Vodalia: Difference between revisions
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'''Vodalia''' is a [[Merfolk]] empire that is part of [[the Domains]] on [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]. It is located in the depths of the [[Voda Sea]], of the coast of [[Aerona]].<ref name="Dominaria art book">[[James Wyatt]] (2018), ''[[The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria]]''. [[VIZ Media]].</ref> Surface-dwelling humanoids living on the | {{Infobox location | ||
|image=Slinn Voda.jpg | |||
|plane=[[The Domains]], [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]] | |||
}} | |||
'''Vodalia''' is a [[Merfolk]] empire that is part of [[the Domains]] on [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]. It is located in the depths of the [[Voda Sea]], of the coast of [[Aerona]].<ref name="Dominaria art book">[[James Wyatt]] (2018), ''[[The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria]]''. [[VIZ Media]].</ref> Surface-dwelling humanoids living on the islands of the Voda Sea also acknowledge the overlordship of Vodalia. Vodalia is the center of a global underwater empire, a federation of states and tribes knit together by trade and common heritage. This empire is the largest on Dominaria, though it is limited by its inhabitants inability to travel the surface.<ref name="Visual Guide">[[Jay Annelli]] (2022). ''[[Magic: The Gathering - The Visual Guide]]'', [[Wikipedia:DK (publisher)|DK]]. ISBN-13 978-0744061055.</ref> | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===Early Vodalia=== | ===Early Vodalia=== | ||
Vodalia used to be the name of the vast, underwater country in the sea surrounding [[Sarpadia]]. It was destroyed by raiding creatures called [[Homarid]]s after the [[Brothers' War]]. | Vodalia used to be the name of the vast, underwater country in the sea surrounding [[Sarpadia]]. It was destroyed by raiding creatures called [[Homarid]]s after the [[Brothers' War]]. | ||
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Any realm that now wishes to trade through the Voda Sea, or the areas around it, must pay the Vodalians for the right of passage.<ref name="Dominaria art book"/> Some merchants and surface governments pay for escorts of merfolk soldiers or for magic speeding their passage by bending the wind and the currents. A younger corps of the Imperial Vodalian Army called the '''Akula Current''' has provoked confrontations with neighboring realms and has used falsified incidents as an excuse to annex trading ports in various coastal regions, in particular, the islands to the southeast of [[Aerona]] like [[Sardnia]] and [[Ru-Nora]]. | Any realm that now wishes to trade through the Voda Sea, or the areas around it, must pay the Vodalians for the right of passage.<ref name="Dominaria art book"/> Some merchants and surface governments pay for escorts of merfolk soldiers or for magic speeding their passage by bending the wind and the currents. A younger corps of the Imperial Vodalian Army called the '''Akula Current''' has provoked confrontations with neighboring realms and has used falsified incidents as an excuse to annex trading ports in various coastal regions, in particular, the islands to the southeast of [[Aerona]] like [[Sardnia]] and [[Ru-Nora]]. | ||
Emperor [[ | Emperor [[Mihail Stovorod|Mihail II]] is the current sovereign.<ref name="Dominaria art book"/> The empress is [[List of secondary characters/Dominaria|Annika]]. Their daughters are the intelligent and opinionated Princess [[List of secondary characters/Dominaria|Felisia]] and the quiet, thoughtful Princess [[List of secondary characters/Dominaria|Marja]]. | ||
The merfolk of Vodalia do not, by and large, consider anyone on the surface their enemy. Though it is possible for a surface power to harm them, it is difficult, and the Vodalians can retaliate by completely locking down oceanic travel if necessary. At present, the Vodalians charge for safe passage through their seas but take no sides in the political struggles of the surface. By contrast, merfolk have waged bitter, generations-long wars against other subsurface peoples—most especially the cryptic, cold-loving crustacean race of [[homarid]]s.<ref name="DMUGuide">{{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-dominaria-2022-08-31|Planeswalker's Guide to Dominaria|[[Roy Graham]], [[Ethan Fleischer]], [[Jenna Helland]], [[Gerritt Turner]]|August 31, 2022}}</ref> | |||
