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|image=Araithia Shokta.png | |image=Araithia Shokta.png | ||
|name=Araithia Shokta | |name=Araithia Shokta | ||
|aka=Rat <br/> Atkos Tarr | |||
|birthplace= [[Ravnica]] | |birthplace= [[Ravnica]] | ||
|lifetime= ~ | |lifetime= ~4544 [[AR]] - | ||
|race=[[Human]] | |race=[[Human]] | ||
|relatives=[[Boruvo]] (godfather) | |||
|parents=[[Ari Shokta]]<br/>[[Gan Shokta]] | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Araithia Shokta''', nicknamed "'''Rat'''", is a | '''Araithia Shokta''', nicknamed "'''Rat'''", is a [[guildless]] girl from [[Ravnica]] who is torn between joining the [[Selesnya]]n, [[Gruul]], and [[Cult of Rakdos|Rakdos]] [[Ravnican guild|guilds]].<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://vorthosjay.tumblr.com/post/183542617921/storytelling-in-magic-the-gathering-panel-at-eccc|title=Storytelling in Magic: the Gathering Panel at ECCC 2019|March 18, 2019}}</ref> However, she also has a second personality as the [[Dimir]] [[assassin]] '''Atkos Tarr'''.<ref name="Forsaken">[[Greg Weisman]] (November 2019). "''[[War of the Spark: Forsaken]]''". Del Rey.</ref> | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
When introduced, she is sixteen | When introduced, she is sixteen years old. Rat is petite, bronze-skinned and dark-haired, and her irises have a deep violet hue. Her garb is decorated with patches of fur and tusks, with ribbons and bells hanging from her shoulders. Her tunic is cinched with braided vines of leaves and berries. Rat is a thief and a chronic eavesdropper, and also has some slight psychic powers.<ref name="Operatives" /> She is very talkative and prone to rambling in conversations. | ||
Rat has a unique, albeit involuntary, ability to remain unnoticed by most people and easily forgettable by them, unless much focus is intentionally drawn to her by someone who can see her already. She calls this her "Curse of | Rat has a unique, albeit involuntary, ability to remain unnoticed by most people and easily forgettable by them, unless much focus is intentionally drawn to her by someone who can see her already. She calls this her "Curse of Insignificance".<ref name="Forsaken"/> The only people who seem to notice her are her best friend [[Hekara]]<ref name="Old Friends">{{DailyRef|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-old-friends-and-new-2019-05-08|War of the Spark — Old Friends and New|[[Greg Weisman]]|May 8, 2019}}</ref> (before her death and resurrection), her Gruul mother [[Ari Shokta]], her [[centaur]] godfather [[Boruvo]], Dimir guildmaster [[Lazav]], and recently [[Teyo]], [[Kaya]] and [[Liliana Vess]]. This ability became very useful during the [[War of the Spark (event)|War of the Spark]], as it gave her a chance at attacking unsuspecting enemies. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Rat acted as [[Teyo Verada]]'s guide to the city plane | ===War of the Spark=== | ||
Rat acted as [[Teyo Verada]]'s guide to the city plane when the young [[planeswalker]] first arrived.<ref name="Weisman Ravnica novel">[[Greg Weisman]] (April 2019). "''[[War of the Spark: Ravnica]]''". Del Rey.</ref> As it was his first time planeswalking, she told him what she knew of planeswalking and the plane of Ravnica. She had acquired her knowledge of planeswalking by eavesdropping on [[Vraska]] and [[Ral Zarek]].<ref name="Old Friends" /> Rat played a big role in helping Kaya and Teyo navigate the city, along with recruiting some of the more resisting [[Ravnican guild|guilds]] in the war.<ref name="Path">{{DailyRef|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-path-opulent-2019-05-15|War of the Spark: Ravnica – The Path to Opulent|[[Greg Weisman]]|May 15, 2019}}</ref> She also developed a crush on Teyo. | |||
