You open the thick oak door and step past the trim. The only resident of the study is an old man bent over books on a large table. The book open before him is a large silver volume that holds the old man's rapt attention. The rest of the room is covered with more books than you can count, stacked in haphazard piles on every available surface. Candles top various stacks, like the snowy peaks of a mountain range. This is the study of Issar Roon. This is where you have come for another story.

You close the door behind you, and it clicks with a short metallic ring. The old man is aware of your presence, but refuses to acknowledge you until he is ready. Issar Roon is always this way. You wait patiently for him to finish his work.

Hello again. This research is incredibly important. Some associates of mine require knowledge of every last detail, and have asked me to find those details. Unfortunately, He did not leave much behind, and we are quite clueless as to where He could be. As such, I can only provide you a short tale today.

Used to the old man's usual justifications for a short story, you shunt his explanation as though it were unneeded weight on a long journey.

It has been a while since I have talked of Urza. Perhaps I could share another tale about his earlier life before he ascended. This particular one is in fact about his lieutenant, Tawnos.

A skilled artificer in his own right, Tawnos trained under Urza. From Urza, he learned how to control his abilities, and avoid wasting unneeded energy or resources. Tawnos learned how to make things quickly and simply, often bringing out wonderful qualities in the most common of objects. He quickly rose in skill and rank, becoming Master Artificer of Yotia.

Tawnos learned much from Urza, but his style was unique. Inspired by the natural world around him, Tawnos often created intricate artifacts that could be mistaken for animals at a distance of twenty paces or more. Many of his designs went on to inspire Urza himself, spawning newer creations and weapons that fueled the Brothers' War.

The Brothers' War rings a note of familiarity in the back of your mind. You dimly recall a story the old man had told many moons ago about the very same war.

Tawnos created many things for Urza during the Brothers' War. Some made it to the battlefield, others served as a blueprint for more powerful artifacts created by Urza himself. Tawnos' Weaponry proved effective against Mishra's creations when resources became thin. Tawnos' Wand could render the user undetectable to weaker mechanical creatures, causing many troubles for Mishra's troops. Tawnos' blueprints inspired Urza to create his own armor.

All of these were powerful additions to Urza's forces, but perhaps the most famous contribution of Tawnos was the design of the Clay Statues. Simple golems, the Clay Statues were designed specifically to combat Ashnod's Transmogrants, which were causing headaches for Urza's troops. The creation earned Tawnos his promotion to Master Artificer, and spread his name across the land.

During the course of the Brothers' War, Tawnos became one of Urza's closest advisors and friends. He advised and collaborated with Urza on matters of war as needed, but he also became a friend of Urza and his wife, Kayla bin-Kroog. Tawnos was the one who healed their fractured relationship, and the one Urza trusted most to take care of his wife and son after he had ascended.

How did Tawnos survive the Sylex Blast when all others were turned to dust? Curiously enough, it was one of his own creations that protected him. More specifically, it was Tawnos' Coffin that sheltered him when the world around him was blasted to nothing. The coffin had been designed to trap Mishra eternally without killing him. Though it never fulfilled its purpose, it saved Tawnos from one of the most destructive forces in Dominaria's history.

And that is my tale for you today. I must renew my studies if I am to be of service to my associates.

The old man turns away from where you sit upon the floor. Though he is undoubtedly aware of your continued presence, he has driven you from his thoughts. Knowing the old man will not acknowledge you again, you make leave for your own bed.

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.