Wilds of Edraine Lore & Story Summary

Last updated on August 31, 2023

Witchstalker Frenzy | Illustration by Pascal Quidault

These past few years of Magic story have been… honestly not great. Passing from three-set blocks to single-set releases also meant that the story’s pace started going faster and faster. We spend less time in new or returning planes, story arcs are resolved with relative ease, and in the worst of cases, they don’t even have long-lasting consequences.

The New Phyrexian invasion of the Multiverse was the last massive event that took the Magic story by storm… for like a month, anyway. It was expected that the invasion story arc wouldn’t last too long because that’s the pace we’ve gotten used to now. But most of us were wondering whether the events of the invasion would have repercussions. Or will it be like Zendikar Rising, where only two months after the defeat of the Eldrazi there’s no trace of them left?

Let’s take a look at the events of Wilds of Eldraine to see if we can find our answer!

What Is Wilds of Eldraine About?

Imodane, the Pyrohammer | Illustration by Chris Rahn

This set is focused on the Eternal Slumber, a mysterious spell that has left an ever-increasing part of Eldraine’s population asleep. The twins Rowan and Will Kenrith argue about how to reunite the realms and fix their world while a young boy named Kellan is sent on a quest to end the curse.

Wilds of Eldraine Setting

Brave the Wilds | Illustration by Lucas Graciano

This set takes place on the plane of Eldraine, a world of fairy tales and Arthurian legends. The plane used to be divided into five realms, each with its own court but all unified under a high king. Outside of the realms laid the Wilds, where the fae, elves, and other mythical beings lived.

Wilds of Eldraine picks the story up after the end of the invasion. King Kenrith and Queen Linden died fighting to protect their family and realm, The five courts are either completely destroyed or in total disarray, and the world is trying to recover from the onslaught.

Eldraine’s response to the invasion was a very particular one. Most of the knights meant to defend the plane were either turned or killed very early on. But before all was lost, a mysterious spell started spreading across the plane, putting the invaders in a deep slumber.

This spell was crucial in stopping the Phyrexians, but it had some less-than-ideal side effects: the inhabitants of Eldraine also started entering the deep slumber.

Main Characters

This set’s story follows the arcs of two characters: Rowan Kenrith and the half-fae Kellan. Neither is alone, as both of them run into old and new allies and adversaries.

Rowan Kenrith

Rowan is a powerful and impulsive sparkmage and now former planeswalker. She’s the twin sister of Will Kenrith, and they’re the children of the now-dead High King Algenus Kenrith and a witch.

The death of her parents at the hands of the Phyrexians took a massive toll on Rowan. Her relationship with her brother, once extremely close and tight, began straining as the siblings disagreed on how to reunite the realms of Eldraine. While her brother tries a more diplomatic approach, she judges him as weak and seeks answers elsewhere.

Will Kenrith

Not unlike his sister, Will wants nothing more than to reunite the people of Eldraine under a ruler who can help them rebuild after the invasion. That’s why he chose to inherit his father’s crown, appointing himself High King.

Will’s coronation isn’t well received by many of the knights of the realms, and they’ve named him the “Boy King.” This negative image and the irreconcilable differences in their approach to fixing their world lead to Will and Rowan’s relationship becoming damaged and strained, driving them apart more and more.

Kellan, the Half-Fae

Kellan is a young kid from a secluded farming village. He grew up being bullied and teased for being the son of a human woman and a fae man. This weighs over him, making him question his identity and place in his (small and secluded) world.

One day, Kellan is summoned by the mysterious fae-lord Talion. They offer Kellan a deal: the young farmer is to go on a quest to solve the Wicked Slumber, and Talion will grant him some information on his father.

Talion, the Kindly Lord

Talion acts as Lord of the fae of the Wilds. They summon the young half-fae Kellan to their court, setting him on a quest to defeat three evil witches in exchange for information about Kellan’s father.

The Three Witches Agatha, Hylda, and Eriette

The three sisters are the alleged cause of the slumber spell that afflicts Eldraine. All three have their specific quirks: Agatha owns a cauldron and is known for being cruel and cunning; Hylda wears a crown that increases the power of her ice magic; Eriette owns a magical crystal apple that seems to be directly related to the slumber spell.

