I've looked around on wikis, and have not found a concrete answer, so I ask it here.
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite's flavor text reads: "The Gitaxians whisper among themselves of other worlds. If they exist, we must bring Phyrexia's magnificence to them." Assuming that someday the 5 factions unite in their focus, how would the New Phyrexians be able to leave New Phyrexia to conquer other planes? Venser's planeshifting vessel, from what I read online, was no big shakes. Is the knowledge and material for how to create portals somewhere on New Phyrexia?
And another question: In Invasion, portals were opened up in Dominaria for air assault by Phyrexian airships. How did the original Phyrexians manage to traverse planes, from Phyrexia to I believe Serra's Realm, and from Phyrexia to Dominaria, without using the original Thran portal? And, would that knowledge somehow have passed to New Phyrexia? Apologies if this has been asked and answered before, I did not see it after a cursory look.
I've looked around on wikis, and have not found a concrete answer, so I ask it here.
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite's flavor text reads: "The Gitaxians whisper among themselves of other worlds. If they exist, we must bring Phyrexia's magnificence to them." Assuming that someday the 5 factions unite in their focus, how would the New Phyrexians be able to leave New Phyrexia to conquer other planes? Venser's planeshifting vessel, from what I read online, was no big shakes. Is the knowledge and material for how to create portals somewhere on New Phyrexia?
And another question: In Invasion, portals were opened up in Dominaria for air assault by Phyrexian airships. How did the original Phyrexians manage to traverse planes, from Phyrexia to I believe Serra's Realm, and from Phyrexia to Dominaria, without using the original Thran portal? And, would that knowledge somehow have passed to New Phyrexia? Apologies if this has been asked and answered before, I did not see it after a cursory look.
The Phyrexians had planar portal technology (see Planar Portal, Phyrexian Portal, Erratic Portal, Belbe's Portal). They were locked out of Dominaria by the Shard of Twelve Worlds, but when Freyalise cast the Worldspell that ended the Ice Age, the Shard was broken and they could again reach Dominaria.
Right now, the New Phyrexians don't have access to planar portal technology; that information appears to have been left out of the coding carried in the oil. The Gitaxans are working on adapting Memnarch's soul traps, but that's about it for their access to other worlds.
I remember reading about Belbe's portal, planar portal, and Erratic portal in the books. I just have a follow up question, in light of those examples. Yawgmoth and Phyrexians were on Phyrexia because Dyfed had created the original portal, using a powerful powerstone. Yawgmoth's Phyrexia was supposed to be free of powerstones and the phthisis that powerstones could cause (I think, might have to go back to The Thran). So if Dyfed was the only one who knew how to make a portal and she was dead, and Glacian's genius didn't go into Phyrexia, and there were likely to be very few if any powerstones on Phyrexia, and even fewer or zero powerstones of the power needed for a portal like Dyfed made, how then did Yawgmoth and Phyrexians manage to build portals at all? Trial and error over millenia? I did not read any of the Ice Age cycle books, so I don't know if this is addressed there. In the books relating to Urza, I don't recall them ever explaining how Phyrexians managed to traverse planes, besides the fact that they could in fact traverse planes. Dunno if this makes sense, I have an incoming migraine, so apologies if there are run-on sentences.
I think you are mistaken. As far as I can recall, Phyrexia wasn't supposed to be free of powerstones; it was just a trap created by Yawgmoth. He took all those Dominarians that were diagnosed with phtisis and, well, compleated them. My storyline-fu is a bit rusty, though, so don't quote me on it.
If the Gitaxians are experimenting on Memnarchs soultraps, however, this could mean trouble. As soon as they figure out that they work, abducting souls from other planes, the rumor becomes reality. I can also imagine that not everything Phyrexia was is destroyed. The Phyrexians were everywhere, not just Dominaria, and as soon as the glistening oil left by Karn during his travels comes into contact with sleeper agents they'll know that Phyrexia has survived. This could mean an all new, overarching story... one which I'm dying to see, to be honest. All these loose stories are... meh.
For the record, the Phyrexians definitely weren't free of powerstones. After all, every newt was decanted with a hearstone, which despite their unique properties, were still powerstones, as evidenced by Urza's use of it during Karn's construction.
