The 2023 Butternut–SEC Conflict, colloquially referred to as the Buttsecs War (/bʌt sɛks/ butt—sex),[1][2][3] was a war taking place on CivMC, between the forces of the Security Enhancement Coalition versus the forces of Butternut County and remnants of Gang Shi.

SEC-Butternut War

Combatants of the 2023 Butternut-SEC Conflict; SEC in blue and Butternut in yellow
Date4 June 2023 — 29 June 2023
Location
Result

Butternut and Gang Shi victory

Combatants

SEC

Strength
20+ Fighters
15+ Fighters
Casualties and losses
23 Pearled (as of 28 June 2023) 11 Pearled, later freed, 2 pearls remained at end of war (as of 28 June 2023)

Background

The war began following the unbanning of the known raider and former Estalian and Generic War combatant Ez2Clutch- he soon thereafter began raiding in partnership with Chosentwicelol, a raider infamous for menacing the government of Icenia and rumored to have had the backing of Estalia, one which the nation vehemently denied. At the time of the kickoff of this conflict, however, this backing was assuredly no longer in effect. Instead, a new benefactor emerged for the two raiders: Butternut County. Butternut's Bewsiej had previously been considered a hero to Icenia following his vital role in clearing the obbybombing of Icenia, but the relationship between the two soured as promises to erect a statue of Bewsiej in Icenia were not honored due to the Icenian Senate's reluctance following an incident at Space Needle IV, Icenia City's skybunker.

Overworld War

Initial Invasion of Icenia (4 June — 8 June)

The conflict sparked when SEC fighters Zolo17 and Jaimiemie were pearled[by whom?] when a manhunt for Ez2Clutch was interrupted by chosentwicelol. The pearls were then kited to the Butternut vault - signaling to the world that the raiders now had the full support of Butternut County and that this was no longer a simple raiding incident. Skirmishes began to break out within Icenia as SEC fighters and the Butternut raiders vied for pearls. With the city in danger, the Icenians engaged their automated defenses - a horde of withers was released inside the city, a means to keep the raiders at bay. By 6 June, Butternut secured 2 more pearls - that of Raeders, JuniorTide, and Yodabird19. On June 7th, a further 3 pearls were claimed by Butternut: Sapienfrfx, Mushroom_Cultist, and Spoonce. The tally was grim for the SEC: 8 pearls in Butternut captivity, with nothing to show for it. But on June 8th came a major SEC victory: Ez2Clutch was pearled by the Icenian Lagiacrus, after falling into a sand trap and failing to escape.

Butternut Banwave and Reversal (8 June)

On 8 June, a banwave swept across CivMC, with many Butternutters caught in it as a result of suspected association, a recently implemented rule designed to curb toxicity on the server - however, after a short period and pleas against the bans[4], the bans were lifted. Whether or not this was as a result of the pleas, or the end of their sentences, is not known.

Freeing of Gang Shi Combatants (8 June)

Amid the fighting, the imprisoned and former Gang Shi Minister of Diplomacy Fastestgrass was soon approaching the end of his sentence following his capture in the "That's Nuts!" War. Interested in an early release, Fastestgrass sought to cut a deal with the SEC to be granted an earlier release with the condition that he retire to the nation of Mercutio. However, before negotiations were completed, Fastestgrass and PhysicsGamer were illegally released by Cortesia Del Mar's Red_Steel - a move that was met with ire by Icenia, who had pearled PhysicsGamer following the Temporal Isles Coup. A bounty of 64d was immediately placed on PhysicsGamer's pearl by the state of Bloom[5], and Red_Steel was ejected from the SEC and had her Cortesian nationality revoked[citation needed].

Invasion of Whole Foods (11 June)

With SEC blood in the water, however, former Gang Shi leaders and fighters returned, seeking retribution for their own grievances following the sack of Gang Shi in the The "That's Nuts!" War. Freed from the heavily griefed Black Mesa vault with the help of Jindosh of the Fempire Union, Gwua and Ch1pR, who had never been pearled following the war, returned to assist in the collapse of their enemies and began the construction of a skybridge to Whole Foods, Icenia's skyvault. The Gang Shi fighters successfully recruited their former citizen, Fastestgrass, to renege on his plea deal and abandon Mercutio to assist in the bridging. In the early hours[when?] of June 11th, Whole Foods was successfully bridged - and its pearls released. Later that day, Butternut's forces secured the pearl of ChrisChrispie and Complexii after Haxx0r betrayed and insided SEC forces in Whole Foods.

