Tarkir

Tarkir

 

Timeline

 

Magics

 

Tarkir
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Tarkir art.jpg}}|250px]]
Information
First seen	Khans of Tarkir
Last seen	March of the Machine
Planeswalkers	Sarkhan Vol, Narset
Rabiah Scale	4
Status	Dominated by dragons, recovering from New Phyrexia's invasion

Tarkir is the plane where the Khans of Tarkir block and upcoming Return to Tarkir set takes place. It is inspired by the history and cultures of eastern and central Asia.

Description

In a time lost Tarkir was a war-torn plane ruled by five khanates or clans. Now it is a plane controlled by five draconic broods led by their tyrannical Elder Dragon Lords. With two histories and varied ecosystems but no oceans discovered the plane boasts many mysteries and much lore.

Dragon Tempests

A dragon tempest spawning Kolaghan's brood.

Tarkir has a unique, "dracometeorological" ecosystem. Dragons are born from Ugin's elemental storms, known as dragon tempests, which spawned different broods of dragons in accordance to terrain, each with their motives and breath weapons.

Ugin is a part of Tarkir's ecology: a living being that's in the unique position of being built into the natural world. The dragon tempests are an interaction of Ugin's living essence and the world of Tarkir. It is unknown if the tempests continue on Tarkir while Ugin is on other planes, leaving a question as to whether they have been active since Ugin took over Nicol Bolas's imprisonment in 4560 AR.

History

See also: Tarkir/Timeline.

Birth of Tarkir

Ugin first arrived on Tarkir after his rebirth on the meditation plane sometime between ~-25,000 and ~-17,000 AR. Seeing a half-born Tarkir, Ugin sought to form the plane to "fulfill the promise of its nascent soul." In his creative process, he formed the geo-scape, the fauna, and the peoples of Tarkir, and his wing beats birthed the storm that is the Dragon Tempest.

Original timeline

In 4559 AR of the original timeline, dragons were extinct, leading to Sarkhan Vol's fascination with them as a planeswalker. They had been hunted to extinction long before Sarkhan's time.

1280 years earlier, the clans were locked in a war against the dragons for their survival. When Ugin's twin brother, Nicol Bolas, confronted and killed him, the elemental storms that gave birth to the dragons ceased and no new dragons were born, changing the tide of the war. Ultimately, the warriors of the clans were able to destroy them all.

In the centuries that followed, the five warrior clans claimed dominion over Tarkir, and are fighting over every scrap of territory. While some khans are content to rule their homelands, some wish to rule all of Tarkir. The clans have co-opted ancient draconic magic to disguise their strength and best their foes.

Alternate timeline

A remnant of Ugin's spirit was able to transport Sarkhan back in time to prevent the dragon's death during the duel with his brother. When Sarkhan traveled back in time, he saved Ugin after his battle with Bolas. Ugin was preserved in a hedron cocoon as he regained his strength. During this time, the dragon tempests grew in intensity, with the dragons growing more numerous and powerful and eventually overtaking the clans in an event known as the "Khanfall". In the aftermath, the word "Khan" was abolished among all Clans and five dragonlords and their broods rose to dominate the humanoid races, forming new clans over the remains of the old, though knowledge of the clans still exists in the new timeline. These new clans continued to clash with each other over territorial disputes.

Phyrexian invasion

Tarkir was a target in New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse. While Sarkhan espoused the dragons' might against the Phyrexians, many dragons were compleated, such as at least one of Kolaghan's brood, and many of Silumgar's brood. Surrak and Goreclaw, Zurgo and Ojutai, and Atarka shamans loosely banded together to defend the plane.

Geography

Regions differ from arid desert plains to humid tropical jungles to frigid snow-covered tundra. According to Sarkhan, Tarkir has no oceans. Dragonbones littered the landscape.

