Avacyn

Avacyn is an archangel that inhabits Innistrad, and is the central figure of the Church of Avacyn, who gives the humanity of that plane the faith to fight for survival.

The creation of Avacyn

The vampire planeswalker Sorin Markov created an angel he named Avacyn, and tasked her with protecting the plane. Through her, the magic of faith would create true power to fend off the darkness. The Church of Avacyn grew up around the power Sorin invested in her.

Avacyn's purpose is to maintain the balance on Innistrad. Without her the equilibrium between humanity and the dark forces would be broken, with the resulting extinction of humanity at hands of the vampires or werewolves and the triumph of the demons over the plane.

Dissapearance of Balance

Avacyn's stained glass window

The angel's disappearance has not only endangered the humans of Innistrad, it has smashed the carefully-constructed balance between humanity and the creatures of the night. Sorin knew never to expect peace and harmony on this shadowed world, but he thought he had arranged a kind of effective equilibrium, a set of safety measures designed to keep one side of the scale from tipping too far.

However, not long ago, the demon Griselbrand defiantly came to the Helvault and challenged Avacyn to combat. Avacyn and Griselbrand battled for days, out of view of all but Avacyn's host; the Lunarch, Mikaeus; and his most trusted bishops. Finally, in an act of desperate effort, Avacyn used all of her remaining strength to drive Griselbrand into the Helvault. As his final act, Griselbrand threw his spear and impaled the archangel's heart. The binding spell backlashed as she was impaled, and Avacyn was drawn into the Helvault herself. Currently, Avacyn is imprisoned in the Helvault alongside Griselbrand and all of the other demons that are trapped in it.

In-Game References

Represented in cards:

Depicted in the cards:

• Endless Ranks of the Dead

Quoted or referred to:

• Bonds of Faith
• Angel of Flight Alabaster
• Nevermore
• Smite the Monstrous
• Moon Heron
• Disciple of Griselbrand
• Reaper from the Abyss
• Ancient Grudge
• Avacyn's Pilgrim
• Ranger's Guile
• Mask of Avacyn

External information

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/stf/177 Sorin's Homecoming

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/stf/178 The Prison of Silver