V'ai, Herald of the Winter3GG
Legendary Creature - Elemental Elf Druid (MR)
When V’ai enters the battlefield, target player chooses three cards from his or her hand and puts them on top of his or her library in any order. Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay GGG. If you do, return V’ai from your graveyard to the top of your library.
2/3
Summary of V'ai's backstory: V'ai came from a unknown plane of origin that existed on the very edge of the multiverse. This plane had a herald for each season, except for Winter. Through tribulations and trials on her quest, she found the Heart of Winter that was jealously guarded by the dryad known as Maya, the Herald of the Spring. They despised the previous herald of Winter for they would undo their work and slow the world down for a time. Maya, together with the other two Seasonal Heralds had permanently ended the life of the Herald of Winter by ripping out his Heart of Winter; his name had become lost to time for over a thousand years. V'ai fought against Maya but had nearly lost as she laid bleeding out and was severly outmatched. Yet, fortune came to her in the form of a friend she had met along, a kind goblin known as Mek who had tossed her the Heart of Winter to her. When V'ai came in contact with it and it merged within her, she was reborn as the Herald of Winter. With this newfound power she fought back against Maya. V'ai had an opportunity and could have snuffed out Maya's permanently life, but that would have made her no better than Maya. Instead she chose to spare Maya's life, much to the Herald of Spring's disgust and anger.
ADDENDUM: For a more accurate and modern representation of the color pie and also the ETB ability I did a quick whip-up of a tri-colored version:
V'ai, Herald of the Winter2GUB
Legendary Creature - Elf Incarnation (MR)
When V’ai enters the battlefield, for each opponent, that player chooses two cards from his or her hand and puts them on top of his or her library in any order. Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay GUB. If you do, return V’ai from your graveyard to the top of your library.
2/3
Interesting backstory. Landfall for recursion is a fine idea. However, Stunted Growth-like effects are blue-black now. The color pie has changed a whole lot since that card was printed and it's a far cry from green.
Oh but of course. I just personally considered it a fun thought experiment. Added to the original post, in the form an addenum, a more modern version of V'ai that is truer to the current identity of the color pie.
Did a slight tweak to the wording so it affected each opponent, as per Legend's suggestion. Makes me happy to know people would actually want to play her.
The three color version is interesting but too powerful. Unnerve is significantly weaker and only cost 1 less. To up it to three and top of library rather than discard, then add the recursion this would probably have to cost 7, but have a bigger body.
It looks better but the type line is weird. Elementals don't get sapient races, even Titania, Protector of Argoth was only an elemental. The back story is interesting but once they became the embodiment of winter they should have stopped being an elf.
Updated her typeline to make her a "Legendary Creature - Elf Incarnation".
Just for fun, here is the name, color identity and typeline for the other three heralds.
Maya, Herald of the Spring (WUG): Legendary Creature - Dryad Incarnation Verk, Herald of the Summer (WRG): Legendary Creature - Goblin Incarnation Salida, Herald of the Autumn (RBG): Legendary Creature - Dwarf Incarnation
Maya hates V'ia. Loves Verk. Tolerates Salida.
Verk hates V'ia. Loves Maya. Enjoys Salida's company.
Salida enjoys the company from V'ia. Likes Maya and Verk.
V'ia is indifferent to Maya. Has a secret crush for Salida. Hates Verk.
That is actually interesting and makes sense from a seasonal point of view. Also I find it adorable that Vi'a is crushing on Salida. I take it that since Salida is a dwarf and is the autumn herald, she is reminiscent of Oktoberfest. Verk I'm willing to bet is this really buff goblin. Also that Verk and Maya are in a relationship is so cute.
Also just that how its asymmetrical in the colors is fairly interesting. As Spring and Summer have WG, while Autumn and Winter share GB.
Yeah Verk is this short goblin who is lean and muscular.
He is very much a stubborn hothead unlike his loving wife.
His animal spirit is the boar.
Maya is, as far as dryads go, quite beautiful with an hourglass body.
She is often calm and collected along with being kind to travelers but not exactly accepting of all either.
Her animal spirit is the honey bee.
Salida is youthful and in shape on account of all the dancing she enjoys doing.
She really doesn't care what faith people follow or where they are from as long as they enjoy her festivals.
Her animal spirit are dogs.
V'ia is an introverted person and usually prefers the quietness of being by herself or among a few people. So joining in one of Salida's festivals is taxing on her but she is willing to do so to make Salida happy.
Her animal spirit is the bear.
The goblin known as Mek who saved V'ia's life is a wandering merchant who lacks the anger management problems of many a goblin on this plane and instead has a sunny yet humble disposition. Originally he was the one in need of saving from a pack of highwaymen and V'ia did just that. His body is slightly portly as he doesn't exercise as much as he should and often enjoys making time for a snack break.
I like all this lore. It feels appropriate for a Dwarf to be more white and a Goblin to be more black, but the current assignments of colors and roles to the different characters work well. I wonder if you couldn't complete the triples containing green and add a couple of more distant "overheralds" who deal with the transition between seasons, like a green-blue-red Herald of Solstice and a white-black-green Herald of Equinox.
