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'''Arcavios''' is a [[plane]] introduced in ''[[Strixhaven: School of Mages]]''.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|ObbMbC1v0H4|Strixhaven Sneak Peek|channel=Weekly MTG|date=February 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|feature/first-lesson-introduction-strixhaven-2021-02-18|The First Lesson: Introduction to Strixhaven|[[Blake Rasmussen]]|February 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/643659492177936384/is-strixhaven-in-regatha|title=Is Strixhaven in Regatha?|February 20, 2021}}</ref> The plane has two suns.<ref name=":Class">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-1-class-session-2021-03-25|Episode 1: Class is in Session|[[Adana Washington]]|March 25, 2021}}</ref> Most of the known plane is broken across two huge continents—the northern continent of Orrithia, commonly known as the Vastlands, and a mysterious southern continent, called Galathul. The two are linked by a land bridge called the Isthmus of Omens. Strixhaven University is situated in the northeast of Orrithia.
 +
'''Arcavios''' is a [[plane]] introduced in ''[[Strixhaven: School of Mages]]''.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|ObbMbC1v0H4|Strixhaven Sneak Peek|channel=Weekly MTG|date=February 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|feature/first-lesson-introduction-strixhaven-2021-02-18|The First Lesson: Introduction to Strixhaven|[[Blake Rasmussen]]|February 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/643659492177936384/is-strixhaven-in-regatha|title=Is Strixhaven in Regatha?|February 20, 2021}}</ref> The plane has two suns.<ref name=":Class">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-1-class-session-2021-03-25|Episode 1: Class is in Session|[[Adana Washington]]|March 25, 2021}}</ref>
   
 
==History==
  
==History==
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====The Dragonsguard====
  
====The Dragonsguard====
−
A select few join the Dragonsguard, an elite force of mages who work with the honored Founder Dragons.<ref name="Guide"/>
 +
A select few of graduates of Strixhaven join the Dragonsguard, an elite force of mages who work with the honored Founder Dragons.<ref name="Guide"/>
   
 
==== The Oriq ====
  
==== The Oriq ====
−
The [[Oriq]] are a group of mages who seek to access Strixhaven's magical archives for their own purposes. Because they need so many recruits, they often send agents across Arcavios to find susceptible people to recruit. This causes much of the citizens of the plane to be distrustful of outsiders for fear they may be affiliated with this group.<ref name="Lessons" />
 +
The [[Oriq]] are a group of mages who seek to access Strixhaven's magical archives for their own purposes. Because they need so many recruits, they often send agents across Arcavios to find susceptible people to recruit. This causes many of the citizens of the plane to be distrustful of outsiders for fear they may be affiliated with this group.<ref name="Lessons" />
   
−
==Known locations==
 +
==Geography==
  +
Most of the known plane is broken across two huge continents—the northern continent of Orrithia, commonly known as the Vastlands, and a mysterious southern continent, called Galathul. The two are linked by a land bridge called the Isthmus of Omens. Strixhaven University is situated in the northeast of Orrithia.
  +
  +
===Known locations===
 
[[File:Map Arcavios.jpg|thumb|421x421px|Arcavios map.]]
  
[[File:Map Arcavios.jpg|thumb|421x421px|Arcavios map.]]
 
* '''Orrithia''' or '''The Vastlands''', the main continent of Arcavios (where [[Strixhaven]] is located).
 
* '''Orrithia''' or '''The Vastlands''', the main continent of Arcavios (where [[Strixhaven]] is located).
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** '''Detention Bog'''
  
** '''Detention Bog'''
 
** '''Chimneycomb''', the mountains of central Orrithia
  
** '''Chimneycomb''', the mountains of central Orrithia
−
*** '''Feradom'''
 +
*** '''Feradorn'''
 
*** '''Grumlet'''
  
*** '''Grumlet'''
 
*** '''Heavenfell'''
  
*** '''Heavenfell'''
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** '''Silkmeadow'''
  
** '''Silkmeadow'''
 
* The '''Snarls''', places where two opposing forces of mana come together and swirl in a mashing pattern.<ref name="Tour">{{YouTubeRef|b23oHHziMto|Strixhaven: School of Mages Campus Tour|channel=[[Magic: The Gathering]]|date=March 25, 2021}}</ref>
  
* The '''Snarls''', places where two opposing forces of mana come together and swirl in a mashing pattern.<ref name="Tour">{{YouTubeRef|b23oHHziMto|Strixhaven: School of Mages Campus Tour|channel=[[Magic: The Gathering]]|date=March 25, 2021}}</ref>
  +
*'''Fernbosk''', home of the trolls. It is a wild place.
 
