Azorius Senate: Difference between revisions

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In the absence of the [[Living Guildpact]], the Azorius were uncertain who was supposed to maintain balance among the guilds. As a group, they were convinced that the system couldn't be disrupted, but they were challenged by the reality that the one person who was meant to hold their world together never seemed to be around. The Azorius Senate was invoking emergency powers with increasing frequency, and the Lyev Column's enforcers were wielding an ever-growing amount of influence.<ref name="Ravnica art book">[[James Wyatt]] (January 2019). "''[[The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica]]''". [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref>
In the absence of the [[Living Guildpact]], the Azorius were uncertain who was supposed to maintain balance among the guilds. As a group, they were convinced that the system couldn't be disrupted, but they were challenged by the reality that the one person who was meant to hold their world together never seemed to be around. The Azorius Senate was invoking emergency powers with increasing frequency, and the Lyev Column's enforcers were wielding an ever-growing amount of influence.<ref name="Ravnica art book">[[James Wyatt]] (January 2019). "''[[The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica]]''". [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref>


Isperia fell victim to [[Vraska]]<ref><c>Assassin's Trophy</c></ref> and was replaced by the [[planeswalker]] [[Dovin Baan]]. As guildmaster, Baan showed the guild how to make spy [[thopter]]s and to use [[precognitive mage]]s to arrest people before crimes would be committed.<ref name="Ravnica art book"/>
Isperia fell victim to [[Vraska]]<ref><c>Assassin's Trophy</c></ref> and was replaced by the [[planeswalker]] [[Dovin Baan]]. As guildmaster, Baan showed the guild how to make spy [[thopter]]s and to use [[precognitive mage]]s to arrest people before crimes would be committed.<ref name="Ravnica art book"/> <c>Verity Circle</c> spells are used to encourage detainees to self-incriminate.


==In the game==
==In the game==

Revision as of 10:34, 10 January 2019

Azorius Senate
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Azorius Logo.png}}|150px]]
Alternative Names
The High Judges[1]
Lore Information
Parun Azor I
Guild Leader Augustin IV (deceased)
Isperia (deceased)
Dovin Baan (incumbent)
Guild Champion Isperia (deceased)
Lavinia
Guild Hall Prahv (destroyed)
New Prahv (current)
Game Information
Colors {W}{U}
Mechanics {{{mechanics}}}
Featured Sets
Dissension
Return to Ravnica
Ravnica Allegiance
Signet Flavor Text
"The maze-like design embodies the core of Azorius law — strict structure designed to test wills and stall change." — Azorius Signet
Scryfall Search
watermark:"{{{search}}}"

The Azorius Senate is a white/blue guild from the plane and city of Ravnica. Introduced in Dissension, the guild is also featured in Return to Ravnica and Ravnica Allegiance.

Background

Founded by parun Supreme Judge Azor I, a sphinx lawmage who authored a majority of the original Guildpact,[2] the Azorius Senate functions as the government of Ravnica[1] and creates Ravnican laws.[3]

Believing their legislation to be the singular force that prevents Ravnica from descending into chaos, the Azorius Senate mediates and regulates the activities of all of the other guilds and of the plane despite their numerous decrees being ignored.[1] The Azorius Senate are characterized as being aloof, bureaucratic, excessively formalistic, and fastidious,[4][5]</ref> spending hours upon hours with legal documents and ensuring action, if any should occur, stringently adheres to protocol.[6] For such reasons, the Azorius are deeply disdained by Ravnicans, whom the Azorius believe will effect a change and subsequent crime, chaos, and general decline in civic life.[6][7] The Azorius are said to act through inaction.[8]

The Azorius Senate works alongside the Boros Legion and Selesnya Conclave to see to the enforcement of the law, and the Orzhov Syndicate to see to the provision of advocates and lawmages for accusers/claimants/complainants/plaintiffs and defendants.[6] Ultimately, however, the Azorius advocates for blind justice, peace, and the status quo,[7] doing so via their intrinsic involvement in all affairs on Ravnica and with their legions of knights and paladins as well as mages adept in countermagic, magic to disable and hinder those who would break the law, and other law magic.[9]

The Columns

The rigid hierarchy of the Azorius Senate is reflected in the guild's triangle-shaped crest; most Azorius functionaries report to one superior, and are reported to by two subordinates. The Azorius are divided into three Columns:[5] the Jelenn Column, which makes the laws; the Lyev Column, which enforces the laws; and the Sova Column, which judges the law-breakers.[1][10]

  • The Sova Column is led by Leonos II. They act as judges and arbitrators. The column employs legal aides, pages, librarians, experts on precedent, advocates for the accused, public prosecutors, and judges.
  • The Jelenn, led by a vedalken lawmage named Uzana, act as scribes and elocuters. The term elocutor covers all communication functions, from simple messengers — who are often spirits — to conflict mediation. The Jelennn write and enact the laws of Ravnica, involving the efforts not just of the designated legislators but also a network of bureaucrats: aides, writers, researchers, lobbyists, clerks, and so on.
  • The Lyev work as lawmages, hieromancers, nullmages, investigators and enforcers. The Azorius military, which belongs to this Column, can be broadly separated into hussars (mounted soldiers) and infantry. Arresters specialize in preventing or stopping things from happening. The Lyev Column is also venturing into the work of managing surveillance and precognition. The Lyev were commanded by hussar commander Sarvis, until Dovin Baan removed him from office.

