Saheeli Rai

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Saheeli Rai
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Saheeli Rai Planeswalker.jpg}}|250px]]
Details
Race Human
Formerly Planeswalker
Birthplace Kaladesh
Lifetime Mending Era
Spouse Huatli (de facto)
Parents Aarav Rai
Ruby Rai
Relatives Amika Rai (sibling)
Sahil Rai (sibling)
Sheela Rai (sibling)
Colors
Center: {U}{R}

Saheeli Rai is a Kaladeshi human.[1][2] She is a brilliant inventor who specializes in creating lifelike animated constructs as beautiful as they are deadly. She is also a former planeswalker, and currently resides on Ixalan. She is the romantic partner of Huatli.[3]

Appearance and characteristics

Saheeli Rai is an especially tall woman with warm brown skin (noted to be taller than both Huatli and Kaya).[3] She is lithe and graceful with curious dark eyes and a smiling mouth. She often wears long, deep red, swirling dresses, decorated with elaborate gold filigree jewelry, kohl eyeliner, and her hair in swirls.[4] Her fingers are calloused.[3]

Saheeli has a magical command over metal that she uses for artifice and the creation of lifelike artifacts and constructs. She is even able to transmute metals from one into the other.[5] On Kaladesh, she is regarded as one of the brightest inventors of her age and she has many admirers and rivals. Enjoying competition, she's wholly supportive of the efforts of other inventors and is happy to share advice, a kind word, or an encouraging smile. She thrills at the prospect of innovation and basks in the creative spirit that surrounds her in Ghirapur.[6] Her dazzling intellect and mastery over metal make her a formidable adversary.

Saheeli has a bright, optimistic personality, and she loves facing off against other inventors in contests and tournaments.[7] She understands some Itzocan, the language of the Sun Empire, picking up High Imperial during her time with the royal retinue.[8] While not a strong linguist, she has an eye for visual aesthetics, wishing to use her skill to create beauty. She also shares the curiosity of knowledge that many blue mages hold.

Saheeli is centered in blue and red mana.

History

Inventor

Saheeli at the Inventors' Fair

Saheeli Rai is the daughter of Aarav and Ruby, and the sister of Sheela, Amika, and Sahil. She was the youngest artificer to ever be invited to the Ghirapur Institute of Art and Science.[9] Though she was a law-abiding, young citizen of Ghirapur, Saheeli nonetheless accrued a few petty violations common among the city's youth.

Saheeli participated in the Inventors' Fair, keeping renegades away from it. When she learned of the work of her friend, the elf Rashmi, and the vedalken Mitul on an aether teleporter that seemed to move objects through the Blind Eternities, she refused to help them, fearing what could happen to Kaladesh if such an invention came into wide usage. After being confronted with a previous statement of hers, that innovation has no boundaries, she acquiesced to lend her aid nonetheless, having an audience with the Enlightened Keeper Padeem, one of the Consuls.[10]

At some point, she was conscripted by Gonti to repair their aether heart.[9]

Renegade

After Tezzeret's coup and the confiscation of numerous inventions, and the abduction of some Fair participants, Saheeli joined forces with the Renegades and the newly arrived Gatewatch. She later learned that Tezzeret was hiding in the Aether Spire. Saheeli believed that he, together with Rashmi, was conducting experiments on the planar portal she had invented. Saheeli asked for help to break into the Spire. Liliana volunteered to accompany her.[11] While they didn't reach Tezzeret, the pair discovered that Rashmi had escaped and that her invention had been rebuilt and expanded to allow transport of inanimate objects to and from other planes. They brought her away to the Renegades.[12]

Saheeli later aided the Renegades in their attack on the Consulate's Spire. Working together with Pia Nalaar, she constructed the thopter Hope of Ghirapur to destroy Tezzeret's planar bridge, and together with Chandra, defended the Heart of Kiran from Consulate troops. After Dovin Baan's sabotage was discovered, she modified the thopter to carry Chandra and Gideon. When the pyromancer offered her a place at the side of the Gatewatch, Saheeli declined, stating that there would be much to do in the aftermath of the revolt on Kaladesh.[13]

