In his dreams of home, the sun is a ball of blood, and the the death screams of men drown out the thunderstorms.
The great demon Mortifax has ripped his way into Thanreus by latching onto an unwitting Danse. A war demon from Valla, minor in comparison to his monstrous brethen, he has torn his way into a new world where he will rule, where the energy unleashed from violence and blood may be his feast alone. But the air is too still, too quiet, the inhabitants too complacent. The word 'peaceful' burns beneath his tattered shawl of skins. But the pieces are there; just enough that a few deft moves will tip the world into chaos and steel and blood. There's enough kindling to start the greatest fire Thanreus will have ever seen.
The first step will be deception and subterfuge. Whispers from mirrors, apparations, nightmares, glorious dreams, a few individuals slaughtered in the right place, a few choice words spoken by servants to masters and enemies to one another.
A few kings and queens moving where he requires, and they will fall in their millions.
♤♤♤
Remember, serious changes have been made to the competition structure.
Read about it here, or below in the How It Works spoiler.
♤♤♤
The Challenges.
CHOOSE 2.
I. Create a creature card that combos with your commander.
II. Create an instant or sorcery card that combos with your commander.
III. Create an artifact, enchantment or land card that combos with your commander.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
I. If you haven't designed a commander yet, obviously you need to. You may make changes to the commander you made last round, or even make a new one. You may use up totwo different commanders; each of your cards must reference at least one of these commanders and please denote which is which. Submit your commander(s) with the cards. The commander(s) itself will not be critiqued.
II. Your cards must be in your commander's color identity or be colorless. (Color identity includes mana costs in the rules text, a la red for Vulshok Replica.)
PERSONAL LORE CHALLENGE.
Thanreus is seeing a touch of conflict, but Mortifax will see to it that it explodes into a true war. And to begin his unseen campaign, he will reach his fingers into the minds of the few individuals who will sway the armies and civillians to war - your commanders.
Compose a piece of writing, in any style you wish (journal entries, letters, prose) showing Mortifax manipulating your commander to war. This can come in any number of ways of your choice, including haunting whispers, prophetic visions, hallucinations, manipulation of documents, possession of servants and messangers, etc. These pieces of writing should precipitate action and conflict with other races, as well as give insight into the weakness of your race, epitomized in your commander, that have allowed Mortifax to worm his way into their minds.
Minimum word count is 200 words.
DUE DATES.
Cards Due 8AM GMT, Sunday, 24 June.
Rankings Due 8AM GMT, Tuesday, 26 June.
Informational Hazards.
THE PRO TOUR
The Magic Wars is a two-month long event that fires off the Winter Pro Tour season. Because of this, it's a double qualifier - both first and second place will get an invite into the Winter Pro Tour!
SCORING
Each player will play with an individual score which determines cuttoffs during the second month and the final rankings for the end. Points for individual scores each round are made up of both a card score and a lore score, the latter out of 20, which is calculated from rankings by players.
Individual scores are reset at the beginning of July (Round 5). During the second month, a teamwork bonus is also applicable to the individual scores - read below.
PRO POINTS
The highest scoring players of each team get a Pro Tour Invite. finalist teams get a Pro Tour Invite. All finalists get Pro Points, as outlined below:
1st: 16 2nd: 10 3rd - 4th: 8 5th - 10th: 4
Please note that second place does not necessarily mean you get an invite, if first is on your team.
ROUND MAKEUP
There will be 8 Rounds for the two months. Each Round take place over 7/8 days, with 4 days for entries and 4 days for critiques. Each Round will involve the main card challenge, giving you three card creation challenges from which you pick two.
In addition, there will be a personal lore challenge. These are short writing assignments based on your race, in response to some task or question, such as "Write about the worst day in your race's history." These creative pieces are to be submitted with your cards.
Critiquing will be done sort-of like a CCL; you'll be assigned a team to critique and then ranking the players of that team. So instead of a Top 3, it's more like a Top 5/6. This is slightly more work but in exchange, giving reviews/critiques is absolutely optional. Your average rank will then be calculated, multipled by 10 and then added to your score; for example, let's say that there are 6 people in a team and you were ranked 1st, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 4th and 6th. Then your average rank is calculated in terms of points (with 1st = 6, etc.) and multipled by 10 to give you a final +38 to your score.
In addition to this, you will also need to rank the team's lore pieces, submitted with the cards. A similar grading system will be used, except final points are downsized to a maximum of 20.
THE FIRST LEG
Rounds 1 - 4 happen in June. At the end of the month, the two highest scoring players of each team make it to the next month.
THE SECOND LEG
Rounds 5 - 8 happen in July. The ten finalists form two teams (of their own choice). Critique assignments this time will be easy: during Rounds 5 - 7, you will be critiquing the opposing team.
During Rounds 5 - 7, a similar system to June will be used, except with the addition of the teamwork bonus. The amount of helpful teamwork apparent in your team threads will be evaluated by the organisers (myself, NotoriousLynx, perhaps Megiddo and Diefi00) and give you a bonus out of 10 to be added to your team's individual scores. This will give you the edge over the other team.
At the end of Round 7, the final rankings are largely decided. However, in Round 8, the highest scoring players of each team are taken for the final match in Round 8. While both of these players receive an Invite nonetheless, they will duke it out for 1st place, more Pro Points and the mantle of having won The Magic Wars! The winner is then decided with a poll.
Team Conclave critiques Team GentleMons.
Team Wynaut critiques Team V.
Team Consuming Ruin critiques Team Conclave.
Team GentleMons critiques Team Wynaut.
Team V critiques Team Consuming Ruin.
The Magic Wars planned by NotoriousLynx, Diefi00 and yours truly.
Megiddo would also like credit but he's a greedy *****.
so um what happens if i have multiple (read: 13) commanders and I have cards for multiple.
Clarification:
Ok, clarification: the commander cards will be involved in Round 3. For this lore challenge, you can make as many as you want (within reason, of course, because a billion legends won't make sense), but come Round 3 you may use only up to TWO of them for Round 3 related machinations.
Legendary Creature- Cloudwalker Cleric (M) Imbue
Whenever you or a spell or permanent you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter that spell or ability unless its controller pays 2 for each card imbuing Iro Voi, Noctiluminescent.
2/2
My cards don't actually go with Iro Voi, but he's mentioned in my lore, so I figured I would include his card.
Questioner Imrahim
1UR
Legendary Creature- Cloudwalker Wizard (R) UR,T, Return a permanent you control to its owner’s hand: The next spell you cast this turn costs X less to cast, where X is the returned permanent’s converted mana cost.
1/3
Iro Voi, Noctiluminescent of the Church of the Celestial Cloud, stood motionless at the edge of his balcony. Before him, far below, spread the city of Marenhelm, glistening in the light of the stars, the moon, and the Nebula high above. Behind him, the white marble of which the Church was built formed the many-windowed, circular wall of his chambers, and the crystal roof curved up and away. Within him, amidst the pale white mist that filled his body, floated spherical lights of pale yellow, azure, and red. He wore nothing but a braided silver rope draped over his shoulder, a mark of his station.
“I have finally heard them, Chezen,” he said without turning. His voice, deep and strong, reverberated within Chezen's body like the toll of a bell. “The Vosuj. One of them has appeared to me.”
Chezen remained in the doorway. He did not answer immediately. Iro Voi's claim was not one Chezen had been prepared to hear, and he had no sensible response. “Sir?”
“Did you understand me, Chezen?” Iro Voi said. “The Vosuj. They exist still!” Iro Voi turned, approaching Chezen. “This is the greatest revelation in my time as Noctiluminescent.”
Chezen turned his head skyward, focusing his senses on the brilliant light of the Nebula, tasting the warm reds and the soothing blues. If what the Noctiluminescent said was true, it could alter entirely the course on which the Unveilers had recently set the Cloudwalker people. It would mean that the Church had been right all along, that the Cloudwalkers should never have allied with the Others.
“Noctiluminescent,” Chezen said, bringing his focus back to Iro Voi. He would have reached out and grabbed the Noctiluminescent, had years of training in etiquette not restrained him. “Please, tell me what you have seen.”
Iro Voi walked back to the edge of the balcony, looking out over Marenhelm. “It is difficult to describe, Chezen. It came to me as I meditated. A series of impressions, with little coherence. The Vosuj did not truly speak to me. It was a figure of light, not so different in shape from you or I. It buffeted the space around it with gales of red and slashes of blue. I'm not sure how, or why, but I came to understand that we must not involve ourselves in the war that is brewing. We must not. We must remain here, in Marenhelm, and meditate on the Nebula. If we continue to do that, the power of the Vosuj will return to us.”
A pulse emanated from Chezen, the Cloudwalker equivalent of a gasp. “Can this truly be, Noctiluminescent? If what you say is true...”
“It is true,” Iro Voi said harshly. “I believe it with my very soul.”