Rat and Teyo accompanied Kaya on her mission to rally the [[Orzhov Syndicate]] against Bolas. They were present when Kaya met with the Syndicate's ruling [[triumvirate]], consisting of the human pontiff [[Armin Morov]], the vampire tithe-master [[Slavomir Zoltan]], and the angel warrior-executioner [[Maladola]].<ref name=" | Rat and Teyo accompanied Kaya on her mission to rally the [[Orzhov Syndicate]] against Bolas. They were present when Kaya met with the Syndicate's ruling [[triumvirate]], consisting of the human pontiff [[Armin Morov]], the vampire tithe-master [[Slavomir Zoltan]], and the angel warrior-executioner [[Maladola]].<ref name="Magic Story">{{DailyRef|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-rallying-reluctant-2019-05-22|War of the Spark: Ravnica – Rallying the Reluctant|[[Greg Weisman]]|May 22, 2019}}</ref> She faced resistance from them, but the Syndicate's chief enforcer – the giant [[Bilagru]] – convinced them that Bolas posed an existential threat to all of Ravnica and, by extension, to the Syndicate's economic interests. (Unbeknownst to Teyo, Bilagru had been persuaded to help Kaya by Orzhov representative [[Tomik Vrona]].) Swayed by Bilagru's arguments, the triumvirate agreed to have the Orzhov Syndicate join the fight.<ref name="Magic Story" /> | ||
Later, the trapped planeswalkers got together with Ravnican leaders to strategize. At [[Jace]]'s recommendation, they decided to split up into teams to focus on specific tasks. Kaya, Teyo and Rat were sent to persuade the guilds that still remained neutral ([[Selesnya]], [[Gruul]], [[Golgari]] and [[Cult of Rakdos|Rakdos]]) to join the fight against Bolas.<ref name="Operatives">{{DailyRef|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-desperate-operatives-2019-05-29|War of the Spark: Ravnica – Desperate Operatives|[[Greg Weisman]]|May 29, 2019}}</ref> After Rat sought help from her godfather Boruvo, they received an audience from [[Emmara Tandris]], acting guildmaster of the [[Selesnya Conclave]]. Emmara initially refused their plea for help. However, her decision was overruled when [[Trostani]] awakened and ruled in favor of helping the Gatewatch. The group then went to speak with [[Borborygmos]] of the [[Gruul Clans]], and Rat convinced the cyclops (who had a soft spot for her) to support their cause. | Later, the trapped planeswalkers got together with Ravnican leaders to strategize. At [[Jace]]'s recommendation, they decided to split up into teams to focus on specific tasks. Kaya, Teyo and Rat were sent to persuade the guilds that still remained neutral ([[Selesnya]], [[Gruul]], [[Golgari]] and [[Cult of Rakdos|Rakdos]]) to join the fight against Bolas.<ref name="Operatives">{{DailyRef|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-desperate-operatives-2019-05-29|War of the Spark: Ravnica – Desperate Operatives|[[Greg Weisman]]|May 29, 2019}}</ref> After Rat sought help from her godfather Boruvo, they received an audience from [[Emmara Tandris]], acting guildmaster of the [[Selesnya Conclave]]. Emmara initially refused their plea for help. However, her decision was overruled when [[Trostani]] awakened and ruled in favor of helping the Gatewatch. The group then went to speak with [[Borborygmos]] of the [[Gruul Clans]], and Rat convinced the cyclops (who had a soft spot for her) to support their cause.[[File:WARManga.png|thumb|Rat fights alongside [[Teyo Verada]], [[Domri Rade]], [[Samut]], and [[Kaya Cassir]].]]They were joined by [[Ral]], who accompanied them to the [[Undercity]]. In [[Vraska]]'s absence, the other leaders of the [[Golgari Swarm]] squabbled for control of her throne, but Vraska returned and united them. Despite Ral and Kaya's suspicion of the [[gorgon]], but supported by Rat, Vraska pledged the Golgari to the fight against Bolas. With the help of [[Ajani]] and his team of planeswalkers, they were able to evacuate many civilians to the tunnels beneath the city, where they would be safe from the Dreadhorde. | ||
They were joined by [[Ral]], who accompanied them to the [[Undercity]]. In [[Vraska]]'s absence, the other leaders of the [[Golgari Swarm]] squabbled for control of her throne, but Vraska returned and united them. Despite Ral and Kaya's suspicion of the [[gorgon]], but supported by Rat, Vraska pledged the Golgari to the fight against Bolas. With the help of [[Ajani]] and his team of planeswalkers, they were able to evacuate many civilians to the tunnels beneath the city, where they would be safe from the Dreadhorde. | |||