* Ancient ruins dot the plane, most older than Strixhaven itself and many still guarded by soldiers from the Blood Age, centuries after their deaths.<ref>Flavor text for <c>Ageless Guardian</c></ref>
  
* Ancient ruins dot the plane, most older than Strixhaven itself and many still guarded by soldiers from the Blood Age, centuries after their deaths.<ref>Flavor text for <c>Ageless Guardian</c></ref>
 
**'''Zantafar''', the city in which the loxodons of the plane lived before becoming nomads. Rediscovered by [[Quintorius Kand]].
  
**'''Zantafar''', the city in which the loxodons of the plane lived before becoming nomads. Rediscovered by [[Quintorius Kand]].
 
** The fortress of '''Caerdoon'''<ref name="Lessons">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-2-lessons-2021-03-31|Episode 2: Lessons|[[Adana Washington]]|March 31, 2021}}</ref> (or '''Kaerdoon''')
  
** The fortress of '''Caerdoon'''<ref name="Lessons">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-2-lessons-2021-03-31|Episode 2: Lessons|[[Adana Washington]]|March 31, 2021}}</ref> (or '''Kaerdoon''')
  +
** The '''Kingdoms Below'''<ref name="Extra">{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-3-extracurriculars-2021-04-07|Episode 3: Extracurriculars|[[Adana Washington]]|April 7, 2021}}</ref>
 
* The '''Pinzari Isles''', islands before the west coast of Orrithia
  
* The '''Pinzari Isles''', islands before the west coast of Orrithia
 
* '''Galathul''', the mysterious second continent of Arcavios.
  
* '''Galathul''', the mysterious second continent of Arcavios.
−
* '''Isthmus of Omens''', the land bridge connecting Orrithia and Galathul
 +
* '''Isthmus of Omens''', the land bridge connecting Orrithia and Galathul.
   
 
==Inhabitants==
  
==Inhabitants==
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===Sapient races===
  
===Sapient races===
 
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
  
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
−
*[[Avatar|Archaics]]
 +
*Archaics ([[Avatar]]s)
 
*[[Bird#Aven|Aven]] - [[Owlin]]
  
*[[Bird#Aven|Aven]] - [[Owlin]]
 
*[[Bear]]-folk
 
*[[Bear]]-folk
  +
*[[Frog#Arcavois|Burrogs]]
 
*[[Demon]]s
  
*[[Demon]]s
 
*[[Djinn]]i
  
*[[Djinn]]i
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*[[Elder]] [[Dragon]]s
  
*[[Elder]] [[Dragon]]s
 
*[[Elf#Arcavios|Elves]]
  
*[[Elf#Arcavios|Elves]]
−
*[[Frog]]-folk
  
 
*[[Giant]]s
  
*[[Giant]]s
 
*[[Goblin]]s
  
*[[Goblin]]s
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===Other===
  
===Other===
 
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
  
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
  +
* [[Archon]]s
 
* [[Beast]]s
  
* [[Beast]]s
 
**Trudges
  
**Trudges
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* [[Illusion]]s
  
* [[Illusion]]s
 
* Karoks ([[Zombie]] [[Crocodile]]s)
  
* Karoks ([[Zombie]] [[Crocodile]]s)
  +
* [[Octopus|Octopi]]
 
* [[Plant]]s
  
* [[Plant]]s
 
* [[Phoenix]]
  
* [[Phoenix]]
 
* Scurrids ([[Squirrel]]s)
  
* Scurrids ([[Squirrel]]s)
 
* [[Serpent]]s
  
* [[Serpent]]s
  +
* [[Shade]]s
 
* [[Specter]]s
  
* [[Specter]]s
 
* [[Wolf|Wolves]]
  
* [[Wolf|Wolves]]
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}}
  
}}
   
−
== Languages Spoken ==
 +
== Languages spoken ==
−
=== Old Languages ===
 +
=== Old languages ===
 
