Speaker
| Speaker | |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | |
| (Subtype for creature/kindred cards) | |
| Introduced | Homelands |
| Last used | Obsolete |
| Updated to | Cleric |
Speaker is an obsolete creature type job for clerics who perform divination and spirit summoning by reading magical texts. It has also been used to describe differing types of shamans, druids, wizards, and warlocks who speak to cast their magic or can speak to non-sapient creatures via magical means.
History
Speaker debuted as a creature type in Homelands on the card Death Speakers which depicts the Death speakers on Ulgrotha. The type was later dropped in the Grand Creature Type Update, and it was given errata to be a Cleric.[1] It has never been physically reprinted with its new type line but was digitally updated on Magic Online with Masters Edition.
Storyline
In the storyline, Speaker originally referred to the Death Speakers on Ulgrotha who were a sect of Aysen clerics who studied the occult and began to practice minor divination and spirit summoning. They were normally peaceful and only did a little fortune-telling or interpreted signs and portents. Despite this, though rumors that they could summon the spirits of the dead and make them answer questions about the living unnerved the bureaucrats who had secrets that needed to be kept, which caused Serra inquisitors to raid their homes.[2] Baron Sengir took advantage of this to provide black magic books to some of them to try to sway them to be under his control.[3]
Alara
Some elfish druids on Naya are known as Godspeakers as they have a connection to the gargantuans of the plane.[4]
Arcavios
Strixhaven has Duskspeakers - minotaur shamans - at the school who cast magic from a long scroll.[5]
Bloomburrow
The squirrelfolk of Bloomburrow have Skullspeakers, warlocks who speak to the dead through their skulls.[6]
Dominaria
The Llanowar Elves have druids known as Loamspeakers who speak to the land to create elementals.[7]. On Otaria, there are human barbarian shamans known as Dragonspeakers who speak to dragons.[8] It also has elvish druids known as Totem Speakers who create a connection to beasts and the elves.[9] During the Temporal Crisis of Dominaria, rebel clerics known as Blightspeakers were observed from an alternate reality spreading plagues.[10]
Ixalan
Merfolk have shaman Speakers who follow the Shaper Kumena and are able to use the power of nature.[11] Human druids on the plane are known as scalespeakers who can commune with dinosaurs.[12]
Kamigawa
During the Kami War, the Akki had Rockspeakers who gathered magic from lava rocks.[13]. There were also ogre shamans known as Blood Speakers who were able to speak to Oni.[14]
Lorwyn
Lorwyn is home to eflish druids known as Formidable Speakers.[15]
Ravnica
The nine leaders of the Simic Combine are known as Speakers, with their main guild master known as the Prime Speaker.
Tarkir
Tarkir is home to monks known as Wayspeakers.[16]
Theros
Theros is home to many flamespeakers, shamans who control fire, as well as Omenspeakers, wizards who speak out prophecies.[17][18][19]
Zendikar
Joraga is home to elvish druids known as Treespeakers.[20]
Unknown
An unknown plane is home to human clerics who are known as Speakers of the Heavens who wear white robes, wield staffs, and proselytize that all are welcome in the angel's light.[21]
Non-canon
Dungeons & Dragons has an artifact known as the Stonespeaker Crystal, which is said to whisper old words spoken long ago, allowing one to gain wisdom from the past.[22]
Notable Speakers
- Dominaria
- Baru, a Wurmspeaker, a human druid who speaks to wurms.[23]
- Niambi, a Speaker of Femeref, a cleric from Dinaria who ensures spirits are blessed.[24]
- Ravnica
- Zegana, a Speaker of the Simic Combine.[25]
- Vannifar, a Prime Speaker or leader of the Simic Combine.[26]
- Tarkir
- Ishai, a Dragonspeaker, an aven monk who is the attendant to the dragon Ojutai.[27]
- Sarkhan, a Dragonspeaker, a human former planeswalker who can transform into a dragon.
- Zendikar
- Nissa, Worldsoul Speaker, a former planeswalker who can connect with the worldsoul of her plane.[28]
- Sutina, an elfish leader of the Tajuru known as the Speaker.
- Unknown
- Garruk, a Wildspeaker, a planeswalker druid who can summon beasts to his aid.[29]
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Sivriss, a non-canon Nightmare Speaker.[30]
In-game references
- Represented in:
- Akki Rockspeaker
- Ardent Dustspeaker
- Baru, Wurmspeaker
- Blightspeaker
- Blood Speaker
- Chittering Skullspeaker
- Death Speakers
- Dragonspeaker Shaman
- Flamespeaker Adept
- Formidable Speaker
- Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker
- Joraga Treespeaker
- Kumena's Speaker
- Llanowar Loamspeaker
- Niambi, Esteemed Speaker
- Nissa, Worldsoul Speaker
- Omenspeaker
- Prime Speaker Vannifar
- Prophetic Flamespeaker
- Sacellum Godspeaker
- Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker
- Scalespeaker Shepherd
- Sivriss, Nightmare Speaker
- Speaker of the Heavens
- Sutina, Speaker of the Tajuru
- Totem Speaker
- Wayspeaker Bodyguard
- Zegana, Utopian Speake
- Associated cards:
References
- ↑ Mark Gottlieb (September 26, 2007). "The Grand Creature Type Update". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ D. G. Chichester (February, 1996) "Homelands
- ↑ Backstory for Magic the Gathering: Homelands
- ↑ Sacellum Godspeaker
- ↑ Ardent Dustspeaker
- ↑ Chittering Skullspeaker
- ↑ Llanowar Loamspeaker
- ↑ Dragonspeaker Shaman
- ↑ Totem Speaker
- ↑ Blightspeaker
- ↑ Kumena's Speaker flavor text
- ↑ Scalespeaker Shepherd
- ↑ Akki Rockspeaker
- ↑ Blood Speakers
- ↑ Formidable Speaker
- ↑ Wayspeaker Bodyguard
- ↑ Flamespeaker Adept
- ↑ Prophetic Flamespeaker
- ↑ Omenspeaker
- ↑ Joraga Treespeaker
- ↑ Speaker of the Heavens flavor text
- ↑ Stonespeaker Crystal
- ↑ Baru, Wurmspeaker
- ↑ Niambi, Esteemed Speaker
- ↑ Zegana, Utopian Speaker
- ↑ Prime Speaker Vannifar
- ↑ Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker
- ↑ Nissa, Wourldsoul Speaker
- ↑ Garruk Wildspeaker
- ↑ Sivriss, Nightmare Speaker
