The Guildpact
The magic of the Guildpact is a unique force unlike any other. While magical detection identifies it as arcane, its signature differs fundamentally from traditional schools of magic—not merely another variant, but something else entirely. Guildpact Magic is a form of meta-magic capable of affecting magical abilities across all disciplines and manipulating the flow of magic from the Weave into Ravnica itself.
The Sphinx Azor, first Parun of the Azorius Senate and author of the Guildpact, discovered this unprecedented magical discipline after centuries of study seeking ways to create lasting peace, justice, and order across Ravnica.
Before the Guildpact's creation, Ravnica was connected to the many other planes of existence. Rich in the natural resource mizzianite, Ravnica became incredibly valuable territory. Organizations and governments from other planes came to claim it and mine mizzianite for export, leading to constant turmoil through minor wars and territorial disputes.
When the god-dragon Tiamat set her sights on controlling Ravnica, a brutal war erupted that united Ravnica's inhabitants against a common enemy. Tiamat sought Ravnica's mizzianite, which would have given her power to potentially rule over all planes of existence.
For decades, the guilds defended Ravnica against the Cult of Tiamat's siege. Though they still fought internally for power, they remained united in defending their world.
When Azor discovered Guildpact magic, he invited the leaders of the nine other guilds to a peace forum. With each invitation came an ingot of pure mizzium metal, with instructions for each guild's greatest enchanters to create a magical artifact. Azor had enchanted these ingots with his newly discovered magic.
When the Guildpact was signed, each guild leader used these magical artifacts to contribute their guild's magic to the spell. These artifacts became known as the Guild Signets—the only magical items capable of acting upon the Guildpact, as they were instrumental in its creation.
The Guildpact serves two critical functions:
**Internal Peace and Balance**: It provides a framework for the guilds to coexist in relative peace and alters the nature of magic to prevent any single guild from becoming too powerful. The Guildpact grants specific powers to particular guilds or individuals (such as the Azorius Enforcers' ability to magically bind those they arrest).
**Planar Isolation**: It severs Ravnica's connection to other planes of existence. This ended Tiamat's assault and prevented guilds or outside organizations from exporting Ravnica's mizzianite, ensuring a wealthy and prosperous society.
The signers understood the Guildpact had to be permanent. Breaking it would allow Tiamat to attack again, jeopardizing not only Ravnica but potentially all planes of existence.
Magic flows into Ravnica from the Weave as it does in any realm, but in Ravnica, magic must first pass through the Guildpact's magical membrane. This profoundly affects magical energy, causing it to become less stable. Magical effects cannot readily sustain themselves without active caster participation. Outside the Guildpact's influence, magic has longer-lasting effects.
The Guildpact also affects how magic interacts with mizzianite. Within Ravnica, mizzium can flow through mizzianite to produce magical effects, but the mizzium dissipates quickly. Without a constant flow of mizzium energy, the instability causes nearly instantaneous dissipation. Outside Ravnica, mizzianite functions as both a medium for channeling mizzium and as a mizzium battery. Without the Guildpact's influence, the Weave's magic is stable enough for mizzium energy to be stored in mizzianite indefinitely.
The Sphinx Azor, first Parun of the Azorius Senate and author of the Guildpact, discovered this unprecedented magical discipline after centuries of study seeking ways to create lasting peace, justice, and order across Ravnica.
History
Pre-Guildpact Ravnica
Before the Guildpact's creation, Ravnica was connected to the many other planes of existence. Rich in the natural resource mizzianite, Ravnica became incredibly valuable territory. Organizations and governments from other planes came to claim it and mine mizzianite for export, leading to constant turmoil through minor wars and territorial disputes.
When the god-dragon Tiamat set her sights on controlling Ravnica, a brutal war erupted that united Ravnica's inhabitants against a common enemy. Tiamat sought Ravnica's mizzianite, which would have given her power to potentially rule over all planes of existence.
For decades, the guilds defended Ravnica against the Cult of Tiamat's siege. Though they still fought internally for power, they remained united in defending their world.
Creation of the Guildpact
When Azor discovered Guildpact magic, he invited the leaders of the nine other guilds to a peace forum. With each invitation came an ingot of pure mizzium metal, with instructions for each guild's greatest enchanters to create a magical artifact. Azor had enchanted these ingots with his newly discovered magic.
When the Guildpact was signed, each guild leader used these magical artifacts to contribute their guild's magic to the spell. These artifacts became known as the Guild Signets—the only magical items capable of acting upon the Guildpact, as they were instrumental in its creation.
The Guildpact's Dual Purpose
The Guildpact serves two critical functions:
**Internal Peace and Balance**: It provides a framework for the guilds to coexist in relative peace and alters the nature of magic to prevent any single guild from becoming too powerful. The Guildpact grants specific powers to particular guilds or individuals (such as the Azorius Enforcers' ability to magically bind those they arrest).
**Planar Isolation**: It severs Ravnica's connection to other planes of existence. This ended Tiamat's assault and prevented guilds or outside organizations from exporting Ravnica's mizzianite, ensuring a wealthy and prosperous society.
The signers understood the Guildpact had to be permanent. Breaking it would allow Tiamat to attack again, jeopardizing not only Ravnica but potentially all planes of existence.
How the Guildpact Affects Magic
Magic flows into Ravnica from the Weave as it does in any realm, but in Ravnica, magic must first pass through the Guildpact's magical membrane. This profoundly affects magical energy, causing it to become less stable. Magical effects cannot readily sustain themselves without active caster participation. Outside the Guildpact's influence, magic has longer-lasting effects.
The Guildpact also affects how magic interacts with mizzianite. Within Ravnica, mizzium can flow through mizzianite to produce magical effects, but the mizzium dissipates quickly. Without a constant flow of mizzium energy, the instability causes nearly instantaneous dissipation. Outside Ravnica, mizzianite functions as both a medium for channeling mizzium and as a mizzium battery. Without the Guildpact's influence, the Weave's magic is stable enough for mizzium energy to be stored in mizzianite indefinitely.
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