A herald of Equinox (Spring & Autumn) and one of Solstice (Summer & Winter) makes sense. I couldn't help but feel, in a good way, the lore is a mixture of Mirrodin and Lorwyn.
Lorwyn and Mirrodin 1.0 were my favorite blocks at least for storytelling.
As for another update I am currently working on the ETB effects for the now remaining five members since I added a herald for Equinox and one for Solstice. Oiche, Herald of the Equinox (WBG): Legendary Creature - Treefolk Incarnation La, Herald of the Solstice (URG): Legendary Creature - Elemental Incarnation
As for casting costs:
Winter and Spring have a 5cmc
Autumn and Summer have a 4cmc
Solstice and Equinox have a 3cmc.
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V'ai, Herald of the Winter 3GG
Legendary Creature - Elemental Elf Druid (MR)
When V’ai enters the battlefield, target player chooses three cards from his or her hand and puts them on top of his or her library in any order.
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay GGG. If you do, return V’ai from your graveyard to the top of your library.
2/3
Summary of V'ai's backstory: V'ai came from a unknown plane of origin that existed on the very edge of the multiverse. This plane had a herald for each season, except for Winter. Through tribulations and trials on her quest, she found the Heart of Winter that was jealously guarded by the dryad known as Maya, the Herald of the Spring. They despised the previous herald of Winter for they would undo their work and slow the world down for a time. Maya, together with the other two Seasonal Heralds had permanently ended the life of the Herald of Winter by ripping out his Heart of Winter; his name had become lost to time for over a thousand years. V'ai fought against Maya but had nearly lost as she laid bleeding out and was severly outmatched. Yet, fortune came to her in the form of a friend she had met along, a kind goblin known as Mek who had tossed her the Heart of Winter to her. When V'ai came in contact with it and it merged within her, she was reborn as the Herald of Winter. With this newfound power she fought back against Maya. V'ai had an opportunity and could have snuffed out Maya's permanently life, but that would have made her no better than Maya. Instead she chose to spare Maya's life, much to the Herald of Spring's disgust and anger.
ADDENDUM: For a more accurate and modern representation of the color pie and also the ETB ability I did a quick whip-up of a tri-colored version:
V'ai, Herald of the Winter 2GUB
Legendary Creature - Elf Incarnation (MR)
When V’ai enters the battlefield, for each opponent, that player chooses two cards from his or her hand and puts them on top of his or her library in any order.
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay GUB. If you do, return V’ai from your graveyard to the top of your library.
2/3
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Definitely commandery, but a recursion ability isn't very relevant on, well, a commander.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Hmm somewhat relevant if you account for avoiding having to make your commander go back to the command zone. But otherwise yeah.
Just put it into your 99 or into your graveyard whenever you want to circumvent the commander tax.
That said the card is too efficient and annoying the way it is.
I have a fix right here for you...
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
Factions: Sleeping
Remnants: Valheim
Legendary Journey: Heroes & Planeswalkers
Saga: Shards of Rabiah
Legends: The Elder Dragons
Read up on Red Flags & NWO
Just for fun, here is the name, color identity and typeline for the other three heralds.
Maya, Herald of the Spring (WUG): Legendary Creature - Dryad Incarnation
Verk, Herald of the Summer (WRG): Legendary Creature - Goblin Incarnation
Salida, Herald of the Autumn (RBG): Legendary Creature - Dwarf Incarnation
Maya hates V'ia. Loves Verk. Tolerates Salida.
Verk hates V'ia. Loves Maya. Enjoys Salida's company.
Salida enjoys the company from V'ia. Likes Maya and Verk.
V'ia is indifferent to Maya. Has a secret crush for Salida. Hates Verk.
Also just that how its asymmetrical in the colors is fairly interesting. As Spring and Summer have WG, while Autumn and Winter share GB.
He is very much a stubborn hothead unlike his loving wife.
His animal spirit is the boar.
Maya is, as far as dryads go, quite beautiful with an hourglass body.
She is often calm and collected along with being kind to travelers but not exactly accepting of all either.
Her animal spirit is the honey bee.
Salida is youthful and in shape on account of all the dancing she enjoys doing.
She really doesn't care what faith people follow or where they are from as long as they enjoy her festivals.
Her animal spirit are dogs.
V'ia is an introverted person and usually prefers the quietness of being by herself or among a few people. So joining in one of Salida's festivals is taxing on her but she is willing to do so to make Salida happy.
Her animal spirit is the bear.
The goblin known as Mek who saved V'ia's life is a wandering merchant who lacks the anger management problems of many a goblin on this plane and instead has a sunny yet humble disposition. Originally he was the one in need of saving from a pack of highwaymen and V'ia did just that. His body is slightly portly as he doesn't exercise as much as he should and often enjoys making time for a snack break.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
As for another update I am currently working on the ETB effects for the now remaining five members since I added a herald for Equinox and one for Solstice.
Oiche, Herald of the Equinox (WBG): Legendary Creature - Treefolk Incarnation
La, Herald of the Solstice (URG): Legendary Creature - Elemental Incarnation
As for casting costs:
Winter and Spring have a 5cmc
Autumn and Summer have a 4cmc
Solstice and Equinox have a 3cmc.