Ora Ondar
- For the flower that sustains mana in the Khalni Garden, see Khalni Heart.
| Ora Ondar | |
|---|---|
|
The Khalni Garden The Impossible Garden | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Plane | Zendikar |
| Colors |
 |
| Part of | Akoum |
| Formerly part of | Makindi Empire |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Ora Ondar, also known as "the Khalni Garden", and "the Impossible Garden", is a forest on the continent of Akoum on Zendikar.
Description
Ora Ondar is a remarkable vertical and centennial forest in the bald, rocky region of northern Akoum. The tenders of Ora Ondar believe it is caused by a Life Bloom, usually a passingly short phenomenon where green plant life bursts forth from the soil and lasts for a few days until a year or two at most before vanishing. It is unheard of for these phenomena that Ora Ondar has thrived for nearly a century. The site hosts a mid‑sized, predominantly elven settlement of about 8,000 inhabitants. These caretakers, calling themselves "nourishers," maintain dense, tiered plant life visible as a five‑layer vertical grove embedded into crystalline stone walls of an obelisk.[1]
Kolya trees at the top level bear white mango‑like fruits infused with raw Zendikar mana. The fruit is generally sweet and tangy, and can bestow physical or intellectual enhancements. However, long‑term consumption often results in dangerous mutations — such as bioluminescent blood or fatal deformities. A druid‑led cult led by Ser Amaran worships these trees, believing them to be divine gifts. He has himself become mutated and operates as their prophetic voice.[1]
The Khalni Stone
At the heart of Ora Ondar lies the mysterious Khalni Stone, a potent, ancient artifact serving as a mana refractor. The stone is widely believed to be the true source sustaining the Garden’s vitality, but in truth it is but an extension of the true source. Druids carefully channel the stone's power to maintain the garden, and they fiercely guard the artifact and its secrets.[1]
The Khalni Heart
Although the nourishers of Ora Ondar think it exists due to an exceptionally durable Life Bloom sustained by the Khalni Stone, the true source of the forest's vitality is in fact a Khalni Heart — an enormous flower, bursting with magical life energy. This lotus-like bloom grows in the midst of a waterfall in the exact center of the forest, and the vibrant life of the Impossible Garden comes from the intense green mana flowing out from it. This secret is known to only a select few of druids and elves of Ora Ondar.[2]
As the Eldrazi demolish the plane and leave lifeless ruin in their wake, these druids and elves believe — or desperately hope — that the Khalni Heart can be removed from Ora Ondar and transplanted to Bala Ged, Sejiri, or some other land laid waste by the Eldrazi. It is also possible that Zendikar itself might produce another Khalni Heart in such a place, as the plane seems determined to endure and regrow.[2]
History
In 4557 AR, Nissa Revane, Sorin Markov, and Anowon were captured by elves of Ora Ondar and brought to the Khalni Garden, where they were imprisoned for a time. However, when Eldrazi brood attacked the grove, Sorin killed a keybearer and they locked themselves out and escaped with the prophet Smara and their goblin guide, Mudheel.[3]
Two years, later in 4559 AR, during the Battle for Zendikar, Nissa Revane found a Khalni Heart in a cave in Bala Ged, and saved it from the machinations from Ob Nixilis. This Khalni Heart may prove to be the salvation of the regrowth of the vast forests of Bala Ged, apparently grown forth on its own.[4]
Gallery
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Khalni Garden
In-game references
- Represented in:
- Associated cards:
- Depicted in:
References
- ↑ a b c Magic Creative Team (January 13, 2010). "A Planeswalker’s Guide to Zendikar: Akoum". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
- ↑ a b James Wyatt (January 5, 2016) - The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Zendikar, WotC.
- ↑ Robert B. Wintermute (2010) - Zendikar: In the Teeth of Akoum, Wizards of the Coast
- ↑ Kimberly J. Kreines (7 Oct 2015) - Nissa's Resolve. magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.