Azorius Senate
| Azorius Senate | |
|---|---|
|
[[File:{{#setmainimage:AzoriusCrest.jpg}}|150px]] | |
| Alternative Names | |
| The High Judges[1] | |
| Lore Information | |
| Parun | Supreme Judge Azor I |
| Guild Leader |
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV (Ravnica block; now deceased) Isperia (Return to Ravnica block) |
| Guild Champion | Isperia the Inscrutable |
| Guild Hall |
Prahv, Spires of Order (Ravnica block) New Prahv (Return to Ravnica) |
| Game Information | |
| Colors |
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| Mechanics | {{{mechanics}}} |
| Featured Sets | |
|
Dissension Return to Ravnica | |
| Signet Flavor Text | |
| The maze-like design embodies the core of Azorius law; strict structure designed to test wills and stall change. | |
| Scryfall Search | |
| watermark:"{{{search}}}" | |
The Azorius Senate is a white/blue guild from the plane and city of Ravnica. Originally featured in Dissension, the guild is also featured in Return to Ravnica.
The Azorius Senate functions as the government of Ravnica[1] and creates Ravnican laws.[2]
Description
Members of the guild are extremely aloof, believing their legislation to be the single force that prevents Ravnica from slipping into chaos. Also, they are known for being excessively formalistic, and literally spend hours on end reciting legal documents and making sure they adhere perfectly to protocol in all of their actions. For these reasons, they are deeply loathed by their Ravnican subjects. The parun was the Supreme Judge Azor I, a human lawmage who wrote most of the original Guildpact.[citation needed]
The Azorius works with the Boros Legion and the Selesnya Conclave to enforce the law, and the Orzhov Syndicate provides advocates and law mages as defendants or accusers. Convinced that change would lead to dissolution in city life, the Azorius promote the status quo, maintaining absolute authority over all transactions in Ravnica, deciding whether or not to permit them for the sake of keeping the peace. At their service are legions of knights and paladins, as well as a gamut of well-trained mages skilled in the use of spells that counter enemy magic and disable enemies.[citation needed]
Allegorically, the Azorius Senate is an hyperbolic satire of bureaucratic governments and legal systems.[citation needed]
History
Ravnica block
During the majority of the Ravnica block storyline, the Azorius Senate was presided over by human lawmage Grand Arbiter Augustin IV, who is later killed by an explosion while being attacked by then Dimir guildmaster Szadek's spirit.[3]
The seat of Azorius power in the Ravnica block was Prahv, the Spires of Order, a large castle-like structure of white marble;[citation needed] in Dissension, Prahv was destroyed by the explosion following the collision between it and the crashed Parhelion, the fortress ship of the Boros angels.[4]
Return to Ravnica
Following the death of Grand Arbiter Augustin IV, Leonos II has become the Grand Arbiter of the Azorius Senate and the sphinx Isperia, whom Grand Arbiter Augustin IV often consulted, has reluctantly become the Azorius guildmaster.[3]
Isperia is advised by three arbiters, each representing one of the "columns" of the Azorius: the Jelenn Column, which makes the laws; the Lyev Column, which enforces the laws; and the Sova Column, which judges the law-breakers.[1] These columns approximately correspond to the arms, or branches, of government in numerous real-world nations; the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary, respectively.
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".[5]
Guild mechanic
Dissension: Forecast
Forecast is an activated ability you can play only from your hand. Only cards from the Azorius guild (white, blue, or white-blue) have forecast. Each forecast card has an ability you can play once per turn during your upkeep by revealing it from your hand and paying a cost, somewhat similar to casting a spell with built-in buyback.[6]
Creatures and races
Creatures and races associated with the Azorius include the following:
Notable members
- Agrus Kos (ghost form, temporary)
- Grand Arbiter Augustin IV [[1]]
- Grand Arbiter Azor I
- Borbin
- Frej Ralinu
![[1]](http://www.cernyrytir.cz/ukazobrazekkusovek.php3?jmenosouboru=./images/kusovkymagic/ravnica/grand_arbiter_augustin_iv.jpg){kind=link}
- Grand Arbiter Leonos II
- Isperia the Inscrutable
- Modar Bejiri
- Nhillosh
- Obez Murzeddi
- Senators Illindivossk, Pollotorus, Yindervac and Natt Vinloskarga
Gallery
References
- ↑ a b c Return to Ravnica: Azorius Senate Minisite
- ↑ Matt Cavotta (May 03, 2006). "Makin' the Law, Makin' the Law". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Adam Lee (August 29, 2012). "Ravnica, Then and Now". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Herndon, C. J. (2006.) Ravnica Cycle, Book III: Dissension, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0786940011.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 01, 2006). "Slow and Steady". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Aaron Forsythe (April 14, 2006). "Clouds in the Forecast". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.