Kuthuman
| Kuthuman | |
|---|---|
|
The Walker He Who Walks in Unknown Places[1] The Great Walker of Realms Unknown He Who Rules over All The Great Lord[2] | |
 Kuthuman (background) on the Czech cover of Arena | |
| Information | |
| Colors |
  |
| Species | Human |
| Job | Wizard |
| Birth, Life & Death | |
| Birthplace | Kush, Aerona, the Domains, Dominaria |
| Lifetime | The Thaw-War with Phyrexia |
| Born | c. 3071 AR or earlier |
| Sources | |
| Arena | |
Kuthuman was a Dominarian planeswalker. He served as Grand Master of the Arena of Kush until the Night of Fire, when he ascended as a planeswalker.
Description
His appearance in human form was that of a young man with a tall, sinuous figure, clad in black robes.[2] At one instant, the smile on his bloodless lips appeared to be almost friendly, and then in the same instant, it was a smile of cunning, of power and contempt. During the festival, he usually acted like a gross buffoon, eating, wenching, and gambling.
On his plane, his appearance was that of a shadow, not fully formed, wavering, as if nothing more than mist. The form had black robes fluttering in the breeze, and in the shadow could be glimpsed a skull-like visage.[3] His realm was a dark, barren plain that stretched away into eternity. Dark green clouds roiled in the sky, half-filled by a dark red sun.[4] The wind was damp, cold, and filled with a pungent acrid smoke that held with it the stench of corruption.
History
Kuthuman was possibly the first Grand Master of the Arena in the city of Estark in Kush, serving for nearly a millennium.[5][3] Cullinarn, the master of the House of Oor-tael, once saved him from an assassin's poisoned dagger.
In 4049 AR, under the suggestion of his servant Zarel, Kuthuman bribed the Masters of the House of Bolk, House of Ingkara, House of Fentesk and House of Kestha to destroy Oor-tael, which had resisted his order to hand out its mana to permit his ascension, in what became known as the Night of Fire.[2] He then used the stolen mana to cast a spell discovered by his then-lover Kirlen, which ignited his planeswalker spark. He appointed Zarel as the new Grand Master of the Arena and ordered him to continue to collect mana from the country, needed to sustain his planeswalking ability. He then started to journey through the planes, returning only once a year, on the final day of the Festival of Estark, to collect his mana tribute. At the same time, he would take with him the champion of the Festival, ostensibly to teach them the secrets of a planeswalker. In reality, the festival was a sham; the true intention of Kuthuman was to find the strongest fighters and kill them secretly, to weed out anyone who could challenge his power.[6]
Twenty years after the Night of Fire, he was tracked down by Garth One-Eye, son of the Master of Oor-tael.[2] When Garth won the Festival, Kuthuman transported both of them to the heart of his realm.[3] In this place, Kuthuman explained to Garth the reality of being a planeswalker: to be always in strife against other similar beings, in a perpetual struggle for mana and power. Garth defeated Kuthuman by draining him of his core mana.[4] Garth took the spell that allowed the planeswalker to ignite his spark, and returned to Estark. Kuthuman returned for Garth, but Garth was able to "seal the gate" with Norreen's help.[7] Garth later noted that Kuthuman seemed to give up on the fight before it was done, effectively allowing Garth to claim victory.
On Kuthuman's colors
Kuthuman was known to use red and black mana extensively.[8]
- Black: Demonic Hordes, Lord of the Pit[4]
- Red: Rock Hydra[4]
Story appearances
| Title | Author | Publishing date | Setting (plane) | Featuring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arena | William R. Forstchen | October 1994 | Dominaria, Kuthuman's Plane | Garth, Webin, Okmark, Zarel Ewine, Varnel Buckara, Hammen, Kuthuman, Tulan, Cullinarn, the Eternal (mentioned), Norreen, Uriah Aswark, Gilrash, Naru, Jimak Ravelth, Balzark, Kirlen, Leonovit, Rico, Matu, Evanual, Nahatkim, Galin, Varena, Grimash, Petros, Lothor, Haglin, Erwina, Lorrin, Alinar, Ogla, Farnin, Petrakov, Josega, Silmar, Omar, Mina, Ulin, Hadin gar Kan, Azema, Jolina, Igun, Gilganorin, Malina, Juka, Valmar, Seduna |
References
- ↑ William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 10". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b c d William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 13". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b c William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 14". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ a b c d William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 15". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 2". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 12". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 16". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
- ↑ William R. Forstchen (September 26, 1994). "Chapter 8". Magic: The Gathering - Arena, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-00610542426.
