Welcome back, lore seekers! Today we're reviewing the existing Legends of Ixalan! With a return in coming up, it's likely we'll be seeing some of these characters again, so here's a run down of who to (maybe) expect.

Atla Palani

Atla Palani, Nest Tender by Ekaterina Burmak

Cards: Atla Palani, Nest Tender

Faction: Sun Empire

Stories: None

Atla Palani was created for Commander 2019, and as such was not around for the first Ixalan, so there's not much story for her. All we have is a lore blurb from the product insert for her associated deck:

Alta Palani considers all life precious, especially those creatures who have not yet hatched. A noble of the Sun Empire, she is blessed with a deep, unique bond - one that allows her to connect with dinosaurs while they're still in the egg. By encouraging and guiding them before they hatch, she ensures the connection between the Sun Empire and dinosaurs will never falter.

Beckett Brass

Admiral Beckett Brass by Jason Rainville

Cards: Admiral Beckett Brass, Art References

Faction: Brazen Coalition

Stories: None (Background Only)

Admiral Beckett Brass was the legendary pirate captain of the Scourge, one of the ships that would go on to found High and Dry, the floating Pirate City made up of docked and derelict vessels. After the Scourge crashed into and entangled another pirate vessel, their captains came to an accord, and the loose coalition that would become the Brazen Coalition was formed. Brass is now the admiral of the Fathom Fleet, the most fearsome pirate fleet on Ixalan.

Breeches

Breeches, Brazen Plunderer by Svetlin Velinov

Cards: Breeches, Brazen Plunderer, Breeches, Eager Pillager

Faction: Brazen Coalition

Stories: Something Else Entirely, The Race, Part 1, The Race, Part 2, The Arbiter of Law Left Chaos in His Wake, Wool Over the Eyes, War of the Spark: Ravnica

Breeches was the fan-favorite gunner aboard Vraska's pirate ship, the Belligerent. A loyal, but loud, crewmate, his crew were enriched by Vraska's journey to Orazca to find the Immortal Sun. While they didn't succeed in acquiring the sun, their subsequent looting of the literal golden city left them suitably compensated. Breeches' best friend is the siren Malcolm, another member of Vraska's crew.

Elenda

Elenda, the Dusk Rose by Chris Rahn

Cards: Elenda, the Dusk Rose, Elenda and Azor

Faction: Dusk Legion

Stories: Glimpse the Far Side of the Sun, Who Tells the Stories

Elenda was a warrior-monk from a small monastery in a small mountain nation of Torrezon. The monastery was sworn to protect The Immortal Sun at Azor, the Lawbringer's behest. When an invading king threatened to take it, Azor returned and flew off with the Immortal Sun. Elenda followed, and years later returned as a vampire, spreading her gift to her people before departing again in search of the Immortal Sun. Her people believed her a saint, and in her name began a campaign of conquest across the world. When the Immortal Sun was found - and Elenda along with it - she was horrified at what her people had become and vowed to correct their course.

Etali

Etali, Primal Storm by Raymond Swanland

Cards: Etali, Primal Storm, Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness

Faction: Phyrexia

Stories: Ixalan: Three Hundred Steps Under the Sun

Etali is one of the six elder dinosaurs of Ixalan, released along with the golden city of Orazca. Etali was compleated during the Phyrexian Invasion, and was part of Phyrexia's attack on Orazca and was ultimately killed by Zacama.

Ghalta

Ghalta, Primal Hunger by Chase Stone

Cards: Ghalta, Primal Hunger, Ghalta and Mavren, Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant, Art References

Faction: None

Stories: Ixalan: Three Hundred Steps Under the Sun

Ghalta is another of the six elder dinosaurs of Ixalan. During the Phyrexian Invasion, Ghalta allowed the Dusk Legion cleric, Mavren Fein, to fight on it and alongside it, seeing the advantage of having the small creatures keeping the small Phyrexians away.

Gishath

Gishath, Sun's Avatar by Zack Stella

Cards: Gishath, Sun's Avatar

Faction: Sun Empire

Stories: None

Gishath is the avatar of the Threefold Sun, the divine representation of the sun's three aspects: creation, nourishment, and destruction. Like all avatars in Magic: The Gathering, it's not clear if there's a true divinity behind Gishath, or if it is the embodiment of the Sun Empire's belief system.

Kopala

Kopala, Warden of Waves by Magali Villeneuve

Cards: Kopala, Warden of Waves

Faction: River Heralds

Stories: The Shapers

Kopala is a Shaper, the leader of one of Ixalan's nine merfolk bands, each named after one of the tributaries of Ixalan's great river. His original name is unknown, but he was also one of the first hints at something greater going on during Ixalan, he implies the merfolk were on the continent long before humanity first stepped foot there.

Kumena

Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca by Tyler Jacobson

Cards: Kumena, Tyrant of Orazca, Art References

Faction: River Heralds

Stories: The Shapers, The Flood, The Arbiter of Law Left Chaos in His Wake

Kumena is another shaper, but unlike his peers, he wished to seek out Orazca and take the power of The Immortal Sun for himself... and he almost succeeds. He is responsible for 'awakening' the city, causing it to emerge from the ground where it was hidden and releasing the elder dragons and Elenda. Although he briefly claimed the Immortal Sun's power, he was defeated and humbled.