As to their planar portal technology, they had plenty of time to study the portal assembled by Dyfed and while it might have taken quite a while to get a working model together, they had the time. In addition is the fact that once they had developed the technology, they had access to huge caches of artifacts to upgrade their tech with whenever they found a new plane. It's important to note well that the portable portals are given a lot of attention in Planeswalker.
As to the pthisis, my memory may be a little shaky on this but... Yawgmoth had a cure for it that he more or less chose to lightly distribute. Even then, there's the simple fact that phyrexians would have no need to fear powerstone radiation given that most were already necrotic flesh or mechanical replacements.
I was just paging through The Thran and realized that Yawgmoth was looking over Glacian's invention blueprints and plans throughout the book, if not actually stealing them away. So I guess it is more than probable that the Phyrexians had access to whatever knowledge of the genius Glacian that Yawgmoth had stolen/read/stored somewhere. And I recall Yawgmoth implanting the Thran with uncharged powerstones to draw out radiation, but used it as a spying resource. And I recall Xantcha's heartstone. So in light of all this, I guess it makes sense that the Phyrexians could eventually figure it all out and summon enough power to create portals.
Which leads me to another question, though. If it appears that Phyrexians were capable of creating portal technology, where did they discover how to make Rath, and how did they do it? I remember reading about how Rath is constantly expanded by flowstone generation until it merged with Dominaria, but how did Rath start in the first place? Is this fully explained somewhere that I missed, and does the explanation include how the Phyrexians found out how to create and artificial plane?
As to the pthisis, my memory may be a little shaky on this but... Yawgmoth had a cure for it that he more or less chose to lightly distribute.
And that is also true. He had the injections for Gix and others. Generally he used the disease to gain power by removing obstructions and rewarding followers. And I also just read on p. 168 of The Thran that Yawgmoth, during the tour of planes with Dyfed and others, claimed that Dyfed would provide a virgin world free of magic. I guess that's where I got the idea that he was trying to make Phyrexia free and clear of phthisis.
Which leads me to another question, though. If it appears that Phyrexians were capable of creating portal technology, where did they discover how to make Rath, and how did they do it? I remember reading about how Rath is constantly expanded by flowstone generation until it merged with Dominaria, but how did Rath start in the first place? Is this fully explained somewhere that I missed, and does the explanation include how the Phyrexians found out how to create and artificial plane?
Rath was seeded by a piece of an existing plane to start with, the volcano where they drew the thermal energies for the Terrain Generator was the centerpoint of Rath and came from... somewhere else. I think probably the same place where Davvol is from.
From that seed, they used the flowstone to push the boundaries of the plane's volume until it achieved the same general measurement as Dominaria, at which point it aligned due to volume resonance (or something like that)
However, they pulled more pieces of other planes to Rath to sort of even out the entire process.
As to where they discovered how to make Rath, maybe from observing Serra's Realm, but huge question marks for where they got the idea.
Maybe Phyrexian's were always more creative than Urza gave them credit for.
I wouldn't be surprised if Yawgmoth and his vat priests figured out a way to make certain brains larger and with more connections in order to process and digest information at a rapid rate. If he couldn't have Glacian, maybe he could develop his own geniuses to his own specifications.
I wouldn't be surprised if Yawgmoth and his vat priests figured out a way to make certain brains larger and with more connections in order to process and digest information at a rapid rate. If he couldn't have Glacian, maybe he could develop his own geniuses to his own specifications.
Not what he meant.
Phyrexians aren't necessarily stupid, but they tend to be uncreative.
The typical Phyrexian is remarkably unable to process abstract thought like imagination.
Not what he meant.
Phyrexians aren't necessarily stupid, but they tend to be uncreative.
The typical Phyrexian is remarkably unable to process abstract thought like imagination.
I wasn't saying that was exactly what he was talking about, I was just adding my own thoughts. I mean, we know that Yawgmoth substantially increased Gix's brain capacity. The average Phyrexian would have no need to think creatively, they just had to do what Yawgmoth, his praetors, priests, or other upper echelon Phyrexians told them to do. Yawgmoth's top tier Phyrexians wouldn't just be mindless automatons, though; they would probably be the best of the best, both in strength of body and mind. Which is what I was talking about.
