Magic: the Gathering
Chronicles, Volume 2
By Louis Kemner 2008
Viktor Dimitrov, 20 year old Bulgarian transfer student, had his world turned upside down and all around. He had been playing his favorite card game with his friends, Makoto Nakamura, Devin Willis, and Ashley and Kelly Logan, when a mysterious portal had appeared and teleported them to Ravnica. That's a strange day in Viktor's book, and just about anyone else's. Currently unable to find a way back home, the quintet has explored a bit of Ravnica's endless metropolis, and found friendship with the Selesnya guild. Their story continues here, in the second volume of the Magic: the Gathering Chronicles.
Devin was barely awake, and just registered the fact that he was lying on a soft bed. Golden light washed over his vision, but it was all he could see; he could have been drowning in a lake of gold. Then, a gentle voice danced into his ears.
"You open your eyes, human," the voice said. The female's voice sent shivers up and down Devin's back, and warmth spread from his ears to the rest of him. How lovely was that voice! He opened his eyes farther, and he saw the face of a female dryad watching him.
Sitting up straight, Devin saw that he was indeed lying on a bed, and that he was in a room made of light tan stone. Large, glass-less window behind him admitted the sun's light, warming the stone and reflecting off the polished floor. Along the walls hung potted plants of all kinds. They gave off various scents that tickled his nose.
"Be gentle, human boy," the dryad said. "Your burn is still healing, and too much movement will aggravate it. Lay down, now."
Devin lay obeyed, and laid back. The dryad said no more, but took an ointment from a small table and applied the warm green paste to the burned flesh.
"Where am I?" Devin asked. He had heard people say that all the time in movies and books, and now it was his turn. This was all real.
"You are in Vitu-Ghazi, the city tree," the dryad explained. "It is the home of our Conclave and all who call themselves the followers of the Selesnya. This tree was once the mightiest of all, until it was cut down. Now, our magic gives it life, and it gives us home. When you have recovered, you may explore it until you depart."
"That's cool," Devin mumbled, staring at the mossy ceiling. He was not interested in this city tree. He savored the dryad's soft hands on his skin, and her soothing voice. "Who are you, exactly?" he asked.
"My name is Alana," the dryad said. "I'm one of the healers for the combat divisions. I've been trained with my fellows in the art of mending all ailments short of death. Though this guild de-emphasizes the individual, our lives are still worth saving so we may strive toward our eventual goal."
"What goal's that?" Devin asked.
"To ensure natural harmony in all of Ravnica and preserve nature to the utmost," Alana said, now wrapping bandages on the burn. "We possess the nature of green and the preservation of white, and together they make us what we are: the Selesnya Conclave."
Viktor, Ashley, Makoto, and Kelly had been taken to a tremendous floating tree by the Selesnya mages. Though apparently cut down some time ago, it sustained its life well, and bore a cluster of stone buildings against and in its trunk. A bowl-shaped stone depression in front of the buildings served as an arena and training ground.
The four of them had been taken into the building network, through passages that kept them away from the main sections, so they didn't see much of the guild. They had been stationed in a hotel-like room and told to until while the "Conclave" summoned them.
"We have to play it smooth," Makoto was saying, while lying on the bed. "Weird magic people like them don't want to the offended by outsiders. They must think we're pretty strange, with out clothes."
"Whatever they want, joining the guild probably won't do us good," Viktor said. "We've got to focus on re-opening that portal somehow. We'll thank them for healing Devin, then get out of here."
"Remember that we're in the middle of a ten-sided guild war," Kelly reminded him. "They may be eager for new members. Our own magic knowledge may all they see, but all they want. And where are our cards?"
"In my pockets," Viktor said, taking all the cards out of his pockets and spreading them on a table. "They're completely jumbled, so I'll re-order them for the decks." He started to sort them into stacks.
The wooden door's lock clacked, then the door creaked open. A single elf woman stood there, in white robes with olive-colored trim. "The Conclave wishes to see you all now," she said in a smooth voice. "Follow me there, and greet the Conclave's Twelve. Your fifth companion will join you."
"Okay, we're coming," Viktor said, putting the cards back into his pockets, making sure to preserve their order. He and the others followed the elf woman through the corridors, and they met Devin part way there. He had bandages on one arm.
