Benalia

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Benalia
Information
Plane Dominaria
Colors White mana
Type Plains
Demonym Benalish
Benalkin (archaic)
Part of Aerona
Formerly part of Sheoltun Empire

Benalia (ben-AHL-ee-ah;[1] demonym Benalish: BEN-ah-lish) is a powerful and long-lived nation on the continent of Aerona on Dominaria. Founded by the exiled knight Torsten von Ursus after the Ice Age, Benalia became Dominaria's preeminent white-aligned human civilization, renowned for its strong military, influential clans, and ties to the Church of Serra. The nation was devastated during the Phyrexian Invasion and fell into decline during the Rift Era, but was reborn as New Benalia after the Mending, reclaiming its place as a major mercantile and religious power.

History

Birth

Shortly after the Ice Age, the Sheoltun Empire, a militaristic and expansionist nation, collapsed. From its ashes would rise Benalia. The knight Torsten von Ursus, in exile since an evil mage conquered his homeland of Wrenna, founded Benalia at the spot of the blighted city of Benfosa, which he took to be a perfect place to implement his gathered wisdom and philosophies.[2] He took up the reins of the great Horse Civilization and guided the ancestors of Benalia out of the ruins of the once-great Sheoltun Empire. Torsten chose the name Benalia, which meant "aspiration", proclaiming the new nation's intent to rule the world.[3] Due to the Church of Serra's hand in the Empire's fall, the religion was banned in Benalia for centuries.[4]

The Lost Edict

Using sometimes brutal tactics, Torsten brought an entire nation into being using nothing more than the force of his will and the brutal charisma of a natural leader. After succeeding in much of his goal, he died at the age of seventy-two, leaving behind the legendary Lost Edict, proclaiming that none of his seven lieutenants would succeed him as sole ruler of Benalia. Instead, Benalia would be ruled via a complex system in which the seven clans of the country each bore a different responsibility.

“  From this day forward, we and our families all take on the mantle of responsibility for this greatest of nations. The Seven Clans, as Torsten has written, we are to be known, will each lead our nation for one lunar year. The head of that clan will rule all of Benalia as well. At the start of each lunar year, our positions will rotate, so that the clan that the previous year was most prestigious is the next year the least of the Seven.  ”

—Ilyana of Rosecot[5]

Nation

A Benalish coastal tower. Art by Don Hazeltine.

A powerful military state influenced by the Churches of Serra and Gabriel Angelfire, Benalia was long Dominaria's preeminent white-aligned human nation and was the birthplace of Gerrard Capashen. Benalia City became the largest city in the Domains, with a population of over 200,000.[6]

Invasion

During the Phyrexian Invasion, Benalia was the first nation victimized by Tsabo Tavoc's specialized killers. It began with sporadic raids on the borderlands with the ultimate goal of destroying the bloodline of Clan Capashen, which had been prophesied to bring about the destruction of Yawgmoth. When the invasion reached its peak in 4205 AR, Benalia City was razed, and its people scattered.

The Years of Salt

Although Benalia City was slowly rebuilt[7], Benalia as a nation devolved into a patchwork of competing states over the next three centuries. When the time rifts opened, the land was plagued by dust storms and catastrophes. The states devolved into roving bands struggling to survive in a barren wasteland of salt flats whipped by unforgiving winds. What remained of Benalia City was besieged by slivers, and it became a salt-choked ruin.[8]

Renewal

After the Mending, the seven houses were quick to reassert themselves. Those who could most reliably trace their lineage to the ancient clans took charge. In the ruins of Benalia City, under the blessing of Serran priests, they forged the Compact of the Seven Pillars in emulation of the Lost Edict, laying out how power would be shared. Using the white limestones of fallen buildings, the city was rebuilt as New Benalia. The Church of Serra was officially embraced as the official religion of the state. Statues and stained-glass murals were raised in honor of their fallen heroes. New arrivals were a flock of Aven, which fled Otaria after the cataclysmic events on that continent.[9]

Influence of the Cabal

Sixty years after the Mending, Benalia was fully restored and more. However, the expansion of The Cabal corrupted the great expanses of the empire.[10]

