therefor, they decided to go on a pilgrimage and dig the Aarvaos Canal themselves. The construction of such a huge channel in such a brief period of time caused some anxiety in the west about how far the Boreopolean zealots would go in defending an ally, but in the end they peacefully returned home or settled in Montecazzo, expanding the strength of the Elinite Faith in the region. Neo Boreopolis apologized after the fact and guaranteed that Montecazzo held all sovereign rights over the newly dug canal.

The acts of the zealots, however, may have inspired anti-Elinite sentiments in the Unified Tribes of Chiyesa, as in May of 44AUC, they fabricated a story about followers of the Elinite Faith having incited a riot and destroying an idol. The religion was thereafter banned in Chiyesa and its followers persecuted. High ranking Bishops within the Pontificate called for war and were supported by Emperor Obama of the Wallaceian Empire. A meeting of the IC was called and an independent investigation was determined to clear the name of the Elinite Faith. In October of 44AUC, after it became clear the Chiyesa had fabricated the story, Chiyesa was forced to revert their ban on the Elinite Faith, although publicly displaying the religion was still banned. As a sign of good faith, the Pontificate ended its embargo in return and after a vote in the Council, the Diocese of Chege Itų was established from the Chiyesan part of the Diocese of New Arcburg. The Chiyesan Elinites elected Yas Otoahhastis as their first Bishop. During the Ardai-Birillum Outpost Crisis of October of 44AUC, the Pontificate was one of the many nations denouncing Birillum imperialist behaviour. The crisis was yet another sign of the ever growing clash between east and west, with minor nations being caught in between.

### Lead up to the Great Collapse (45-56AUC)

In March of 45AUC, the Pontificate was at the height of its power, as the public bath house in the lower levels of the city were retrofitted into a palace for the Pontifex, where he could show off all his power and wealth. However, starting in June of 45AUC, the first cracks in the stability of the world started showing up. That month, Principe Tom of the Free Principality mysteriously vanished without a trace and left Tomopolis behind in a shattered state. He was found months later in Chiyesa, leading the northern Tribe of Rugri, seemingly abandoning his own people in Tomopolis. The power vacuum left behind was quickly filled by Boreopolean monks who tried to restore the nation to its former glory. However, shortly after the Principe's appearance in Chiyesa, he once again dissapeared, this time to be never seen again in S-2020. It would later turn out that he was teleported to Dimension T-2021 as a result of the Great Collapse.

In December of 46AUC, a group of heretic Elinites from Chiyesa, led by the Seer Maplic, headed down south to found the Theocratic State of Ahman and to establish the Ahmanite Faith. These so called Ahmanites accused the Church of Eli and Neo Boreopolis to have fallen into apostasy and corruption. Following a referendum and a unanimous vote in the Council, the Pontifex Maximus excommunicated followers of the Ahmanite Faith from the Church of Eli. In July of 47AUC, a miracle occurred when the Prophet Eli returned from the heavens to write a new Testament. Under his command, the Crusade against the Ahmanites was called after they dared to call Eli a false prophet. A siege was quickly conducted against the Ahmanite capital and their temple was reclaimed in the name of Eli. The Ahmanite Faith was abolished, those who did not convert where eliminated. In the aftermath of the crusade, the Prophet Eli wrote the Newest Testament, before returning to the heavens.

After the Crusade against the Ahmanites, Neo Boreopolis and the Nations of the East felt empowered by this victory. However, following an incident involving a Birillum trade delegation to Tomopolis, the Great War errupted. During the Great War, the Pontificate was supported by its allies, Tomopolis, Wineghem and the Duchy of Montecazzo against the Republic of the Isles of Birillum, the Wallaceian Empire and Chiyesa. The Great War ended in a stalemate, but strengthened the position of Neo Boreopolis and the Elinite Faith in the west.

### The Great Collapse and transportation to S-2012 (56AUC)

After an unknown event caused the Great Collapse, the entirety of Neo Boreopolis was transported to Dimension S-2012 and was relocated just west of the Kingdom of Frozyland. Completely disoriented and disorganized, the Pontificate signed the Treaty of Jotunheim with Frozyland in 959AA (S-2012 date). The Treaty established formal relations between the two empires and Frozyland committed itself to building a railroad to Neo Boreopolis, as well as lobbying for United Nations membership for the country that had miraculously appeared at its borders. Within the city of Neo Boreopolis, foreign traders, diplomats and pilgrims from other nations were able to survive as well, allowing their cultures to be brought into S-2012. Among these were the Montecazzans, who acquired a permit from the Council of Neo Boreopolis to establish a Montecazzan quarters in the coastal star fort on the condition that the Montecazzans would take the defence of the capital upon themselves. Renaming it to Fort Montecazzo and building a church in honour of their former Duke, who had been declared a saint shortly before, the Montecazzan quarters quickly grew into bustling area. In 961AA, Chiyesan refugees from Neo Boreopolis settled New Chiyesa after several years of gathering funds, support and resources.

