Nahiri: Difference between revisions
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'''Nahiri''', called '''The Lithomancer''' and '''The Harbinger''', is a talented [[Kor]] [[stoneforger]], [[lithomancer]] and [[planeswalker]] from [[Zendikar (plane)|Zendikar]]. | '''Nahiri''', called '''The Lithomancer''' and '''The Harbinger''', is a talented [[Kor]] [[stoneforger]], [[lithomancer]], and [[planeswalker]] from [[Zendikar (plane)|Zendikar]]. | ||
== Appearance and characteristics == | == Appearance and characteristics == | ||
Nahiri is white-skinned and white-haired. Being a [[lithomancer]], she has special power over stone. She used to be one of [[The Three]] — a group of [[planeswalker]]s that included [[Sorin Markov]] and [[Ugin]] — that decided to rid the [[Multiverse]] of the terrible [[Eldrazi]]. The duty-bound took it upon herself to keep the Eldrazi bound to her plane. She believed strongly in keeping one's word, becoming enraged the moment she realized Sorin had broken his own, going as far as to seek him out and confront him for his lie. She strongly believed in an eye for an eye, personally bringing doom to Sorin's homeworld in retaliation for him not helping, for she had resealed the Eldrazi away on her own. This led to a rather brutal, and somewhat blinding, feud breaking out between the two. This quest for revenge allowed her to tap into red mana. | Nahiri is white-skinned and white-haired. Being a [[lithomancer]], she has special power over stone. She used to be one of [[The Three]] — a group of [[planeswalker]]s that included [[Sorin Markov]] and [[Ugin]] — that decided to rid the [[Multiverse]] of the threat from the terrible [[Eldrazi]]. The duty-bound took it upon herself to keep the Eldrazi bound to her plane. She believed strongly in keeping one's word, becoming enraged the moment she realized Sorin had broken his own, going as far as to seek him out and confront him for his lie. She strongly believed in an eye for an eye, personally bringing doom to Sorin's homeworld in retaliation for him not helping, for she had been left to resealed the Eldrazi away on her own. This led to a rather brutal, and somewhat blinding, feud breaking out between the two. This quest for revenge allowed her to tap into red mana. | ||
Nahiri is primarily [[white]]-aligned, but secondary in [[red]] mana. | Nahiri is primarily [[white]]-aligned, but secondary in [[red]] mana. | ||
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The planeswalkers concentrated the power of their imprisonment spell in a secret location deep inside Zendikar's mountains of [[Akoum]]: a subterranean chamber called the [[Eye of Ugin]]. To make sure that the imprisonment would not be broken, the three planeswalkers sealed the chamber with a mystical lock: the Eye of Ugin could only be reactivated by the presence of three [[planeswalker's spark]]s — and the colorless, invisible [[Ghostfire]] breath of Ugin, the spirit dragon himself. | The planeswalkers concentrated the power of their imprisonment spell in a secret location deep inside Zendikar's mountains of [[Akoum]]: a subterranean chamber called the [[Eye of Ugin]]. To make sure that the imprisonment would not be broken, the three planeswalkers sealed the chamber with a mystical lock: the Eye of Ugin could only be reactivated by the presence of three [[planeswalker's spark]]s — and the colorless, invisible [[Ghostfire]] breath of Ugin, the spirit dragon himself. | ||
The planeswalkers' trap worked. [[Emrakul]], [[Ulamog]], and [[Kozilek]] manifested in physical form on Zendikar, became confined by the magic of the network of hedrons, and thanks to the magic of the imprisonment spell, sank into harmless dormancy. Their mission complete, | The planeswalkers' trap worked. [[Emrakul]], [[Ulamog]], and [[Kozilek]] manifested in physical form on Zendikar, became confined by the magic of the network of hedrons, and thanks to the magic of the imprisonment spell, sank into harmless dormancy. Their mission complete, The Three disbanded. Sorin and Ugin left the plane. | ||
===Guarding Zendikar=== | ===Guarding Zendikar=== | ||