After that, Vraska, Ral, Kaya, Teyo and Araithia journeyed to [[Rix Maadi]] to negotiate with [[Rakdos]].<ref name="Desperation">{{DailyRef|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-operation-desperation-2019-06-05|War of the Spark: Ravnica – Operation Desperation|[[Greg Weisman]]|June 5, 2019}}</ref> The demon lord was initially hostile due to the death of his emissary [[Hekara]], and the blood witch [[Exava]] ordered the group to leave. However, the Orzhov representative [[Tomik]] showed up with Hekara's corpse, and the Rakdos cultists resurrected Hekara as a blood witch. After defeating Exava in a fight, Hekara used her newfound authority as a blood witch to lead the Rakdos against Bolas. | After that, Vraska, Ral, Kaya, Teyo and Araithia journeyed to [[Rix Maadi]] to negotiate with [[Rakdos]].<ref name="Desperation">{{DailyRef|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-operation-desperation-2019-06-05|War of the Spark: Ravnica – Operation Desperation|[[Greg Weisman]]|June 5, 2019}}</ref> The demon lord was initially hostile due to the death of his emissary [[Hekara]], and the blood witch [[Exava]] ordered the group to leave. However, the Orzhov representative [[Tomik]] showed up with Hekara's corpse, and the Rakdos cultists resurrected Hekara as a blood witch. After defeating Exava in a fight, Hekara used her newfound authority as a blood witch to lead the Rakdos against Bolas. | ||
After the War of the Spark, Rat realized that Teyo and Kaya would soon be departing Ravnica. Rat was heart-broken and left their company before saying goodbye, but Kaya sent Teyo to find her and bring her back. Teyo eventually found Rat on the Transguild Promenade where they had first met. Transported by Kaya using her necro-magic abilities, Rat traveled with Kaya and Teyo on their quest to find [[Liliana Vess]]. They first traveled to [[Gobakhan]] to help Teyo where Rat was invaluable in assisting the young planeswalker to realize his full potential. On [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]], Rat helped to find Liliana and defeat an imposter Liliana Vess. At one point, while holding the [[Spirit-Gem]], Rat briefly spoke with [[Ugin]] before returning it to the real Liliana. From that point on and with a little focus, Liliana was also able to see Rat. After the [[djinn]] named [[ | ===Forsaken=== | ||
After the War of the Spark, Rat realized that Teyo and Kaya would soon be departing Ravnica. Rat was heart-broken and left their company before saying goodbye, but Kaya sent Teyo to find her and bring her back. Teyo eventually found Rat on the Transguild Promenade where they had first met. Transported by Kaya using her necro-magic abilities, Rat traveled with Kaya and Teyo on their quest to find [[Liliana Vess]]. They first traveled to [[Gobakhan]] to help Teyo where Rat was invaluable in assisting the young planeswalker to realize his full potential. On [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]], Rat helped to find Liliana and defeat an imposter Liliana Vess. At one point, while holding the [[Spirit-Gem]], Rat briefly spoke with [[Ugin]] before returning it to the real Liliana. From that point on and with a little focus, Liliana was also able to see Rat. After the [[djinn]] named [[Zahid]] was defeated, Rat helped convince Kaya to let Liliana live and that she belonged in their close-knit group. Rat later traveled with Kaya and Teyo to [[Fiora]] where they met with Liliana. There they began to help their new friend on her path to redemption.<ref name="Forsaken"/> | |||
==Atkos Tarr== | ==Atkos Tarr== | ||
