To be fair, until we see how the story goes, there's a bit in her profile that kind of implies to me they at least covered their bases for having her show up outside of Innistrad. While she'll definitely transform in this incarnation on Innistrad, for me her profile kind of implies that she can't transform whilst on other planes and will be trapped in whatever form she walked in. If they hadn't considered her to show up on other planes I doubt they'd have had the foresight to come up with an explanation for this (well, there's not really an explanation, there isn't really explanation, though it can be assumed it's tied to Innistrad's moon... more like an acknowledgement?) if their intention wasn't to have her open for walking to other places instead of sticking out on Innistrad. But then again, her apparent role in the story right now as a sort of defender of werewolves seems exactly like the kind of role I'd expect of a character who'd end up stuck on Innistrad.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
They didn't care that he was the savior of Fort Keff, the great hunter of Ondu, the champion of Kabira. To them, he was just another piece of flesh, a thing with life to be drained away.
@ JDAEnzio: Yeah, I have amended my last line to be optimistic. She can travel to other planes, let's see if she'll actually go once the current crisis is over.
@ JDAEnzio: Yeah, I have amended my last line to be optimistic. She can travel to other planes, let's see if she'll actually go once the current crisis is over.
I mean, that part of her profile could mean any number of things besides that. It just struck me as conspicuous and that was my interpretation of its purpose htere.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
They didn't care that he was the savior of Fort Keff, the great hunter of Ondu, the champion of Kabira. To them, he was just another piece of flesh, a thing with life to be drained away.
The foolish humans. How could they be so blind? She hoped she would not be forced to kill them one day. They were strong and wild.
If one was wolfir, Arlinn would surely addressed it.
Good call Caranthir, thanks. I haven't had time to go back and read the story a second time yet, but that's pretty clear that they're a human couple.
I agree with those saying Arlinn can just be RG from the story point of view. It's only the abundance of previous RG walkers that makes me uncertain and wonder about GW human / RG wolf. That said, Sarkhan has moved on from his RG state, Domri barely does much, and Xenagos is dead, so for all the previous iterations, there's only one minor walker still actively RG, so Arlinn wouldn't step on too many toes.
Intersting new update on the Hanweir Chronicle; just a snippet tying the cryptoliths, Nephalian cults and Avacyn in a hurry together. I wonder what's got her so flustered? I wonder what we'll discover in an hour and a half's time?
Maybe Avacyn herself hasn't (yet) been corrupted, and she's trying to stop the other angels that have turned on humanity?
The more of these teasers we get the more I'm suspecting the Big Evil Stuff going on is, ultimately, demonic in origin. We've seen one of the cultists making these strange symbols was making sacrifices to a demon, and the last major event on the plane released countless demons back into freedom. If the theory that the moon is acting as a Helvault-like prison has any credence, this could be leading up to an extremely powerful demonic force being released from the moon, with its bonds weakened by the actions of the cultists under the influence of lesser demons, and its power allowing it to corrupt the minds of mortals as well as angels, possibly through the corruption of the sacred power of the silver moon itself. And once Jace figures out what's going on, who better for him to call on to fight a demon than Liliana? How he'd convince her to do so, though, I don't know...
If she goes from White-Green to Green-Red She is Technically 3 colour, as in Naya
In EDH for example you cannot play Garruk relentless in a mono G deck as his identity is tech. GB.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Wizards. listen. The Vorthos community will await the consequences of the Eldrazi Titans' deaths/sealing. We will keep the watch.
“The wind whispers, ‘come home,’ but I cannot.”
— Teferi
The next story is called "Episode 02: A Gaze Blank and Pitiless" which is a reference to Yeat's The Second Coming.
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
I expect Innistrad isn't going to be destroyed by a Sphinx but that's the general imagery they're evidently going for. Its a stretch but this supports the idea of some ancient power from Innistrad's past returning.
The next story is called "Episode 02: A Gaze Blank and Pitiless" which is a reference to Yeat's The Second Coming.
I expect Innistrad isn't going to be destroyed by a Sphinx but that's the general imagery they're evidently going for. Its a stretch but this supports the idea of some ancient power from Innistrad's past returning.