“Then we must inform the rest of the Church. We must tell Senator Korian first, so that he can relay this information to the Senate tomorrow.”
“Yes, we must,” Iro Voi said. “And, most importantly, we must tell the Unveilers that we will no longer humor even slightly their consorting with the Feyrin and their filthy allies.”
A darkness lurked like a shadow behind Questioner Imrahim's vision. It had a smokey, bitter flavor, which frightened Imrahim. Darkness had no taste. By definition, it was the absence of flavor, the absence of light and warmth. What frightened him further when he had asked Imerer, his bonded Esferi, about the darkness, and Imerer had known nothing about it. Imrahim had quickly dropped the topic, not wanting to make the skittish Imerer paranoid. Whatever the darkness was, it made Imrahim angry. He was convinced that it was the work of one of the Cloudwalker's enemies that had somehow pierced both the magic of Marenhelm and Imrahim's own personal shields. Perhaps it was the Dream Wisps, the mysterious beings that were said to manipulate others through their dreams. The Cloudwalkers did not dream, and thus, as far has Imrahim knew, were immune to the Dream Wisps' abilities. Even if the Dream Wisps had somehow found a way past this limitation and Imrahim's various defenses, it didn't explain why they had targeted him.
Imrahim shook himself out of his pondering. He ran his hand along Imerer's back, who lay on the floor at his side. With his other hand, he summoned a small sphere of white cloud, from which he pulled a golden pen with a light at its tip. He waved the cloud away and began studying the papers on his desk. Their glowing lines of text had a sweet, clean taste. The only one he was truly concerned with was the order concerning the Ember Cloudspires. When this order went through, groups of Unveiler Kestrels would be sent out across the continents, dropping these special Cloudspires in strategic locations. Unlike the Cloudspires that protected Marenhelm and, as of recently, the cities of the Cloudwalker's allies, the Ember Cloudspires were offensive in nature. Just like their defensive cousins, the Ember Cloudspires released streams of opaque white clouds. But the Ember Cloudspires were smaller, and their clouds were laced with brilliantly hot, star-like lights that made passage through them extremely difficult once they were active. This would be the first offensive act the Cloudwalker race had ever undertaken, and it had not been agreed upon by the Senate. In fact, Grand Questioner Norlan Evet and Senator Ivnarian knew nothing of it. Imrahim added his signature next to Grand Kestrel Veisham's, then called to his secretary.
“Process this immediately,” he commanded. “And see too it that Farwalker Chell's team is the first sent out. Their assignment is the most important.” His secretary nodded and quickly left the office.
Imrahim rose from his desk and walked to his window, grabbing his favorite bauble from his desk to roll about in his hand, a piece of carved crystal shaped to reflect light in delicious rainbows. Imerer followed, slinking about Imrahim's heels. Farwalker Chell was one of Imrahim's most competent agents, though ostensibly, Chell was under the command of Grand Kestrel Veisham. His team was to install Ember Cloudspires around the homes of races which he had himself discovered were mobilizing for war. Imrahim also strongly suspected that those races were under the influence of the Dream Wisps, and he hoped that the presence of the Ember Cloudspires in that area would inhibit the Dream Wisps' influence and lessen that bitter taste tainting his senses. If not, then Imrahim hoped that any of the dozens of Cloudspires he had sent the Farwalkers out to install would somehow relieve the darkness that plagued him. With true luck, the Ember Cloudspires would prove even more effective than he suspected, and the other races of Thanreus would succumb to their flames and die, leaving the Cloudwalkers alone in peace.
(Sorry to whoever is reading this- I don't know how to do indents.)
Challenge I
Synergy with Questioner Imrahim
Scion of the Blank Cloud
UUUU
Creature- Cloudwalker Wizard(U) Flying
If you control a blue permanent, you may spend mana of any color as though it were blue mana to cast Scion of the Blank Cloud
When Scion of the Blank Cloud enters the battlefield, draw a card.
4/3
Challenge III
Synergy with Questioner Imrahim
Imrahim's Bauble
1
Artifact (C) When Imrahim's Bauble enters or leaves the battlefield, add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Cloudwalkers have a taste for anything that alters the flavor of light.
Xalin, Mechina Visionary4UU Artifact Creature - Vaelshii Construct Artificer (MR)
Equipment attached to Xalin, Mechina Visionary gain all abilities of each equipment you control not attached to Xalin and cannot become unnattached from Xalin. (If an effect would unattach an equipment, it doesn't.)
3/5
Gorahm, Augmenta Savant3GG Creature - Vaelshii Mutant Wizard (MR)
Gorahm, Augmenta Savant may be enchanted as though it was any permanent type.
If an aura that could enchant Gorahm would be put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may attach it to Gorahm instead.
5/3
Amalgamate Abomination3UUG Creature - Vaelshii Mutant (R)
You may have Amalgamate enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield.
When Amalgamate Abomination enters the battlefield, for each card attached to target creature, put a token that's a copy of it onto the battlefield attached to Amalgamate Abomination.
0/0
Replicating Prosthesis4 Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature gets +1/+1
At the beginning of each upkeep, if Replicating Prosthesis is attached to a creature, put a colorless artifact Equipment token onto the battlefield with "Equipped creature gets +1/+1." and "Equip 1".
Equip 1 "There is no such thing as enough arms."
These tokens would be pretty standard if the Vaelshii were ever printed in a set.
Two versions of the same commander. The first version represents Yortuna as the spiritual guide to her people. The second represents her after she realizes the dark intentions of Mortifax and the magic binding her people to his will.
Yortuna, Warden of Balance3BG
Legendary Creature - Guaroga Shaman (M) T: Choose one - Each player chooses a number of creatures he or she controls equal to the number of creatures controlled by the player who controls the fewest and sacrifices the rest; or each player puts a 1/1 green and black Worm creature token onto the battlefield for each creature his or her opponents control. Activate this ability only during your upkeep. "The lifelines of this world connect all more strongly than they know... It will be their undoing."
4/4
Yortuna, Consort of Mortifax3BB
Legendary Creature - Guaroga Shaman (M)
Whenever a creature you control dies, each other player sacrifices a creature.
Whenever you lose life, each other player loses that much life. "Go unto this new world and conquer those around you as you were once conquered. Only then shall you be free." -Mortifax, Lord of Death
4/4
Combos with either version. Get tokens from the first version of Yortuna after a huge "balance" activation, or trigger version two's gravepact effect with the alternate casting cost.
Bonemeal3GG
Sorcery - U
Vital Cast 2 (You may cast this card without paying its mana cost by sacrificing two creatures)
Put a 1/1 black and green Worm creature token onto the battlefield for each creature that died this turn. The worms crawl in; the worms crawl out; and from your corpse the worms shall spout.
Rack up a high kill counter number with either commander. Version one directly grants more kill counters; version two does with a little more work.
Hunt Master's Longbow2
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature has huntsman. (Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, put a kill counter on equipped creature.)
Equipped creatures has first strike and gets +1/+1 for each kill counter on it.
Equip 2
incoming... something elaborating the deal between Mortifax and Yortuna. (Didn't realize this challenge was due at 8AM on Sunday... won't have time tomorrow due to work. Here's a quick submission that I hope to tweak later (post judging if necessary)
Deep in the heart of the Maurgolen Jungle, the Guaroga dwelt alone and at peace with their role in life. As mystics and shaman capable of perceiving the flow of life and death, they had learned to manipulate the balance of the plane's life energies. However, when the angel planeswalker Vitani arrived on the plane of Libros, he brought with him a dark being. The Guaroga saw the arrival of the angel and his shadow as a physical manifestation of the plane's essence and revered both entities as gods. Many years had passed since the arrival of Vitani and his shadow, and the story of the two quickly fell into legend. The Guaroga still told stories of the powerful beings that embodied their core beliefs, but most saw them as just that: stories. This is where the trials of the Guaroga began...
It was a bright and sunny afternoon and Yortuna was helping her father, the Warden of Balance and the tribe's chieftain, with the daily rituals. The world around them was fluttering with the sights and sounds of life. The trees and insects and birds all glowed with the same radiant energy she had known to be the life in all things. She would one day become the Warden of Balance and guide her tribe on the path of life and death. It was in the middle of these midday preparations that the tragedy occurred. Yortuna's father was the first to notice the change in energy: a swell of life coming from what seemed to be all directions. However, this was not the natural state for this area: the energy radiated with pure malevolence and hatred. It wasn't long before the shouts of foreign warriors and cries of Guaroga children coalesced into a single dissonant cacophony. Human warriors flooded the once peaceful village from all directions. Without warning, many Guaroga were killed or captured. The Warden of Balance put up the fight of his life and in his dying breath, he managed to seal away his daughter in a veil of shrouding energy. As the dust settled, Yortuna awoke to see the corpses of her father and her village scattered about.