Thought to be [[guildless]] to all but one, Araithia “Rat” Shokta had secretly been recruited into the [[Dimir]] years earlier.<ref name="Forsaken"/> [[Lazav]] had learned of Rat through his network of spies and quickly exploited an opportunity to collect a child who could only be seen by a small number of people. As time passed, Lazav periodically approached Rat in various forms as he slowly brainwashed the young girl into becoming his “perfect little secret [[assassin]].” Lazav | Thought to be [[guildless]] to all but one, Araithia “Rat” Shokta had secretly been recruited into the [[Dimir]] years earlier.<ref name="Forsaken"/> [[Lazav]] had learned of Rat through his network of spies and quickly exploited an opportunity to collect a child who could only be seen by a small number of people. As time passed, Lazav periodically approached Rat in various forms as he slowly brainwashed the young girl into becoming his “perfect little secret [[assassin]].” Lazav somehow sculpted an entirely new persona for Rat known as Atkos Tarr, though the mode of doing so is unknown.<ref>Weisman, Greg. Twitter. "Is Lazav using shapeshifting magic to create Tarr? No." Accessed 29 Nov 19.</ref> The name is a type of palindrome that served as her trigger word for becoming the Dimir's top assassin as a male [[vampire]]. Lazav had Atkos Tarr assassinate [[Dovin Baan]] in his secret safe house on [[Ravnica]]. | ||
==Planes visited== | |||
Though not a planeswalker, Rat has visited several planes as a companion to [[Kaya]]. | |||
*[[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]<ref name="Forsaken"/> | |||
*[[Fiora]]<ref name="Forsaken"/> | |||
*[[Gobakhan]]<ref name="Forsaken"/> | |||
*[[Ravnica]] | |||
*[[Tolvada]]<ref name="Forsaken"/> | |||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
* Despite being featured as a protagonist in the accompanying novel, Rat did not have a card in ''[[War of the Spark]]''. The way the timetable works is that the set work is done mostly before a novel gets written, so if something originates from the book being written, it | * Despite being featured as a protagonist in the accompanying novel, Rat did not have a card in ''[[War of the Spark]]''. The way the timetable works is that the set work is done mostly before a novel gets written, so if something originates from the book being written, it doesn't show up in the card set.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/183591493453/mark-the-character-rat-will-have-card-in-war-of|title=Will the character "Rat" have card in War of the Spark?|March 20, 2019}}</ref> | ||
==Story appearances== | ==Story appearances== | ||
{| class="wikitable sortable | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Title !! Author !! Publishing date !! Set !! Setting (plane) !! Featuring | ! Title !! Author !! Publishing date !! Set !! Setting (plane) !! Featuring | ||
|- | |- | ||
| {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-old-friends-and-new-2019-05-08|War of the Spark: Ravnica—Old Friends and New}} || [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-05-08 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] | | | {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-old-friends-and-new-2019-05-08|War of the Spark: Ravnica—Old Friends and New}} || [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-05-08 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] || Rat, [[Hekara]], [[Teyo Verada|Teyo]], Barrez, [[Nicol Bolas]], [[the Gatewatch]] ([[Liliana Vess|Liliana]], [[Chandra Nalaar|Chandra]], [[Teferi Akosa|Teferi]], [[Jace Beleren|Jace]], [[Gideon Jura|Gideon]] and [[Ajani Goldmane|Ajani]]), [[Ral Zarek|Ral]], [[Kaya Cassir|Kaya]], [[Lavinia]], [[Jaya Ballard|Jaya]], [[Karn]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-path-opulent-2019-05-15|War of the Spark: Ravnica—The Path to Opulent}} || [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-05-15 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] | | | {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-path-opulent-2019-05-15|War of the Spark: Ravnica—The Path to Opulent}} || [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-05-15 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] || Rat, [[Teyo