#guildsofravnica

The Guildpact is a form of magic that keeps the ten Guild factions of Ravnica from open warfare. After Millenia of open warfare, 10,076 years ago the guilds set aside their conflict to agree to peace, with the Planeswalker Azor writing the law. The ten Paruns agreed to the terms of the contract with Cisarzim of the Gruul being the final signer.

The Signers were Azor I of the Azorius, Razia of the Boros, Cisarzim of the Gruul, Szadek of the Dimir, Niv-Mizzet of the Izzet, Rakdos of the Cult of Rakdos, Mat’Selesnya of the Selesnya Conclave, Svgothir of the Golgari, an unknown Simic Parun, and an unknown Orzhov Parun (Possibly a founding member of Obdezat).

Each guild would have a specific job that no other guild could do for the city (which I will go into deeper on the explanation of each guild) and the combined goal of stopping seizures of power over the City of Ravnica. Attempting to take over Ravnica would ensure at least 9 Guilds opposing you and most likely your own Guild as well.

The founding of the Guildpact occurred on the first of Seleszeni, the first month of the Ravnican year {akin to March 1st on Terran Calendars, which is an almost identical calendar to the Ravnican one}. 

76 years ago the original Guildpact broke when Agrus Kos of the Boros arrest Szadek, the Parun of the Dimir on a technicality. See many wonder why groups that seem bent on destroying the City of Ravnica or are essentially groups of murderers such as the Gruul or Rakdos are even included in the Guildpact. If the Guildpact is about maintaining law and order why would agents of chaos be included?

Well the Guildpact was balanced between these forces of order and disorder. The forces maintaining order are the Boros, Orzhov, Azorius, and Selesnya, while the Gruul, Rakdos, Golgari, and Dimir sowing disorder (with the Simic and Izzet being Nuetral mainly). This balance makes no side of the guildpact have power over the other. When Agrus Kos arrested Szadek for trying to destroy the Guildpact, it broke the Guildpact as the Dimir were doing one of the Guildpact duties. 

Around the year 10,075 a new Guildpact was formed with Jace Beleren becoming the Living Guildpact. This is the current system of Ravnica and I need to research more into this so expect a part 2  focusing on the New Guildpact system in a few months, as it is still recent history.

The Cult of Yore is a guildless organization on Ravnica that was last knowingly active around the Decamillennial, or the 10,000 year anniversary of the signing of the original Guildpact and simultaneous destruction of the Guildpact. Being a secretive group it is unknown whether they are still active or not but the belief is they still are.

The Cult believes that the Guildpact and the Guild System is harmful to Ravnica and is oppressive to its citizenry. They claim religions such as the Selesnya, Rakdos and Orzhov religions are worshiping false gods. They choose to worship older eldritch beings called Nephilim.

The Nephilim were/are creatures of Ravnica from before the signing of the Original Guildpact. They were sealed away at some point in the undercity and forgotten by most. Due to somebody's actions, likely the Cult of Yore, several were released and would roam the Utvara District; a mainly unsettled and wild domain home to several Gruul clans. To the Gruul they are called "the prey that can't be killed". Inmy research of other planar myths and languages their name can translate to "those who cause others to fall" or "the fallen", though it is unknown if these beings from other planes are related.

The abilities of Nephilim vary by inddividual with no two being alike. Their powers are unknowable by appearance which leads to them being difficult to confront in combat. The last major event recorded dealing with Nephilim was the Dissension event in which 5 Nephilim were enhanced with Dragon's Blood (of the Species Niv-Mizzet is, with the Parun being the last living member) and went on a rampage through Utvara all the way to Vitu-Ghazi the Selesnya Guildhall.

The five were destroyed however but not before destroying much of the city in their path. Two by Niv-Mizzet, one by Rakdos, one by a Boros Legion and one by a group of Elven Scouts.

Whether the Cult of Yore will reemerge later in Ravnican History or if they were whiped out is unknown at this point. However, as long as their are still Nephilim, chances are they will be revered as gods or prey by mortals of Ravnica and serve as a reminder of times before the guilds.

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