Stensia: Difference between revisions

Stensia
	[[File:{{#setmainimage:Stensia3.jpg}}]] Stensia's coat of arms
Information
Plane	Innistrad

VisualWikitext

Latest revision as of 16:12, 21 May 2024

The province of Stensia is Innistrad's darker one, both literally and figuratively, but also the most unexplored and the most legendary.

Description

Its valleys range from pasture fields to sinister swamps where dead conifer sink slowly. Its wooded lands, crossed by a dense fog, show chromatic colors of dark green, purple, and gray. Its indigo and black mountains disappear in the clouds, and humans can only imagine what is living in their veiled peaks. The sun never seems to shine through the colorful clouds in Stensia.

The powers that govern Stensia, the vampiric bloodlines, reap the benefits of the isolation in the region. The chain of mountains of Geier Reach that dominates the province, separates the valleys from each other, making them easier to monitor and control. The suffering humans of Stensia have an irrational home loyalty, but strictly speaking, have few options: they are trapped in the narrow mountain passes of the province and attached to their customs and lives of meetings.

It borders Kessig, and parts of it are within line of sight of Thraben and the Nephalia coastline.

Geier Reach

The mountain range that dominates Stensia, the Geier Reach, defines it utterly. This chain grows steadily higher in elevation as it moves from the borders with Gavony and Kessig toward the province's outer edge. Inland, the mountain peaks are forested, whereas in the chain's middle the tree line gives way to bare rock; at its verge, the peaks disappear into the clouds. The highlands are dotted with caves and crevasses that are reigned by vultures, bats, and other larger creatures. The passes through Geier Reach are few and precious; all who travel into or out of the province must use them. In the remotest parts of the Geier Reach live dragons, brutal fire-breathers that prey on any creature that strays into their territories.

Stensia's valleys

The shape of the Geier Reach creates two long valleys in the province, and foothills separate those valleys into numerous, isolated segments.

Between the first and second ridge of the Geier Reach lie the scattered dales called the Inland valleys.
- At the one end, this stretch leads to Getander Pass and Kessig, a long, zig-zagging route watched by the rapacious Falkenrath vampires.
- On the other end the Ziel Pass offer's Stensia's only access to the sea. The cliffs at the end of Ziel Pass descend for 1,600 feet, and the only way to get to the churning waters is to trek by foot or mule down a treacherous path of endless switchbacks plagued by the geists of those who have died trying to do the same.
  - The Lurenbraum Fortress overlooks Ziel Pass. This immense fortress protects the huge The Voldaren Estate. It has a view out to the coast of Nephalia.^[1]
- The steep Kruin Pass is the only reliable path into Gavony. It used to be watched by the Markov vampires.
  - Markov Manor, a hilltop estate overlooking the Kruin Pass. Destroyed by Nahiri. It had a view of Thraben. It is within a night's walk of the Voldaren Estate.^[2]
- Silbern, a tiny stone watchtower manned by fatalistic cathars and surrounded by several family farms.
- Wollebank, a large village of shepherds and their families.
- Geier Reach Sanitarium, a mental asylum for "mad prophets" and other doomsayers.^[3]
The Midland Range, dividing the Inland Valley's from those of the Outland, the middle reach of Geier Reach is a forbidding range. Only two passes connect the valleys across its precipitous slopes.
- Hofsaddel is a wide and well-trodden pass and one that the vampires leave alone. The reason: human interaction is good for the long term, as long as it's among Stensians.
- Needle's Eye is a narrow, treacherous, and deadly path because of the presence of vengeful geists on the route as well as its proximity to Ashmouth and its devils. Humans will take the Needle's Eye path only in the event of emergencies in the neighboring valleys.
- The Ashmouth, a demonic gateway, located between the Hofsaddel and the Needle's Eye.
  - Devilthorn Lodge, a human watchtower guarding the Ashmouth, frequented by demon hunters and devout cathars.
  - Witch covens, scattered huts inhabited by witches who bargain with demons in order to gain magical power.
- The Heron's Grace Monastery, a noted pilgrimage destination between Hofsaddel and Getander Passes. Founded on the ruins of Castle Falkenrath.
- The Somberwald, a winding, drooping wilderness adorning the hillsides.
- The Farbogs, twin bogs flanking the middle ridge. Both were once groves of pines, but those trees now sink into the peat muck at odd angles, creating a tangle of dead trunks. The peripheries of both bogs are home to ancient grafs, and as the graves dissolve into the slime, geists proliferate.

