Sigarda
| Sigarda | |
|---|---|
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[[File:{{#setmainimage:Sigarda.jpg}}|250px]] | |
| Details | |
| Race | Angel |
| Birthplace | Innistrad |
| Lifetime | Pre- and post-Mending |
| Colors | |
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Sigarda is an Angel from Innistrad associated with purity and birth and the protection of humans.
Description
Also known as the Host of Herons, Sigarda is the leader of the Flight of Herons and wields a heron-shaped scythe. She is a sister of Bruna, Gisela, and Liesa, and fought Avacyn and her corrupted angels, including two of her sisters after their corruption.
Where Bruna was thoughtful and reserved to a fault, Sigarda never let the perfect become the enemy of the good. She acted when she knew who was on the side of good and who was on the side of evil. Yet she had none of Gisela's bluster, none of her fire-and-brimstone approach to the sinners. The iron framework keeping Sigarda together was an unabashed love of humankind. According to Sorin Markov, she was too emotional, often offering mercy where ruthlessness might have better served the people of Innistrad in his views.[1]
History
The Four Sisters
Sigarda, Bruna, Gisela and Liesa are described as sisters and are older than Avacyn. Unlike the more loyal Gisela,[2] Sigarda felt unconnected to Avacyn, due to the latter's own detachment from the other angels, though she respected her power as a leader.[3]
The Flight of Herons
Sigarda and the other angels of the Flight of Herons are connected to birth and purity and are associated with the New Moon season.[2][4] Their magic is said to ward humans against harm in life (as opposed to the Alabaster host, which wards against harm in death). Most of the angels from this flight helped in the efforts of humans against the werewolves. Gryta is one of the angels of the Flight of Herons.
Survivor
In the Hunter's Moon the year after Avacyn was restored, Sigarda was approached by Gisela and Bruna in her own solar. The two flanked her as Avacyn manifested before her. By now fully corrupted, Avacyn advocated genocide against Innistrad's humans, which Sigarda regarded with fear and disgust. She didn't respond to Avacyn's insane statements, but Avacyn sensed her hesitation and blew up her solar's roof, implying a threat should she fail to comply. Already resentful towards Avacyn for the death of Liesa, Sigarda cried and vowed to fight the archangel.[3]
Upon discovering what her sisters had become, Sigarda could only weep. In Thraben, she chose to fight against the corrupted angels, aiding the Cathar Thalia in slaying the monstrosity that was comprised of her former sisters.[5] Multiple humans turned to worship Sigarda for protection since she alone had not turned her host against them.[6]
After The Travails, Sigarda and her Flight were the only angels who survived uncorrupted.[7] In the two years since The Travails, this reverence for Sigarda has become a new sect within the Avacynian Church. Some members of the church have begun styling themselves as "Sigardian priests." The Sigardian Sect is a return to a more small-town religion, with less of the grandeur of Thraben. The terror of the mad angels during The Travails has pushed many villagers away from distant symbols of divinity and toward one other. The Lunarch Council still leads the church overall, but the Sigardians are more focused on their parish's local elder, their local communities, and traditional holidays and practices.[8]
Midnight Hunt
| “ | Sigarda the true, the shadow slayer, the hope of the lost, protect us through this long night, may the dangers in the darkness bring harm to no one, and may our fears be met with heron's grace. Avacyn is gone, yet you remain. To you, Sigarda, we offer this prayer. | ” |
—Prayer to Sigarda | ||
Sigarda took up Avacyn's role as best she could, answering the fervent prayers of the lost and endangered. The people gave her many epithets: Sigarda the True, Sigarda the Shadow-Slayer and Sigarda the Hope of the Lost.[9]
Sigarda heard the prayer made by Arlinn Kord and her group who were about to enter the Markov Manor, to question Sorin about the whereabouts of the Moonsilver Key. During Arlinn and Sorin's talk, she mentions Avacyn twice and the enraged vampire attacks her twice. The second time, Sigarda appears and stops Sorin's sword attack. She tells the group that the Key is in Sorin's quarters and that she will battle the vampire, giving the group a chance to reach the Key.[10]
Crimson Vow
After fighting Sorin, she was captured and imprisoned by Olivia Voldaren, who planned to use the archangel's blood and the powers of the Moonsilver Key to control Innistrad's angels. For this, the vampire also needs the sangromancy powers of Edgar Markov. Sorin tried to block the marriage between Olivia and his grandfather and by attacking Olivia at the altar he ended up awakening Katilda's spirit, who was inside the Key. In spirit form, Katilda came out of the Key and used her powers to free Sigarda, who was bleeding and trapped on the ceiling of the hall by red enchanted ribbons. Upon being released Sigarda exploded her angelic aura in fury, causing the surrounding stained glass windows to explode and injuring or killing many of the wedding guests.[1] This provided Sorin Markov, Arlinn Kord and the Gatewatch with the opportunity to recover the Moonsilver Key and consequently the balance between night and day was restored.[11]
The Invasion's Aftermath
Sigarda fought to defend Innistrad during New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse. After the introduction of Halo to Innistrad by New Capenna's angels, Sigarda started channeling it, becoming a font of blessings that would give the humans of Innistrad a bit of an edge in their endless fight for survival.[12]
Gallery
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Sigarda, Host of Herons. Art by Chris Rahn.
Story appearances
In-game references
- Represented in:
- Associated cards:
- Depicted in:
- Quoted or referred to:
References
- ↑ a b K. Arsenault Rivera (November 10, 2021). "Episode 3: Forever Hold Your Peace". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Magic Creative Team (April 11, 2012). "Planeswalker's Guide to Avacyn Restored: Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Ken Troop (March 9, 2016). "A Gaze Blank and Pitiless". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ The Magic Creative Team (September 27, 2011). "A Planeswalker's Guide to Innistrad: Gavony and Humans". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ James Wyatt (July 13, 2016). "Saint Traft and the Flight of Nightmares". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ari Zirulnik and Grace Fong (September 16, 2021). "The New Legends of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021.
- ↑ Rhiannon Rasmussen (October 1, 2021). "The Dusk Reborn". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Doug Beyer, Ari Zirulnik and Grace Fong (September 17, 2021). "The Returning Legends of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on September 17, 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 15, 2021). "Episode 3: The Fall of the House of Betzold". 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.
- ↑ WeeklyMTG - March of the Machine: The Aftermath (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (May 2, 2023).