Ashiok

Eriette is a recluse who lives away from society, but she isn’t alone. With her is the planeswalker Ashiok. They weren’t affected by the massive desparking caused by the Realmbreaker, and they seem to be pushing some kind of cryptic agenda. Unsurprisingly for Ashiok, their motivations remain a complete mystery to anyone but themself.

Recurring Secondary Characters

Imodane: A once-noble knight and war hero from the invasion, Imodane sports a mysterious wooden arm gifted to her by the fae after losing her arm in the war. She now leads a band of looters and bandits on the outskirts of civilization.

Ruby: A young human girl from the outskirts of Edgewall. She meets Kellan while looking for her brother in the woods. She then joins Kellan on his quest, building a bond of friendship with him as they try to find a solution to the Wicked Slumber.

Peter: Ruby’s older brother. A prolific hunter and self-sufficient man, he raised Ruby on his own. He’s now lost in the woods as his sister looks for him.

Troyan: Troyan isn’t from Eldraine, but rather Ravnica. A young vedalken from the Simic Conclave who fancies himself a professional traveler, helping Ruby and Kellan reach the castle of the giants.

The Plot

Archon of the Wild Rose | Illustration by Chris Rahn

Let’s summarize all five chapters of the Wilds of Eldraine story to give you an overview of the important events in the story. If you enjoy these stories or MTG lore in general, be sure to go and check the complete stories out! The original writers deserve all the credit, and it’s always good to support the short story format.

Pure of Heart

The realms of Eldraine are in chaos and disarray. The Phyrexian Invasion has ravaged the plane’s defenses. The five courts have fallen and the High King and Queen have been slain in battle. Once-glorious knights now lay dead or asleep or are roaming the lands in search of meaning.

One such knight is Imodane. A stern knight whose face is covered in as many scars as her armor has dents. The once noble and valiant knight is now demanding tribute from nearby villages in exchange for protection from brigands who look just like her own men.

Will and Rowan Kenrith have come to talk with the knight. Will, now High King, seeks to reunite the realms through diplomacy and parlay. Rowan prefers more direct approaches.

Imodane holds no respect for the Boy King. Parlay swiftly develops into a duel between her and Will. But the duel is promptly interrupted as Rowan abruptly lets out a burst of massive power, causing Imodane to flee into the woods.

Castle Ardenvale now lies in ruins. The siblings have set up court in Castle Vantress for the time being. Rowan and Will are engaged in an argument there. Rowan sees her brother as weak, and Will sees his sister as too brash and angry. The fight escalates until Rowan tries to planeswalk them away. To her surprise, nothing happens. Frustrated and furious, she storms off.

Far from royal arguments, a village lies at the furthest edges of the realm. A place so small and isolated that the only interaction they’ve had with the Phyrexians comes through the stories that a single regular merchant told them. In this village at the edge of nowhere lives a boy named Kellan.

Kellan is subject to mockery and aggression at the hands of the other kids. He isn’t like them. He’s only half-human. Kellan’s father, about whom he knows nothing, was a fae.

Kellan’s mother and stepfather love him dearly, but Kellan can’t help but feel a deep longing for the woods and the home of his father. One day, this longing turns into an adventure.

The boy and his mother are on their way to the edge of the woods when a beautiful door appears before him. Kellan knows what the door means, and he enters it fueled with hope that his father might’ve finally decided to show himself.

Within the beautiful realm of the fae, Kellan is greeted by a beautiful being sitting atop a throne. Talion, the Lord of the Fae, offers Kellan a deal: the young boy is to embark on a quest to fix Eldraine’s cursed slumber, and in exchange, they’ll grant him information on his father.

Wandering Knight, Budding Hero

Rowan has left her brother’s side. She has no trust in him or his diplomatic methods and attempts to unite the realms through speech. She’s a knight. She knows the answer lies in action, and she will prove her brother wrong.

