The final installment of the Murders at Karlov Manor story picks up with the final moments of the fight against the enraged Oba. Despite her ability to phase out, Kaya is struggling to break through the volume of branches and roots being thrown her way.
As the roots dig into her skin, Kaya realizes that Oba is pulling strength directly from the plane, and that she wouldn’t be able to defeat her unless she too appealed to the soul of Ravnica. Digging deep, Kaya pulls on her planeswalker spark and calls out to the plane. She accuses Oba of being no better than the Phyrexian invaders and the plane responds, albeit briefly, and Oba’s power lessens.
“I don’t know you can understand me, but I’m taking a gamble here, because we are what you made us, and you are what we made you. Gods and monsters, heroes and villains, and a city to hold and keep us all. You don’t choose which ones of us you care about. You don’t take sides. Well, she wants you to take sides. And I say a Ravnica that chooses one side over another is no Ravnica at all. She wants to turn you into something you’re not.” She paused to shoot a venomous glance at Oba. “Just like the Phyrexians did.”
Kaya
Kaya takes the opportunity to break free and phase through her bindings. She rushes toward the corrupted dryad, phasing in and out as foliage is whipped toward her. As she approaches Oba, Kaya notices an Agency barrier ward capsule nearby. Acting fast, Kaya scoops up the device and activates it. Ward bindings erupt from the device and wrap themselves around Oba, but because the devices are meant to be used in pairs, the ward begins to falter in the presence of the dryad’s immense power. With everyone else in the room incapacitated, Kaya knows no one can activate the other barrier ward, but just as she begins to lose hope, the previously indisposed Etrata staggers to her feet, the other barrier ward in hand. With both wards binding Oba, the tide begins to turn. At the same time, Oba’s Trostani sisters awaken and realize the situation, and moving in tandem, the pair touch their sister’s forehead, knocking her out.
With Oba finally subdued, the chaos inside Vitu-Ghazi subsides, and Kaya moves from party to party, cutting the various guild leaders free from their organic bindings. Despite the damaged caused by Oba’s rage, the majority of those present are able to leave under their own power, minus Tolsimir who is likely dead. Etrata, who had been speared taking a hit for Yarus, manages to leave with help from Proft, who is over the moon having her by his side again.
After the room is clear, Kaya stays behind to speak with the two conscious members of Trostani. Kaya asks what their plan is for Oba, being that she is guilty of murder but connected to two innocents. Cim tells her that there is no “provision for the situation” contained in the Guildpact, and the trio cannot be separated.
“When a branch is rotten, it must be removed for the health of the tree as a whole,” said Cim. “Left where it is, the rot will spread, and the tree will die. We will mourn our sister, who died in the invasion. What remains is not what was.”
Cim
The dryad goes on to say that they plan to restore their connection to Mat’Selesnya and allow Ravnica to decide what happens to Oba and Trostani as a whole. Despite their grieving, Ses adds that the Guildpact will still be available to any who need it.
With the conversation with Trostani concluded, Kaya turns and leaves Vitu-Ghazi. As she emerges, Kellan is waiting for her. He asks Kaya if she is okay, to which she replies “no” and breaks down in tears – allowing herself to finally grieve the strains and emotions of the recent events.
Days later, Kaya attends Teysa’s funeral at the Karlov Cathedral. As Kaya observes the service, a voice next to her gets her attention, and she turns to see the ghost of Teysa sitting next to her.
Teysa thanks Kaya for keeping the Orzhov together while she “gathered herself” in the afterlife, and Kaya replies that she regrets not killing Oba to avenge her. In typical Teysa fashion, she reassures Kaya that it’s better that she left her alive, as now she can bill Selesnya for the death of a guild leader. Teysa goes on to say that she will continue to lead the Orzhov, and that Kaya cannot stay on Ravnica due to complications with leadership. Kaya responds that she plans to leave soon, and then enters her ethereal form to embrace Teysa.
Four days later, Kaya stops in to speak once more with Kellan at the Agency before she leaves for Kaldheim. She asks him if there has been any sign of Judith, to which he tells her that there has been no trace of her – no body, evidence, or anyone claiming her kill, but that the Cult was laying low. He also tells Kaya that Proft officially hired Etrata as his aide. He concludes their conversation by stating that he would be staying on Ravnica awhile, as things were likely to “get interesting” even without her there.
Read the Murders at Karlov Manor finale in full from Wizards of the Coast.
