Llanowar

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Llanowar
Information
Plane Dominaria
Colors Green mana
Type Forest
Part of Aerona
Scryfall Statistics

Llanowar (/lanoʊwɔːr/, LAN-oh-wahr[1]) is a gigantic lush forest region in South Aerona, southeast of Benalia on Dominaria.[2][3][4] It is bordered by the Kb'Briann Highlands, the Durkwood, the Ironclaw Mountains and the Erg Mirab.[5]

Description

Llanowar ranges in width from several hundred miles to over a thousand miles at its widest point. This vast and ancient forest is populated by the Llanowar elves, fierce beings who are very reclusive (some say xenophobic). Redwood treefolk live in the heart of Llanowar, and aboroths are powerful elementals that grow from the soil and terrorize the elves on occasion. The forest is known to goblins as the Forest of Death. The forest is known for its quosumic trees.[6]

Geography

Some scholars claim the vast size of the forest has long protected the Llanowar elves, but although it is quite vast, it is not in any way unique. The elves in Llanowar divide themselves into tribes or elfhames. There are seven of these elven kingdoms contained within the forest realm. Each elfhame has a distinct populace, territory, leadership, and social structure. They differ from communal treetowns to tribal matriarchies. Although most of them get along with one another, there is occasional strife between them. The uniting imperative is to protect their homes from the orcs and goblins of the Ironclaw Mountains.[7] Llanowar lies east of the Kb'Briann Highlands, south of the Ath Mountains, and west of the Ironclaw Mountains and the Moen River. To the south lies Fors Basin.

Locations

  • Ath Mountains Red mana - a rugged range north of Llanowar, source of the Fors River.[8]
  • Basiphem Green mana - one of Llanowar’s seven elfhames, known for its ancient, towering trees.[9][10]
  • The Dreaming Caves - a cavern refuge during the Phyrexian Invasion; nightmares here came alive until Eladamri calmed them.[6]
  • Fors River Blue mana - Llanowar’s longest river, flowing from the Ath Mountains to the sea.
  • Hedressel Green mana - a southwestern elfhame, known for deep forest canopies.[11][6][9][10]
  • Kelfae Green mana - an elfhame where elves raise kavu; the ruins of the destroyed Jubilar are part of its lands.[6][12][10]
  • Lake Ardkanor Blue mana - a large freshwater lake marking Llanowar's edge.
    • Welspree Ruins - remains of a Jubilar port city, now half-sunken in Lake Ardkanor.[6]
  • Loridalh Green mana - an elfhame steeped in magic, one of the seven.[11][12][10]
  • Moen River Blue mana - a river marking the forest's southern border.
  • The Necromantic Morass Black manaGreen mana - a swampy region warped by necromancy..[13]
  • Pendelhaven Green mana - an immense, ancient tree believed to predate much of Dominaria; home to Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer.
  • Riashil Green mana - a peacekeeping elfhame devoted to harmony.[14][10]
    • Oak of the Oath Green mana - sacred tree where weapons are buried in vows of peace.
  • Ruadach Green mana - the most human-friendly elfhame[8][15] [10]
    • Scoria - Ruadach’s capital city, built on the Selendine River.[8]
    • Selendine River Blue mana - a vital river flowing through Ruadach’s lands.
  • Staprion Green mana - a militant elfhame famed for its fierce warriors.[6][10]

The necromantic morass

Deep within the heart of the Llanowar forest lay a dark, twisted morass of necromantic magic.[13] Festering for centuries, it grew inward like a black hole of evil energy. A Llanowar scout troop eventually discovered it. A curious recruit touched the dark tangle and it imploded, sucking the elves in and fusing them into an undead monstrosity. The second scout troop, sent to locate the first, didn't understand what they found until it was upon them. The monstrosity lunged at the elves with deceptive speed, pulling them, still alive, into the horrifying mass that made up its body. A single elf escaped, and that part of the forest was declared forbidden. While no sightings have been reported of the creature for many years, the tale of the Abomination of Llanowar remains a popular story around elven campfires.

History

Ice Age and the Thaw

Since the Ice Age, the Llanowar elves have had to protect their forest from the ravages of outsiders seeking precious firewood. Though they do have some contact with their neighbors, they have done a remarkable job of keeping other peoples and cultures from influencing their homes. They maintain a strict belief, grounded in religion, that they must keep some distance from other peoples to retain their mystical connection to nature and their forest home. The Llanowar and the Shanodin dryads share a deep respect and connection despite the tremendous distance (several thousand miles) between their forests.

With the help of Freyalise the elves of Llanowar managed to keep their cultures intact throughout even the most difficult of times.[16] This isolationist philosophy is taken to its most extreme by the Order of the Steel Leaf, a select cadre of elves said to have been brought together by Freyalise herself. The beautiful half-elven planeswalker is considered a goddess by the elves of Llanowar, who are unaware of her heritage. The Steel Leaf is zealous to maintain the purity of Llanowar. Any non-native entering their territory risks their life in doing so. They have even been known to direct their isolationist zeal against elves of other elfhames.

Invasion

Mirri, a cat warrior who was trained in magic together with Gerrard, lived for a while in Llanowar. This is where she met Rofellos.

During the Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria, all Llanowar rallied around Eladamri's banner and united in his name, successfully defending the forest from the Phyrexians.

Post-Mending

Llanowar was one of the first Dominarian regions that were rejuvenated after the Mending.[17] Due to the casualties suffered during the Invasion and the Rift Era, half of Llanowar's current population consists of adolescents, aged sixty or below.

Gallery

Maps

  • Llanowar map
    Llanowar map
  • Aerona and the near Domains
    Aerona and the near Domains

In-game references

Represented in:
Associated cards:
Referred to:

References

  1. ↑ Matt Cavotta (August 31, 2005). "Snack Time with Vorthos". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017.
  2. ↑ Doug Beyer (September 02, 2009). "The Planes of Planechase". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2019-03-01.
  3. ↑ Martha Wells (March 21, 2018). "Return to Dominaria, Episode 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Encyclopedia Domina - Llanowar Forest (archived)
  5. ↑ Ethan Fleischer (April 20, 2018). "Dominarian Cartography". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ a b c d e f J. Robert King (2000), Invasion. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Magic: The Gathering 1997 Calendar: 365 Days in Dominia
  8. ↑ a b c d Gathering the Taradomnu by Mark Shepherd, Kathy Ice (Ed.), 1995. Tapestries, HarperPrism
  9. ↑ a b Tom Dupree, J. Robert King, ed. (2001.) "Dreamwings", The Dragons of Magic, Wizards of the Coast
  10. ↑ a b c d e f g James Wyatt (2018), The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria. VIZ Media.
  11. ↑ a b The Ambassador's Journal
  12. ↑ a b Flavor text for Llanowar Scout
  13. ↑ a b Ari Zirulnik and Ethan Fleischer (November 6, 2020). "The Legendary Creatures of Commander Legends, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. ↑ Encyclopedia Dominia - Still Waters, Deep Roots (archived).
  15. ↑ Mark Shepherd (1995). Gathering the Taradomnu In: Magic: The Gathering - Tapestries. Edited by Kathy Ice (1995). Harper Prism.
  16. ↑ Magic Arcana (August 16, 2005). "The elves of Llanowar". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-18.
  17. ↑ Ethan Fleischer on Twitter
  18. ↑ Emrakul & Chatterfang!? Koma & Toski!? 62 Unknown Magic Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (May 10, 2023).
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