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Kaldheim is steeped in storytelling and song, and all of its denizens share a common ethos: it is a plane of [[warrior]]s who boast of their great deeds and yearn to die heroically in battle, who fight hard and celebrate harder, and where great tales pass into myth through the ages.<ref name="Welcome">{{DailyRef|feature/welcome-face-melting-world-kaldheim-2020-12-14|Welcome to the Face-Melting World of Kaldheim|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|December 14, 2020}}</ref>
 
Kaldheim is steeped in storytelling and song, and all of its denizens share a common ethos: it is a plane of [[warrior]]s who boast of their great deeds and yearn to die heroically in battle, who fight hard and celebrate harder, and where great tales pass into myth through the ages.<ref name="Welcome">{{DailyRef|feature/welcome-face-melting-world-kaldheim-2020-12-14|Welcome to the Face-Melting World of Kaldheim|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|December 14, 2020}}</ref>
   
Pivotal to the plane is the [[Cosmos]], a "realm between" represented by a massive [[World Tree]], from which ten separate realms hang like fruits. The realms are constantly shifting and, on occasion, may collapse unto each other. When this happens, a [[Doomskar]] occurs.<ref name="Kaldheim Fest">{{YouTubeRef|kPuibfU7Xjc|Kaldheim Fest|channel=Magic: The Gathering|December 7, 2021}}</ref> This causes earthquakes, destabilization, and total chaos.
+
Pivotal to the plane is the [[Cosmos]], a "realm between" which [[Planeswalker]]s cannot cross<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/episode-2-awaken-trolls-2021-01-13|Awaken the Trolls]]|[[Roy Graham]]|January 13, 2021}}</ref> represented by a massive [[World Tree]], from which ten separate realms hang like fruits. The realms are constantly shifting and, on occasion, may collapse unto each other. When this happens, a [[Doomskar]] occurs.<ref name="Kaldheim Fest">{{YouTubeRef|kPuibfU7Xjc|Kaldheim Fest|channel=Magic: The Gathering|December 7, 2021}}</ref> This causes earthquakes, destabilization, and total chaos.
   
 
There is no sun or moon in Kaldheim.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/know-which-way-wind-blowing-2021-01-08|Know Which Way the Wind is Blowing, Part 1|[[Setsu Uzumé]]|January 8, 2021}}</ref> Light is instead provided by the realm of [[Starnheim]]. In addition, the branches of the World Tree can be seen in the skies of the realms.<ref name="PGtK">{{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-kaldheim-part-1-2021-01-08|Planeswalker's Guide to Kaldheim, Part 1|[[Ari Zirulnik]]|January 8, 2021}}</ref>
 
There is no sun or moon in Kaldheim.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/know-which-way-wind-blowing-2021-01-08|Know Which Way the Wind is Blowing, Part 1|[[Setsu Uzumé]]|January 8, 2021}}</ref> Light is instead provided by the realm of [[Starnheim]]. In addition, the branches of the World Tree can be seen in the skies of the realms.<ref name="PGtK">{{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-kaldheim-part-1-2021-01-08|Planeswalker's Guide to Kaldheim, Part 1|[[Ari Zirulnik]]|January 8, 2021}}</ref>
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[[File:KHM Realms.jpg|right|thumb|500px|The ten realms of Kaldheim]]
 
[[File:KHM Realms.jpg|right|thumb|500px|The ten realms of Kaldheim]]
 
The Ten Realms are separate mini-planes moving around the World Tree and can even collide. Each realm is loosely aligned with a color pair.
 
The Ten Realms are separate mini-planes moving around the World Tree and can even collide. Each realm is loosely aligned with a color pair.
*{{W/U}} '''Istfell''', the mist-shrouded realm at the base of the World Tree. Home to the [[spirit]]s of those who didn't fall in battle.
+
*{{W/U}} '''[[Istfell]]''', the mist-shrouded realm at the base of the World Tree. Home to the [[spirit]]s of those who didn't fall in battle.
  +
**'''[[Gods' Hall]],
*{{U/B}} '''Karfell''', the realm of the ''draugr'' (viking [[zombie]]s).
+
*{{U/B}} '''[[Karfell]]''', the realm of the ''draugr'' (viking [[zombie]]s).
 
**'''[[Skybreen]]''', a mountain range inhabited by the last living humans of Karfell, a primitive [[barbarian]] race. Known for its scouring winds and the frigid temperatures that generate a frosty deterrent to magic.
 
