Vitu-Ghazi: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Vitu-ghazi.jpg|right|thumb|Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree. Art by Martina Pilcerova.]]
{{Infobox location
Although the [[Selesnya Conclave]] of [[Ravnica]] believe that power is not centered in any one location, the massive world-tree '''Vitu-Ghazi''' still serves as the focus and guildhall of the guild. Vitu-Ghazi's trunk acted as the cathedral where worshippers came from all around Ravnica, and also served as home to the guildmaster [[Trostani]] and the [[Dryad]] Conclave.<ref>{{NewRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-return-ravnica-part-1-2012-08-22|Planeswalker's Guide to ''Return to Ravnica'': Part 1|[[The Magic Creative Team]]|August 22, 2012}}</ref>  
|image=Vitu-ghazi.jpg
|plane=[[Ravnica]]
}}
Although the [[Selesnya Conclave]] of [[Ravnica]] believe that power is not centered in any one location, the massive world-tree '''Vitu-Ghazi''' has served for more than 10,000 years as the focus and guildhall of the guild.<ref name="Ravnica">[[Cory J. Herndon]] (2005). ''[[Ravnica (novel)|Ravnica Cycle, Book I: Ravnica]]'', [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref><ref>[[James Wyatt]] and Jeremy Crawford (November 2018). "''[[D&D Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica]]''", [[Wizards of the Coast]].</ref>


Vitu-Gazhi was where [[Mat'Selesnya]] slept, and was uprooted partially by [[Szadek]] so he could drink Mat'Selesnya. It was ultimately destroyed by the [[nephilim]], and the fight between [[Project Kraj]] and [[Rakdos]].
==Description==
Vitu-Ghazi was a mammoth tree nearly as tall as [[New Prahv]]. Buildings shaped from the living wood nestled in its huge, curving branches, connected by an intricate network of hanging bridges and ladders.<ref name="Chapter Five">[[Django Wexler]] (July 3, 2019), ''[[The Gathering Storm]]'', Chapter Five.</ref> Inside the main trunk there was a cathedral to nature, where worshippers came from all around Ravnica, and which also served as home to the guildmaster [[Trostani]] and the [[Dryad]] Conclave.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-to-return-to-ravnica-part-1|Planeswalker's Guide to ''Return to Ravnica'': Part 1|[[The Magic Creative Team]]|August 22, 2012}}</ref> At night, the branches of Vitu-Ghazi were lit aglow with firefly light.<ref name="Bound">{{DailyRef|magic-story/bound-and-bonded-2018-11-14|Bound and Bonded|[[Nicky Drayden]]|November 14, 2018}}</ref> The tree is re-enervated annually in an invite-only ceremony.<ref name="Vengeance">Matt Forbeck (2013), "''[[Magic: The Gathering - Path of Vengeance|Path of Vengeance]]''", [[IDW Publishing]]</ref>
 
After its partial destruction at the hands of the [[God-Eternal]]s in the [[War of the Spark/Event|War of the Spark]] and further damage during the [[New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse|Phyrexian Invasion]], the tree was no longer able to sustain itself.<ref name="Chains">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-5-chains-of-expectation|''Murders at Karlov Manor'' - Episode 5: Chains of Expectation|[[Seanan McGuire]]|January 11, 2024}}</ref> It is now in a moor within one of the city's rare parks in Selesnya territory. The moor is improbably pastoral and wild for Ravnica. Rocks jut out of the earth here and there, and mixed brush in greens and yellows covers the ground, some topped with tiny flowers, others bristling with thorns. The once towering guildhall is now a tangle of roots draped around and across what looks like a remote country manor. The manor's wood is weathered, windows drooping slightly at the corners. A single trunk stands higher than the house itself, shading the roof with its branches, and roots break the soil around the foundation. Through the vaulted entrance hall and past a guild checkpoint is a smaller receiving room whose walls are lined with bookshelves clustered with volumes of Ravnican history, including the original [[Guildpact (spell)|Guildpact]]. [[Trostani]] resides within the building, connected to the great oak. The roots of the tree spread throughout the city.<ref name="Gods Chaos">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-8-gods-of-chaos|Episode 8: Gods of Chaos|[[Seanan McGuire]]|January 16, 2024}}</ref>
 
==History==
Vitu-Ghazi was once the greatest tree on Ravnica.<ref name="RavnicaGuide">(2005). ''[https://archive.org/details/ravnica-city-of-guilds-players-guide-magic-the-gathering-2005 Ravnica: City of Guilds Player's Guide].'' [[Wizards of the Coast]].</ref> Although struck down long ago, dryad and elf magic kept it alive at the center of Ravnica's oldest and largest district.
 
