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|name=Ertai
|name=Ertai
|birthplace=[[Tolaria]], [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]
|birthplace=[[Tolaria]], [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]
|lifetime=4186<ref name="Tempest">[https://web.archive.org/web/20200116160550/http://archive.wizards.com/magic/expert/tempest/Tempest_Characters.html Tempest Characters (archived)]</ref>-4205 AR
|lifetime=4186<ref name="Tempest">[https://web.archive.org/web/20200116160550/http://archive.wizards.com/magic/expert/tempest/Tempest_Characters.html Tempest Characters (archived)]</ref>-4205 AR<br/>Resurrected ~4562 AR
|race=[[Human]], [[Phyrexian]] (later)
|race=[[Human]] [[Phyrexian]]<br> Previously [[Human]]
|sources=[[Rath and Storm]], [[Nemesis (novel)|Nemesis]], [[Planeshift (novel)|Planeshift]], [[Apocalypse (novel)|Apocalypse]]
|sources=[[Rath and Storm]], [[Nemesis (novel)|Nemesis]], [[Planeshift (novel)|Planeshift]], [[Apocalypse (novel)|Apocalypse]]
|colors={{mana|BU}}<br>{{mana|W}} (formerly)
}}
}}
'''Ertai''' was a talented, arrogant young [[Wizard|wizar]]<nowiki/>d from [[Tolaria]] who signed on to be the [[Skyship Weatherlight|Skyship ''Weatherlight'']]'s mage.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/weatherlight-report-2007-12-03|Weather(light) Report|[[Mark Rosewater]]|December 03, 2007}}</ref>  
'''Ertai''' was a talented, arrogant young [[wizard]] from [[Tolaria]] who signed on to be the [[Skyship Weatherlight|Skyship ''Weatherlight'']]'s mage.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/weatherlight-report-2007-12-03|Weather(light) Report|[[Mark Rosewater]]|December 03, 2007}}</ref> He was resurrected during the second Phyrexian invasion of Dominaria.<ref name="DMU Legends"/>


==History==
==History==
===Journey to Rath===
[[File:Ertai, Wizard Adept.jpg|thumb|242x242px|The young [[wizard]].|left]]
[[File:Ertai, Wizard Adept.jpg|thumb|242x242px|The young [[wizard]].|left]]
===Journey to Rath===
Following the kidnapping of [[Captain Sisay]], the [[Weatherlight crew|''Weatherlight'' crew]] required a mage to fix the coordinates of [[Rath]] into the planeshifting [[powerstone]]. [[Hanna]] suggested that [[Barrin]] could fill the role, but when approached, he refused and instead provided Ertai, one of his top apprentices, who had just been granted full journeyman status. Dubious of his qualifications, Ertai challenged Hanna to a competition which he won easily.
Following the kidnapping of [[Captain Sisay]], the [[Weatherlight crew|''Weatherlight'' crew]] required a mage to fix the coordinates of [[Rath]] into the planeshifting [[powerstone]]. [[Hanna]] suggested that [[Barrin]] could fill the role, but when approached, he refused and instead provided Ertai, one of his top apprentices, who had just been granted full journeyman status. Dubious of his qualifications, Ertai challenged Hanna to a competition which he won easily.