Nahiri stayed and lived happily among her people for a long time. The wild mana of Zendikar lured other beings to the plane as well, and Nahiri took it upon herself to protect Zendikar from those who would cause it harm. Of those, the most infamous was the interplanar conqueror [[Ob Nixilis]], but before he could do much damage, Nahiri intervened and bound his power with that of a hedron.<ref name="damned">{{DailyRef|ur/dreams-damned-2014-08-06|Dreams of the Damned|[[Nik Davidson]]|August 6, 2014}}</ref> She took on pupils and taught them to maintain the hedron network. | Nahiri stayed and lived happily among her people for a long time. The wild mana of Zendikar lured other beings to the plane as well, and Nahiri took it upon herself to protect Zendikar from those who would cause it harm. Of those, the most infamous was the interplanar conqueror [[Ob Nixilis]], but before he could do much damage, Nahiri intervened and bound his power with that of a hedron.<ref name="damned">{{DailyRef|ur/dreams-damned-2014-08-06|Dreams of the Damned|[[Nik Davidson]]|August 6, 2014}}</ref> She took on pupils and taught them to maintain the hedron network. | ||
Centuries later she became tired of living, and withdrew in a meditational slumber. The centuries passed and her teachings about the Eldrazi became garbled; [[Talib]] (Kozilek), [[Kamsa]] (Emrakul) and [[Mangeni]] (Ulamog) became the revered gods of the Kor. Nahiri was worshipped as the "prophet of Talib", who taught the | Centuries later she became tired of living, and withdrew in a meditational slumber. The centuries passed and her teachings about the Eldrazi became garbled; [[Talib]] (Kozilek), [[Kamsa]] (Emrakul) and [[Mangeni]] (Ulamog) became the revered gods of the Kor. Nahiri was worshipped as the "prophet of Talib", who taught the Kor the arts of lithomancy.<ref>[http://media.wizards.com/2016/downloads/magic/Plane%20Shift%20Zendikar.pdf Plane Shift: Zendikar]</ref> When [[vampire]]s (which hadn't been seen on the plane in the earlier days) built a shrine on the nexus of the hedron network, the prison of the Eldrazi became unstable, and the brood lineages spilled over the plane again. Nahiri awoke and called for help to Sorin and Ugin but they didn't respond. She succeeded on her own at restoring the prison.<ref>{{DailyRef|uncharted-realms/stirring-slumber-2015-05-13|Stirring from Slumber|[[James Wyatt]]|May 13, 2015}}</ref> Confused why Sorin hadn't shown up when she called for him, she decided to find him, and planeswalked away from Zendikar. | ||
===Imprisoned on Innistrad=== | ===Imprisoned on Innistrad=== | ||
[[File:Sorin traped Nahiri.jpg|thumb|Sorin imprisoning Nahiri in the Helvault|alt=|235x235px|left]] | [[File:Sorin traped Nahiri.jpg|thumb|Sorin imprisoning Nahiri in the Helvault|alt=|235x235px|left]] | ||
When Nahiri arrived at Innistrad, Sorin explained that her signal for help had been likely absorbed by the [[The Helvault|Helvault]]. Discontent with the truth, Nahiri guilted Sorin for his actions. Offended, Sorin angrily reminded her of who raised her as a planeswalker and advised her to pester Ugin | When Nahiri arrived at Innistrad, Sorin explained that her signal for help had been likely absorbed by the [[The Helvault|Helvault]]. Discontent with the truth, Nahiri guilted Sorin for his actions. Offended, Sorin angrily reminded her of who raised her as a planeswalker and advised her to go pester Ugin instead. Nahiri saw this as a betrayal of their bond and chose to physically threaten Sorin. This resulted in [[Avacyn]]'s intervention, who sensed the threat that Nahiri posed to Innistrad. The two fought, until Sorin ended the battle by imprisoning Nahiri in the Helvault. During her long stay within the Helvault, Nahiri encountered Avacyn after the archangel had sealed herself into the vault to contain an [[Griselbrand|especially powerful demon]].<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/stone-and-blood-2016-06-15|Stone and Blood|[[Kelly Digges]]|June 15, 2016}}</ref> | ||
