| Heart of Shanodin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Plane | Dominaria |
| Part of | Shanodin, Oneah, the Domains |
The Heart of Shanodin is the enchanted glade in the deepest parts of the Shanodin forest, where the sky is completely blocked away by heavy branches of trees. Shanodin lies on the island of Oneah.[1][2]
Description[]
The Heart of Shanodin is surrounded by a thicket of raspberry and blackberry brambles. The thicket magically regrows itself when cut, and bears white red, and pink blossoms. Birds sing, silver-on-blue butterflies flutter like tiny clouds across the sky and leaves rustle gently in a mild breeze. The black leaves on the ground and the black earth beneath smell as rich as freshly baked bread, and scents of moss, deer musk, flowers, and vanilla from the red-barked Shanodin trees waft through the air, while other trees have white and black bark with various textures, both rough and smooth. The glade features a beautiful babbling brook and a natural cave that offers shelter. Like the rest of the forest, the glade is inhabited by the Shanodin dryads, who reveal themselves only when they wish.[3]
The Heart has the unique power to reveal one's true self. In the words of the Seer Odamulus: " In Shanodin's Heart a man lives his heart of hearts and follows the path that he wills not or dares not. In Shanodin's Heart, all hearts are revealed". The tyrant Amjad is known to bring his servants into the Heart of Shanodin, to know the real nature of those he chooses to keep at his side.[3]
History[]
In c. 4100 AR, King Amjad sent his Black Knight Ittono Khairt ni Hata Kan and his Royal Assassin Daisilodavi to the Heart of Shanodin in pursuit of his enemy, the fat merchant Lord Glinham. Glinham had brought his retainers to the heart to save him from his pursuers, revealing their true selves. Glinham's archer became a philosopher, and his scullery maid became a fierce warrior, while Glinham himself became a holy man, preaching the words of the Prophets and Seers. Upon pursuing Glinham to the Heart of Shanodin, Ittono Khairt ni Hata Kan reverted to his old self, a lover of music, dance, and beauty, and fell in love with one of the glade's dryads. Daisilodavi on the other hand, became his true self - an actor. Thus, he acted out the role that was given to him, and successfully assassinated Glinham. The assassin then murdered the dryad as well, to reclaim Ittono Khairt ni Hata Kan from the glade and bring him with him back to Amjad.[3]
In-game references[]
- Associated cards:
References[]
- ↑ Martha Wells (March 21, 2018). "Return to Dominaria, Episode 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ethan Fleischer on Twitter
- ↑ a b c Heart of Shanodin by Bruce Holland Rogers, Kathy Ice (Ed.), 1995. Tapestries, HarperPrism