Singing City
| Singing City | |
|---|---|
| Song-Mad Ruins | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Plane | Zendikar |
| Colors |
 |
| Status | Destroyed |
| Part of | Na Plateau, Murasa |
The Singing City was an ancient and mysterious Kor ruin located on the Na Plateau in Murasa, on the plane of Zendikar. Believed to have been built before the rise of the Eldrazi — and thus dating back to before −1400 AR[1] — the city was a cyclopean maze of decaying towers, moss-covered corridors, and subterranean chambers that emitted an eerie, harmonic resonance. This unsettling, off-key music, which seemed to emanate from deep within the city's foundations, was the source of its name.
Description
The Singing City was composed of massive, weathered stone structures that resembled a grounded Skyclave, marked by complex spiraling patterns and Kor architecture that had long since been overtaken by jaddi roots, moss, and other overgrowth. Its marble gates and intricately entwined corridors suggested advanced ancient craftsmanship, largely buried under centuries of ruin. While much of the city was overgrown and partially collapsed, its sprawling network of chambers, staircases, and collapsed courtyards resonated with a ghostly song that grew stronger the deeper one ventured.[2]
The sounds, seemingly musical, were more than mere echoes — they exerted a subtle psychological pressure that could disorient or drive visitors mad. This humming intensified underground, where the song became a complex, haunting melody that had lured many to their doom. Even hardened adventurers and planeswalkers struggled to maintain their sanity within the city's core.
While largely abandoned, the city was not entirely uninhabited. Goblins — driven mad by the city's song — were known to wander its ruins in a trance-like state, softly singing its melody as they wasted away.[3] These "song-mad" goblins were among the only beings native to the Singing City who did not immediately flee its sonic influence, though their mental and physical deterioration was evident.
History
In 4561 AR, Jace Beleren and Akiri traveled to the city in search of Nahiri and the mysterious Lithoform Core, a powerful artifact capable of rewriting the very nature of Zendikar. As Jace descended into the city's depths, he was assaulted by the maddening music, only escaping its influence through a powerful sound-blocking spell.[2]
Inside the maze, he encountered Nahiri, who was seeking to use the Lithoform Core at the city's central leyline nexus to stabilize Zendikar — an act opposed by Nissa Revane. Nissa and her elemental companion Ashaya confronted Nahiri and Jace at the heart of the Singing City. A battle ensued that culminated in Nissa destroying the leyline focal point, halting Nahiri's plans to activate the Core. The confrontation continued as Jace and Nahiri fled through the singing corridors, chased by vengeful elementals. At the city's threshold, they were confronted again by Nissa, now fully empowered by Zendikar's magic. She demanded they leave the plane, reaffirming her role as its guardian.[2]
As Nahiri battled furiously, she was overwhelmed by the elementals and retreated into the Singing City, fortifying it with lithomancy to protect the Core. Jace, trying to avoid violence, infiltrated the city using illusions. When Nahiri refused to compromise, he trapped her mind with a psychic illusion and seized the Core. Tempted briefly by its power, Jace resisted, intending to take it to Ravnica. But on his escape, he was stopped by Ashaya, the elemental manifestation of Zendikar. Ashaya took the Core and gave it back to Nissa, leaving Jace defeated and empty-handed.[4]
After retrieving the Lithoform Core, Nissa was torn between destroying it and trusting Jace, who pleaded for a truce and suggested taking the Core to Ravnica for study. Their conversation was interrupted by Nahiri, who continued her assault on the elementals and moved closer to Nissa. As Nissa debated her options, the Core began communicating with her telepathically, revealing that it was a piece of Zendikar and was created to undo damage.[4]
Nahiri demanded the Core, and Jace attempted to seize control of Nissa's mind, prompting her to have Ashaya restrain him. As Nahiri prepared a massive attack using spinning hedrons, Nissa tapped into the Core's power and merged it with her own, unleashing a powerful burst of energy.[4]
The explosion destroyed the Singing City, leveled a large section of the surrounding forest, and temporarily incapacitated the elementals. However, the elementals soon awakened stronger than before, and new life rapidly sprouted from the devastated terrain. Nissa realized the Core had fulfilled its purpose and discarded it. Zendikar began visibly healing, including Bala Ged, which started to regrow at a magically accelerated rate. Nissa, content and empowered, departed across the rejuvenating landscape.[4]
Jace, left behind, picked up the now inert Core and reflected on the events. Nahiri, angry and bitter, blamed him and planeswalked away. Jace accepted his role in the conflict and felt remorseful for not listening to Nissa. He remained standing in the recovering terrain, hoping that redemption was still possible.[4]
In-game references
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References
- ↑ James Wyatt (April 2016) - Plane Shift: Zendikar, WotC.
- ↑ a b c A. T. Greenblatt (September 23, 2020). "Episode 4: Of Haunting Songs and Whispered Warnings". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Creative Team (December 16, 2009). "A Planeswalker's Guide to Zendikar: Goblins". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
- ↑ a b c d e A. T. Greenblatt (September 30, 2020). "Episode 5: The Two Guardians". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.