There are plenty of examples of Phyrexians doing things in a rational, structured, intelligent way.
But there are very few examples of them appreciating art, for example.
There are plenty of examples of Phyrexians doing things in a rational, structured, intelligent way.
But there are very few examples of them appreciating art, for example.
Whoa whoa whoa, you don't think the creations lying in vats of glistening oil are art???
Jokes aside, no.
Phyrexians are highly utilitarian.
The things they craft need to function as intended. They don't particularly care what it looks like in most cases.
Jokes aside, no.
Phyrexians are highly utilitarian.
The things they craft need to function as intended. They don't particularly care what it looks like in most cases.
Well, Yawgmoth at least saw beauty and art in the Phyrexians from what he says and thinks in The Thran, even though to the average person it would be gruesome and horrifying. But to each their own, I guess, when it comes to art and beauty.
True, since he created them. But you have to admit, some New Phyrexia praetors look pretty fly, especially Norn's followers.
That's not so strange. New Phyrexia has access to multiple sources of mana, and White has been the color of beauty. The Glistening Oil just adapted the specific mana properties to suit Phyrexian goals, not replace them as far as I can see? Black mana is "achieve the goal no matter what"; looking nice isn't exactly a thing black cares much about. Looking pretty no matter what, well, that's a different story...
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite's flavor text reads: "The Gitaxians whisper among themselves of other worlds. If they exist, we must bring Phyrexia's magnificence to them." Assuming that someday the 5 factions unite in their focus, how would the New Phyrexians be able to leave New Phyrexia to conquer other planes? Venser's planeshifting vessel, from what I read online, was no big shakes. Is the knowledge and material for how to create portals somewhere on New Phyrexia?
And another question: In Invasion, portals were opened up in Dominaria for air assault by Phyrexian airships. How did the original Phyrexians manage to traverse planes, from Phyrexia to I believe Serra's Realm, and from Phyrexia to Dominaria, without using the original Thran portal? And, would that knowledge somehow have passed to New Phyrexia? Apologies if this has been asked and answered before, I did not see it after a cursory look.
The Phyrexians had planar portal technology (see Planar Portal, Phyrexian Portal, Erratic Portal, Belbe's Portal). They were locked out of Dominaria by the Shard of Twelve Worlds, but when Freyalise cast the Worldspell that ended the Ice Age, the Shard was broken and they could again reach Dominaria.
Right now, the New Phyrexians don't have access to planar portal technology; that information appears to have been left out of the coding carried in the oil. The Gitaxans are working on adapting Memnarch's soul traps, but that's about it for their access to other worlds.
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I remember reading about Belbe's portal, planar portal, and Erratic portal in the books. I just have a follow up question, in light of those examples. Yawgmoth and Phyrexians were on Phyrexia because Dyfed had created the original portal, using a powerful powerstone. Yawgmoth's Phyrexia was supposed to be free of powerstones and the phthisis that powerstones could cause (I think, might have to go back to The Thran). So if Dyfed was the only one who knew how to make a portal and she was dead, and Glacian's genius didn't go into Phyrexia, and there were likely to be very few if any powerstones on Phyrexia, and even fewer or zero powerstones of the power needed for a portal like Dyfed made, how then did Yawgmoth and Phyrexians manage to build portals at all? Trial and error over millenia? I did not read any of the Ice Age cycle books, so I don't know if this is addressed there. In the books relating to Urza, I don't recall them ever explaining how Phyrexians managed to traverse planes, besides the fact that they could in fact traverse planes. Dunno if this makes sense, I have an incoming migraine, so apologies if there are run-on sentences.
If the Gitaxians are experimenting on Memnarchs soultraps, however, this could mean trouble. As soon as they figure out that they work, abducting souls from other planes, the rumor becomes reality. I can also imagine that not everything Phyrexia was is destroyed. The Phyrexians were everywhere, not just Dominaria, and as soon as the glistening oil left by Karn during his travels comes into contact with sleeper agents they'll know that Phyrexia has survived. This could mean an all new, overarching story... one which I'm dying to see, to be honest. All these loose stories are... meh.
