Wow. Even knowing what was coming, that was a painful one. Got to give Doug credit - this was compelling stuff.
Little asides:
- Seems like *everybody* thinks Jace is expendable. First Tamiyo, now Sorin; even Liliana would only miss him like a little pet
- They really, finally, made Sorin completely bad-ass this time round. Despatching angels with ease; taking Avacyn's spear to the neck AND through his chest, and shrugging them off to glide serenely away at the end; not giving two hoots about powerful walkers like Tamiyo and Jace. I think Nahiri's toast in EMN.
- Sorin needs a new jacket and breastplate. Hope he has spares.
Okay, time to dive into the lore of this story. First of all, I hope Bruna and Gisela weren't among the angels Sorin killed. I don't think I could handle losing three of my favorite seraphs in one week.
Second, I like the Doug confirmed that Sorin needed his old-walker strength to create Avacyn and go on that Apollo mission. Nice touch.
Third, I wonder what that rumbling was. Was it Emrakul entering the plane, or was it just the integrity of Avacyn's wards failing?
Finally, I love how both Sorin and Avacyn pretty much just ignored Jace and Tamiyo.
Vorthos Cartography - Check out my completed maps of Zendikar and Innistrad!
"You say 'learn from history,' but that does not mean 'learn the same bull***** the people in history learned alongside phrenology and alchemy.'" - The Blinking Spirit
One of the high points of this week's story is that we don't know if Avacyn died as herself or under the madness that's afflicted her.
As for the story in general, it was its strongest when the focus was between Avacyn and Sorin (which is most of the story), but the weakest elements were by in large when the focus pulled out to include Tamiyo and Jace. For one, I didn't feel like the story continues from last week. The fact two people wrote it from two different perspectives play part of it, but Jace takes at least a 90 degree (maybe even 180) attitude and Tamiyo is just a spectator, which is what I was expecting, but it still doesn't help the connection. Then again, last week ended with Avacyn burning Jace at point blank and that's not where this week began (I don't think?). But the story should have ended with the montage. No post fight scene that contributed nothing.
I also feel the horde of angels attacking Sorin all at once was padding. It didn't raise the stacks for me, and I think just skipping it would have been stronger because I felt the most tension between Sorin and Avacyn, and the moment that raised the stacks was when Avacyn overcame Sorin's fail safes.
Overall, a decent enough end to the arc. I may have more to say later when I look it over again.
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Vive, vale. Siquid novisti rectius istis,
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
~~~~~
Still no real answers man, they are really milking it.It feels like when they reveal the cause most people are going to roll their eyes.Wasn't a fan of this story,it felt like a lot of recap of things already known,the end was nice at least.Also I was hoping for them to reveal the next set symbol at the end after the reveal but there was none.
Okay, something to note. When Avacyn's madness was in its strongest, she started refering to herself as "we", implying a hive-mind kind of deal going on. Now, normally I would attribute it that she actually means "us Angels", especially since it has already been estabilished that Angels are interconnected. However, just as she restored her clarity, she stopped it and started calling herself "I".
To top it off, check out the Hanweir Chronicle. Lately, many of its articles seem to hit the same "hive-mind" theme as well, with all the communal meals thing and creepy chanting and similar stuff. This also ties with Jace's madness in Nephalia, where he saw Tamiyo and Liliana as parts of his own mind.
I think it's safe to assume that living beings on Innistrad are going into a hive mind. Going with the Emrakul theory, it's easy to tie it in to the "limbs of the same body" thing.
There are few things you can count on in Magic, but if I know anything at all, it is this: Jace will never die. Wizards sees him as their primary mascot, MaRo called him "our Mickey Mouse". They aren't going to kill him off.
Still no real answers man, they are really milking it.It feels like when they reveal the cause most people are going to roll their eyes.Wasn't a fan of this story,it felt like a lot of recap of things already known,the end was nice at least.Also I was hoping for them to reveal the next set symbol at the end after the reveal but there was none.
I'm all for the purposeful withholding of info. I have a pretty substantial amount of tension built up wondering what is going on there on Innistrad.
As an aside, I would love to see a storyline/story where angels aren't jobbing to someone to make them look "strong." No other creature sub-type jobs harder than them, not even goblins.
As an aside, I would love to see a storyline/story where angels aren't jobbing to someone to make them look "strong." No other creature sub-type jobs harder than them, not even goblins.
You and me both. It doesn't make other characters look strong as much as it makes angels look weak.
Would have been more interesting if Olivia and her vampire army fought the angels while Sorin took care of Avacyn.
