Raakdos

War of the Spark #002 Firemind Vessel 32x56

Added 2024-07-05 01:00:01 +0000 UTC

Before the War of the Spark, Nicol Bolas slew Niv-Mizzet. Although the battle was brief, the Firemind mounted an impressive assault that demonstrated his immense thaumaturgical, mental, and physical might. Nicol Bolas and Niv-Mizzet engaged each other in epic combat that destroyed large portions of the city. The two dragons fought using a staggering array of magical, physical, and aerial attacks in which both drew blood. Bolas was even surprised when his mind-shattering touch could not penetrate the Firemind's mental barriers. As the fight wore on, Niv sensed his eventual defeat. After Niv collapsed a huge chunk of the city onto Bolas at a Simic zonot, Bolas emerged in a dark sphere of death and destruction, causing Niv to experience fear for the first time. Contemplating this strange feeling, Niv deemed it unworthy of the Firemind and brushed it aside as he roared in defiance and leaped toward his impending death. In the end, Niv-Mizzet’s skull and charred bones were all that remained.

However, the Firemind had been preparing for this. Together with Ugin, Niv-Mizzet made preparations to preserve his ghost in a device of his design. The little silver box with delicate filigree, sparking gears, and shimmering crystals could project Niv's essence above it and would preserve his ghost for at least a hundred years. With Sarkhan Vol's assistance, the box was delivered to the Meditation Plane for safekeeping under Ugin's watch. The Firemind provided clues for Jace, Vraska, and Ral Zarek to bring him back.

The almost impossible task of resurrecting Niv-Mizzet was to assemble representatives from each Ravnica guild and ensure their cooperation in altering the power of the Guildpact. Apart from the ten representatives, Operation Desperation (the Firemind's final plan) required the leylines of Ravnica, Niv's charred bones, and the Firemind Vessel. The vessel, a brass model of Niv-Mizzet's head, would contain his spirit when summoned from the Meditation Plane.

At the ruins of the Guildpact Chamber, Nissa Revane led the representatives through a ritual to resurrect Niv-Mizzet as the new Living Guildpact. A colorless portal - like clear water - opened up above the Firemind Vessel, and wispy smoke of blue and red emerged and descended as if sucked down from portal to vessel. Simultaneously, the bones of the dragon began to glow with bright yellow and orange flames. The ritual attracted the attention of God-Eternal Kefnet who quickly attacked. Teyo Verada shielded the guild representatives and bystanders long enough for the ritual to be completed. When enough mana had been filtered through the participants, it coalesced around the bones and the Vessel. The blaze took shape, and Niv-Mizzet was reborn, with scales of shiny gold to match the golden glow emanating from his eyes. A decagon was seared into his chest and spheres of colored mana swirled around him.

Upon his rebirth, the Firemind incinerated Kefnet, but immediately lost consciousness from the strain of using enough power to kill a god; ironically, the same god who represented knowledge, intellect, and the magic of the mind.