The Wicked Slumber plagues the land, but Rowan escapes not only the cursed sleep but regular sleep as well. She can’t rest until her world is put right.

Rowan’s travels take her into an old and abandoned castle, a place devoid of anything that can aid her in her quest. After raging like a storm, Rowan finally succumbs to her fatigue. Her dreams reunite her with her parents. They know she needs advice and gladly offer it to her. She is to go to Castle Ardenvale.

Kellan’s search isn’t leading him anywhere. Questing is much different than what he expected. And harder than he thought, too. Word of his questions about witches has begun spreading around town.

As Kellan tries to help a man who has fallen victim to the Wicked Slumber, a young girl stops him. She explains to him how no one really knows how the spell spreads, while also pointing out his questions have drawn some attention to him. After some banter, Kellan asks Ruby, the girl, for her help to find the witch in exchange for helping her to find her brother.

The two set off to the woods. Trouble finds them before they can discover anything else. A mysterious wolf-knight has followed their trail and gives them chase. The two escape deeper into the woods. A pack of witchstalkers turns out to be the help they need. Neither Ruby nor Kellan trigger the beasts’ magic-detecting instincts, but the moment the wolf-knight is within their reach, they chase him.

Not too far from there, Kellan and Ruby find a witch’s cottage. She has a knight tied up and ready to be thrown into a cauldron. Ruby keeps guard outside as Kellan finds a way to sneak in. Their subtle approach becomes rather pointless the moment they notice the wolf-knight approaching the house.

Acting as fast as he can, Kellan sneaks into the house and pushes the witch into her own cauldron. Kellan releases the knight, who turns out to be Imodane, asking if she can help them fight off the wolf-knight.

The wolf-knight stands at the threshold of the house. Before anyone can attack anyone else, he stops them. He is Peter, Ruby’s brother.

He’s been under the witch’s spell, acting as her guardian. Kellan asks Ruby and Peter for help, and together they take the cauldron outside so Talion can retrieve it. The Kindly Lord points Kellan and his friends in the direction of a magic mirror that may hold some answers regarding the next witch.

Two Great Banquets

Rowan’s arrival at the destroyed castle is even worse than she’d anticipated. Sleeping knights roam the castle as if someone is controlling them. Her old friends, her mentors, people she’s grown up with.

Rowan fights her way through them, caught in a macabre dance. One of the knights manages to disarm her and take away her sword, but before anything else happens she is snatched away.

Before her stands the mysterious planeswalker Ashiok. As though they’re just a servant, Ashiok takes Rowan to meet the true cause of the Wicked Slumber: Eriette. A powerful and confident witch, Eriette confesses that she summoned Rowan to Ardenvale.

Eriette explains to Rowan that the Wicked Slumber was a way to stop the invasion. The curse spreading to other people was accidental. But now she sees it as a good thing. Those under the spell are simply safe in a world of dreams where an invading force hasn’t taken everything away from them, just as it had taken Rowan’s family.

The witch invites Rowan to join her. Not just because she’s powerful but for a simpler reason: Eriette’s sister was the twins’ mother. Eriette knows her magic courses through Rowan’s veins. She wants Rowan to help her free the people of Eldraine of the burden of grief. And Rowan finally feels understood. No longer alone.

Kellan and Ruby are halfway through climbing a massive beanstalk. Peter has ensured they have money for a reliable guide. Troyan, their guide, is a young Vedalken man from Ravnica who’s made his way to Eldraine through an Omenpath.

The three make it to the top of the stalk thanks to Troyan’s frogifying potions and sneak into the massive castle before them. They have to find a magic mirror guarded by giants that are having a ball that very night. The three swiftly sneak between the dancing feet that stomp all around them.

Before they can make their way up the massive stairs, the group is held up by a giant woman named Beluna. Despite her desire to feed them to her giant goose, she is stopped by the giant king who had once been the ruler of Garenbrig. Yorvo had disappeared during the invasion as the courts fell, but now he stands before them, unharmed and showing them kindness. The group consults the magic mirror for their next step, which shows them an image of a massive castle made of ice.

