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Balduvia
Balduvian trading post
A Balduvian trading post. Art by Tom Wänerstrand.
Information
Plane Dominaria
Part of Balduvian Steppes
Status Merged with Kjeldor to form New Argive
Later part of New Argive

Balduvia was a nation of barbarians north of the Karplusan Mountains during the time of the Ice Age on Terisiare (Dominaria). They inhabited the Balduvian Steppes north-west of Kjeldor.[1][2]

History[ | ]

The Balduvians rose as a people after the start of the Ice Age, overtaking the role of the Malpiri nation inhabiting the great plans in northern Terisiare, and possibly also being of Malpiri ancestry themselves.

Balduvian barbarians were mainly hunters but kept a few more permanent settlements there. In addition to the Balduvian Steppes, they traditionally also claimed the lands south of the Karplusan Mountains. These lands were settled by refugees from Storgard and became the nation of Kjeldor. Around 2500 AR, Balduvia declared war on Kjeldor, starting a 400-year-long period of strife between the two nations.[3]

Throughout the period, many battles were fought with Balduvia as the aggressors, and Kjeldor as the defenders, but neither faction gained much ground. Towards the end of the Ice Age, a new threat arose to lay claim to the lands of eastern Terisiare - that of Lim-Dûl, the necromancer. His power and tenacity were such that the two traditional enemy lands allied to battle against his undead hordes.[4]

After the casting of the World Spell, many of the beasts that the barbarians hunted started dying out. The Thaw warmed the lands quickly, causing the Flooding of Terisiare and great habitat loss. However, with the warming climate, the lands of Balduvia became suitable for growing crops. This marked a change in Balduvian lifestyles and further cemented their alliance with the Kjeldorans. Together they formed the nation of New Argive.[5]

In-game references[ | ]

Associated cards:
Referred to:

References[ | ]

  1. Jeffrey Gómez & Jeofrey Vita. (August 1995.) "Ice Age #2: The Frozen Dead", ARMADA.
  2. Ethan Fleischer (April 20, 2018). "Dominarian Cartography". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Don Perrin - The Crucible of the Orcs, The Colors of Magic (1999), Wizards of the Coast
  4. Jeff Grubb. (2000.) "The Eternal Ice", Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Jeff Grubb - The Shattered Alliance, Wizards of the Coast
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