Known locations

• The Salt Road, a large road that stretches through many of the clans' territories.
• The Shifting Wastes are the deserts controlled by the Abzan Houses. In the alternate timeline, they are Dromoka's domain.
  • Arashin, a city built upon a rocky hill that serves as the clan's symbolic and administrative center. The trade routes that wind through the Shifting Wastes all pass through it. Arashin is the home of the sacred First Tree and the khan.
    • In the alternate timeline, Arashin is replaced by the Great Aerie, a gigantic structure that extends and fortifies the natural defensive position of the hill. The fortress is nearly invulnerable to ground assault, and the sky is heavily patrolled by dragons and aven. Dromoka makes her roost in the Great Aerie.
  • Mer-Ek, the colossal fortress that protects Arashin. In the alternate timeline, it is incorporated into the Great Aerie.
  • The Lookout Roost, a watchtower far in the desert that guards the border with the Sultai. It rises four hundred feet into the air, is built of a reddish stone, and peopled by Vulture-aven that have been given the Roost to watch over.
    • In the alternate timeline, the Aerie of the Unfettered is the only settlement in Dromoka lands that is home only to dragons. The Unfettered owe no fealty to anyone and have no humanoids under their protection
  • Khava, a settlement two days away from Arashin.
• The Jeskai Way and the Ojutai control the waterways of Tarkir. Part of the population is settled in one of the four main strongholds or one of the many villages along the rivers and lakes, all located far away from the lands of the Abzan.
  • Sage-Eye Stronghold is the prime stronghold. It is built into the side of a mountain at the edge of a bay ringed by mountains.
    • In the alternate timeline, this is Dragon's Eye, the secondary sanctuary and roost of the dragonlord Ojutai
  • Dirgur Stronghold , built on an island amid a vast lake. It is surrounded by a floating village with a network of wooden bridges. It is not the most secure stronghold, but it is the closest to both the Salt Road and the lands of the other clans.
  • Cori Mountain Stronghold, constructed inside an ancient flooded caldera. An immense and well-preserved dragon skeleton surrounds the stronghold like a perimeter fence.
    • In the alternate timeline Cori Mountain Sanctuary is the primary roost and intellectual retreat of Ojutai.
  • Riverwheel Stronghold, a white-walled fortress built into the side of a cliff. A huge waterfall flows through it.
    • In the alternate timeline this is known as Icefall. The waterfall is frozen, perhaps by the magical intervention of cold-loving Ojutai dragons.
  • Purugir, the clan's largest trading post, is located in a canyon along the Salt Road.
  • Highspire Stronghold, a minor stronghold on the border.
  • The Trail of Dead Emperors, a route through the mountains marked by towering white standing stones.
  • The Dead Reckoning, a route through a treacherous swampy region with a reputation for fatalities.
• The Sultai Brood and the Silumgar reside in large city temples, necropoleis, and pleasure palaces hidden in a massive river delta with vast, lush tropical jungles and swamps. These Sultai lands share a border with the lands of the Abzan.
  • The Sagu Jungle is the ancestral home of the naga. Many enormous beasts dwell there.
  • Kheru, the central place of worship for the Sultai. In the new timeline, it is the center for arcane and scholarly research among the Silumgar.
    • The Kheru Temple, from where Sidisi rules.
    • The Qarsi Palace, a sprawling, luxurious jungle paradise set on the waterways.
    • The Crocodile Pits. Those who earn the displeasure of the Sultai wind up as afternoon snacks in the crocodile pits.
  • The Gudul, a series of islands that dot the delta.
  • The Gurmag Swamps, a belt of treacherous swampland that encircles part of the Sultai / Silumgar domain.
    • Ukud Necropolis, an impressive building containing the tombs of the Sultai ancestors. Home of the Rakshasa. In the alternate timeline, it serves as the resting place for the bones of Silumgar's high-ranking dragons, which he has forbidden from being raised. It also serves as a vault for his treasures.
  • The Marang River, sourced by the snowmelt of the Mardu Mountains.
    • The Marang River Fortress, which is near a small, steep pass where the river comes out of the mountains. In the alternate timeline, this is the seat of Silumgar's power.
    • Molderfang Falls, a sacred site where the ancient dragon Silumgar was felled and crashed into the river.
• The steppes and plateaus of Tarkir are home to the semi-nomadic Mardu Horde and the Kolaghan.
  • Wingthrone, the Mardu fortress where Kolaghan died in ancient times, smashed against a cliffside.
    • Non-existent in the alternate timeline.
  • Goldengrave, a grassy expanse where many Mardu battles have been fought.
  • The Scour, a deep chasm passes through the Qal Sisma mountains in Temur territory, that continues like a scar into Mardu lands. Eroded by constant winds spiked with fine black grit.
  • Screamreach, a system of chilly bogs and swamplands. In the new timeline, this is the favored domain of Kolaghan.
  • Sandsteppe Gate, the connection between the lowlands and the rolling hilly meadows.
• The Qal Sisma mountains are inhospitable, but it's the region where the nomadic Temur Frontier and the Atarka spend much of the year hunting.
  • The Melting Wilds. In the alternate timeline, the arrival of Atarka, and the storms that birthed her brood, were accompanied by widespread melting of the icy reaches in the Qal Sisma Mountains. Many of the mountaintop glaciers are now gone, and sudden floods caused by rapid ice melt are frequent.
  • Karakyk Valley, a glacier-carved valley that functions as their permanent winter residence for the coldest two months of the year.
    • Ayagor, the Dragon's Bowl. The circle of Karakyk does not exist in the alternate timeline. Instead, the spot where Atarka first settled has become a central gathering place. Ayagor is a shallow, high valley whose ice has melted completely.
  • The Staircase of Bones: a rounded hilltop that functions as the meeting place for the various family hunting groups.
  • Qadat, the Fire Rim, home of the Efreeti. In the new timeline, it was conquered by Atarka.
  • The Dragon's Throat: a high, winding valley deep within the mountains. Winds blowing through this valley create a continuous wail that is known as the Voice of Dragons. The shamans come here to whisper to very powerful spirits.
  • Ugin's Nexus: a point, deep within the ravine where Ugin's bones rest. There, reality is always shifting and twisting.
    • In the alternate timeline this is the Crucible of the Spirit Dragon.
  • The Eternal Ice or Eternal Peak, a holy mountain where hunters dare not hunt and only whisperers walk when they are lured there by the voices of the ancestors.

