Atarka

Atarka's History

Atarka is one of the five elder dragons of Tarkir. She is a robust beast with antlers, horns, and fur. She breathes green flames. The ultimate predator, Atarka spends her days, and most of her nights, hunting and feasting.

Atarka and her brood emerged fully-fledged from Ugin's dragon tempests and were drawn to Tarkir's mountain slopes, driven by hunger alone. Atarka and her brood were revered by the Temur Frontier for their savagery. In the original timeline, after Ugin's death, they lost the battle against the clans of Tarkir. No new broods were created and they all were killed or died from other causes. Atarka in that timeline never reached elder status.

In the new timeline created by Sarkhan Vol, Atarka's barely sapient mentality proved to be the salvation to the Temur, as Yasova satiated her hunger by feeding her mammoth carcasses, distracting the dragons from attacking her clan. Fearful of the elementalism wielded by the shamans of the Temur, the Atarka dragons eventually initiated a purge that only a few could evade and outlawed the title "Dragonclaw".

Eighteen years after the Khanfall, Atarka confronted Yasova's hunting band after the death of two Atarka and Ojutai broodlings. The band were only saved because Tae Jin had a vision of Nicol Bolas, and impressed Atarka with his tale.

Led by Surrak, the Hunt Caller, the former Temur of the present remain fairly independent - as long as the dragons are fed. Savagery and strength are their greatest assets. The clan was joined by the Efreet of Qadat (formerly Jeskai Way). They were won over by Atarka's promise to spread the glory of fire to all the world. Atarka is worshipped and fed by her subjects at Ayagor, the Dragon's Bowl. The dragons spend most of their time hunting or fighting among themselves. Atarka serving-goblins coat themselves with grease imbued with noxious herbs, hoping to discourage their ravenous masters from adding them to the meal. The frontier ainok sometimes hunt alongside the humans of the clan. They quickly grab a share of the meat and scatter to their dens before the dragon can notice and catch them.