It started as The Reign of Brago...
... But Brago was assassinated...
So it became The Empty Throne...
... but the powerful of Paliano have set their sights on the throne...
And so it became Take The Crown.
It appears the first assassin was a Custodi, based on the robes. The second woman has the Black Rose emblem, meaning she's making a move. This last woman looks a lot like Selvala. Supposedly, this is the last change, no more surprises or jokes, which is disappointing because the first two names were so much cooler than Take The Crown.
Updated 6/8
And the EMA Tokens had hidden messages.
Free citizens of Paliano: When you fell asleep last night, you were loyal. You laid down your heads as steadfast servants of the one true king of Paliano, Brago the Eternal. Perhaps you did not love him. It is not the role of a ruler to be loved. But you obeyed him, and you respected him, as any citizen should. You awakened as unwitting traitors beneath the blood-stained banner of a usurper queen: Marchese the Black Rose, a known assassin and plotter, a criminal of the highest order whose veiled threats and hidden thorns have allowed her for far too long to flaunt the law of Paliano. She has made you traitors by raising her flag above the palace and placing the crown upon her treacherous brow. She has forced you to choose between loyalty to the crown and loyalty to your city. Somehow, this vile deceiver murdered King Brago, ending his immortal existence and dispersing the essence of his spirit. She inserted herself into the sovereign’s will and testament – a document forged, no doubt, from whole cloth. For why would the King Eternal have a will at all? And if he did, why would he name the murderous daughter of a fallen house to rule in his place?
Somehow, she commands the loyalty of the Custodi Priests who once made the King’s word manifest in the world. Alongside them stand numerous servants of the throne who cannot or dare not question her right to rule, and in the shadows lurks her own existing network of thieves, spies, saboteurs, informants, and assassins. Already the false queen raises her own sigil, the emblem of the Black Rose, above Paliano. She would quietly ignore the symbol of our city, the symbol Brago carried with him of his own sword, an image so endearing, so emblematic of our city and its’ lawful ruler, that the Custodi consider it a religious icon in its’ own right. Oh, the Custodi wave it even now, and it means as little from them as it ever did.
But the banners of the city troops have already changed. You will not see that symbol in the halls of Marchesa’s palace or on the shields of her defenders. She claims to rule legitimately, to have the interests of the city at heart, but the flag that has flown above us all these years is absent at her own command. And why? The reason is simple. Marchesa has no right to that sign of our city’s history, and she knows it. She wears the crown and sits upon the throne but she does not carry the sword of Brago – the blade that bears the symbol of our city. I know this because I now carry that sword, and with it the burden of upholding law and order in Paliano. I have been stripped of my title by the traitor queen, but I do not relinquish it. I hold this sword, this symbol, this duty to defend our city from all its’ enemies – even and especially an enemy who sits upon the throne. I have no wish to rule, only to unseat the usurper so that we may determine our rightful sovereign in the wake of King Brago’s tragic end. Marchesa would have you to stand with her, in service to a true crown that rests upon a false head, and thereby she would make you a traitor. I offer you a different path! Stand with me, and with Brago, and show your loyalty to your city through your disobedience to the pretender. If her flag is not your flag, then do not bow to it. IF her rule is illegitimate, then so too are her laws. If she is not truly queen, then the servants of the throne are no better than her spies or assassins, and should be treated accordingly. What say you, citizens of Paliano? Do you stand with the city, or with its’ self-proclaimed queen? Are you loyal rebels, or obedient traitors? As long as Marchesa sits upon the throne, you are one or the other. Make your choice! – Adriana, Captain of the Guard
People of the High City! It is my solemn duty to inform you that Brago, King of Paliano, is no more. His death shocked the city all those years ago, his spiritual continuance brought joy and relief to us all. Now, he has at last passed truly and forever beyond the veil. His long reign has come to an end, and his spirit is finally granted the eternal rest it deserves. In his beneficent wisdom, our late king appointed a successor with the will and the strength to bring peace to his beloved city. As his designated heir, recognized by the sacred order of custodi as his one and true successor, I vow to uphold the laws of Paliano, to maintain order in the city, and to see that justice is served swiftly and even-handedly. Though I know that I will never be a worthy heir to a man whose commitment to his city transcended life itself, I must hope that, with the blessings of the custodi, I am able to guide our fair city to a new age of prosperity. The transfer of power is always difficult, and all the more so when the end of a monarch’s reign comes unexpectedly. Even loyal and steadfast servants of the crown may find themselves ill-equipped to serve a new monarch in the same capacity as the old. As of now, the post of Captain of the Guard is disbanded. The soldiers of this city will now report directly to me. The former captain has retired with thanks from our fair city and a generous pension from the throne that will support her for the rest of her life, however long that life may be. In the absence of any natural heir, Brago made his intentions for the disposition of his throne quite clear. Lamentably, not all of the king’s former vassals respect his final wishes. Those who might use this transition as an excuse for rebellion should know that treason will be answered, as it always has been, with the harshest punishments, while loyalty will be rewarded lavishly. May fortune shine upon Paliano!