Yortuna attempted to rally her remaining people from the smaller surrounding villages, but many were too afraid to strike back against the Lionheart Warriors that had pillaged their homes. Yortuna, still very much a child at heart, pleaded to the angel Vitani for help. However, it was the angel's shadow that heard her plea. A swirling mass of black smoke and death energy manifested before Yortuna. The great demon Mortifax from the stories her father told her stood before her in all his terrible might. Mustering every bit of courage remaining, she begged the demon to help return her people safely to her. The demon agreed on the condition that the Guaroga would return a favor of his choosing. Yortuna hesitantly agreed, not capable of understanding the horrible fate she was casting upon her brethren. With the snap of his hideous fingers and a demonic howl, the slain and captured Guaroga souls appeared before Yortuna. As each soul settled on the ground, it took shape and returned itself to a full-sized Guaroga. Mortifax stood tall above his Guaroga subjects and spoke with a deep, rumbling voice that seemed to emanate from the very heart of everyone around him.
"You are all now my thralls," Mortifax cackled. "When you awake, you will be far from home. Thanreus will be your freedom or your demise." With another hideous howl, Yortuna's eyes were forced shut and she felt the life energy of the Maurgolen Jungle violently ripped from her surroundings. When she opened her eyes once more, she saw a strange and different land. This was Thanreus. This was what she had done to her people. This is where she would become a legend. She felt a lurch and a twist in her stomach. As she looked down, she saw the dark, shadowy smoke of Mortifax curl and recede inside her. "These children will be my messengers," echoed a voice only she could hear. "When they come of age, you will be ready for my task."
U// Sedris and the Traitor Kings U// G Seshiro, the Appointed G B// Vaevictus Asmadi - "I'm 'exy and I know it" B// W// Treva, The Renewerer W// B/ Rakdos, Lord of Grouphate B/ W//// Cromat the Charmer W////
So if we have two commanders does one card have to synergize with each of them?
if you want both cards to synergize with the same commander, just submit one commander. just for clarification, what are we talking about with a commander? any legendary creature (as in EDH) or plot wise someone in a position of power in your race?
if you want both cards to synergize with the same commander, just submit one commander. just for clarification, what are we talking about with a commander? any legendary creature (as in EDH) or plot wise someone in a position of power in your race?
Plot wise.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Check out the thread for my cube if you have the time, and tell me how terrible it is.
Generals meant to be drafted first in a single pack of 6 cards.
And here is the actual cube, meant to be drafted in 4 regular sized packs. (60 card decks)
Osedax, the Cryptlord5GUB
Creature- Grubblin Wizard (M)
Mindleech GUB: Exile target card from target opponent's graveyard. If an instant or sorcery card is exiled this way, you may cast it without paying its mana cost. If a creature card is exiled this way, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of that creature.
4/4
Urbilix, the Motherlord2BBGG
Creature- Grubblin (M) BBGG,T: Put X 1/1 black Grubblin creature tokens with mindleech onto the battlefield, where X is equal to the number of cards in target opponent's graveyard. "My children are always hungry."
2/5
Both challenges work reasonably well with either commander, but particularly well with Osedax.
Despicable PalateB
Sorcery (U)
Search target opponent's library for a card and put that card into his or her graveyard. Then that player shuffles his or her library. "After devouring a potent spell, a Grubblin will not feel sated, it will only hunger for more."
Osedax's CultivatorUG
Creature- Grubblin Shaman (C)
Exile a land card from target opponent's graveyard, T: Put the top two cards of that player's library into his or her graveyard. "She prepares my meals for me, culling the useless slag from their minds in order to expose their secrets."
-Osedax
1/2
After Xixiss left, Osedax leaned back in his chair, a simple thing more akin to a stool, and sat for a moment. Eventually he stood and addressed his empty study.
"I have sensed your presence for some time, demon. Why don't you show yourself? You know I can sense a presence as strong as yours, and I know you can hide it better than you do. Why then with the games?"
An angry swirl of smoke spiraled out of the air, a self contained spherical tempest crashing into the upper reaches of the chamber, roaring with flame and thunder. Through the purling darkness Osedax could make out bits of a figure and glimpses of a skull, skinless and bone red.
"You are stronger than last time."
"Power lies in bloodshed." The voice slithered through the air, lilting and sharp. "The more death envelops this little plane, the more power we shall both have, you know this."
"You have not visited since before the summit. What is it you have been up to? Peddling this war of yours? When will you allow me to unleash my squirms? I wish to feed! I wish to conquer! I wish to finally-"
The demon chuckled, a whispering grumble, and Osedax stopped.
"You wish to what? Taste what Sik tasted? You have lived many years, but I can still see that crazed old Reltathri in you. How dare he have this power and keep it from you, even in death? You hunger for more, always more, I know. We want the same thing, Grubblin. This war will finally draw the Walker into the open. That will be our chance."
"Our chance. You need me, do not forget that."
"You are sure you can absorb the spark?"
Osedax nodded. "I was young when I killed Sik. I had no idea of his power. Only afterwards did I realize what he had been. I have searched for another like him all these years, honing my body to withstand any amount of energy. It will take time and strength however. You must incapacitate her."
"First we shall bring Thanreus to its knees. You will move against the Reltathri next. Wipe them out, remove any knowledge of Sik from this plane. Then the Vassav and their Lichqueen, then the Philerians. I remove your leash, hound of war."
"All cards must share a color with your commander."
So we can't have colorless artifacts or lands? Or do they have to have an ability that produces/spends colored mana?
"All cards must share a color with your commander."
So we can't have colorless artifacts or lands? Or do they have to have an ability that produces/spends colored mana?
Sorry, that additional requirement was made before challenge 3 (it was originally a pair challenge, so I had to change it a few days ago.)
Errata: Your cards must be in your commander's color identity or be colorless.
I have two commanders. Do both cards have to synergize with both; does one card need to synergize with one, and the other with the other; or does each of them just have to synergize with a single champion.
Also, congrats your modship.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Check out the thread for my cube if you have the time, and tell me how terrible it is.
Generals meant to be drafted first in a single pack of 6 cards.
And here is the actual cube, meant to be drafted in 4 regular sized packs. (60 card decks)
I have two commanders. Do both cards have to synergize with both; does one card need to synergize with one, and the other with the other; or does each of them just have to synergize with a single champion.
Zisca, the Savage3UG
Legendary Creature - Lisan Warrior (R)
When Zisca, the Savage enters the battlefield, if you have less cards in hand than an opponent, draw cards equal to the difference, then put that many +1/+1 counters on Zisca.
1/3
Librarian Elite2UU
Creature - Lisan Wizard (R)
Whenever you draw a card, put a +1/+1 counter on Librarian Elite.
At the beginning of your upkeep, look at the top X cards of your library, where X is Librarian Elite's power, and put them back in any order. "Careful study of the past allows us to understand the future."
1/2
Mental DredgeG
Sorcery (U)
Return target card from your graveyard to your hand if its converted mana cost is less than the number of cards in your hand.
Death encroaches. Everything shall burn in the Demon's wake.
Zisca snapped awake and stood up. The rucrite floor was cold and lifeless under her and she suddenly felt stifled. She always felt stifled. Evelus was too small, too cold, too civilised. Too many going-ons in the day, too much inactivity; too many lights, too much darkness. She needed to get away.
Outside, the crisp air bit into her skin, the wind playing with its moisture as it lifted it away and left nothing but cold. Unfamiliar rucrite ramps surrounded the tomb-like houses of the Lunarian lisans. Shapeless phantasms from the magic torches danced across their walls. It was a cold death and Zisca longed for her true home, the swamps surrounding the Lake.
The Lake. Its silver, mirror-like surface seemed so close. Zisca heightened her pace as she headed towards the piers that dotted the edges of Evelus. The forests, the damp warm ground. The swampland, the village. She needed to get away.
Zisca reached the piers and turned to look out over the Lake, out over to the swamps and over to the forests. Baked in an orange glow, she froze.
Blazing, whirling flames. The lifeless night was filled with nought but the crackling - the horrible, deathly crackling - as the forests burned. The darkness cloaked everything in a blanket of dull grey but the trees still burned, a terrifying orange against the moonless sky.
Death encroaches. Everything shall burn in the Demon's wake.
Zisca snapped awake and stood up. There was only one thought on her mind.
Legendary Creature - Ursk SoldierExalted, exalted, flying
At the beginning of each combat, you may change the text of any number of permanents you control by replacing all instances of exalted with battle cry, or vice versa, until end of turn.
4/4
Crown of Glader
{M}
Legendary Artifact - EquipmentEquipped creature has exalted.
At the beginning of each of your combat phases, put two 2/2 white and green Ursk Soldier creature tokens with exalted onto the battlefield.
Equip—:1mana:
Grazmark's Elite
:2mana::symw::symg:
{U}
Creature - Ursk SoldierBattle cry
Attacking creatures you control have first strike.