Verada|Teyo]], [[Kaya Cassir|Kaya]], [[Ral Zarek|Ral]], [[Jaya Ballard|Jaya]], [[Gideon Jura|Gideon]], Krumnen, [[Gan Shokta]], [[Domri Rade|Domri]], Akamal Cray, [[Govan Radley]], Sheeza, Jahdeera, Bombop, [[Vorel]], [[Maree]], [[Kiora]], [[Samut]], [[Eknet]], [[Temmet]], [[Neit]], [[Haqikah]], [[Kawit]], [[Huatli]], [[Saheeli Rai|Saheeli]], [[Kasmina]], [[Oketra]], [[Kefnet]], [[Bontu]], [[Rhonas]], [[Jace Beleren|Jace]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-rallying-reluctant-2019-05-22|War of the Spark: Ravnica—Rallying the Reluctant}} || [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-05-22 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] || [[ | | {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-rallying-reluctant-2019-05-22|War of the Spark: Ravnica—Rallying the Reluctant}} || [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-05-22 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] || Rat, [[Jace Beleren|Jace]], [[Kaya Cassir|Kaya]], [[Teyo Verada|Teyo]], Blaise, [[Teysa Karlov]], Armin Morov, Slavomir Zoltan, [[Maladola]], [[Bilagru]], [[Domri Rade|Domri]] (mentioned), [[Ral Zarek|Ral]], [[Maree]], [[Aurelia]], [[Niv-Mizzet]] (mentioned), [[Gideon Jura|Gideon]], [[Isperia]], [[Jiang Yanggu|Yanggu]], [[Mowu]], [[Dack Fayden|Dack]], [[Saheeli Rai|Saheeli]], [[Ob Nixilis|Nixilis]], [[Davriel Cane|Davriel]], [[Angrath]], [[Huatli]], [[Samut]], [[Vorel]], [[Vivien]], [[Lavinia]], [[Ajani Goldmane|Ajani]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-desperate-operatives-2019-05-29|War of the Spark: Ravnica—Desperate Operatives}} || [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-05-29 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] | | | {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-desperate-operatives-2019-05-29|War of the Spark: Ravnica—Desperate Operatives}} || [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-05-29 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] || Rat, [[Kaya Cassir|Kaya]], [[Teyo Verada|Teyo]], [[Nissa Revane|Nissa]], [[Rhonas]], [[Boruvo]], [[Emmara Tandris]], [[Trostani]], [[Gan Shokta]], [[Borborygmos]], [[Ari Shokta]], [[Ral Zarek|Ral]], [[Storrev]], Azdomas, [[Izoni]], [[Varolz]], Cevraya, [[Mazirek]] (mentioned), [[Vraska]], [[Ajani Goldmane|Ajani]], [[Khazi]], [[Mu Yanling|Yanling]], [[Jiang Yanggu|Yanggu]], [[Mowu]], [[Huatli]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-operation-desperation-2019-06-05|War of the Spark: Ravnica—Operation Desperation}} || [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-06-05 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] | | | {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-operation-desperation-2019-06-05|War of the Spark: Ravnica—Operation Desperation}} || [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-06-05 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] || Rat, [[Teyo Verada|Teyo]], [[Kaya Cassir|Kaya]], [[Ral Zarek|Ral]], [[Vraska]], Whipsaw, [[Exava]], [[Rakdos]], [[Tomik Vrona]], [[Hekara]], [[Varryvort]], [[Nissa Revane|Nissa]], [[Lavinia]], [[Borborygmos]], [[Gan Shokta]], [[Ari Shokta]], [[Emmara Tandris]], [[Boruvo]], [[Vannifar]], [[Vorel]], [[Aurelia]], [[Lazav]], [[Kefnet]], [[Niv-Mizzet]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-ashes-2019-06-12|War of the Spark: Ravnica—Ashes}}|| [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-06-12 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] || [[ | | {{ArticleArchive|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-ashes-2019-06-12|War of the Spark: Ravnica—Ashes}}|| [[Greg Weisman]] || 2019-06-12 || ''[[War of the Spark]]'' || [[Ravnica]] || Rat, [[the Gatewatch]], [[Nissa Revane|Nissa]], [[Tomik Vrona]], [[Lavinia]], [[Ral Zarek|Ral]], [[Isperia]], [[Dack Fayden|Dack]], [[Saheeli Rai|Saheeli]], [[Kaya Cassir|Kaya]], [[Hekara]], [[Vraska]], [[Nicol Bolas]], [[Borborygmos]], [[Vorel]], [[Karn]], [[Jaya Ballard|Jaya]], [[Boruvo]], [[Ari Shokta]], [[Gan Shokta]], [[Sorin Markov|Sorin]], [[Nahiri]], [[Teyo Verada|Teyo]], [[Arlinn Kord|Arlinn]], [[Bilagru]], [[Feather]], [[Maladola]], [[Rakdos]], [[Oketra]], [[Bontu]], [[Niv-Mizzet]], [[Angrath]], [[Mu Yanling|Yanling]], [[Jiang Yanggu|Yanggu]], [[Mowu]], [[Samut]], [[Aurelia]], [[Exava]], [[Lazav]] | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 55: | Line 66: | ||