Dominaria United

In 4561 AR, there was a peace summit at Oyster Bay between the Keldons, led by Radha, and the Benalish led by Aron Capashen to end hostilities in the Ice Rime Hills.[11] The summit was interrupted when the planeswalkers Karn and Teferi revealed the threat of a New Phyrexian invasion and several of the Benalish knights turned out to be Phyrexian sleeper agents. Houses Capashen and Tarmula joined to rescue Aron, but when it was discovered that he had already been compleated, he was killed by his daughter, Danitha.[12]

After the second Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria, the merchant lords of Orvada made peace with Benalia and furnished food and supplies to the Serran troops led by Lyra Dawnbringer.[13]

Geography

Benalia map from Magic: Legends

Benalia covers much of the western portion of Aerona and nearby islands, including (once again) the isle of Avenant and much of the Spice Isles to the west.[10][14][15] Benalia is a land of natural and architectural beauty: vast fields of sun-kissed grain crisscrossed by meandering rivers and dotted with cities of white limestone towers and vivid stained glass. One would hardly guess that less than a century before, this great empire was fractured, its people scattered, and its shining capital city a salt-choked ruin. Today, though most famous for its fertile fields, the land also includes forests, mountains, and a lengthy coastline.[15]

Benalia is bordered to the east by the Red Iron Mountains. The mountains' native Crookshank Kobolds fared poorly during the Rift Era, and the mountains are now dotted with Benalish mining settlements. Beyond the Red Iron Mountains lie the more formidable Hurloon Mountains, where permanent settlements and missionaries are met with open hostility by the local minotaurs. To the southeast are the Kb'Brian Highlands, whose warrior clans are effectively a Benalish protectorate.[15] The Ironclaw Mountains in the east prohibit land passage to the east coast.

Known locations

Culture

Old Benalia

A hero of Benalia. Art by Douglas Shuler.

Benalia had a complex caste system that changed with the lunar year; the highest caste became the lowest, and the process repeated. In the past, the lowest caste of Benalish women had to submit to higher casted males on a whim.[24] The only caste that could be attained without heredity or money is that of the Hero. The Heroes were neutral guardians of the realm, trained to place Benalia's interests above clan politics. Gerrard was a member of the Masters of Arms, an elite group of Heroes that had shown exemplary skill and courage in the service of the Empire.[6]

New Benalia

A marshal of New Benalia from Magic: Legends.

In the Modern Times, Benalish knights can be recognized by their white and silver armor and their quartered shields. The mage-smiths of New Benalia have perfected the art of blending fine steel and enchanted glass into weapons that are both beautiful and deadly. Benalish glaze-plate is stained with salts from the Rift Era and enchanted to deflect blows. Only elite knights are entrusted with these martial works of art.[25] Stained glass is predominant in all artistic expressions.[10] Benalish citizens born under the same constellations share a star clan. Their loyalty to one another interlaces the Seven Houses.[26] The army consists of knights and soldiers, each aligned with one of the seven Houses. Battle Priests of the Church of Serra march with the army and Aven form their own airborne companies. The leather-clad heroes still make up a special class. They owe their loyalty directly to Benalia City and the Council of Seven.

The Seven Great Houses

The primary unit of government within Benalia is the Seven Great Houses. Most of these date back approximately 1000 years to the Lost Edict, but at least three houses have fallen by the wayside and have been replaced with a new noble line established by a prominent heroic figure. One of the lost houses is Clan Ternsev, which died out during the Rift Era.

  • Clan Capashen
    • The strongest and richest house, ruling the north of Benalia. The current leader is Danitha Capashen, a young but ferocious knight.[12] Symbol: a tower with seven windows.
  • Clan Avenant
    • A matriarchal family ruling the Isle of Avenant. The current leader is Cerise D'Avenant, who makes personal attendance at Council meetings while delegating daily affairs to her sisters. Symbol: a pattern of seven crossed arrows.
  • Clan Croger
    • A family of rugged individualists and expansionists from Benalia's central forests and eastern mountains. They guard the nation from aggressive kobolds and goblins, and are still adherents of the Church of Angelfire. The current leader is the young, hot-headed expansionist Eadith Croger. Symbol: profile of a wolf's head with seven pointed teeth.
  • Clan Rosecot
    • A military clan guarding the grain fields of southeastern Benalia, its warm bread basket. The current leader is the middle-aged Alvan Rosecot, a military man who also loves gardens. Symbol: a rose with seven thorns.
  • Clan Tarmula
    • A family of scholars and wizards living on the wooded shores of Lake Tarmula in central Benalia. Current leader: Rache Tarmula. Symbol: a seven-pointed star.
  • Clan Deniz
    • A family of jovial naval traders and merchants, originally from Oneah. They live along the western coast and claim mastery over the seas. They even established a colony on Shiv named Alric's Landing. The current leader is the elderly Jerek Deniz, an expert sailor and merchant. Symbol: a conical seashell with seven twists.
  • Clan Joryev
    • A secretive house living on the southwestern coast, descended from the original Joryev, who came from Orvada. The current leader is Aveya Joryev, who possibly has ties to the Cabal. Symbol: a ring with seven keys.

