Hello fellow Magic players!
On the eve of the release of the new Magic: The Gathering set, Secrets of Strixhaven, it seemed only natural to give you some background on the story it tells. We encounter familiar faces from the scene, such as our dear Ajani and the iconic Chandra, but we also discover the existence of some very special and intriguing creatures.
Wizards of the Coast has not only provided us with a new novel, titled Strixhaven: Omens of Chaos by Seanan McGuire, but also nearly a dozen episodes surrounding the plane's history. We will focus on these episodes, as they constitute the majority of the elements we will find in the set. If you missed these episodes, here's a summary:
Episode 1: Penmanship Practice
The story follows Jilesa, a student and reporter for the Strixhaven Star. She secures an interview with Professor Ral Zarek. Haunted by the invasion, he is working on the reconstruction of the Biblioplex. The university is trying to regain a semblance of normalcy, but the tensions and traumas of the war are ever-present among the faculty and students.
Episode 2: Travels and Travails
Lluwen, an elven student from Lorwyn, feels out of place in the academic world of Arcavios. While exploring remote areas for a research project, he discovers the Titan's Grave, a massive titan skeleton. Inside, he observes a group of Archaics (monumental creatures connected to the plane's magic) behaving unusually around a Snarl (a tangle of magical energies).
Episode 3: Asunder
The discovery at the Titan's Grave draws the university's attention. Ajani Goldmane arrives to oversee the situation as the Archaics become aggressive. It is revealed that the Oracle of Strixhaven, Jadzi, has been taken by a giant Archaic deep within the structure. A rescue team is formed to venture into the Titan's tunnels.
Episode 4: Something to Offer
The rescue team encounters a group of radicals called the Shattered, led by an unstable Chandra Nalaar. She suffers from persistent visions of Jace Beleren and is convinced that the raw energy emanating from the Snarl beneath the Titan's Grave is the only way to find him. Her obsession begins to threaten the stability of the area.
Episode 5: Breaking Point
A conflict erupts between Ajani Goldmane and Chandra Nalaar. Ajani wants to protect the Archaics, while Chandra, driven by despair and possibly Ashiok's influence, wants to drain their energy. They eventually find Jadzi, who is not a prisoner, but is trying to heal an injured Archaic who sacrificed himself to stabilize a reality rift.
Episode 6: Two Three Five Seven
The final confrontation between the two Planeswalkers is interrupted by the instability of the plane. Chandra Nalaar realizes that her actions risk destroying Arcavios. Under Jadzi's guidance, everyone joins forces to seal the Snarl. The episode concludes with Strixhaven's survival, but Chandra remains haunted by her visions, suggesting that the mysteries surrounding Jace Beleren and the Aetherdrift are only just beginning.