As proclaimed by her Majesty Queen, Marchesa, The Black Rose, First of her name, Head of the Council, Guarantor of Lawful Governance, Soul Sovereign of the High City, True Heir to the Throne of Paliano and all the rights and privileges thereof.
So what are the odds of "Reign of the Black Rose" being announced tomorrow?
For real, I am absolutely loving this marketing and all of this artwork. I adore anything related to Conspiracy/Paliano and I welcome this sequel with open arms (and a guarded back).
Marchesa must have found the fountain of youth or something. I mean Marchesa, the Black Rose looks to be pushing close to 50 but the new queen looks no older than 30 if not more like 25.
Frankly, I can imagine her being 45-50 on the image. She has almost no wrinkles, but the face, posture, everything just radiates cunning that comes only with age.
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Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
It would be Custodus based on my half an hour of trying to figure out Latin grammer. Custodi is a subject so the the singular should end in -us. However since Fiora appears to be Italian-based, Custodi appears to be a bastardization of the word Custodie. Of which the singular is Custodia.
Free citizens of Paliano: When you fell asleep last night, you were loyal. You laid down your heads as steadfast servants of the one true king of Paliano, Brago the Eternal. Perhaps you did not love him. It is not the role of a ruler to be loved. But you obeyed him, and you respected him, as any citizen should. You awakened as unwitting traitors beneath the blood-stained banner of a usurper queen: Marchese the Black Rose, a known assassin and plotter, a criminal of the highest order whose veiled threats and hidden thorns have allowed her for far too long to flaunt the law of Paliano. She has made you traitors by raising her flag above the palace and placing the crown upon her treacherous brow. She has forced you to choose between loyalty to the crown and loyalty to your city. Somehow, this vile deceiver murdered King Brago, ending his immortal existence and dispersing the essence of his spirit. She inserted herself into the sovereign’s will and testament – a document forged, no doubt, from whole cloth. For why would the King Eternal have a will at all? And if he did, why would he name the murderous daughter of a fallen house to rule in his place?
Somehow, she commands the loyalty of the Custodi Priests who once made the King’s word manifest in the world. Alongside them stand numerous servants of the throne who cannot or dare not question her right to rule, and in the shadows lurks her own existing network of thieves, spies, saboteurs, informants, and assassins. Already the false queen raises her own sigil, the emblem of the Black Rose, above Paliano. She would quietly ignore the symbol of our city, the symbol Brago carried with him of his own sword, an image so endearing, so emblematic of our city and its’ lawful ruler, that the Custodi consider it a religious icon in its’ own right. Oh, the Custodi wave it even now, and it means as little from them as it ever did.