As guildhall, Vitu-Ghazi was where [[Mat'Selesnya]] slept, and it was uprooted partially by [[Szadek]] so he could drink Mat'Selesnya. It was also severely damaged by the [[nephilim]], and in the fight between [[Project Kraj]] and [[Rakdos]]. During an attempt to siphon its power, [[Sifa Grent]] sent Rakdos cultists to attack the tree, receiving a deep wound from an axe-wielding [[demon]].<ref name="Vengeance"/> Nonetheless, it still seemed to stand proud.<ref name="Bound"/> Its mending were however superficial. Beneath the bark it was fragile, with stress fractures running through its branches, and hidden support struts barely able to take the weight.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/ledger-hidden-fortunes-2019-02-20|The Ledger of Hidden Fortunes|[[Nicky Drayden]]|February 20, 2019}}</ref>
 
===War of the Spark===
[[File:VituGhaziManga.png|thumb|The [[God-Eternal]]s kill Vitu-Ghazi.]]
During the [[War of the Spark (event)|War of the Spark]], Vitu-Ghazi was [[animate]]d by [[Nissa Revane]] into an enormous [[elemental]] that aided the troops fighting the [[Dreadhorde]].<ref><c>Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi</c></ref> Vitu-Ghazi was defeated by the God-Eternals when they first entered Ravnica. [[Rhonas]] tore out one of its arms and Nissa had to relinquish her control and the elemental collapsed.<ref name="Weisman Ravnica novel">[[Greg Weisman]] (April 2019). "''[[War of the Spark: Ravnica]]''". Del Rey.</ref> The fallen Vitu-Ghazi is now dormant.<ref name="Ashes">{{DailyRef|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-ashes-2019-06-12|War of the Spark: Ravnica – Ashes|[[Greg Weisman]]|June 12, 2019}}</ref>
 
===Replanting===
After the War and the [[New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse|Phyrexian Invasion]], Vitu-Ghazi was weak and no longer able to sustain itself.<ref name="Chains"/> The guildhall needed to lay semi-dormant to recover its strength, and [[Mat'Selesnya]] told [[Trostani]] that the tree needed space to lay new roots. A moor within a park on Selesnya territory was deemed the best place for Vitu-Ghazi to reconnect with the plane and properly recover. The tree was planted around a manor that was made a repository of the plane's history, including a library of Ravnican books and the original [[Guildpact (spell)|Guildpact]].


==In-game references==
==In-game references==
'''Represented in:'''
{{In-game
* <c>Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree</c>
|cards=
 
*<c>Awakening of Vitu-Ghazi</c>
'''Referred to:'''
*<c>Branch of Vitu-Ghazi</c>
* <c>Caustic Rain</c>
*<c>Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree</c>
* <c>Centaur's Herald</c>
|associated=
* <c>Chant of Vitu-Ghazi</c>
*<c>Chant of Vitu-Ghazi</c>
* <c>March of the Multitudes</c>
*<c>Guardian of Vitu-Ghazi</c>
* <c>Guardian of Vitu-Ghazi</c>
*<c>Scion of Vitu-Ghazi</c>
* <c>Seeds of Strength</c>
*<c>Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage</c>
* <c>Selesnya Locket</c>
*<c>Vitu-Ghazi Inspector</c>
* <c>Scion of Vitu-Ghazi</c>
|art=
* <c>Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage</c>
*{{card|Forest|War of the Spark|#=264}}
*<c>Nissa's Triumph</c>
*{{card|Tolsimir, Midnight's Light|Murders at Karlov Manor|MKM|#=236}}
*<c>Topple the Statue</c>
|flavor=
*<c>Caustic Rain</c>
*<c>Centaur's Herald</c>
*{{card|Insidious Roots|Murders at Karlov Manor|MKM|#=208}}
*<c>March of the Multitudes</c>
*<c>Seeds of Strength</c>
*<c>Selesnya Locket</c>
*{{card|Trostani, Three Whispers|Murders at Karlov Manor|MKM|#=238}}
*<c>War Screecher</c>
}}