Ruby and the Frozen Heart

Edgewall looks worse than before they’d left. The curse has taken even more people than before. Sleepers are everywhere now. But those who remain awake tell stories. Puppet shows telling of Kellan and Ruby’s bravery have sprung up. They tell of how the two valiant kids saved Imodane and Peter from the cruel fate that a witch had in store for them.

But the two young heroes have to set forth to Loch Larent where the massive ice castle stands. The air is so cold it hurts, and the entrance to the castle seems impenetrable to them. But a little weather isn’t going to stop them now.

Braving the cold is the first and easiest of the steps. Soon they start hearing a voice. She sounds as cold as ice and insists they go away. Braver and stronger people before them have tried and failed. But they both continue forward until two massive knights made of ice attack them.

Kellan has two unassuming basket hilts that Talion had gifted him which spring magic blades from their tips. Kellan uses them to fight off their assailants. He and Ruby manage to push the warriors back but before they can celebrate their victory, an overwhelming tiredness falls over Kellan.

Ruby carries Kellan deeper into the freezing storm. Hylda, the witch, insists that they turn away, but Ruby refuses. She is determined to help her friend on his quest. She pushes forward through the cold and the warnings until she can’t feel her face from the cold.

Out of the blizzard comes a hand. Hylda offers her help. Ruby is reluctant to accept it, but before she can refuse, Hylda casts a spell on both of them.

The two youths awake some hours later before a banquet. Despite Ruby’s wariness, the two eat while Hylda talks to them. Rather than evil or wicked, she’s lonely. She’s shut herself away with the help of a magical crown that increases her ice magic. A crown that, to Kellan’s surprise, had been a gift from Talion themself.

Hylda tells Kellan and Ruby a story of how Phyrexians had invaded their world. A story of how there was no way to stop the invaders, except Talion had offered Hylda and her sisters a deal: the Kindly Lord gave them artifacts that exacerbated their’ magics, and in exchange they used their powers to cast a sleeping curse over the invaders.

Kellan is distraught and feels like Talion has tricked him by keeping their involvement with the curse a secret. Hylda willingly gives up her crown to Kellan so he can return it to Talion as proof of his victory. And so he does, throwing it at Talion’s feet.

Talion has no issue in admitting their involvement with the curse. They saw no wrong in their actions, instead pointing at Eriette and her magic as the ones who let the curse run out of control. And so the young heroes head for Ardenvale.

Broken Oaths

Ruby and Kellan make their way to Castle Ardenvale unimpeded. No sleeping knights try to stop them. Once inside, the heroes encounter Rowan.

Rowan’s fame as a hero instills hope and trust in Kellan. He decides to approach her, thinking she’s also looking for ways to end the Wicked Slumber. But the knight shows no sign of amiability towards them. Instead, she seems desperate and concerned. An open ledger before her has notes on attempting to replicate the curse. And before Kellan can do anything about it, both he and his friend are knocked out by Rowan.

By the time Ruby wakes Kellan, he can hear fighting in the distance. Someone is attacking the castle, and Rowan has gone to fight them off. And so Kellan and Ruby sneak away while they still can.

Will’s knights break into Ardenvale and are met by an army of sleeping men who were once their comrades and friends.

Imodane leads the knights right into the throne room from where Eriette controls her slumbering army. There they meet both the witch and Rowan. And behind Imodane is Will.

Rowan wants to stop her grief, and she’s going to do so by force. She charges against her brother in full force, forcing him back while his knights fight the sleepers. The conflict between siblings is cut short as Rowan notices two young kids making their way to Eriette.

A moment of distraction is all Will needs. Using his ice magic, Will traps Rowan. But before the young heroes can deal a finishing blow to Eriette, Ashiok returns.

With their help to control the sleepers, the odds are now equal. The tragic battle resumes. The sleepers slowly but surely overtake Will’s army as his knights die or fall asleep.

Rowan launches a furious attack at her brother, who responds with a spike of ice that she easily avoids. Quickly overwhelmed and defeated, Will lays down his arms. But a howl of pain and a smirk on her brother’s face tells Rowan that she’s the one who’s failed.

