Sheoldred was the black-aligned Praetor of New Phyrexia and the most powerful of the Seven Steel Thanes. Always in search of more power, she was a principal rival of Elesh Norn and manipulated the other Thanes in her attempt to rule New Phyrexia.
Sheoldred’s philosophy was simple and well aligned with Phyrexia’s original purpose – to dominate all others and force them to become Phyrexian and serve. Believing she was the smartest of the Praetors, her machinations brought her into direct conflict with Elesh Norn, the Mother of Machines. Elesh Norn invaded Sheoldred’s lands, called the Dross Pits, and forced her to go along with Norn’s plans of invading the multiverse.
Sheoldred was sent to Dominaria via the planar bridge to prepare the plane for invasion. She arrived injured at the Caves of Koilos, incidentally where there used to be a portal to old Phyrexia during its invasion of the plane during the time of Gerrard and the Legacy Weapon. She was discovered by Rona and the Society of Mishra, a covert following of Phyrexia still residing on Dominaria. Rona was able to rebuild and improve Sheoldred’s body, and they got to work.
Responsible for the development of sleeper agents, native Dominarians that did not know they had been compleated but passed on information to the Phyrexians, Sheoldred was able to infiltrate every nation in Dominaria. Quietly building a secret and powerful army, her power grew unknown to the Domniarians until she was discovered by Karn. Karn discovered that Sheoldred had resurrected and compleated his old friend and Weatherlight crew member Ertai, as well as the planeswalker Ajani.
Marshaling the forces of the many Dominarian nations, Karn would expose and fight back against the Phyrexians. In a final titanic battle between Sheoldred’s Phyrexians and Karn’s united Dominarians at the Mana Rig, Karn’s forces won the day, but at great cost. Sheoldred and the compleated Ajani were able to kill the planeswalker Jaya Ballard, destroy Karn’s Sylex (which he had hoped to use to destroy the Phyrexians once and for all), and capture Karn, returning him to New Phyrexia and the clutches of Elesh Norn.
After her return to New Phyrexia, Sheoldred seized her opportunity and struck at Elesh Norn in an attempt to unseat her. Allying herself with Urabrask's forces and other Thanes of the black faction, she attempted to take power, but was unsuccessful. Elesh Norn sent Ajani to capture her, which he did with little issue, returning the Praetor to her. As the Phyrexian invasion of the multiverse began, Elesh Norn sentenced Sheoldred to death for defying her and Ajani cut off her head, becoming the first of the Praetors to die.
PLANESWALKER & LEGENDARY CARDS
ARTWORK APPEARANCES
FLAVOR TEXT APPEARANCES
"The sooner you join Phyrexia, the sooner you'll forget your painful rebirth."
- Sheoldred, the Whispering One (Blistergrub, Scars of Mirrodin)
"Pain isn't a negative stimulus. Pain is a sign of your imperfection."
- Sheoldred, the Whispering One (Pierce Strider, Battlebond)
"Resist if you must. It makes no difference. As with Mirrodin, your world will bow to Phyrexia."
- Sheoldred (Phyrexian Rager, Dominaria United)
"Perfection is at hand. You have been freed of weakness and made compleat."
- Sheoldred, Whispering One (Phyresis, Mirrodin Besieged)
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