When they reached a massive set of double doors, the elf woman bowed and said, "You may enter the Conclave's chamber," then left. The two doors opened on their own, admitting the five inward.
The room beyond was huge, with the domed ceiling almost a hundred feet above. The room was circular, and along the edges, plants grew in a strip of soil going all around the room. High above was a stone platform, with twelve beautiful dryads on it. The platform descended like magic until the twelve dryads were eye level with the newcomers. They had been singing a delicate and slow song, but stopped when they came down. Above, there was a parapet going around the room, with dozens of other dryads standing there, singing their own quiet chorus.
"Welcome, outsiders, to the Conclave," one of the twelve dryads said. "We have seen you since you arrived, and we are most pleased with what we see."
"Wait, how have you seen us?" Ashley asked.
"Our pool of sight," the dryad said, indicating a shallow basin of water on the platform. "Our magic lets us scry whomever we desire, except those who reside in a guild hall. The five of you exhibit phenomenal magical power, and we wished to offer a place in our Selesnya guild for its use."
"But why should we join?" Viktor asked. "Why can't we leave and be on our way?"
"The city without nature holds no peace," another dryad said. "Battle rages between the guild ten, no place for young ones such as yourselves. We know not where you come from, but you are all clearly new to this plane. The other guilds would recruit you, of course. But the Selesnya will treat you the kindest, with the maiden's touch of nature herself. Promise us good service, and you will be well-prepared for the world outside when you truly desire leaving us."
This argument sounded fairly convincing, and some of the others agreed. But Viktor was not entirely sure that the Selesnya could be trusted, with their fearsome beasts and crazy nature talk.
"Can we be quite sure you don't plan on throwing us away like fodder in battle with the other guilds?" Viktor asked.
"Some of us face that position, but not those such as yourselves," the first dyad said. "Such magical power cannot be wasted as fodder for Gruul war plows, or Rakdos fire-demons. Rather, we may grant you all positions as high clerics, with duty and honor of the highest kind. You may also serve as ambassadors to other guilds and entities."
Viktor couldn't possibly argue these points, and the idea of becoming a guild member suddenly appealed to him. Confident that the others shared his eagerness, Viktor said, "All right, Conclave. We swear allegiance to you and your guild."
"Our deepest appreciation, humans," the dryad said. "Very well. Pala! Please escort our recruits to the training arena. Their full magic potential is to be realized at once."
A tall, fair elven lady stepped forward, her light green gown trailing the mossy floor. She was Pala. "Accompany me, good recruits, and may your training begin well." She set off, and the group once again followed a leader to their destination.
Viktor felt the new Selesnya robe that he wore. The fabric was thick, but soft and light and had a downy texture on the inside. The colors were a pattern of mossy green and pearly white, with white trim. These were recruit robes; the other guidmages they had seen wore the cloaks of full members of the Selesnya guild.
"Here, our new members test their magical abilities, and their natural talents are realized," Pala explained as they all walked across the massive training arena. "Healer types are placed in one division, saproling masters in another, plus other types. Please stand where you are to be tested."
Around them, other Selesnya members milled about on their own businesses. A pair of loxodons, or elephant clerics, had passed by, sharing a scroll to read. While Viktor and his friends had been heading here through Vitu-Ghazi's halls, he had seen a massive Phytohydra with hundreds of heads was being dragged into a room. The creature was hissing and screeching in protest, and trying to bite its escorts. Magic shields kept the mages safe from the plant creature while they dragged it down the hall and into the room.
"When our Phytohydras grow too big, they become rebellious and impossible to tame," Pala had explained. "At that stage, they are taken to fire chambers, where special Rakdos-invented fires burn them away. Their ashes help fertilize soil to grow new ones." This was a good example of how the guilds helped one another, despite their feuds. The guildpact had forged loose alliance between them that connected the ten guilds on a sub-level.
Viktor and the others stood in the windswept arena, and Pala walked about them. "Now, show me your power," she said to Viktor.
"Um…" Viktor mumbled, wondering what to do. What was his power, anyway? All he had were the clothes on his back, and…
"Cards," he realized as he took them out of his pockets.
"What are those?" Pala asked, inspecting them. "Do they contain spells?"