But the banners of the city troops have already changed. You will not see that symbol in the halls of Marchesa’s palace or on the shields of her defenders. She claims to rule legitimately, to have the interests of the city at heart, but the flag that has flown above us all these years is absent at her own command. And why? The reason is simple. Marchesa has no right to that sign of our city’s history, and she knows it. She wears the crown and sits upon the throne but she does not carry the sword of Brago – the blade that bears the symbol of our city. I know this because I now carry that sword, and with it the burden of upholding law and order in Paliano. I have been stripped of my title by the traitor queen, but I do not relinquish it. I hold this sword, this symbol, this duty to defend our city from all its’ enemies – even and especially an enemy who sits upon the throne. I have no wish to rule, only to unseat the usurper so that we may determine our rightful sovereign in the wake of King Brago’s tragic end. Marchesa would have you to stand with her, in service to a true crown that rests upon a false head, and thereby she would make you a traitor. I offer you a different path! Stand with me, and with Brago, and show your loyalty to your city through your disobedience to the pretender. If her flag is not your flag, then do not bow to it. IF her rule is illegitimate, then so too are her laws. If she is not truly queen, then the servants of the throne are no better than her spies or assassins, and should be treated accordingly. What say you, citizens of Paliano? Do you stand with the city, or with its’ self-proclaimed queen? Are you loyal rebels, or obedient traitors? As long as Marchesa sits upon the throne, you are one or the other. Make your choice! – Adriana, Captain of the Guard
People of the High City! It is my solemn duty to inform you that Brago, King of Paliano, is no more. His death shocked the city all those years ago, his spiritual continuance brought joy and relief to us all. Now, he has at last passed truly and forever beyond the veil. His long reign has come to an end, and his spirit is finally granted the eternal rest it deserves. In his beneficent wisdom, our late king appointed a successor with the will and the strength to bring peace to his beloved city. As his designated heir, recognized by the sacred order of custodi as his one and true successor, I vow to uphold the laws of Paliano, to maintain order in the city, and to see that justice is served swiftly and even-handedly. Though I know that I will never be a worthy heir to a man whose commitment to his city transcended life itself, I must hope that, with the blessings of the custodi, I am able to guide our fair city to a new age of prosperity. The transfer of power is always difficult, and all the more so when the end of a monarch’s reign comes unexpectedly. Even loyal and steadfast servants of the crown may find themselves ill-equipped to serve a new monarch in the same capacity as the old. As of now, the post of Captain of the Guard is disbanded. The soldiers of this city will now report directly to me. The former captain has retired with thanks from our fair city and a generous pension from the throne that will support her for the rest of her life, however long that life may be. In the absence of any natural heir, Brago made his intentions for the disposition of his throne quite clear. Lamentably, not all of the king’s former vassals respect his final wishes. Those who might use this transition as an excuse for rebellion should know that treason will be answered, as it always has been, with the harshest punishments, while loyalty will be rewarded lavishly. May fortune shine upon Paliano!
As proclaimed by her Majesty Queen, Marchesa, The Black Rose, First of her name, Head of the Council, Guarantor of Lawful Governance, Soul Sovereign of the High City, True Heir to the Throne of Paliano and all the rights and privileges thereof.
I hope we get to see more of Selvala, Muzzio, Grenzo, and Daretti.
I based on the fact that there is outright rebellion occurring, I have a distinct feeling Grenzo is more involved than it appears at first glance. With which side, if either, it's difficult to tell, but given his ultimate goal seems to be anarchy...
What better to encourage it than all out civil war?
And thanks for finding and posting those Jay! I really appreciate it.
I hope they go as far as they did with the number imprinted on the back of the random Magister of Worth that appeared during that prerelease. We have Eldritch Moon before Conspiracy this summer, so it'll be interesting to see how far Wizards plays it up this time
I hope they go as far as they did with the number imprinted on the back of the random Magister of Worth that appeared during that prerelease. We have Eldritch Moon before Conspiracy this summer, so it'll be interesting to see how far Wizards plays it up this time
I really hope I get a Queen Marchesa or something in a random Eldrich booster.
This really sounds cool.
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For those that want background: Fiora, The World of Conspiracy
It started as The Reign of Brago...
... But Brago was assassinated...
So it became The Empty Throne...
... but the powerful of Paliano have set their sights on the throne...
And so it became Take The Crown.
