EDIT: I type all this out, only to find that on her Bio page on gatherer, the exact same article exists with the exception of replacing every "he" with "Ashiok". Bah!
I just take this as evidence that Ashiok's gender schtick wasn't added until very late in the process.
And I agree, it makes reading articles about Ashiok or writing anything about Ashiok rather painful.
"Ashiok is the quintessential fearmonger, spinning his magic to terrorize others with their own darkest, most closely guarded nightmares. He delights in having the upper hand, and even more, he enjoys watching those who see themselves as untouchable and superior reduced to screaming and blubbering. Because all sentient beings feel fear, Ashiok believes in it's power as a great equalizer.
For Ashiok, fear is a feeling given form by the mind — a quasi-elemental force that he has found can be shaped and wielded. Once his Planeswalker spark ignited, Ashiok discovered that not only was he adept at culling the nightmares of others, but he could also make them manifest in reality. The dread vapors that emanate from him are an extension of his magic, enabling him to more easily access the fears of those they enshroud. As such, he sees himself as an engineer, constructing twisted architecture of torment and sorrow. He now travels the multiverse for the perfect embodiment of fear.
In his search, Ashiok came to Theros, and he recognizes that the dreams of this plane seem more vibrant than those of other planes he has visited."
So yeah, Doug may say nothing about Ashiok's gender, but the fat pack article is rather clear. Perhaps Ashiok is biologically male, but just doesn't associate with a gender...
EDIT: I type all this out, only to find that on her Bio page on gatherer, the exact same article exists with the exception of replacing every "he" with "Ashiok". Bah!
That is because the bio in the fat pack is, to put it mildly, in error.
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It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
In fairness, if we dehumanise Ashiok through using "it", then that's only reasonable. Not because it's reasonable to dehumanise people who stray outside typical gender boundaries -- that's obviously not reasonable -- but because Ashiok isn't human: it's a faceless smoke monster who preys on nightmares.
So, based on the presumption that it probably takes a *really* long time to evolve into an incarnation of nightmares, is it safe to speculate that Smokey the Fear (think that'll stick?) is probably an oldwalker?
We don't know that, do we? Perhaps the Returned as seen as a failure on Erebos' part and people don't believe in his power. Or perhaps it's taboo to talk about the dead. We just don't know.
The question is also what happens whenever a Returned and an Eidolon merge back into one being. As, so far, in the storyline a Returned and an Eidolon have not merged back as one being and do not know each other exists we'll never know. Which perhaps, may, explain some features of Ashiok have some similarities with a Return as a sort of "ascended returned" that had their spark fully awakened when the spirit and flesh became one again.
Now, as for the "current" Ashiok, the question on motivation is rather clear as a sojourner from another world looking to spread more nightmares. Nicol Bolas always seem to not be related to any particular plane, but sends agents around to look into specific events. This has been the case for two of his planeswalker agents already who fall within his color pie more and more. Tezzeret became black, while Sarkon Vol evolved to become black and red while losing his green affinity. This would also reflect a different kind of specialty with each planeswalker inside of Bolas' arsenal and it makes sense to have a black and blue loyal scout check out different kinds of Magics to regain his original powers.
This may very well be confirmed if Ashiok helps Xenagos become a god as an experiment to see what happens through ascending to godhood to see whether Bolas would want to explore giving up his planeswalker status and move towards becoming a god.
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Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
The question is also what happens whenever a Returned and an Eidolon merge back into one being. As, so far, in the storyline a Returned and an Eidolon have not merged back as one being and do not know each other exists we'll never know. Which perhaps, may, explain some features of Ashiok have some similarities with a Return as a sort of "ascended returned" that had their spark fully awakened when the spirit and flesh became one again.
Now, as for the "current" Ashiok, the question on motivation is rather clear as a sojourner from another world looking to spread more nightmares. Nicol Bolas always seem to not be related to any particular plane, but sends agents around to look into specific events. This has been the case for two of his planeswalker agents already who fall within his color pie more and more. Tezzeret became black, while Sarkon Vol evolved to become black and red while losing his green affinity. This would also reflect a different kind of specialty with each planeswalker inside of Bolas' arsenal and it makes sense to have a black and blue loyal scout check out different kinds of Magics to regain his original powers.
This may very well be confirmed if Ashiok helps Xenagos become a god as an experiment to see what happens through ascending to godhood to see whether Bolas would want to explore giving up his planeswalker status and move towards becoming a god.
