Unmaking of Avacyn
| Unmaking of Avacyn | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Information | |||||
| Era | Mending Era | ||||
| Date | 4558 AR | ||||
| Location | Thraben Cathedral, Thraben, Gavony, Innistrad | ||||
| Sets | Shadows over Innistrad, Eldritch Moon | ||||
| Characters | Avacyn, Sorin Markov, Nahiri, Jace Beleren, Tamiyo, Sigarda, Bruna, Gisela, Kelse, Maeli, Liont | ||||
| Outcome | |||||
| |||||
| Timeline | |||||
| |||||
The Unmaking of Avacyn was a pivotal and tragic event on the plane of Innistrad during the Mending Era, marking the downfall of the archangel Avacyn, the plane's divine protector. After returning from a period of absence and leading humanity into a brief era of peace through the use of the Cursemute, Avacyn was corrupted by the mental invasion of Nahiri's magic and the latent influence of the Eldrazi titan Emrakul. Her descent into madness culminated in violent attacks against humanity and a final confrontation with her creator, Sorin Markov, who ultimately destroyed her to prevent further devastation.
Description
Following her return to the plane after the Sundering of the Helvault, Avacyn ushered in roughly a year of prosperity and relative peace for Innistrad’s human population through the use of the Cursemute. This tranquility shattered during the Harvest Moon when a villager named Kelse prayed to Avacyn for help finding her missing son Maeli. Avacyn rescued Maeli from the woods but was attacked by a strange spell that forcibly invaded her mind with alien, unsettling thoughts of mankind’s corruption — an intrusion orchestrated by Nahiri’s cryptoliths and the summoning of Emrakul.[1] This mental infection instigated a growing disgust in Avacyn toward humanity. Thus began the Travails.
Over time, Avacyn’s behavior became erratic and violent. When the Lunarch Macher sought proof of her divine power, she responded with cruel mockery. When the werewolf Liont prayed to her after killing his family, she brutally destroyed him. Her eyes began to blacken ominously, and her spear morphed into a menacing weapon, signaling her descent.
During Hunter's Moon, Avacyn appeared at Sigarda’s house with fallen angels Bruna and Gisela, threatening Sigarda to join her genocidal campaign. She then led a devastating angelic assault on Kelse’s village, slaughtering innocents with beams of light while Maeli fled.
At Thraben Cathedral, planeswalkers Jace Beleren and Tamiyo attempted to restrain Avacyn but failed. Sorin Markov, Avacyn’s creator, arrived and confronted her. Initially unrecognized by Avacyn, Sorin reminded her of her origin and the responsibility he bore for her flaws. Though briefly lucid, Avacyn soon succumbed again to madness and attacked Sorin. Their ensuing battle ended with Sorin defeating Avacyn and imprisoning her in the Vault of the Archangel.
Avacyn refused Sorin’s offer of healing, declaring that if she was not the daughter he desired, they would forever be adversaries. Sorin then unraveled the spell that created her, effectively ending her existence. Her final thought was a declaration of her protective purpose: "I am Avacyn. I am to protect."[2]
Avacyn’s death shattered the Church of Avacyn, leaving the faithful leaderless and causing widespread crises of faith. Her memorial, constructed by devoted followers from humble materials such as wood, straw, and clay, stands as a testament to her enduring legacy. However, without her divine protection, Innistrad became vulnerable to the threat of the Eldrazi titan, as well as other supernatural horrors.[3]
In-game references
- Represented in:
- Associated cards:
References
- ↑ Plane Shift: Innistrad
- ↑ Doug Beyer (May 18, 2016). "I Am Avacyn". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ken Troop (March 9, 2016). "A Gaze Blank and Pitiless". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.