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The '''Quicksilver Sea''' is a large body of liquid metal on [[Mirrodin (plane)|Mirrodin]].  
The '''Quicksilver Sea''' was a large body of liquid metal on [[Mirrodin (plane)|Mirrodin]]. After the Phyrexian conquest of the plane, it was drained into the '''Surgical Bay'''.


==Description==
==Description==
Though the sea resembles mercury, it is an otherwordly liquid.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/mirrodin-environments-blue-2003-10-06|Mirrodin Environments: Blue|[[Magic Arcana]]|October 06, 2003}}</ref> The '''Vedalken Spires''', islands of solid metal, probably tin, arise from the sea in strange formations. The [[vedalken]] live in a massive structure called [[Lumengrid]], located somewhere near the shore of the Quicksilver Sea, while their [[Neurok]] servants dwell in settlements of tin on the shore nearby. The Blue Lacuna, located beneath the [[Pool of Knowledge]], was in the general area of the Quicksilver Sea.
Though the sea resembles mercury, it was an otherwordly liquid.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/mirrodin-environments-blue-2003-10-06|Mirrodin Environments: Blue|[[Magic Arcana]]|October 06, 2003}}</ref> The '''Vedalken Spires''', islands of solid metal, probably tin, arose from the sea in strange formations, reaching hundreds of meters tall. Metal catwalks and bridges connected many of these spires, and the spires themselves were filled with chambers, balconies, and staircases formed from the metal that comprises them. These spires are used as dwellings by vedalken and Neurok alike. The [[vedalken]] live in a massive structure called [[Lumengrid]], located somewhere near the shore of the Quicksilver Sea, while their [[Neurok]] servants dwell in settlements of tin on the shore nearby. The Blue Lacuna, located beneath the [[Pool of Knowledge]], was in the general area of the Quicksilver Sea.


In the Quicksilver Sea was a spot where the liquid simply refused to flow - a large, circular space where the "floor" was the silvery sea bed and the "wall" around the space was quicksilver suspended as though by a forcefield. Within this spot stood the <c>Titan Forge</c>, a huge device for creating towering metal colossus after colossus.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/sketches-titan-forge-2011-03-31|Sketches: Titan Forge|[[Monty Ashley]]|March 31, 2011}}</ref>
In the Quicksilver Sea was a spot where the liquid simply refused to flow - a large, circular space where the "floor" was the silvery sea bed and the "wall" around the space was quicksilver suspended as though by a forcefield. Within this spot stood the <c>Titan Forge</c>, a huge device for creating towering metal colossi.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/sketches-titan-forge-2011-03-31|Sketches: Titan Forge|[[Monty Ashley]]|March 31, 2011}}</ref>


With the [[New Phyrexia (plane)|Phyrexianisation of]] [[Argentum|Mirrodin]], the waters of the Quicksilver Sea have been modified. [[Glistening oil]] has been mixed with the liquid metal, creating a fluid that quickly corrodes away living organisms and artifacts, their spare parts later used for the creation of new things. Despite this, members of the '''Progress Machine''' have built an "underwater" laboratory that is designing sea monsters.
The waters of the Quicksilver Sea were one of the first areas of [[New Phyrexia (plane)|Mirrodin]] to be infected on a wide scale, following the [[Mephidross]].<ref name="Spreading">{{DailyRef|savor-flavor/spreading-infection-2010-10-05|Spreading the Infection|[[Doug Beyer]]|October 6, 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016154927/https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/savor-flavor/spreading-infection-2010-10-05|archivedate=October 16, 2021}}</ref> [[Glistening oil]] has been mixed with the liquid metal, creating a fluid that quickly corrodes away living organisms and artifacts, their spare parts later used for the creation of new things. This region became known as the '''Darkslick'''. Members of the '''Progress Machine''' built an "underwater" laboratory that designed sea monsters.