Six thousand years after they were initially imprisoned<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://dougbeyermtg.tumblr.com/post/95003484139/random-question-for-timeline-purposes-how-long-were|title=How long were the Eldrazi sealed away?|August 17, 2014}}</ref> [[Rise of the Eldrazi|the Eldrazi broke free]], enabled by the meddling of several planeswalkers. This time, Sorin reacted and tried to reassemble The Three. But now, he was unable to free Nahiri without destroying the Helvault. He found Ugin dead on original [[Tarkir]],<ref name="revelation">{{DailyRef|ur/sorins-revelation-2014-09-24|Sorin's Revelation|[[Adam Lee]]|September 24, 2014}}</ref> but alive in the new timeline.<ref name="restoration">{{DailyRef|uncharted-realms/sorins-restoration-2015-03-27|Sorin's Restoration|[[Doug Beyer]]|March 27, 2015}}</ref> Ugin instructed Sorin to find Nahiri. | |||
===Revenge=== | ===Revenge=== | ||
[[File:Nahiri Revenge.jpg|thumb|Nahiri imprisoned Sorin in stone prison|alt=|246x246px]] | [[File:Nahiri Revenge.jpg|thumb|Nahiri imprisoned Sorin in stone prison|alt=|246x246px]] | ||
When the Helvault broke, Nahiri fled back to Zendikar, only to find the Eldrazi unleashed, continents laid to waste and her allies seemingly having forsaken her. Enraged, she swore vengeance against Sorin, vowing to make Innistrad bleed in the same way Zendikar had suffered.<ref>Flavour text for <c>Structural Distortion</c></ref> She attacked [[Markov Manor]], destroying it with lithomancy and imprisoning its vampires in a state of perpetual agony within its walls.<ref>[http://magic.wizards.com/en/innistradmap Markov Manor]</ref> While active on Innistrad, people turned to worship her, some ironically believing her to be an ancient vampire.<ref>[http://d1bf78c87087c77d76ca-be4120a00702a7d33079a120750230c5.r45.cf1.rackcdn.com/Plane%20Shift%20Innistrad%20SFG_2.pdf Plane Shift: Innistrad]</ref> She created [[cryptolith]]s across Innistrad, using them to channel Innistrad's [[leyline]] energy to summon [[Emrakul]] to lay waste to Innistrad as the Eldrazi had laid waste to Zendikar before it.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/emrakul-rises-2016-06-20|Emrakul Rises|[[Kimberly J. Kreines]]|June 20, 2016}}</ref> As the focal point for summoning she built the [[Drownyard|Drownyard Temple]] with help from [[Gisa]]'s [[ghoul]]s.<ref name="Games">{{DailyRef|magic-story/games-2016-04-27|Games|[[Kelly Digges]]|April 27, 2016}}</ref> After the maddened [[Avacyn]] was killed by Sorin, Emrakul arrived and began corrupting Innistrad and its citizens. Thinking the plane lost, Sorin called for [[Olivia Voldaren]] to summon her vampire army and attack Nahiri.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/campaign-vengeance-2016-07-06|Campaign of Vengeance|Ari Levitch|July 6, 2016}}</ref> | When the Helvault broke, Nahiri fled back to Zendikar, only to find the Eldrazi unleashed, continents laid to waste, and her allies seemingly having forsaken her. Enraged, she swore vengeance against Sorin, vowing to make Innistrad bleed in the same way Zendikar had suffered.<ref>Flavour text for <c>Structural Distortion</c></ref> She attacked [[Markov Manor]], destroying it with lithomancy and imprisoning its vampires in a state of perpetual agony within its walls.<ref>[http://magic.wizards.com/en/innistradmap Markov Manor]</ref> While active on Innistrad, people turned to worship of her, some ironically believing her to be an ancient vampire.<ref>[http://d1bf78c87087c77d76ca-be4120a00702a7d33079a120750230c5.r45.cf1.rackcdn.com/Plane%20Shift%20Innistrad%20SFG_2.pdf Plane Shift: Innistrad]</ref> She created [[cryptolith]]s across Innistrad, using them to channel Innistrad's [[leyline]] energy to summon [[Emrakul]] to lay waste to Innistrad as the Eldrazi had laid waste to Zendikar before it.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/emrakul-rises-2016-06-20|Emrakul Rises|[[Kimberly J. Kreines]]|June 20, 2016}}</ref> As the focal point for summoning, she built the [[Drownyard|Drownyard Temple]] with help from [[Gisa]]'s [[ghoul]]s.<ref name="Games">{{DailyRef|magic-story/games-2016-04-27|Games|[[Kelly Digges]]|April 27, 2016}}</ref> After the maddened [[Avacyn]] was killed by Sorin, Emrakul arrived and began corrupting Innistrad and its citizens. Thinking the plane lost, Sorin called for [[Olivia Voldaren]] to summon her vampire army and attack Nahiri.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/campaign-vengeance-2016-07-06|Campaign of Vengeance|Ari Levitch|July 6, 2016}}</ref> The Lithomancer waited for them at the ruins of Markov Manor with her own army of cultists and Eldrazi abominations. In the end, Nahiri was wounded severely but managed to encase Sorin in stone. After this victory, she planeswalked away. | ||
