Tazeem

Tazeem
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Tazeem.jpg}}|250px]]
Information
Plane	Zendikar
Status	Recovering from the Eldrazi
Formerly part of	Makindi Empire

Tazeem is one of the seven continents of Zendikar. Here, sunlight is obscured by large hedrons that float in the sky.

Description

Surrounded by unstable, scrub- and lichen-covered calcite flats, Tazeem is a perilous combination of reef-rock forests, a deep inland sea, and a great white-water river that bisects the continent. Some ancient ruins are prominently visible and have been co-opted by the denizens of Tazeem. Others remain hidden and intact, with mysterious artifacts and forces waiting to be discovered by intrepid explorers.

Tazeem is the native home to most of the plane's merfolk.

Notable locations

• Emeria, the Sky Ruin, a large plain of floating land and hedrons. The merfolk believe it was once the home of Emeria, the goddess of the sky. When the sky-castle was destroyed in a cataclysmic upheaval, the enchantment that protected it wasn't completely dispelled, and the shattered remnants remained in the heavens.
• Halimar, a deep artificial inland sea. Surrounded on three sides by rocky cliffs, the fourth side is enclosed by an ancient wall. The seawall is more than 500 feet tall. No one knows when the seawall was built, but they believe that Halimar must be an old sea because it is home to many species of brightly colored fish, tusked seals, and massive leviathans that dwell in the depths. The sea itself is viewed as the safest way to get from the Sea Gate to the mouth of the Umara River Gorge, and there is a substantial maritime trade and traffic.
  • The Halimar Sea Caves, both the breeding ground of giant squids and the dumping ground of hardened criminals.
  • Built on the flat space at the top of the sea wall, the city of Sea Gate is the largest settlement of Tazeem, and the largest center of commerce and culture on Zendikar. It was also the place where The Gatewatch was formed.
  • A white-stone cylindrical tower known as the Lighthouse, soared an additional 350 feet into the air. It was the center of all learning in Tazeem.
• Sky Rock, a huge hedron floating in the air near Sea Gate. A safe haven for refugees from the Eldrazi.
• Oran-Rief, the Vastwood, a gigantic, twisted, ever-expanding twisted reef-rock forest, occupying most of the interior of Tazeem.
• The Umara River, a great rushing river. From its source at the Halimar Sea to the northern edge of the continent, the Umara runs through the deep Umara River Gorge that bisects the continent. It drops over 800 feet over a series of waterfalls, most famously the Magosi Waterfall.
  • Built on a large island in the middle of the Umara River, the Merfolk Enclave is a hive-like structure consisting of bathing halls, corridors, and sleeping chambers. It is the largest merfolk settlement on Zendikar.
• Coralhelm, a floating landmass protected by a large gorge on all sides.
• The Bulwark, a large mountain range.
• North Hada, a thieves' den.

History

Tazeem once was part of the ancient Makindi Empire. The Makindi reign ended when the archangel Iona destroyed the Tazeem Skyclave, creating the Sky Ruin of Emeria.

The expeditionary houses

Prior to the rise of the Eldrazi, five expeditionary houses used the city of Sea Gate as a launch point for regular excursions into the wilds. Named for the destinations of their first expeditions, they are:

• the Valakut House
• the Pelakka Foundation
• the Akoum Expeditionary House
• the Murasa Expeditionary House
• The Bala Ged Expeditionary House

Each maintains hostels in various settlements, serving as resources for adventurers and explorers who need to hire guides or purchase supplies.

Rise of the Eldrazi

Within two years of the release of the Eldrazi, Sea Gate was overrun and destroyed. Oran-Rief died; and the Halimar basin was emptied.

Zendikar Rising

In the wake of the Eldrazi's fall, the waters began to stream again and a plan was needed to rebuild Sea Gate. Unfortunately, the Sea Gate Reconstruction Project found itself with a few plans too many. Each of the five expeditionary houses presented their vision for a wonderful new city. Fed up with the houses' infighting, Commander Tazri drafted a plan of her own. The angel Linvala immediately stood behind Tazri's proposal, and the word of an angel swayed even the stingiest expeditionary house. Within a year, the city was restored.

Around the same time, an expedition of adventurers ascended through the ruins of Emeria and discovered the remnants of the Skyclave, which the merfolk had once claimed was the castle of their goddess. In the course of their exploration, they triggered the magical defenses of the ancient Skyclave — and awakened the other six.

The discovery of the Skyclaves has set off an excited furor among the expeditionary houses of Zendikar. The adventurers who first breached Emeria returned with powerful magical weapons crafted by ancient stoneforgers, and they formed the nucleus of anew expeditionary house:

• the Sea Gate Expeditionary House.

This house is made up of the best, brightest, and toughest of Zendikar's adventurers and plays a key role in the exploration of the Skyclaves. The leader of the Sea Gate Expeditionary House is the veteran explorer Kesenya Unknown to virtually anyone, the house's benefactor is Nahiri who is in search of powerful artifacts to counteract the Roil.

In-game references

Represented in:

• Tazeem

Associated cards:

• Guardian of Tazeem
• Tazeem Raptor

Referred to:

• Dread Statuary
• Giant Mantis
• Netcaster Spider
• Sea Gate Banneret
• Sunken Hollow
• Timber Gorge (Oath of the Gatewatch)

Sources

• Magic Creative Team (December 02, 2009). "A Planeswalker's Guide to Zendikar: Tazeem and Merfolk". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Doug Beyer (September 02, 2009). "The Planes of Planechase". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.