Orzhov Syndicate

Lore & Background

The Orzhov Syndicate is one of the ten guilds featured in the Ravnica block, which consists of three expert-level expansion sets: Ravnica: City of Guilds (October 7, 2005), Guildpact (February 3, 2006), and Dissension (May 6, 2006). The Orzhov is associated with the colors white and black. In the Ravnica cycle, the guilds emphasized in each set are determined by the story: Guildpact emphasized Gruul, Izzet, and Orzhov. The Orzhov has a new keyword ability associated with it: Haunt. Haunt works as follows: when a creature or spell with Haunt is put into a graveyard, it is removed from the game haunting a creature in play. When the haunted creature is put into a graveyard, the creature or spell with Haunt can perform an effect again. The Orzhov's specific role in the city's governance—such as finance, law enforcement, or debt collection—is not described in the source. The source does not mention the Orzhov's leadership structure, symbols, or practices regarding souls or afterlife.

In Their Own Story

The source provides no specific story events, characters, or narrative moments involving the Orzhov Syndicate. The storyline of the Ravnica block focuses on the guilds' tensions 9999 years after the Guildpact was formed, on the eve of the decamillennial celebrations. The novels were written by Cory J. Herndon and published by Wizards of the Coast. The main characters in the first novel include Agrus Kos (a Wojek officer in the Boros Legion), Jarad (brother of the Devkarin leader Savra), Fonn Zurich (a Wojek officer's daughter who joined the Selesnya Conclave), Feather (a Firemane angel), Pivlic (an Orzhov businessman), and Savra (leader of the Golgari Devkarin elves). Pivlic is identified as an Orzhov businessman, but no further details about his actions or the Orzhov's role in the plot are given.

Reader's Guide

The Orzhov Syndicate is one of the ten guilds of Ravnica, a plane that is an ecumenopolis. The guilds each represent a combination of two of Magic's five colors; the Orzhov combines white and black. The guilds had been at war for centuries, but agreed to a truce when the dead began haunting the plane. They decided each guild would specialize in two colors of magic and have specific jobs in the city to stretch limited resources and maintain order, including by banning war completely. The Orzhov's specific job is not stated in the source. The guild has a keyword ability called Haunt: when a creature or spell with Haunt is put into a graveyard, it is removed from the game haunting a creature in play. When the haunted creature is put into a graveyard, the creature or spell with Haunt can perform an effect again. The Orzhov was emphasized in the Guildpact set. No information about their architecture, visual style, or philosophy beyond these mechanics is provided.

Did You Know?

• The Orzhov Syndicate is one of the ten guilds of Ravnica, a plane that is an ecumenopolis—a vast city covering the entire surface of its planet.
• The Orzhov is associated with the colors white and black, representing a combination of two of Magic's five colors.
• The Orzhov has a keyword ability called Haunt: when a creature or spell with Haunt is put into a graveyard, it is removed from the game haunting a creature in play, and when that creature dies, the Haunt effect can trigger again.
• The Orzhov was one of the guilds emphasized in the Guildpact expansion set, released February 3, 2006.
• An Orzhov businessman named Pivlic appears as a main character in the first Ravnica novel, written by Cory J. Herndon.