Host

When Huatli arrived in Ghirapur on her first planeswalk, she was quickly recognized for what she was by Saheeli. The two women shared their experiences, with Saheeli being eager to construct an artificial dinosaur after hearing about them from Huatli for the first time.[14]

Sometime later, while splitting time between Dominaria and Ravnica, she began a relationship with Huatli.[15]

War of the Spark

Saheeli, Sublime Artificer

Saheeli and Huatli were lured to Ravnica by the Interplanar Beacon and immediately became trapped there due to Bolas's use of the Immortal Sun. Alongside many other planeswalkers and Ravnicans, she fought against the Eternals of Bolas' Dreadhorde.[16]

During the invasion, the trapped planeswalkers strategized with Ravnican leaders. At the meeting, Dack Fayden flirted with her, though he also considered stealing her jewelry.[17]

At Jace's recommendation, they decided to split up into teams to focus on specific tasks. Chandra, Saheeli, Lavinia, and Lazav were tasked with shutting off the Immortal Sun. Lazav disguised himself as Chandra in the fight against Dovin Baan, using illusions and an Izzet League flamethrower to replicate the effects of her pyromancy. This deception allowed the real Chandra to sneak into Baan's facility and disable the Immortal Sun, allowing many planeswalkers to leave Ravnica. Lazav defeated Baan, blinding him with throwing stars and causing him to planeswalk away.

Saheeli was one of the few planeswalkers who chose to remain on Ravnica after Chandra disabled the Immortal Sun, helping the Gatewatch in their fight against Bolas. Later, as part of Gideon's plan to kill Nicol Bolas, Chandra reactivated the Immortal Sun to prevent Bolas from planeswalking away. She left Saheeli to guard the artifact. After Bolas' defeat, Saheeli disabled the Immortal Sun for a second time. Unbeknownst to her, Jace had told her to disable the sun to let Ugin planeswalk away with Bolas' body, as well as to let Liliana escape.

Saheeli survived the battle. She appeared to be present during the Planewide Celebration that followed, but it turned out to be Lazav disguised as her, leaving Teyo to wonder what happened to the real Saheeli.

Aftermath of the War

Saheeli participated in the memorial service for Gideon on Theros.[18]

Fighting the Phyrexians

With her powers and Karn's blueprints, she creates a replica of the Golgothian Sylex.

After attending the memorial for Jaya Ballard, Saheeli re-created the Golgothian Sylex after Karn's version was destroyed in the battle of the Mana Rig.[19] Despite this, she did not know how to activate it. Together with Teferi and Kaya, Saheeli resolved to find a solution to the Phyrexian problem in the past. To this end, she built the Temporal Anchor in Urza's Tower.[20]

Though she had intended to spearhead the defense of Kaladesh after the time travel experiment was complete, when the powerstone inside the Anchor exploded and left Teferi unconscious inside the Stasis Coffin Saheeli chose instead to stay behind with Jodah to try to save him.[21]

When New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse started, Saheeli joined Pia Nalaar in the defense of Kaladesh. She did so with a project she called Operation Golden Scales, in which she constructed several robotic dinosaurs to fight the Phyrexians.[22]

At the end of the invasion, Saheeli joined the Mirran survivors and other surviving planeswalkers on Zhalfir. She deduced that the suns of Mirrodin now orbit Zhalfir due to the nature of the replacement of New Phyrexia by Zhalfir.

Omenpath Arc

While both Saheeli and her partner Huatli lost their sparks in the Desparkening, Saheeli managed to navigate her way to join her on Ixalan in the intervening year.[23] After settling on Ixalan, she used a recurring Omenpath to Arcavios to maintain regular contact with the colleges of Strixhaven and learned of Quintorius Kand and his quest to uncover a mysterious planar-spanning civilization he called the Coin Empire.[3][8]

After losing her spark, Saheeli was still coming to grips with her new situation. However, being comforted by Huatli, the artificer was content to share a new life with the poet and explore Ixalan together. Saheeli would enter the employ of the Sun Empire: after impressing the boy-emperor, Apatzec Intli IV with her automatons modeled on quetzacama called "mechanoquetzacama."[8] The emperor commissioned her to create more of these creations, providing her with every resource in his empire.