==Society== | ==Society== | ||
The Vodalian Empire still tends to be insular. There are five traditional castes.<ref name="Dominaria art book"/> | The Vodalian Empire still tends to be insular. There are five traditional castes.<ref name="Dominaria art book"/> | ||
* '''Stovorod'''. Traditional, martial, and proud aristocrats. | *'''Stovorod'''. Traditional, martial, and proud aristocrats. | ||
*'''Svyash'''. Religious diplomats. | *'''Svyash'''. Religious diplomats. | ||
*'''Orzvetzya'''. Bureaucrats and traders. Perceived to be greedy. | *'''Orzvetzya'''. Bureaucrats and traders. Perceived to be greedy. | ||
*'''Chernoz'''. Lower class laborers, farmers, and soldiers. | *'''Chernoz'''. Lower class laborers, farmers, and soldiers. | ||
* '''Volshe'''. Scholars and artists. Most likely to use education as an antidote to xenophobia.<ref>Flavor text for <c>Vodalian Arcanist</c></ref> | *'''Volshe'''. Scholars and artists. Most likely to use education as an antidote to xenophobia.<ref>Flavor text for <c>Vodalian Arcanist</c></ref> | ||
The government and society of Vodalia have drifted towards a more liberal perspective, though conservative holdouts still exist. The sovereign is now little more than a ceremonial figurehead, while the true power lies with the council of caste leaders, while the five castes themselves have become more like political parties with fluid boundaries. | The government and society of Vodalia have drifted towards a more liberal perspective, though conservative holdouts still exist. The sovereign is now little more than a ceremonial figurehead, while the true power lies with the council of caste leaders, while the five castes themselves have become more like political parties with fluid boundaries. | ||
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{{in-game | {{in-game | ||
|associated= | |associated= | ||
* <c>Slinn Voda, the Rising Deep</c> | *<c>Slinn Voda, the Rising Deep</c> | ||
* <c>Vodalian Arcanist</c> | *<c>Vodalian Arcanist</c> | ||
* <c>Vodalian Hypnotist</c> | *<c>Vodalian Hexcatcher</c> | ||
* <c>Vodalian Illusionist</c> | *<c>Vodalian Hypnotist</c> | ||
* <c>Vodalian Knights</c> | *<c>Vodalian Illusionist</c> | ||
* <c>Vodalian Mage</c> | *<c>Vodalian Knights</c> | ||
* <c>Vodalian Merchant</c> | *<c>Vodalian Mage</c> | ||
* <c>Vodalian Mystic</c> | *<c>Vodalian Merchant</c> | ||
* <c>Vodalian Serpent</c> | *<c>Vodalian Mindsinger</c> | ||
* <c>Vodalian Soldiers</c> | *<c>Vodalian Mystic</c> | ||
* <c>Vodalian War Machine</c> | *<c>Vodalian Serpent</c> | ||
* <c>Vodalian Zombie</c> | *<c>Vodalian Soldiers</c> | ||
* <c>Voda Sea Scavenger</c> | *<c>Vodalian Tide Mage</c> | ||
*<c>Vodalian War Machine</c> | |||
*<c>Vodalian Wave-Knight</c> | |||
*<c>Vodalian Zombie</c> | |||
*<c>Voda Sea Scavenger</c> | |||
*<c>Vohar, Vodalian Desecrator</c> | |||
|referred= | |referred= | ||
* {{card|Equilibrium|Seventh Edition}} | *<c>Coral Colony</c> | ||
* {{card|Glacial Wall|Seventh Edition}} | *{{card|Denizen of the Deep|Dominaria Remastered|DMR|#=417}} | ||
* {{card|High Tide|Fallen Empires}} | *{{card|Equilibrium|Seventh Edition}} | ||
* {{card|Lord of Atlantis|Fifth Edition}} | *{{card|Glacial Wall|Seventh Edition}} | ||
* <c>Svyelunite Priest</c> | *{{card|High Tide|Fallen Empires}} | ||
* <c>Volshe Tideturner</c> | *{{card|Lord of Atlantis|Fifth Edition}} | ||
*<c>Svyelunite Priest</c> | |||
*<c>Volshe Tideturner</c> | |||
}} | }} | ||
Latest revision as of 12:34, 15 December 2023
| Vodalia | |
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[[File:{{#setmainimage:Slinn Voda.jpg}}|250px]] | |
| Information | |
| Plane | The Domains, Dominaria |
Vodalia is a Merfolk empire that is part of the Domains on Dominaria. It is located in the depths of the Voda Sea, of the coast of Aerona.[1] Surface-dwelling humanoids living on the islands of the Voda Sea also acknowledge the overlordship of Vodalia. Vodalia is the center of a global underwater empire, a federation of states and tribes knit together by trade and common heritage. This empire is the largest on Dominaria, though it is limited by its inhabitants inability to travel the surface.[2]
History
Early Vodalia
Vodalia used to be the name of the vast, underwater country in the sea surrounding Sarpadia. It was destroyed by raiding creatures called Homarids after the Brothers' War.