Outland valleys. The outer valley is divided into eight pieces by terrain, three of which are noteworthy.
- The human village of Shadowgrange and the human rancher community of Lammas. Shadowgrange and Lammas are strange places populated by humans that are fiercely passionate about their lifestyles but also paranoid and fearful. Few other humans of Innistrad ever see these distant places.
- The abandoned Maurer Estate, a favorite haunt of newly sired vampires. Its founder Strefan Maurer, a progenitor of a minor vampiric bloodline, is still said to rule a remote region in the outland valleys.

Other locations

Vess Manor, Liliana's estate. It is positioned to have a view of Thraben in the far distance.^[1]
Traublassen, located half a days ride along the Kessig border from Silbern.^[4]

Gallery

Stensia concepts by Vincent Proce (left) and James Paick (right).
Geier Reach concepts by James Paick.
Stensia concept by Vincent Proce.

In-game references

Represented in:

Stensia

Associated cards:

Referred to:

References

↑ ^a ^b Innistrad's Last Hope. magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ Campaign of Vengeance. magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ Reinhardt Suarez (November 12, 2021). "Survivors". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ Survivors. magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

External links

Magic Creative Team (November 02, 2011). "A Planeswalker's Guide to Innistrad: Stensia and Vampires". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
James Wyatt 2016, "The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Innistrad".
Plane Shift Innistrad

