| Ashnod | |
|---|---|
|
Nod The Red Woman Ashnod the Uncaring | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Race | Human |
| Birthplace | Possibly Almaaz,[1] Terisiare, Dominaria |
| Lifetime | The Time of Legends-The Dark Age |
| Born | c. 5 AR |
| Died | After 80 AR |
| Colors | |
   Center: | |
| Sources | |
| The Brothers' War | |
Ashnod, sometimes referred to as the Red Woman, was Mishra's apprentice, and lover, at the time of the Brothers' War on Dominaria. She was also a gifted artificer in her own right.[2] She developed a romantic partnership with Tawnos, despite supporting the opposing side of the war, and joined with him to form a school of mages after the war ended.[3]
Description[ | ]
Ashnod was described as one of the most cruelly beautiful women Hajar had ever seen. Red hair was rare in the desert, and Ashnod's was the color of a flickering camp flame. The Fallaji saw red hair as an evil omen. Her eyes were gray-green like the sea, and just as stormy. She dressed much like a man, with trousers and form-fitting armor rather than dresses and gowns. Ashnod was well known for her sadistic tendencies, giving little value to the lives of others. She was so cruel that many called her "Ashnod the Uncaring".[1]
Throughout the Brothers' War, Ashnod stood by Mishra's side, leaving him only in the end, when she realized what he had become. Ashnod was always fond of Tawnos, Urza's apprentice, even though they were on opposing sides and she even tortured him once when he was captured. On several occasions, she had called Tawnos 'Duck' as a pet nickname, referring to his toymaking skills. Her most famous creation was the process by which to create the metalloid thralls known as Transmogrants.[2]
History[ | ]
Ashnod's origins are unknown, but she does have memories of the humid heat of Almaaz. That may have been where she was originally from, or merely a step on her journey toward Zegon. Ashnod came into contact with Mishra when the Suwwardi Qadir brought him and his Maq Fawa close to the city of Zegon. Ashnod snuck into Mishra's camp to negotiate on behalf of Zegon, although she was not originally from the city. Her Staff of Zegon kept Mishra's Maq Fawa at bay, preventing it from attacking Zegon outright. Mishra, his interest peaked, studied the staff, and they agreed she would become his apprentice. They also became lovers. Zegon had to give up their chief artificer, Ashnod, remove their city gates and submit to the Fallaji, for the Qadir to spare the city.[1]
Ashnod joined Mishra and the Qadir at the Peace Summit at Korlinda, and it is here that the Qadir first calls the Fallaji an "empire". The peace summit broke down over talks of the Sword Marches, which three generations earlier had been called the "Suwwardi Marches" before Yotia drove the Fallaji from that land. The Warlord of Kroog and the Qadir began spitting insults and threats at one another. When the Warlord activated the squad of ornithopters, dropping bombs on the dragon engine, everything fell into chaos. The Qadir drew his saber and stabbed the warlord in the chest, killing him. In retaliation, Urza's automaton grabbed the Qadir by the neck, choking him, but Ashnod used her Staff of Zegon to weaken it, forcing it to release the Qadir. Urza tried to strengthen it with his Mightstone, but Mishra used the Weakstone, overloading it and making it explode. The Fallaji then fled the scene, Ashnod dragging the coughing Qadir behind her.[1]
After the failed Peace Talks at Kroog, Ashnod was left a prisoner in her former palace quarters. Tawnos treated her well and kept the interrogation to a minimum. During the Fall of Kroog, Ashnod was let free by Tawnos and given the Staff of Zegon back on the premise that she protect the pregnant queen, Kayla bin-Kroog. Ashnod agreed to this, and while the dragon engines started attacking the palace of Kroog, killing its seneschal, Ashnod, Kayla and Tawnos encountered a band of Fallaji led by the Qadir himself. The Qadir ordered the three of them killed, explicitly stating that Ashnod was a crutch for Mishra, and a woman besides. Ashnod then used the Staff of Zegon to knock the Qadir's guards unconscious. The Qadir himself she made sure to kill, draining his life with the staff such that he collapsed, bleeding. Ashnod then made sure Tawnos and Kayla escaped the burning city in a boat headed downriver towards the sea, while she went back to rejoin Mishra.[1]
Over the next few years, Ashnod developed a method for creating transmogrants, artificial zombies that could withstand anything without losing morale, and could respond to simple commands. To battle test her invention, Ashnod received a mission to conquer Korlis for having sided with Urza. She was appointed general of this particular campaign, to the dismay of the Fallaji war captains like Jarin. They did not respect Ashnod, as she was a woman, and with red hair besides. They also feared the transmogrants, thinking of their abominations. Ashnod was supplied with two of Mishra's home-forged dragon engines, pale copies of the Phyrexian ones. They were slow and noisy, and had to be abandoned in the mountain pass after having been spotted by an enemy ornithopter.[1]
Before the army could cross fully into Korlis, they were set upon by a Korlisian army, which included Yotian soldiers and clay statues. These proved difficult to manage by Ashnod's transmogrants, and when the war captains' cavalry did not respond to their signal, the transmogrants were all destroyed, and Ashnod had to retreat. She returned to Mishra's Fortress in defeat and was promptly sent to Sarinth to secure their allegiance, while also physically removing her from the other war captains to avoid any assassinations.[1]
Shortly before the Fall of Terisia City, some of its population escaped under cover of a sandstorm. Among them, Loran fled Terisia City with the sylex, with the intent of keeping it away from either of the warring brothers or anyone else that might be able to use it. Near the Colekgan Mountains, Ashnod wounded and captured Loran, and relieved her of the sylex. Ashnod then moved to Almaaz, where she interrogated Loran about the Third Path and their magical studies. [1]
In 57 AR, Loran escaped captivity, but without the Sylex. Ashnod, having learned the secrets of magic and mana from her, thought she would bring this information to Mishra to earn his forgiveness. At the same time, she learned that Mishra was headed to Argoth to claim its resources. Ashnod decided to follow him there.[1]
During the Battle at Argoth, Ashnod and Tawnos were confronted by the demon Gix. Ashnod passed the sylex to Tawnos, who conveyed it to Urza while she held off the Phyrexian demon. Immediately prior, Urza had sparked during a face-to-face duel with his brother and had become acutely aware of the scope of the damage the war had done to the land itself. In remorse, he activated the sylex. The ensuing Sylex Blast destroyed both armies and the island of Argoth.[1]
After ascending to planeswalkerhood, Urza looked for Ashnod for some time to learn more about the Sylex and about Gix. Urza searched Terisiare for a woman too proud to change her appearance and her personality, but failed to locate her. This was presumably because she had indeed changed her appearance and personality, as well as her name.[4]
Ashnod survived the Sylex Blast by unknown means, and by 80 AR, she had founded a school of mages and artificers near Ronom Lake with Tawnos. Founding the Conclave of Mages enabled the scattered mages of the Third Path to find a new home. At the conclave, Ashnod was known as Nod.[3]
Gallery[ | ]
In the Caves of Koilos Mishra opens the portal for Phyrexia. He and Ashnod use the portal.
Ashnod Vanguard
Story appearances[ | ]
In-game references[ | ]
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References[ | ]
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Jeff Grubb (1998). The Brothers' War. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Miguel Lopez (October 20, 2022). "The Brothers' War - Episode 1: The End". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Miguel Lopez (October 20, 2022). "The Brothers' War - Episode 2: The Beginning". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Lynn Abbey (1998). Planeswalker. Wizards of the Coast.