Great Upheaval

This key event in Sigilian history has its roots in the kriegstanz, the long cold war that has marked the factions since their beginnings. This undercurrent of ill will amongst the factions was not always the low simmer it was today; once, centuries ago, it was an outright boil. Battles in the streets between the then-52 factions were common, resulting in threats to the citizens regardless of faction alignment. There looked to be no end in sight to the bloodshed and terror, and Sigil was rapidly losing its place as a crossroads of the planes as more and more people thought it too risky to visit.

However, one day some 600 years ago, the Lady of Pain interceded. Sending one of her dabus to each factol, she issued a now-famous pronouncement, one which would insure an end to the battles on the streets.

"By the order of the Lady of Pain, there will be but fifteen factions in Sigil. Organize thy colors in a fortnight - or die."

For a brief period, the disorder was even worse, as factions scrambled to be one of the last remaining. Some factions merged, others left Sigil, others simply dissolved. But within two weeks, indeed there were only 15 factions in the city, the same 15 which today still make their mark on the city.