Kingdom of Cratterly
The Kingdom of Cratterly is an isolationist mountain kingdom located on a neighboring continent southeast of Directionland. Cratterly is chiefly known for its early and extensive development of Nether technology, including the first recorded opening of a portal to the Nether, and for its use of Nether summoning during the War of Grief against the Kingdom of St. Stylinson. Since its defeat in that war, Cratterly has severed diplomatic ties and has remained closed to foreigners for hundreds of cycles.
| Kingdom of Cratterly | |
|---|---|
| Nation type | Kingdom |
| Form of government | Isolationist monarchy |
| Territory & population | |
| Estimated population | Unknown (primarily Humekind) |
Geography
Cratterly lies in a mountainous region, with high passes and narrow valleys that historically limited access and made the kingdom difficult to traverse. Modern knowledge of its interior geography remains scarce due to the kingdom’s long-standing closure to foreign visitors.
People and culture
Cratterly’s population is believed to consist primarily of Humekind. Little is known of its cultural practices, institutions, or internal customs, as the kingdom does not permit foreign travel and has maintained minimal external correspondence for centuries.
History
Trade before the War of Grief
Prior to the War of Grief, Cratterly was comparatively open. Under King Walton II, trade with the Kingdom of St. Stylinson was described as active and mutually beneficial, with formal points of exchange and consular ties.
Over time, Walton II began to exhibit increasingly erratic and aggressive behavior. Cratterly closed its borders, terminated consulates, and ultimately declared war on St. Stylinson, a decision that shocked foreign courts.
War of Grief
During the War of Grief, Cratterly employed dedicated Nether Summoners to call forth Netherkind as battlefield assets. St. Stylinson and its allies were unprepared for the scale of Nether involvement, but ultimately defeated Cratterly.
Cratterly’s use of Nether methods in open war is often cited in later Directian political discourse as an early warning of the dangers posed by Dark Energy influence and unregulated Nether experimentation.
Isolation after defeat
Following its defeat, Cratterly adopted a strict isolation policy. It does not maintain official diplomatic relations with Directionland, refuses foreign delegations, and is reported to respond to border incursions with lethal force. The identity of Cratterly’s current monarch is not known outside its borders.
Nether technology and Dark Energy concerns
Cratterly is regarded as the earliest nation known to have opened a portal to the Nether. While details are unverified due to the kingdom’s closure, long-standing fears persist that Cratterly may be a persistent hotspot for Dark Energy and related corruption.
A prominent Directian belief holds that Walton II’s late reign was shaped by Dark Energy influence, and that his hostile actions were not entirely his own. The kingdom’s isolation has prevented meaningful investigation into this claim.
Foreign relations and border policy
Cratterly does not permit foreigners entry and has no recognized diplomatic ties with Directionland. Accounts commonly state that the kingdom fires upon unauthorized border crossings and that its frontier defenses are maintained to prevent any external presence.