{{Ravnica|characters}} | {{Ravnica|characters}} | ||
[[Category:Humans]] | [[Category:Humans]] | ||
[[Category:Assassins]] | |||
Latest revision as of 19:14, 26 June 2024
| Araithia Shokta | |
|---|---|
|
Rat Atkos Tarr | |
|
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Araithia Shokta.png}}|250px]] | |
| Details | |
| Race | Human |
| Birthplace | Ravnica |
| Lifetime | ~4544 AR - |
| Parents |
Ari Shokta Gan Shokta |
| Relatives | Boruvo (godfather) |
Araithia Shokta, nicknamed "Rat", is a guildless girl from Ravnica who is torn between joining the Selesnyan, Gruul, and Rakdos guilds.[1] However, she also has a second personality as the Dimir assassin Atkos Tarr.[2]
Description
When introduced, she is sixteen years old. Rat is petite, bronze-skinned and dark-haired, and her irises have a deep violet hue. Her garb is decorated with patches of fur and tusks, with ribbons and bells hanging from her shoulders. Her tunic is cinched with braided vines of leaves and berries. Rat is a thief and a chronic eavesdropper, and also has some slight psychic powers.[3] She is very talkative and prone to rambling in conversations.
Rat has a unique, albeit involuntary, ability to remain unnoticed by most people and easily forgettable by them, unless much focus is intentionally drawn to her by someone who can see her already. She calls this her "Curse of Insignificance".[2] The only people who seem to notice her are her best friend Hekara[4] (before her death and resurrection), her Gruul mother Ari Shokta, her centaur godfather Boruvo, Dimir guildmaster Lazav, and recently Teyo, Kaya and Liliana Vess. This ability became very useful during the War of the Spark, as it gave her a chance at attacking unsuspecting enemies.
History
War of the Spark
Rat acted as Teyo Verada's guide to the city plane when the young planeswalker first arrived.[5] As it was his first time planeswalking, she told him what she knew of planeswalking and the plane of Ravnica. She had acquired her knowledge of planeswalking by eavesdropping on Vraska and Ral Zarek.[4] Rat played a big role in helping Kaya and Teyo navigate the city, along with recruiting some of the more resisting guilds in the war.[6] She also developed a crush on Teyo.
Rat and Teyo accompanied Kaya on her mission to rally the Orzhov Syndicate against Bolas. They were present when Kaya met with the Syndicate's ruling triumvirate, consisting of the human pontiff Armin Morov, the vampire tithe-master Slavomir Zoltan, and the angel warrior-executioner Maladola.[7] She faced resistance from them, but the Syndicate's chief enforcer – the giant Bilagru – convinced them that Bolas posed an existential threat to all of Ravnica and, by extension, to the Syndicate's economic interests. (Unbeknownst to Teyo, Bilagru had been persuaded to help Kaya by Orzhov representative Tomik Vrona.) Swayed by Bilagru's arguments, the triumvirate agreed to have the Orzhov Syndicate join the fight.[7]
Later, the trapped planeswalkers got together with Ravnican leaders to strategize. At Jace's recommendation, they decided to split up into teams to focus on specific tasks. Kaya, Teyo and Rat were sent to persuade the guilds that still remained neutral (Selesnya, Gruul, Golgari and Rakdos) to join the fight against Bolas.[3] After Rat sought help from her godfather Boruvo, they received an audience from Emmara Tandris, acting guildmaster of the Selesnya Conclave. Emmara initially refused their plea for help. However, her decision was overruled when Trostani awakened and ruled in favor of helping the Gatewatch. The group then went to speak with Borborygmos of the Gruul Clans, and Rat convinced the cyclops (who had a soft spot for her) to support their cause.
