You come to Issar Roon's study holding a plate full of food. You wonder if perhaps the old man will be friendlier after he eats. Luckily, you find the oak door cracked open, and lean against it with your shoulder. The heavy door creaks open and light spills into the stone hallway.

I have no wish to be bothe... Ah! Food! Why thank you for coming. Have a seat on the stool while I take that weight off of your hands.

The study has changed little since your last visit. Although less candles are lit, causing shadows to dance among the bookshelves, Issar Roon's desk remains isolated in the room and piled high with books. Between mouthfuls of food, the old man begins to talk.

Shall I tell you the story about one of the most powerful planeswalkers ever known? It is a story about a man named Taysir. He was much older than Urza, and some say more powerful. Personally, I believe he equaled the great Urza in ability, but was no match for Urza's ingenuity.

His story starts on a long forgotten plane known as Rabiah. Rabiah was a desert plane full of isolated cities and cultures, but holds a very unique place in the Multiverse today. One might say many!

The old man chuckles at his own joke before explaining.

You see, it is no longer one plane. Sometime long ago, there was a curious event known as the Thousand-fold Refraction. The plane of Rabiah was mirrored a thousand times into brand new planes. Many believe it was the cause of planeswalkers. Some say there was a war that caused it, while others say it was the intention of a single planeswalker bent on dominion over multiple planes.

No matter what caused the reproduction of Rabiah, the Multiverse now contains one thousand and one versions of the plane and its inhabitants.

If you were uncertain about the old man's madness before, you could no longer doubt it. Though he had never truly explained what a plane was, the idea of any world being copied a thousand times over was beyond insanity.

However, a few avoided the fate of all. Some of the most powerful beings on the plane, such as El-Hajjaj, remained a single being among the Multiverse. They remained on the original Rabiah, though a few found ways to cross to the other planes. However, there was one who was even more unique, Taysir. Taysir was copied, but only five times, once for each color of mana.

Yet again, the old man seems to allude to mana being very important. You wonder what it is, and what he thinks makes it so special.

At first, the five Taysirs lived oblivious of each other. The one borne of white mana was a merchant in a city bazaar. The blue Taysir was a baby, hidden in a bottled city. The one borne of black mana was seduced by the Sorceress Queen Nailah, daughter to El-Hajjaj. The red Taysir lived the life of a desert nomad, avoiding society for prolonged periods of time. The one borne of green mana was a quiet herder living within one of Rabiah's few forests.

The old man seems to consider elaborating upon each of the Taysirs’ stories, but stops himself. Thinking about how the old man loves to talk, you wonder if it's for the best.

When the Sorceress Queen Nailah was told the legend of the One Made of Five, she became determined to have his power for herself. She convinced the black Taysir to kill and absorb his green duplicate by preying upon his selfish desire for power. However, once they merged they became a wholly new Taysir, with qualities from both. The new Taysir became aware of Nailah's true intentions, and rebelled. He warned the nomadic Taysir of Nailah's plan, and attempted to escape.

Aware of Nailah pursuing him, the one borne of red mana sought out the white merchant. The two came to an agreement and merged in hopes that it would save them from Nailah. This new Taysir sought out the final of the five, the one borne of blue mana. After a long and arduous journey, he came to the castle of El-Hajjaj. El-Hajjaj had hidden the baby within a City in a Bottle to protect him from his daughter, Nailah. The two Taysirs merged once again, becoming one of the most powerful sorcerers on the planes of Rabiah.

The old man pauses for a moment, glancing at a few of the books strewn across his desk.

Knowing that a confrontation with Nailah was inevitable, the One Made of Three made his way to her swamp. The two fought a battle of magic, but Taysir quickly showed who was stronger. After dealing a powerful blow to the sorceress he freed the imprisoned Taysir borne of black and green mana.

The two remaining Taysirs merged, creating the man in Rabiah’s legends. However, he became much more than a simple sorcerer. His planeswalker spark ignited as the two merged, sending Taysir on a journey to new worlds and new powers. In a final fit of rage the Sorceress Queen Nailah cast a spell over the thousand and one planes of Rabiah, preventing Taysir from ever returning home.

Issar Roon stops his story as he chews the last piece of food.

I hope you found the story enjoyable. Now run along so that I may go back to my studies.

The old man turns back to his books, and begins searching for something among them. Having been dismissed, you regrettably make your way to the hall. You can’t help but think that perhaps the next time you visit you will bring two plates of food.