The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Kaladesh

Lathnu, the City at the Top of the World

[This is an official Wizards of the Coast preview from the Art of Magic book, out January 2017]

The plane of Kaladesh is the newest unique and exciting world that players can visit as part of the Magic the Gathering multiverse, made unique by the prevalence of aether in every aspect of the world. Normally an invisible, intangible cosmic energy, aether is so prevalent on Kaladesh that it shapes the very forms of nature and has become the core of all humanoid technology. Flying machines are powered by aether, elvish druids help the forests grow through communion with aether, and wildlife feeds and grows with the aether currents through the plane. Nowhere is this more apparent than the city of Lathnu, the city a the top of the world, and home to the Human and Dwarven Aether Miners.

“Perched high on the Devra Cliffs in the far north, the city of Lathnu is among the most remote major outposts of civilization on Kaladesh. A constant wind of thin, icy air howls around the sheer cliffs, hundreds of feet tall, and whips through the city. Legend holds that north of Lathnu rises the Great Climb, a wall of mountains that separates Kaladesh from the heavens. Local guides insist that the only thing north of Lathnu is an icy grave on a rocky mountainside.”

“Lathnu is a small settlement of hardy, independent-minded people—mostly human, but also including a sizable minority of dwarves. Additionally, the aether refinement process gives rise to aetherborn, many of whom happily take jobs in the very factories that gave them life. Very few vedalken or elves live in Lathnu, as they don’t tolerate the cold as well as other races.”

“A vertical rail track leads from Lathnu to the base of the cliff, where goods are transferred to and from caravans that navigate the sparse trail through the mountains that eventually leads to Ghirapur. Most of the traffic in and out of Lathnu is by air, though, and a surprisingly busy airdock hangs off the edge of the cliff.”

“Mining. Lathnu’s economy centers on the mining and smelting of the various metal ores found in the mountains. The city is one of the primary sources of metal to feed Ghirapur’s insatiable appetite for the raw materials that yield so many wondrous devices.”

“Aether Harvesting. Thanks to the high altitude, the people of Lathnu are able to harvest aether with rooftop collectors. Rather than one large refining facility, Lathnu has a dozen smaller ones, allowing individuals to refine and sell their own aether. The industry is surprisingly efficient, effectively supporting Lathnu’s laborers and engineers and even augmenting Ghirapur’s supply. Some aether leaves the city by airship, but a large pipeline now connects Lathnu to the distant capital city.”

Want to learn more about Kaladesh? Check out stories, the cards, art, and more on the Wizards Homepage!