"I cannot see his face now, because he turns away from me. I cannot see whether he is monster or man. I can only see the point of that sword. I can only hear ancient words, words of a ritual performed in reverse, words of a gift being revoked. I can only feel my knees dropping onto the unyielding limit of the Cathedral floor. I can only smell the ash of some nearby smoldering. I can only touch the shadow on the floor under me, the shape that marks my first moment.
I can only say to you, in this, my final prayer to the world, that I only ever meant to keep the innocent from harm.
I am Avacyn. I am to protect."
That's okay. It wasn't like my favorite character in the game just got killed off. I didn't need that heart you just ripped out of my chest Beyer.
I mean dear Lord did that hit me right in the feels. I knew this would make me sad, but somehow that final quote from Avacyn, the Montage that followed and the whole father-daughter angle I had hoped for, it all compiled into a sheer pinnacle in the storyline that we knew for months was coming and lived up to if not exceeded the hype.
I just....wow. It kills me inside to know she's dead, but I kind of want to see the impact on Innistrad, and if Sorin even cares enough to fight Nahiri at this point. I mean, misanthropy aside, what does he care anymore? His former pupil hates him, his daughter is dead, his entire millenia old protection for his plane is literally rubble and ash around him, he has no manner to bind the evil of the world now, likely the most powerful known entity in the multiverse is bearing down on his world, and his entire family bloodline is all but wiped out. What more can you take from the guy?
It's remarkable, really. Avacyn went completely insane and tried to munder her creator, and Doug brought her back to more or less being an angry and scared child railing against her parent. I don't know if others would agree with the term, since she did murder hundereds, but finding out she really didn't know what she was doing and in the end she only wanted to fulfill her purpose, even telling her father she'd rather be imprisoned or die than give up on that, but she did just seem like an innocent child at the end.
Damn, I am going to miss that angel. Farewell Avacyn, may you find rest in whatever fate awaits you.
Vorthos-player with way too much time on his hands and a love of thematic decks.
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
"I cannot see his face now, because he turns away from me. I cannot see whether he is monster or man. I can only see the point of that sword. I can only hear ancient words, words of a ritual performed in reverse, words of a gift being revoked. I can only feel my knees dropping onto the unyielding limit of the Cathedral floor. I can only smell the ash of some nearby smoldering. I can only touch the shadow on the floor under me, the shape that marks my first moment.
I can only say to you, in this, my final prayer to the world, that I only ever meant to keep the innocent from harm.
I am Avacyn. I am to protect."
That's okay. It wasn't like my favorite character in the game just got killed off. I didn't need that heart you just ripped out of my chest Beyer.
I mean dear Lord did that hit me right in the feels. I knew this would make me sad, but somehow that final quote from Avacyn, the Montage that followed and the whole father-daughter angle I had hoped for, it all compiled into a sheer pinnacle in the storyline that we knew for months was coming and lived up to if not exceeded the hype.
I just....wow. It kills me inside to know she's dead, but I kind of want to see the impact on Innistrad, and if Sorin even cares enough to fight Nahiri at this point. I mean, misanthropy aside, what does he care anymore? His former pupil hates him, his daughter is dead, his entire millenia old protection for his plane is literally rubble and ash around him, he has no manner to bind the evil of the world now, likely the most powerful known entity in the multiverse is bearing down on his world, and his entire family bloodline is all but wiped out. What more can you take from the guy?
It's remarkable, really. Avacyn went completely insane and tried to munder her creator, and Doug brought her back to more or less being an angry and scared child railing against her parent. I don't know if others would agree with the term, since she did murder hundereds, but finding out she really didn't know what she was doing and in the end she only wanted to fulfill her purpose, even telling her father she'd rather be imprisoned or die than give up on that, but she did just seem like an innocent child at the end.
Damn, I am going to miss that angel. Farewell Avacyn, may you find rest in whatever fate awaits you.
Well, if the flavor texts are anything to go by, Sorin is about to take out all of that grief, all of that sadness, all of that RAGE, on one very VERY unfortunate lithomancer.
"When you have lost everything, you are at your most protected, because the enemy cannot take anything more from you."
Private Mod Note
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Level 1 Judge
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
Well, if the flavor texts are anything to go by, Sorin is about to take out all of that grief, all of that sadness, all of that RAGE, on one very VERY unfortunate lithomancer.
"When you have lost everything, you are at your most protected, because the enemy cannot take anything more from you."
Well, if the flavor texts are anything to go by, Sorin is about to take out all of that grief, all of that sadness, all of that RAGE, on one very VERY unfortunate lithomancer.
