Locations
Arriving at Issar Roon's study, you find the door wide open. The hallway is lit brighter than you have ever seen it, revealing immaculate stonework in the walls. Not knowing how to enter politely, you stand in the open doorway so that the old man can see you. Almost immediately, the old man's gaze drifts upward to look directly at you.
Hmm… Perhaps it is time I take a short rest. Have you brought me any food? No? Well, I guess I will have to satisfy myself with conversation.
Excited to hear another of the old man's stories, you look around the room as you sit on the now familiar stool. All of the candles are still lit and strong, and his desk remains isolated in the center of the room. In fact, you wonder if there are even more books stacked on top of his desk than before.
Ahh! Interested in my research, are you? I guess I could enlighten you with a few of the more common pieces of knowledge. The book currently on top, the beige one with scarlet lettering, is all about the Coalition.
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The Coalition was a gigantic alliance among the people and races of Dominaria, along with many from other planes, for the sole purpose of defeating Phrexia and its divine leader, Yawgmoth. The Dominarian group contained the Benalians, the living forest of Yavimaya, the elves of Llanowar, the Hurloon minotaurs, the Keldons, the Weatherlight, Urza's genetically enhanced Metathran, and even Shivan dragons. Other races from beyond Dominaria made an allegiance with the Coalition as well. Serra Angels, despising Phrexia for the corruption of Serra's plane, were part of the Coalition from the beginning. Skyshroud elves from Rath joined the battle when their homeworld merged with Dominaria. However, they would have all fought in vain if it were not for the many planeswalkers who also joined the Coalition. Such a union of planeswalkers has never been matched in the known history of the multiverse.
The old man pauses, taking a breath and letting the information sink in. His eyes sparkle in the candlelight, as if he is remembering a fond memory from the distant past.
So who was the creator and mastermind of such a titanic alliance? It was none other than Urza.
Issar Roon pauses for another breath and waves casually at the colossal book still lying on his desk.
After the Brothers War ended, he ascended, and became one of the most powerful planeswalkers in the multiverse. He swore vengeance upon Phrexia for its subversion of his brother. From then on, he worked tirelessly at creating the Coalition, and finding a way to destroy the artificial plane. He spent millennia uniting the people of Dominaria, and preparing for an inevitable invasion from Phrexia. However, he was merely the creator of the Coalition.
This time, the old man points to a leather book, decorated with red lettering.
If one could say the Coalition had a leader, it would be Gerrard Capashen. Though he was never the commander of armies, he became the commander of the all-important Weatherlight and its crew. He led many dangerous battles against the Phrexians, and probably caused them more grief than Urza himself. During the course of the war, Gerrard came in contact with almost every piece of the Coalition, and always left with respect.
Unknown to Gerrard, he was the final human in a long line of genetic breeding experiments by Urza.
The old man's voice turns to sadness, but bitterness lies between his words as well.
Over the course of hundreds of years, Urza carefully manipulated bloodlines across Dominaria to find someone able to empower the Coalition's most dangerous weapon, the Legacy Weapon.
The taint of bitterness leaves the old man's voice, but the sadness thickens.
The Legacy Weapon was the Coalition's only hope of permanently ending the Phrexian Invasion. Though they had some of the most powerful planeswalkers in the multiverse, dangerous artifacts, countless armies, and thousands of years to prepare, they could not compare to the horrors of Phrexia. Still, the Coalition contained numerous brave souls, and fought valiantly. For that, the planeswalker Freyalise created the Martyr's Tomb, a place to remember all who died in the defense of Dominaria.
Issar Roon stops his story and turns back to his books, opening a slim orange volume. Thinking the man has decided to continue his research, you back out of the room. To avoid making any noise, you draw the door closed slowly.
