The Sige History

Creation of the Nation
The first known lands held by the Siges are unsurprisingly by the Misla lake - in the city now known as Ladon. They appear to have been a merchant family who came upon good fortune and inherited such prosperous lands. After many years of development and trade Ladon became a bustling city, with the Sige kingdom growing out to the surrounding mountains.

The first Sige to name himself a king was Aestmald Sige, crowning himself 'King of Iridia' - Iridia being a rough translation of the Nandese word for 'Blessed Land'

It is said that their lands were always blessed with a good harvest such that when the Sige empire began to expand beyond the reaches of the Northcrown mountains and the Trollmarch their lands were nicknamed 'The Emerald Lands'.

Golden Age
As the years went by the Sige empire only grew stronger and stronger, reaching the northern peaks of Karnegrion and covering both east and west coasts too. Trade was booming over these thousand or so years of growth - in particular trade with strong dwarven nations from Buzaram and exotic elven goods from South Vinevris helped develop the nation both economically and culturally. As dwarven and elvish goods and people came across their culture was interwoven with that of the natives - creating what is now known as as the Reilek people, different to their common ancestors the Nandese by foreign influence.

Sige Crusades
Some 3000 years ago, the first Sige Crusade was begun by King Alkohar IV against the 'savage' Nandese people of Northern Karnimriath. The first crusade was long and violent, with the Iridian invaders employing powerful magic and advanced technology to combat the guerrilla tactics and more twisted spiritual magic that many Nandese people were forced to use.

The first Crusade is widely considered a success as a great deal of land was conquered along the northern coast of Karnimriath, and many Nandese people were slaughtered, enslaved, or dispersed. The Crusade ended when peace was made between the Nande hordes and King Alkohar IV - the hordes would not attack the newly settled colonies and in exchange the Iridian Empire would not enslave the Nande people.

Unfortunately this peace was short lived and collased after some hundred years. It is not known whether the Nande people attacked the Free Cities first, or the other way around. Nonetheless, King Alkohar IV's great-grandson (King Henry IV) declared the second Sige Crusade - this time promising that the Nande would be pushed back behind the mountains. This Crusade started with great success, the Iridian empire thirsty for vengeance and conquest. However, this Crusade ultimately resulted in their undoing.

Fall of the Siges
The Second Sige Crusade was led by King Henry IV, a celebrated warrior and general.