Sableterre

Sableterre as viewed from the north.

Sableterre (Latin: Arenia) was an island located in the centre of the world on Minecraft Attack. The name comes from the 'sable' or sand, which originally covered the vast majority of it's surface area. Originally a province of Épinette-sur-quès, Sableterre later became a significant power in it's own right.

History

Initial Settlement

The history of Sableterre begins with the establishment of several small forts on the island under the directive of jusipat, leader of Épinette-sur-quès, in order to ward off potential invasions from Shanbao. Little effort was devoted to the island outside of it's role as a buffer for the mainland. Later, bcfoss would settle on the island, consolidating the forts into a single keep.

Trading Relations and Development of Sableterre

Deficiencies in the local supply of Coal (charbon) pushed Sableterre into forming a trading relationship with Old Japan, wherein Arenian iron and gold trinkets were exchanged for coal. During this time, the eastern half of the island was gradually terraformed, replacing the sand surrounding the keep with grass.

The Calamity

Unlike the rest of Épinette-sur-quès, Sableterre emerged from The Calamity largely unscathed. After pillaging the mainland, two waves of invaders continued across the strait and landed on the island. The interior of the newly built Library of Sableterre was damaged seriously by Ricky-induced arson, but the structure itself remained mostly intact. The primary keep was invaded by Wikaros, but only the contents of the armoury chest (including the powerful bow Epicus Gamengetorix) were stolen and thus carried into Shanbao in the course of the war.

Mantle of Épinette-sur-quès

In the wake of The Calamity both Épinette-sur-quès and Old Japan fragmented into numerous smaller nations. As the only remaining authority in the vicinity of Épinette-sur-quès (and having never left the ingame faction), Sableterre assumed control as the new capital of the country. Following the exodus of both jusipat and Kjolt947, bcfoss would take charge.

Colonial Ambitions

For more info, see Subjugation of Kurokaigen and Kurokaigen

During a diplomatic conference at Shanbao bcfoss' plans to subjugate Kurokaigen were met with general approval. The poorly equiped forces of kurokaigen were intercepted en route for Sableterre and were easily destroyed, and the newly born Imperium Arenicum immediately assumed control of it's new holdings.

A census was performed to evaluate the wealth of Kurokaigen (now the imperial province of Kurokegania) which, with the exception of a diorite mine, was found to be utterly worthless. In response to this information the Empire shifted the colony's focus towards producing 'cash crops' (cow and sheep pens). An arenican fort was built at the isthmus of the western ocean and the Kurokeganian sea. A cement factory was produced at great expense to Sableterre in order to speed up the urbanization of Kurokegania, but the local population later shunned it in favor of the traditional 'Ricky style' technique of cement production.

Citroyan Invasion

Arenica was besieged during the Siege of the Gouffre. In defeat, Arenica was obliged to release Kurokaigen from vassalage.

Notable Features

Bibliotheca Arenica

AKA the Arenican Library

The Arenican Library was monolithic building that contained written documents and artifacts from throughout Sableterre's long history. Situated in central Sableterre, it dominated the whole island and could easily be seen from old Epinettia across the channel.

Construction on the library began under the dominion of Épinette-sur-quès, during which the basement and second levels were completed. During The Calamity the library was lit on fire by rice_fish, though it was luckily devoid of any written works at the time. The structure itself suffered only superficial damage, and the building was restored soon after. A fourth and final tier was added some time before the Subjugation of Kurokaigen.

Only six written works were stored within the Library at it's height, likely due to the fact that no nations had robust book-making industries.

1. The Gamer Rises(3rd Lvl): A 41-page dramatization of the siege of the Bibliotheca Arenica. The prose was poor, the pacing was poor.
2. Census Kurokeganiae(0th Lvl):A six-page inventory of resources in Kurokaigen at the time of it's annexation, and of infrastructure and resources built there by Sableterre.
3. En Avant!(3rd Lvl): A five page copy(?) of the Citroyan constitution, written in french.
4. En Avant! Transcription(3rd Lvl): An unfinished Latin transcription of the Citroyan Constitution.
5. Religious Text (2nd Lvl): A religious text compiling the tenants of a Melondian Heresy which revered pumpkins. It's contents are lost to time. It was written in latin.
6. Prophetic Text (4th Lvl): Most of the information regarding this text has been lost to time. It was probably written in Latin by God.

Old Fort

Located on the southern-most point of the island, the Old Fort is the single oldest structure in Sableterre, dating back to the initial fortification. A secret underground chamber was excavated some time before the fall of Épinette-sur-quès, but it was only rediscovered after the war with Kurokaigen. Contained inside were the God-given crowns of both Épinette and Old Japan, treasures thought lost since The Calamity.