===War of the Spark=== | ===War of the Spark=== | ||
[[File:Nahiris-Stoneblades.jpg|thumb|221x221px|Nahiri's Stoneblades|alt=|left]] | [[File:Nahiris-Stoneblades.jpg|thumb|221x221px|Nahiri's Stoneblades|alt=|left]] | ||
Nahiri was lured to [[Ravnica]] by the [[Interplanar Beacon]], and immediately became trapped there due to [[Bolas]]' | Nahiri was lured to [[Ravnica]] by the [[Interplanar Beacon]], and immediately became trapped there due to [[Bolas]]' use of the [[Immortal Sun]]. During the invasion, the trapped planeswalkers (including Nahiri) got together with Ravnican leaders to strategize. | ||
When Sorin arrived on Ravnica, he immediately went after Nahiri, | When Sorin arrived on Ravnica, he immediately went after Nahiri, and not even a threat to the entire [[Multiverse]] could persuade the two of them to put aside their feud. Ignoring the [[War of the Spark (event)|battle]] that raged around them, the two planeswalkers fought each other in single combat.<ref>Flavor text for <c>Single Combat</c></ref><ref>{{DailyRef|card-preview/single-combat-2019-04-03|Single Combat|[[Katie Allison]]|April 3, 2019}}</ref> | ||
However, they later came to a temporary truce, joining forces against the [[Eternal]]s of Bolas' [[Dreadhorde]]. They were among the few planeswalkers who chose to remain on Ravnica after Chandra disabled the Immortal Sun, helping the Gatewatch in their fight against Bolas.<ref name="Weisman Ravnica novel">[[Greg Weisman]] (April 2019). "''[[War of the Spark: Ravnica]]''". Del Rey.</ref><ref name="Ashes">{{DailyRef|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-ashes-2019-06-12|War of the Spark: Ravnica – Ashes|[[Greg Weisman]]|June 12, 2019}}</ref> | However, they later came to a temporary truce, joining forces against the [[Eternal]]s of Bolas' [[Dreadhorde]]. They were among the few planeswalkers who chose to remain on Ravnica after Chandra disabled the Immortal Sun, helping the Gatewatch in their fight against Bolas.<ref name="Weisman Ravnica novel">[[Greg Weisman]] (April 2019). "''[[War of the Spark: Ravnica]]''". Del Rey.</ref><ref name="Ashes">{{DailyRef|magic-story/war-spark-ravnica-ashes-2019-06-12|War of the Spark: Ravnica – Ashes|[[Greg Weisman]]|June 12, 2019}}</ref> | ||
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===Zendikar Rising=== | ===Zendikar Rising=== | ||
[[File:Nahiri lithoform core.png|thumb|238x238px|Search for the lithoform core]] | [[File:Nahiri lithoform core.png|thumb|238x238px|Search for the lithoform core]] | ||
After returning to Zendikar Nahiri heard of the renown of the [[Sea Gate Expeditionary House]]. She decided to fund it,<ref name="Changed">{{DailyRef|feature/zendikar-things-have-changed-2020-09-01|Zendikar: Thing Have Changed|Ari Zirulnik and [[James Wyatt]]|September 1, 2020}}</ref> having plans to acquire artifacts to destroy the [[Roil]] that had originated as a consequence of her own actions.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|4RtsXnvVIk8|Zendikar Rising Official Trailer|channel=Magic: The Gathering|date=September 1, 2020}}</ref> This eventually led to her search for the [[lithoform core]]. | After returning to Zendikar, Nahiri heard of the renown of the [[Sea Gate Expeditionary House]]. She decided to fund it,<ref name="Changed">{{DailyRef|feature/zendikar-things-have-changed-2020-09-01|Zendikar: Thing Have Changed|Ari Zirulnik and [[James Wyatt]]|September 1, 2020}}</ref> having plans to acquire artifacts to destroy the [[Roil]] that had originated as a consequence of her own actions.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|4RtsXnvVIk8|Zendikar Rising Official Trailer|channel=Magic: The Gathering|date=September 1, 2020}}</ref> This eventually led to her search for the [[lithoform core]]. | ||
