Rise of the Iksar Empire
How the Iksar rose from Shissar slavery — the Greenmist killed their serpent masters, and Venril Sathir united the freed tribes into the Sebilisian Empire.
- Type
- Event
- Attested in
- EQ1EQ2
- Sources
- 71 texts
Overview
Drawn from From the Library of Norrath — official article.EQ1Primary · official · best available source
Ruins of Kunark
Tonight, Vanusk sat in silence until I asked him to continue. He wanted to know what we had learned. When we started to recite the tales back to him, he silenced us and asked again what we had learned. The Bane's leader ventured a guess and told him that the only constants seem to be struggle, death, war and deceit. He pulled back the edges of his mouth in what must have been an Iksar smile and said, "As goes Norrath, so goes Kunark. Now, you are ready to learn of my land."
He sat back, leaning his strong tail against the railing of our ship and looked south. "Since the beginning," he said, "Kunark has suffered under the shadow of the wurm." His fantastic tale continued over the last days of our sea journey.
Shissar Kingdom
While the dragons took centuries to grow and organize, a race of intelligent snake men — the Shissir — assumed the forefront. The Shissir were a brutal race who enslaved the Iksar, using Vanusk's ancestors for workers and food. From their capital of Chelsith in what is now The Overthere, they explored dark rites and forgotten evils which would lay the foundation for much of Iksar knowledge and philosophy.
As learned from the rest of Norrath, nothing is permanent. Eventually, the Shissir angered even their own gods. A horrible plague destroyed every Shissir; however, the Iksar survived unscathed.
Iksar Kingdom
Overview
Drawn from Paying Homage to the Past — in-game book.EQ2Primary · mirrored · best available source
Untold ages ago, the Faceless One, Cazic-Thule, placed us upon the lands of Kunark. Scattered and unlearned, we were enslaved by the terrible snake-like Shissar with their curses and wicked enchantments! At last one day the skies opened up and the sacred Green Mist delivered us from our enemies. Unaffected by the mist, we watched as our captors melted away. In the midst of a cacophony of screams of terror and anguish the iksar were freed. Today we remember the destruction of our oppressors by desecrating an article of their creation.
Over the centuries, many tribal states were established as we spread across Kunark. It was one iksar, Venril Sathir, whose knowledge of battle and necromancy allowed him to conquer and annex all the tribe-states. Using the might of the united tribes and the slaves of conquered lesser races, the mighty fortress of Sebilis was built. Imposing and beautiful, Sebilis was a place of learning and lore where for many long years we honed our skills and thrived. Under Sathir’s rule as the first King of Sebilis, he established the great Sebilisian Empire. The jealous dragons, however, saw our greatness and knew we posed a threat to them.
The meddling dragon known as Trakanon was not content to leave us alone. Through his treachery, he turned our servants against us and led a group of his kind to Sebilis and destroyed it! Many iksar were slain then and we honor them by lighting a funeral pyre from the remains of iksar slain in these times.
During the time of the Rending our beloved Kunark was beset by terrible earthquakes and the Lake of Ill Omen flooded the city of Cabilis. It was during these times that a large sailing vessel carrying many of our kind to lands far away was smashed by a massive wave. Many survived this tragedy by swimming to the shores of a nearby island.
For nearly a year the survivors lived on that island until the Overlord caught wind of their presence. After a series of fierce battles he captured the survivors, brought them back to Freeport and tried to enslave them! Years passed, but despite the Overlord’s best efforts, he could not break their spirits.
As the Rallosian army spread across all of Norrath, the Overlord knew he could not repel these aggressors without our help. In exchange for our freedom, we fought valiantly alongside Freeport’s own army and crushed the Rallosians with the help of the same Green Mist that had killed our former oppressors, the Shissar! Today we remember our brief captivity and toss the Overlord’s tools of oppression to the bottom of the sea, where they can never be used to hinder the mighty iksar.
Official Lore
21Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out.
Seeds of Destruction: Unfolding the Lore - Part 4
Field of Scale, Kaesora, Kurn's Stronghold Field of Bone The Field of Bone was once a lush and fertile grassland located within the heart of the Sebilisian Empire. It is now scarred by a massive crater caused by a cataclysmic clash of magical energy.
Read the full sourceA Weary Traveler's Journal — The History of Norrath
My companions, warriors and members of Evil’s Bane, are sleeping close by as I write. It is our first night on blessedly dry land after a long sea journey. Only a sputtering candle lights this darkened common room of the first inn by the docks in Firiona Vie, as a fresh quill scratches my words on the parchment.
Read the full sourceBefore Green
This is known as the Age of the Snake. The snake race known as Shissar, slithered upon Kunark. The Iksar had yet to unite. Our people had yet to learn the Black Arts and the ways of Fist and Tail. Divided, the Iksar were enslaved by the snakes. In the centuries before the Green, the Iksar were slaves of the Shissar
Read the full sourceNotes from the Greenmist Tome
I made these notes from my interpretation of the Sarnak tome. Read them carefully. The weaponsmith who created the Greenmist still exists in some form. He has been tormented for a very long time and may not remember his art. If this is the case, there may still be some chance of recovering the design of the sacred blade.
Read the full sourceA Bound Collection of Research Notes
Kor’Sha Experimentation Project Research notes compiled by Relsiir Vailrek Assistant Researcher in service to the Empire It is an honor to be serving directly with the emperor on his most ambitious of plans, one that will surely bolster the strength of the Sebillissian Empire so that it might stand forever against any enemy foolish enough to face it.
