Symond Halm

Symond Halm
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Agoraphobia.jpg}}|250px]] Symond Halm was struck with agoraphobia when he realized Bilagru was coming for him.
Details
Race	Human
Birthplace	Ravnica
Lifetime	Mending Era
Sources

Symond Halm was a playwright on Ravnica who got into debt with the cartel kingpin Ilona and paid the price.

History

Symond Halm had traditionally been a writer of comedies, but he wanted to put up an epic drama about the history of the child commander Zandra. When his backers withdrew, he knew he needed a substantial amount of money quickly, so he approached the Orzhov cartel potentate Ilona. Ilona bid Symond to sign a contract that put his life on the line should he fail his new play, but Symond signed it, certain of the play's success. The kingpin's pet thrull Lord Kazmyr was present at the signing, and when he let Symond out the door as he was leaving, he told the playwright: "Bilagru will come for you."

When Symond Halm's play was launched, Ilona and her thrull were present in the seats. Symond had spent the gold on lavish costumes and set designs, but as the play was starting, he noticed that only a quarter of the seats were filled. Certain that his life was now forfeit, Symond bolted, but Lord Kazmyr fluttered up to the outcrop of some masonry and told again, "Bilagru is coming for you." When Symond Halm only gaped at the thrull, Lord Kazmyr repeated, "Bilagru is coming for you, debtor."

In desperation, Symond ran into a crowd and accidentally knocked over a vedalken man. Suddenly seized by inspiration, Symond stabbed the man in the chest with his sword, to be put into an Azorius prison. This was a way for him to be hidden away from Bilagru. But then he turned and saw Bilagru sitting astride a horse. The executioner said a single word - debtor.

Symond was thrown into an Azorius cell, and for the first time since the play, he felt safe. Bilagru would not reach him here, locked behind iron bars, behind several sets of guards. But then he noticed something outside his cell window. As Symond peered out, trying to understand what he saw in the darkness, Lord Kazmyr was there, and intoned again - "Bilagru will come for you."

Stunned, Symond felt petrified with fear anew. He was torn out of his terror by guards in the prison yelling out orders and the bright blue crackle of Azorius spells flashing, illuminating a panicked scene for only moments at a time. Guards rushed passed Symond's cell, and the other prisoners added their shouts to the clamor. There were shrieks, and Lord Kazmyr fluttered outside Symond's cell, droning the unrelenting, unforgiving, "Bilagru will come for you."

There was nothing to hide behind, so Symond pressed himself against the far wall of his cell. All was quiet now. The screams had died down, and the voices stilled. Heavy steps grew louder with each footfall, and then a key slid into place and turned. The lock released, and Symond opened his eyes to see the door swing open. Bilagru, blood-spattered and armored, filled the doorway. His double-bladed axe was slick with gore. The giant man stooped to look into the cell. The cowering Symond Halm slumped to the floor. Bilagru told Symond that he was a debtor to Ilona of the Orzhov and that debts must be paid. He then raised his axe.

Story appearances

Title	Author	Publishing date	Set	Setting (plane)	Featuring
Bilagru Will Come for You	Ari Levitch	2013-03-13	Gatecrash	Ravnica	Symond Halm, Ilona, Lord Kazmyr, Bilagru, Zandra

In-game references

Depicted in:

• Agoraphobia