Ah, the Delthran. Puny lizards. So strong is their spirit, yet how weak is their bond. The warriors of Resk shun the Lynstrom shamans. The Shamans turn their noses up at the Rigil traders. The traders despise the barbarians that live in the clifftop city. At least, they will when I'm done with them.
Bronse, you are their weak link. Conflicted of mind, filled with both charity and greed. You believe yourself to be true of heart, but yet you wear gold as if it were cotton. You're on a charity mission to Dark Water, or so you've been led to believe. Once there, my servant Synes will poison your mind. You will see your true corruption and you will return to your capital city. You will sow the seeds of doubt in the mind of your brethren.
Paranoia, fear, loathing. Emotions the Delthran will soon feel, creeping through their veins. What caused the Calamity anyway?
Was it the Reltathri? Those loner liches, always looking for a way to extend their life. Maybe their experiments yielded horrifying results. Maybe some have to die, so they can live forever. Hasn't one been spotted having secret meetings with Nierl, your ever so wise leader? How wise is he really, getting so close to one of them.
How many of those Lrin can you actually trust? They infuse themselves with the earth, ever so intent to live on. What are they living for anyway? The church of Flar is a joke. How many of them would give their precious lives for your scaly hide. That meteor was just the reason they needed to expand their borders in search of more of that clay they hold so dear.
The Philerians, those cunning telepaths. Why I bet they have their minds wrapped around your pathetic warriors as we speak. Why else would they go mad and desecrate the Lareen wild when the Calamity struck? Was it they who summoned the city from the past? All the easier to control you simpletons.
Or was it the Celestials that you revere as honorable allies, some of you even worship them as gods. Perhaps, they grew tired of your loyalty. Perhaps, they planned this all along. They did find many things to bond with in that ruined city, didn't they?
Too bad the Atcerans have all died out. Otherwise I'd be able to convince you that they were enemies as well. I guess my aim could use a little work. I didn't mean to kill all of them so fast. After all, they would've made great slaves.
Oh and Rygna, don't try to pull anything stupid. Your precious city will be in good hands soon. Synes will take your place when Bronse is done reforming your nation. When I take my seat on the throne of Thanreus.
Challenge II: Create an instant or sorcery card that combos with your commander.
Lynstrom Mists :2mana::symu::symu:
Sorcery {U}
Tap target creature. If that creature is under your control, you may repeat this process.
At the beginning of the next turn's upkeep, draw a card for each tapped creature you control.
"The mists that swirl the ancient temples do much more than conceal their location. They help us see what will come of the future." —Nierl
Challenge III: Create an artifact, enchantment or land card that combos with your commander. Promised Vengeance :1mana::symg:
Enchantment {R}
Whenever a creature deals damage to you, you may sacrifice Promised Vengeance. If you do, at the beginning of your next main phase add to your mana pool for each damage dealt to you.
"When the pirate Synes took control of Dark Water, a promise was made to avenge the warriors who fell that day. Half-Tail has never broken a promise."
Vordon, Grand Prophet3BBWW
Legendary Creature- Anabyn Cleric
First Strike
Whenever Vordon blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, destroy that creature.
At the beginning of your upkeep, return target creature card from exile to the battlefield under your control.
5/5
Shialya, Delcor of SecretsRBB
Legendary Creature-Anabyn Zombie Assassin (M)
Haste,Deathtouch
Whenever Shialya, Delcor of Secrets deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card at random. RB:Return Shialya,Delcor of Secrets from your graveyard to your hand.
3/1
Challenge I (Shialya)
Cemetary Vassal1BB
Creature-Anabyn Rogue (U)
Sacrifice Cemetary Vassal: You may put target creature card from your graveyard on top of your library.
1/2
Challenge III(Vordon)
Binding Submission 1WB
Enchantment-Aura (U)
When Binding Submission enters the battlefield, tap enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature can not attack or block.
At the beginning of your upkeep, enchanted creatures controller loses 1 life, and you gain 1 life. " Quiet meat, your suffering strenghtens me, not your voice."
Vordon, Grand Prophet
Lore:
Night had fallen .
Vordon looked out onto the balcony as he heard the soft padding of footsteps. He turned and saw a white furred male approach him as it sank to one knee and bowed
“ Your Excelency.”
“ Oh spare me.” Vordon said with a bored wave “ I’m well aware your not one of my acolyte’s delcors. So shall we skip the dramatics.”
The creature rose and said “ Very well then. I inhabit this body, but I am a messenger sent by Lord Mortifax.”
“ Ah yes, the Garguoa’s diety. I suppose I should be honored. Come,walk with me.” Vordon said as he led the possessed creature away from the balcony. They continued to walk until they came to a wall close to the outskirts of the city. On the wall there were chained several Anabyn whose bodies had been picked clean, all that wa left was bone.
The wall of heretics, when I united the Anabyn people, those that were aginst me were hung here, and eventually the Unclean grew hungry enough to eat them alive. But I’m not here to tell stories, I’m here to show you something.”
With that Vordon closed his eyes and held out his hand and it glowed blinding white. As the glow pulsed out from his hand, the chains unclasped and the skeltons fell to the ground, slowly rising, as flesh began to re-grow. Finally standing by Vordon was a small phalanx of Order members. Their fur grey, and their eyes glowing white.
“ Kneel.” Vordon said
“As you command.” They said and knelt on the ground.
“Impressive.” The creature said evenly
“ It wasn’t without help. My allies magic’s, have assisted to make this possible. Resurrected, loyal, and undead. It’s how you turn an inferior species from food to an army, without voiding the food, but I digress.” Vordon pointed at the intruder “Restrain him.”
“As you command.” They said as they rose and grabbed the creature, restraining it as Vordon walked closer.
“ I’m sure your master can here this, so it saves me trouble. For now our goals match and your species have been worthy allies, but do not presume to command me and do not come in my city uninvited again demon.” With that he turned away from the possessed creature and commanded “ Kill him.”
“As you command.” They said as they all lifted their ceremonial knives and stabbed as one.
The possessed creature fell to ground dead, and Vordon waved his hands as the undead creatures took off.
From the shadows a raspy female voice came “Your Greatness, what now?”
Vordon waited as Shialya faded in from the shadows, he paused and then said “For now we play along, war will suit my purposes quite nicely. Also, we can assume that Mortifax has contacted the Garguoa, along with the others.”
“Can they be trusted?”
“ Yes, but keep a close watch, you never know when loyalties might waver.”
“ As you wish.”
“ Keep to the shadows, my delcor. Mortifax does not now that the delcors can sense his presence, and I’d like to keep that advantage.”
She nodded and then vanished.
Vordon looked at the now dead messenger and then up at the moons “ So it begins..”
Chark, Master of Dynamism2UR
Legendary Creature - Asura Advisor {R}
Each instant or sorcery card in your has splice onto instant and splice onto sorcery. Their splice costs are equal to their mana costs. "Statics is useful, but only to a degree. The world is in motion, and outside factors can affect that." 2/2
Challenge One:
Student of Dynamism1UR
Creature - Asura Advisor {U}
Splice abilities you activate cost you up to 1 less to activate. "Even if you consider all possible factors, you'll find the experiment will never produce the same results."
— Chark, Master of Dynamism 1/1
Challenge Three:
Dynamic Law1UR
Enchantment {R}
Whenever you reveal a card from your hand, you may shuffle that card into your library. If you do, draw a card. "I do not fear change, for it is contantly around me."
— Chark, Master of Dynamism
Lore:
It had been several days since the summit at Rata Sum. Many topics had been brought up, and while some condemned conflict, others embraced it. The Asura, however, had not chosen either. In stereotyical Asuran fashion, the council members wanted to wait and see before making a decision. After all, they didn't even really know what was going. But that dd not sit well with all Asura.
Chark, Master of Dynamism, knew that change was inevitable. After all, the Fundamental Law of Dynamism said it would. And he could see it with his own two eyes. Experiments were not producing the same results. Old techniques sporradically ceased to work. The pattern of change was in disorder; things were not as they should be, and Chark was not about to wait for whatever was coming.
***
"Can you not see the world is changing?! Things are in flux! Gears are turning!" Chark yelled at the other council members.
"So what do you suggest we do?" asked an impatient Krewe.
"We must embrace these changes! We cannot sit idly by!" Chark responded.
"Your decisions are too hasty." Yulma stated.
"No. It is your decisions that are glacially slow!" Chark snorted. "Do not lie to me. You, as the Master of Statics should very well know. You can see and feel the the dynamic state of things!"
"Chark, we don't-" Yulma began to say.
"We have to be proactive!" Chark interjected. "I refuse to allow us to fall prey to anything!"
"I agree." added an illusionary figure on a chair across the room.
"As do I." Added another.
One more illusonary Asuran leader nodded in agreement.
"Zimm, you know where we stand." said Krewe. "The choice falls on you."