Culture

Cuisine

The Silumgar or Sultai Brood are known to drink tea and magically chilled coffee topped with sweet cream. They eat fish curry, braised pork, sticky rice, and fermented noodles.

Influences

Tarkir is influenced by the history and cultures of Asia.

The five clans follow influential Asian civilizations across various eras. The Abzan were based on the Persian Empire in modern-day Iran, the Jeskai on Shaolin Monks of China, the Sultai on the Khmer Empire of Cambodia, the Mardu on the Mongols and Japanese, and the Temur on Siberian shamanists.

Some subtypes were reused from the previous Asian-inspired settings of Rabiah and Kamigawa. Djinns and Efreets are from Arabic mythology and Kirin are from East Asian mythology; new depictions include the Rakshasa from Hindu mythology, Lammasu from Assyrian, and Nagas from Buddhist and Hindu mythology. The Jeskai Aven may be inspired by the kinnara, while the Ainok dogfolk may be a reference to the lupine Turkic or Mongolian origin myth. The presence of Orcs follows Tolkien's depiction of them, which brings with it the contested racial caricatures of Mongol tribes.

Clans

Clan Symbols

Tarkir is a plane of five warring clans, each revering one aspect of a dragon in aggregate. Even after the timeline change, the clans continue to war and continue to revere the same aspect, but with more active influence from the five different broods.

Old timeline

The lands are controlled by five warring clans. Each live in largely different biospheres, giving them distinct territories.

Clan Name	Colors	Dragon Aspect	Mechanic	Symbol	Khan
The Abzan Houses		Endurance	Outlast	Scale of the dragon	Anafenza, the Foremost
The Jeskai Way		Cunning	Prowess	Eye of the dragon	Narset, Enlightened Master
The Sultai Brood		Ruthlessness	Delve	Fang of the dragon	Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
The Mardu Horde		Speed	Raid	Wing of the dragon	Zurgo Helmsmasher
The Temur Frontier		Savagery	Ferocious	Claw of the dragon	Surrak Dragonclaw

New timeline

The lands are now inhabited by dragon brood-controlled clans. The aspects are the same, but they are implemented in a different fashion.

Clan Name	Colors	Dragon Aspect	Mechanic	Symbol	Dragonlord
Dromoka		Endurance	Bolster	Scale of the dragon	Dragonlord Dromoka
Ojutai		Cunning	Rebound	Eye of the dragon	Dragonlord Ojutai
Silumgar		Ruthlessness	Exploit	Fang of the dragon	Dragonlord Silumgar
Kolaghan		Speed	Dash	Wing of the dragon	Dragonlord Kolaghan
Atarka		Savagery	Formidable	Claw of the dragon	Dragonlord Atarka