"When you have lost everything, you are at your most protected, because the enemy cannot take anything more from you."
The battle of the century!
Sorin's angst versus Emrakul!
Who will emerge victorious?
On one side, a difficult to characterize (and therefore market) eldritch abomination.
On the other, one of their most marketable planes and a popular vampire anti-hero.
A betting man says the good guys win this one going away.
Private Mod Note
():
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Level 1 Judge
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
Oh, sure Jace. When you ruin an extraplanar ecosystem by removing most of the apex predators, it's all fine and dandy, but Sorin gets rid of one measly planar protector and all of the sudden you have the moral high ground.
(Kidding of course.)
Solid story. I was a bit iffy about the montage. I definitely felt the tug of it, but at the same time, not all the images were the best?
And I guess now that Sorin's fulfilled his end of the deal, he's off to fight Nahiri with the help of the Voldaren clan? I suppose that was the purpose of that chapter?
If that's the case, judging by the previous stories, Nahiri will be winning. Any time a larger force goes up against a smaller one in these, the underdog wins.
I haven't seen anyone talk about this neat little callback...
Quote from Ugin, Zendikar Resurgent »
"What have you done?"
Quote from Jace, I Am Avacyn »
"What have you done?"
I alluded to it briefly, but not because of the echo but because it seemed out of place to me that Jace would freak out the way he did. I can see why now because it's an irony Jace is now in a position he put Ugin in, but it's still Comes across as forced in my opinion. Tamiyo should have been the one grilling Sorin based on what I read last week. The more natural reaction I feel Jace should be having is to be gasping desperate for air because he survived an Angelic Purge to the chest. Cool throwbacks should not come at the price of stilting the character into the situation.
I still stand by my proclamation that the strongest ending would be to have ended on the card art montage, only maybe throw in the extended art work of Anguished Unmaking on the end.
As much as I loved this story, at one point I couldn't stop laughing while I imagined this as a conversation between father and child, with the father starting the conversation with:
"Kid you are not alright, got down to the cellar with me I'll fix it"
Maybe you got the wrong starting here Sorin
The laughter helped over the feelings here unmaking left
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.
Thanks to DarkNightCavalier from Heroes of the Plane Studios for this sick Signature.
As much as I loved this story, at one point I couldn't stop laughing while I imagined this as a conversation between father and child, with the father starting the conversation with:
"Kid you are not alright, got down to the cellar with me I'll fix it"
Maybe you got the wrong starting here Sorin
The laughter helped over the feelings here unmaking left
Yeah, one of the lines that got me was this exchange:
""Let me help you, my child," the monster says. "I could...cleanse your mind. Make you a proper instrument of virtue again. I'll make you anew."
Never. "If I am not the daughter you want..." I say.
He winces."
It's sad, but it's also like a teenage girl arguing with her parent because the parent doesn't like the new phase they're going through. There's that little bit of Doug Beyer dialogue he has which is always funny and a bit immature. But yeah, laughter quickly turns back into a feel trip.
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Vorthos-player with way too much time on his hands and a love of thematic decks.
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
As much as I loved this story, at one point I couldn't stop laughing while I imagined this as a conversation between father and child, with the father starting the conversation with:
"Kid you are not alright, got down to the cellar with me I'll fix it"
Maybe you got the wrong starting here Sorin
The laughter helped over the feelings here unmaking left
Yeah, one of the lines that got me was this exchange:
""Let me help you, my child," the monster says. "I could...cleanse your mind. Make you a proper instrument of virtue again. I'll make you anew."
Never. "If I am not the daughter you want..." I say.
He winces."
It's sad, but it's also like a teenage girl arguing with her parent because the parent doesn't like the new phase they're going through. There's that little bit of Doug Beyer dialogue he has which is always funny and a bit immature. But yeah, laughter quickly turns back into a feel trip.
I agree with pretty much everything everyone has already posted, and wanted to add my take on Sorin's reaction - I think, deep down, he really didthink of Avacyn as a daughter, but refused to admit it to himself (he has only ever referred to her as "his angel" or "his creation") - which is why he reacted so badly to Avacyn making that statement (wincing, then angrily denouncing her as a mere creation).
In the same vein, I also wonder if Avacyn throwing the blame for her actions at his feet will have any lasting impact? While Avacyn seeing Sorin as a monster is (presumably) mainly due to the influence of Nahiri, there is a solid argument that Sorin is a monster, in the sense that he created Avacyn to keep the vampires from over-hunting their prey (and prevent other monsters from poaching their "cattle"). Avacyn had a moment of clarity as to what she was and had become before the end - will Sorin have the same? Sometimes, there is nothing more horrifying than seeing ourselves, not as we believe ourselves to be, but as we actually are.