Zimm pondered his options for a moment. Chark would have said something, but he knew better then to interrup Zimm.
"I cannot condone uprovoked aggression..." He started. "...but I see no reason as to why we should not ready ourselves for whatever may come."
Although it was not what he had hoped for, the compromise was sufficient to bring a slight grin to Chark's face.
"We will ready Rata Sum. That is all for now." Zimm stated.
Neverending Nightmare4WU
Legendary Creature - Wisp (M)
Suspend 2 1WU
Vigilance, vanishing 2
Whenever Neverending Nightmare dies, exile it with two time counters on it instead.
5/5
Dreamforma3WU
Legendary Creature - Wisp (R)
Whenever a creature you control attacks, exile that creature, then put a token that's a copy of that creature onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Sacrifice that token at the beginning of the next end step, then return that creature to the battlefield.
3/3
Comboing with Dreamforma
Coalescing Reverie2WU
Creature - Wisp Warrior (R)
When Coalescing Reverie enters the battlefield, put target creature card to the top of its owner's library.
Coalescing Reverie enters the battlefield as a copy of that creature.
*/*
Comboing with Dreamforma
Hallucinating FieldsWU
Enchantment (R)
Creature tokens you control have dreamwalk. (This creature is unblockable as long as the defending player controls a tapped creature.)
The Magic Wars
Round III — Commander
♤ ♤ ♤
Cracks In The Epicentre
In his dreams of home, the sun is a ball of blood, and the the death screams of men drown out the thunderstorms.
The great demon Mortifax has ripped his way into Thanreus by latching onto an unwitting Danse. A war demon from Valla, minor in comparison to his monstrous brethen, he has torn his way into a new world where he will rule, where the energy unleashed from violence and blood may be his feast alone. But the air is too still, too quiet, the inhabitants too complacent. The word 'peaceful' burns beneath his tattered shawl of skins. But the pieces are there; just enough that a few deft moves will tip the world into chaos and steel and blood. There's enough kindling to start the greatest fire Thanreus will have ever seen.
The first step will be deception and subterfuge. Whispers from mirrors, apparations, nightmares, glorious dreams, a few individuals slaughtered in the right place, a few choice words spoken by servants to masters and enemies to one another.
A few kings and queens moving where he requires, and they will fall in their millions.
Remember, serious changes have been made to the competition structure.
Read about it here, or below in the How It Works spoiler.
♤ ♤ ♤
The Challenges.
Cards Due 8AM GMT, Sunday, 24 June.
Rankings Due 8AM GMT, Tuesday, 26 June.
Informational Hazards.
The Magic Wars is a two-month long event that fires off the Winter Pro Tour season. Because of this, it's a double qualifier - both first and second place will get an invite into the Winter Pro Tour!
Each player will play with an individual score which determines cuttoffs during the second month and the final rankings for the end. Points for individual scores each round are made up of both a card score and a lore score, the latter out of 20, which is calculated from rankings by players.
Individual scores are reset at the beginning of July (Round 5). During the second month, a teamwork bonus is also applicable to the individual scores - read below.
The highest scoring players of each team get a Pro Tour Invite. finalist teams get a Pro Tour Invite. All finalists get Pro Points, as outlined below:
1st: 16
2nd: 10
3rd - 4th: 8
5th - 10th: 4
Please note that second place does not necessarily mean you get an invite, if first is on your team.
There will be 8 Rounds for the two months. Each Round take place over 7/8 days, with 4 days for entries and 4 days for critiques. Each Round will involve the main card challenge, giving you three card creation challenges from which you pick two.
In addition, there will be a personal lore challenge. These are short writing assignments based on your race, in response to some task or question, such as "Write about the worst day in your race's history." These creative pieces are to be submitted with your cards.
Critiquing will be done sort-of like a CCL; you'll be assigned a team to critique and then ranking the players of that team. So instead of a Top 3, it's more like a Top 5/6. This is slightly more work but in exchange, giving reviews/critiques is absolutely optional. Your average rank will then be calculated, multipled by 10 and then added to your score; for example, let's say that there are 6 people in a team and you were ranked 1st, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 4th and 6th. Then your average rank is calculated in terms of points (with 1st = 6, etc.) and multipled by 10 to give you a final +38 to your score.
In addition to this, you will also need to rank the team's lore pieces, submitted with the cards. A similar grading system will be used, except final points are downsized to a maximum of 20.
Rounds 1 - 4 happen in June. At the end of the month, the two highest scoring players of each team make it to the next month.
Rounds 5 - 8 happen in July. The ten finalists form two teams (of their own choice). Critique assignments this time will be easy: during Rounds 5 - 7, you will be critiquing the opposing team.
During Rounds 5 - 7, a similar system to June will be used, except with the addition of the teamwork bonus. The amount of helpful teamwork apparent in your team threads will be evaluated by the organisers (myself, NotoriousLynx, perhaps Megiddo and Diefi00) and give you a bonus out of 10 to be added to your team's individual scores. This will give you the edge over the other team.
At the end of Round 7, the final rankings are largely decided. However, in Round 8, the highest scoring players of each team are taken for the final match in Round 8. While both of these players receive an Invite nonetheless, they will duke it out for 1st place, more Pro Points and the mantle of having won The Magic Wars! The winner is then decided with a poll.
Team X — Team Score
Name, Race — Individual Score
Team Conclave
Link, Cloudwalkers — 89
Small Child, Vaelshii — 97
Team Wynaut
Balefire, Asura — 98
Ninja Caterpie, Lisandarians — 103
Team Consuming Ruin
Prophylaxis, Dream Wisps — 100
queensauce, Guaroga — 62
Random_Nation, Anabyn — 97
UncleIstvan, Grubblins — 88
Team GentleMons
Cardz5000, Ursk — 76
Team V
Emocakes, Delthran — 104
Eskimo_Rage, Celestials — 77
Team Conclave critiques Team GentleMons.
Team Wynaut critiques Team V.
Team Consuming Ruin critiques Team Conclave.
Team GentleMons critiques Team Wynaut.
Team V critiques Team Consuming Ruin.
Megiddo would also like credit but he's a greedy *****.
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
You got 99 attackers but I'm blocking with 1.
The Winner is Judge | 7
This Winner is Also Judge | 6
Club Flamingo | Lots
Clarification:
Editted into OP.
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
Imbue
Whenever you or a spell or permanent you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter that spell or ability unless its controller pays 2 for each card imbuing Iro Voi, Noctiluminescent.
UR,T, Return a permanent you control to its owner’s hand: The next spell you cast this turn costs X less to cast, where X is the returned permanent’s converted mana cost.
Iro Voi, Noctiluminescent of the Church of the Celestial Cloud, stood motionless at the edge of his balcony. Before him, far below, spread the city of Marenhelm, glistening in the light of the stars, the moon, and the Nebula high above. Behind him, the white marble of which the Church was built formed the many-windowed, circular wall of his chambers, and the crystal roof curved up and away. Within him, amidst the pale white mist that filled his body, floated spherical lights of pale yellow, azure, and red. He wore nothing but a braided silver rope draped over his shoulder, a mark of his station.
“I have finally heard them, Chezen,” he said without turning. His voice, deep and strong, reverberated within Chezen's body like the toll of a bell. “The Vosuj. One of them has appeared to me.”
Chezen remained in the doorway. He did not answer immediately. Iro Voi's claim was not one Chezen had been prepared to hear, and he had no sensible response. “Sir?”
“Did you understand me, Chezen?” Iro Voi said. “The Vosuj. They exist still!” Iro Voi turned, approaching Chezen. “This is the greatest revelation in my time as Noctiluminescent.”
Chezen turned his head skyward, focusing his senses on the brilliant light of the Nebula, tasting the warm reds and the soothing blues. If what the Noctiluminescent said was true, it could alter entirely the course on which the Unveilers had recently set the Cloudwalker people. It would mean that the Church had been right all along, that the Cloudwalkers should never have allied with the Others.
“Noctiluminescent,” Chezen said, bringing his focus back to Iro Voi. He would have reached out and grabbed the Noctiluminescent, had years of training in etiquette not restrained him. “Please, tell me what you have seen.”
Iro Voi walked back to the edge of the balcony, looking out over Marenhelm. “It is difficult to describe, Chezen. It came to me as I meditated. A series of impressions, with little coherence. The Vosuj did not truly speak to me. It was a figure of light, not so different in shape from you or I. It buffeted the space around it with gales of red and slashes of blue. I'm not sure how, or why, but I came to understand that we must not involve ourselves in the war that is brewing. We must not. We must remain here, in Marenhelm, and meditate on the Nebula. If we continue to do that, the power of the Vosuj will return to us.”
A pulse emanated from Chezen, the Cloudwalker equivalent of a gasp. “Can this truly be, Noctiluminescent? If what you say is true...”
“It is true,” Iro Voi said harshly. “I believe it with my very soul.”
