Order of Heliud on Regatha?
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on July 9, 2015, 3:03 p.m. by OmegaAura113
In one of today's articles on the MTG homepage, the plane of Regatha was described, along with all the residents of the plane. One thing that stuck out to me was the mention of worshipers that follow their god, Heliud. They also mention that Planeswalkers that know of Theros' god (namely Gideon, since he's apparently been to Regatha also) suspect an association between the two, although there's little evidence. Based on the article, I'm thinking this: Heliod is a planeswalker who became a god in the ancient past of Theros.
We saw how Xenagos was a planeswalker that became a god, only to be killed by Elspeth and Ajani. In return for her help, Heliod killed her for "knowing more than a god and what mortals should not know." That in mind, maybe he was scared Elspeth would find out how he became a god and pose a threat to him.
As for how he ascended, maybe something like this: the people of Theros value heroes and people who are willing to put their lives on the line for the Plane, so what if Heliod was a planewalker who, like Elspeth, planeswalked to Theros and killed a powerful creature to make his mark (maybe even the old white god). They would put their faith in him, and similar to how Xenagos became the God of Revels by attending a giant party, maybe he was ascended by something with white-flavor (like a great prayer session to him by followers or something). As eons passed, the people and gods would forget how he arose, except for Kruphix (who's a mystery himself). Knowing Elspeth and Ajani now know the secrets to both creating and overthrowing a god, maybe he was scared he would do to him what they did to Xenagos.
Finally, maybe he was known for spreading his image across the multiverse. It can't be a coincidence that there is the worshiping of the same god on two different planes, so maybe this is remnant from when he was power hungry between planes.Here's the link to the article, I'm curious to see what all of you think!
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/worlds-magic-origins-2015-07-09
MSU_Iced_Z says... #5
Personally, I've always thought Heliod's headgear reminded me of Nicol Bolas's horns. Maybe something he adopted after Nicol Bolas helped him trade in his spark for single-plane godhood. Not like Nicol and Elspeth would get along, so that fits as well.
July 9, 2015 3:57 p.m.
RoarMaster says... #6
When mark rosewater was asked if there was any connection between the two since they had such similar names, he replied "there is no such thing as coincidence in the magic universe". Which leads me to believe that you are on the right track.
July 9, 2015 4:18 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #7
They definitely planted a seed for a future block and subsequent follow up return to Theros block right there. I hope Heliod gets murked, vengeance for Xenagod.
July 9, 2015 4:23 p.m.
Zumic: If I'm not mistaken, Heliod is a Theran god, and I assumed that Heliud was a mispelling. If I am incorrect, or misinterpreted your comment, please let me know. ;)
July 9, 2015 4:53 p.m.
I hope Xenagod secretly had a Satyr baby who will be swayed by Nichol Bolas to slay Heliod for revenge and then travel to the underworld and fight Erebos who is all like "eeeyyy, Chill out little Satyr baby!" Then Babygos be like "Oh no you didn't! I'm about to give hell a new ***hole."
Meanwhile Jace was having dreams of his past which become distored by visions of people and Satyr's alike screaming and burning. He then wakes up and is like "Oh god these visions!" and comes to the plane of Theros to see everything torn apart by Babygos who is enraged because he expected Elspeth to still be in the Underwold but she's not there!
It seem's Jace's Erasure is the only hope of calming Babygos who is now planeswalking through the multiverse and won't be stopped on his rampage and revenge! Even if Jace can confront his past and learn how he erased others minds once again it might be to late! Will Jace find Babygos in time or will the Multiverse go to war!? You'll only find out by tuning in next week to Magic the Reckoning on KWB!
Oh god I want to trade all of my musical skills for manga skills. Some times I feel like the enjoyment I could give people through manga and anime is much greater than things I've felt through music. Mostly because with music it's easier to give people the feels but harder to get them excited.
July 9, 2015 4:54 p.m.
Maringam I believe the spelling was intentional. Apparently the people of Regatha worship a deity named Heliud. The entire point of this thread is to call to attention the similarity between the people of Regatha worshiping a god called Heliud, and the people of Theros worshiping a god called Heliod.
July 9, 2015 5:04 p.m.