Azorius builders and architects are among the best in the world, and konstructors are those who enhance and/or accelerate their building projects with magic.[5]

History

Ravnica block

For the majority of the Ravnica block storyline, the Azorius Senate was presided over by human lawmage Grand Arbiter Augustin IV, who was later killed by an explosion during an attack by the spirit of then-Dimir guildmaster Szadek.[11]

The seat of the Azorius’ power in the Ravnica block was Prahv, a monolithic structure of white marble.[6] In Dissension, Prahv was destroyed when the Parhelion, fortress-ship of the Boros angels, collided with it.[6]

Return to Ravnica block

Following the death of Grand Arbiter Augustin IV, Leonos II became the Arbiter of the Azorius Senate and the sphinx Isperia, whom Grand Arbiter Augustin IV often consulted, reluctantly became the Azorius guildmaster.[11]

Guilds of Ravnica block

In the absence of the Living Guildpact, the Azorius were uncertain who was supposed to maintain balance among the guilds. As a group, they were convinced that the system couldn't be disrupted, but they were challenged by the reality that the one person who was meant to hold their world together never seemed to be around. The Azorius Senate was invoking emergency powers with increasing frequency, and the Lyev Column's enforcers were wielding an ever-growing amount of influence.[12]

Isperia fell victim to Vraska[13] and was replaced by the planeswalker Dovin Baan. As guildmaster, Baan showed the guild how to make spy thopters and to use precognitive mages to arrest people before crimes would be committed.[12] Verity Circle spells are used to encourage detainees to self-incriminate.

In the game

Head Magic designer and design team member Mark Rosewater said on the blending of White and Blue, "Philosophically, the largest overlap between the two colors stems from a similar motivation. Both colors want to improve the world. White does this in its quest to promote peace, while Blue does it out of its interest in reaching perfection. The end result is the same. Both colors like to force its rules and ways upon all those around them".[14]

Guild mechanics

Dissension: Forecast

Main article: Forecast

Forecast is an activated ability that a player can play only from his or her hand. Only cards from the Azorius guild (white, blue, or white-blue) have forecast. Each forecast card has an ability that can be played once per turn during a player's own upkeep by revealing it from his or her hand and paying a cost, somewhat similar to casting a spell with built-in buyback.[15]

The Forecast mechanic was inspired by the ability on the Unglued card Infernal Spawn of Evil.[16]

Return to Ravnica: Detain

Main article: Detain

Detain is a keyword action that prevents a permanent from attacking, blocking, and/or activating its (activated) abilities until the controller of the detainer's next turn.

Initially, the Return to Ravnica block ability for Azorius was developed around "tap a creature" and the development team termed the ability "jail".[16] Influenced by Arrest, with which the ability shares flavor, of "preventing my opponents from doing things",[17] the "jail" ability was later modified to include preventing activated abilities.[16]

Ravnica Allegiance: Addendum

Main article: Addendum

Instants with Addendum have additional or alternative effects if you cast the spell during your main phase.

Creature types

Species and races

Species and races associated with the Azorius Senate include:

Classes

Classes associated with the Azorius Senate include:

Notable members

Gallery

  • A side-by-side comparison of the old and new Azorius Senate guild crests.

    A side-by-side comparison of the old and new Azorius Senate guild crests.

  • Ravnica block Azorius crest.

    Ravnica block Azorius crest.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ a b c d Template:NewRef
  2. ↑ Issar Roon. (February 1, 2012.) The Guildpact, GatheringMagic.com.
  3. ↑ Template:NewRef
  4. ↑ Template:NewRef
  5. ↑ a b c Template:NewRef
  6. ↑ a b c d e Cory J. Herndon. (2006.) Ravnica Cycle, Book III: Dissension, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 978-0786940011.
  7. ↑ a b Template:NewRef
  8. ↑ Template:NewRef
  9. ↑ Template:NewRef
  10. ↑ These columns approximately correspond to the arms, or branches, of government in numerous real-world nations; the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary, respectively. Fitting for a set inspired by Europe, in particular Slavic and Eastern Europe, the names of the "columns" are Czech for animals, each of which appropriate for the function of the "column"; Jelenn means "deer", Lyev means lion, and Sova means "owl".
  11. ↑ a b Template:NewRef
  12. ↑ a b James Wyatt (January 2019). "The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica". Wizards of the Coast
  13. ↑ Assassin's Trophy
  14. ↑ Template:NewRef
  15. ↑ Template:NewRef
  16. ↑ a b c Template:NewRef
  17. ↑ Template:NewRef
  18. ↑ Template:NewRef

See also

External links

Monocolored
Multicolored ({M})
See also
Ravnica block
Return to Ravnica block
Later sets
Related games
Ravnica storyline
Publications
Locations
Characters
Affiliations
Other
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