“Then we must inform the rest of the Church. We must tell Senator Korian first, so that he can relay this information to the Senate tomorrow.”
“Yes, we must,” Iro Voi said. “And, most importantly, we must tell the Unveilers that we will no longer humor even slightly their consorting with the Feyrin and their filthy allies.”
A darkness lurked like a shadow behind Questioner Imrahim's vision. It had a smokey, bitter flavor, which frightened Imrahim. Darkness had no taste. By definition, it was the absence of flavor, the absence of light and warmth. What frightened him further when he had asked Imerer, his bonded Esferi, about the darkness, and Imerer had known nothing about it. Imrahim had quickly dropped the topic, not wanting to make the skittish Imerer paranoid. Whatever the darkness was, it made Imrahim angry. He was convinced that it was the work of one of the Cloudwalker's enemies that had somehow pierced both the magic of Marenhelm and Imrahim's own personal shields. Perhaps it was the Dream Wisps, the mysterious beings that were said to manipulate others through their dreams. The Cloudwalkers did not dream, and thus, as far has Imrahim knew, were immune to the Dream Wisps' abilities. Even if the Dream Wisps had somehow found a way past this limitation and Imrahim's various defenses, it didn't explain why they had targeted him.
Imrahim shook himself out of his pondering. He ran his hand along Imerer's back, who lay on the floor at his side. With his other hand, he summoned a small sphere of white cloud, from which he pulled a golden pen with a light at its tip. He waved the cloud away and began studying the papers on his desk. Their glowing lines of text had a sweet, clean taste. The only one he was truly concerned with was the order concerning the Ember Cloudspires. When this order went through, groups of Unveiler Kestrels would be sent out across the continents, dropping these special Cloudspires in strategic locations. Unlike the Cloudspires that protected Marenhelm and, as of recently, the cities of the Cloudwalker's allies, the Ember Cloudspires were offensive in nature. Just like their defensive cousins, the Ember Cloudspires released streams of opaque white clouds. But the Ember Cloudspires were smaller, and their clouds were laced with brilliantly hot, star-like lights that made passage through them extremely difficult once they were active. This would be the first offensive act the Cloudwalker race had ever undertaken, and it had not been agreed upon by the Senate. In fact, Grand Questioner Norlan Evet and Senator Ivnarian knew nothing of it. Imrahim added his signature next to Grand Kestrel Veisham's, then called to his secretary.
“Process this immediately,” he commanded. “And see too it that Farwalker Chell's team is the first sent out. Their assignment is the most important.” His secretary nodded and quickly left the office.
Imrahim rose from his desk and walked to his window, grabbing his favorite bauble from his desk to roll about in his hand, a piece of carved crystal shaped to reflect light in delicious rainbows. Imerer followed, slinking about Imrahim's heels. Farwalker Chell was one of Imrahim's most competent agents, though ostensibly, Chell was under the command of Grand Kestrel Veisham. His team was to install Ember Cloudspires around the homes of races which he had himself discovered were mobilizing for war. Imrahim also strongly suspected that those races were under the influence of the Dream Wisps, and he hoped that the presence of the Ember Cloudspires in that area would inhibit the Dream Wisps' influence and lessen that bitter taste tainting his senses. If not, then Imrahim hoped that any of the dozens of Cloudspires he had sent the Farwalkers out to install would somehow relieve the darkness that plagued him. With true luck, the Ember Cloudspires would prove even more effective than he suspected, and the other races of Thanreus would succumb to their flames and die, leaving the Cloudwalkers alone in peace.
(Sorry to whoever is reading this- I don't know how to do indents.)
Challenge I
Synergy with Questioner Imrahim
Flying
If you control a blue permanent, you may spend mana of any color as though it were blue mana to cast Scion of the Blank Cloud
When Scion of the Blank Cloud enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Synergy with Questioner Imrahim
When Imrahim's Bauble enters or leaves the battlefield, add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
Cloudwalkers have a taste for anything that alters the flavor of light.
Artifact Creature - Vaelshii Construct Artificer (MR)
Equipment attached to Xalin, Mechina Visionary gain all abilities of each equipment you control not attached to Xalin and cannot become unnattached from Xalin. (If an effect would unattach an equipment, it doesn't.)
Creature - Vaelshii Mutant Wizard (MR)
Gorahm, Augmenta Savant may be enchanted as though it was any permanent type.
If an aura that could enchant Gorahm would be put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may attach it to Gorahm instead.
Creature - Vaelshii Mutant (R)
You may have Amalgamate enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield.
When Amalgamate Abomination enters the battlefield, for each card attached to target creature, put a token that's a copy of it onto the battlefield attached to Amalgamate Abomination.
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature gets +1/+1
At the beginning of each upkeep, if Replicating Prosthesis is attached to a creature, put a colorless artifact Equipment token onto the battlefield with "Equipped creature gets +1/+1." and "Equip 1".
Equip 1
"There is no such thing as enough arms."
These tokens would be pretty standard if the Vaelshii were ever printed in a set.
Generals meant to be drafted first in a single pack of 6 cards.
And here is the actual cube, meant to be drafted in 4 regular sized packs. (60 card decks)
Two versions of the same commander. The first version represents Yortuna as the spiritual guide to her people. The second represents her after she realizes the dark intentions of Mortifax and the magic binding her people to his will.
Yortuna, Warden of Balance 3BG
Legendary Creature - Guaroga Shaman (M)
T: Choose one - Each player chooses a number of creatures he or she controls equal to the number of creatures controlled by the player who controls the fewest and sacrifices the rest; or each player puts a 1/1 green and black Worm creature token onto the battlefield for each creature his or her opponents control. Activate this ability only during your upkeep.
"The lifelines of this world connect all more strongly than they know... It will be their undoing."
4/4
Yortuna, Consort of Mortifax 3BB
Legendary Creature - Guaroga Shaman (M)
Whenever a creature you control dies, each other player sacrifices a creature.
Whenever you lose life, each other player loses that much life.
"Go unto this new world and conquer those around you as you were once conquered. Only then shall you be free." -Mortifax, Lord of Death
4/4
Combos with either version. Get tokens from the first version of Yortuna after a huge "balance" activation, or trigger version two's gravepact effect with the alternate casting cost.
Bonemeal 3GG
Sorcery - U
Vital Cast 2 (You may cast this card without paying its mana cost by sacrificing two creatures)
Put a 1/1 black and green Worm creature token onto the battlefield for each creature that died this turn.
The worms crawl in; the worms crawl out; and from your corpse the worms shall spout.
Rack up a high kill counter number with either commander. Version one directly grants more kill counters; version two does with a little more work.
Hunt Master's Longbow 2
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature has huntsman. (Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, put a kill counter on equipped creature.)
Equipped creatures has first strike and gets +1/+1 for each kill counter on it.
Equip 2
incoming... something elaborating the deal between Mortifax and Yortuna. (Didn't realize this challenge was due at 8AM on Sunday... won't have time tomorrow due to work. Here's a quick submission that I hope to tweak later (post judging if necessary)
Deep in the heart of the Maurgolen Jungle, the Guaroga dwelt alone and at peace with their role in life. As mystics and shaman capable of perceiving the flow of life and death, they had learned to manipulate the balance of the plane's life energies. However, when the angel planeswalker Vitani arrived on the plane of Libros, he brought with him a dark being. The Guaroga saw the arrival of the angel and his shadow as a physical manifestation of the plane's essence and revered both entities as gods. Many years had passed since the arrival of Vitani and his shadow, and the story of the two quickly fell into legend. The Guaroga still told stories of the powerful beings that embodied their core beliefs, but most saw them as just that: stories. This is where the trials of the Guaroga began...
It was a bright and sunny afternoon and Yortuna was helping her father, the Warden of Balance and the tribe's chieftain, with the daily rituals. The world around them was fluttering with the sights and sounds of life. The trees and insects and birds all glowed with the same radiant energy she had known to be the life in all things. She would one day become the Warden of Balance and guide her tribe on the path of life and death. It was in the middle of these midday preparations that the tragedy occurred. Yortuna's father was the first to notice the change in energy: a swell of life coming from what seemed to be all directions. However, this was not the natural state for this area: the energy radiated with pure malevolence and hatred. It wasn't long before the shouts of foreign warriors and cries of Guaroga children coalesced into a single dissonant cacophony. Human warriors flooded the once peaceful village from all directions. Without warning, many Guaroga were killed or captured. The Warden of Balance put up the fight of his life and in his dying breath, he managed to seal away his daughter in a veil of shrouding energy. As the dust settled, Yortuna awoke to see the corpses of her father and her village scattered about.
