Magic the Gathering and Gender Idenitiy



Returning older cast in new expansion "Dominaria"
   Magic the Gathering is a popular card game, created by Wizards of the Coast, that has existed since 1993. This high fantasy game has kept a long and expansive lore that has focused on different worlds, called planes, that can be traveled to with the rare ability some mages are born with, called planeswalking. Through its 25 years of story has had various characters come and go as they attempt to save these planes from unique threats that trouble them. From wars of gods versus humans, monstrous half organic half machine abominations to even a immortal planeswalking dragon. Despite this long story and large amount of worlds we have only recently begun to give characters who are not just straight white males the spotlight. Beyond just a breif spotlight about them before they are quickly forgotten.  Though the current cast is all white people solving everyone's problems (with various degrees of them actually being successful), with the help of a few minor non white characters. Though the female elf Nissa is implied to be in an on again off again relationship with the poster girl of the game, a bisexual pyromancer named Chandra. Making the game at least some representation in their main cast, even if its not racial.
    This exploration of sexuality and gender has led to Wizards of the Coast to create their first transgender character in the 2015 expansion, Fate Reforged,  named Alesha, Who Smiles at Death. This character is the Khan, or leader, of a war bound horde called the Mardu,on the plane of Tarkir who are fighting for survival against not only other Khans but the various dragons who inhabit the world.
Alesha commanding the Madru
Alesha in battle
The story titled "The Truth in Names", written by James Wyatt tells of the her questioning an orc in her warband who is allowing other people gain glory for killing the dragons they are currently fighting. As the Mardu are given their war name once they have committed a noteworthy deed on the battlefield. The orc tells her "You tell me this? A human boy who thinks he's a woman?", even with this attempted insult she remains calm and leads the clan to victory. Despite this orc's comment, the majority of the Mardu are not shown to be bothered by her choice as shown during her flashback when she announced  her new name, as the person names themselves when the Khan ask for it. ""Alesha" she said, as loudly as she could. Just Alesha, her grandmother's name. "Alesha!" the khan shouted without a moments pause. And the whole gathered horde shouted "Alesha!" in reply. The warriors of Mardu shouted her name." Eventually  after showing the orc that his actions of saving other clan mates is a noteworthy deed worthy of celebration the orc  returns the kindness by dubbing her Alesha, Who Smiles at Death, as she was seen smiling after killing a dragon in a single blow.
A dragons of Tarkir, one of Kolaghan's brood
  The character of Alesha is shown throughout the story to be a wise and commanding leader as she leads her warriors to victory in many battles against dragons and other Khans. She is shown to be a respected leader of the Mardu  as shown by the orc's comment later "The orc took a step closer and spoke more quietly."As you say, my khan, I do not know myself. But I know you, I follow you-""
However due to the storyline at the time we were not given much time with her beyond a few stories as their were four other Khans to focus on as well as the dragons taking over due to the character of Sarkhan, who was a Mardu, traveling back in time to allow the dragons to rule. Rather then have the Khans fighting over various resources making Alesha the last khan the new time, as she came to be ruled by the dragon queen, Kolaghan. With her eventually dying due to unknown reasons. Despite this  being the first step into putting more transgender characters in the game, as both her character and card are wildly popular in the community, Wizard of the Coast has not made an attempt to create any more transgender characters since. Instead they seem to giving brief spotlights for non-white characters then forgetting them for the next part of the story, however as the main cast has had a recent falling out this may be the perfect to fill some of the new shoes allowing us to see a more diverse cast.


The current main cast, minus Lilliana (a white necromancer)









Lilliana (purple) and fellow main character Gideon

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