"I guess," Viktor said, his mind racing to come up with a way to harness their power to impress Pala. Otherwise, they had no place here in the guild. He looked over the individual cards, and tried giving them commands.
"Appear!" he declared, holding out his Thorn Elemental card. Nothing happened.
"What sort of command is that?" Pala asked in amusement. "I surely hope that 'appear!' isn't really the proper incantation." Devin rolled his eyes and Ashley suppressed a giggle.
Feeling slightly humiliated, Viktor tried again. "Be summoned!"
Nothing.
"Join me for battle!"
Nothing.
"Manifest yourself, you bastard, and stop wasting my time!" Viktor growled at the card. Ashley was trying very hard not to laugh.
"This stupid Thorn Elemental isn't working," Viktor sighed, giving up. In his fingers, the card suddenly trembled slightly. "Huh?" Viktor asked in surprise. "It started to work! I think I have to say its name. Okay… Thorn Elemental!"
At once, a dazzling bright light shone from the card's picture, and Viktor dropped the card in surprise. From the picture erupted a huge mass of brown, forming two arms, legs, and a torso. The full Thorn Elemental, thirty feet tall, stood proudly among the surprised kids. It rumbled a greeting, its voice beastly and primeval.
"Excellent work, lad!" Pala praised. "I have not seen this beast before, but it is most impressive."
Catching on, the others gathered their decks and tried summoning their own creatures.
"Takeno, Samurai General!" Makoto declared, and the said samurai stood before his summoner. The samurai whipped his sword in a complex warm up pattern, sheathed it, and said, "Good day, Master!" in a brisk and authoritative tone. Devin found himself face-to-face with a Spitebellows from a Lorwyn card, and Sengir Vampire floated before Kelly, bowing in submission.
"Perhaps one-on-one battles will determine your strengths," Pala suggested, clearly nervous of all the creatures. She backed away.
"Let's try it!" Devin said, stepping back. "Come on, Viktor, you and me. Bring it on!"
"Okay," Viktor agreed, holding his deck in one hand. He drew a card, and it was Vine Trellis. He held out the card and said, "Vine Trellis!" The creature erupted from the card, taking its place. Devin responded with a Goblin Warrior, and Viktor answered with Fighting Drake. The creature fought one another with fearless bravado, showing no fear of death or pain. Sorceries and Instants were played similarly, with their effects activating with the card. Giant Growth literally made the Fighting Drake bigger, to a 5/7 beast. To unsummon the creatures, they had to say "Return!" while holding the card and thinking of the appropriate creature. When they were done testing the creatures, Pala came and ordered them to begin training in Selesnya magic instead.
Other Selesnya creatures were training, too. A group of guildmages was making saprolings, seeing who could make the most, and the fastest. Elf warriors clashed swords, loxodons honed their protective arts, and elvish archers perfected their aim. The archers were the unusual creatures. They stood on a balcony, firing their arrows high up and out of sight. It appeared that they were shooting at the top part of the city tree.
"What are they shooting at?" Devin asked Pala as he struggled to create a saproling. "I can't see their targets."
"Take these lenses and see," Pala said, handing him a small collapsible telescope. Peering through the lens, Viktor saw that stuffed dummies were staked in a row at the roof of the Conclave's tower. They had rings painted on them, and the arrows hit with stunning aim. But the top of the tower was nearly a thousand feet from where the archers stood.
"What's their strike range?" Viktor asked, nodding at the archers.
"What's their strike range, you ask?" Pala said, grinning and shaking her head. "Let's put it this way: sagittars aim their bows using maps. This range is only a thousand feet. They could easily hit a target from twice that distance, and with deadly accuracy."
Feeling mingled amazement and fear, Viktor watched the sagittars pull their arrows back and loose another round. If these Selesnya followers were to turn on him…
"Focus your energies on the saproling, Viktor," Pala said, pulling Viktor's thoughts back to what he was doing. "You need to harden the wood, and increase how much fiber goes into it. And the arms need to be longer."
"Yes, ma'am," Viktor said, trying again. At last, a fully formed saproling stood, looking around with its faceless crystal head. It looked up at Viktor and made a soft cooing sound.
"Very good," Pala praised. "Now, let me see you double its size…"
Ten minutes later, Viktor had a squad of ten saprolings standing in a circle around him, and his friends had the same success. Ashley and Kelly had two or three each, Makoto had six, and Devin had twelve of the things standing around him.