Her work faced delays due to the lack of talented engineers at her disposal.[8] To appease the emperor and gain more time, Saheeli claimed to have sent for assistance from Strixhaven and Ghirapur. Despite the emperor's appreciation for her work, Saheeli was aware the real interest in her creations was so that the Sun Empire could use them as war machines in a new war against Torrezon. Saheeli had lied about contacting her home plane, though she managed to acquire the assistance of Quintorius Kand, who promised to arrive on Ixalan to assist with an expedition to the caverns below Orazca.

In the meantime, to prevent another war, both she and Huatli conspired to depose Atlacan Huicintli, Apatzec's uncle, who was controlling the young emperor, and seek help from Caztaca Huicintli, the emperor's aunt, to change her brother's heart.[8] Part of the plan involved having Saheeli take Huatli's place at a meeting outside the empire with an important contact, as the warrior-poet would be occupied leading the Sun Empire's expedition.

Saheeli met with Caztaca and served as her scribe in a meeting with Elenda of Garrano to negotiate an alliance. The meeting was interrupted by Admiral Beckett Brass who demanded these powerful political figures of Ixalan support her efforts to secure a free country for the Brazen Coalition. In the end, Saheeli convinced the other two leaders to accept the deal. Using her magic she sealed the drafted treaty within a cylinder to ensure no tampering. Seeing Caztaca's dream of peace as preferable, Saheeli pledged to support her.[8]

Trivia

Artifacts acquired

Planeswalkers met

Planes visited

Gallery

  • Saheeli, the Gifted

    Saheeli, the Gifted

  • “Our creations are more than mere things. They have life in them, little bits of ourselves.”

    “Our creations are more than mere things. They have life in them, little bits of ourselves.”

  • Saheeli is a brilliant inventor who specializes in creating lifelike animated constructs.

    Saheeli is a brilliant inventor who specializes in creating lifelike animated constructs.

  • Saheeli is one of the great inventors of Kaladesh.

    Saheeli is one of the great inventors of Kaladesh.

  • Saheeli is Ghirapur's champion artificer-duelist.

    Saheeli is Ghirapur's champion artificer-duelist.

  • Magic: The Gathering Arena avatar.

    Magic: The Gathering Arena avatar.