Initially she asked for [[Nissa]]'s assistance in retrieving the core tile key of the [[Skyclave]] at [[Akoum]]. However, when she tried out its restoring power, its effects also killed an [[elemental]] summoned by Nissa. Realizing that restoring the order of the Kor Empire would destroy the plants and animals of current day Zendikar, Nissa turned against Nahiri.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-1-heart-skyclave-2020-09-02|Episode 1: In the Heart of the Skyclave|[[A. T. Greenblatt]]|September 2, 2020}}</ref> As the key and inscriptions of Akoum pointed her to Murasa, Nahiri realized she could not visit the Murasa Skyclave alone and hope to survive. She | Initially she asked for [[Nissa]]'s assistance in retrieving the core tile key of the [[Skyclave]] at [[Akoum]]. However, when she tried out its restoring power, its effects also killed an [[elemental]] summoned by Nissa. Realizing that restoring the order of the Kor Empire would destroy the plants and animals of current day Zendikar, Nissa turned against Nahiri.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-1-heart-skyclave-2020-09-02|Episode 1: In the Heart of the Skyclave|[[A. T. Greenblatt]]|September 2, 2020}}</ref> As the key and inscriptions of Akoum pointed her to Murasa, Nahiri realized she could not visit the Murasa Skyclave alone and hope to survive. She therefore visited [[Kesenya]] at the [[Sea Gate Expeditionary House]] to hire help.<ref name="Race">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-2-race-murasa-skyclave-2020-09-09|Episode 2: Race to the Murasa Skyclave|[[A. T. Greenblatt]]|September 9, 2020}}</ref> | ||
She hired [[Akiri]], [[Zareth San]], [[Kaza]] and [[Orah]] to accompany her to [[Murasa]].<ref name="Red Route">{{DailyRef|magic-story/red-route-2020-09-04|Red Route|[[Miguel Lopez]]|September 4, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Race"/> | She hired [[Akiri]], [[Zareth San]], [[Kaza]] and [[Orah]] to accompany her to [[Murasa]].<ref name="Red Route">{{DailyRef|magic-story/red-route-2020-09-04|Red Route|[[Miguel Lopez]]|September 4, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Race"/> | ||
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* Nahiri’s art was modeled on the art of ''[[Worldwake]]’s'' <c>Stoneforge Mystic</c>, but that represents another character.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://dougbeyermtg.tumblr.com/post/101271064144/nahiri-is-fantastic-and-so-is-the-story-much-thanks|title=Is Stoneforge Mystic supposed to represent Nahiri in some way?|October 29, 2014}}</ref> | * Nahiri’s art was modeled on the art of ''[[Worldwake]]’s'' <c>Stoneforge Mystic</c>, but that represents another character.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://dougbeyermtg.tumblr.com/post/101271064144/nahiri-is-fantastic-and-so-is-the-story-much-thanks|title=Is Stoneforge Mystic supposed to represent Nahiri in some way?|October 29, 2014}}</ref> | ||
* When Sorin first heard that Ugin had been involved in a battle with another planeswalker, he initially suspected that it was Nahiri. He later discovered that this other planeswalker was [[Nicol Bolas]], but his suspicion about her involvement suggests that her largely benevolent persona had changed at some point. | * When Sorin first heard that Ugin had been involved in a battle with another planeswalker, he initially suspected that it was Nahiri. He later discovered that this other planeswalker was [[Nicol Bolas]], but his suspicion about her involvement suggests that her largely benevolent persona had changed at some point. | ||
* Nahiri is the first White-aligned planeswalker in a villainous role. The | * Nahiri is the first White-aligned planeswalker in a villainous role. The White-aligned [[Gideon Jura]] in ''[[The Purifying Fire]]'' is just a semi-antagonist, mostly forced to work with the protagonist, [[Chandra Nalaar]]. Nahiri is also the fourth White antagonist in the central antagonist role after [[Takeshi Konda]], [[Heliod]] and [[Elesh Norn]] (though [[Radiant]], [[Augustin IV]], [[Gaddock Teeg]], [[Dovin Baan]], [[Dromoka]] and [[Ojutai]] also served notable secondary antagonist roles). | ||
==Planeswalkers met== | ==Planeswalkers met== | ||
Revision as of 01:11, 14 September 2020
| Nahiri | |
|---|---|
|
[[File:{{#setmainimage:NahiriTheLithomancer.jpg}}|250px]] | |
| Details | |
| Race | Kor Planeswalker |
| Birthplace | Zendikar |
| Lifetime | Around -1500 A.R. |
| Colors | |
Center:  Currently:  | |
Nahiri, called The Lithomancer and The Harbinger, is a talented Kor stoneforger, lithomancer, and planeswalker from Zendikar.