Yortuna attempted to rally her remaining people from the smaller surrounding villages, but many were too afraid to strike back against the Lionheart Warriors that had pillaged their homes. Yortuna, still very much a child at heart, pleaded to the angel Vitani for help. However, it was the angel's shadow that heard her plea. A swirling mass of black smoke and death energy manifested before Yortuna. The great demon Mortifax from the stories her father told her stood before her in all his terrible might. Mustering every bit of courage remaining, she begged the demon to help return her people safely to her. The demon agreed on the condition that the Guaroga would return a favor of his choosing. Yortuna hesitantly agreed, not capable of understanding the horrible fate she was casting upon her brethren. With the snap of his hideous fingers and a demonic howl, the slain and captured Guaroga souls appeared before Yortuna. As each soul settled on the ground, it took shape and returned itself to a full-sized Guaroga. Mortifax stood tall above his Guaroga subjects and spoke with a deep, rumbling voice that seemed to emanate from the very heart of everyone around him.
"You are all now my thralls," Mortifax cackled. "When you awake, you will be far from home. Thanreus will be your freedom or your demise." With another hideous howl, Yortuna's eyes were forced shut and she felt the life energy of the Maurgolen Jungle violently ripped from her surroundings. When she opened her eyes once more, she saw a strange and different land. This was Thanreus. This was what she had done to her people. This is where she would become a legend. She felt a lurch and a twist in her stomach. As she looked down, she saw the dark, shadowy smoke of Mortifax curl and recede inside her. "These children will be my messengers," echoed a voice only she could hear. "When they come of age, you will be ready for my task."
Custom Race: Guaroga
G Seshiro, the Appointed G
B// Vaevictus Asmadi - "I'm 'exy and I know it" B//
W// Treva, The Renewerer W//
B/ Rakdos, Lord of Grouphate B/
W//// Cromat the Charmer W////
if you want both cards to synergize with the same commander, just submit one commander. just for clarification, what are we talking about with a commander? any legendary creature (as in EDH) or plot wise someone in a position of power in your race?
Plot wise.
Generals meant to be drafted first in a single pack of 6 cards.
And here is the actual cube, meant to be drafted in 4 regular sized packs. (60 card decks)
Creature- Grubblin Wizard (M)
Mindleech
GUB: Exile target card from target opponent's graveyard. If an instant or sorcery card is exiled this way, you may cast it without paying its mana cost. If a creature card is exiled this way, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of that creature.
4/4
Urbilix, the Motherlord 2BBGG
Creature- Grubblin (M)
BBGG,T: Put X 1/1 black Grubblin creature tokens with mindleech onto the battlefield, where X is equal to the number of cards in target opponent's graveyard.
"My children are always hungry."
2/5
Sorcery (U)
Search target opponent's library for a card and put that card into his or her graveyard. Then that player shuffles his or her library.
"After devouring a potent spell, a Grubblin will not feel sated, it will only hunger for more."
Creature- Grubblin Shaman (C)
Exile a land card from target opponent's graveyard, T: Put the top two cards of that player's library into his or her graveyard.
"She prepares my meals for me, culling the useless slag from their minds in order to expose their secrets."
-Osedax
1/2
"I have sensed your presence for some time, demon. Why don't you show yourself? You know I can sense a presence as strong as yours, and I know you can hide it better than you do. Why then with the games?"
An angry swirl of smoke spiraled out of the air, a self contained spherical tempest crashing into the upper reaches of the chamber, roaring with flame and thunder. Through the purling darkness Osedax could make out bits of a figure and glimpses of a skull, skinless and bone red.
"You are stronger than last time."
"Power lies in bloodshed." The voice slithered through the air, lilting and sharp. "The more death envelops this little plane, the more power we shall both have, you know this."
"You have not visited since before the summit. What is it you have been up to? Peddling this war of yours? When will you allow me to unleash my squirms? I wish to feed! I wish to conquer! I wish to finally-"
The demon chuckled, a whispering grumble, and Osedax stopped.
"You wish to what? Taste what Sik tasted? You have lived many years, but I can still see that crazed old Reltathri in you. How dare he have this power and keep it from you, even in death? You hunger for more, always more, I know. We want the same thing, Grubblin. This war will finally draw the Walker into the open. That will be our chance."
"Our chance. You need me, do not forget that."
"You are sure you can absorb the spark?"
Osedax nodded. "I was young when I killed Sik. I had no idea of his power. Only afterwards did I realize what he had been. I have searched for another like him all these years, honing my body to withstand any amount of energy. It will take time and strength however. You must incapacitate her."
"First we shall bring Thanreus to its knees. You will move against the Reltathri next. Wipe them out, remove any knowledge of Sik from this plane. Then the Vassav and their Lichqueen, then the Philerians. I remove your leash, hound of war."
So we can't have colorless artifacts or lands? Or do they have to have an ability that produces/spends colored mana?
You can have commanders that aren't related to the cards you'll be entering for this round. You just don't have to post them with your cards.
Sorry, that additional requirement was made before challenge 3 (it was originally a pair challenge, so I had to change it a few days ago.)
Errata: Your cards must be in your commander's color identity or be colorless.
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
I have two commanders. Do both cards have to synergize with both; does one card need to synergize with one, and the other with the other; or does each of them just have to synergize with a single champion.
Also, congrats your modship.
Generals meant to be drafted first in a single pack of 6 cards.
And here is the actual cube, meant to be drafted in 4 regular sized packs. (60 card decks)
Your choice.
And thanks!
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
Legendary Creature - Lisan Warrior (R)
When Zisca, the Savage enters the battlefield, if you have less cards in hand than an opponent, draw cards equal to the difference, then put that many +1/+1 counters on Zisca.
1/3
Creature - Lisan Wizard (R)
Whenever you draw a card, put a +1/+1 counter on Librarian Elite.
At the beginning of your upkeep, look at the top X cards of your library, where X is Librarian Elite's power, and put them back in any order.
"Careful study of the past allows us to understand the future."
1/2
Mental Dredge G
Sorcery (U)
Return target card from your graveyard to your hand if its converted mana cost is less than the number of cards in your hand.
Zisca snapped awake and stood up. The rucrite floor was cold and lifeless under her and she suddenly felt stifled. She always felt stifled. Evelus was too small, too cold, too civilised. Too many going-ons in the day, too much inactivity; too many lights, too much darkness. She needed to get away.
Outside, the crisp air bit into her skin, the wind playing with its moisture as it lifted it away and left nothing but cold. Unfamiliar rucrite ramps surrounded the tomb-like houses of the Lunarian lisans. Shapeless phantasms from the magic torches danced across their walls. It was a cold death and Zisca longed for her true home, the swamps surrounding the Lake.
The Lake. Its silver, mirror-like surface seemed so close. Zisca heightened her pace as she headed towards the piers that dotted the edges of Evelus. The forests, the damp warm ground. The swampland, the village. She needed to get away.
Zisca reached the piers and turned to look out over the Lake, out over to the swamps and over to the forests. Baked in an orange glow, she froze.
Blazing, whirling flames. The lifeless night was filled with nought but the crackling - the horrible, deathly crackling - as the forests burned. The darkness cloaked everything in a blanket of dull grey but the trees still burned, a terrifying orange against the moonless sky.
Death encroaches. Everything shall burn in the Demon's wake.
Zisca snapped awake and stood up. There was only one thought on her mind.
"War."
You got 99 attackers but I'm blocking with 1.
The Winner is Judge | 7
This Winner is Also Judge | 6
Club Flamingo | Lots
Exalted, exalted, flying
At the beginning of each combat, you may change the text of any number of permanents you control by replacing all instances of exalted with battle cry, or vice versa, until end of turn.
Equipped creature has exalted.
At the beginning of each of your combat phases, put two 2/2 white and green Ursk Soldier creature tokens with exalted onto the battlefield.
Equip—:1mana:
Battle cry
Attacking creatures you control have first strike.
Bronse, you are their weak link. Conflicted of mind, filled with both charity and greed. You believe yourself to be true of heart, but yet you wear gold as if it were cotton. You're on a charity mission to Dark Water, or so you've been led to believe. Once there, my servant Synes will poison your mind. You will see your true corruption and you will return to your capital city. You will sow the seeds of doubt in the mind of your brethren.
Paranoia, fear, loathing. Emotions the Delthran will soon feel, creeping through their veins. What caused the Calamity anyway?
Was it the Reltathri? Those loner liches, always looking for a way to extend their life. Maybe their experiments yielded horrifying results. Maybe some have to die, so they can live forever. Hasn't one been spotted having secret meetings with Nierl, your ever so wise leader? How wise is he really, getting so close to one of them.
How many of those Lrin can you actually trust? They infuse themselves with the earth, ever so intent to live on. What are they living for anyway? The church of Flar is a joke. How many of them would give their precious lives for your scaly hide. That meteor was just the reason they needed to expand their borders in search of more of that clay they hold so dear.
The Philerians, those cunning telepaths. Why I bet they have their minds wrapped around your pathetic warriors as we speak. Why else would they go mad and desecrate the Lareen wild when the Calamity struck? Was it they who summoned the city from the past? All the easier to control you simpletons.