After arriving in Rath, ''Weatherlight''<nowiki/>'s planeshifting engine was damaged in battle with the ''[[Predator]]''. Ertai, therefore, volunteered to keep the [[planar portal]] they found open as an escape route. While trying to open the portal, Ertai was contacted by [[Lyna]], who offered to aid his rituals in exchange for letting the [[Soltari]] use the portal as well. Ertai agreed and they successfully opened the portal. However, the ''Weatherlight'' was being hotly pursued by ''Predator'' as it fled and so was forced to leave Ertai behind.
After arriving in Rath, ''Weatherlight''<nowiki/>'s planeshifting engine was damaged in battle with the ''[[Predator]]''. Ertai, therefore, volunteered to keep the [[planar portal]] they found open as an escape route. While trying to open the portal, Ertai was contacted by [[Lyna]], who offered to aid his rituals in exchange for letting the [[Soltari]] use the portal as well. Ertai agreed and they successfully opened the portal. However, the ''Weatherlight'' was being hotly pursued by ''Predator'' as it fled and so was forced to leave Ertai behind.
===Nemesis===
===Nemesis===
After ''Weatherlight'' abandoned him, Ertai was captured by [[Greven|Greven ''il''-Vec]] and taken back to [[the Stronghold]]. He became an unexpected dark horse candidate in the contest to replace [[Volrath]] as [[Evincar]], largely because of his romantic relationship with [[Belbe]]. However, he knew he was no real match for [[Crovax]] and thus spent much of his time trying to find a way to escape Rath. When Crovax and Volrath dueled for the throne, Ertai saw that Crovax would win regardless, but by aiding him, he could prevent the deaths of bystanders from Crovax's ability to regenerate himself by killing them, so he used his magic to off-balance Volrath at a critical moment and thus give Crovax the victory. Soon after, Belbe was killed by [[Eladamri]], who also used the last energy of Belbe's portal to flee to Dominaria. This gave Ertai no hope of escape, so he chose to submit to the new evincar and was thus transformed into Crovax's loyal lapdog.[[File:Ertai Corrupted.jpg|thumb|242x242px|''Altered by [[Phyrexia|Phyrexian]] science, corrupted by [[black]] [[mana]], and twisted by rage, Ertai still looked in the mirror and saw only glory.'']]
After ''Weatherlight'' abandoned him, Ertai was captured by [[Greven|Greven ''il''-Vec]] and taken back to [[the Stronghold]]. He became an unexpected dark horse candidate in the contest to replace [[Volrath]] as [[Evincar]], largely because of his romantic relationship with [[Belbe]]. However, he knew he was no real match for [[Crovax]] and thus spent much of his time trying to find a way to escape Rath. When Crovax and Volrath dueled for the throne, Ertai saw that Crovax would win regardless, but by aiding him, he could prevent the deaths of bystanders from Crovax's ability to regenerate himself by killing them, so he used his magic to off-balance Volrath at a critical moment and thus give Crovax the victory. Soon after, Belbe was killed by [[Eladamri]], who also used the last energy of Belbe's portal to flee to Dominaria. This gave Ertai no hope of escape, so he chose to submit to the new evincar and was thus transformed into Crovax's loyal lapdog.[[File:Ertai Corrupted.jpg|thumb|242x242px|''Altered by [[Phyrexia|Phyrexian]] science, corrupted by [[black]] [[mana]], and twisted by rage, Ertai still looked in the mirror and saw only glory.'']]
===Invasion===
===Invasion===
Embittered by his abandonment by the ''Weatherlight'' crew and by Belbe's death, he regarded Gerrard and company as personal enemies. After the [[Rathi Overlay]], Ertai accompanied ''Predator'' into battle with ''Weatherlight'', where he captured [[Gerrard]] (and, accidentally, [[Squee]]) and teleported them into the Stronghold. After Squee was given the ability to resurrect, Ertai delighted in killing him over and over again, until finally Squee, quite by accident, overloaded the [[Phyrexia]]n healing device he was using, killing Ertai in the explosion.
Embittered by his abandonment by the ''Weatherlight'' crew and by Belbe's death, he regarded Gerrard and company as personal enemies. After the [[Rathi Overlay]], Ertai accompanied ''Predator'' into battle with ''Weatherlight'', where he captured [[Gerrard]] (and, accidentally, [[Squee]]) and teleported them into the Stronghold. After Squee was given the ability to resurrect, Ertai delighted in killing him over and over again, until finally Squee, quite by accident, overloaded the [[Phyrexia]]n healing device he was using, killing Ertai in the explosion.