Appearance and characteristics
Nahiri is white-skinned and white-haired. Being a lithomancer, she has special power over stone. She used to be one of The Three — a group of planeswalkers that included Sorin Markov and Ugin — that decided to rid the Multiverse of the threat from the terrible Eldrazi. The duty-bound took it upon herself to keep the Eldrazi bound to her plane. She believed strongly in keeping one's word, becoming enraged the moment she realized Sorin had broken his own, going as far as to seek him out and confront him for his lie. She strongly believed in an eye for an eye, personally bringing doom to Sorin's homeworld in retaliation for him not helping, for she had been left to resealed the Eldrazi away on her own. This led to a rather brutal, and somewhat blinding, feud breaking out between the two. This quest for revenge allowed her to tap into red mana.
Nahiri is primarily white-aligned, but secondary in red mana.
History
The Three against the Eldrazi
Sorin and Nahiri first met when the young Kor's planeswalker spark first ignited, and they forged an unlikely friendship. Viewing her almost as a daughter, Sorin taught Nahiri about the Multiverse and introduced her to many new planes. Together, they discovered the Eldrazi, witnessing Ulamog's destruction of a long-forgotten plane. They met Ugin soon after, and the three Planeswalkers concocted a plan that bound the Eldrazi in Zendikar for millennia.
The Three decided to force the Eldrazi into physical form and trap them on a plane, sacrificing that plane for the well-being of the Multiverse.[1] They searched for a plane with lush ecosystems and uniquely dynamic mana—a powerful lure for the Eldrazi's insatiable hunger. Wanting to start their work immediately, the three decided upon Zendikar. Sorin Markov lured the Eldrazi to the plane, directing their hunger to that unique mana, Ugin used his invisible breath to combat the Eldrazi and his colorless magic to bind them to the plane, and Nahiri constructed a massive network of stone hedrons, whose power would form the bars of a planewide prison, forever preventing the Eldrazi from leaving. Ugin arranged the hedrons to direct leylines of energy, which were not to be disrupted.
The planeswalkers concentrated the power of their imprisonment spell in a secret location deep inside Zendikar's mountains of Akoum: a subterranean chamber called the Eye of Ugin. To make sure that the imprisonment would not be broken, the three planeswalkers sealed the chamber with a mystical lock: the Eye of Ugin could only be reactivated by the presence of three planeswalker's sparks — and the colorless, invisible Ghostfire breath of Ugin, the spirit dragon himself.
The planeswalkers' trap worked. Emrakul, Ulamog, and Kozilek manifested in physical form on Zendikar, became confined by the magic of the network of hedrons, and thanks to the magic of the imprisonment spell, sank into harmless dormancy. Their mission complete, The Three disbanded. Sorin and Ugin left the plane.
Guarding Zendikar
Nahiri stayed and lived happily among her people for a long time. The wild mana of Zendikar lured other beings to the plane as well, and Nahiri took it upon herself to protect Zendikar from those who would cause it harm. Of those, the most infamous was the interplanar conqueror Ob Nixilis, but before he could do much damage, Nahiri intervened and bound his power with that of a hedron.[2] She took on pupils and taught them to maintain the hedron network.
Centuries later she became tired of living, and withdrew in a meditational slumber. The centuries passed and her teachings about the Eldrazi became garbled; Talib (Kozilek), Kamsa (Emrakul) and Mangeni (Ulamog) became the revered gods of the Kor. Nahiri was worshipped as the "prophet of Talib", who taught the Kor the arts of lithomancy.[3] When vampires (which hadn't been seen on the plane in the earlier days) built a shrine on the nexus of the hedron network, the prison of the Eldrazi became unstable, and the brood lineages spilled over the plane again. Nahiri awoke and called for help to Sorin and Ugin but they didn't respond. She succeeded on her own at restoring the prison.[4] Confused why Sorin hadn't shown up when she called for him, she decided to find him, and planeswalked away from Zendikar.