I've seen this posted somewhere else around here and it's just vague enough that I could imagine the story matching some parts of it. I thought from the title and description though that Avacyn's was the one whose gaze was blank and pitiless. I could have sworn her eyes have been described as such before, probably not the exact words but the same feeling.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
They didn't care that he was the savior of Fort Keff, the great hunter of Ondu, the champion of Kabira. To them, he was just another piece of flesh, a thing with life to be drained away.
The next story is called "Episode 02: A Gaze Blank and Pitiless" which is a reference to Yeat's The Second Coming.
I expect Innistrad isn't going to be destroyed by a Sphinx but that's the general imagery they're evidently going for. Its a stretch but this supports the idea of some ancient power from Innistrad's past returning.
I've seen this posted somewhere else around here and it's just vague enough that I could imagine the story matching some parts of it. I thought from the title and description though that Avacyn's was the one whose gaze was blank and pitiless. I could have sworn her eyes have been described as such before, probably not the exact words but the same feeling.
Well the part of the point of The Second Coming is that what is traditionally a joyous occasion (the second coming in Christianity is the return of the messiah) turns out to be something horrifying.
She uses Avacynian prayers and charms. She was an Archmage of Goldknight. There's no way her human form isn't at least partly white. If I had to guess simply from flavor sense, I would say she starts W/G and transforms to R/G. However the color balance of her art is interesting and honestly suggests R/W on both sides. That being said, color balance is not a foolproof indication of actual colors for walkers (as Xenagos demonstrates with his dark colors and evil appearance but no actual black pips)
White is not the only color of mana used by mages of the Avacynian church. Moonsages of Flight Alabaster also use blue, Springsages of the Flight of Herons also use green, and Spearsages of the Flight of Goldnight also use red.
I agree her character before succumbing to the werewolf transformation was likely white or white-red, but that's a life she's left behind. Even when in the shape of a human, she is still wholly a werewolf now, and has embraced that new life.
I will say that between the Hanweir Chronicle, the last mystery UR (that wasn't perfect, but at least it was original worldbuilding) and the countdown with the lab that asks us to find puzzles (also not perfect because everyone cracked everything, but at least they're showing us nice Gerard's letters), Innistrad is already smacking BFZ storyline so hard that it isn't even funny.
I just hope they keep the mysteries flowing and that the next blocks get this sort of dedication as well (of course, with improvement on the parts that need to be improved).
The cryptoliths are really, really curious. And why was Avacyn flying quickly towards Thraben? Was she sensing danger from there? That image from Nahiri bending Markov's mansion seems to imply that she is the one casting the vampires out of existence. And there is also the rise of the demons, like Ormendahl. It is just.... too much (and that is awesome). What are the connections? What demonic rituals, Avacyn, cryptoliths, Nahiri and the Markov mansion have in common? What puts all these things together? We have a lot of hints, but it is hard to connect the dots.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
.
Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
I like the story so far. The first illustration looks interesting, and I wonder what the significance of the feeling that was described at the beginning of the story is. I stopped reading the Oath of the Gatewatch stories after the second one, but this story was pretty interesting. I never played during Innistrad, so it is pretty new to me. I hope they keep the focus on the plane and its inhabitants rather than the Gatewatch. It would be great if they never showed up, but that is not going to happen.
I wish that the werewolves and demons were on the same side. Aren't they both enemies of humans? And I wonder if there is any difference between demons and devils. I wonder where the vampires fall in this. The idea that the wife had a contract with a demon is something that I want to learn more about. Did the demon possess her after coming out of the mausoleum, or did she make a contract of her own accord?
I also like that the new planewalker is not just a human but a werewolf. It would be great if they move away from human planewalkers.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Modern RGTron UGInfect URStorm WUBRAd Nauseam BRGrishoalbrand URGScapeshift WBGAbzan Company WUBRGAmulet Titan BRGLiving End WGBogles
I agree that we need more nonhuman walkers, I'd love to get a vedalken or naga walker.
As for Innistrad critters formerly most werewolves preyed on humans but there were always some howlpacks who tried to use their curse for good (Garruck met some while he was on Innistrad). Arlin being such a dominant alpha is probably just pushing more werewolves to prey on monsters than humans. As far as I can tell devils are the small chaotic servants of the more powerful and scheming demons, they are certainly very different entities. As for the vampires I heard somewhere that there numbers were in decline and that Nahiri was rumored to be the cause, but I'm not sure it that is confirmed yet or just hearsay running around the forums.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My Decks:
UG Merfolk RG 8-Whack BWG Abzan midrange GRB Living End UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin" RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!" BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
Concerning the growing influence of the demons and devils. This was already forshadowed by the description of Kessig the first time around. The Devils' Breach was mentioned as a fissure that recently had opened in the earth and was located far from the towns. And there was also the demonic gateway known as Ashmouth lying in between the Hofsaddel and Needle's Eye passes in Stensia.
