Azorius Senate
OFFICER LAVINIA STOOD BEFORE THE ENORMOUS
double doors that led into the highest spire of New Prahv.
the lair of the guildmaster. To look at her, nothing would
seem out of place: her cape spilled elegant!Y from her of-
ficer's armor, her sword shone like a decorative piece one
would hang above a mantel, and her three-sided medals
displayed her district-spanning rank.- Doug Beyer, Return to Ravnica: The Secretist
Bringing order from chaos- that is the mission of the
Azorius Senate. Without the extensive legal code crafted
and enforced by the Azorius, society would crumble,
transforming Ravnica into a field of rubble where the
Gruul and the Rakdos do whatever they please. The
Azorius carry tnis weighty responsibility with stoic
pride, and they perform their work of legislation, investi-
gation, and enforcement with steely determination.
The first guild master of the Azorius Senate was a
sphinx named Azor. He was the author of the original
Guildpact, as well as the creator of the elaborate con-
tingency plan that resulted in the creation of the Living
Guildpact. The Azorius Senate was meant to carry on
his legacy by serving as the legislative body of Ravnica.INSIDE THE SENATE
The Azorius Senate is supported by three branches,
called columns, each led by an arbiter (also called a
capital). The capitals of the three columns form the
Triumvirate, which advises the guildmaster, Supreme
Judge Isperia, an ancient and wise sphinx.
The Sova Column consists of judges and the exten-
s ive legal apparatus surrounding them. It is tasked with
adjudicating and arbitrating the effects of the law. The
column employs legal aides, pages, librarians, experts
on precedent, advocates for the accused, public prosecu-
tors, and judges.32 CHAPTf.R 2 I GUILDS OF RAV"l ICA
Thej elenn Column writes and enacts the laws of
Ravnica, involving the efforts not just of the designated
legislators but also a network of bureaucrats: aides, writ-
ers, researchers, lobbyists, clerks, and so on.
The Lye v Column enforces the law as Ravnica's
police force. The many-leveled hierarchy of the Lyev
Column includes arresters, investigators, officers, and
lawmages. The Lyev Column is also venturing into the
work of managing surveillance and precognition. Most
adventuring characters, by their nature and because of
their capabilities, are associated with the active work
of the Lyev Column rather than the behind-the-scenes
activity of the other columns.GOALS OF T H E AZORIUS
The Azorius Senate's ultimate goal is the perfection of
society. They want to protect the people of Ravnica and
foster a community of peace and harmony. A society's
values, they contend, are reflected in the laws it creates.
Something is good if it is lawful. To the Azorius, the
highest virtue is a society built on stability and order,
and the guild's elaborate system of laws is structured
to prevent wrongdoing first and foremost, even at the
expense of certain liberties. The Azorius can act as a
benevolent proactive force that keeps evildoers in check,
but it can also act as an oppressive bureaucratic force
that stifles freedom and expression.
In the absence of the Living Guildpact, the Azorius are
uncertain who is supposed to maintain balance among
the guilds. As a group, they are convinced that the sys-
tem can't be disrupted, but they are challenged by the
reality that the one person who is meant to hold their
world together never seems to be around. The Azorius
Senate is invoking emergency powers with increasing
frequency, and the Lyev Column's enforcers are wield-
ing an ever-growing amount of influence.
The Azorius guild embraces the belief that Ravnican
society has come too far to succumb to chaos. Civiliza-
tion can be saved only through the guidance of a strong,
safety-focused government. In the mind of the Azorius,
the threat of chaos is imminent. They believe it is time
to face facts and do whatever is necessary to protect the
people and preserve the force of law.
The Azorius, as always, see agents of disorder as
their greatest enemies. They have cracked down on the
Gruul Clans and imposed a variety of creatively written
laws outlawing that guild's presence in as many public
places as possible. The Azorius also abhor the satirical