As to their planar portal technology, they had plenty of time to study the portal assembled by Dyfed and while it might have taken quite a while to get a working model together, they had the time. In addition is the fact that once they had developed the technology, they had access to huge caches of artifacts to upgrade their tech with whenever they found a new plane. It's important to note well that the portable portals are given a lot of attention in Planeswalker.
As to the pthisis, my memory may be a little shaky on this but... Yawgmoth had a cure for it that he more or less chose to lightly distribute. Even then, there's the simple fact that phyrexians would have no need to fear powerstone radiation given that most were already necrotic flesh or mechanical replacements.
Which leads me to another question, though. If it appears that Phyrexians were capable of creating portal technology, where did they discover how to make Rath, and how did they do it? I remember reading about how Rath is constantly expanded by flowstone generation until it merged with Dominaria, but how did Rath start in the first place? Is this fully explained somewhere that I missed, and does the explanation include how the Phyrexians found out how to create and artificial plane?
And that is also true. He had the injections for Gix and others. Generally he used the disease to gain power by removing obstructions and rewarding followers. And I also just read on p. 168 of The Thran that Yawgmoth, during the tour of planes with Dyfed and others, claimed that Dyfed would provide a virgin world free of magic. I guess that's where I got the idea that he was trying to make Phyrexia free and clear of phthisis.
Rath was seeded by a piece of an existing plane to start with, the volcano where they drew the thermal energies for the Terrain Generator was the centerpoint of Rath and came from... somewhere else. I think probably the same place where Davvol is from.
From that seed, they used the flowstone to push the boundaries of the plane's volume until it achieved the same general measurement as Dominaria, at which point it aligned due to volume resonance (or something like that)
However, they pulled more pieces of other planes to Rath to sort of even out the entire process.
As to where they discovered how to make Rath, maybe from observing Serra's Realm, but huge question marks for where they got the idea.
Maybe Phyrexian's were always more creative than Urza gave them credit for.
I wouldn't be surprised if Yawgmoth and his vat priests figured out a way to make certain brains larger and with more connections in order to process and digest information at a rapid rate. If he couldn't have Glacian, maybe he could develop his own geniuses to his own specifications.
Not what he meant.
Phyrexians aren't necessarily stupid, but they tend to be uncreative.
The typical Phyrexian is remarkably unable to process abstract thought like imagination.
Level 1 Judge
I write flavor articles for RoxieCards.
I play and judge at Giga Bites Cafein Marietta, Georgia.
I wasn't saying that was exactly what he was talking about, I was just adding my own thoughts. I mean, we know that Yawgmoth substantially increased Gix's brain capacity. The average Phyrexian would have no need to think creatively, they just had to do what Yawgmoth, his praetors, priests, or other upper echelon Phyrexians told them to do. Yawgmoth's top tier Phyrexians wouldn't just be mindless automatons, though; they would probably be the best of the best, both in strength of body and mind. Which is what I was talking about.
There are plenty of examples of Phyrexians doing things in a rational, structured, intelligent way.
But there are very few examples of them appreciating art, for example.
Level 1 Judge
I write flavor articles for RoxieCards.
I play and judge at Giga Bites Cafein Marietta, Georgia.
Whoa whoa whoa, you don't think the creations lying in vats of glistening oil are art???
Phyrexians are highly utilitarian.
The things they craft need to function as intended. They don't particularly care what it looks like in most cases.
Level 1 Judge
I write flavor articles for RoxieCards.
I play and judge at Giga Bites Cafein Marietta, Georgia.
Well, Yawgmoth at least saw beauty and art in the Phyrexians from what he says and thinks in The Thran, even though to the average person it would be gruesome and horrifying. But to each their own, I guess, when it comes to art and beauty.
Level 1 Judge
I write flavor articles for RoxieCards.
I play and judge at Giga Bites Cafein Marietta, Georgia.
True, since he created them. But you have to admit, some New Phyrexia praetors look pretty fly, especially Norn's followers.
That's not so strange. New Phyrexia has access to multiple sources of mana, and White has been the color of beauty. The Glistening Oil just adapted the specific mana properties to suit Phyrexian goals, not replace them as far as I can see? Black mana is "achieve the goal no matter what"; looking nice isn't exactly a thing black cares much about. Looking pretty no matter what, well, that's a different story...