In 1144 AA, the Library was able to successfully salvage echoes of S-2020 and transport them to S-2012. As a result, the nations which were thought to have been lost to time were now brought back. The Pontificate worked quickly to resolve unsolved tensions, since only a moment had passed for the nations of S-2020, while centuries had passed for the Pontificate and the diaspora's of S-2020. Neo Boreopolis intervened in the ongoing civil war in the Wallaceian Empire, causing an Elinite government to come to power. In addition, the Pontificate worked towards a big diplomatic conference in Frozyland to invite the nations of S-2020 into the United Nations. In 1145, the resulting Frozyland Accords were signed and the International Community was officially dissolved in favour of the UN.

## Religion and Government

The Pontificate of Neo Boreopolis is a theocratic democracy, which means that religion and state are heavily intertwined. The Pontificate is led by the Curia, a body of religious leaders, 12 Bishops to be precise, elected by the people. At the head of the Curia is the Pontifex Maximus, chosen by the body. Neo Boreopolis was founded by the Prophet Eli, who also established the Elinite Faith and the Church of Eli, hence why the institutions of the Church are heavily intertwined with the government of the Pontificate. While officially, there is freedom of religion, the government is entirely dominated by Elinites. Somewhat special to the case of the Pontificate is the fact that Bishops from abroad are also represented in the Council of Bishops, including the Bishop of the Diocese of New Arcburg and the Bishop of the Diocese of Chege Itų. However, these Bishops traditionally follow the vote of the Pontifex in matters of domestic policy.

## Books

### Religious Texts

1/29 | *Gospel of Eli 1* was written by the Prophet Eli in 3AUC (*2020*) and became the foundation for the Elinite Faith. It describes the creation of the world and the deeds of the Prophet Adal. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History and Religion sections.

1/50 | *Gospel of Eli 2* was written by the Prophet Eli in 3AUC (*2020*) and became the foundation for the Elinite Faith. Part 2 describes the birth of the Son and his battle against the 7 Evils. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History and Religion sections.

1/20 | *Gospel of Eli 3* was written by the Prophet Eli in 3AUC (*2020*) and became the foundation for the Elinite Faith. Part 3 describes the Son's journey to the Nether and His sacrifice in the End. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History and Religion sections.

1/9 | *Council of Neo Boreopolis* was written by SibCDC in 40AUC (*2020*) and elaborated on the pillars of the Elinite Faith. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History and Religion sections.

1/22 | *The Newest Testament* was written by the Prophet Eli in 47AUC (*2020*) after the Crusade against the Ahmanites. The Newest Testament talks about the founding of Neo Boreopolis and establishing some rules for the practicing of the Elinite Faith. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History and Religion sections.

### Historical Sources

1/5 | *Trade treaty 1* was written by von Donnersmarck in 39AUC (*2020*) as a trade agreement between the Knights of Donnersmarck and the Pontificate of Neo Boreopolis. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History section.

1/11 | *Treaty of Neo Boreopolis* was written by SibCDC in 39AUC (*2020*) as an agreement between the Pontificate of Neo Boreopolis and the Free Principality of Tomopolis. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History section.

1/11 | *Treaty of Neo Boreopolis [Amended]* was written by SibCDC in 40AUC (*2020*) after the Trade Outpost Incident between Tomopolis and Neo Boreopolis. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History section.

1/7 | *Treaty of New Arcburg* was written by SibCDC in 40AUC (*2020*) as a trade agreement between the Wallaceian Empire and Neo Boreopolis. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History section.

1/14 | *Treaty of Tomopolis* was written by SibCDC in 40AUC (*2020*) as a trade agreement between the Empire of Wineghem, Tomopolis and Neo Boreopolis. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History section.

1/7 | *Treaty of Wineghem* was written by SibCDC in 40AUC (*2020*) as an agreement between the Empire of Wineghem, Tomopolis and Neo Boreopolis to expand their borders and establish control over the end portal south of Neo Boreopolis. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History section.

1/3 | *Common Currency* was written by SibCDC in 43AUC (*2020*) as an agreement between the Empire of Wineghem, Tomopolis and Neo Boreopolis to establish the Eastern Dinar as a common currency for the tree nations. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History section.

1/7 | *Treaty of Jotunheim* was written by SibCDC in 959AA (*2021*) as an agreement between Neo Boreopolis and Frozyland after the Great Collapse. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the History section.

### Scientific Literature

1/39 | *The Location of the Nether* was written by Ioannis Delhopoulos in 43AUC (*2020*). It debates the location of the Nether in relation to the Overworld. The book is stored in the Borges Library under the Exact Sciences section.