They were joined by Ral, who accompanied them to the Undercity. In Vraska's absence, the other leaders of the Golgari Swarm squabbled for control of her throne, but Vraska returned and united them. Despite Ral and Kaya's suspicion of the gorgon, but supported by Rat, Vraska pledged the Golgari to the fight against Bolas. With the help of Ajani and his team of planeswalkers, they were able to evacuate many civilians to the tunnels beneath the city, where they would be safe from the Dreadhorde.
After that, Vraska, Ral, Kaya, Teyo and Araithia journeyed to Rix Maadi to negotiate with Rakdos.[8] The demon lord was initially hostile due to the death of his emissary Hekara, and the blood witch Exava ordered the group to leave. However, the Orzhov representative Tomik showed up with Hekara's corpse, and the Rakdos cultists resurrected Hekara as a blood witch. After defeating Exava in a fight, Hekara used her newfound authority as a blood witch to lead the Rakdos against Bolas.
Forsaken
After the War of the Spark, Rat realized that Teyo and Kaya would soon be departing Ravnica. Rat was heart-broken and left their company before saying goodbye, but Kaya sent Teyo to find her and bring her back. Teyo eventually found Rat on the Transguild Promenade where they had first met. Transported by Kaya using her necro-magic abilities, Rat traveled with Kaya and Teyo on their quest to find Liliana Vess. They first traveled to Gobakhan to help Teyo where Rat was invaluable in assisting the young planeswalker to realize his full potential. On Dominaria, Rat helped to find Liliana and defeat an imposter Liliana Vess. At one point, while holding the Spirit-Gem, Rat briefly spoke with Ugin before returning it to the real Liliana. From that point on and with a little focus, Liliana was also able to see Rat. After the djinn named Zahid was defeated, Rat helped convince Kaya to let Liliana live and that she belonged in their close-knit group. Rat later traveled with Kaya and Teyo to Fiora where they met with Liliana. There they began to help their new friend on her path to redemption.[2]
Atkos Tarr
Thought to be guildless to all but one, Araithia “Rat” Shokta had secretly been recruited into the Dimir years earlier.[2] Lazav had learned of Rat through his network of spies and quickly exploited an opportunity to collect a child who could only be seen by a small number of people. As time passed, Lazav periodically approached Rat in various forms as he slowly brainwashed the young girl into becoming his “perfect little secret assassin.” Lazav somehow sculpted an entirely new persona for Rat known as Atkos Tarr, though the mode of doing so is unknown.[9] The name is a type of palindrome that served as her trigger word for becoming the Dimir's top assassin as a male vampire. Lazav had Atkos Tarr assassinate Dovin Baan in his secret safe house on Ravnica.
Planes visited
Though not a planeswalker, Rat has visited several planes as a companion to Kaya.
Trivia
- Despite being featured as a protagonist in the accompanying novel, Rat did not have a card in War of the Spark. The way the timetable works is that the set work is done mostly before a novel gets written, so if something originates from the book being written, it doesn't show up in the card set.[10]
Story appearances
References
- ↑ Jay Annelli (March 18, 2019). "Storytelling in Magic: the Gathering Panel at ECCC 2019". Ask Jay. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Greg Weisman (November 2019). "War of the Spark: Forsaken". Del Rey.
- ↑ a b Greg Weisman (May 29, 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica – Desperate Operatives". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Greg Weisman (May 8, 2019). "War of the Spark — Old Friends and New". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Greg Weisman (April 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica". Del Rey.
- ↑ Greg Weisman (May 15, 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica – The Path to Opulent". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Greg Weisman (May 22, 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica – Rallying the Reluctant". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Greg Weisman (June 5, 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica – Operation Desperation". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Weisman, Greg. Twitter. "Is Lazav using shapeshifting magic to create Tarr? No." Accessed 29 Nov 19.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 20, 2019). "Will the character "Rat" have card in War of the Spark?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