Story appearances

Title Author Publishing date Set Setting (plane) Featuring
A Time for Innovation Kimberly J. Kreines 2016-08-31 Kaladesh Kaladesh Rashmi, Mitul, Saheeli, Zara, Padeem
In This Very Arena Doug Beyer 2016-10-12 Kaladesh Ravnica, Kaladesh The Gatewatch, Ral Zarek, Oviya Pashiri, Ajani Goldmane, Kambal, Pia Nalaar, Dhiren Baral, Rashmi, Tezzeret, Saheeli
Quiet Moments Michael Yichao 2016-12-07 Aether Revolt Kaladesh The Gatewatch, Saheeli, Ajani Goldmane, Yahenni, Pia Nalaar
Breakthrough Kimberly J. Kreines 2016-12-14 Aether Revolt Kaladesh Rashmi, Tezzeret, Sana Ahir, Bhavin Jani, Mitul, Saheeli, Liliana Vess
Breaking Points Doug Beyer 2017-01-18 Aether Revolt Kaladesh The Gatewatch, Pia Nalaar, Hope of Ghirapur, Saheeli, Rashmi, Ajani Goldmane, Oviya Pashiri, Vatti, Dovin Baan
Wool Over the Eyes Alison Luhrs 2018-02-14 Rivals of Ixalan Kaladesh, Angrath's homeplane, Meditation Plane, Ixalan, Dominaria Huatli, Saheeli, Angrath, Vraska, Nicol Bolas, Jace Beleren, Malcolm, Breeches, Gideon Jura, Jaya Ballard, Apatzec
War of the Spark: Ravnica—The Path to Opulent Greg Weisman 2019-05-15 War of the Spark Ravnica Rat, Teyo, Kaya, Ral, Jaya, Gideon, Krumnen, Gan Shokta, Domri, Akamal Cray, Govan Radley, Sheeza, Jahdeera, Bombop, Vorel, Maree, Kiora, Samut, Eknet, Temmet, Neit, Haqikah, Kawit, Huatli, Saheeli, Kasmina, Oketra, Kefnet, Bontu, Rhonas, Jace
War of the Spark: Ravnica—Rallying the Reluctant Greg Weisman 2019-05-22 War of the Spark Ravnica Rat, Jace, Kaya, Teyo, Blaise, Teysa Karlov, Armin Morov, Slavomir Zoltan, Maladola, Bilagru, Domri (mentioned), Ral, Maree, Aurelia, Niv-Mizzet (mentioned), Gideon, Yanggu, Mowu, Dack, Saheeli, Nixilis, Davriel, Angrath, Huatli, Samut, Vorel, Vivien, Lavinia, Ajani
War of the Spark: Ravnica—Ashes Greg Weisman 2019-06-12 War of the Spark Ravnica Rat, the Gatewatch, Nissa, Tomik Vrona, Lavinia, Ral, Dack, Saheeli, Kaya, Hekara, Vraska, Nicol Bolas, Borborygmos, Vorel, Karn, Jaya, Boruvo, Ari Shokta, Gan Shokta, Sorin, Nahiri, Teyo, Arlinn, Bilagru, Feather, Maladola, Rakdos, Oketra, Bontu, Niv-Mizzet, Angrath, Yanling, Yanggu, Mowu, Samut, Aurelia, Exava, Lazav
Note for a Stranger Alison Luhrs 2022-05-02 Secret Lair: Pride Across the Multiverse Ravnica Huatli, Saheeli
Episode 5: A Whisper in the Wind Langley Hyde 2022-08-18 Dominaria United Dominaria Teferi, Karn, Jhoira, Ertai, Ajani Goldmane, Jaya Ballard, Radha, Danitha Capashen, Sheoldred, Darigaaz, Jodah, Saheeli, Elesh Norn
The Brothers' War - Chapter 1: Stronghold Reinhardt Suarez 2022-10-21 The Brothers' War Dominaria Teferi, Jodah, Elspeth Tirel, Kaya, Vivien Reid, Saheeli, Wrenn, Seven
The Brothers' War - Chapter 2: Antiquities Reinhardt Suarez 2022-10-24 The Brothers' War Dominaria, Kaladesh Saheeli, Kaya, Gonti, Jodah, Jhoira, Sharaman, Xantcha, Mishra
The Brothers' War - Chapter 4: The Dark Reinhardt Suarez 2022-10-25 The Brothers' War Dominaria Elspeth Tirel, Wrenn, Seven, Chandra Nalaar, Nissa Revane, Jodah, Kaya, Saheeli, Rona, Tezzeret, Ashiok
The Brothers' War - Chapter 5: Exodus Reinhardt Suarez 2022-10-26 The Brothers' War Dominaria Chandra Nalaar, Nissa Revane, Kaya, Saheeli, Teferi Akosa, Wrenn, Seven, Nahiri, Jace Beleren, Jodah, Elspeth Tirel, The Wanderer, Kaito Shizuki, Tyvar Kell, Lukka, Vraska
The Brothers' War - Episode 5: As Cruel, As Necessary Miguel Lopez, Jeff Grubb 2022-10-26 The Brothers' War Dominaria Teferi Akosa, Kaya, Saheeli, Urza, Tawnos
March of the Machine - Episode 4: Beneath Eyes Unblinking K. Arsenault Rivera 2023-03-17 March of the Machine Kaldheim, Kaladesh, Capenna Tyvar Kell, Harald, Pia Nalaar, Saheeli, Atraxa
Ixalan: Three Hundred Steps Under the Sun Miguel Lopez 2023-03-21 March of the Machine Ixalan Huatli, Inti, Apatzec Intli III, Caparocti Sunborn, Mavren Fein, Etali, Saheeli, Zetalpa, Tetzimoc, Ghalta, Nezahal, Zacama
March of the Machine - Episode 10: The Rhythms of Life K. Arsenault Rivera 2023-03-28 March of the Machine Kamigawa, Kaldheim, Kaladesh, Zhalfir Nashi, Tamiyo, Tyvar Kell, Harald, Pia Nalaar, Karn, Teferi Akosa, Kaya Cassir, Thrun, Koth of the Hammer, Ajani Goldmane, Nissa Revane, Chandra Nalaar, Melira, Saheeli, Elspeth Tirel
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan - Episode 1 Valerie Valdes 2023-10-20 The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Ixalan Quintorius Kand, Wayta, Pantlaza, Saheeli, Huatli, Inti, Malcolm Lee, Lank, Amalia Benavides Aguirre, Clavileño, Bartolomé del Presidio, Vito Quijano de Pasamonte, Breeches
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan - Pawns Miguel Lopez 2023-10-20 The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Ixalan Saheeli, Huatli, Apatzec Intli IV, Caztaca Huicintli, Chitlati, Elenda of Garrano, Beckett Brass