I think that your theory is a bit...outlandish. I could see an older Planeswalker from Theros going to Regatha and founding that order, which had Heliod's name get misspelled and misinterpreted over the years. But your theory is too out there.
July 9, 2015 5:07 p.m.
(this is me thinking out loud, this may or may not be accurate)
RETURN TO THEROS:
Gideon returns to Theros shortly after the events of Journey into Nyx have happened. When he arrives, he returns to his home polis of Akros. However, he forgets that he changed his name, and so the people don't recognize him anymore. Filled with grief, he wanders around Theros until he stumbles upon Brimaz and his kitties. Ajani is among them and tells Gideon what happened in the Theros block (Xenagos ascending, the gods versus mortals, and him and Elspeth traveling through Nyx, and killing Xenagod). Ajani also tells Gideon of Elspeth's fate; Heliod has murdered her with Godsend and sent her to the Underworld with Erebos. Gideon is mortified, knowing that Heliod used to be his patron god. He then sets out with Ajani to reclaim Elspeth from the Underworld.
On their travels, they face off against many monsters and terrors. Ashiok is also present, warping their minds in an attempt to lead the astray. Gideon and Ajani fight Ashiok and are victorious. They finally find themselves in front of Kruphix. Kruphix then allows the two Planeswalkers to traverse into Nyx.
They then set out on their journey through Nyx. Once they reach Athreos at the gates of the Underworld, they show him their immense powers as Planeswalkers. Athreos agrees to let them pass. They search around for Elspeth's soul and find her as a lifeless entity wearing a copper funeral mask. Ajani uses a healing mantra to restore Elspeth to her former state. However, since she is still undead she can now channel black mana.
The trio then return to the surface to find Theros in all-out war, similar to the Born of the Gods era of things. They discover that this is because Heliod is really pissed off that Elspeth is alive again. They return to Kruphix to try and find answers as to why this is happening. Kruphix then has a revelation and realizes that Heliod is the reason why he is seeing visions of other worlds... Heliod is a Planeswalker who ascended to godhood.
NAME OF SET TWO:
Knowing this, Gideon's assumptions were correct; the Order of Heliud on Regatha and Heliod are connected. He speculates that Heliud's spark ignited and he was viewed as a god among the people of Regatha. He wasn't actually a god, however, and when he stumbled upon a newly formed plane where he could become a god, he sacrificed his Planeswalker spark so that he could assume control over the plane that would later become Theros. The only problem was that the way Heliod ascended and the way Xenagos ascended were different. Xenagos initiated the Great Revel, and he used that energy to ascend. But where did Heliod's energy come from?
It is here we discover that Heliod made a deal with the ancient dragon-Planeswalker Nicol Bolas. Heliod gave his spark to the Elder Dragon in exchange for dominion over Theros. Bolas used a portion of the Maelstrom on Alara to set the rivers of Theros (in Mana Confluence's flavor text) to give the plane the access to the five colors of mana. Heliod then used these rivers to shape Theros into the world it is today. He even created the rest of the pantheon, excluding the 
god. Kruphix is the only other god that wasn't created by Heliod. This is beacuse he was a product of Nyx and Theros itself; this explains why he can see into Theros' past and future.
The trio of Planeswalkers battle among the polis' of Akros and Setessa to get to Heliod. When they reach him, he appears in a primordial form similar to Xenagos' form in Nyx. In reality, the skies of Nyx have descended to meet the mortal realm of Theros, blending them into one reality. The three Planeswalkers infuse with Nyx itself, making them partially Nyxborn. This attachment to the plane prohibits their ability to Planeswalk.
The Planeswalkers battle it out, and ultimately Gideon, Ajani, and Elspeth are victorious. But this victory comes at a cost. Elspeth sacrificed herself to mortally wound Heliod in the battle, believing that Gideon and Ajani could return to the Underworld to reclaim her soul once more. However, this isn't the case. When Heliod dies, the entire pantheon dies with him. The only remaining deity is Kruphix, for he came out of the primordial Theros itself. Kruphix explains that the Underworld doesn't exist anymore, and so Elspeth is forever lost to the Blind Eternities. Ajani is filled with grief and Planeswalks away. Gideon remains on Theros to eliminate the roaming hoards of minotaurs, hydras, and other beasts that remained.