Imprisoned on Innistrad
When Nahiri arrived at Innistrad, Sorin explained that her signal for help had been likely absorbed by the Helvault. Discontent with the truth, Nahiri guilted Sorin for his actions. Offended, Sorin angrily reminded her of who raised her as a planeswalker and advised her to go pester Ugin instead. Nahiri saw this as a betrayal of their bond and chose to physically threaten Sorin. This resulted in Avacyn's intervention, who sensed the threat that Nahiri posed to Innistrad. The two fought, until Sorin ended the battle by imprisoning Nahiri in the Helvault. During her long stay within the Helvault, Nahiri encountered Avacyn after the archangel had sealed herself into the vault to contain an especially powerful demon.[5]
Six thousand years after they were initially imprisoned[6] the Eldrazi broke free, enabled by the meddling of several planeswalkers. This time, Sorin reacted and tried to reassemble The Three. But now, he was unable to free Nahiri without destroying the Helvault. He found Ugin dead on original Tarkir,[7] but alive in the new timeline.[8] Ugin instructed Sorin to find Nahiri.
Revenge
When the Helvault broke, Nahiri fled back to Zendikar, only to find the Eldrazi unleashed, continents laid to waste, and her allies seemingly having forsaken her. Enraged, she swore vengeance against Sorin, vowing to make Innistrad bleed in the same way Zendikar had suffered.[9] She attacked Markov Manor, destroying it with lithomancy and imprisoning its vampires in a state of perpetual agony within its walls.[10] While active on Innistrad, people turned to worship of her, some ironically believing her to be an ancient vampire.[11] She created cryptoliths across Innistrad, using them to channel Innistrad's leyline energy to summon Emrakul to lay waste to Innistrad as the Eldrazi had laid waste to Zendikar before it.[12] As the focal point for summoning, she built the Drownyard Temple with help from Gisa's ghouls.[13] After the maddened Avacyn was killed by Sorin, Emrakul arrived and began corrupting Innistrad and its citizens. Thinking the plane lost, Sorin called for Olivia Voldaren to summon her vampire army and attack Nahiri.[14] The Lithomancer waited for them at the ruins of Markov Manor with her own army of cultists and Eldrazi abominations. In the end, Nahiri was wounded severely but managed to encase Sorin in stone. After this victory, she planeswalked away.
War of the Spark
Nahiri was lured to Ravnica by the Interplanar Beacon, and immediately became trapped there due to Bolas' use of the Immortal Sun. During the invasion, the trapped planeswalkers (including Nahiri) got together with Ravnican leaders to strategize.
When Sorin arrived on Ravnica, he immediately went after Nahiri, and not even a threat to the entire Multiverse could persuade the two of them to put aside their feud. Ignoring the battle that raged around them, the two planeswalkers fought each other in single combat.[15][16]
However, they later came to a temporary truce, joining forces against the Eternals of Bolas' Dreadhorde. They were among the few planeswalkers who chose to remain on Ravnica after Chandra disabled the Immortal Sun, helping the Gatewatch in their fight against Bolas.[17][18]
It is unknown what happened to Sorin and Nahiri after that, although it has been confirmed that they both survived, and it can be assumed that they'll resume their feud.[19]
Zendikar Rising
After returning to Zendikar, Nahiri heard of the renown of the Sea Gate Expeditionary House. She decided to fund it,[20] having plans to acquire artifacts to destroy the Roil that had originated as a consequence of her own actions.[21] This eventually led to her search for the lithoform core.
