Serra's Realm
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In Magic: The Gathering, Serra’s Realm is an artificial plane created by the planeswalker Serra and is one of the settings in the Urza's Saga Expansion.
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[edit] Geography
Serra's Realm is a plane worthy of being called heaven. Most of the realm is enveloped with the sight of the morning sky bearing no storm clouds whatsoever. Countless numbers of floating meadows are scattered all over the plane, preset in motion yet never colliding with each other at all.
[edit] Serra's Sanctum
In the center of the realm is the most notable of the plane's features, a palace which seems to resemble an upside down question mark: Serra's Sanctum. The shape represents the constant questioning and discussion of perfect society, perfect virtue, and perfect beauty. It is here Serra herself resides and has the highest concentration of population. Serra's innermost throne room is covered in windows. They are lenses and a powerful mage, such as a planeswalker, can see the entire realm from the throne. To a mortal the images would cause nausea. (Serra's Sanctum)
[edit] The Jumbles
A floating meadow that is accused of having phyrexians during Urza's second visit. In fact, however, there are very few phyrexians left on the plane at the time.
[edit] Jabboc
Another floating meadow. The Arizon colony here holds the largest number of refugees. The Weatherlight planeshifts here on her maiden voyage to save as many as possible.
[edit] Inhabitants
Serra's Realm mostly houses beings of white mana origin and are as follows:
[edit] Angels
Winged creations of Serra that are incarnations of her ideals. Though they may look intimidating at first glance, they are capable of emotions and are mostly like humans in attitude. There are different kinds of angels by rank and power within the sanctum but the most notable are:
- The Voices - Angels that specializes in balancing the color of mana within the realm. They are identified by the classes: Law (red), Grace (black), Reason (blue), Duty (green), and Truth (white). The Law and Grace classes has the most important roles within the realm since the color they handle are mostly attributed with destruction, in fact they are at the forefront of the Phyrexian Invasion that happened in the realm.
Life's Balance Is as a star; on one point is Law, and law must be upheld. If the knots of order are loosened, chaos will spill through.
Next to Law is Duty, and Duty must be obeyed. If the Frame of Duty is broken non shall weave life's fabric.
Opposite Law is Grace, and Grace must be preserved. If the Strands of Grace are unraveled, its design will be lost, and the people with it.
Next to grace is Reason, and Reason must be retained. If the web of Reason comes unwoven, Madness will escape.
Above them all is Truth, and Truth must be set free. If the wings of Truth are clipped, the voices will fall silent.
--Song of All
- Archangels - are the highest class of angels in the sanctum.
- Paragons - angels that are an epitome of a specific virtue.
[edit] Humans
One of the two most prominent kinds of beings in the realm (the other being the Angels), it is not known if the humans that reside in the realm are brought from other planes or are created by Serra herself.
[edit] Role in Urza's Saga
Fleeing from the Phyrexians, Urza walked to this plane, where he befriended Serra herself and stayed several years to heal his wounds. After he left with Xantcha, the Phyrexians were able to track him there, thus beginning the Phyrexian Invasion in the realm. Although Archangel Radiant and her warrior-angels fought back the Phyrexians, the taint was too much for the plane and unremovable. The plane started to collapse Serra decided to leave with her followers that were willing to. Radiant wasn't with the idea and she stayed with her own followers as Serra left with hers.
Later Urza returned to the now forlorn realm, hopeful for a chance to atone for his mistakes. However, his arrival wasn't welcomed by Radiant. She changed her mind when she saw he was sincere and sent him on a raid to the Jumbles. Though the soul torches signaled that the people were Phyrexians, Urza did not smell glistening oil. He figured out that General Gorig was Phyrexian and used the soul torches to capture white mana. Urza was able to rescue some humans and angels that were willing to leave. He came back with an army to rescue more and to take the stockpiled mana. While the plane was less than a mile high, a great battle ensued. With each angel's death, the plane grew smaller. It was Barrin who cast a command spell on Gorig and made him crash himself on the Weatherlight's powerstone conduits, charging it with most of the plane's energy.