New Vodalia
Vodalia was reborn after its ruler, Empress Galina, emerged thousands of years into the future and defeated the independent merfolk colony of Etlan Shiis, reforming her empire as "New Vodalia".[3] The elite warriors of Galina were the Order of the Pearl Trident.[1]
Apocalypse
Near the end of Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria, Yawgmoth took the form of a huge deathcloud that killed everything it touched, which included most of Vodalia.[4] Galina was one of the many casualties, ending her thousand-year reign. The planeswalker Bo Levar sacrificed his life to prevent the cloud from reaching the Eliterates, an artistic commune set up in a deep trench to escape from Vodalian society. Following a brief period of chaos, the reigns of government were taken up by the Emperor Omen, a moderate captain of the Imperial army. He was unfortunately quickly killed by great shark. The Eliterates were instrumental in rebuilding Vodalian society.[5][6] The waves sheltered Vodalia from the devastation of the Rift Era and the imperial line never failed again.
Mending Era
Any realm that now wishes to trade through the Voda Sea, or the areas around it, must pay the Vodalians for the right of passage.[1] Some merchants and surface governments pay for escorts of merfolk soldiers or for magic speeding their passage by bending the wind and the currents. A younger corps of the Imperial Vodalian Army called the Akula Current has provoked confrontations with neighboring realms and has used falsified incidents as an excuse to annex trading ports in various coastal regions, in particular, the islands to the southeast of Aerona like Sardnia and Ru-Nora.
Emperor Mihail II is the current sovereign.[1] The empress is Annika. Their daughters are the intelligent and opinionated Princess Felisia and the quiet, thoughtful Princess Marja.
The merfolk of Vodalia do not, by and large, consider anyone on the surface their enemy. Though it is possible for a surface power to harm them, it is difficult, and the Vodalians can retaliate by completely locking down oceanic travel if necessary. At present, the Vodalians charge for safe passage through their seas but take no sides in the political struggles of the surface. By contrast, merfolk have waged bitter, generations-long wars against other subsurface peoples—most especially the cryptic, cold-loving crustacean race of homarids.[7]
Society
The Vodalian Empire still tends to be insular. There are five traditional castes.[1]
- Stovorod. Traditional, martial, and proud aristocrats.
- Svyash. Religious diplomats.
- Orzvetzya. Bureaucrats and traders. Perceived to be greedy.
- Chernoz. Lower class laborers, farmers, and soldiers.
- Volshe. Scholars and artists. Most likely to use education as an antidote to xenophobia.[8]
The government and society of Vodalia have drifted towards a more liberal perspective, though conservative holdouts still exist. The sovereign is now little more than a ceremonial figurehead, while the true power lies with the council of caste leaders, while the five castes themselves have become more like political parties with fluid boundaries.
Religion
Vodalians worship Svyelun, the goddess of the Pearl moon.[1] The Society of the Conch of the Svyash caste travels the world, to seek a closer understanding of Svyelun by contemplating the ways she manifests in other cultures.
In-game references
- Associated cards:
- Slinn Voda, the Rising Deep
- Vodalian Arcanist
- Vodalian Hexcatcher
- Vodalian Hypnotist
- Vodalian Illusionist
- Vodalian Knights
- Vodalian Mage
- Vodalian Merchant
- Vodalian Mindsinger
- Vodalian Mystic
- Vodalian Serpent
- Vodalian Soldiers
- Vodalian Tide Mage
- Vodalian War Machine
- Vodalian Wave-Knight
- Vodalian Zombie
- Voda Sea Scavenger
- Vohar, Vodalian Desecrator
- Referred to:
References
- ↑ a b c d e f James Wyatt (2018), The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria. VIZ Media.
- ↑ Jay Annelli (2022). Magic: The Gathering - The Visual Guide, DK. ISBN-13 978-0744061055.
- ↑ Encyclopedia Dominia “Return of the Empress" by Richard Thames Rowan
- ↑ J. Robert King (2001). Apocalypse
- ↑ J. Robert King (2002). "Behold, The Fish", in The Secrets of Magic
- ↑ Flavor text for Merfolk Trickster
- ↑ Roy Graham, Ethan Fleischer, Jenna Helland, Gerritt Turner (August 31, 2022). "Planeswalker's Guide to Dominaria". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Flavor text for Vodalian Arcanist