===Dominaria United===
===Dominaria United===
Several centuries later, Ertai was reconstituted by the dark sciences of [[Sheoldred]] as part of the second Phyrexian Invasion during the events of ''[[Dominaria United]]''.<ref name="Salvation"/><ref name="DMU Legends">{{DailyRef|feature/legends-youll-find-dominaria-united-2022-09-01|The Legends You'll Find in Dominaria United|[[Roy Graham]]|September 1, 2022}}</ref>
Several centuries later, Ertai was reconstituted by the dark sciences of [[Sheoldred]] as part of the second Phyrexian Invasion during the events of ''[[Dominaria United]]''.<ref name="Salvation"/><ref name="DMU Legends">{{DailyRef|feature/legends-youll-find-dominaria-united-2022-09-01|The Legends You'll Find in Dominaria United|[[Roy Graham]]|September 1, 2022}}</ref> Trained in the art of magic at the Tolarian academy, Ertai's resurrection only strengthened the arcane gifts at his disposal, and he took control of the new academy at Lat-Nam.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/dominaria-united-states-design-part-1-2022-08-29|Dominaria United States of Design, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 29, 2022}}</ref> After escaping a battle with [[Jaya Ballard]], [[Ajani Goldmane]], [[Danitha Capashen]], and [[Radha]], he travelled to Squee's clan to compleat the immortal goblin and retrieve the {{card|Squee's Toy|title=Salvation Sphere}}. He compleated [[Aron Capashen]] and Squee's clan of goblins, and managed to protect himself when Squee accidentally blew up his clan's mountain.<ref name="Brutal">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-4-brutal-blow-2022-08-15|A Brutal Blow|[[Langley Hyde]]|August 15, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Salvation">{{DailyRef|magic-story/death-and-salvation-2022-08-16|Death and Salvation|[[Dan Sheehan]]|August 16, 2022}}</ref> He was present at the Battle of the [[Mana Rig]], and led an attack on Karn from the Phyrexianized [[Skyship Weatherlight]]. He was last seen stumbling over the edge of the Rig before its self-destruction.<ref name="Whisper">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-5-whisper-wind-2022-08-18|A Whisper in the Wind|[[Langley Hyde]]|August 18, 2022}}</ref> Because he was originally ''compleated'' by old Phyrexia, it is possible he was not affected by [[Elesh Norn]]'s failsafe, which rendered [[New Phyrexia (plane)|New Phyrexians]] inert.<ref>{{TwitterRef|jay13x|1743278023145570371|author=[[Jay Annelli]]|title=it's not clear if he would be affected by Norn's failsafe|date=January 5, 2024}}</ref>


Now, in addition to serving the legions of New Phyrexia, Ertai seeks revenge on those he once considered his friends. Trained in the art of magic at the Tolarian academy, Ertai's resurrection has only strengthened the arcane gifts at his disposal. He compleated [[Aron Capashen]] and Squee's clan of goblins.<ref name="Brutal">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-4-brutal-blow-2022-08-15|A Brutal Blow|[[Langley Hyde]]|August 15, 2022}}</ref> After escaping a battle with [[Jaya Ballard]], [[Ajani Goldmane]], [[Danitha Capashen]], and [[Radha]], he travelled to Squee's clan to compleat the immortal goblin and retrieve the {{card|Squee's Toy|title=Salvation Sphere}}. He managed to protect himself when Squee accidentally blew up his clan's mountain.<ref name="Salvation">{{DailyRef|magic-story/death-and-salvation-2022-08-16|Death and Salvation|[[Dan Sheehan]]|August 16, 2022}}</ref> He was present at the Battle of the [[Mana Rig]], and led an attack on Karn from the Phyrexianized [[Skyship Weatherlight]]. He was last seen stumbling over the edge of the Rig before its self-destruction.<ref name="Whisper">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-5-whisper-wind-2022-08-18|A Whisper in the Wind|[[Langley Hyde]]|August 18, 2022}}</ref>
==Planes visited==
Though not a planeswalker, Ertai traveled through the Multiverse as a crewmember of the ''[[Skyship Weatherlight]]''.
*[[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]
*[[Rath]]


==Story appearances==
==Story appearances==
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*During ''[[Weatherlight]]'' design and development, [[Mark Rosewater]] was put in charge of establishing Ertai's mannerisms and style of speech.<ref name="Sails">[[Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes]]]] (August 1997). "The Set of Sails". ''[[The Duelist]]'' #18, p.60-63</ref>
*The original storyline of the [[Weatherlight Saga]], as envisioned by [[Michael G. Ryan]] and [[Mark Rosewater]], featured a time travel story. Fifty years in the future, Dominaria is beset by the Phyrexians, with a resistance led by an older and wiser Ertai, who had found a way back from Rath. He would help stop the Phyrexians with the help of a powerful artifact that Gerard left behind, [[The Legacy#Inventory|the Hourglass pendant]].<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/629427414192226304/todays-my-birthday-could-i-have-some-birthday|title=Could I have the original plan for his story?|September 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/dominaria-united-states-design-part-1-2022-08-29|Dominaria United States of Design, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 29, 2022}}</ref>
*The original storyline of the [[Weatherlight Saga]], as envisioned by [[Michael G. Ryan]] and [[Mark Rosewater]], featured a time travel story. Fifty years in the future, Dominaria is beset by the Phyrexians, with a resistance led by an older and wiser Ertai, who had found a way back from Rath. He would help stop the Phyrexians with the help of a powerful artifact that Gerard left behind, [[The Legacy#Inventory|the Hourglass pendant]].<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/629427414192226304/todays-my-birthday-could-i-have-some-birthday|title=Could I have the original plan for his story?|September 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/dominaria-united-states-design-part-1-2022-08-29|Dominaria United States of Design, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 29, 2022}}</ref>


