Azorius Senate
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Bringing order from chaos- that is the mission of the Azorius Senate. Without the extensive legal code crafted and enforced by the Azorius, society would crumble, transforming Ravnica into a field of rubble where the Gruul and the Rakdos do whatever they please. The Azorius carry this weighty responsibility with stoic pride, and they perform their work of legislation, investigation, and enforcement with steely determination. The first guild master of the Azorius Senate was a sphinx named Azor. He was the author of the original Guildpact, as well as the creator of the elaborate contingency plan that resulted in the creation of the Living Guildpact. The Azorius Senate was meant to carry on his legacy by serving as the legislative body of Ravnica.
Structure
The rigid hierarchy of the Azorius Senate is reflected in the guild's triangle-shaped crest; most Azorius functionaries report to one superior and are reported to by two subordinates. The Azorius are divided into three Columns: the Jelenn Column, which makes the laws; the Lyev Column, which enforces the laws; and the Sova Column, which judges the law-breakers. The Sova Column is led by Leonos II. They act as judges and arbitrators. The column employs legal aides, pages, librarians, experts on precedent, advocates for the accused, public prosecutors, and judges. The Jelenn, led by a vedalken lawmage named Uzana, act as scribes and elocuters. The term elocutor covers all communication functions, from simple messengers — who are often spirits — to conflict mediation. The Jelennn write and enact the laws of Ravnica, involving the efforts not just of the designated legislators but also a network of bureaucrats: aides, writers, researchers, lobbyists, clerks, and so on. The Lyev work as lawmages, hieromancers, nullmages, investigators and enforcers. The Azorius military, which belongs to this Column, can be broadly separated into hussars (mounted soldiers) and infantry. Arresters specialize in preventing or stopping things from happening. The Lyev Column is also venturing into the work of managing surveillance and precognition. The Lyev were commanded by hussar commander Sarvis, until Dovin Baan removed him from office.
Public Agenda
The Azorius Senate's ultimate goal is the perfection of society. They want to protect the people of Ravnica and foster a community of peace and harmony. A society's values, they contend, are reflected in the laws it creates. Something is good if it is lawful. To the Azorius, the
highest virtue is a society built on stability and order, and the guild's elaborate system of laws is structured
to prevent wrongdoing first and foremost, even at the expense of certain liberties. The Azorius can act as a
benevolent proactive force that keeps evildoers in check, but it can also act as an oppressive bureaucratic force
that stifles freedom and expression. In the absence of the Living Guildpact, the Azorius are
uncertain who is supposed to maintain balance among the guilds. As a group, they are convinced that the system can't be disrupted, but they are challenged by the reality that the one person who is meant to hold their
world together never seems to be around. The Azorius Senate is invoking emergency powers with increasing
frequency, and the Lyev Column's enforcers are wielding an ever-growing amount of influence. The Azorius guild embraces the belief that Ravnican society has come too far to succumb to chaos. Civilization can be saved only through the guidance of a strong,
safety-focused government. In the mind of the Azorius, the threat of chaos is imminent. They believe it is time
to face facts and do whatever is necessary to protect the people and preserve the force of law.
The Azorius, as always, see agents of disorder as their greatest enemies. They have cracked down on the
Gruul Clans and imposed a variety of creatively written laws outlawing that guild's presence in as many public
places as possible. The Azorius also abhor the satirical shows of the Rakdos (in part because the Azorius are
frequently ridiculed by Rakdos performers) and attempt to curb them with new decrees about public performances. In response to attempts by other guilds to edge their way around the system, the Azorius routinely create new laws to support or countermand old ones.
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