Lannery Storm

Captain Lannery Storm by Chris Rallis

Cards: Captain Lannery Storm

Faction: Brazen Coalition

Stories: None (Background Only)

Lannery Storm is the commander of the Storm Fleet, a small pirate fleet of about four vessels. She's known for being more focused on adventure and exploration than violence and raiding. Her nickname is Slipper Storm, as she's known for being a crafty navigator and pilot able to escape any pursuit.

Malcolm

Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator by Eric Deschamps

Cards: Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator

Faction: Brazen Coalition

Stories: The Talented Captain Vraska, Something Else Entirely, The Race, Part 1, The Race, Part 2, The Arbiter of Law Left Chaos in His Wake, Wool Over the Eyes, War of the Spark: Ravnica

Malcolm was the navigator of Vraska's pirate ship The Belligerent, using his ability to fly to help scout ahead of the ship and report back. He was fiercely loyal to Vraska, and an exasperated friend to Breeches and his antics.

Mavren Fein

Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle by Daarken

Cards: Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle, Ghalta and Mavren

Faction: Dusk Legion

Stories: The Race, Part 1, The Flood, The Arbiter of Law Left Chaos in His Wake, Who Tells the Stories, Ixalan: Three Hundred Steps Under the Sun

Mavren Fein is a high-ranking member of the Church of Dusk, the clergy of the Dusk Legion. He is a true believer in Elenda and the Church of Dusk, and often allows himself to be guided by his Blood Fast - a metaphysical sense gained by vampires who starve themselves. When he finds Elenda in Orazca, he shows immediate deference, unlike his compatriot Vona.

Nezahal

Cards: Nezahal, Primal Tide

Faction: None

Stories: None

Nezahal is one of the six elder dinosaurs of Ixalan. Little else is know of this creature.

Ripley Vance

Cards: Captain Ripley Vance

Faction: Brazen Coalition

Stories: None (Background Only)

Ripley Vance is unique among the Brazen Coalition, a pirate who gave up sailing and carved out a name - and a fortress - for herself at Spitfire Bastion, a small island located between High and Dry and the main continent.

Tetzimoc

Cards: Tetzimoc, Primal Death

Faction: None

Stories: None

Tetzimoc is one of the six elder dinosaurs of Ixalan. Little else is know of this creature.

Tishana

Tishana, Voice of Thunder by Anna Steinbauer

Cards: Tishana, Voice of Thunder

Faction: River Heralds

Stories: The Shapers, The Flood, The Arbiter of Law Left Chaos in His Wake

Tishana is the oldest and wisest of the nine Shapers, and the de facto leader of the River Heralds. When her former apprentice Kumena decided to pursue The Immortal Sun, Tishana was determined to stop him, and even teamed up with Huatli, Warrior Poet to do so.

Tuvasa

Tuvasa the Sunlit by Eric Deschamps

Cards: Tuvasa the Sunlit

Faction: River Heralds

Stories: None

Tuvasa was created for Commander 2018, and the only information known about her is from her product insert blurb:

Among the River Heralds of Ixalan, most shamans feel close affinity with the winds and waters, or with the verdant growth of the jungle. Tuvasa believes the light of the sun is the power that unites them both, giving life to plants and warming coastal waters.

Vargus Wrath

Cards: Captain Vargus Wrath

Faction: Brazen Coalition

Stories: None

Vargus Wrath is one of Ripley Vance's most trusted captains. Wrath had assaulted Vance's Spirtfire Bastion years ago, and although defeated, Wrath impressed Vance so much she offered him a spot in the Brazen Coalition among her own fleet.

Vito

Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose by Lie Setiawan

Cards: Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose

Faction: Dusk Legion

Stories: None

Vito was created for Magic 2021. Not everyone on Torrezon was happy about Elenda's return, creating a schism among the Dusk Legion, as stated in Vito's blurb:

A fanatical priest of the Church of Dusk on Ixalan, Vito believes that salvation can only be found through the Immoral Sun. When the vampire saint Elenda returned with news of the Sun's disappearance and a message of humility, Vito overturned a massive carafe of blood onto the church's floor - a symbol of defiance against the living saint.

Vona

Vona, Butcher of Magan by Volkan Baga

Cards: Vona, Butcher of Magan, Art References

Faction: Dusk Legion

Stories: The Race, Part 1, The Race, Part 2, The Flood, The Arbiter of Law Left Chaos in His Wake, Who Tells the Stories

Vona represents the worst of the Dusk Legion. While she pays lip service to the Church and the Legion's ideals, she does not actually believe in any of it, and merely uses it as a shield to indulge in her baser impulses. She opposes Elenda's reforms, and was begrudgingly forced to return to Torrezon with the Saint.

Zacama

Zacama, Primal Calamity by Jaime Jones

Cards: [Zacama, Primal Calamity], Art References

Faction: None

Stories: Who Tells the Stories, Ixalan: Three Hundred Steps Under the Sun

Zacama is the largest and most powerful of Ixalan's six elder dinosaurs. During the Phyrexian Invasion, it was the last elder dinosaur to arrive, but it quickly destroyed the compleated Etali. There are hints that Zacama might have a relationship to the Threefold Sun, the dinosaurs of Ixalan, and perhaps the worldsoul of Ixalan, but nothing has been confirmed.

Zetalpa

Cards: Zetalpa, Primal Dawn

Faction: None

Stories: Ixalan: Three Hundred Steps Under the Sun

Nezahal is one of the six elder dinosaurs of Ixalan. When Etali assaulted Orazca, Zetalpa arrived to help fight him off.