Turntimber
| Turntimber | |
|---|---|
| The Serpentine Forest | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Plane | Zendikar |
| Colors |
 |
| Type | Forest |
| Part of | Ondu |
| Formerly part of | Makindi Empire |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Turntimber, also known as the Serpentine Forest, is a vast temperate forest located in central Ondu on the plane of Zendikar.
Description
Turntimber is a sprawling woodland named for its massive, corkscrew-shaped trees. These towering trunks twist into staggering heights, appearing to trace lazy circles through the sky and inspiring the forest’s name. Over decades and centuries, the trees bend and wrap around invisible spikes of mana like vines around a pole. These hidden currents of mana feed and strengthen the trees, pushing them ever higher, yet provide no physical support, forcing the overburdened roots to groan and creak as the trunks sway in the wind. This constant creaking has given rise to legends of a secret language known only to the trees, which shamans and druids call uksil. Many have ventured into Turntimber hoping to decipher this hidden speech, believing it to hold deep wisdom and forest lore.[1]
Turntimber supports a diverse and often dangerous menagerie of creatures. The apex predator here is the baloth, a muscular omnivore with claws that allow it to climb the spiraling trunks and jaws strong enough to slice through bone. Baloths are highly territorial and have been known to leap from tree to tree in search of prey. Even so, the dominant fauna of Turntimber is the snake, which fills predator roles at every level. From tiny tree snakes to massive cobras, harmless species to lethally venomous, and mundane to mana-infused, serpents slither throughout the woodland. Some elves believe the snake’s coiled shape reflects the spiral of mana itself, and track their movements to interpret the hidden flows of magical energy in the forest.[1][2]
The forest is also home to the Tajuru Nation’s Home Tree, a colossal moss-covered corkscrew whose trunk is so wide that it would take one hundred elves holding hands to encircle it. Several villages once flourished in its canopy, including the now-destroyed settlement of Mosscrack, which fell during the emergence of the Eldrazi.
On the forest’s outskirts lies Graypelt,[3][1] a small community of druids, hunters, and trailblazers. Its name comes from the tents made with the woolly gray hides of Turntimber warthogs. Graypelt explorers have developed ways to store stable, primal mana drawn from the forest’s trees.
Another notable location is Wolfbriar, a shadowed glade deep within Turntimber that serves as the domain of the elf beastmaster Zalek.
Locations
Turntimber, the Serpentine Forest — a vast, temperate spiral forest with massive corkscrew trees supporting giant snakes, baloths, and elves.
- Graypelt
— a small druidic encampment drawing power from the forest’s wild mana. - Tajuru Home Tree — A colossal moss-covered spiral tree housing several Tajuru elf villages; former site of Mosscrack, a village destroyed by the Eldrazi.
- Whiteshag
— a river winding through Turntimber’s dense woods. - Wolfbriar — a secluded glade home to the elf beastmaster Zalek.
History
After Nissa Revane’s first journeys as a planeswalker, she returned to Zendikar and traveled into Turntimber to study with the Tajuru. Already skilled in stealth and tracking from her Joraga upbringing, she sought to master climbing the forest’s spiraling trees and hunting its hidden predators. There she confronted the Eldrazi for the first time, battling several of the monstrous beings while trying to understand their nature. During this time, she witnessed the deaths of Speaker Sutina and her friend Hiba, and the destruction of Mosscrack. These events ultimately led her to join Sorin Markov and Anowon on a journey to Graypelt.[4]
Gallery
-
Concept art of Turntimber -
Turntimber Grove -
Graypelt Refuge
In-game references
- Represented in:
- Associated cards:
- Depicted in:
References
- ↑ a b c 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.
- ↑ James Wyatt (January 5, 2016) - The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Zendikar, WotC.
- ↑ Magic Creative Team (September 9, 2009). "A Planeswalker's Guide to Zendikar". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-10-31.
- ↑ Robert B. Wintermute (2010) - Zendikar: In the Teeth of Akoum, Wizards of the Coast