* The language taught by <c>Professor of Symbology</c>
  
* The language taught by <c>Professor of Symbology</c>
   
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* <c>Ageless Guardian</c>
  
* <c>Ageless Guardian</c>
 
* <c>Archmage Emeritus</c>
  
* <c>Archmage Emeritus</c>
  +
* {{card|Duress|Mystical Archive|STA}}
 
* <c>Environmental Sciences</c>
  
* <c>Environmental Sciences</c>
 
* {{card|Regrowth|Mystical Archive|STA}}
  
* {{card|Regrowth|Mystical Archive|STA}}
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==References==
  
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
  
{{reflist}}
  +
  +
==External links==
  +
* {{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-strixhaven-2021-04-01|Planeswalker's Guide to Strixhaven| [[Doug Beyer]] and [[Ari Zirulnik]] |April 01, 2021}}
   
 
{{Arcavios}}
  
{{Arcavios}}

Revision as of 13:18, 16 April 2021

Arcavios
Arcavios
Information
First seen Strixhaven: School of Mages
Last seen Strixhaven: School of Mages
Status Stable

Arcavios is a plane introduced in Strixhaven: School of Mages.[1][2][3] The plane has two suns.[4]

History

The Dawning Age

The period when the plane was young and none of the humanoid races yet walked the earth.[5]

Field Trip

Star Arch.

At the birth of the plane, as the mana of two planes overlapped in conflicting ways, many forms of life adapted to the new structure, and many new forms of life were spawned. Five particularly powerful vortices of overlapping mana became luminous spheres, from which were hatched five dragons. These dragons have become emblems of the magic of the plane, living symbols of the clashing forces of the five dichotomies.

The five dragons were the first to master the magic of the five enemy color combinations. When the humanoid races arose, at first the dragons were angered that mortals would try to harness the wild forces of magic, but they came to realize that only through disciplined study would magic be in safe hands. So, centuries later, the dragons would found an institution devoted to the study of the five mana dichotomies, and that institution is what we now know as Strixhaven.

The Star Arches

Gravity-defying arch shapes crop up all over this plane, looking like mystical shrines or monuments. They're made from spokes of natural materials that float in an arch shape, with a precise inner curve and a rough and irregular outer arch. They can stand straight or lie at an angle; they can be small or enormous, whole or broken, grown over or mysteriously clean. Their irregular spokes evoke the radiating lines of a shining celestial star.

The star arches are a mystery leftover from the Dawning Age when the plane was young and none of the humanoid races yet walked the earth. In most cases, the arches simply sit there, floating inexplicably, silent, immovable, and inert. But many have said that they've seen an arch appear to them at a critical juncture in their lives, helping them understand a lesson or answer a burning question in their mind. Some believe that each arch marks a place of great magic, such as the site of the birth of a great mage or the location of a time-lost spell. Others believe that they're connected with the Archaics in some way, some claim they've seen an arch come to life with powerful magic in their presence.[5]

Cervins feed on the mana-rich plants around the star arches, imbuing their bodies with extraordinary grace and vitality.[6]

The Snarls

Mana flows through all of Arcavios. But in certain sites, the mana becomes knotted and tangled. At these places, magic and spells can be at their most powerful and at their most dangerous. These places are known as Snarls. According to the Archaics, the Snarls are places where two conflicting sources of antagonistic mana overlapped together at the birth of the plane.[5]

The Archaics

The Archaics are a race of wise, giant, long-lived beings with an innate talent for magic. They can be seen striding through the Vastlands, exploring sources of magic with their many arms, or contemplating existence through their "eye," which is a magical focus of some kind. Archaics can live for thousands of years; many are thought to have been alive since the Dawning Age. Mages seek out Archaics for their vast knowledge of history and magic, but Archaics tend to communicate in obscure allusions and cryptic metaphors.[5]

The Blood Age

Before Strixhaven was founded, Arcavios experienced a period of tremendous violence known as the Blood Age. The wars were so terrible that they shock even Lorehold students of today. The Founder Dragons brought the Blood Age to an end.

