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Karlov (Grandfather)
Karlov
Details
Race Spirit
Birthplace Ravnica
Died 10,012 ZC
Ghost killed c. 10,077 ZC
Relatives Teysa Karlov (descendant)
Colors
{W}{B}
Sources
Commander 2015
For his granddaughter, see Teysa Karlov.

Grandfather Karlov was the greediest of the Orzhov Oligarchs in life. As a ghost he was a member of the Obzedat, the oligarchy that ruled the Orzhov Syndicate on Ravnica. His house sigil was a serpentine ouroboros.[1]

Description[ | ]

As the head of the council, he gave final approval to its decisions and broke ties within the group. Even if he was long dead, he hadn't lost his wealth, his power, and his greed, and clung fiercely to every scrap of influence his position in the council afforded him. He cast a suspicious eye on the ambitious scheming of his descendant, Teysa. In her position as Grand Envoy, Teysa served as the Obzedat's dealings with the living. Karlov responded to Teysa's schemes with grand plans of his own, growing his power by collecting the tithes of legions of sycophants and servitors.[2]

When Teysa's attempt to seize power from the Obzedat failed, Karlov gave the order to imprison Teysa, eliminating her role of Grand Envoy, and canceling all dealings with other guilds.[3][4]

Karlov was among those killed when the planeswalker Kaya assassinated all members of the Obzedat. After Karlov inquired whether Teysa was the one who sent Kaya and suggested that Teysa was not to be trusted, Kaya plunged her knife into Karlov's heart.[5][6]

Story appearances[ | ]

Title Author Publishing date Set Setting (plane) Featuring
Family Values Alison Luhrs 2015-11-11 Commander 2015 Ravnica Teysa, Grugg Brothers, Tajic, Obzedat, Jace Beleren, Karlov
The Gathering Storm: Chapter Seven Django Wexler 2019-07-17 Guilds of Ravnica / Ravnica Allegiance Ravnica Kaya, Ral, Vraska, Hekara, Golbet Frezzle, the Obzedat, Karlov

In-game references[ | ]

Represented in:
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References[ | ]

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