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Isperia
Isperia
Details
Race Sphinx
Birthplace Ravnica
Lifetime Mending Era
Sources
Dissension

Isperia was the sphinx guildmaster to the Azorius Senate on Ravnica.[note 1][1]

Description[ | ]

Isperia had a long, leonine body that was bigger than a cart, made even bulkier by broad, feathered wings. Her enormous forepaws were usually folded in front of her. Her face and head looked more human, framed by long purple hair, her features as famously inscrutable as all her kind.[2]

History[ | ]

As a judge, Isperia had once issued a writ of mass arrest for any and all members caught bearing allegiance to the Golgari Swarm.[3] Vraska was amongst those apprehended, and they were taken to an Azorius detention compound, the place where all victims of the writ had been imprisoned.[4] Unfortunately, the cells quickly filled beyond capacity and, vastly outnumbered by their prisoners, the Azorius were swept under the tide of a prison riot. These events became known as the Duskend Troubles. Nearly one hundred were killed, many while still in custody.[5]

Isperia was the guild champion before she replaced Augustin IV. Like other sphinxes, Isperia was aloof, wise, and valued solitude.[6] The process of convincing her to lead the guild took years.[7]

Isperia was devoted to her guild's belief that law is the ultimate bulwark against chaos.[8] As guildmaster she served as the supreme judge, taking advantage of her encyclopedic knowledge of Ravnica's labyrinthine legal system. If an event turned violent, Isperia refrained from using lethal force if possible, preferring to subdue a wrongdoer so that the legal system could mete out justice.

After Nicol Bolas began his manipulations, Isperia was one of his first victims. She was petrified by Bolas' minion Vraska after the first day of the guild summit, in revenge for the wrongs that Vraska had experienced in her youth.[9] Isperia was replaced by Dovin Baan.[7]

After decorating the Senate Hall until after the War,[10] Isperia's petrified form sank into the Undercity, where nature's forces of reclamation quickly went to work on the stone.[11]

Story appearances[ | ]

Title Author Publishing date Set Setting (plane) Featuring
War of the Spark: Ravnica—Rallying the Reluctant Greg Weisman 2019-05-22 War of the Spark Ravnica Rat, Kaya, Teyo Verada, Lavinia, Ral Zarek, Aurelia, Vorel, Gideon Jura, Jace Beleren, Isperia, Jiang Yanggu, Mowu, Dack Fayden, Ob Nixilis, Davriel Cane, Angrath, Huatli, Samut, Jaya Ballard, Vivien Reid, Ajani Goldmane, Kiora
War of the Spark: Ravnica—Ashes Greg Weisman 2019-06-12 War of the Spark Ravnica Rat, Gideon Jura, Tomik Vrona, Lavinia, Ral Zarek, Jace Beleren, Chandra Nalaar, Teferi, Ajani Goldmane, Nissa Revane, Jaya Ballard, Karn, Kaya, Teyo Verada, Isperia, Dack Fayden, Saheeli Rai, Hekara, Vraska, Nicol Bolas, Borborygmos, Samut, Vorel, Sorin Markov, Nahiri, Arlinn Kord, Feather, Liliana Vess, Oketra, Rakdos, Bontu, Niv-Mizzet, Angrath, The Wanderer, Mu Yanling, Jiang Yanggu, Mowu, Vivien Reid, Aurelia, Exava, Lazav
The Gathering Storm: Chapter Three Django Wexler 2019-06-19 Guilds of Ravnica / Ravnica Allegiance Ravnica Dovin Baan, Nicol Bolas, Ral Zarek, Aurelia, Isperia, Lavinia, Tomik Vrona
The Gathering Storm: Chapter Ten Django Wexler 2019-08-14 Guilds of Ravnica / Ravnica Allegiance Ravnica Ral Zarek, Isperia, Dovin Baan, Hekara, Borborygmos, Aurelia, Lazav, Emmara Tandris, Kaya, Teysa Karlov, Vraska, Niv-Mizzet

In-game references[ | ]

Represented in:
Associated cards:
Depicted in:
Quoted or referred to:

Notes[ | ]

  1. In the Dissension novel she was named Hesperia

References[ | ]

  1. Monty Ashley (October 29, 2012). "Isperia Then and Now". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Django Wexler (June 19, 2019), The Gathering Storm, Chapter Three]].
  3. Django Wexler (July 11, 2019), The Gathering Storm, Chapter Six.
  4. Jenna Helland (August 29, 2012). "The Shadows of Prahv, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Jenna Helland (September 5, 2012). "The Shadows of Prahv, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Wizards of the Coast (August 20, 2012). "Azorius Senate". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. a b James Wyatt (January 2019). "The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica". Wizards of the Coast
  8. James Wyatt and Jeremy Crawford (November 2018). "D&D Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", Wizards of the Coast.
  9. Django Wexler (August 14, 2019), The Gathering Storm, Chapter Ten.
  10. Greg Weisman (May 22, 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica – Rallying the Reluctant". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. Depicted in Assassin's Trophy
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