==References==
==References==
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{{Ravnica|locations}}
{{Ravnica|locations}}
[[Category:Plants]]

Latest revision as of 22:29, 2 March 2024

Vitu-Ghazi
Information
Plane Ravnica

Although the Selesnya Conclave of Ravnica believe that power is not centered in any one location, the massive world-tree Vitu-Ghazi has served for more than 10,000 years as the focus and guildhall of the guild.[1][2]

Description

Vitu-Ghazi was a mammoth tree nearly as tall as New Prahv. Buildings shaped from the living wood nestled in its huge, curving branches, connected by an intricate network of hanging bridges and ladders.[3] Inside the main trunk there was a cathedral to nature, where worshippers came from all around Ravnica, and which also served as home to the guildmaster Trostani and the Dryad Conclave.[4] At night, the branches of Vitu-Ghazi were lit aglow with firefly light.[5] The tree is re-enervated annually in an invite-only ceremony.[6]

After its partial destruction at the hands of the God-Eternals in the War of the Spark and further damage during the Phyrexian Invasion, the tree was no longer able to sustain itself.[7] It is now in a moor within one of the city's rare parks in Selesnya territory. The moor is improbably pastoral and wild for Ravnica. Rocks jut out of the earth here and there, and mixed brush in greens and yellows covers the ground, some topped with tiny flowers, others bristling with thorns. The once towering guildhall is now a tangle of roots draped around and across what looks like a remote country manor. The manor's wood is weathered, windows drooping slightly at the corners. A single trunk stands higher than the house itself, shading the roof with its branches, and roots break the soil around the foundation. Through the vaulted entrance hall and past a guild checkpoint is a smaller receiving room whose walls are lined with bookshelves clustered with volumes of Ravnican history, including the original Guildpact. Trostani resides within the building, connected to the great oak. The roots of the tree spread throughout the city.[8]

History

Vitu-Ghazi was once the greatest tree on Ravnica.[9] Although struck down long ago, dryad and elf magic kept it alive at the center of Ravnica's oldest and largest district.

As guildhall, Vitu-Ghazi was where Mat'Selesnya slept, and it was uprooted partially by Szadek so he could drink Mat'Selesnya. It was also severely damaged by the nephilim, and in the fight between Project Kraj and Rakdos. During an attempt to siphon its power, Sifa Grent sent Rakdos cultists to attack the tree, receiving a deep wound from an axe-wielding demon.[6] Nonetheless, it still seemed to stand proud.[5] Its mending were however superficial. Beneath the bark it was fragile, with stress fractures running through its branches, and hidden support struts barely able to take the weight.[10]

War of the Spark

The God-Eternals kill Vitu-Ghazi.

During the War of the Spark, Vitu-Ghazi was animated by Nissa Revane into an enormous elemental that aided the troops fighting the Dreadhorde.[11] Vitu-Ghazi was defeated by the God-Eternals when they first entered Ravnica. Rhonas tore out one of its arms and Nissa had to relinquish her control and the elemental collapsed.[12] The fallen Vitu-Ghazi is now dormant.[13]

Replanting

After the War and the Phyrexian Invasion, Vitu-Ghazi was weak and no longer able to sustain itself.[7] The guildhall needed to lay semi-dormant to recover its strength, and Mat'Selesnya told Trostani that the tree needed space to lay new roots. A moor within a park on Selesnya territory was deemed the best place for Vitu-Ghazi to reconnect with the plane and properly recover. The tree was planted around a manor that was made a repository of the plane's history, including a library of Ravnican books and the original Guildpact.

In-game references

Represented in:
Associated cards:
Depicted in:
Quoted or referred to:

References