Initially she asked for Nissa's assistance in retrieving the core tile key of the Skyclave at Akoum. However, when she tried out its restoring power, its effects also killed an elemental summoned by Nissa. Realizing that restoring the order of the Kor Empire would destroy the plants and animals of current day Zendikar, Nissa turned against Nahiri.[22] As the key and inscriptions of Akoum pointed her to Murasa, Nahiri realized she could not visit the Murasa Skyclave alone and hope to survive. She therefore visited Kesenya at the Sea Gate Expeditionary House to hire help.[23]
She hired Akiri, Zareth San, Kaza and Orah to accompany her to Murasa.[24][23]
Trivia
- The Lithomancer's identity as Nahiri was hinted at earlier,[7] but finally unveiled in the Commander 2014 supplemental set.[25][26]
- Nahiri’s art was modeled on the art of Worldwake’s Stoneforge Mystic, but that represents another character.[27]
- When Sorin first heard that Ugin had been involved in a battle with another planeswalker, he initially suspected that it was Nahiri. He later discovered that this other planeswalker was Nicol Bolas, but his suspicion about her involvement suggests that her largely benevolent persona had changed at some point.
- Nahiri is the first White-aligned planeswalker in a villainous role. The White-aligned Gideon Jura in The Purifying Fire is just a semi-antagonist, mostly forced to work with the protagonist, Chandra Nalaar. Nahiri is also the fourth White antagonist in the central antagonist role after Takeshi Konda, Heliod and Elesh Norn (though Radiant, Augustin IV, Gaddock Teeg, Dovin Baan, Dromoka and Ojutai also served notable secondary antagonist roles).
Planeswalkers met
Planes visited
Story appearances
| Title | Author | Publishing date | Set | Setting (plane) | Featuring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lithomancer | Kelly Digges | 2014-10-29 | Commander 2014 / Prologue to Battle for Zendikar | Unknown destroyed plane, Zendikar | Nahiri, Sorin Markov, Ugin, Eldrazi, Emrakul, Kozilek, Ulamog |
| War of the Spark: Ravnica—Ashes | Greg Weisman | 2019-06-12 | War of the Spark | Ravnica | Rat, Gideon Jura, Tomik Vrona, Lavinia, Ral Zarek, Jace Beleren, Chandra Nalaar, Teferi, Ajani Goldmane, Nissa Revane, Jaya Ballard, Karn, Kaya, Teyo Verada, Isperia, Dack Fayden, Saheeli Rai, Hekara, Vraska, Nicol Bolas, Borborygmos, Samut, Vorel, Sorin Markov, Nahiri, Arlinn Kord, Feather, Liliana Vess, Oketra, Rakdos, Bontu, Niv-Mizzet, Angrath, The Wanderer, Mu Yanling, Jiang Yanggu, Mowu, Vivien Reid, Aurelia, Exava, Lazav |
In-game references
- Represented in:
- Associated cards:
- Depicted in:
- Quoted or referred to:
References
- ↑ Doug Beyer (March 29, 2010). "The Eldrazi Arisen". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Nik Davidson (August 6, 2014). "Dreams of the Damned". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Plane Shift: Zendikar
- ↑ James Wyatt (May 13, 2015). "Stirring from Slumber". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Kelly Digges (June 15, 2016). "Stone and Blood". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Doug Beyer (August 17, 2014). "How long were the Eldrazi sealed away?". A Voice for Vorthos. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Adam Lee (September 24, 2014). "Sorin's Revelation". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Doug Beyer (March 27, 2015). "Sorin's Restoration". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Flavour text for Structural Distortion
- ↑ Markov Manor
- ↑ Plane Shift: Innistrad
- ↑ Kimberly J. Kreines (June 20, 2016). "Emrakul Rises". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Kelly Digges (April 27, 2016). "Games". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ari Levitch (July 6, 2016). "Campaign of Vengeance". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Flavor text for Single Combat
- ↑ Katie Allison (April 3, 2019). "Single Combat". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Greg Weisman (April 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica". Del Rey.
- ↑ Greg Weisman (June 12, 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica – Ashes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater. "It seems like a bit of a waste to include the...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Ari Zirulnik and James Wyatt (September 1, 2020). "Zendikar: Thing Have Changed". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Zendikar Rising Official Trailer (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (September 1, 2020).
- ↑ A. T. Greenblatt (September 2, 2020). "Episode 1: In the Heart of the Skyclave". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b A. T. Greenblatt (September 9, 2020). "Episode 2: Race to the Murasa Skyclave". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Miguel Lopez (September 4, 2020). "Red Route". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Kelly Digges (October 29, 2014). "The Lithomancer". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 29, 2014). "Is Nahiri THE lithomancer?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Doug Beyer (October 29, 2014). "Is Stoneforge Mystic supposed to represent Nahiri in some way?". A Voice for Vorthos. Tumblr.