[lasthope-1] Innistrad's Last Hope. magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[2] Campaign of Vengeance. magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[Survivors-3] Reinhardt Suarez (November 12, 2021). "Survivors". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[4] Survivors. magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:Stensia3.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Stensia's heraldry]]
+{{Infobox location
+|image=Stensia3.jpg
+|noscale=1
+|caption=Stensia's coat of arms
+|plane=[[Innistrad (plane)|Innistrad]]
+}}
 The province of '''Stensia''' is [[Innistrad (plane)|Innistrad]]'s darker one, both literally and figuratively, but also the most unexplored and the most [[legendary]].
 ==Description==
-Its valleys ranging from pasture fields to sinister [[swamp]]s where dead conifer sink slowly. Its wooded lands, crossed by a dense fog, shows chromatic colors of dark [[green]], [[purple]] and gray. Its indigo and [[black]] [[mountain]]s disappear in the clouds, and [[humans]] can only imagine are living in their veiled peaks. The sun never seems to get through the colorful clouds in Stensia.
+Its valleys range from pasture fields to sinister [[swamp]]s where dead conifer sink slowly. Its wooded lands, crossed by a dense fog, show chromatic colors of dark [[green]], [[purple]], and gray. Its indigo and [[black]] [[mountain]]s disappear in the clouds, and [[human]]s can only imagine what is living in their veiled peaks. The sun never seems to shine through the colorful clouds in Stensia.
-The powers that govern Stensia, the [[vampires|vampiric bloodlines]], reap the benefits of the isolation in the region. The chain of mountains of Geier Reach that dominates the province, separates the valleys from each other, making them easier to monitor and control. The suffering humans of Stensia have an irrational home loyalty, but strictly speaking, have few options, they are trapped in the narrow mountain passes of the province and attached to their customs and lives of meetings.
+The powers that govern Stensia, the [[Vampire|vampiric bloodlines]], reap the benefits of the isolation in the region. The chain of mountains of Geier Reach that dominates the province, separates the valleys from each other, making them easier to monitor and control. The suffering humans of Stensia have an irrational home loyalty, but strictly speaking, have few options: they are trapped in the narrow mountain passes of the province and attached to their customs and lives of meetings.
+It borders [[Kessig]], and parts of it are within line of sight of [[Thraben]] and the [[Nephalia]] coastline.
 ===Geier Reach===
-The mountain range that dominates Stensia, the Geier Reach, defines it utterly. This chain grows steadily higher in elevation as it moves from the borders with Gavony and Kessig toward the province's outer edge. Inland, the mountain peaks are forested, whereas in the chain's middle the tree line gives way to bare rock, and at its verge, the peaks disappear into the clouds. The highlands are dotted with caves and crevasses where vultures, bats, and other, larger creatures reign. The passes through Geier Reach are few and precious; all travel into or out of the province must use them.
+The mountain range that dominates Stensia, the Geier Reach, defines it utterly. This chain grows steadily higher in elevation as it moves from the borders with Gavony and Kessig toward the province's outer edge. Inland, the mountain peaks are forested, whereas in the chain's middle the tree line gives way to bare rock; at its verge, the peaks disappear into the clouds. The highlands are dotted with caves and crevasses that are reigned by vultures, bats, and other larger creatures. The passes through Geier Reach are few and precious; all who travel into or out of the province must use them. In the remotest parts of the Geier Reach live [[dragon]]s, brutal fire-breathers that prey on any creature that strays into their territories.
-* '''Ziel Pass'''. Only one pass crosses the final zig-zag of the Geier. Ziel Pass is the only way to reach the sea from Stensia's inland valleys. The cliffs at the end of Ziel Pass descend for 1,600 feet, and the only way to get to the churning waters is to jump... or to trek by foot or mule down a treacherous path of endless switchbacks plagued by the [[geists]] of those who have died trying to do the same.
-[[File:Stensia.png‎|250px|thumb|right|A mountain pass ]]
-* '''Hofsaddel''' and '''Needle's Eye'''. These two passes connect the inland valleys to the outland ones. Hofsaddel is a wide and well-trodden pass, and one that the vampires leave alone. The reason: human interaction is good for the long term, as long as it's among Stensians. Needle's Eye, however, is a narrow, treacherous, and deadly path because of the presence of vengeful geists on the route as well as its proximity to [[Ashmouth]] and its devils. Humans will take the Needle's Eye path only in the event of emergencies in the neighboring valleys.