After the Phyrexians made nine layers, the former surface of Mirrodin became a wasteland known as '''Mirrex'''. The Quicksilver Sea was transplanted to the fifth layer, becoming the '''Surgical Bay'''<ref>Jay Annelli. (2022.) Magic: The Gathering - The Visual Guide, KBB</ref><ref name="Guide to ONE">{{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-to-phyrexia-all-will-be-one|Planeswalker's Guide to Phyrexia: All Will Be One|[[Grace Fong]]|January 31, 2023}}</ref>
After the Phyrexians made nine layers, the former surface of Mirrodin became a wasteland known as '''Mirrex'''. The Quicksilver Sea was transplanted to the fifth layer, becoming the '''Surgical Bay'''<ref>Jay Annelli. (2022.) Magic: The Gathering - The Visual Guide, KBB</ref><ref name="Guide to ONE">{{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-to-phyrexia-all-will-be-one|Planeswalker's Guide to Phyrexia: All Will Be One|[[Grace Fong]]|January 31, 2023}}</ref>


===The Surgical Bays===
===The Surgical Bays===
The Surgical Bays are the blue-aligned fifth sphere of New Phyrexia, initially designed as a reservoir of glistening oil before Jin-Gitaxias drained the quicksilver oceans above into it; as it was originally known as the '''Fourth Sphere''', it began as [[Kraynox]]'s oil sphere before Jin-Gitaxias took over.<ref>https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/planeswalkers-guide-to-phyrexia-all-will-be-one</ref> Sterile laboratories rise from islands in the middle of the sea of quicksilver and [[glistening oil]]. Mechanical eyes appear in all places and on most Phyrexians to observe all who enter and reside in this sphere. Painful and inhumane experiments are conducted here to further Phyrexian knowledge though no real substance is gained. [[Jin-Gitaxias]] and the [[Progress Engine]] reside here. The '''Fathom Ward''', an "underwater" installation, holds the last doses of [[blinkmoth]] serum.
The Surgical Bays are the blue-aligned fifth sphere of New Phyrexia. Initially built as [[Kraynox]]'s '''Fourth Sphere''' (in addition to the Surface, Core, and Furnace), a layer of glistening oil below the surface, it was later taken over by Jin-Gitaxias, who drained the Quicksilver Sea above into it, creating a massive reservoir of the oil.<ref>{{DailyRef|mirrodin-site-roxith-thane-rot-2011-06-03|On the Mirrodin Site: Roxith, Thane of Rot|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|June 3, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Guide to ONE"/> Sterile laboratories rise from islands in the middle of the sea of quicksilver and glistening oil. Even breathing the spray of the sphere's fountains can begin [[phyresis]].<ref name="Losses">{{DailyRef|magic-story/assault-on-new-phyrexia-or-episode-3-inconceivable-losses|Assault on New Phyrexia - Episode 3: Inconceivable Losses|[[Seanan McGuire]]|January 14, 2023}}</ref> Mechanical eyes appear in all places and on most Phyrexians to observe all who enter and reside in this sphere. Painful and inhumane experiments are conducted here to further Phyrexian knowledge though no real substance is gained. [[Jin-Gitaxias]] and the [[Progress Engine]] reside here.
 
The '''Fathom Ward''', an "underwater" sea monster installation, holds the last doses of [[blinkmoth]] serum.<ref name="Guide to ONE"/>
 
==Known locations==
Before the Phyrexians' conquest, the Quicksilver Sea was the center of the Neurok and vedalken cultures.
*The '''Vedalken Spires''' or '''Quicksilver Spires'''
*[[Lumengrid]], the capital of both cultures
**The [[Pool of Knowledge]], , location of the blue [[Lacuna]]
*The '''Titan Forge'''


==In-game references==
==In-game references==
Line 41: Line 50:
*<c>Quicksilver Geyser</c>
*<c>Quicksilver Geyser</c>
*<c>Quicksilver Lapidary</c>
*<c>Quicksilver Lapidary</c>
*<c>Quicksilver Servitor</c>
*<c>Surgical Metamorph</c>
*<c>Surgical Skullbomb</c>
*<c>Surgical Skullbomb</c>
|referred=
|referred=
*<c>Cobalt Golem</c>
*<c>Cobalt Golem</c>
*<c>Innovative Metatect</c>{{ref|Alchemy: Phyrexia|†}}
*<c>Lumengrid Sentinel</c>
*<c>Lumengrid Sentinel</c>
*<c>Mana Geyser</c>
*<c>Mana Geyser</c>
Line 52: Line 64:
*{{card|Wanderguard Sentry|Mirrodin|MRD}}
*{{card|Wanderguard Sentry|Mirrodin|MRD}}
}}
}}
:{{note|Alchemy: Phyrexia|†}} Scryfall does not record flavor text for digital cards. See [[Alchemy: Phyrexia/Flavor text]]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 22:30, 5 July 2024