*{{B/R}} '''[[Immersturm]]''', the land of fire, [[demon]]s and constant warfare.
 
*{{B/R}} '''[[Immersturm]]''', the land of fire, [[demon]]s and constant warfare.
*{{R/G}} '''Gnottvold''', rolling hills and ancient mountains blanketed in thick forests form the home of the [[troll]]s.
+
*{{R/G}} '''[[Gnottvold]]''', rolling hills and ancient mountains blanketed in thick forests form the home of the [[troll]]s.
 
*{{G/W}} '''[[Bretagard]]''', the realm of [[human]]s.
 
*{{G/W}} '''[[Bretagard]]''', the realm of [[human]]s.
 
*{{W/B}} '''[[Starnheim]]''', the lofty realm of [[valkyrie]]s and fallen [[hero]]es.
 
*{{W/B}} '''[[Starnheim]]''', the lofty realm of [[valkyrie]]s and fallen [[hero]]es.
*{{U/R}} '''Surtland''', snowy realm of constant geological turmoil inhabited by fire and frost [[giant]]s who are locked in a never-ending war.
+
*{{U/R}} '''[[Surtland]]''', the snowy realm of constant geological turmoil inhabited by fire and frost [[giant]]s who are locked in a never-ending war.
*{{B/G}} '''Skemfar''', the shadowed forest land of wood and shadow [[elves]].
+
*{{B/G}} '''[[Skemfar]]''', the shadowed forest land of wood and shadow [[elves]].
*{{R/W}} '''Axgard''', a realm of rugged peaks and rocky flatlands. Home to the [[dwarves]].
+
*{{R/W}} '''[[Axgard]]''', a realm of rugged peaks and rocky flatlands. Home to the [[dwarves]].
*{{G/U}} '''Littjara''', the mysterious realm of lakes and pine forests is home to the equally enigmatic race of [[shapeshifter]]s.
+
*{{G/U}} '''[[Littjara]]''', the mysterious realm of lakes and pine forests is home to the equally enigmatic race of [[shapeshifter]]s.
 
* Additional realms outside of the ten are known to exist.<ref name="PGtK"/>
 
* Additional realms outside of the ten are known to exist.<ref name="PGtK"/>
  +
** The '''Gods' Realm'''
   
====Unknown location====
+
===Unknown Locations===
*'''[[Skybreen]]''', a mountain range inhabited by a primitive [[barbarian]] race. Known for its scouring winds and the frigid temperatures that generate a frosty deterrent to magic.
 
   
 
===Inhabitants===
 
===Inhabitants===
 
*[[God]]s<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/norsing-around-part-1-2021-01-11|Norsing Around, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 11, 2021}}</ref> The gods of Kaldheim are a mercurial bunch. And as much as the denizens of Kaldheim want to be recognized for their amazing feats, they fear to be at their gods' mercy.
 
*[[God]]s<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/norsing-around-part-1-2021-01-11|Norsing Around, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 11, 2021}}</ref> The gods of Kaldheim are a mercurial bunch. And as much as the denizens of Kaldheim want to be recognized for their amazing feats, they fear to be at their gods' mercy.
**[[Alrund]], God of Wisdom and the Cosmos.
+
**[[Alrund]], God of the Cosmos.
**Birgi, God of Boasting
+
**[[Birgi]], God of Boasting
**[[Cosima]], God of the Sea
+
**[[Cosima]], God of the Voyage
**Egon, God of Death
+
**[[Egon]], God of Death
**Esika, God of the [[World Tree]]
+
**[[Esika]], God of the [[World Tree]]
 
**[[Halvar]], God of Battle
 
**[[Halvar]], God of Battle
**Jorn, God of Weather
+
**[[Jorn]], God of Winter
 
**[[Kolvori]], God of Kinship
 
**[[Kolvori]], God of Kinship
 
**[[Reidane]], God of Justice
 
**[[Reidane]], God of Justice
**Tergrid, God of Fright
+
**[[Tergrid]], God of Fright
**Toralf, God of Fury
+
**[[Toralf]], God of Fury
 
**[[Valki]], God of Lies
 
**[[Valki]], God of Lies
*[[Human]] [[Berserker]]s {{W}}{{U}}{{B}}{{R}}{{G}}
+
*[[Human]]s {{W}}{{U}}{{B}}{{R}}{{G}}
*[[Dwarf|Dwarves]] {{R}}{{W}}
 
*[[Elf#Kaldheim|Elves]]
 
** Wood Elves {{G}}
 
** Shadow Elves {{B}}
 
*[[Giant#Kaldheim|Giants]]
 
