Isperia
| Isperia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Colors |
  |
| Species | Sphinx |
| Birth, Life & Death | |
| Birthplace | Ravnica |
| Lifetime | Rift Era - Mending Era |
| Death | c. 10,077 ZC |
| Sources | |
| Dissension | |
Isperia was the sphinx guildmaster to the Azorius Senate on Ravnica.[note 1][1]
Description
Isperia had a long, leonine body that was bigger than a cart, made even bulkier by broad, feathered wings. Her enormous forepaws were usually folded in front of her. Her face and head looked more human, framed by long purple hair, her features as famously inscrutable as all her kind.[2]
History
As a judge, Isperia had once issued a writ of mass arrest for any and all members caught bearing allegiance to the Golgari Swarm.[3] Vraska was amongst those apprehended, and they were taken to an Azorius detention compound, the place where all victims of the writ had been imprisoned.[4] Unfortunately, the cells quickly filled beyond capacity and, vastly outnumbered by their prisoners, the Azorius were swept under the tide of a prison riot. These events became known as the Duskend Troubles. Nearly one hundred were killed, many while still in custody.[5]
Isperia was the guild champion before she replaced Augustin IV. Like other sphinxes, Isperia was aloof, wise, and valued solitude.[6] The process of convincing her to lead the guild took years.[7]
Isperia was devoted to her guild's belief that law is the ultimate bulwark against chaos.[8] As guildmaster she served as the supreme judge, taking advantage of her encyclopedic knowledge of Ravnica's labyrinthine legal system. If an event turned violent, Isperia refrained from using lethal force if possible, preferring to subdue a wrongdoer so that the legal system could mete out justice.
After Nicol Bolas began his manipulations, Isperia was one of his first victims. She was petrified by Bolas' minion Vraska after the first day of the guild summit, in revenge for the wrongs that Vraska had experienced in her youth.[9] Isperia was replaced by Dovin Baan.[7]
After decorating the Senate Hall until after the War,[10] Isperia's petrified form sank into the Undercity, where nature's forces of reclamation quickly went to work on the stone.[11]
Story appearances
In-game references
- Represented in:
- Associated cards:
- Depicted in:
- Quoted or referred to:
Notes
- ↑ In the Dissension novel she was named Hesperia
References
- ↑ Monty Ashley (October 29, 2012). "Isperia Then and Now". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12.
- ↑ Django Wexler (June 19, 2019), The Gathering Storm, Chapter Three.
- ↑ Django Wexler (July 11, 2019), The Gathering Storm, Chapter Six.
- ↑ Jenna Helland (August 28, 2012). "The Shadows of Prahv, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Jenna Helland (April 9, 2012). "The Shadows of Prahv, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (August 20, 2012). "Azorius Senate". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-11-11.
- ↑ a b James Wyatt (January 2019). "The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica". Wizards of the Coast
- ↑ James Wyatt and Jeremy Crawford (November 2018). "D&D Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Django Wexler (August 14, 2019), The Gathering Storm, Chapter Ten.
- ↑ Greg Weisman (May 22, 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica – Rallying the Reluctant". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Depicted in Assassin's Trophy