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{{In-game
{{In-game
|cards=
|cards=
*<c>Ertai</c>
*{{card|Ertai|Vanguard|PVAN}}
*<c>Ertai, the Corrupted</c>
*<c>Ertai, the Corrupted</c>
*<c>Ertai Resurrected</c>
*<c>Ertai Resurrected</c>
Line 65: Line 72:
*<c>Abjure</c>
*<c>Abjure</c>
*<c>Aether Flash</c>
*<c>Aether Flash</c>
*{{card|Barrin|Vanguard|PVAN}}
*<c>Bloodrock Cyclops</c>
*<c>Bloodrock Cyclops</c>
*<c>Canyon Drake</c>
*<c>Canyon Drake</c>
Line 84: Line 92:
*{{card|Relearn|Weatherlight}}  
*{{card|Relearn|Weatherlight}}  
*<c>Steal Enchantment</c>
*<c>Steal Enchantment</c>
*[[Extra Pulled|Target Target]]
*<c>Teferi's Veil</c>
*<c>Teferi's Veil</c>
*<c>Thalakos Seer</c>
*<c>Thalakos Seer</c>
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[[Category:Wizards]]
[[Category:Wizards]]
[[Category:Phyrexians]]
[[Category:Phyrexians]]
[[Category:Deceased]]
[[Category:Dominaria characters]]

Latest revision as of 05:27, 11 June 2024

Ertai
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Ertai Resurrected.jpg}}|250px]]
Details
Race Human Phyrexian
Previously Human
Birthplace Tolaria, Dominaria
Lifetime 4186[1]-4205 AR
Resurrected ~4562 AR
Colors
{U}{B}
{W} (formerly)
Sources
Rath and Storm, Nemesis, Planeshift, Apocalypse

Ertai was a talented, arrogant young wizard from Tolaria who signed on to be the Skyship Weatherlight's mage.[2] He was resurrected during the second Phyrexian invasion of Dominaria.[3]

History

Journey to Rath

The young wizard.

Following the kidnapping of Captain Sisay, the Weatherlight crew required a mage to fix the coordinates of Rath into the planeshifting powerstone. Hanna suggested that Barrin could fill the role, but when approached, he refused and instead provided Ertai, one of his top apprentices, who had just been granted full journeyman status. Dubious of his qualifications, Ertai challenged Hanna to a competition which he won easily.

After arriving in Rath, Weatherlight's planeshifting engine was damaged in battle with the Predator. Ertai, therefore, volunteered to keep the planar portal they found open as an escape route. While trying to open the portal, Ertai was contacted by Lyna, who offered to aid his rituals in exchange for letting the Soltari use the portal as well. Ertai agreed and they successfully opened the portal. However, the Weatherlight was being hotly pursued by Predator as it fled and so was forced to leave Ertai behind.

Nemesis

After Weatherlight abandoned him, Ertai was captured by Greven il-Vec and taken back to the Stronghold. He became an unexpected dark horse candidate in the contest to replace Volrath as Evincar, largely because of his romantic relationship with Belbe. However, he knew he was no real match for Crovax and thus spent much of his time trying to find a way to escape Rath. When Crovax and Volrath dueled for the throne, Ertai saw that Crovax would win regardless, but by aiding him, he could prevent the deaths of bystanders from Crovax's ability to regenerate himself by killing them, so he used his magic to off-balance Volrath at a critical moment and thus give Crovax the victory. Soon after, Belbe was killed by Eladamri, who also used the last energy of Belbe's portal to flee to Dominaria. This gave Ertai no hope of escape, so he chose to submit to the new evincar and was thus transformed into Crovax's loyal lapdog.