The Council of Seven

The Council of Seven is the ruling body of Benalia, made up of the leaders of the seven houses or their representatives. Similar to the old days, each lunar year sees the rotation of the Ranking, the official hierarchy among the houses. The highest-ranking house becomes the lowest, and the second-highest attains the highest rank. Some official functions are filled according to the Ranking. The Aven have no representation on the council yet, but some hope to see that changed.

Gallery

  • New Benalish archers from Magic: Legends.
    New Benalish archers from Magic: Legends.
  • A Benalish artifact from Magic: Legends.
    A Benalish artifact from Magic: Legends.

Maps

  • Map of Benalia by Varghedin
    Map of Benalia by Varghedin
  • Avenant and Benalia
    Avenant and Benalia
  • Aerona and the near Domains
    Aerona and the near Domains
  • Benalia by Pete Venters
    Benalia by Pete Venters

In-game references

Represented in:
Associated cards:
Referred to:

References

  1. ↑ Matt Cavotta (March 22, 2007). "Speak the Word, the Word is All of Us". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017.
  2. ↑ Encyclopedia Dominia - Torsten von Ursus (archived).
  3. ↑ Encyclopedia Dominia “History of Benalia”
  4. ↑ Ethan Fleischer (September 10, 2022). "The New Argive Megathread". Twitter.
  5. ↑ Ethan Fleischer (February 1, 2025). "Torsten, Founder of Benalia". Bluesky.
  6. ↑ a b Pete Venters (October 1997). "Dominian Chronicles: Weatherlight Ports of Call." The Duelist #19, 33-34
  7. ↑ J. Robert King. (2003) Scourge, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 0-7869-2956-1.
  8. ↑ Roy Graham, Ethan Fleischer, Jenna Helland, Gerritt Turner (August 31, 2022). "Planeswalker's Guide to Dominaria". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ Flavor text for Aven Sentry
  10. ↑ a b c d Martha Wells (March 21, 2018). "Return to Dominaria, Episode 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. ↑ Langley Hyde (August 11, 2022). "Sand in the Hourglass". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. ↑ a b Langley Hyde (August 15, 2022). "A Brutal Blow". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. ↑ Reinhardt Suarez (October 21, 2022). "The Brothers' War - Chapter 1: Stronghold". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. ↑ Ethan Fleischer (April 20, 2018). "Dominarian Cartography". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  15. ↑ a b c d e f James Wyatt (2018), The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria. VIZ Media.
  16. ↑ J. Robert King (2000) - Invasion, WotC.
  17. ↑ a b c d Loren L. Coleman (1999). Bloodlines. Wizards of the Coast
  18. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (July 1, 2002). "Card of the Day - July, 2002". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021.
  19. ↑ Clayton Emery (1995) - Shattered Chains, HarperPrism.
  20. ↑ a b What's in a Name? by Michael A. Stackpole from the Tapestries Anthology (1995), HarperPrism
  21. ↑ Ethan Fleischer (April 25, 2020). "I created a highly-detailed version of the Dominaria map for internal reference use.". Twitter.
  22. ↑ Francis Lebaron. (1999) Mercadian Masques, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 0-7869-1188-3.
  23. ↑ Ethan Fleischer (May 27, 2020). "I created a highly-detailed version of the Dominaria map for internal reference use.". Twitter.
  24. ↑ William R. Forstchen (1994). Magic: The Gathering - Arena. Harper Prism.
  25. ↑ Flavor text for Knight of New Benalia
  26. ↑ Flavor text for Call the Cavalry
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