Inhabitants

Sapient races

• Human: The most prolific humanoid creature that is found in all five Clans.
• Dragons: Born from the dragon tempests that are tied to the spirit dragon Ugin. While his death resulted in their extinction in the old timeline, in the new timeline, Ugin's salvation led them to ascend past the other races of Tarkir, becoming the rulers of the plane. More information is below.
• Aven: Tarkir Aven come in the shape of different birds, including vultures, ravens, rails, and falcons. They are found in all clans except for the Mardu in the old timeline and appear mostly in the Ojutai and Dromoka Clans in the new timeline.
• Ainok: Canine humanoids that thrive in the harshest environments of the plane. Affiliated with the Temur and Abzan in the old timeline and chiefly with the Dromoka in the new timeline.
• Djinn: Inhabitants of Tarkir's high peaks, affiliated with Jeskai and the Ojutai.
• Efreet: Inhabitants of Qadat, the Efreet are aligned with the Jeskai Way in the old timeline and the Atarka in the new timeline.
• Goblins: Pack creatures aligned with the Temur and Mardu in the old timeline and the Kolaghan and Atarka in the new timeline.
• Loxodons: Mammoth-like humanoids primarily native to the Qal Sisma Mountains.
• Naga: Serpentine humanoids that make ancient deals with the Rakshasa, the Naga aligned with the Sultai and Silumgar Clans.
• Orcs: Savage humanoids which are found primarily among the Mardu, Temur, and Abzan Clans in the old timeline and Kolaghan in the new.
• Ogres: Feral humanoids aligned with the Mardu and Temur in the old timeline and the Atarka in the new timeline.
• Rakshasa: Cat-like demons, that are masters of dark pacts. They also wield devastating Dark Magics.
• Vampires: broken into two types introduced and native. The native variety can be found in the Kheru swamps, in the Sultai/ Silumgar territories. They feed off the living's mind or body. The other type was introduced to Tarkir by Sorin Markov.

Wildlife

• Demon: known as Sidikur, are summoned by the Sultai, the Silumgar, and the Mardu Clans through rituals gained through deals with the Rakshasa.
• Zombies: Know as Sibsig, they serve the Sultai and the Silumgar as servants and main forces in their armies.
• Yetis: Ferocious mountain-dwelling humanoid beasts.
• Phoenixes: Firebirds aligned with the Temur
• Kirin: Messengers that appear in fateful moments.
• Bats:
• Cats: Tigers, Saber-toothed cats
  • Arynx: cat-like beast that can follow scents across lands. "Once it has your scent, it will hunt you from the Gurmag Swamp to Ayagor."
• Apes: Mandrills can be found in the jungles and palaces kept as undead pets.
• Elephants: Mastodons went extinct and were replaced by elephants
• Crocodiles: found in the swamps and kept in the pits near Qarsi palaces.
• Elk: come in several types, Sambar are used in Jeskai training and others are hunted for food in the frontiers
• Birds: Roc, Falcons, Owls, and Flocks of all types can be found throughout the lands.
• Lammasu:
• Leviathan:
• Fish: live across the plane from the Anglers in Gurmag, to the massive Carp that in the lakes that dot the landscapes.
• Insects:
  • Krotiq:
  • Bloodflies:
  • Mantis:
• Snakes: found in the swamps and jungles of Gurmag and Sagu.
• Bears:
• Turtles:
• Beasts: the massive creatures fall into the classification of megafauna.
  • Mauler:
  • Krushok:
  • Charger:
  • Colossodon
• Rhinos:
• Horses: can be found used by the Mardu Hoard, in the frontier.
• Goats: several types call the lands of Tarkir home
  • Rams:
  • Ibex: used by the Abzan houses and Dromoka's Clan
• Amalgam: creatures of the makeup of multiple creatures (mostly with snakes); maybe naturally occurring or the mad experiments of sadistic mages.
  • Hydra: a deadly creature that upon death births snakes
  • Dinosaur: known as Deathmist Raptors, they seem to have a knack for using the mists to beguile their prey and hide strike.
  • Ape:
• Golem:
• Rats: used as plague carriers for the Sultai
• Pigs
• Elementals:

Flora

• Coffea
• Rice

Dragons

Five types of dragons, each led by a prominent and eponymous figure, existed:

• Dromoka's Brood, named after their female champion, were revered by the Abzan Houses for their endurance. They were robust, ankylosaur-like beasts well protected by scaly armor, and breathed beams of light. They were drawn to Tarkir's hot and sunlit deserts. They attacked the Abzan over their "necromantic" ways, seeing their summoning of the spirits of the ancestors as an affront to nature and life, and thus massacred them until their khan, Daghatar, was brought before Dromoka's presence in the new timeline, years after Ugin's injury. Learning why she acted as she did, he ordered the end of the Abzan kin-tree traditions, installing instead a pact with the dragons.
• Ojutai's Brood, named after their male champion, were admired by the Jeskai Way. They were lithe, feathered winged creatures drawn to Tarkir's cold peaks, and with an icy breath. They were cunning and treacherous, forcing the Jeskai into a battle of wits for their survival. Though Ojutai's motivation to kill the Jeskai was never made entirely clear, he and his brood established themselves as exceptionally dogmatic individuals after taking over the Jeskai, when they attacked the meeting of the khans. Accepting Shu Yun's terms of surrender, Ojutai ordered the execution of every ghostfire Jeskai warrior. Finally, as the new leader, he demanded that the records of the Jeskai be edited to rewrite history in his favor, declaring himself ruler and the Jeskai abolished. In the new timeline, Ojutai seems to have mellowed out and is much kinder and closer to the humanoids of his Clan. Even when Narset discovered the secret of his rewriting Tarkir's history the dragonlord simply smiled and encouraged her to seek further knowledge and enlightenment.
• Silumgar's Brood, named after their male champion, were inspirational to the Sultai Brood. They were snake-headed creatures with a corrosive, venomous breath, associated with the misty jungles and swamps, stealing treasure and spreading death everywhere. In the new timeline, the Sultai khan offended the Rakshasa and the Nagas, prompting them to abandon the clan, and forcing them to make a pact with Silumgar and his brood. Tasigur betrayed the other khans by revealing to Silumgar the location of their meeting, under the promise of a special place of power under Silumgar's regime. His 'reward' was to become a pet for Silumgar to display his dominance over.
• Kolaghan's Brood, named after their female champion, were imitated by the Mardu Horde. They were slim creatures with four feathered wings and an assortment of frills and spines, capable of conjuring lightning. Taking dominion over the hills and steppes, they fought viciously against the Mardu. In the new timeline, Kolaghan and her brood initially established themselves as the sole non-tyrannical dragons, not interested in enslaving the Mardu. In time, however, the dragonlord became a fearsome leader, using violence, cruelty, and her trademark unpredictability to keep the clan in line. Unlike the Mardu, the Kolaghan follow no code of honor. Their ambitions are to raze the other Clans down and bring ruin wherever they go. The Kolaghan pine for freedom, from civilization, from limits, from any form of honor or law.

Atarka clan dragon, Harbinger of the Hunt

• Atarka's Brood, named after their female champion, were honored by the Temur Frontier. They were robust, bestial dragons with antlers and horns and fur, breathing green flames. Preferring the cold slopes, they were driven by hunger alone. In the new timeline, Atarka's barely sapient mentality proved to be the salvation of the Temur, as Yasova satiated her hunger by feeding her mammoth carcasses, distracting the dragons from attacking her clan. In exchange for feeding Atarka, the humanoids are tolerated by Atarka's Brood as long as they stay useful to her.

Following the rise of the broodlords and the passage of time, the dragons matured to new levels of power, gaining the additional title of Elder. While these five dragons are no doubt the most powerful on Tarkir, the term is used separately from the Elder Dragons that once waged war across the multiverse, making them a distinct breed of dragon rather than dragons of the same caliber as those ancient creatures.

Languages spoken

• Draconic
• Khan (Tarkir Common)
• Ugin's runic language

Planeswalkers

Native

• Narset
• Sarkhan Vol

Visitors

• Jace Beleren
• Nicol Bolas
• Sorin Markov
• The Unluckiest
• Ugin
• Vraska

Trivia

• Tarkir was built from the plane Mongseng from Planechase 2012. After the decision was made to use Mongseng as the setting for a full block, unspecified considerations led to the renaming of the plane.

In-game references

Represented in:

• The Great Aerie

Associated cards:

• Invasion of Tarkir
• Tarkir Charm
• Tarkir Duneshaper

Referred to:

• Ainok Artillerist
• Atarka, World Render
• Bathe in Dragonfire
• Crux of Fate
• Dazzling Ramparts
• Dragon Throne of Tarkir
• Dragonloft Idol
• Dragonrage
• Explosive Vegetation (Dragons of Tarkir)
• Fate Forgotten
• Fearsome Awakening
• Feat of Resistance
• Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper
• Jeskai Windscout
• Kiddie Coaster (Unfinity, #219f)
• Misthoof Kirin
• Oculus Whelp
• Sarkhan's Rage
• Smite the Monstrous (Ugin's Fate)
• Stormcrag Elemental
• Surrak and Goreclaw
• Venerable Lammasu
• Warden of the Eye
• Zephyr Scribe

External links

• Magic Creative Team (September 3, 2014). "Planeswalker's Guide to Khans of Tarkir, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Magic Creative Team (September 10, 2014). "Planeswalker's Guide to Khans of Tarkir, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Wizards of the Coast (September 3, 2014). "Khans of Tarkir Worldbuilding Panel at PAX". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• The Magic Creative Team (January 7, 2015). "Planeswalker's Guide to Fate Reforged". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• The Magic Creative Team (March 11, 2015). "Planeswalker's Guide to Dragons of Tarkir, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• The Magic Creative Team (March 18, 2015). "Planeswalker's Guide to Dragons of Tarkir, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.