Guildmasters Guide to Ravnica

0RZHOVNPCs
Every person in the Orzhov Syndicate, living or dead,
has a place in the guild's rigid hierarchy. From the
undead spirits that make up the ruling Obzedat to the
lowly undead borrower spirits at the bottom, along with
the ranks of the living in between, everyone knows
where they stand: who is above them, who is below
them, who owes them, and whom they owe.
The Orzhov hierarchy includes advokists who find
loopholes in the law to exploit, knights who enforce the
guild's will, and indentured spirits. The Orzhov NPCs
table summarizes key roles within the guild. Statjstics
for these NPCs are found in the Monster Manual unless
the table states otherwise.

ORzHov NPCs

Role

Advokist

Indentured spirit

Knight

Oligarch

Pontiff or ministrant

Appropriat e Stat Block

Mage

Indentured spirit*

Knight

Noble

Priest or acolyte

• Appears in this chapter

TEVSA KARl.OV

0BZEDAT, THE GHOST COUNCIL

The ghosts who make up the Obzedat are traditionally

called patriarchs, though they can be male or female.

They are the oldest, wealthiest, and most influential

oligarchs of the Orzhov Syndicate. They have been dead

for centuries, but they refuse to let go of the fortunes

they amassed in life. Addicted to power and prestige,

these patriarchs continue to dominate the guild and ac-

cumulate even larger fortunes.

Mostly Unanimous. The ghosts of the Obzedat func-

tion as a unit, driven by their shared desire to accumu-

late ever more wealth for the gujld. In times of disagree-

ment, the eldest of the council exerts his seniority to

bend the council to his will.

Grandfather Karlov. The head of the council, who

gives final approval to its decisions and breaks ties

within the group, is Karlov, known as Grandfather. In

life, Karlov was the greediest of Orzhov oligarchs, and

his many centuries as a spirit have not diminished his

hunger for more wealth.

Undead Nature. An Obzedat ghost doesn't require

air, food, drink, or s leep.

TuE GHOST COUNCIL'S TRAITS

Ideal: "Influence is measured in power, status, and

money, but mostly money."

Bon d: "Gather as much as you can while you can, for

when you die, you will take it with you."

Flaw: "Everyone has a price."

Teysa Karlov

Under the authority of the Obzedat, Teysa Karlov (a mage

with access to Orzhov guild spells) formerly held the title

of grand envoy, serving as the representative of the Orzhov

when interaction with the leadership of other guilds was

necessary. A defining characteristic of the Orzhov for de-

cades was the tension between Teysa, l iving in the complex

political realities of the world, and the inflexible, avaricious

Obzedat. Teysa argued strenuously that the Obzedat's

isolationism and their reluctance to forge alliances that

could make them reliant on other guilds would lead t o the

syndicate's downfall.

That tension reached its boiling point when Teysa en-

listed the help ofTajic, Blade of the Boros legion, in an

attempt to seize power from the Obzedat. Her attempt

failed, and the Obzedat imprisoned Teysa, eliminated the

role of grand envoy, and canceled all dealings with other

guilds. Teysa remains in prison to this day, and the Ghost

Council extorts corrupt officials to make sure they keep her

locked away.