In-game references

Represented in:
Associated cards:
Depicted in:
Quoted or referred to:

References

  1. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May 16, 2016). "Saheeli Rai is our newest Planeswalker!". The Official Magic: The Gathering Tumblr. Tumblr.
  2. ↑ Magic Creative Team (November 2, 2016). "Planeswalker's Guide to Kaladesh". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ a b c d Valerie Valdes (October 20, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan - Episode 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Greg Weisman (May 15, 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica – The Path to Opulent". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Magic at PAX: Kaladesh World-Building Panel
  6. ↑ Saheeli Rai
  7. ↑ Commander 2018 blurbs
  8. ↑ a b c d e f g Miguel Lopez (October 20, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan - Pawns". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ a b Reinhardt Suarez (October 24, 2022). "The Brothers' War - Chapter 2: Antiquities". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Kimberly J. Kreines (August 31, 2016). "A Time of Innovation". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. ↑ Michael Yichao (December 7, 2016). "Quiet Moments". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. ↑ Kimberly J. Kreines (December 14, 2016). "Breakthrough". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. ↑ Doug Beyer (January 18, 2017). "Breaking Points". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. ↑ R&D Narrative Team (February 14, 2018). "Wool over the Eyes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  15. ↑ a b c d Alison Luhrs (May 2, 2022). "Note for a Stranger". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. ↑ a b c Greg Weisman (April 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica". Del Rey.
  17. ↑ Greg Weisman (May 22, 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica – Rallying the Reluctant"
  18. ↑ a b Greg Weisman (November 2019). "War of the Spark: Forsaken". Del Rey.
  19. ↑ a b Langley Hyde (August 18, 2022). "A Whisper in the Wind". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  20. ↑ a b Reinhardt Suarez (October 21, 2022). "The Brothers' War - Chapter 1: Stronghold". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  21. ↑ a b c d e f Seanan McGuire (October 26, 2022). "The Brother's War - Chapter 5: Exodus". Magicthegathering.com.
  22. ↑ K. Arsenault Rivera (March 17, 2023). "March of the Machine - Episode 4: Beneath Eyes Unblinking". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  23. ↑ The Preview Panel at MagicCon: Las Vegas 2023 (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (September 22, 2023).
  24. ↑ Ulka Simone Mohanty (October 4, 2018). "ulkaM". Twitter.
  25. ↑ Ulka Simone Mohanty (October 4, 2018). "ulkaM". Twitter.
  26. ↑ Ulka Simone Mohanty as Saheeli Rai. IMDB.
  27. ↑ a b c d e MacKay, Jed. (2021). Magic. Vol 1, iss 9.
  28. ↑ a b Seanan McGuire (October 26, 2022). "The Brother's War - Chapter 4: The Dark". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  29. ↑ a b c d e f MacKay, Jed. (2022). Magic. Iss 19.
  30. ↑ Miguel Lopez (October 20, 2022). "The Brothers' War - Episode 2: The Beginning". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  31. ↑ a b K. Arsenault Rivera (March 28, 2023). "March of the Machine - Episode 10: The Rhythms of Life". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  32. ↑ Valerie Valdes (October 20, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan - Episode 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  33. ↑ Flavor text of Heartbeat of Spring.
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