Read the full sourceGreen Mist
A green cloud formed in the skies above The Overthere. The cloud began to descend upon our land like a plague from the gods above. From it's green core the face of death began to form. It was of no god neither our people, not the Shissar knew of. It opened it's giant maw and spoke in tongues unknown.
Read the full sourceShow 15 more →
Paying Homage to the Past
Untold ages ago, the Faceless One, Cazic-Thule, placed us upon the lands of Kunark. Scattered and unlearned, we were enslaved by the terrible snake-like Shissar with their curses and wicked enchantments! At last one day the skies opened up and the sacred Green Mist delivered us from our enemies. Unaffected by the mist, we watched as our captors melted away.
Read the full sourceThe History of Norrath
From the Dawn of Time to the Present Day: The History of Norrath It is said that outside of space and time an entity known only as the Nameless exists, and that this being created all that there is and was and will be.
Read the full sourceBirth and Father
Let all lizards know the birth and father of the Crusaders of Greenmist. The one who did sire our caste was the great and legendary Emperor Rile the Painbringer. Long ago did he sit upon the throne of his deceased father, the ruler of the Army of Ik and father to all, Venril Sathir In the year 371 After
Read the full sourceVenril Sathir
of the Kunzar The greatest lizard to walk upon the land was Venril Sathir of the Kunzar tribe. All that is known of his youth was that he was a member of the ancient Kunzar Tribe. This was during the time of division among the tribes of the Iksar. He was said never to have been a mere broodling. He was forever a master of combat.
Read the full sourceMortal Alchemy
…The mind of Emperor General Atrebe (May He Live Forever) is eternally astute and brilliant! The Emperor General Atrebe (May He Live Forever) in his infinite wisdom has decided that in addition to his prior successes, the sarnak and sokokar respectfully, he will add a third and final experiment.
Read the full sourceThe Crusade of 1312 A.G.
The Crusades of 1312 This was the time of the scattered and defeated Iksar empire. The great dragon, Trakanon and his allies of scale had left the empire in rubble and our people were divided yet again. The once grand city of Sebilis was claimed by the one who decimated it. The remaining Iksar were scattered among the outlands of Kunark.
Read the full sourceLegends of Norrath: Ring of Scale Scenario
In Kunark long ago, the winged dragon lords of the Ring of Scale waged war with the airborne Iksar army mounted on their flying Sokokars. Ganak – son of Atrebe and emperor of the Iksar – met with Jaled-Dar – mighty-winged dragon of the Ring of Scale – in a legendary aerial duel over the Field of Bone.
Read the full sourceBook Text
Dag the Blasphemer Author Unknown PAGE 3 BLANK Long ago in the time of Emperor Ganak, Scholar Dag served and studied with the great Master Atrebe Sathir, first-hatched son of Rile Sathir. After the unfortunate demise of Atrebe, Scholar Dag begin his study of the forbidden circles, Wizardry, Enchantment and Magic.
Read the full sourceDoNRaceBookIksar
Over the generations, warfare and struggle have engrained themselves so firmly in Iksar society that rarely has a hatchling spoken its first word before it has begun training to fight in the crusades. Testament to the martial backbone of Iksar society is Iksar armor which is worn to all social functions, military or otherwise.
Read the full sourceThe History of Iksar (House Item)
Through my own experiences, I have gained knowledge and insight into the iksar. Each part of this history tome can only be completed in its own time. Story 1 Now they speak of the terrors of the Green Mist, but we have known of the Mist for many long ages, beyond count.
Read the full sourceA History of Veksar
…I record here, regrettably, at the end of her days. Though Veksar survived the end of the Sebilisian Empire, I believe she will not see another day. I am Poet Urviszin and have read my verses in these halls since I was a young Iksar, but I will do so no longer.
Read the full sourceWe Will Be Free Again (Item)
We Will Be Free Again! A Froglok Unity Song This is a song that all Frogloks know. It has been with our people for thousands of years, since the time we were first enslaved by the foul Sebilisians. It unites us, and steels us in our darkest hours.
Read the full sourceLibrarian Zimor, Cabilis
"Hail, citizen, I hope that you are here to assist. We are gathering Crusaders to make an assault on the Libraries of Chardok. The slave creations have thrived in their sanctuary for too long. The tomes and texts they have stolen to fill their library belong us. They are even rumored to have a text on the Sacred Khukri of Rile, the Greenmist.
Read the full sourceLore of Norrath
…By this time, those who are now known as the elder races of Norrath had begun to expand and mature. Villages became cities, and cities became kingdoms. Several of the races became bent on expansion and warfare became part of their developing cultures.
Read the full sourceThule Iz Good (Book)
Thul Iz Good Ragnud Stomprr Long war, long long war, ogre fight for Zek. Stoopid ogre. Many ogre die, many ogre week. Green myst came. Green myst kiled al stoopid ogre whu fight for Zek. Sum ogres do not di. Sum ogres watch all uthers di. Thule cume to ogres. Thule say ogres get power. Power to say no to Zek and say yes to Thule.
Read the full sourceFurther sources
16Lore that mentions this in passing.
Community articles
33Fan-written encyclopedia entries — useful overviews, lower authority than the primary sources above.