You are of course aware that there have been no hint what so ever to link Bolas to Ashiok the Awesome what so ever, right? Until proven otherwise it is safe to assume that Ashiok is a free agent and not affiliated with the dragon, at all.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
You are of course aware that there have been no hint what so ever to link Bolas to Ashiok the Awesome what so ever, right? Until proven otherwise it is safe to assume that Ashiok is a free agent and not affiliated with the dragon, at all.
According to Doug, we don't know if it's a free agent or somebody's dog yet, but both were put forward.
That being said, Baseless speculation is still against the rules. Only warning I'll give on that guys. Proceed with this train of thought and you'll be breaking the rules.
Here's a hypothesis about Ashiok's origin: What if Chainer, Dementia Master didn't actually die, but instead had his spark ignite when the mirari transformed him into a mass of nightmare creatures? Now he travels the planes as Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver.
Baseless speculation is against the subforum rules. Double check before making statements like this.
There is nothing to gain by so drastically rewriting an existing character that can't be gained by writing a new character.
When they make a walker who was previously a noteworthy legend, they won't be subtle about it.
The entire point of such a thing is recognizability and nostalgia.
If you can't recognize the character, what's the point?
These days, some wizards are finding they have a little too much deck left at the end of their $$$.
MTG finance guy- follow me on Twitter@RichArschmann or RichardArschmann on Reddit
Just off the first page, I like the idea that Ashiok is an Ashiok. Though all this talk of speculation on it's gender makes me think of Ashiok standing in a DMV or something...
I just take this as evidence that Ashiok's gender schtick wasn't added until very late in the process.
And I agree, it makes reading articles about Ashiok or writing anything about Ashiok rather painful.
That is because the bio in the fat pack is, to put it mildly, in error.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
I thought i actually posted the MTG article on him on like the firs page, are people seriously still arguing over him?
Everything I've been saying.
Level 1 Judge
I write flavor articles for RoxieCards.
I play and judge at Giga Bites Cafein Marietta, Georgia.
Welcome to the internet, where we argument constantly and the arguments doesn't matter.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
GGG [Primer] Omnath, Big Green Beatstick Machine GGG
The question is also what happens whenever a Returned and an Eidolon merge back into one being. As, so far, in the storyline a Returned and an Eidolon have not merged back as one being and do not know each other exists we'll never know. Which perhaps, may, explain some features of Ashiok have some similarities with a Return as a sort of "ascended returned" that had their spark fully awakened when the spirit and flesh became one again.
Now, as for the "current" Ashiok, the question on motivation is rather clear as a sojourner from another world looking to spread more nightmares. Nicol Bolas always seem to not be related to any particular plane, but sends agents around to look into specific events. This has been the case for two of his planeswalker agents already who fall within his color pie more and more. Tezzeret became black, while Sarkon Vol evolved to become black and red while losing his green affinity. This would also reflect a different kind of specialty with each planeswalker inside of Bolas' arsenal and it makes sense to have a black and blue loyal scout check out different kinds of Magics to regain his original powers.
This may very well be confirmed if Ashiok helps Xenagos become a god as an experiment to see what happens through ascending to godhood to see whether Bolas would want to explore giving up his planeswalker status and move towards becoming a god.
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
You are of course aware that there have been no hint what so ever to link Bolas to Ashiok the Awesome what so ever, right? Until proven otherwise it is safe to assume that Ashiok is a free agent and not affiliated with the dragon, at all.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
According to Doug, we don't know if it's a free agent or somebody's dog yet, but both were put forward.
That being said, Baseless speculation is still against the rules. Only warning I'll give on that guys. Proceed with this train of thought and you'll be breaking the rules.
Baseless speculation is against the subforum rules. Double check before making statements like this.
When they make a walker who was previously a noteworthy legend, they won't be subtle about it.
The entire point of such a thing is recognizability and nostalgia.
If you can't recognize the character, what's the point?
Level 1 Judge
I write flavor articles for RoxieCards.
I play and judge at Giga Bites Cafein Marietta, Georgia.
Whenever I play the card, I use no pronouns and announce it in Axe's voice.
"Ashiok uses Ashiok's +2 ability to exile three cards!"
MTG finance guy- follow me on Twitter@RichArschmann or RichardArschmann on Reddit
You mean:
Name: Ashiok
Age: Ashiok
Gender: Ashiok
Is now headcanon.
Level 1 Judge
I write flavor articles for RoxieCards.
I play and judge at Giga Bites Cafein Marietta, Georgia.