 
SEC Propaganda, a rallying cry created for the war effort made by VilyanZ

Exile of Icenian Government (12 June — 29 June)

On 12 June, the newly formed Butternut-Gang Shi coalition announced the "liberation of Icenia", and detailed a plan to fully demilitarize the nation, outlining their grievances and new rules for the wartorn nation.[6] The coalition urged Icenians to turn themselves in for a reduced sentence, and assured that any peaceful citizens would not be harmed. Any individuals seen wearing prot or netherite, however, would be swiftly pearled. Soon thereafter a new announcement was made, this time by SEC Forces, showing 6 fighters. The announcement read, "Icenia doesn't need liberating. We will persevere".[7] With Icenia under occupation, King Cupar of the Imperial Federation announced SECRA: the SEC Refugee Act, an initiative in partnership with the Blue Cross to provide refugee assistance to those fleeing the conflict.[8]

Skirmishes continued in Icenia as the coalition sought to snuff out the rest of the SEC Forces in Icenia and complete their demilitarization of the nation, when a new meta-incident occurred: using the newly implemented One-Time Teleport (OTT) mechanic, the Butternut fighter Tkonic successfully escaped a logbox, prompting the SEC to seek admin clarification.[citation needed] The admins stated that this was not an exploit, however it was a mistake on their part. As such, using OTT to as an escape mechanism was valid for the time-being, at least until the next patch.[citation needed] Jumping on the opportunity, the SEC used this newly found trick to free at least 5 trapped fighters and refugees, a move that drew considerable complaints from Ez2Clutch and Chosentwicelol.

On 13 June, Gwua stated that the war would not end with the fall of Icenia, and that it was "just the beginning of the campaign", with the rest of the Security Enhancement Coalition firmly within their crosshairs.[citation needed]. SEC fighters pearled a Butternut login in a door tunnel at Whole Foods. The same day, Bloom issued a bounty of 128 diamond blocks and Diet_Cola’s spawnbook for the pearl of chosentwicelol.[9]

 
Skirmish between Butternut (chosentwicelol) and SEC (Shadno, MechanicalRift) at Cane Corp, Icenia

Attacks on Cane Corp and Loss of Gang Shi and Butternut combatants (14 June — 15 June)

On 14 June, Butternut (chosentwicelol) attacked Cane Corp, Icenia (defending: MechanicalRift, Shadno, Drekamor). It was a small skirmish with inconclusive results. The next day, Butternut County renewed their assault with an attack by TheRealJewy, bewsiej, IbisMan, and Gwua. SEC mounted a defense with MechanicalRift, Shadno, and auqust. The SEC achieved a surprise victory, pearling Gwua, after he fell into a fall trap and failed to escape with a pearl.

The same day, chosentwicelol and Ch1pR were banned for using illegal client modifications.

Skybridging the Butternut Vault (16 June — 17th June)

After multiple skirmishes on June 16th, SEC forces began skybridging the Butternut vault. At some point during this phase of the conflict, the former Icarians SOGGYHOBO and Dawsonisrainy both betrayed the SEC and defected to Butternut, assisting with their vault defense.

On June 17th, in an attempt to get closer to the vault, SEC faced three losses due to insiders in the skybridge. Bewsiej pearled Awesome_Daniel and SeaRed; meanwhile JessieJinx was pearled by Dawsonisrainy. Meanwhile, Butternut faced 1 loss when auqust pearled Fur, who was blocked off at the skybridge.

 
Butternut and Gang Shi combatants defending with a counter skybridge

Seizure of Cane Corp (17 June — 20 June)

On June 17th, Butternut restarted their attack on Cane Corp, in which both sides each suffered a loss, with asyhlshk pearling Highroll, and TheRealJewy pearling asyhlshk. Attacks persisted on June 18th, and after a series of short fights with the defense there (consisting solely of Drekamor), Slushhi joined the defense and pearled SlothInASuit in single combat . Continuing clashes resulted in Drekamor being pearled by TheRealJewy, and in turn TheRealJewy being pearled by auqust with assistance from Shadno. On June 19th, while defending the Cane Corp bunker alone, VilyanZ was pearled by SOGGYHOBO. Butternut County successfully captured Cane Corp on June 20th.

 
Butternut and Gang Shi’s offensive bridge to Cane Corp

Attacks on the Bloom Vault (20 June — June 21)

After Cane Corp fell on 20 June, Butternut and Gang Shi launched an offensive against the Bloom vault with a skybridge aimed at the skybunker. SEC forces defended with a counter skybridge, but failed to prevent Butternut and Gang Shi from advancing into the vault; combat ensued inside the vault.

