Simic Combine

Structure

The Simic is broken down into Zonots; huge sinkholes that leads all the way down to the Ravnican oceans, and each serves as a distinct Simic habitat—sort of an oversized, inverted skyscraper. Each Zonot has a different culture, ecosystem, and racial distribution, as well as a speaker.
Simic guild members are organized by Clade rather than by species, role, or caste. Each Clade is the natural-world equivalent of a project team: diverse individuals adapted to different tasks, yet related by a common goal. Clades often exist solely within a single Zonot, but they need not do so, and large clades span two or more Simic communities.

Culture

Two philosophical principles, in tension with each other, combine to give the Simic Combine its unique approach to science and nature. In traditional Simic thought, these principles are called the Holdfast and the Upwelling.
The Holdfast principle, named for the biological mechanism that keeps kelp and sponges anchored to the sea floor, advises members of the Simic Combine never to stray so far from nature that they become "adrift." It espouses the idea that nature left undisturbed will evolve toward adaptive traits and increased strength. Nature will flourish and grow, and every creature will find its proper niche in the ecosystem where it can thrive.
The Upwelling principle, named for the phenomenon of nutrient-rich water rising to the ocean surface, advocates that the new and enlivened should replace the old and depleted in an unending cycle, bringing constant refreshment and renewal. This principle accounts for the combine's analytical bent and its emphasis on knowledge as a means of transformation. Learning the secrets of the universe lets you shape the world as you desire.
The Upwelling encourages every creature to discover its full potential. The Holdfast encourages the Simic to promote nature; the Upwelling urges them to perfect nature. The end result is the same: a hastened system of evolution that brings out the best in every creature's nature. But different factions within the Simic Combine interpret these principles in their own ways.
The leadership of the Simic Combine represents the traditional philosophy of the Utopians. Utopians generally interpret the Holdfast principle as being about staying rooted in nature, and the Upwelling as concerned with slow, predictable, cyclical improvement. So they remain hidden in their subaquatic laboratories, pursuing their research while isolated from the volatile interrelationships among the other guilds. Prime Speaker Zegana encourages that isolationist attitude.
At the same time, a growing faction within the Simic believes that an all-out war among the guilds is inevitable, given the growing unrest in the city. These members, the Adaptationists, believe that the guilds exist in a fragile ecosystem in which the slightest imbalance can have cascading effects. The Simic must change in order to survive, and slow, small steps in pursuit of an ideal vision aren't enough. The future of the guild is in imminent danger, and the Simic need to focus on survival. Adaptationists tend to interpret the Holdfast as being about defense and security and security, and the Upwelling as a call for sudden, disruptive growth.

Public Agenda

To persevere the health of living forms on Ravnica

A better Ravnica begins with a better Simic.

Founding Date

The Simic Combine was founded with the signing of the Guidpact on 0 ZC

Type

Corporation, Pharmaceutical

Capital

Zameck

Leader

Zegana

Subsidiary Organizations

• Fin Clade
• Gyre Clade
• Hull Clade

Controlled Territories

• Zameck
• Zonot Seven

Notable Members

• Vannifer
• Vorel
• Zegana