Keld

Keldon megaliths. Art by Phillip Straub.

Keld is a warrior nation in the western and southern parts of Aerona's cold Icehaven subcontinent. Keld is governed by warlords who enslave their people through magic and sacrifice them in battle. The grey-skinned Keldons are known as a war-loving race and as such have had war campaigns throughout Dominaria.

History

Foundings

The original Keldons came over from Parma led by Kradak to escape the cold. The mountain called to Kradak and where many turned back, Kradak continued to the very summit of the mountain where he forged a bond with the land. Thus Kradak became the very first Doyen. Using his mastery of the land, Kradak was able to cast fire magics to warm the Keldon stragglers. Jezal, the leader of these stragglers, made a pact with Kradak. Thus was the founding of Keld.

The Rise and Fall of Gatha

A human of Keld. Art by Paolo Parente.

During the time of Urza's bloodlines experiments on Tolaria, a rogue student of his named Gatha started doing his own experiments in Keld. Originally seen as weak, Gatha gained the support of the Doyen Kreyohl and was able to carry out his work in peace. His experiments transformed the Keldons into nightmarish warriors, the mightiest of which was the witch-king Kreig. However, the Phyrexians eventually caught wind of Gatha's work and invaded Keld. The researcher threw himself off a cliff to prevent the Phyrexians from discovering his secrets. Inspired by his friend's heroic sacrifice, Krieg greviously injured the Phyrexian general before tossing himself off the safe cliff in defiance of his foe. The loss of Gatha and Kreig left a great power vacuum in Keld. The true-blooded Keldons regained control of the Doyen Council and made war on the Gathans. This period in Keldon history is vaguely referred by Doyenne Tajamin as the Gathan Wars and resulted in the destruction of the Gathans.

Jamuraan Campaign

On the eve of the Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria, the Keldons launched their own invasion of Jamuraa. The campaign was led by the Overseer Latulla and the Warlord Druik. Latulla was seeking Hero's Blood which resided in the fields of Jamuraa. This was needed to raise the honored dead that resided in the Keldon Necropolis. The Doyen Council did not support her actions, and when Latualla and her followers marched on the Necropolis, Latulla was defeated by Doyenne Gorsha and Druik was killed. Latulla and her remaining followers were banished back to Jamuraa where they were eventually defeated and destroyed by the planeswalker Teferi and Barrin the Master Wizard.

Phyrexian Invasion

Many Keldons saw the coming of the Phyrexian Invasion as the fulfillment of the long-prophecized Twilight. Skyshroud forest overlayed in Keld and Eladamri the Elflord made peace with Warlord Astor of Keld. The battle took place on a frozen lake and was incredibly fierce. In the heat of battle, the Keldon honored dead were raised from their graves not by Twilight, but by Phyrexian necromancy. In this time of greatest atrocity, Doyenne Tajamin cast her sacred cudgel into the frozen lake, shattering it into a thousand pieces. The majority of both armies were sunk beneath the icy water. It was at this time that True Twilight occurred. The sacred ship the Golden Argosy sailed forth from the Necropolis and saved many Keldons (essentially bringing them back from a certain death). The Argosy then bore them off to Urborg where they fought in the final battle of the Invasion against Yawgmoth.

Current State

Keld, like all of Dominaria, was devastated by the mana rifts. The red mana which the Keldons depended on for their fire magic and their survival was no longer easily accessible. Time rifts opened, releasing numerous hordes of Gathans from Keld's past. The dwindling population of true Keldons, out-numbered and starving, were over-whelmed by the Gathans and destroyed. Radha, last decendant of the great Keldon hero Astor, led a resistance against the Gathans. With the help of Teferi, she became a great warlord in her own right and was able to defeat the Gathan Doyen Greht. She then led a campaign to once more purge the Gathans from Keld. After her victory, she attacked Keld's long-held enemy of Parma. With the sacrifice of the planeswalker Freyalise and the destruction of the Skyshroud forest, Keld's rift was finally healed allowing the nation to start the long road back to recovery and prosperity. Radha adopted many of the Skyshroud refugees, intent on turning them into true Keldons.

Locations

• The Gurdurngs
• The Keldon Necropolis
• The Skyshroud Forest (after the planar overlay).

Notable Keldons

• Astor: Warlord and later Doyen, sire of Radha, great hero of Invasion
• Druik: Keldon Warlord during Jamuraan Campaign
• Fenrey: Great hero, slaughtered last of Goblins in Keld
• Gorsha: Doyenne and Speaker of the Council
• Greht: Gathan Doyen and leader
• Jezal: First Doyenne, Covenant with Kradak
• Lairsen: Doyen during Invasion
• Kradak: First Doyen and founder of Keld
• Kreig: Doyen and Witch-king, mightiest Keldon ever
• Kreyohl: Doyen, first friend of Gatha
• Latulla: Overseer of Jamuraan Campaign
• Maraxus of Keld: Renegade warlord, likely Gathan because of pale skin and uncontrollable strength
• Olvresk: Doyen, leader of Council at time of Invasion
• Radha: Warlord, current leader
• Tajamin: Doyenne, Keeper of the Book of Keld
• Trohg: Witch-king, Doyen, father of Kreig
• Varagh: Doyen from Kreyohl's time, opposed to Gatha
• Varden: Doyen opposed Kreig and Gatha

In-game references

About the land:

• Flame Jet
• Grand Warlord Radha
• Keldon Megaliths
• Keldon Necropolis
• Landslide
• Overburden
• Radha, Heir to Keld
• Sulfurous Blast

Wildlife of Keld:

• Canyon Wildcat
• Colos Yearling
• Covetous Dragon
• Firewing Phoenix
• Hulking Ogre
• Lesser Gargadon
• Stratadon
• Wild Colos

Keld Triumphant:

• Blessed Wind
• Denying Wind
• Plague Wind
• Searing Wind
• Vitalizing Wind

Keldons, quoted or referred to:

• Alexi, Zephyr Mage
• Barbed Field
• Bloodstone Cameo
• Branded Brawlers
• Brute Force
• Chimeric Idol
• Fatal Frenzy
• Flay
• Impatience
• Inflame
• Keldon Arsonist
• Keldon Battlewagon
• Keldon Berserker
• Keldon Champion
• Keldon Firebombers
• Keldon Halberdier
• Keldon Mantle
• Keldon Marauders
• Keldon Overseer
• Keldon Twilight
• Keldon Vandals
• Keldon Warcaller
• Keldon Warlord
• Latulla, Keldon Overseer
• Living Terrain
• Mark of Fury
• Mine Bearer
• Obliterate
• Repercussion
• Search for Survivors
• Tectonic Rift
• The Flame of Keld
• Trenching Steed
• Trumpet Blast (Urza's Destiny)
• Undying Rage
• Wake of Destruction
• Whip Sergeant