It appears the first assassin was a Custodi, based on the robes. The second woman has the Black Rose emblem, meaning she's making a move. This last woman looks a lot like Selvala. Supposedly, this is the last change, no more surprises or jokes, which is disappointing because the first two names were so much cooler than Take The Crown.
Updated 6/8
And the EMA Tokens had hidden messages.
Somehow, she commands the loyalty of the Custodi Priests who once made the King’s word manifest in the world. Alongside them stand numerous servants of the throne who cannot or dare not question her right to rule, and in the shadows lurks her own existing network of thieves, spies, saboteurs, informants, and assassins. Already the false queen raises her own sigil, the emblem of the Black Rose, above Paliano. She would quietly ignore the symbol of our city, the symbol Brago carried with him of his own sword, an image so endearing, so emblematic of our city and its’ lawful ruler, that the Custodi consider it a religious icon in its’ own right. Oh, the Custodi wave it even now, and it means as little from them as it ever did.
But the banners of the city troops have already changed. You will not see that symbol in the halls of Marchesa’s palace or on the shields of her defenders. She claims to rule legitimately, to have the interests of the city at heart, but the flag that has flown above us all these years is absent at her own command. And why? The reason is simple. Marchesa has no right to that sign of our city’s history, and she knows it. She wears the crown and sits upon the throne but she does not carry the sword of Brago – the blade that bears the symbol of our city. I know this because I now carry that sword, and with it the burden of upholding law and order in Paliano. I have been stripped of my title by the traitor queen, but I do not relinquish it. I hold this sword, this symbol, this duty to defend our city from all its’ enemies – even and especially an enemy who sits upon the throne. I have no wish to rule, only to unseat the usurper so that we may determine our rightful sovereign in the wake of King Brago’s tragic end. Marchesa would have you to stand with her, in service to a true crown that rests upon a false head, and thereby she would make you a traitor. I offer you a different path! Stand with me, and with Brago, and show your loyalty to your city through your disobedience to the pretender. If her flag is not your flag, then do not bow to it. IF her rule is illegitimate, then so too are her laws. If she is not truly queen, then the servants of the throne are no better than her spies or assassins, and should be treated accordingly. What say you, citizens of Paliano? Do you stand with the city, or with its’ self-proclaimed queen? Are you loyal rebels, or obedient traitors? As long as Marchesa sits upon the throne, you are one or the other. Make your choice! – Adriana, Captain of the Guard
As proclaimed by her Majesty Queen, Marchesa, The Black Rose, First of her name, Head of the Council, Guarantor of Lawful Governance, Soul Sovereign of the High City, True Heir to the Throne of Paliano and all the rights and privileges thereof.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
For real, I am absolutely loving this marketing and all of this artwork. I adore anything related to Conspiracy/Paliano and I welcome this sequel with open arms (and a guarded back).
R Citizen Cane (Feldon of the Third Path)
@_kaburi_ on Twitter
Special thanks to Serrot_29 for Catbug'mrakul!
R Citizen Cane (Feldon of the Third Path)
Click the pic for more info.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
R Citizen Cane (Feldon of the Third Path)
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
But the Custodi seem to be capable of extending ones life. It just backfired on Brago. So perhaps she did became younger.
However Marchesa on the throne is probably one of my favored magic artworks of all time.
Hands to the sky
Give a round of applause
For the great Miss Y!
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
So either Custodus or Custodia.
After all, you also do not normally use "Illuminatus", but only "Illuminati". So I would settle for "one of the Custodi" or "member of the Custodi".
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
Actually you do use Illuminatus to refer to a member of the Illuminati, much like alumnus for alumni.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
Wouldn't it be Custodia?
Apparently the EMA tokens hide some story details. Looking like a loyalist faction versus Marchesas faction.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
~~~~~
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
I based on the fact that there is outright rebellion occurring, I have a distinct feeling Grenzo is more involved than it appears at first glance. With which side, if either, it's difficult to tell, but given his ultimate goal seems to be anarchy...
What better to encourage it than all out civil war?
And thanks for finding and posting those Jay! I really appreciate it.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
(Also known as Xenphire)
This really sounds cool.
Art is life itself.