In the aftermath, the citizens of Theros are in turmoil. Since their gods are dead, they have no reason to stick to the moral code imposed by them. The polis' become essentially lawless, and the people in them commit unspeakable crimes. Gideon takes it upon himself to reclaim the name Kytheon Iora and assume control over Theros as a governmental figurehead. The polis' agree to this, longing for a sense of submission and law (this situation is similar to Jace becoming the Living Guildpact, keeping peace between the Guilds). In the end, Kytheon is the "ruler" of Theros, with Kruphix as his guide, providing insight and wisdom.
This is probably really wrong, but it's fun to speculate :D
July 9, 2015 5:18 p.m.
mcerawisc94 says... #15
Screenshot from Magic Duels. So Hixus' mentor was also a planeswalker, and oh, look whose statue that is right behind them. It's Heliod! Foreshadowing?
July 9, 2015 6:32 p.m.
notamardybum says... #20
Maybe it's just an alternate universe of the same place and people, except o's are u's
July 10, 2015 12:01 a.m.
mcerawisc94 says... #21
Link to the image of Hixus and Kytheon with Heliod statue."Hixus believes your natural talent for wielding magic belies something special about you. He suspects that - like his own mentor - you may be a Planeswalker."
July 10, 2015 1:44 a.m.
mcerawisc94 I don't think Heliod mentored Hixus in the same way that Hixus mentored Kytheon. Usually, gods teach mortals and their champions through means of gifts or revelations, not necessarily by hands-on experience and learning.
But it's definitely possible that Hixus means Heliod. If that were true, though, Hixus would know about the whole disillusion that I mentioned in my long post about what Return to Theros block could look like (it's up there if you didn't see it). I mean, don't you think Hixus would tell somebody that one of the pantheon wasn't even from Theros?
July 10, 2015 2:20 a.m.
RussischerZar says... #23
I think I recall from the Elspeth episode that Heliod is definitely not a Planeswalker.
What I think happened is that Gideon has a really bad accent and/or speech impediment so on Bant he's like "My name is Kytheon." - "Gideon you say? Hmkay."
Later on Regatha: "Heliod is the best god." - "Ok, let's all worship Heliud!" - "Dammit people that's not -- ah why do I even bother."
July 10, 2015 6:30 a.m. Edited.
RussischerZar says... #24
Also: although this is very much a speculation, I'd say this thread would be better suited in the lore forum. :)
The speculation forum is more about spoilered cards as well as possible future cards and reprints.
July 10, 2015 6:41 a.m.
bennybubbles says... #26
JDMCRIB if your little story is even remotely true then you will become my new Lord Helix. That would be an epic way to return to Theros and imagine the flavourful cards that it could produce. We need to get WOTC to do that
July 10, 2015 7:46 a.m.
Maringam I assumed you were trolling. That's actually how they spell it on Regatha so it's kind of a tongue-in-cheek reference.
July 10, 2015 8:29 a.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #28
Just to point out, it's the Order of Heliud - that doesn't suggest that they worship Helius as a god, but rather that some guy named Heliud started the order (or was central to it).
July 10, 2015 9:57 a.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #29
From the article: Relatively little is known about Regatha, Chandra Nalaar's adopted plane. Notably, it's home to Keral Keep, a monastery of fire-monks where Chandra trained as a pyromancer. Other prominent locations include the Great Western Wood, home to reclusive elves, and the city of Zinara, ruled by a religious faction known as the Order of Heliud. Planeswalkers who are aware of both the Order of Heliud on Regatha and the sun god Heliod on Theros, such as Gideon, speculate that there may be some connection between the twobut no concrete association has so far presented itself.
July 10, 2015 10:21 a.m.
bennybubbles Thanks a lot! Honestly I have no idea of anything in that story made sense lore-wise, but it makes sense standalone (somewhat).
July 10, 2015 12:46 p.m.
Ah, thanks for the clarification. :) I just looked it up.
Maringam says... #2
*Heliod
July 9, 2015 3:38 p.m.