Okeogi
Background
Okeogi is the capital of the Imperial Coalition. Established on July 31, 2018, it is also the oldest town. It was founded by settlers marioboyrc and Varuker. The Greater Okeogi region is defined as a region of bordering Imperial Coalition towns within the walls of the United Imperial Provinces UIP. It includes the towns of Okeogi, NazTec, Edago, and Lucker Town.
Founding
Okeogi was founded on July 31, 2018, by settlers marioboyrc and Varuker. The modern day townhall was the house of the two. After gaining additional settlers, the founders moved out and the building was repurposed as the townhall for the young city-state. Much of Okeogi's early architecture was built and/or inspired by the work of famed Okeogian builder ExOtIcK_. Additionally, redstone engineer Yurimonte contributed to early systems and mechanisms.
Early Development and Expeditions
ExOtIck_ conducted many expeditions in the months of August and September of 2018. He built many small bases in the name of Okeogi and kept track of potentially useful locations. It was during these months when it's founders realized that the "island" they thought they were building on was actually a peninsula. ExOtIck_ proposed artificially turning the peninsula into an island. So it was on August 2nd, 2018 that Varuker severed Okeogi's connection to the larger landmass (that larger landmass would eventually become known as the North Island). From that point on, the land that the original settlement was on would be called the "Main Okeogi Island". It would be politically divided by the East Okeogi Island and West Okeogi Island. The division point was a geographical bottleneck in the center of the island. The West is where the early Okeogians lived and the East become baren as people quarried sand, dirt, cobblestone, and mined. In early August, the first mob grinder was completed along with the first skeleton spawner farm.
The Banning of the Founders
In November 2018, both Varuker and marioboyrc would find themselves temporarily banned for "annoying the moderator". This marked the end of founding age of early Okeogi. The town went dead for two months with its founders and residents not returning. In 2019, marioboyrc and Yurimonte return to RetroMC. The second founder of what would eventually become the Imperial Coalition, Varuker, would never return.
The Renaissance Era
In January 2019, a new RetroMC player would find himself near the remnants of early Okeogi. He made the decision to build his own artificial island in the Okeogian Sea, off the northeast coast of the Main Okeogi Island. His name was Steve02. It was in late January that marioboyrc returned to RetroMC at the same time as Steve02. The two had the idea to partner up. marioboyrc would finance the landfill for Steve02's island and marioboyrc would expand Okeogi onto it. This deal was called off, however. Instead, Steve02 opted to move into West Okeogi and set up his house and construction business, Steve02 Company. The two then invited Kana9371 to join. Steve02 and Kana9371 spearheaded development on the North Island. The South Island was also terraformed into a forest with new developments under Cheekus_Breekus. The population exploded to around 40 in March.
Global Influence
As Okeogi's population was quickly approaching 60, They were looking to build embassies in other towns. Okeogi built them in America, Alacia, and Outfieldville. America, Outfieldville, and Riveria would also build embassies in Okeogi. Okeogi sold small islands to wealthy foreigners and used the funds railway projects among other things. Okeogi also bought two towers in America. The Okeogian Railway, also known as "The Railway" was built in early march and overtime stops were added all over Greater Okeogi.
Early Edago and The Banishment of Steve02
In late march, 2019, Steve02 begun building Notch Totems around Okeogi. Residents did not approve. Steve02 was instrumental in the revival of Okeogi, so he was deemed too important to banish but to radical to keep in town. marioboyrc negotiated a compromise between the residents and Steve02. Steve02 would be allowed to expand Okeogi into the a nearby territory in the north that was covered in ruins. There, he invited new residents and built statues to Notch and even a Temple of Notch. This was still not okay with residents, they proposed a vote to ban Notchism altogether. The voted passed with an overwhelming majority. marioboyrc was forced to instruct Steve02 to cease and desist the practice of Notchism in his territory. Steve02 refused, and was thereby banished from Okeogi for noncompliance. This territory would be given to LukeIsStuff during the reorganization of Greater Okeogi into the Imperial Coalition in April. The territory was renamed to the town of Edago.
Reorganization into the Imperial Coalition
In late March to early April 2019 the reorganization of Greater Okeogi into separate towns began. Edago was established as a separate town from Okeogi and resident Armageddon Elite founded NazTec on March 34th to the South of Pigsile Island (an island off the Southern coast of Okeogi named for its pig population during expeditions in Old Okeogi). The entire region would be referred to as "Greater Okeogi" due to its proximity and its intertwined history. It was decided that Okeogi would serve as the capital of the new empire and a special capital district would be built on the Southern Peninsula. It includes a display of every member town's flag, called the "flag walk", the Varuker Union Courthouse (built on April 1st, 2019) and the repurposing of the World Meeting Centre to the Imperial Meeting Center. This period would see a tragedy involving LukeIsStuff that would call into question the reorganization.
Golden Age
Okeogi would reach its peak population of around 60-70 residents in mid 2019. A precise number is not available because of the way the Imperial Coalition is structured under Towny. The overall population of the Imperial Coalition peaked at the same time at 200-250 residents and over 9,000 land claims. The ethos of the Imperial Coalition was well-defined and its residents active and involved. It was not uncommon that a majority of the current players on the server at any given time were Imperial Coalition residents.
The Decline
After Okeogi's decline post Golden Age, other towns like Sherville and Java took dominance in the world. Many Coalition residents even defected to them, including Eylon, the then-mayor of Sherville. Many Imperial Coalition mayors, including the mayors of sizeable towns Riveria, Cliffside, and Levitation would not return. Included in that is the mayor of NazTec, a town in Greater Okeogi.
Another Revival
December to January 2021 saw a revitalization of the Imperial Coalition. The return of key figures like LukeIsStuff and marioboyrc and the addition of new ones like JaBanan and DrKoolAid jump-started a surge new activity. This included the New Edago and marioboyrc's Wheat Ville and revival of the orginal Edago.
Okeogi and the United Imperial Provinces
During the 2021 revival, the Imperial Coalition (including Okeogi) would join with Kekistan and Amish City to become the United Imperial Provinces (UIP). Okeogi and New Edago, headed by marioboyrc and LukeIsStuff, would spearhead its creation along with Orknarok and SovietMcMuffin. The Greater Okeogi Region would be geographically inside the UIP including its walls. All Imperial Coalition territories, which included New Edago, were exempt from early rules forbidding communities that were not near spawn from joining.
Today
JCheese is currently serving as both the Prime Minister of the Imperial Coalition and the Governor of Okeogi. He has been public with his plans to revive the Greater Okeogi region for yet another round of development and activity. Possibilities for this include moving the town's spawn point to a new area to restart growth in an undeveloped area.