Little asides:
- Seems like *everybody* thinks Jace is expendable. First Tamiyo, now Sorin; even Liliana would only miss him like a little pet
- They really, finally, made Sorin completely bad-ass this time round. Despatching angels with ease; taking Avacyn's spear to the neck AND through his chest, and shrugging them off to glide serenely away at the end; not giving two hoots about powerful walkers like Tamiyo and Jace. I think Nahiri's toast in EMN.
- Sorin needs a new jacket and breastplate. Hope he has spares.
Second, I like the Doug confirmed that Sorin needed his old-walker strength to create Avacyn and go on that Apollo mission. Nice touch.
Third, I wonder what that rumbling was. Was it Emrakul entering the plane, or was it just the integrity of Avacyn's wards failing?
Finally, I love how both Sorin and Avacyn pretty much just ignored Jace and Tamiyo.
"You say 'learn from history,' but that does not mean 'learn the same bull***** the people in history learned alongside phrenology and alchemy.'" - The Blinking Spirit
As for the story in general, it was its strongest when the focus was between Avacyn and Sorin (which is most of the story), but the weakest elements were by in large when the focus pulled out to include Tamiyo and Jace. For one, I didn't feel like the story continues from last week. The fact two people wrote it from two different perspectives play part of it, but Jace takes at least a 90 degree (maybe even 180) attitude and Tamiyo is just a spectator, which is what I was expecting, but it still doesn't help the connection. Then again, last week ended with Avacyn burning Jace at point blank and that's not where this week began (I don't think?). But the story should have ended with the montage. No post fight scene that contributed nothing.
I also feel the horde of angels attacking Sorin all at once was padding. It didn't raise the stacks for me, and I think just skipping it would have been stronger because I felt the most tension between Sorin and Avacyn, and the moment that raised the stacks was when Avacyn overcame Sorin's fail safes.
Overall, a decent enough end to the arc. I may have more to say later when I look it over again.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
~~~~~
Obligatory "Sorin OP, plz nerf".
Modern - Cheeri0s (building), Belcher (building), Lantern (building), UW Control (building)
RIP Magic Duels. Wizards will regret what they did to you.
To top it off, check out the Hanweir Chronicle. Lately, many of its articles seem to hit the same "hive-mind" theme as well, with all the communal meals thing and creepy chanting and similar stuff. This also ties with Jace's madness in Nephalia, where he saw Tamiyo and Liliana as parts of his own mind.
I think it's safe to assume that living beings on Innistrad are going into a hive mind. Going with the Emrakul theory, it's easy to tie it in to the "limbs of the same body" thing.
Good story, though I wonder if Sorin really meant it about helping her.
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
I'm all for the purposeful withholding of info. I have a pretty substantial amount of tension built up wondering what is going on there on Innistrad.
As an aside, I would love to see a storyline/story where angels aren't jobbing to someone to make them look "strong." No other creature sub-type jobs harder than them, not even goblins.
"Kiora is the Aquaman of planeswalkers."
"Useless and everyone pretends to like her?"
Oh. Hmm.
Would have been more interesting if Olivia and her vampire army fought the angels while Sorin took care of Avacyn.
I can only say to you, in this, my final prayer to the world, that I only ever meant to keep the innocent from harm.
I am Avacyn. I am to protect."
That's okay. It wasn't like my favorite character in the game just got killed off. I didn't need that heart you just ripped out of my chest Beyer.
I mean dear Lord did that hit me right in the feels. I knew this would make me sad, but somehow that final quote from Avacyn, the Montage that followed and the whole father-daughter angle I had hoped for, it all compiled into a sheer pinnacle in the storyline that we knew for months was coming and lived up to if not exceeded the hype.
I just....wow. It kills me inside to know she's dead, but I kind of want to see the impact on Innistrad, and if Sorin even cares enough to fight Nahiri at this point. I mean, misanthropy aside, what does he care anymore? His former pupil hates him, his daughter is dead, his entire millenia old protection for his plane is literally rubble and ash around him, he has no manner to bind the evil of the world now, likely the most powerful known entity in the multiverse is bearing down on his world, and his entire family bloodline is all but wiped out. What more can you take from the guy?