-* '''Getander Pass''' and '''Kruin Pass'''. Two passes lead from the adjacent provinces into Stensia. The pass from [[Kessig]] is Getander, a long, zig-zagging route watched by the rapacious [[Falkenrath]] vampires. [[Gavony]] must use the Kruin Pass, which is just as long, but in vertical elevation rather than horizontal turns, and is lackadaisically watched by the well-fed Markov vampires.
 [[File:Stensia2.png‎|250px|thumb|right|Getander Pass]]
 ===Stensia's valleys===
-The shape of the Geier Reach creates two long valleys in the provinces, and foothills separate those valleys into numerous, isolated segments.
+[[File:Stensia.png‎|250px|thumb|right|A mountain pass.]]
-* '''Outland valleys'''. The outer valley is divided into eight pieces by terrain, three of which are noteworthy: the human village of '''Shadowgrange''', the abandoned '''Maurer Estate''', and the human rancher community of '''Lammas'''. Shadowgrange and Lammas are strange places populated by humans that are fiercely passionate about their lifestyles but also paranoid and fearful. Few other humans of Innistrad ever see these distant places.
+The shape of the Geier Reach creates two long valleys in the province, and foothills separate those valleys into numerous, isolated segments.
-* '''Inland valleys'''. The inland stretch houses two significant human communities with a prominent vampire holding: '''Silbern''', a tiny stone watchtower manned by fatalistic cathars and surrounded by several family farms, '''Wollebank''', a large village of shepherds and their families, and '''[[Markov Manor]]''', a hilltop estate that towers over both. Markov Manor is the home of [[Edgar Markov]], grandfather of [[Sorin Markov]].
+*Between the first and second ridge of the Geier Reach lie the scattered dales called the '''Inland valleys'''.
+**At the one end, this stretch leads to '''Getander Pass''' and [[Kessig]], a long, zig-zagging route watched by the rapacious [[Falkenrath]] vampires.
+**On the other end the '''Ziel Pass''' offer's Stensia's only access to the sea. The cliffs at the end of Ziel Pass descend for 1,600 feet, and the only way to get to the churning waters is to trek by foot or mule down a treacherous path of endless switchbacks plagued by the [[geist]]s of those who have died trying to do the same.
+***The '''Lurenbraum Fortress''' overlooks Ziel Pass. This immense fortress protects the huge [[Voldaren#The Voldaren Estate|The Voldaren Estate]]. It has a view out to the coast of [[Nephalia]].<ref name="lasthope"/>
+**The steep '''Kruin Pass''' is the only reliable path into [[Gavony]]. It used to be watched by the [[Markov]] vampires.
+***'''[[Markov Manor]]''', a hilltop estate overlooking the Kruin Pass. Destroyed by [[Nahiri]]. It had a view of [[Thraben]]. It is within a night's walk of the Voldaren Estate.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/campaign-vengeance-2016-07-06|Campaign of Vengeance}}</ref>
+**'''Silbern''', a tiny stone watchtower manned by fatalistic [[cathar]]s and surrounded by several family farms.
+**'''Wollebank''', a large village of shepherds and their families.
+**'''Geier Reach Sanitarium''', a mental asylum for "mad prophets" and other doomsayers.<ref name="Survivors">{{DailyRef|magic-story/survivors-2021-11-12|Survivors|[[Reinhardt Suarez]]|November 12, 2021}}</ref>
+*'''The Midland Range''', dividing the Inland Valley's from those of the Outland, the middle reach of Geier Reach is a forbidding range. Only two passes connect the valleys across its precipitous slopes.
+**'''Hofsaddel''' is a wide and well-trodden pass and one that the vampires leave alone. The reason: human interaction is good for the long term, as long as it's among Stensians.
+**'''Needle's Eye''' is a narrow, treacherous, and deadly path because of the presence of vengeful geists on the route as well as its proximity to Ashmouth and its devils. Humans will take the Needle's Eye path only in the event of emergencies in the neighboring valleys.
+**The '''[[Ashmouth]]''', a demonic gateway, located between the Hofsaddel and the Needle's Eye.
+***'''Devilthorn Lodge''', a human watchtower guarding the Ashmouth, frequented by demon hunters and devout cathars.
+***'''Witch covens''', scattered huts inhabited by witches who bargain with demons in order to gain magical power.
+**The '''Heron's Grace Monastery''', a noted pilgrimage destination between Hofsaddel and Getander Passes. Founded on the ruins of '''Castle Falkenrath'''.
+**The '''[[Somberwald]]''', a winding, drooping wilderness adorning the hillsides.
+**'''The Farbogs''', twin bogs flanking the middle ridge. Both were once groves of pines, but those trees now sink into the peat muck at odd angles, creating a tangle of dead trunks. The peripheries of both bogs are home to ancient grafs, and as the graves dissolve into the slime, geists proliferate.
+[[File:Farbogs.jpg‎|250px|thumb|right|The farbogs]]
+*'''Outland valleys'''. The outer valley is divided into eight pieces by terrain, three of which are noteworthy.