Just then, an elf man riding a giant white wolf came galloping in to the training arena, his mount panting with effort. He halted the wolf and dismounted.
"Lithus, I wasn't expecting you," Pala said, greeting him. "What is your purpose here?"
Lithus saluted Pala and said, "Captain Tolsimir told me that the Gruul are asserting a presence in the southern market square, lady Pala. He wants the Conclave to consider sending a force there to drive them off. There are important sorcery plants and soils sold there, some of which we direly need. The Gruul are trying to steal from the shopkeepers for the plants to engineer a race of plant-based giant warriors. I think that Borborygmos made a deal with the Simic to make the plant giants. I think… some of those plants are Phytohydra related."
"Thank you for the news, Lithus," Pala said, and dismissed him. "Tell Captain Tolsimir that force isn't the only option. We could send a team of negotiators over to settle things."
"Yes, ma'am," Lithus said, remounting his wolf and departing.
"That was a messenger from the Wolf Rider Squad," Pala told the five kids. "Tolsimir WolfBlood is their leader, and the finest warrior the Selesnya guild has ever seen. Be sure to courtesy Tolsimir if you ever run into him."
"We will," Viktor said, nodding.
Four days later, Viktor and the others had to agree that they had progressed greatly in the Selesnya guild. With their power of summoning creatures from cards, and from having some hidden power Pala kept talking about, the five of them became full guildmages. They were even allowed to help train new recruits, teaching them Selesnya magic. Other times, they watered the many different plants in the Great Garden, studied loxodon scrolls, and helped tame Phytohydras. Often, Devin would not come back to their room until late in the evening. He said he was running errands for the dryads, but Viktor was sure that he was actually seeing the head healer, Alana. Viktor didn't mention this to anyone else, but he was sure that the no good could come of the relationship.
On the fifth day, Pala entered their room after knocking, and said, "The Conclave has discussed and debated a course of action for the Gruul plant-giant project, and has decided to send an envoy to attempt negotiations. You five, plus one of our senior advisors, have been hand-picked for this task."
"Really?" Makoto asked, sitting up on the bed. "When do we leave?"
"When the sun reaches its highest point in the sky," Pala answered. "Carry out whatever tasks you have for you beforehand."
Four hours later, the five of them were descending the ethereal ramp that connected Vitu-Ghazi with the rest of Ravnica. The senior advisor, a vedalken named Herik, walked with them in silence. He was apparently going over arguments in his head for the coming debate.
The streets of Ravnica were no less interesting than they were the first day Viktor had seen them. Humans, goblins, elves, half-elves, vedalken, and others filled the streets and market squares. Giants lumbered few and far between, sometimes carrying massive crates of produce, or walking rhino-sized dog creatures. Wizards made up a surprising percentage of the crowd, from old, bearded men with long cloaks and pointed hats, to young whip-snappers with magical energy crackling at their fingertips. The vendors sold all sorts of items at various prices: magical scrolls, precious gems, vegetables and meats, daggers, maps, and even dragon teeth that the vendor claimed were from the last dragons Niv-Mizzet had hunted down. There were merfolk fins sold as good luck charms, Boros helmets open for haggling, Orzhov deal arrangement papers to be filled out, and a recruiting booth for the Azorius Senate.
"You can find just about anything here," Kelly noted, impressed. "I haven't even heard of half of these things."
"Oooooh! Look at these!" Ashley squealed, dashing over to a pet vendor. The vedalken behind the main stand was rattling prices and breeding information of what he called "The best Simic-created pets you'll find in all of Ravnica!" There were horned rabbits, dog-sized cats with purple fur, fish with near-human intelligence, and birds with mind-reading abilities and superiority complexes to boot.
"I'd like this one!" Ashley told the vedalken, holding up a gerbil. The animal was also nearly as big as a puppy.
"All right, twenty gold coins," the man said, eyeing the gerbil.
"I, uh…" Ashley said, realizing that she had no money. She fumbled in her deck, then produced her Icatian Moneychanger card. The man burst out of the card, looking surprised at his surroundings.