** Frost Giants {{U}}
 
** Fire Giants {{R}}
 
*[[Shapeshifter]]s. {{G}}{{U}}
 
*[[Angel]]s (Valkyries) {{W}}{{B}}
 
 
*[[Spirit]]s {{W}}{{U}}
 
*[[Spirit]]s {{W}}{{U}}
 
*[[Zombie]]s (Draugr) {{U}}{{B}}
 
*[[Zombie]]s (Draugr) {{U}}{{B}}
 
*[[Demon]]s {{B}}{{R}}
 
*[[Demon]]s {{B}}{{R}}
*[[Troll]]s {{R}}{{G}}
+
*[[Troll]]s
  +
** Hagi Trolls {{R}}
  +
** Torga Trolls {{G}}
 
*[[Angel]]s (Valkyries)
  +
** Shepherds {{W}}
  +
** Reapers {{B}}
 
*[[Giant#Kaldheim|Giants]]
 
** Frost Giants {{U}}
 
** Fire Giants {{R}}
 
*[[Elf#Kaldheim|Elves]]
 
** Wood Elves {{G}}
 
** Shadow Elves {{B}}
 
*[[Dwarf|Dwarves]] {{R}}{{W}}
 
*[[Shapeshifter]]s.
  +
**Covewalkers{{U}}
  +
**Gladewalkers{{G}}
   
 
==Planeswalker visitors==
 
==Planeswalker visitors==
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* Due to [[Immersturm]] being a realm of Kaldheim it is possible that [[Valla]] is simply another name for this plane.
 
* Due to [[Immersturm]] being a realm of Kaldheim it is possible that [[Valla]] is simply another name for this plane.
 
* Kaldheim is metaphysically close to [[Ixalan (plane)|Ixalan]].<ref name="Far Side">{{DailyRef|magic-story/glimpse-far-side-sun-2018-01-17|Glimpse the Far Side of the Sun|[[R&D Narrative Team]]|January 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/MTGAlison/status/953676784897110016 Alison Luhrs on Twitter]</ref>
 
* Kaldheim is metaphysically close to [[Ixalan (plane)|Ixalan]].<ref name="Far Side">{{DailyRef|magic-story/glimpse-far-side-sun-2018-01-17|Glimpse the Far Side of the Sun|[[R&D Narrative Team]]|January 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/MTGAlison/status/953676784897110016 Alison Luhrs on Twitter]</ref>
  +
* The Ten Worlds are adapted from the [[Wikipedia:Nine Realms|Nine Realms]], with some variation to expand to the ten color pairs. While most have counterparts, Niflheimr and Svartálfaheimr are effectively merged (both are not well detailed mythologically), with Niflheimr and Jötunheimr split into two each.
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
Line 89: Line 98:
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 
* {{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-kaldheim-part-1-2021-01-08|Planeswalker's Guide to Kaldheim, Part 1|[[Ari Zirulnik]]|January 8, 2021}}
 
* {{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-kaldheim-part-1-2021-01-08|Planeswalker's Guide to Kaldheim, Part 1|[[Ari Zirulnik]]|January 8, 2021}}
  +
* {{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-kaldheim-part-2-2021-01-14|Planeswalker's Guide to Kaldheim, Part 2|[[Ari Zirulnik]] and [[Jenna Helland]]|January 14, 2021}}
 
{{Kaldheim|{{!}} |state=collapsed}}
 
{{Kaldheim|{{!}} |state=collapsed}}
 
{{Planes of the Multiverse}}
 
{{Planes of the Multiverse}}

Revision as of 02:53, 17 January 2021

Kaldheim
Snow-Covered Island
Information
First seen Planechase
Last seen Kaldheim
Status In chaos

Kaldheim is a top-down Norse mythology-inspired plane; Magic's take on what a world inspired by Vikings might look like.[1][2]

History in the game

Kaldheim was first featured on the card Skybreen in the 2009 Planechase set.[3] In the Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 game, Kaldheim was the location of the ultimate antagonist Ramaz. In 2021, it is the setting of the eponymous Kaldheim set.

Description

Kaldheim is steeped in storytelling and song, and all of its denizens share a common ethos: it is a plane of warriors who boast of their great deeds and yearn to die heroically in battle, who fight hard and celebrate harder, and where great tales pass into myth through the ages.[4]

Pivotal to the plane is the Cosmos, a "realm between" which Planeswalkers cannot cross[5] represented by a massive World Tree, from which ten separate realms hang like fruits. The realms are constantly shifting and, on occasion, may collapse unto each other. When this happens, a Doomskar occurs.[6] This causes earthquakes, destabilization, and total chaos.