Concerning the growing influence of the demons and devils. This was already forshadowed by the description of Kessig the first time around. The Devils' Breach was mentioned as a fissure that recently had opened in the earth and was located far from the towns. And there was also the demonic gateway known as Ashmouth lying in between the Hofsaddel and Needle's Eye passes in Stensia.
Minor correction: The Devil's Breach has been there before, but it split significantly wider open after the Helvault's desctruction.
And some folks have datamined the following image from the Manor that is still currently locked...
Great find. It is just a HD art of Structural Distortion, but that itself is kickass. Good to know that the flying stones that resembled sharp and thin hedrons are actually fragments of the manor flying around
It is also worth noting that at the map, the manor is floating in the sky in its ruined state. Whatever Nahiri had done to it, I am curious how it keeps afloat.
EDIT:
Markov Manor is open now:
Buttresses and archways twist in impossible directions as you step through the iron gates. Even more horrifying, the forms and figures of vampires jut out from the building, melded with the structure itself. Strange noises echo down abandoned halls and passageways
Well - the main art for the Manor can sure as hell lay to rest any ideas that Nahiri *isn't* responsible for blowing it apart in Structural Distortion! (AND any last shreds of doubt that she is not Avacyn... )
"the forms and figures of vampires jut out from the building, melded with the structure itself." I got such a great 'melding plague' Alastair Reynolds vibe from that bit. Very cool
The three characters that rotate in the background for the Manor are Heir of Falkenrath, Olivia and... is that Stromkirk, or is it Edgar?
The three characters that rotate in the background for the Manor are Heir of Falkenrath, Olivia and... is that Stromkirk, or is it Edgar?
It is not Olivia, IMO. The only thing that the vampire has in common with her are the spikes on forearms, and red hair, that is quite common. I would guess a Voldaren vampire, but not Olivia.
Okay, upon closer inspection, this actually MIGHT be Olivia. The dress is different, less revealing, but the collar is there, as well as the spiral "tattoos" on her cheeks
I would say (Runo) Stromkirk for the third one, it has blue and silver hues that you would expect in Nephalia. On the other hand, the known Stromkirks preferred red-gold-black clothes, so who knows. Definitely giving a more "former priest of an anciend god of storms and tides" than "former master alchemist" vibe.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
100% Vorthos Spike and Storyline Expert
Former Fact Prospector of the Greek Alliance.
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
Yeah - I think you're right and it's the Stromkirk leader. Is it still Runo, or was he dead by now? I forget from first time round.
The source code for the interactive map has text for each area. The Cathedral says:
"You stand at the doorway to what was once a bastion of light against the many horrors of Innistrad. Clearly, something has gone wrong at Thraben Cathedral. Will you explore the haunting ruins?"
To be fair, until we see how the story goes, there's a bit in her profile that kind of implies to me they at least covered their bases for having her show up outside of Innistrad. While she'll definitely transform in this incarnation on Innistrad, for me her profile kind of implies that she can't transform whilst on other planes and will be trapped in whatever form she walked in. If they hadn't considered her to show up on other planes I doubt they'd have had the foresight to come up with an explanation for this (well, there's not really an explanation, there isn't really explanation, though it can be assumed it's tied to Innistrad's moon... more like an acknowledgement?) if their intention wasn't to have her open for walking to other places instead of sticking out on Innistrad. But then again, her apparent role in the story right now as a sort of defender of werewolves seems exactly like the kind of role I'd expect of a character who'd end up stuck on Innistrad.
But the people behind the barrier knew.
I mean, that part of her profile could mean any number of things besides that. It just struck me as conspicuous and that was my interpretation of its purpose htere.
But the people behind the barrier knew.
Good call Caranthir, thanks. I haven't had time to go back and read the story a second time yet, but that's pretty clear that they're a human couple.