"I need twenty gold coins," Ashley told him. The fat banker man nodded, saying, "As you wish, my Lady," and produced the money. Ashley handed the coins to the befuddled vedalken merchant, who hesitantly accepted them and handed over the gerbil.
The animal sat in Ashley's cupped hands, studying her with its beady black eyes. "So, what's your name?" the gerbil asked her in a human voice.
Ashley yelped in shock and nearly dropped the gerbil. She caught him and held him up to eye level, not believing her ears. "You can talk?" she breathed.
"Yeah, sure I can," the gerbil responded. He had a tenor voice, and talked slightly quickly. His voice was slightly high-pitched. "What did you expect from the Simic growth chambers, some boring giant gerbil? The Simic engineers made me interesting by giving me intelligence and the ability to talk. But enough about me. What's your name, girl?"
"I'm Ashley," she said. "Ashley Logan. Do you have a name, or do I give you one?"
"Good heavens, girl, of course you name me!" the gerbil said in a well-duh tone. He stamped his little feet. "What, and have that merchant buffoon give me some boring title to go by? You're my owner; you name me. But please, don't be like other people and name me after your favorite guild. It drives me nuts, I tell you. I can't even begin to tell you how many gerbils and birds go home named 'Razia' or 'Niv-Mizzet' or 'Savra'. And gods forbid you call me Grand Arbiter Augustine IV." He shuddered.
"Okay, I'll call you something else," Ashley said, pondering. "How about… I know! Gerbie! Because you're a gerbil!"
"Huh… Gerbie?" the gerbil repeated, thoughtfully toying with the silly name. "Uhhh, all right then, Gerbie it is. It beats 'Borborygmos' by a long shot, at least. I'll never forget the words that gerbil made when he got that name. Badmouthing his master all the way home."
"All right, Gerbie!" Ashley said, gently placing him in a pocket of her jeans. "Just stay right there." She rejoined the others, who watched in amusement. They resumed their walk to the Gruul emplacement.
"Just who are these people?" Gerbie asked. "Are they your family?"
"No, they're my friends," Ashley explained. "See, this is Viktor, Devin, my sister Kelly, and a Selesnya advisor coming with us. We're going to negotiate with a Gruul force to get them to abandon their hold on the southern market."
"Ahhh, dirty Gruul bastards go after whatever pleases them," Gerbie muttered. "What're they up to now? Collecting beggar heads?"
"Oh, no," Ashley said. "They're stealing magic plants to try to make a race of Phytohydra-based giants that the Simic are helping them to make."
"Holy Sky Swallowers! My Simic masters working with Gruul beasts to make super-giants? Oh, the shame my creators give me! Great Mormir Vig must have better projects up his sleeve than that. Ashley, you and the others had better convince them to give it up! The shame!"
Gerbie grumbled to himself all the way to the Gruul emplacement. Apparently, he was proud of the guild that that created him, and disliked the very notion of the Simic working with the savage Gruul guild. Soon, Gruul creatures were seen stomping up and down the street. Warriors with green and red armor and stone battle-axes patrolled in squads, and a massive, bulky spider named Solifuge roamed back and forth. Gruul guildmages sat on makeshift wooden stools, watching out for trouble. The pedestrians were forced to divert from this road to a split road. Numbers of Gruul peasants carried sacks full of plants and other items away to a cart with war spikes attached to its front. The driver of the cart whipped a pair of beasts, which snorted and carried the cart away.
Standing with a number of personal guards, the clan leader watched over the happenings. He was half human, half giant, standing ten feet tall. He had thick, scarred armor and a long and rusty sword.
Viktor accompanied the Selesnya advisor in confronting the clan leader.
"Whatcha want, huh?" the man-giant
grunted. His guards raised their weapons in preparation for battle.
"Got a problem with is bein' here?"
"By the order of
the Selesnya conclave, we must discuss your actions here in the
market," Herik said firmly. "Will your counselors sit down for a
discussion?"
"A better discussion would be the winner of a deathmatch," the clan leader said, crossing his massive arms. "But fine. Hek! Kitae! Mookoo! Do your arguing with this man and his children escort." At his command, three men in green and red robes walked forward. They looked civilized, at least, but they were the voice of the ferocious Gruul, so they would carry that trait in their speech.
"Seat yourselves," one of them said, pulling over a wooden table. Everyone sat, the Selesnya on one side, the Gruul on the other.