There is no sun or moon in Kaldheim.[7] Light is instead provided by the realm of Starnheim. In addition, the branches of the World Tree can be seen in the skies of the realms.[8]

History

The world was born from a seed, and that seed grew into the World Tree, and everything else grew from it. Its leaves were every color imaginable, and as its branches spread out, they became worlds themselves. And once there were ten strong branches, fruit grew on the branches, and those were the Cosmos monsters. The serpent was the firstborn, and he has been growing since before the beginning of time.

At some point in the past the Einir gods ruled the realms, but they were replaced by the Skoti, who became the new pantheon. The defeated Einir became the plane's elves.[9]

The Ten Realms

KHM Realms

The ten realms of Kaldheim

The Ten Realms are separate mini-planes moving around the World Tree and can even collide. Each realm is loosely aligned with a color pair.

  • {W/U} Istfell, the mist-shrouded realm at the base of the World Tree. Home to the spirits of those who didn't fall in battle.
  • {U/B} Karfell, the realm of the draugr (viking zombies).
    • Skybreen, a mountain range inhabited by the last living humans of Karfell, a primitive barbarian race. Known for its scouring winds and the frigid temperatures that generate a frosty deterrent to magic.
  • {B/R} Immersturm, the land of fire, demons and constant warfare.
  • {R/G} Gnottvold, rolling hills and ancient mountains blanketed in thick forests form the home of the trolls.
  • {G/W} Bretagard, the realm of humans.
  • {W/B} Starnheim, the lofty realm of valkyries and fallen heroes.
  • {U/R} Surtland, the snowy realm of constant geological turmoil inhabited by fire and frost giants who are locked in a never-ending war.
  • {B/G} Skemfar, the shadowed forest land of wood and shadow elves.
  • {R/W} Axgard, a realm of rugged peaks and rocky flatlands. Home to the dwarves.
  • {G/U} Littjara, the mysterious realm of lakes and pine forests is home to the equally enigmatic race of shapeshifters.
  • Additional realms outside of the ten are known to exist.[8]
    • The Gods' Realm

Unknown Locations

Inhabitants

Planeswalker visitors

Trivia

  • The name "Kaldheim" literally means "cold home" in several North Germanic languages, such as Old Norse, Icelandic, and Norwegian Nynorsk. "Home" means "land", "realm" or "world" in this context, like in Old Norse Jǫtunheimr "land of the giants" or "Giants' home". The word heimr was used along with the word garðr lit. "yard" (as in Miðgarðr lit. "Midyard") in the names of various realms in Norse mythology.
  • Due to Immersturm being a realm of Kaldheim it is possible that Valla is simply another name for this plane.
  • Kaldheim is metaphysically close to Ixalan.[11][16]
  • The Ten Worlds are adapted from the Nine Realms, with some variation to expand to the ten color pairs. While most have counterparts, Niflheimr and Svartálfaheimr are effectively merged (both are not well detailed mythologically), with Niflheimr and Jötunheimr split into two each.

References

  1. Blake Rasmussen (September 1, 2020). "Zendikar Debut and Announcement Day Recap". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Mark Rosewater (September 8, 2020). "Is Kaldheim a top-down Norse Mythology inspired plane?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  3. Doug Beyer (September 02, 2009). "The Planes of Planechase". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. a b Wizards of the Coast (December 14, 2020). "Welcome to the Face-Melting World of Kaldheim". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Roy Graham (January 13, 2021). "Awaken the Trolls]]". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Kaldheim Fest (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube.
  7. Setsu Uzumé (January 8, 2021). "Know Which Way the Wind is Blowing, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. a b Ari Zirulnik (January 8, 2021). "Planeswalker's Guide to Kaldheim, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. Gerritt Turner (December 14, 2020). "Creating Tyvar Kell". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. Mark Rosewater (January 11, 2021). "Norsing Around, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. a b R&D Narrative Team (January 17, 2018). "Glimpse the Far Side of the Sun". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. a b Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014
  13. Procoretech (November 12, 2020). "Bored so enhancing bad photos of rubbish seems fine.. oh and, Bearded Axe". Reddit.
  14. Gerritt Turner (December 14, 2020). "Creating Niko Aris". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  15. Gerritt Turner (December 14, 2020). "Creating Tyvar Kell". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. Alison Luhrs on Twitter

External links