Tovolar
| Tovolar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Race | Human Werewolf |
| Birthplace | Innistrad |
| Lifetime | Mending Era |
Tovolar is a powerful werewolf on the plane of Innistrad and the main antagonist of the Innistrad: Midnight Hunt storyline. He was the alpha werewolf of the Mondronen howlpack before their disbandment and later became the leader of the Dire pack.
Description
Tovolar has silver fur and leads his pack in howling songs and revels of carnage.[1] It was long suspected that he was mute and never transforms back to human form. However, this was proven untrue. As it turns out, Tovolar is actually the first werewolf who can retain some of his humanity and hold on to his weapons after his transition. In human form he is a large, muscled man.
History
Twenty years ago, Tovolar encountered a young, reluctant new werewolf named Arlinn Kord. She came under his tutelage, and he tried teaching her not to fear her werewolf nature, but to embrace it in all its joy and savage freedom. Arlinn, however, was unable to accept that path, and after two years they fell out when Arlinn refused to join Tovolar in slaughtering a group of foresters. Arlinn turned on her mentor, challenging Tovolar for command of the howlpack; they fought and wounded each other, though in the end Arlinn fled. [2] Choosing a different, less destructive path than her mentor, Arlinn maintained her distance over the next decades and went on to form her own wolf pack.[3][4]
Tovolar earned a fearsome reputation throughout Innistrad's Kessig province as leader of the Mondronen howlpack. The howlpack, about 60 in size, was known for using a dark form of magic. They stayed away from civilization, sticking to farmlands, rural communities, and remote monasteries. With Avacyn's protective wards getting weaker due to her absence, the Mondronen got closer to cities.[5] When Avacyn was set free from The Helvault, the Mondronen and other howlpacks disbanded, chased off and hunted down by angels. But now, in the growing darkness since The Travails, Tovolar sees a chance to lead once again.[6]
Midnight Hunt
In the two years since The Travails, the nights of Innistrad were inexplicably getting longer and Tovolar formed a new pack of dire werewolves that was growing rapidly.[7][4] Driven by his fierce pride in werewolf-kind, he enacted his plan to unify all the howlpacks under his rule. He stood for the freedom to embrace the savage beast within, and many werewolves left their human homes to join him. Once he has a powerful pack behind him, he believed he could stop the Dawnhart Coven and anyone else who wants to bring back the sun.[8][6]
Harvesttide Massacre
During the Harvesttide Festival, Arlinn Kord and her planeswalker allies discovered the Moonsilver Key and brought it to the Celestus, seeking to enact a ritual at the height of the festival that would restore the balance between night and day. However, no sooner did Arlinn arrive with the key than Tovolar launched a full-scale attack upon the festival. The grounds around the Celestus were surrounded by magical wards that prevented the advance of his werewolf army for a short time. When the protections failed, Teferi cast a powerful spell to delay the sunset and thereby stall the werewolves' complete transformation. Planeswalkers, witches and cathars fought the werewolf invaders to protect the humans. In the midst of the slaughter, Arlinn confronted Tovolar, demanding that he cease the attack. Tovolar refused and goaded Arlinn, urging her to embrace her werewolf nature and join him in battle. Seeing the human defenders crumbling under the werewolf onslaught, Arlinn attacked Tovolar, and they started exchanging blows until Tovolar called upon the wolves of Arlinn's old pack. Seeing her old packmates, Arlinn hesitated for a moment, which allowed Tovolar to overpower her and hold her at his mercy. At that point, Teferi's spell finally ended and the sun set, transforming all werewolves, including Arlinn.[2]
Fully in wolf form, Arlinn and Tovolar fought savagely, both suffering numerous wounds. Arlinn's wolf pack joined Tovolar, except for Patience who stayed apart. Throughout the fight, Tovolar repeatedly sought to seduce the planeswalker into abandoning the humans and joining his pack. Arlinn feigned surrender, but then overpowered the unsuspecting Tovolar and severely wounded him, catching him with a deathgrip in his chest. Crushed by her final betrayal, Tovolar surrendered and retreated with the rest of the pack. The survivors of the Harvesttide Massacre stayed behind.[9]
Crimson Vow
The Gatewatch and their forces stormed the Voldaren estate to put an end to Olivia Voldaren’s plans that would have placed her in control of Innistrad’s angels and secured her leadership over the vampire families. During the battle, Arlinn Kord was gravely injured in her fight with Olivia and called out for aid as she fell. Tovolar answered the call and led his wolves into battle. Together with her wolf pack, they found Arlinn as she came to. Although she made clear to Tovolar that nothing had changed between them, Arlinn accepted his help to track down Olivia. They found her talking with Edgar Markov who was pleading with her to end their plans. Tovolar lashed out at Edgar but was restrained by Arlinn, and Olivia was given an opportunity to make things right. Olivia dropped the Moonsilver Key and fled with Edgar through one of the windows, barely escaping from Tovolar’s wrath. Without having resolved their differences, Arlinn and Tovolar parted ways with an uncertain future.[10]
Gallery
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Werewolf form.
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Arlinn Kord duels Tovolar to protect the Harvesttide festival participants.
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Tovolar concept art by Jehan Choo
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Showcase art
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Showcase Werewolf art
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Showcase Werewolf Black & White art
Story appearances
In-game references
- Represented in:
- Associated cards:
- Depicted in:
- Quoted or referred to:
References
- ↑ Magic Creative Team (October 5, 2011). "Planeswalker's Guide to Innistrad: Kessig and Werewolves". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b K. Arsenault Rivera (September 22, 2021). "Episode 4: Harvestide". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ K. Arsenault Rivera (September 2, 2021). "Episode 1: The Witch in the Woods". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b K. Arsenault Rivera (September 8, 2021). "Episode 2: The Motives of the Wolf". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ James Wyatt. (2016.) "The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Innistrad".
- ↑ a b Doug Beyer, Ari Zirulnik, and Grace Fong (September 17, 2021). "The Returning Legends of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt". Magicthegathering.com.
- ↑ Prepare for the Harvesttide Festival – Innistrad: Midnight Hunt (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (September 2, 2021).
- ↑ Doug Beyer and Ari Zirulnik (September 9, 2021). "Planeswalker's Guide to Innistrad: Midnight Hunt". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ K. Arsenault Rivera (September 29, 2021). "Episode 5: Night Closes 'Round". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ K. Arsenault Rivera (November 24, 2021). "Episode 5: Till Death Do Us Part". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.