Altered by Phyrexian science, corrupted by black mana, and twisted by rage, Ertai still looked in the mirror and saw only glory.

Invasion

Embittered by his abandonment by the Weatherlight crew and by Belbe's death, he regarded Gerrard and company as personal enemies. After the Rathi Overlay, Ertai accompanied Predator into battle with Weatherlight, where he captured Gerrard (and, accidentally, Squee) and teleported them into the Stronghold. After Squee was given the ability to resurrect, Ertai delighted in killing him over and over again, until finally Squee, quite by accident, overloaded the Phyrexian healing device he was using, killing Ertai in the explosion.

Dominaria United

Several centuries later, Ertai was reconstituted by the dark sciences of Sheoldred as part of the second Phyrexian Invasion during the events of Dominaria United.[4][3] Trained in the art of magic at the Tolarian academy, Ertai's resurrection only strengthened the arcane gifts at his disposal, and he took control of the new academy at Lat-Nam.[5] After escaping a battle with Jaya Ballard, Ajani Goldmane, Danitha Capashen, and Radha, he travelled to Squee's clan to compleat the immortal goblin and retrieve the Salvation Sphere. He compleated Aron Capashen and Squee's clan of goblins, and managed to protect himself when Squee accidentally blew up his clan's mountain.[6][4] He was present at the Battle of the Mana Rig, and led an attack on Karn from the Phyrexianized Skyship Weatherlight. He was last seen stumbling over the edge of the Rig before its self-destruction.[7] Because he was originally compleated by old Phyrexia, it is possible he was not affected by Elesh Norn's failsafe, which rendered New Phyrexians inert.[8]

Planes visited

Though not a planeswalker, Ertai traveled through the Multiverse as a crewmember of the Skyship Weatherlight.

Story appearances

Title Author Publishing date Set Setting (plane) Featuring
Episode 4: A Brutal Blow Langley Hyde 2022-08-15 Dominaria United Dominaria Karn, Jaya Ballard, Jodah, Teferi, Shanna Sisay, Arvad, Rafwyn Capashen, Slimefoot, Tiana, Ajani Goldmane, Danitha Capashen, Meria, Aron Capashen, Ertai, Darigaaz, Jhoira, Radha
Death and Salvation Dan Sheehan 2022-08-16 Dominaria United Dominaria Squee, Bulp, Rarp, Spurna, Ertai, Salvation
Episode 5: A Whisper in the Wind Langley Hyde 2022-08-18 Dominaria United Dominaria Teferi, Karn, Jhoira, Ertai, Ajani Goldmane, Jaya Ballard, Radha, Danitha Capashen, Sheoldred, Darigaaz, Jodah, Saheeli Rai, Elesh Norn

Trivia

  • During Weatherlight design and development, Mark Rosewater was put in charge of establishing Ertai's mannerisms and style of speech.[9]
  • The original storyline of the Weatherlight Saga, as envisioned by Michael G. Ryan and Mark Rosewater, featured a time travel story. Fifty years in the future, Dominaria is beset by the Phyrexians, with a resistance led by an older and wiser Ertai, who had found a way back from Rath. He would help stop the Phyrexians with the help of a powerful artifact that Gerard left behind, the Hourglass pendant.[10][11]

In-game references

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

References

  1. Tempest Characters (archived)
  2. Mark Rosewater (December 03, 2007). "Weather(light) Report". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. a b Roy Graham (September 1, 2022). "The Legends You'll Find in Dominaria United". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. a b Dan Sheehan (August 16, 2022). "Death and Salvation". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Mark Rosewater (August 29, 2022). "Dominaria United States of Design, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Langley Hyde (August 15, 2022). "A Brutal Blow". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. Langley Hyde (August 18, 2022). "A Whisper in the Wind". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. Jay Annelli (January 5, 2024). "it's not clear if he would be affected by Norn's failsafe". Twitter.
  9. Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes]] (August 1997). "The Set of Sails". The Duelist #18, p.60-63
  10. Mark Rosewater (September 16, 2020). "Could I have the original plan for his story?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  11. Mark Rosewater (August 29, 2022). "Dominaria United States of Design, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. Magic Arcana (April 24, 2002). "Stronghold BioMachine". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.