Is Josu Vess Related to Liliana? Unraveling the Family Ties of a Magic: The Gathering Legend
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
Yes, Josu Vess is indeed the brother of Liliana Vess. This fact is foundational to understanding Liliana’s backstory and the complex web of relationships that define her character within the Magic: The Gathering (MTG) universe. Born on the plane of Dominaria, in the region of Benalia, Liliana and Josu shared a close family life with their father. Their early lives in Benalia and their shared experiences had a profound effect on both their trajectories, though their paths would diverge dramatically as they grew. This bond of kinship is a significant component of Liliana’s character, even as she makes choices that often seem to betray such familial ties.
The Early Life of Liliana and Josu
Liliana’s origins are rooted in a life of healing and devotion to order. Alongside her brother, Josu, she was raised in Benalia and became a part of the Forward Order, a group of clerics dedicated to the wellbeing of their community. Liliana’s talent in healing was evident early on, leading her to study under a woman named Ana, honing her abilities to aid others. However, while Liliana initially embraced the path of a healer, the temptations of forbidden knowledge would eventually lead her down a different, darker road.
Josu, while not as frequently explored in the lore as Liliana, remains a crucial part of her origins story. The shared experiences with his sister in Benalia likely formed the foundation of her later struggles with identity, loyalty, and the burden of her past. Though their paths diverged significantly, the sibling bond serves as a poignant reminder of her past, representing a life that could have been had she not succumbed to darker powers. While Josu’s full story isn’t as highlighted as Liliana’s, their relationship underscores the themes of family, morality, and lost innocence within Liliana’s character arc.
Liliana’s Descent into Darkness
Liliana’s life took a sharp turn when she began exploring forbidden magic. Driven by the allure of power and a desire to transcend the limitations of her mortal existence, she sought out and entered into pacts with four powerful demons: Kothophed, Soul Hoarder, Griselbrand, Razaketh, the Foulblooded, and Demonlord Belzenlok. In exchange for her soul, these demons granted her immense power and eternal youth. This pact forever altered her trajectory, transforming her from a healer to a necromancer, and deeply contrasting with her upbringing alongside Josu. The stark divergence in their paths highlights the impact of the choices Liliana made, particularly how far from her original path in Benalia she had wandered.
This choice not only granted her immense power, but also cemented her as one of the more morally grey figures in the Magic the Gathering canon. Her actions, though they often involve assisting the heroes, have underlying selfishness and self-preservation at the core of them. The brother and sister relationship serves as a reminder of the life she left behind, one of good intent and healing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Liliana Vess and Her Family
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify details about Liliana Vess and her family:
What was Josu Vess’s Role in Benalia?
Josu Vess’s exact role within Benalia society and the Forward Order isn’t extensively detailed in the lore. However, given that he and Liliana were both residents of Benalia, it’s safe to assume that he played a part in their community and likely shared a similar upbringing focused on community and healing, which further emphasizes how greatly Liliana’s choices differ from her upbringing.
Did Josu and Liliana have a close relationship?
While the lore doesn’t explicitly delve into the intricacies of their relationship, being siblings living in the same household and being in the same community and Forward Order strongly suggests they shared a close bond during their youth. This bond would have been before the dark powers began to corrupt her path, which makes her eventual shift to necromancy even more dramatic.
How old is Liliana Vess?
Although her specific age remains unknown, Liliana is well over two hundred years old, maintaining her youthful appearance due to the pact she made with the four demons. The longevity she gained greatly contrasts with the natural lifespan of her brother, adding to the tragic nature of her decisions.
Why is Liliana in Strixhaven?
On the plane of Arcavios, Liliana is disguised as Professor Serafina Onyx and is studying within Strixhaven’s Biblioplex. Her motives revolve around finding a way to resurrect Gideon Jura, which underscores a rare act of remorse and desire for redemption in her story.
Who is Gideon Jura to Liliana?
Gideon is someone Liliana respects and has a form of attachment to. His sacrifice to save her is a significant moment for her development, revealing a capacity for loyalty despite her dark path. She even tries to find a way to bring him back to life in the Strixhaven storyline, proving that there is a part of her that does care about others.
What are the details of Liliana’s pact with the demons?
Liliana’s pact with the four demons granted her power and eternal youth in exchange for her soul. This contract drastically altered her life and led her down a path of necromancy and self-preservation. This pact also made her a “pre-mending” planeswalker, meaning that before the power of planeswalkers was greatly reduced in the lore, she had much more power.
Is Liliana considered evil?
While Liliana’s actions have often been selfish and morally ambiguous, she’s not entirely villainous. Her love of power and self-interest have driven her to dark deeds, but there are moments where she shows a capacity for connection and even remorse. In her early life, she wanted to be a healer.
Who is the most powerful version of Liliana?
Liliana of the Veil is generally considered her most powerful incarnation, due to her disruptive abilities in games and control she has over the board.
Who is Liliana in love with?
The lore suggests that Jace Beleren is Liliana’s primary romantic attachment. Their relationship is complex, often involving manipulation, betrayal, and reconciliation, but is a significant relationship throughout the MTG story.
Who was the main antagonist in Strixhaven?
Extus was the primary villain in the Strixhaven storyline, which is where we see Liliana operating under her alias as Professor Serafina Onyx in an attempt to resurrect Gideon.
How powerful is Liliana Vess?
Liliana’s power varies with her use of necromancy, but she is known to be stronger than Jace Beleren. She can control undead, from hordes of zombies to beings that rival planeswalkers in strength.
What did Liliana do to Garruk?
Using the Chain Veil, Liliana cursed Garruk Wildspeaker, warping his summoning powers and physically corrupting him. This act underscores her ruthlessness and willingness to use any means necessary to gain an advantage.
Why did Gideon save Liliana?
Gideon’s deep belief in his friends and his refusal to lose faith in them, despite their actions, led him to sacrifice himself to save Liliana. This shows the immense trust he had in her, even when the rest of the MTG world would have preferred her demise.
Is Liliana Vess a pre-mending Planeswalker?
Yes, Liliana is a pre-mending planeswalker, meaning she was granted her power before the Mending of Dominaria, a major event in the MTG lore that greatly diminished the power of many planeswalkers. Her pre-mending status explains the level of her strength and the extent of her powers.
Does Liliana still have her spark?
Yes, Liliana still possesses her Planeswalker spark and is able to travel between planes. This means she continues to be a major player in the ongoing narrative of MTG and will likely continue to play a role in the story moving forward.
Conclusion
The relationship between Josu and Liliana Vess is a crucial element in understanding Liliana’s complicated character and her motivations. Josu serves as a reminder of her past and the life she once had, highlighting her tragic fall from grace and her complex journey in the Magic: The Gathering universe. Her choices and actions, often contrasting with the kind upbringing she had, make her one of the most fascinating and controversial figures in MTG lore. Her story continues to evolve, making her a compelling and captivating character.