The ice bolt has pierced Ashiok’s back, who planeswalks away with a wail of pain. Behind the smoke, Rowan can see Ruby pressing her sword against Eriette’s throat. It’s over.

Rowan knows she can’t go back. She’ll be tried for treason or made a fool of. She uses her magic to blow a way out of the castle and escape. Someday she’ll bring Eldraine the peaceful sleep it deserves.

The outskirts of Orrinshire are as calm and uneventful as they’d ever been. Kellan has changed, but his small home remains the same. He returns home where he’s greeted by his parents. Kellan briefly explains to his mother that he’s chosen not to learn about his father yet. He wants to hear it from her.

And so she tells Kellan a story. A story of a young witch’s apprentice who meets a fae in the woods. A fae who has tales of other realms. A fae she fell in love with, named Oko.

After learning about his father and his darker and violent tendencies, Kellan has a lot to think about. In the dead of night, he walks through the woods until he comes to what looks like a portal that seems to go elsewhere, like the ones Troyan had told him about. Maybe his father awaits on the other side. And so Kellan takes a step inside just to see where it’ll lead him.

Story Spotlight Cards

Cut In | Illustration by Irina Nordsol

A Tale for the Ages

Kellan and Ruby’s defeat of the witch Agatha quickly became a story of heroism that was told all throughout Edgewall. As it happens with any folk story, the details are changed with every retelling, but the story remains a source of inspiration all the same.

Break the Spell

Despite her best efforts to drive Kellan and Ruby away, Hylda realizes the error in her ways. Compassion drives her to help them and give them shelter in her castle.

Eerie Interference

Both Rowan’s arrival at Ardenvale and Will’s attack on the castle are met with an army of sleeping knights who are being manipulated by Eriette.

Extraordinary Journey

While his quest may be over, Kellan’s adventure is far from over. Especially now that he can search for his father thanks to the Omenpaths.

Feed the Cauldron

Ruby and Kellan’s bravery and resourcefulness saved Imodane and Peter, albeit at Agatha’s particularly gruesome demise.

Glass Casket

There’s no real reference to the events depicted in this card in the stories aside from it being related to the Wicked Slumber.

Into the Fae Court

Kellan’s first step into the world of the fae is the beginning of his adventure. One that will apparently take him way beyond Eldraine itself.

Kellan’s Lightblades

The only equipment that Talion gives Kellan for his quest consists of two basket hilts that appear useless at first. Hylda’s ice guardians would like to disagree.

Kindled Heroism

Kellan starts as a frail outcast, but his quest and unbreakable bravery allow him to prove that he’s much more than just an outsider.

Moment of Valor

This card apparently shows Will’s knights fighting off nightmare creatures who feed on fear. These don’t make an appearance in the stories, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume they were conjured by Ashiok during the final fight in Ardenvale.

Rowan’s Grim Search

Convinced that her brother’s diplomatic ways will fix nothing, Rowan sets out on a quest to find a way to fix her world through power and might.

Stonesplitter Bolt

Will’s duel with Imodane is cut short by Rowan’s outburst of massive power as her emotions get the better of her.

Twisted Fealty

The promise of power and comfort that Eriette makes to Rowan leads her to betray her twin brother and join forces with the witch.

Up the Beanstalk

Kellan and Ruby are joined by the Ravnican Vedalken Troyan as they make their way to the giant’s castle.

Witchstalker Frenzy

Sometimes smarts are stronger than might. Kellan and Ruby lead the wolf-knight into a pack of witchstalkers that immediately smell dark magic on him.

The End… For Now

Dutiful Griffin | Illustration by Ilse Gort

So what did you think of Wilds of Eldraine’s story? Do you think it’s a nice follow-up to the invasion? Does it set up future plots well? I personally like the psychological consequences of the invasion on Rowan and Will, and I’m always a fan of seeing Ashiok again.

Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts and remember to check out the original stories and show support for the author! While you’re here, make sure to pay our Discord server a visit! There you’ll find an amazing community of MTG fans to share your hobby with.

That’s all from me for now! Have a good one and I’ll see you next time.