Stronghold (location)

For the Magic expansion, see Stronghold

The Stronghold was the central seat of power for the evincar of Rath. It was located inside a volcano, above the City of Traitors. It could be reached via a treacherous road trough the Death Pits, the Furnace of Rath and Volrath’s Gardens.

The Stronghold served a dual purpose: firstly as the main Phyrexian military base on Rath and secondly as the center of production of the nano-robotic "metal" flowstone that was essential for building up the mass of Rath to enable the Rathi Overlay of Dominaria. For the people of Rath, the Stronghold was a symbol of their oppression and the iron will of their Phyrexian overlords.

The Stronghold had a number of different areas to it. It contained the moorings for the skyship Predator, housing warrens for its large contingent of mogg goblins and quarters for its human soldiers, private chambers for the evincar such as the Dream Halls and the map room, the reactor core that constantly poured out flowstone, and a network of dungeons and torture chambers where prisoners were experimented upon and turned into monstrosities. The crater beneath the Stronghold was home to the Kor, Vec and Dal traitors and as a result they were heavily persecuted by the Stronghold.

During Rath and Storm the Stronghold was the place in which Captain Sisay and later other members of the Weatherlight crew were held captive. Although they were eventually freed, the crew lost Mirri, Ertai and Crovax, suffered severe damage to Weatherlight and left Karn, Tahngarth and Sisay deeply effected by their experiences there. Despite various incursions by rebel forces, the disappearance of evincar Volrath and the subsequent dispute over his successor, and the attempted sabotage of the reactor by Belbe the Stronghold remained firmly in control of Rath until its overlay with Dominaria.

Following the overlay the Stronghold was placed precariously within a dormant volcano in Urborg. The number of troops stationed within the Stonghold reinforced the Phryrexian advance troops already there and enabled it to gain a dominant position in the region, serving as the central command headquarters of the invaders. It took a combination of Yavimayan, Metathran, Keldon, elvish and Talruum forces to eventually besiege the base.

The Stronghold was ultimately destroyed by the Stone dwarves, who used their magic to cause the previously dormant volcano to erupt and consume the fortress with lava. However, the Stronghold's final purpose had already been achieved. The planar portal within its throne room had allowed Yawgmoth to invade Dominaria personally.

After the Invasion, from the ruins of the Stronghold emerged the Weaver King, shadow creature playing with minds of Urborg's people.

Map of the Citadel

Citadel Map taken from "Nemesis" by Paul B. Thompson.

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