Thread by @Cur10usC0rv1d, Last week, I posted a thread about the origins and motivation of [...]

Last week, I posted a thread about the origins and motivation of Nahiri, and this week I intend to shed some light on what drives Zendikar's other guardian, Nissa #MTGZNR #magicstory

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MAGIC STORY

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Nissa has a lot more material to delve through, so this thread is going to be a two-parter. I'll be updating next week Thursday with the second half. Spoilers ahead for Zendikar: Into the Teeth of Akoum; Battle for Zendikar; Oath of the Gatewatch; and Nissa's Origin: Home. (2/?)

Like Nahiri, her arc is fueled by guilt and a sense of obligation to her world, though her foundation begins a very different path through these themes and how she interacts with the world (literally) around her. (3/?)

Some of Nissa's character has been significantly retconned, so I will avoid drawing too much from text in regards to Zendikar: In the Teeth of Akoum. Gearing up for this character analysis, I decided to reread the book, and (4/?)

I was quickly reminded they are simply not the same character. Call backs in recent stories (such as her aversion to snakes) are fun, and the events still clearly happened, (5/?)

as she frequently mentions her shattering of the hedron and is able to discuss Sorin with Jace at the end of Battle for Zendikar. The way she relates to people is quite different—(6/?)

destined to be leader of the Joraga, she is blithe, confident, and dismissive of anything non-Joraga, even "weaker" elves like the Tajuru in the Akoum storyline—which is a far cry from the Nissa I will be discussing in this thread. (7/?)

In her revised origins, she is not the Joraga elf fated to be a leader after a difficult journey of self-discovery and walking through the ways of life of her neighbors, but rather an outcast, the last in a bloodline of animists. (8/?)

The Joraga feared young Nissa because of her powers that manifested as visions. They feared her so much they decided to send Nissa and her mother away. She lives in fear as a young child, and accepts that her tribe hates her and feels they have good reason. (9/?)

Her conviction that Zendikar wants to harm her, wants her and everyone around her dead, is enough for Nissa to leave home and try to sneak away alone so she takes no one down with her.

Setting off in the night, Nissa ran from home, taking care to cover her tracks. (10/?)

Only her friend, Mazik, manages to follow, and he witnesses her have a vision in which she finally connects with Zendikar properly. This strengthened connection comes with newfound elation as she is able to understand the visions as a benevolent force for the first time. (11/?)

She and Mazik follow a shimmering force, Nissa finding her nature powers enhanced the more she follows the soul of Zendikar and it shares beautiful sights with them.

This trek helps Nissa to realize that all of Zendikar's nature is precious, (12/?)

not just the jungle she grew up calling home.

The trip is long, and while exciting, also a source of anxiety. The nightmares she's suffered for a long time indicate a dark knot of energy awaits them at the end of the journey. (13/?)

During this important journey, Nissa learns to trust her power that she's hidden all her life. She quells the Roil with an animist song (it is forbidden to sing in the Joraga tribes), saves Mazik from vampires with her first raised elemental, and raises a more permanent (14/?)

elemental friend that continues to lead them as the shimmering light had.

This elemental has time to display fear and compassion—willing to show the way even though every step closer to the dark knot is more overtly hazardous to the group's health. (15/?)

It is here where she confronts what has been trapped within Zendikar's land. We know this to be the Eldrazi, but Nissa can't explain what she is shown, nearly losing her mind to its unfathomable horror, and she is so overcome by reaching out to the knot of darkness, (16/?)

her spark ignites and she finds herself on Lorwyn. Having awakened her animist powers, she is able to reach out to its soul instantly, no longer fearing her own ability.

Nissa knows she is far away from home, (17/?)

and she feels there is a great evil within this land too. Her meeting with the Lorwyn elves—soon to be Shadowmoor elves—is the final marker in her development from someone who lives in fear towards someone who fights at any cost to protect others. (18/?)

Nissa is thrilled to be shown such attention and presented a clear mission to kill evil. She has been derided and feared her entire life. She's had visions she doesn't understand that made her fear the land itself would hurt her. Now, she is told she's wanted, (19/?)

and these elves intend to protect the land from a blight, like she uncovered in the heart of Akoum.

Her readiness to follow is understandable, but this scene leads up to displaying how she has found confidence in herself and resolve that life is worth protecting. (20/?)

Even in the heart of this hunting pack, being accepted by elves as she has longed to be her whole life, when she readies to kill the "blight" they're hunting, and finds the boggarts to be innocent creatures running for their lives, she stands up to the leader himself and (21/?)

proclaims that there is already so much evil the world, and they shouldn't be adding more. This is the first time she's ever been accepted by a group, but she isn't afraid to stand up to the Galed if it means protecting those in need. (22/?)

Even after their fight, as the Great Aurora begins to spread across the land—changing Lorwyn into its darker half, Shadowmoor—Nissa still wishes to protect these people she's only just met. She's willing to face the magic head on at their side and protect nature, (23/?)

but just like all her life, her intentions are misunderstood and she is accused of bringing the unnatural phenomenon that she can sense. (24/?)