The Founding of Strixhaven

Founded some 700 years ago by the five spellcasting Founder Dragons, Strixhaven University is Arcavios's premier institution of magical learning, drawing promising young mages from all around the plane to study in its halls. Strixhaven is divided into five colleges, each with its own campus, faculty, and magical specialties. The five colleges were based around the magic mastered by each of the dragons. The mission of Strixhaven University is to discover and preserve magical knowledge, disseminate that knowledge from one generation to the next, promote the free and open study of magic in all its forms, and enhance the lives of people throughout the plane through the use of magic.[5]

To this day, the Founder Dragons roam the plane, the five deadly sages of the skies. They no longer associate directly with Strixhaven, preferring to let the deans of the college speak in their stead. The dragons' wisdom is vast, but their tempers can be short. Mages seek them out only to learn the most elusive of secrets.

The Dragonsguard

A select few of graduates of Strixhaven join the Dragonsguard, an elite force of mages who work with the honored Founder Dragons.[5]

The Oriq

The Oriq are a group of mages who seek to access Strixhaven's magical archives for their own purposes. Because they need so many recruits, they often send agents across Arcavios to find susceptible people to recruit. This causes many of the citizens of the plane to be distrustful of outsiders for fear they may be affiliated with this group.[7]

Geography

Most of the known plane is broken across two huge continents—the northern continent of Orrithia, commonly known as the Vastlands, and a mysterious southern continent, called Galathul. The two are linked by a land bridge called the Isthmus of Omens. Strixhaven University is situated in the northeast of Orrithia.

Known locations

Map Arcavios

Arcavios map.

  • Orrithia or The Vastlands, the main continent of Arcavios (where Strixhaven is located).
    • Strixhaven, the most elite school of mages in the multiverse, whose Colleges were founded by five elder dragons.
    • Paradox Gardens
    • Vaults of Turrau
    • Detention Bog
    • Chimneycomb, the mountains of central Orrithia
      • Feradorn
      • Grumlet
      • Heavenfell
      • Pranticle Peak
    • Doradur, a location of the western coast. Home of the Burrogs.
    • Grove of Eljor, a forest to the west of the mountains
    • Tor-Kathorra Desert, home of the Kathorran orcs, known for their tool use and double edged swords.[8]
    • Silkmeadow
  • The Snarls, places where two opposing forces of mana come together and swirl in a mashing pattern.[9]
  • Fernbosk, home of the trolls. It is a wild place.
  • Ancient ruins dot the plane, most older than Strixhaven itself and many still guarded by soldiers from the Blood Age, centuries after their deaths.[10]
    • Zantafar, the city in which the loxodons of the plane lived before becoming nomads. Rediscovered by Quintorius Kand.
    • The fortress of Caerdoon[7] (or Kaerdoon)
    • The Kingdoms Below[11]
  • The Pinzari Isles, islands before the west coast of Orrithia
  • Galathul, the mysterious second continent of Arcavios.
  • Isthmus of Omens, the land bridge connecting Orrithia and Galathul.

Inhabitants

The inhabitants of Arcavios are vastly varied. Below are those directly seen or mentioned on the plane.

Sapient races

Artificial

Mascots

Other

Languages spoken

Old languages

Planeswalker visitors

In-game references

Associated cards:
Referred to:

References

  1. ↑ Strixhaven Sneak Peek (Video). Weekly MTG. YouTube (February 19, 2021).
  2. ↑ Blake Rasmussen (February 18, 2021). "The First Lesson: Introduction to Strixhaven". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 20, 2021). "Is Strixhaven in Regatha?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. ↑ Adana Washington (March 25, 2021). "Episode 1: Class is in Session". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ a b c d e f Doug Beyer and Ari Zirulnik (April 01, 2021). "Planeswalker's Guide to Strixhaven". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Flavor text for Springmane Cervin
  7. ↑ a b Adana Washington (March 31, 2021). "Episode 2: Lessons". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ Flavor text for Illuminate History and Blade Historian
  9. ↑ Strixhaven: School of Mages Campus Tour (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (March 25, 2021).
  10. ↑ Flavor text for Ageless Guardian
  11. ↑ Adana Washington (April 7, 2021). "Episode 3: Extracurriculars". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

External links

Arcavios
Arcavios sets
Publications
Arcavios storyline
Characters
Locations
Affiliations
Other
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