Or was it the Celestials that you revere as honorable allies, some of you even worship them as gods. Perhaps, they grew tired of your loyalty. Perhaps, they planned this all along. They did find many things to bond with in that ruined city, didn't they?
Too bad the Atcerans have all died out. Otherwise I'd be able to convince you that they were enemies as well. I guess my aim could use a little work. I didn't mean to kill all of them so fast. After all, they would've made great slaves.
Oh and Rygna, don't try to pull anything stupid. Your precious city will be in good hands soon. Synes will take your place when Bronse is done reforming your nation. When I take my seat on the throne of Thanreus.
Challenge II: Create an instant or sorcery card that combos with your commander.
Lynstrom Mists :2mana::symu::symu:
Sorcery {U}
Tap target creature. If that creature is under your control, you may repeat this process.
At the beginning of the next turn's upkeep, draw a card for each tapped creature you control.
"The mists that swirl the ancient temples do much more than conceal their location. They help us see what will come of the future." —Nierl
Challenge III: Create an artifact, enchantment or land card that combos with your commander.
Promised Vengeance :1mana::symg:
Enchantment {R}
Whenever a creature deals damage to you, you may sacrifice Promised Vengeance. If you do, at the beginning of your next main phase add to your mana pool for each damage dealt to you.
"When the pirate Synes took control of Dark Water, a promise was made to avenge the warriors who fell that day. Half-Tail has never broken a promise."
Legendary Creature — Delthran Shaman {R}
Tap an untapped creature you control: Tap target creature.
Repose — As long as this creature is tapped, it has :3mana::symu::symg:, :symuntap:: Untap all creatures you control.
2/4
Rynga Half-Tail :3mana::symr::symg:
Legendary Creature - Delthran Warrior {R}
Double strike, trample
Whenever a creature blocks, that creature deals 1 damage to each player.
3/3
Sig & Avvy by Disappointing Signets Inc.
CCC&G BRAGGING RIGHTS
Mafia Statistics
I collect pacifism: 228
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
Commanders:
Challenge I (Shialya)
Cemetary Vassal 1BB
Creature-Anabyn Rogue (U)
Sacrifice Cemetary Vassal: You may put target creature card from your graveyard on top of your library.
1/2
Challenge III(Vordon)
Binding Submission 1WB
Enchantment-Aura (U)
When Binding Submission enters the battlefield, tap enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature can not attack or block.
At the beginning of your upkeep, enchanted creatures controller loses 1 life, and you gain 1 life.
" Quiet meat, your suffering strenghtens me, not your voice."
Vordon, Grand Prophet
Lore:
Night had fallen .
Vordon looked out onto the balcony as he heard the soft padding of footsteps. He turned and saw a white furred male approach him as it sank to one knee and bowed
“ Your Excelency.”
“ Oh spare me.” Vordon said with a bored wave “ I’m well aware your not one of my acolyte’s delcors. So shall we skip the dramatics.”
The creature rose and said “ Very well then. I inhabit this body, but I am a messenger sent by Lord Mortifax.”
“ Ah yes, the Garguoa’s diety. I suppose I should be honored. Come,walk with me.” Vordon said as he led the possessed creature away from the balcony. They continued to walk until they came to a wall close to the outskirts of the city. On the wall there were chained several Anabyn whose bodies had been picked clean, all that wa left was bone.
The wall of heretics, when I united the Anabyn people, those that were aginst me were hung here, and eventually the Unclean grew hungry enough to eat them alive. But I’m not here to tell stories, I’m here to show you something.”
With that Vordon closed his eyes and held out his hand and it glowed blinding white. As the glow pulsed out from his hand, the chains unclasped and the skeltons fell to the ground, slowly rising, as flesh began to re-grow. Finally standing by Vordon was a small phalanx of Order members. Their fur grey, and their eyes glowing white.
“ Kneel.” Vordon said
“As you command.” They said and knelt on the ground.
“Impressive.” The creature said evenly
“ It wasn’t without help. My allies magic’s, have assisted to make this possible. Resurrected, loyal, and undead. It’s how you turn an inferior species from food to an army, without voiding the food, but I digress.” Vordon pointed at the intruder “Restrain him.”
“As you command.” They said as they rose and grabbed the creature, restraining it as Vordon walked closer.
“ I’m sure your master can here this, so it saves me trouble. For now our goals match and your species have been worthy allies, but do not presume to command me and do not come in my city uninvited again demon.” With that he turned away from the possessed creature and commanded “ Kill him.”
“As you command.” They said as they all lifted their ceremonial knives and stabbed as one.
The possessed creature fell to ground dead, and Vordon waved his hands as the undead creatures took off.
From the shadows a raspy female voice came “Your Greatness, what now?”
Vordon waited as Shialya faded in from the shadows, he paused and then said “For now we play along, war will suit my purposes quite nicely. Also, we can assume that Mortifax has contacted the Garguoa, along with the others.”
“Can they be trusted?”
“ Yes, but keep a close watch, you never know when loyalties might waver.”
“ As you wish.”
“ Keep to the shadows, my delcor. Mortifax does not now that the delcors can sense his presence, and I’d like to keep that advantage.”
She nodded and then vanished.
Vordon looked at the now dead messenger and then up at the moons “ So it begins..”
The Anabyn
Stay Hungry My Friends....
Commander:
Legendary Creature - Asura Advisor {R}
Each instant or sorcery card in your has splice onto instant and splice onto sorcery. Their splice costs are equal to their mana costs.
"Statics is useful, but only to a degree. The world is in motion, and outside factors can affect that."
2/2
Creature - Asura Advisor {U}
Splice abilities you activate cost you up to 1 less to activate.
"Even if you consider all possible factors, you'll find the experiment will never produce the same results."
— Chark, Master of Dynamism
1/1
Enchantment {R}
Whenever you reveal a card from your hand, you may shuffle that card into your library. If you do, draw a card.
"I do not fear change, for it is contantly around me."
— Chark, Master of Dynamism
Lore:
Chark, Master of Dynamism, knew that change was inevitable. After all, the Fundamental Law of Dynamism said it would. And he could see it with his own two eyes. Experiments were not producing the same results. Old techniques sporradically ceased to work. The pattern of change was in disorder; things were not as they should be, and Chark was not about to wait for whatever was coming.
"So what do you suggest we do?" asked an impatient Krewe.
"We must embrace these changes! We cannot sit idly by!" Chark responded.
"Your decisions are too hasty." Yulma stated.
"No. It is your decisions that are glacially slow!" Chark snorted. "Do not lie to me. You, as the Master of Statics should very well know. You can see and feel the the dynamic state of things!"
"Chark, we don't-" Yulma began to say.
"We have to be proactive!" Chark interjected. "I refuse to allow us to fall prey to anything!"
"I agree." added an illusionary figure on a chair across the room.
"As do I." Added another.
One more illusonary Asuran leader nodded in agreement.
"Zimm, you know where we stand." said Krewe. "The choice falls on you."
Zimm pondered his options for a moment. Chark would have said something, but he knew better then to interrup Zimm.
"I cannot condone uprovoked aggression..." He started. "...but I see no reason as to why we should not ready ourselves for whatever may come."
Although it was not what he had hoped for, the compromise was sufficient to bring a slight grin to Chark's face.
Commanders
Neverending Nightmare 4WU
Legendary Creature - Wisp (M)
Suspend 2 1WU
Vigilance, vanishing 2
Whenever Neverending Nightmare dies, exile it with two time counters on it instead.
5/5
Dreamforma 3WU
Legendary Creature - Wisp (R)
Whenever a creature you control attacks, exile that creature, then put a token that's a copy of that creature onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Sacrifice that token at the beginning of the next end step, then return that creature to the battlefield.
3/3
Comboing with Dreamforma
Coalescing Reverie 2WU
Creature - Wisp Warrior (R)
When Coalescing Reverie enters the battlefield, put target creature card to the top of its owner's library.
Coalescing Reverie enters the battlefield as a copy of that creature.
*/*
Comboing with Dreamforma
Hallucinating Fields WU
Enchantment (R)
Creature tokens you control have dreamwalk. (This creature is unblockable as long as the defending player controls a tapped creature.)
NEW DUE DATES.
Cards Due 8AM GMT, Monday, 25th June.
Rankings Due 8AM GMT, Wednesday, 27th June.
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
Unfortunate, but ultimately unavoidable I suppose. Well, we'll have to see how this ends I guess.
Generals meant to be drafted first in a single pack of 6 cards.
And here is the actual cube, meant to be drafted in 4 regular sized packs. (60 card decks)
But I spent all that time last night getting my lore and cards ready in time.
Oh well...
Noted. Thanks for having stuck with us this long!
6PM Edit:
ROUND 3 RANKINGS BEGIN.
You have 2 days.
The following players have been eliminated:
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2