+**The human village of '''Shadowgrange''' and the human rancher community of '''Lammas'''. Shadowgrange and Lammas are strange places populated by humans that are fiercely passionate about their lifestyles but also paranoid and fearful. Few other humans of Innistrad ever see these distant places.
+**The abandoned '''Maurer Estate''', a favorite haunt of newly sired vampires. Its founder [[List of secondary characters#Innistrad|Strefan Maurer]], a progenitor of a minor vampiric bloodline, is still said to rule a remote region in the outland valleys.
-===The Farbogs===
+===Other locations===
-[[File:Farbogs.jpg‎|250px|thumb|right|The farbogs ]]
+*'''Vess Manor''', [[Liliana]]'s estate. It is positioned to have a view of Thraben in the far distance.<ref name="lasthope">{{DailyRef|magic-story/innistrads-last-hope-2016-06-29|Innistrad's Last Hope}}</ref>
-Twin bogs, one in the inland valley and one in the outland, blanket the center of Stensia like two puddles of ink. Both were once groves of pines, but those trees now sink into the peat muck at odd angles, creating a tangle of dead trunks. The peripheries of both bogs are home to ancient grafs, and as the graves dissolve into the slime, geists proliferate. A few [[ghoul]]s wander here as well, most of them products of the young, self-taught ghoulcaller Rinelda Smit, an irresponsible teenager trying to make her mark on Stensia by creating her own force of beings to defend against vampire attacks.
+*'''Traublassen''', located half a days ride along the Kessig border from Silbern.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/survivors-2021-11-12|Survivors}}</ref>
-===Other locations===
+==Gallery==
-* The [[Ashmouth]]
+<gallery>
-* [[Somberwald]]
+File:StensiaConcepts.png|Stensia concepts by [[Vincent Proce]] (left) and [[James Paick]] (right).
-* [[Voldaren#The Voldaren Estate|The Voldaren Estate]]
+File:StensiaConcepts2.png|Geier Reach concepts by [[James Paick]].
-* Vess Manor, [[Liliana]]'s estate
+File:Stensia-castle.jpg|Stensia concept by [[Vincent Proce]].
-* Lurenbraum Fortress, assembling place for Olivia Voldaren's army
+</gallery>
 ==In-game references==
-;Represented in cards
+{{in-game
-* <c>Stensia</c>
+|cards=
-;Associated cards
+*<c>Stensia</c>
-* <c>Farbog Boneflinger</c>
+|associated=
-* <c>Farbog Explorer</c>
+*<c>Farbog Boneflinger</c>
-* <c>Farbog Revenant</c>
+*<c>Farbog Explorer</c>
-* <c>Geier Reach Bandit</c>
+*<c>Farbog Revenant</c>
-* <c>Geier Reach Sanitarium</c>
+*<c>Geier Reach Bandit</c>
-* <c>Hound of the Farbogs</c>
+*<c>Geier Reach Sanitarium</c>
-* <c>Kruin Outlaw</c>
+*<c>Hound of the Farbogs</c>
-* <c>Kruin Striker</c>
+*<c>Kruin Outlaw</c>
-* <c>Terror of Kruin Pass</c>
+*<c>Kruin Striker</c>
-* <c>Scourch of Geier Reach</c>
+*<c>Terror of Kruin Pass</c>
+*<c>Scourge of Geier Reach</c>
 *<c>Stensia Banquet</c>
 *<c>Stensia Bloodhall</c>
 *<c>Stensia Innkeeper</c>
-* <c>Stensia Masquerade</c>
+*<c>Stensia Masquerade</c>
-* <c>Twins of Maurer Estate</c>
+*<c>Stensia Uprising</c>
+*<c>Twins of Maurer Estate</c>
+|referred=
+*<c>Borderland Ranger</c>
+*<c>Courier Bat</c>
+*<c>Curse of the Pierced Heart</c>
+*<c>Daybreak Combatants</c>
+*<c>End the Festivities</c>
+*<c>Equestrian Skill</c>
+*{{card|Evolving Wilds||MID}}
+*<c>Falkenrath Reaver</c>
+*<c>Harrowing Journey</c>
+*<c>Hungry Ridgewolf</c>
+*{{card|Lightning Wolf||VOW}}
+*<c>Magmatic Chasm</c>
+*<c>Marrow Bats</c>
+*<c>Somberwald Spider</c>
+*<c>Soulcage Fiend</c>
+*{{card|Witch Enchanter}}
+}}
-;Referred to:
+==References==
-* <c>Borderland Ranger</c>
+{{Reflist}}
-* <c>Curse of the Pierced Heart</c>
-* <c>Equestrian Skill</c>
-* <c>Falkenrath Reaver</c>
-* <c>Harrowing Journey</c>
-* <c>Magmatic Chasm</c>
-* <c>Marrow Bats</c>
-* <c>Somberwald Spider</c>
-* <c>Soulcage Fiend</c>
 ==External links==
-*{{NewRef|savor-flavor/planeswalkers-guide-innistrad-stensia-and-vampires-2011-11-02|A Planeswalker's Guide to Innistrad: Stensia and Vampires|Magic Creative Team|November 02, 2011}}
+*{{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-innistrad-stensia-and-vampires-2011-11-02|A Planeswalker's Guide to Innistrad: Stensia and Vampires|Magic Creative Team|November 02, 2011}}
+*[[James Wyatt]] 2016, "''[[The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Innistrad]]''".
+*[http://d1bf78c87087c77d76ca-be4120a00702a7d33079a120750230c5.r45.cf1.rackcdn.com/Plane%20Shift%20Innistrad%20SFG_2.pdf Plane Shift Innistrad]
 {{Innistrad|locations}}

Stensia: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:12, 21 May 2024

Contents

Description

Geier Reach

Stensia's valleys

Other locations

Gallery

In-game references

References

External links

Navigation menu

Stensia
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Stensia3.jpg}}]] Stensia's coat of arms
Information
Plane	Innistrad

Stensia: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:12, 21 May 2024

Description

Geier Reach

Stensia's valleys

Other locations

Gallery

In-game references

References

External links

Navigation menu

Search