Utvara Valley
| Utvara Valley | |
|---|---|
|
Utvara Reclamation Zone Utvara | |
| Information | |
| Plane | Ravnica |
The Utvara Valley, also known as the Utvara Reclamation Zone, or usually simply Utvara, is a harsh land situated outside the main city of Ravnica. As a barony, it falls under the reign of Teysa Karlov.
Description
Utvara is not currently under the direct control of any one guild, although the Orzhov-owned Utvara settlement was rebuilt there. The region is roughly egg-shaped, with the rectangular township occupying the southern two-thirds, organized around a wide thoroughfare and a dense network of alleys and byways. North of the farmlands lie the flats, a barren stretch of land containing the Izzet's Cauldron project and the remnants of an ancient ceremonial square. The majority of the surrounding Utvara wilderness is controlled by various branches of the Gruul Clans, particularly in the region known as the Husk, a broken ring of ruins encompassing much of the valley's southern perimeter.[1]
Although they are distinct, the Utvara Valley abuts the Rubblebelt, and both areas are claimed by the Gruul, despite legal declarations by the Orzhov that say otherwise.[2]
History
Millennia ago, the Utvara Valley was part of the ancient hunting grounds of Niv-Mizzet, whose first lair is rumored to lie hidden within its borders. It was once a vibrant, untamed region rivaling the size and vitality of Ravnica City’s central districts.[1]
In more recent centuries, Utvara was devastated by a Simic-origin plague. The encroachment of Gruul clans into the region worsened the spread, transforming the province into a lifeless ruin. Declared a "reclamation zone," Utvara became a testing ground for Orzhov-funded Izzet experiments. Under orders from Magelord Zomaj Hauc, a goblin observer named Kaluzax deployed a prototype bomb meant to sterilize the land. Instead of exploding, the device formed a warped rift in the sky — an event which would later be referred to as the creation of the Schism. The Schism drained life from the surface and trapped the spirits of the dead. The plague mutated into a far more virulent airborne strain, halving the life expectancy of remaining Gruul settlers and rendering much of the valley lethal without protection.[1]
In the valley’s north, a vast ceremonial plaza of unknown origin was gradually overtaken by plague winds. Shortly before the Decamillennial, a scavenger uncovered a vast buried city beneath the brickwork — cold, abandoned, and legally unclaimed. This sparked a wave of illegal prospecting, quietly financed by the Orzhov Syndicate through the patronage of the Karlov family. A growing shantytown took root, eventually forming the first organized settlement in Utvara in centuries — in open violation of the Guildpact.[1]
The Selesnya also established a strong presence there through Vitar Yescu, a twelve-story tall and continuously blooming tree just north of the township center. Though far smaller than Vitu-Ghazi, Vitar Yescu produced a pollen that served as an antigen against the kuga plague, shielding those within a five-square-mile radius and allowing squatters to survive in the otherwise hostile environment. Several Selesnyan-style structures and smaller trees dotted the area around the tree, expanding the influence of the so-called "life churchers."[1]
As the township grew, the Izzet League returned, this time drawn by the discovery of three unhatched dragon eggs. The site was leased from the Orzhov, and the Izzet established the Cauldron, a massive steamworks complex built into the Utvara Flats. Over time, tensions escalated. The Izzet secretly pursued plans to awaken the dragons using the Schism’s spirit energy, with Hauc intending to control them and reshape the world. Meanwhile, Orzhov scheming turned deadly: "Uncle" orchestrated his death to ascend to the Ghost Council, using his secret ally Melisk to manipulate his heir, Teysa Karlov, into unknowingly assassinating him. Now Baroness of Utvara, Teysa uncovered the truth and rallied local guild elements to halt Hauc’s apocalyptic ambitions.[1]
The final battle at the Cauldron ended in destruction. The three dragons were killed — one in its egg, the other two in aerial combat. The Schism, still active, was revealed to harbor far more trapped souls than the valley could explain, hinting at a deeper mystery, and the Vitar Yescu was burned to ashes.[1]
The Utvara Valley saw further destruction when the Nephilim, feeding on the flesh of one of the dragons, grew to immense size and trampled all across the valley. The Utvara settlement was leveled, and many were killed. After Niv-Mizzet destroyed two of the Nephilim, the three remaining monsters left the valley and headed for Ravnica City. Crixizix led the town's reconstruction efforts. Meanwhile, the Schism had also healed, with the Ghost Quarter of Agyrem instead lying over parts of Ravnica City.[3]
About 60 years later, Domri Rade came from the Rubblebelt to Utvara to perform "the Burying", a coming-of-age ceremony that all Gruul undergo. The stress of the experience caused his planeswalker spark to ignite, sending him to Alara from inside the sarcophagus he was buried in. When Domri returned to the Rubblebelt, the tribe's shaman declared him to have passed the trial, however strangely it was done.[2][4]
In-game references
- Associated cards:
References
- ↑ a b c d e f g Cory J. Herndon (2006) - Ravnica Cycle, Book II: Guildpact, Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Adam Lee (2013) - The Burying, part 1
- ↑ Cory J. Herndon (2006) - Ravnica Cycle, Book III: Dissension, Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Adam Lee (2013) - The Burying, part 2