Her connection to Lorwyn's soul allows her to hear the enchanting call of Shadowmoor, but it also helps her find her path home and reaffirm her purpose. Nissa has learned much about herself, and begun a solidified quest to learn about the creatures trapped within Akoum. (25/?)

The next leg of Nissa's journey is muddled, as how much of the Teeth of Akoum story is canon and how much is changed from her origin is being revised is up to interpretation. We know that she still worked with Sorin, (26/?)

as she is able to reveal everything she knows to Jace after they finish killing Ulamog and Kozilek and her shattering of the hedron is brought up several times. (27/?)

After the events of the 2010 novel, Nissa devotes her life to being the protector of Zendikar, largely spending her time in the wild nature of Zendikar. She explicitly is more comfortable with Ashaya and the other elementals than she is among other people. (28/?)

When she has tried to live and/or work with other people, they have resented her, feared her, misled her, and generally not understood her. The Joraga didn't trust her because she was an animist; the Lorwyn elves brought her to fight evil, but they hunted creatures (29/?)

they found ugly for sport; and her work with Sorin went… poorly by all accounts.

Sorin brought her to the Teeth of Akoum to fix the hedron's seal, but Nissa decided to break the hedron and free the Eldrazi, believing they would leave Zendikar and her home would be free. (30/?)

Nissa believed her home would be free of the dark knot that caused the world's roil if she broke the hedron, and instead finds the Eldrazi are content to destroy Zendikar even more quickly. She undeniably feels guilty for her part and her intense guilt comes up frequently. (31/?)

She dedicates herself to fixing her mistake, and it's clear she doesn't fully trust her decision making and resents her recklessness. Zendikar's soul, her friend, Ashaya… grounds her and provides the confidence she needs to trust herself and continue fighting. (32/?)

The most reliable friend she's had over the last few decades has been Ashaya, and this intense bond is shattered in front of her. It is so debilitating that even after following newly met planeswalker, Gideon, back to camp, she sets out alone to rekindle the Khalani Heart. (33/?)

She can't explain her connection—or how painful to lose it has been—to Gideon or Jace. It's alienating, just as talking to other people always has been. (34/?)

During her fight with Ob Nixilis, Nissa faces the choice to drain the last of the Khalani Heart's power to defeat the demon, but realizes Zendikar has taught her the correct path. All this time that Ashaya has fought beside her (35/?)

has prepared her for this moment and with newfound confidence, she realizes she is strong enough to save Zendikar's soul, which in turn means Zendikar will be strong enough to help her defeat the Eldrazi. (36/?)

This experience is paramount to her decision to join the Gatewatch. Had she never had to fight without Ashaya, she wouldn't have reforged that independence and trust in her own abilities in that cave.

Her triumphant return with the world of Zendikar at her side (37/?)

inspires hope at the reclaimed Sea Gate, assuring none more so than herself, spurring her to agree with Kiora and Dranna declaring it's time to fight at first. While she initially bristles at the idea of trapping the Eldrazi on Zendikar, (38/?)

when Jace mentions they could be driven off to other worlds, Nissa decides to side with him. She can't bear to be the cause of another world being devastated.

This is a major shift from her guilt being a prison, to being inspiration to do what's right. (39/?)

Jace had been interested in her connection with Zendikar's soul (though he had obviously not understood it), and when she is paired with him to construct the hedron trap for Ulamog, she finds they work together well. (40/?)

He offers her space when she's not receptive to his warm words, which is a big part in why she opens up to him the most of the Gatewatch initially.

She has spent decades largely alone, Zendikar's shepherd against the literal monsters of her nightmares, (41/?)

and so many gathered people is stressful for her. She melts into crowds when she's a part of them, but the actual assembly of the trap and battle itself is more her speed, working with Ashaya and speaking one on one when needed. (42/?)

This project is very big for Nissa. It unites her with people after she has learned to trust her own judgment again. It is bringing fruition to dreams she's had for decades. She is keeping her vow to Zendikar. (43/?)

Her pride is clear, and allows her to take control of the situation when things start going wrong. All her life, her connection with Ashaya has given her confidence, but now she is able to offer that centering touch to Jace. (44/?)

While he begins to panic from the weight of failure and the consequences it will bring, Nissa is able to guide him and together they are able to learn where the trap failed. (45/?)

With Ulamog's binding, Nissa has taken a huge step in her animist destiny and her vow to rid Zendikar of the Eldrazi. She has conquered her self-doubt, which was monumental in her ability to steady a teammate and trap the first Eldrazi titan. (46/?)

She has come a long way from the child that ran from the Joraga because she was afraid Zendikar wanted her dead, afraid to use her powers. (47/?)

This marks the end of part one of exploring Nissa's history and character. I'll be returning next week with part two, covering Oath of the Gatewatch to present story. Thanks for tuning in! (48/48)

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