Another story?!

The old man's face contains a look of astonishment, as though you had just asked for a thousand gold pieces to buy your own farm. In fact, all you had done was arrive at the doorway to his study. You lean against the doorframe waiting for the old man to calm down, and attempt to rest your weary limbs.

I told you a story just two days ago. Is that not enough to satisfy your curiosity? I have matters that need tending and research that needs to be done. I do not have time to tell a child tales he cannot grasp.

Afraid the old man is ranting as a prelude to throwing you out of his study you straighten quickly and attempt to give him a look of apology and petition at the same moment.

Very well, I will provide you with some entertainment. Gaea only knows how I must sieve the complex truth into a simple distilled tale for one such as you.

Do you remember my stories of Karn? I have begun delving deeper into his past in the hope of understanding his future. I could tell you many illuminating facts about the golem, but their significance would be lost on you. Instead, shall I finish my brief summary of his past for you?

The man's last sentence comes out more as a statement than question. He seems to be in an ill-tempered mood today, and is showing it with vigor.

Karn was quite uninvolved with repelling the Phyrexian Invasion if you calculate deeds solely by their immediate impact. Gerrard piloted the Weatherlight, crew members fought the Phrexians, but Karn remained in the engine room. Despite hiding in the shadows Karn was a critical element in finally defeating Yawgmoth. The rest of the battle is a separate tale, one involving many characters. I gave you a brief history of the Invasion previously, and have no intention of repeating what you've most likely forgotten.

After the war Karn knew little of what to do with his newfound planeswalker abilities. At first, he traveled the planes and enhanced his knowledge of the Multiverse. He soon grew lonely, and so he chose to create his own world. Distraught over the violence and greed he saw on Dominaria, Karn created the world in his own image of beauty, mathematical perfection.

Named Argentum, Karn's new world was molded to mimic any other plane in the Multiverse. It contained mountains and rolling plains, forests of metal trees, and even a sea full of liquid mercury. Like Phrexia this was an artificial plane that lacked life as most humans view it, but unlike Phrexia this was not a plane bent on domination or militaristic ideals. Karn had created Argentum as a refuge for himself. A place far away from the chaos of other worlds.

You realize that this is the third artificial world the old man's characters have created. A few thoughts run through your head. How many of these could possibly exist? Does everyone just make their own world when they get tired of other people?

In addition to his newly created sanctuary Karn created probes that he sent across the Multiverse, and most importantly, to Dominaria. Though he wished to be far from the more perverse qualities of Dominarians, he still considered the plane his home and wished to watch over the plane and the beings that inhabited it. These probes gathered information for the golem, and allowed him to see events without requiring his presence.

Dominarians became aware of Karn's probe, though not of its true purpose. To them, it was an artifact of power that could grant its holder any wish imaginable. The probe, named Mirari by Otarians, was the cause of countless deaths and battles over a very short period. In time, Karn recognized the damage his creation was causing, and returned to Dominaria to retrieve it.

Karn did not stay upon Dominaria, still wishing to flee from what he saw as depraved behavior. He returned to Argentum with two others, his probe and the newly-ascended planeswalker Jeska. He left the probe on Argentum in the form of a golem as a caretaker and watcher over his artificial world. With Jeska he left for the wider Multiverse, teaching her about her new abilities and exploring new planes. As seems Karn's fate, he was unable to escape for long.

Two hundred years later, Jeska returned to Dominaria to find the plane being consumed by time rifts, ruptures in the very fabric of time and space. Apart from Karn for many years, she convinced Jhoira to call the golem planeswalker for help. He answered the call of his old friend, and took it upon himself to close the most dangerous of the rifts.

The rift around the Tolarian Academy had been spreading for over a thousand years, and had been enhanced by Urza's time experiments as well as Barrin's final Obliteration spell. Knowing there was no hope of closing such a rift in the present, the planeswalker went back in time. The golem arrived during the Phrexian Invasion, and stopped Barrin from stretching the rift beyond repair. Karn then went about closing the rift.

While he was successful, Karn would not return to the planeswalkers during the Great Mending. As he closed the Tolarian rift, he felt a great evil permeate his consciousness. Afraid of succumbing amongst the people and places he loved, Karn dove into the Blind Eternities in an attempt to escape. No one has heard from him since, or even knows the source of his departure. I've heard it said that he had finally realized he would never belong among the world he called home. Other rumors whisper of Yawgmoth, an infection that will never die.

The old man finishes his story and pauses for a second.

You've had your story, now please leave me be. Do not return for a while, as I am busy with urgent matters.

The old man has taken a softer tone, but you can see his irritation bubbling under the surface waiting for a reason to explode once again. You allow him to ignore you, and slowly make your way to his door. Contemplating the disappearance of Karn, you close the door to Issar Roon's study quietly.

This is a work of fiction based on the stories and entries provided by Wizards about some of the early characters. The author takes some liberty with the story for dramatic purposes. So the story portrayed here may not be the exact story according to Magic Canon. The author has found references and art to use in the following locations: Encyclopedia Phyrexianna and the MTG Salvation Wiki. Written by Brendan Weiskotten.