It's remarkable, really. Avacyn went completely insane and tried to munder her creator, and Doug brought her back to more or less being an angry and scared child railing against her parent. I don't know if others would agree with the term, since she did murder hundereds, but finding out she really didn't know what she was doing and in the end she only wanted to fulfill her purpose, even telling her father she'd rather be imprisoned or die than give up on that, but she did just seem like an innocent child at the end.
Damn, I am going to miss that angel. Farewell Avacyn, may you find rest in whatever fate awaits you.
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
B Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief B - Fear of the Dark
WG Sigarda, Heron's Grace WG - Strength in Numbers
RG Xenagos, God of Revels RG - Fullmoon (It's werewolves)
RW Archangel Avacyn // Avacyn, the Purifier RW - The End is Nigh
60 Card Kitchen Table Decks
WUB Avacyn, Spirit Ferrier
RG Arlinn Kord's Howlpack
Well, if the flavor texts are anything to go by, Sorin is about to take out all of that grief, all of that sadness, all of that RAGE, on one very VERY unfortunate lithomancer.
"When you have lost everything, you are at your most protected, because the enemy cannot take anything more from you."
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
Sorin's angst versus Emrakul!
Who will emerge victorious?
On one side, a difficult to characterize (and therefore market) eldritch abomination.
On the other, one of their most marketable planes and a popular vampire anti-hero.
A betting man says the good guys win this one going away.
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
Cōnservātum album delenda est.
(Kidding of course.)
Solid story. I was a bit iffy about the montage. I definitely felt the tug of it, but at the same time, not all the images were the best?
And I guess now that Sorin's fulfilled his end of the deal, he's off to fight Nahiri with the help of the Voldaren clan? I suppose that was the purpose of that chapter?
If that's the case, judging by the previous stories, Nahiri will be winning. Any time a larger force goes up against a smaller one in these, the underdog wins.
I alluded to it briefly, but not because of the echo but because it seemed out of place to me that Jace would freak out the way he did. I can see why now because it's an irony Jace is now in a position he put Ugin in, but it's still Comes across as forced in my opinion. Tamiyo should have been the one grilling Sorin based on what I read last week. The more natural reaction I feel Jace should be having is to be gasping desperate for air because he survived an Angelic Purge to the chest. Cool throwbacks should not come at the price of stilting the character into the situation.
I still stand by my proclamation that the strongest ending would be to have ended on the card art montage, only maybe throw in the extended art work of Anguished Unmaking on the end.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
~~~~~
"Kid you are not alright, got down to the cellar with me I'll fix it"
Maybe you got the wrong starting here Sorin
The laughter helped over the feelings here unmaking left
Thanks to DarkNightCavalier from Heroes of the Plane Studios for this sick Signature.
Yeah, one of the lines that got me was this exchange:
""Let me help you, my child," the monster says. "I could...cleanse your mind. Make you a proper instrument of virtue again. I'll make you anew."
Never. "If I am not the daughter you want..." I say.
He winces."
It's sad, but it's also like a teenage girl arguing with her parent because the parent doesn't like the new phase they're going through. There's that little bit of Doug Beyer dialogue he has which is always funny and a bit immature. But yeah, laughter quickly turns back into a feel trip.
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
B Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief B - Fear of the Dark
WG Sigarda, Heron's Grace WG - Strength in Numbers
RG Xenagos, God of Revels RG - Fullmoon (It's werewolves)
RW Archangel Avacyn // Avacyn, the Purifier RW - The End is Nigh
60 Card Kitchen Table Decks
WUB Avacyn, Spirit Ferrier
RG Arlinn Kord's Howlpack
WSoul SistersW
I agree with pretty much everything everyone has already posted, and wanted to add my take on Sorin's reaction - I think, deep down, he really didthink of Avacyn as a daughter, but refused to admit it to himself (he has only ever referred to her as "his angel" or "his creation") - which is why he reacted so badly to Avacyn making that statement (wincing, then angrily denouncing her as a mere creation).
In the same vein, I also wonder if Avacyn throwing the blame for her actions at his feet will have any lasting impact? While Avacyn seeing Sorin as a monster is (presumably) mainly due to the influence of Nahiri, there is a solid argument that Sorin is a monster, in the sense that he created Avacyn to keep the vampires from over-hunting their prey (and prevent other monsters from poaching their "cattle"). Avacyn had a moment of clarity as to what she was and had become before the end - will Sorin have the same? Sometimes, there is nothing more horrifying than seeing ourselves, not as we believe ourselves to be, but as we actually are.
he can't, however, possibly deal with the threat Nahiri is bringing to Innistrad.
that aside, the story is quite emotional and heart-rending.