Sikkari Isle

Sikkari Isle, formerly known as Sicaria or Fort Sicaria, is a town in western Najer.

Founding
Sikkari Isle has a long history, dating back to the prehistory of the Najer. It would first be settled by the island civilization of the Lizardfolk people, who established rudimentary villages on the rocky slopes of the island around 4,500 BB. From there, they would establish a presence on mainland Nieden, founding a number of other villages on the coasts of the Wandering Deserts. These villages, as well as the inhabitants of the isle, began a slow cultural drift away from their fellow Lizardfolk and towards the human Najer, adopting a number of the latter's cultural traditions, including their language and values.

The two civilizations would peacefully coexist for many years. The Lizardfolk maintained a low presence, content to eke out a simple existence and keep to themselves as civilizations rose and fell around them. However, they would be beset upon when, in roughly 350 BB, a group of dimensionally displaced travelers, who claimed to be from a land known as "Jagdas." The travelers immediately came into conflict with the Lizardfolk, going to battle with them to establish their dominance. The peaceful Lizardfolk were wiped out within a generation, either slain or forced away. The arrival of Lizardfolk refugees into mainland Najer immediately prompted outrage from the population, with a somewhat hostile relation with this new tribe becoming the norm.

The new human settlement would continue on separately from the rest of Najer until about 2 AB, when a massive plague spread across Rathnir. The plague nearly completely wiped out the inhabitants of the island due to its contained and isolated area. The neo-Jagdasian society experienced a minor collapse, with existing social order disappearing.

Refounding and joining Najer
By 30 AB (May 10th, 2021), two individuals known as Derna (DragonTypes) and Sileal (CreativeWarrior6) led the people of the island to redefine themselves. They spearheaded the construction of a fort, which they called "Fort Sicaria," Sicaria being an alternate spelling of term from the Najer language, Sikkari, meaning "rending wolf." The wolf was meant to symbolize their fierceness and otherness, and was used as the new symbol and name of the clan. From then on, Derna and Sileal would become the leaders of clan Sikkari.

Just before this time, the Emirate of Najer had recently been founded, reformed from the Sterling Crownlands. Sicaria had formerly been annexed into the Crownlands due to its low population as a result of the plague, but with the dissolution of the Crownlands, this bond was no more. Accordingly, officials from Najer, namely Dmitrio von Sturgeon and Frogycraftt, paid a visit to the island in 31 AB.

Derna Sikkari initially negotiated to purchase the independence of the island from Najer, but Dmitrio adamanatly refused. They negotiated for several days, but eventually Derna and Sileal were persuaded to integrate into Najer instead. With help from Najer, they began to guide the island back to prosperity.

In 33 AB (June 1st), a band of the Sikkari paid a visit to the south side of Sicariam where a small village by the name of Karé sat. It's owner (Crusaderknight19), did not want a fight, and peacefully merged his village into Sicaria proper.

In 34 AB (June 8th), Derna Sikkari was elected to be the governor of Najera'jad province. He immediately set about reorganizing its structure, moving the regional capital from the city of Najera'jad to his own Sicaria. To commemorate this, he also changed the name of the province to Sicaria to match. He had a successful reign as governor, increasing the size of his province and increasing the population of his city. He also formed friendships with the local Lizardfolk population to reconcile over the past deeds of his people.

Derna also proposed the creation of a massive fort in the southern reaches of his province, and diverted funds and attention away from Sicaria to achieve his goals, neglecting Sicaria somewhat.

In 45 AB (August 21st), Derna made Leonardo "Leo" Grey the new ruler of Sicaria to ensure that he only had helping Sicaria on his mind.

Derna Sikkari would be killed only a few years after, in 51 AB (October 2nd) due to unknown circumstances near the residence of Hitomi Numachi in Kijaro. The people of Sicaria and the province Derna managed all mourned his death, knowing his love for his people. The situation only worsened when the Emir, Dmitrio von Sturgeon, also passed away two years later, in 53 AB (October 16th), leaving the governor seat unfilled.

Hirudo Hijam-faj niv Talvos became the next Emir. For a short while, Hirudo personally managed the province, renaming it back to Najera'jad. He soon appointed Leo Gray, owner of Sicaria, to be the new governor. Sicaria remained the capital during this time, but due to the governors bouts of depression, the province and city declined in population during this time, despite efforts to the contrary. Leo would step down in 69 AB after an uneventful reign as governor.

His successor was chosen to be Orshav Basha, who took the reins of the governorship with great enthusiasm. Orshav had been building up a nearby city, Kigea'jad, which he immediately made the new capital. Leo passed down rule of Sicaria to his friend Bash. (StarVoltCrusader).

Era of silence
A long stretch of silence passed after the passing of the torch to Bash due to the already dwindling citizenry, which had been reduced to almost nothing. Bash tried to reach out to the world outside of Sicaria's walls, and did everything he can to bring in more people in hopes of the revival of his hometown, but he was met with nothing but silence.

Knowing that the death of Fort Sicaria was approaching and as the sole active citizen at the time, Bash turned to religion out of despair, building a monument to the Lost god of stone and industry, Taramsej, in a hope to revive Sicaria from the brink of collapse.

Era of whispers
His prayer was answered, but not in the way he thought. The coming of the Silkov tribe had shaken up western Najer, and they immediately allied themselves with Bash. He was overjoyed, as he thought that an alliance with a new Pom might revitalize Sicaria, and later gave up the city to the Silkovians, trusting that they would take care of the city in his stead.

However, upon relinquishing ownership, Sicaria was truly abandoned, with not a soul living on it for decades afterwards. It was used by the Silkovians only to store munitions and war supplies as preparation for their revolt, which was later termed "the Western Rebellion," wherein they planned to coup the government of Najer and position themselves as the new rulers. Though Bash knew nothing of this plot, seeing his beloved island so thoroughly abandoned caused him to die shortly thereafter.

However, the rebellion of the Silkovs was thwarted, allowing peace to return to the land once again. Sicaria was handed over to the government, where it was later purchased by the Talvos clan.

Ownership under Pom Talvos
Though pressed by other issues, the Emir Alsham Hirudo-faj niv Talvos took a personal interest in the island, grieved that the island had so thoroughly been neglected. He allotted a large sum of his personal funds to be used for the rebuilding of the island, including a new factory, and designed plans for a new fortress to replace the crumbling walls of the old. He also renamed Sicaria to "Sikkari Isle" after the clan that had first built it, as a homage and a potential hope that someday the clan might be revived.

However, war brewed on Najer's northern coasts, and Alsham's attention was once more pulled away from Sikkari. He would eventually be forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Jakkev. Jakkev inherited all of Alsham's wealth, connections, and plans, and so began to act on them, finishing the plans that his father had not been able to. Others of the Talvos clan began to settle on the island, taking advantage of the uninhabited land, and soon established a small colonial settlement.

Currently, Sikkari Isle is under the strict supervision of the elders of Clan Talvos, with few being allowed to enter or leave at present.

Trivia

 * In contrast to most of Najer, Sikkari Isle uses a traditional medieval style of building. Since it is a Savannah island, there is not much sand, and consequently not much sandstone to build with.
 * Another factor was that the original founder, Dragontypes, hated Acacia wood and so avoided using it.
 * The original name of the island, before Sicaria, was Sicario. This name was changed due to it meaning "hitman" in Spanish. DragonTypes wished to avoid negative connotations, hence the change.