Orzhova
Orzhova is the guildhall of the Orzhov Syndicate on Ravnica, and the seat of their council of ghosts - the Obzedat. It is located on the western edge of Tenth District Plaza.
Sometimes called the Cathedral Opulent or the Church of Deals, Orzhova is a lavish cathedral with spiky spires, soaring ceilings, designed to make anyone who enters it feel insignificant and out-of-scale by comparison. Overblown stained glass windows and oversized marble statues depict an array of wealthy bishops, enforcer angels, and ghosts. "Gray sisters", robed nuns, handle all the menial chores in the cathedral.
Below the church lies a bejeweled catacomb that preserves the mummified bodies of the Ghost Council. It was constructed millennia ago, and ancient protection magic lines the walls. This magic is old enough that the laws of the Guildpact do not impact what happens inside.
Purpose / Function
Hierarchy
The Syndicate used to be presided over by a council of ghosts, the Obzedat, in Orzhova, the Church of Deals. Below the obzedat stood the olicharchs, elite families who have belonged to the Orzhov for generations, and the pontiffs (executive managers). Orzhov aristocrats move very slowly from magically prolonged life to semi-undeath to ghosthood. Ministrants are the priests and practitioners of Orzhov's religion. This is the highest position anyone can hope to obtain without being born within the guild. On the same level stand the knights. who provide the muscle for collecting money on time and in an orderly fashion. The lowermost position in the guild is taken by the syndics (attorneys, advisors, accountants, couriers etc.). Borrowers are not part of the guild, but they can't escape their debt even after their death.
The Cartels
Reporting to the Obzedat is a web of competing cartels, which are the individually operating units of the Orzhov Syndicate. Each cartel claims different territories and markets across Ravnica, and each has its own internal hierarchy of priests, advokists (lawmages), enforcers, and others. Each cartel is ruled by a cardinal or kingpin whose role is somewhere between gang leader, bank manager, and high priest.
Long lived
The high-ranking members of the Orzhov use magical means known as the Orzhov Blood to extend their lives, but are mutated in many ways that they pass on to their offspring. For example, one of Teysa Karlov's legs is practically useless, and therefore she has been forced to use a walking cane since she learned to walk. Members of the Obzedat were called the Deathless, as they had managed to cheat mortality, maintaining their consciousness (and their greed) beyond the threshold of death. Most of the Deathless appeared as morbidly obese high priests or nobles, but sickly, pale, and ghostly in form. They craved wealth, respect, and loyalty.
Type
Guildhall
Parent Location
Owner
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Comments