In the initial attacks, 4 SEC fighters were pearled by Butternut forces. In following attacks, TNT minecarts blew up Shadno twice - however, Butternut did not secure his pearl. Several Butternut fighters led by Bewsiej then jumped into the skyvault to attack Xcios, Hg_80, and Shadno. In the midst of this battle, a third party entered the fight: multiple EP members, JKH, ShadySauce, Creepi0n, Cissonius, and BritishWanderer (with the later addition of What777) joined the SEC defenses. The two sides traded blows, with IbisMan pearling Xcios, and Shadno pearling 7joshh. Butternut[who?] forces followed the EP members as they kited the pearl away from the fight, but were unsuccessful in recovery.

A few hours later, the Butternut forces returned to Bloom Vault and Bewsiej pearled Simpology (better known as NeoTide) from fall damage after jumping off the skybunker into the rings. Shortly after bewsiej pearled HG__80, also due to fall damage in the rings, after he teleported down into an unfinished lodestone trap at the top of the ground bunker. After these losses with Butternut gaining safe entry to the main ground bunker via the lodestones, the SEC retreated out of the Bloom Vault. Afterwards, Cqrs0n also pearled Forged_TK on a field close to the vault.

Butternut captured Bloom Vault and disabled it on 21 June.

Combat in Icenia City (21 June — 29 June)

On 21 June, Shadno, with the help of JKH, S4NTA, and Hugepoopie, pearled Cqrs0n and bewsiej (leader of Butternut County) - a major SEC win following a long series of Icenian defeats since the fall of Canecorp and Bloom Vault.

Butternut Banwave Reversal (27 June)

On 27 June, several Butternut members were unbanned including chosentwicelol, a major leader of Butternut.

Insiding of AP’s Reluctance and Banwave (28 June)

 
The reason SQOpenSpellBook gave for insiding Arsenio Pact, and by extension all the SEC alliance

On 28 June, the AP Vault Reluctance was insided by SEC members PolyBit, SQOpenSpellBook, _BaniShed and BillyBopBeans, who had immunity to its snitches. All of the Butternut and Gang Shi pearls were freed besides Ez2Clutch, who was held at the Estalian Mushroom Bunker. Since the mass freeing event, Cqrs0n has been re-pearled by Shadno and Auqust has been pearled by Bewsiej.

Soon after the insiding, admins banned most of the people involved in the war in order to “pause” it, whilst investigating suspected VPN alts that had insided the vault.

Later the same day, the admins found that these players were not alts and have such unbanned all players involved and teleported them away from the vault to prevent abuse of the banwave.

The admins at the same time decided to ban 5 players[who?], including Chosentwicelol.[10] [11]

The pearls of PhysicsGamer and Cqrson were later moved to Pavia’s vault by Kingstell. A trade for the two pearls in exchange for the pearls of Spoonce and Hg 80 by BritishWanderer has been completed.[12]

Dissolution of Icarus (28 June)

On 28 June, much of mainland Icarus (and Khione) was transferred to Mercutio due to Icarian citizens wanting to keep the land out of the war[13].

Nether War

Attacks on SEC Nether infrastructure (20 June — 29 June)

On 20 June, pearled Gang Shi players Antea2404 and ___TheBoss___ launched an offensive against SEC infrastructure in the Nether by disabling the farms and portal of Cortesia Del Mar.

The same day, Antea2404, ___TheBoss___, and Ez2Clutch disabled the farms and portal of Yoahtl.

On 21 June, Antea2404, SlothInASuit, ___TheBoss___, and Ez2Clutch attacked the nether infrastructure of Icarus. They disabled the farms and portal, and looted storage in the vicinity.

SEC Attacks on Transport Union (26 June)

On 26 June, SEC forces[who?] obbybombed the Transport Union, a neutral provider of tunnels, rails, and roads due to their usage by Butternut and Gang Shi forces to move around in the nether.

Aftermath

Icarus was dissolved and most of its territory and citizenry was transferred to Mercutio.

Gang Shi and Temporal Isles inhabitants are moving back to their respective lands and restarting countries after Icenia had conquered them.

Many SEC inhabitants have moved to other countries.

Reactions

An opinion poll asking the global community their opinions on the war showed that support for SEC forces was 60%, compared to Butternut's 40%.[14]

On June 13th, NovaCeasar, founder of Icenia on a previous iteration[citation needed] and a director of the Transport Union, denounced current Icenia and wished Butternut and Gang Shi luck in “the process of its removal.” [15]

On June 14th, Civ server developer and designer CaptainKlutz posted a satirical essay expressing frustration over players seeing Civ as a game to be won, rather than a collaborative creative medium.[16]

See also

External links

References