Ondu

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Ondu
Information
Plane	Zendikar
Colors
Formerly part of	Makindi Empire
Scryfall Statistics
53 artworks 9.4% 22.6% 15.1% 9.4% 20.8% 13.2% 9.4%

Ondu is one of the seven continents of Zendikar, located in the plane's southwestern quadrant and extending into the Silundi Sea. It consists of a central landmass and three major offshore islands: the large southern island of Agadeem, the volcanic Beyeen, and the remote Jwar Isle.

History

Ondu was once the heartland of the ancient Kor empire, whose capital was the city of Makindi. A civil war between the capital and its Skyclave led to Makindi’s destruction and the fall of the Ondu Skyclave onto Jwar Isle.

Description

Ondu’s geography is defined by dramatic verticality—sky-scraping trees, sheer-walled canyons, and island crypts all lend the sensation of movement through height rather than breadth. Due to magical or constructed connections, it may be possible to travel between Ondu’s mainland and two of its islands without the use of boats.

Ondu can be roughly divided into three geographic regions - Makindi, the Silundi islands, and Turntimber.

Notable Locations

Makindi — a vast stretch of plains marked by deep canyons and towering mesas.

• Makindi Trenches — a maze of steep canyons inhabited by birds, reptiles, goblins, and kor. Whitewater rivers rush through many branches.
  • Makindi Faduun — enormous, enigmatic stone heads scattered throughout the region.
  • Makindi Mesas — pillar-top mesas home to kor and creatures such as griffins.
    • Binding Circle — a plateau site used for ancient rituals.
      • Prison of Omnath — a mesa shrine where the volatile god Omnath was sealed. Pilgrims maintained the prison through the Ritual of Lights until its catastrophic breach.
      • Soul Stair — a spiral staircase descending into the void beneath the Prison.
  • Palace of Zemgora — a vampiric ruin dedicated to the Eldrazi, constantly relocated by the Roil.
  • Piston Mountains — floating peaks that rise and crash violently, throwing stone shrapnel.
  • Teetering Stone Canyon — site of the gravity-defying Teetering Peaks .
  • Throne of Makindi — the ancient Kor Empire throne, hidden deep in the trenches.

Silundi Sea — coastal waters surrounding Ondu's islands.

• Bay of Beyeen — the channel between Agadeem and Beyeen.
  • Agadeem — Ondu’s largest island.
    • Fields of Agadeem — scattered hedron ruins that warp natural laws; visitors report visions of floating masks.
    • Crypt of Agadeem — an elaborate tomb with a mysterious sealed chamber called the Cryptlock.
      • Crypt Maw — a vast, bat-filled entry cavern said to be haunted.
    • Kabira — a kor hunting plateau near hedron fields; formerly contained a crossroads settlement destroyed by Ulamog's spawn.
  • Beyeen — a volcanic rainforest island of connected islets.
    • Crown of Talib — floating volcanic peaks named after the kor god of earth.
      • Boilbasin — superheated tide pools used by dragons to cleanse their scales.
      • Mount Valakut — the largest and most active peak on Beyeen.
    • Zulaport — a coastal trade hub once controlled by the vampire Indorel.
• The Serpent's Maw - the storm-tossed sea separating Jwar from the rest of Ondu
  • Jwar Isle — the remote Isle of Secrets shrouded in myth.
    • Jwari Faduun — giant stone heads dotting the isle; pilgrims bury their dead here.
    • Jwari Skyclave — a sunken kor city of traps and secrets.
    • Strand of Jwar — a mysterious column of blue aether rising into the sky; its source remains unknown.

Turntimber — the Serpentine Forest, dominated by massive spiral trees and dangerous fauna.

• Graypelt — an outpost of druids and explorers.
• Tajuru Home Tree — home of several Tajuru elf villages; former site of Mosscrack.
• Whiteshag — a river winding through the forest.
• Wolfbriar — a glade inhabited by the elf beastmaster Zalek.

Other

• Cliffhaven — a possible location on or near Ondu (unconfirmed).

Gallery

• 
  Agadeem concept art.
• 
  Agadeem, the Undercrypt
• 
  Crypt of Agadeem
• 
  Hedron Fields of Agadeem
• 
  Arid Mesa
• 
  Beyeen Coast
• 
  Graypelt Refuge
• 
  Jwar Isle Refuge
• 
  Jwari Ruins
• 
  Kabira Plateau
• 
  Makindi Mesas
• 
  Piston Mountain concept art.
• 
  Scalding Tarn
• 
  Teetering Peaks
• 
  Throne of Makindi
• 
  Turntimber concept art.
• 
  Turntimber Grove
• 
  Turntimber, Serpentine Wood
• 
  Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
• 
  Valakut Exploration
• 
  Valakut Stoneforge

In-game references

Associated cards:

• Ondu Champion
• Ondu Cleric
• Ondu Giant
• Ondu Greathorn
• Ondu Inversion
• Ondu Knotmaster
• Ondu Rising
• Ondu Skyruins
• Ondu Spiritdancer
• Ondu War Cleric

Referred to:

• Aether Tradewinds
• All Is Dust
• Beast Hunt
• Desecrated Earth
• Expedition Map
• Farsight Adept
• Jwari Ruins
• Kabira Outrider
• Kitesail
• Ogre Sentry
• Prairie Stream (Battle for Zendikar)
• Puncturing Light (Rise of the Eldrazi)
• Shoreline Salvager
• Shrivel (Rise of the Eldrazi)
• Teeterpeak Ambusher

Sources

• Magic Creative Team (November 11, 2009). "A Planeswalker's Guide to Zendikar: Ondu". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2019-08-12.