Izolda
| Izolda | |
|---|---|
| Lyzolda | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Colors |
  |
| Species | Human |
| Job | Cleric |
| Birth, Life & Death | |
| Birthplace | Ravnica |
| Death | 10,012 ZC |
| Sources | |
| Dissension | |
Izolda was a Rakdos bloodwitch from Ravnica. She may have been the same character as Lyzolda.
Izolda
Description
Izolda's name meant something close to “blood witch” in Old Ravi. Her pale shape was wrapped in thin chains and slick, blackened hides. Her hands ended in long, black, blade-like claws that dripped thick, red fluid onto the stone floor as she approached the captives. Her wholly white eyes had scars that ran through them, from eyebrow to cheekbone, but she seemed to have little trouble navigating the Rakdos's boisterous and bloody crowds.[1]
History
Since Rakdos spent most of his time slumbering in the lava pit in Rix Maadi, several people took up the title of acting Guildmaster for his Cult in his absence. The bloodwitch Izolda held the mantle of acting Guildmaster for a few hundred years, up until her death following the Decamillennial.[1]
During the Dissension, Izolda wanted to raise Rakdos and take control of him to raise chaos on a massive scale herself. For the ritual to work, she used draconic cerebral fluid, provided by Momir Vig and the blood of a guildmaster: in this case that of Myc Savo Zunich, the son of the Golgari guildmaster Jarad and the ledev guard Fonn. Myc's parents intervened, however, unintentionally disrupting the spell, which resulted in a shared mind between Myc and Rakdos instead. Later, Izolda finished the ritual by killing Jarad and taking control of Rakdos herself.
Unbeknownst to her, Vig knew her plans and had planned to use Project Kraj to defeat Rakdos and use this victory to convince the inhabitants of Ravnica to give him control of the entire plane. Vig was killed by Agrus Kos, and in the ensuing battle, Rakdos was trapped within Kraj. Kraj later fell still, but not before Rakdos suffered extensive damage. Izolda suffered the backlash of the spell, and unfortunately for her, her fellow cult members saw her moment of weakness and tore her limb from limb to feast on her flesh. With the nature of the spell, Rakdos's mind was split amongst all those who consumed a piece of the blood-witch, and he dropped into a coma as a result.
Lyzolda
Although Izolda was the name of the blood witch in Dissension, she appears in the cards as Lyzolda.[2] The card Lyzolda, the Blood Witch was originally going to represent Izolda, but the name of the card was changed after the novel was printed. The author of the novel, Cory Herndon, thought of an explanation for the similar names by saying that the "zolda" part of their names is added to the name of every acting guildmaster of the Rakdos.[3] He later said that as far as he was concerned Lyzolda could be considered the acting guildmaster of the Rakdos after Izolda died.[4]
Lyzolda was first mentioned in an official storyline source at the time of Guilds of Ravnica block, in a story by Nicky Drayden. It was noted that she had had many enemies.[5]
Story appearances
| Title | Author | Publishing date | Set | Setting (plane) | Featuring |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissension | Cory J. Herndon | May 2006 | Dissension | Ravnica | Evern Capobar, Crixizix, Zuza Uldossa, Nikos Pijha, Fonn Zunich, "Helligan", Pollondo, Myczil Savod Zunich, Jarad vod Savo, Shonya Bayle, Teysa Karlov, Feather, Niv-Mizzet, Tharmoq, Biracazir (mentioned), Vor Golozar (mentioned), Lilyeyama Tylver, Aklechin, Orval, Ulkis, Nillis, Otrovac, Szadek, Momir Vig, Lannos Nodov, Agrus Kos, Naruscov, Castell, Bulwic, Shokol Wenslauv, Flang, Savra vod Savo, Svogthir, Jayn, Kel, Augustin IV, Lucian III, Goff, Grugg Brothers, Bellavna, Pivlic, Kavudoz, Z’reddok, Jirni Wenslauv, Azor (mentioned), Krokt (mentioned), Anezka, Razia, Konstantin II, Obez Murzeddi, Izolda, Vexosh, Rakdos, Stomper, Slither, Brain, Migellic, Morr, Evkala Belott, Hesperia, Udom, Project Kraj, Montagon Trevis, Frej Ralinu, Nitt Vinloskarga, Borbin, Illindivossk, Yindervac, Pollotorus |
In-game references (Lyzolda)
- Represented in:
- Depicted in:
- Quoted or referred to:
References
- ↑ a b Cory Herndon (2006) - Dissension, Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (August 15, 2006). "Sketches: Rakdos 1-2-3s". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2019-05-10.
- ↑ MTG Salvation: Ask the Author (2006), page 14
- ↑ MTG Salvation: Ask the Author (2006), page 15
- ↑ Nicky Drayden (January 23, 2019). "The Illusions of Child's Play". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (April 27, 2006). "Lyzolda and the Dagger". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-10-20.