"So, why don't we have a pleasant little chat?" Gerbie said cheerfully. "Mind your manners, everyone, and no kicking under the table!"
"Quiet!" Ashley hissed at the Gerbie, and the animal cowered and sank deeper into her pocket. The Gruul negotiators: Hek, Kitae, and Mookoo weren't impressed.
"Indeed, keep your Simic creature quiet," Hek said politely but with an angry overtone.
"I beg your pardon?" Gerbie said, sounding affronted. He came back out of Ashley's pocket and climbed onto the table. "I'm the pinnacle of Mormir Vig's bioengineering genius. Don't you say another word against the great Simic guild, or I'll —"
He was interrupted by Hek slamming a wooden goblet over Gerbie, muffling his outcries. "Now, we may talk in peace," Kitae said, producing a parchment map. He unrolled it and spread it across the table. "You see, we plan to use the rare plants sold here to create a race of giants that share characteristics of the Phytohydra plant. The Orzhov dealmakers helped settle the terms, and the Simic spawning vats will produce the giants."
"Abomination!" Gerbie declared from under the goblet. Kitae ignored him. "When harmed, they will instead increase muscle mass and mental aggression levels, creating the perfect warrior," Kitae went on. "We've taken this section." He traced his finger around a section of the market road.
"What makes you believe that we will stand for holding up innocent marketers for their wares?" Herik said, folding his fingers. "Surely you can bargain with the storeowners for the plants and be satisfied with that."
"We are the Gruul," Mookoo said. "We are also part of the RedFang clan, one of the more pushy ones. Certainly could we bargain with the owners. But our clan leader won't settle for merchant work. He wants results now. The Rakdos have been even worse than us, torching and maiming those who refuse to offer discounts to them. What we are doing is nothing."
"If the Rakdos are torching shopkeepers, that ought to get Azorius attention," Herik said. "They would capture the violators and throw them to jail. But I've heard nothing of it."
"You must have poor ears, then," Hek said. He indicated a larger section of the map. "We plan to have a heavy presence here, with the help of our super giants. It's to protect the people from Rakdos goblin fire-fighters and Ickspitters, who cause only trouble for their own enjoyment. I know what we do is harsh, but it is better than letting the Rakdos have their way here."
"Couldn't the Azorius handle the Rakdos if they spread their rampages here?" Viktor asked.
"They could try, but some of these products are especially dangerous in Rakdos hands," Mookoo said. "Some of these fire weeds would make Rakdos guildmages perfect anti-First-Wing artillery. With these products, the Rakdos would be the terror of this region. We, the Gruul, wish to prevent that."
"Maybe the Orzhov could make a contract with the Rakdos to halt their rampages?" Kelly suggested. "The Orzhov is the Church of Deals. I'm sure that the Rakdos would agree to something."
"The Orzhov Church makes the best deals around, yes," Hek said. "The Rakdos have been curbed by them before. We may ask them to try it again, but I can't guarantee that the Rakdos will agree this time around."
"Then in the meantime, halt your gathering and bullying here," Herik said, standing up. "I have heard quite enough. A trip to the Orzhov church will be in order. Postpone your agreement with the Simic guild, if you will. This can be easily settled without bloodshed. If we can —"
His words were interrupted by a bird's screech. An eagle swooped in out of nowhere, and settled on the table. Its feathers were white and green; clearly, a Selesnya messenger bird. The eagle cocked its head, studying Herik with its black eyes. A piece of paper was tied to one leg by string.
"Allow me a moment," Herik told the Gruul negotiators, taking the paper off the bird's leg. He fed it a small treat item, which it ate, then it flew off. Herik scanned the note's lines quickly, and a worried frown crossed his face. He folded it and stuffed it into his cloak's inside pocket.
"Viktor, Devin, all of you," he said. "Get up and come with me back to the city tree. A massive Izzet force has arrived and is laying siege to our great tree home. Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind is present at the carnage. We haven't a moment to spare."
The others digested this, then nodded and stood up. Ashley collected Gerbie from the table and put him in her pocket. "If you follow me," Herik said, and he snapped his fingers. A green cracking portal opened, leading to a waypoint at Vitu-Ghazi. He stepped through it, and the five others followed suit.