Quicksilver Sea
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Quicksilver sea.jpg}}|250px]]
Information
Plane New Phyrexia

The Quicksilver Sea was a large body of liquid metal on Mirrodin. After the Phyrexian conquest of the plane, it was drained into the Surgical Bay.

Description

Though the sea resembles mercury, it was an otherwordly liquid.[1] The Vedalken Spires, islands of solid metal, probably tin, arose from the sea in strange formations, reaching hundreds of meters tall. Metal catwalks and bridges connected many of these spires, and the spires themselves were filled with chambers, balconies, and staircases formed from the metal that comprises them. These spires are used as dwellings by vedalken and Neurok alike. The vedalken live in a massive structure called Lumengrid, located somewhere near the shore of the Quicksilver Sea, while their Neurok servants dwell in settlements of tin on the shore nearby. The Blue Lacuna, located beneath the Pool of Knowledge, was in the general area of the Quicksilver Sea.

In the Quicksilver Sea was a spot where the liquid simply refused to flow - a large, circular space where the "floor" was the silvery sea bed and the "wall" around the space was quicksilver suspended as though by a forcefield. Within this spot stood the Titan Forge, a huge device for creating towering metal colossi.[2]

The waters of the Quicksilver Sea were one of the first areas of Mirrodin to be infected on a wide scale, following the Mephidross.[3] Glistening oil has been mixed with the liquid metal, creating a fluid that quickly corrodes away living organisms and artifacts, their spare parts later used for the creation of new things. This region became known as the Darkslick. Members of the Progress Machine built an "underwater" laboratory that designed sea monsters.

After the Phyrexians made nine layers, the former surface of Mirrodin became a wasteland known as Mirrex. The Quicksilver Sea was transplanted to the fifth layer, becoming the Surgical Bay[4][5]

The Surgical Bays

The Surgical Bays are the blue-aligned fifth sphere of New Phyrexia. Initially built as Kraynox's Fourth Sphere (in addition to the Surface, Core, and Furnace), a layer of glistening oil below the surface, it was later taken over by Jin-Gitaxias, who drained the Quicksilver Sea above into it, creating a massive reservoir of the oil.[6][5] Sterile laboratories rise from islands in the middle of the sea of quicksilver and glistening oil. Even breathing the spray of the sphere's fountains can begin phyresis.[7] Mechanical eyes appear in all places and on most Phyrexians to observe all who enter and reside in this sphere. Painful and inhumane experiments are conducted here to further Phyrexian knowledge though no real substance is gained. Jin-Gitaxias and the Progress Engine reside here.

The Fathom Ward, an "underwater" sea monster installation, holds the last doses of blinkmoth serum.[5]

Known locations

Before the Phyrexians' conquest, the Quicksilver Sea was the center of the Neurok and vedalken cultures.

In-game references

Represented in:
Associated cards:
Depicted in:
Referred to:
^† Scryfall does not record flavor text for digital cards. See Alchemy: Phyrexia/Flavor text

References

  1. Magic Arcana (October 06, 2003). "Mirrodin Environments: Blue". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Monty Ashley (March 31, 2011). "Sketches: Titan Forge". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Doug Beyer (October 6, 2010). "Spreading the Infection". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021.
  4. Jay Annelli. (2022.) Magic: The Gathering - The Visual Guide, KBB
  5. a b c Grace Fong (January 31, 2023). "Planeswalker's Guide to Phyrexia: All Will Be One". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Wizards of the Coast (June 3, 2011). "On the Mirrodin Site: Roxith, Thane of Rot". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. Seanan McGuire (January 14, 2023). "Assault on New Phyrexia - Episode 3: Inconceivable Losses". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.