I agree with those saying Arlinn can just be RG from the story point of view. It's only the abundance of previous RG walkers that makes me uncertain and wonder about GW human / RG wolf. That said, Sarkhan has moved on from his RG state, Domri barely does much, and Xenagos is dead, so for all the previous iterations, there's only one minor walker still actively RG, so Arlinn wouldn't step on too many toes.
Intersting new update on the Hanweir Chronicle; just a snippet tying the cryptoliths, Nephalian cults and Avacyn in a hurry together. I wonder what's got her so flustered? I wonder what we'll discover in an hour and a half's time?
The more of these teasers we get the more I'm suspecting the Big Evil Stuff going on is, ultimately, demonic in origin. We've seen one of the cultists making these strange symbols was making sacrifices to a demon, and the last major event on the plane released countless demons back into freedom. If the theory that the moon is acting as a Helvault-like prison has any credence, this could be leading up to an extremely powerful demonic force being released from the moon, with its bonds weakened by the actions of the cultists under the influence of lesser demons, and its power allowing it to corrupt the minds of mortals as well as angels, possibly through the corruption of the sacred power of the silver moon itself. And once Jace figures out what's going on, who better for him to call on to fight a demon than Liliana? How he'd convince her to do so, though, I don't know...
R Citizen Cane (Feldon of the Third Path)
In EDH for example you cannot play Garruk relentless in a mono G deck as his identity is tech. GB.
The Vorthos community will await the consequences of the Eldrazi Titans' deaths/sealing. We will keep the watch.
“The wind whispers, ‘come home,’ but I cannot.”
— Teferi
I expect Innistrad isn't going to be destroyed by a Sphinx but that's the general imagery they're evidently going for. Its a stretch but this supports the idea of some ancient power from Innistrad's past returning.
I've seen this posted somewhere else around here and it's just vague enough that I could imagine the story matching some parts of it. I thought from the title and description though that Avacyn's was the one whose gaze was blank and pitiless. I could have sworn her eyes have been described as such before, probably not the exact words but the same feeling.
But the people behind the barrier knew.
R Citizen Cane (Feldon of the Third Path)
Well the part of the point of The Second Coming is that what is traditionally a joyous occasion (the second coming in Christianity is the return of the messiah) turns out to be something horrifying.
And some folks have datamined the following image from the Manor that is still currently locked...
R Citizen Cane (Feldon of the Third Path)
Modern - Cheeri0s (building), Belcher (building), Lantern (building), UW Control (building)
RIP Magic Duels. Wizards will regret what they did to you.
Competitive: GW Hatebears - UG Infect - BGW Liege Rhino
Casual: GR Titan Ramp - BR Aggro
WIP: BUW Control Mill
R Citizen Cane (Feldon of the Third Path)
I agree her character before succumbing to the werewolf transformation was likely white or white-red, but that's a life she's left behind. Even when in the shape of a human, she is still wholly a werewolf now, and has embraced that new life.
R Citizen Cane (Feldon of the Third Path)
I just hope they keep the mysteries flowing and that the next blocks get this sort of dedication as well (of course, with improvement on the parts that need to be improved).
The cryptoliths are really, really curious. And why was Avacyn flying quickly towards Thraben? Was she sensing danger from there? That image from Nahiri bending Markov's mansion seems to imply that she is the one casting the vampires out of existence. And there is also the rise of the demons, like Ormendahl. It is just.... too much (and that is awesome). What are the connections? What demonic rituals, Avacyn, cryptoliths, Nahiri and the Markov mansion have in common? What puts all these things together? We have a lot of hints, but it is hard to connect the dots.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
I wish that the werewolves and demons were on the same side. Aren't they both enemies of humans? And I wonder if there is any difference between demons and devils. I wonder where the vampires fall in this. The idea that the wife had a contract with a demon is something that I want to learn more about. Did the demon possess her after coming out of the mausoleum, or did she make a contract of her own accord?
I also like that the new planewalker is not just a human but a werewolf. It would be great if they move away from human planewalkers.
RGTron
UGInfect
URStorm
WUBRAd Nauseam
BRGrishoalbrand
URGScapeshift
WBGAbzan Company
WUBRGAmulet Titan
BRGLiving End
WGBogles
As for Innistrad critters formerly most werewolves preyed on humans but there were always some howlpacks who tried to use their curse for good (Garruck met some while he was on Innistrad). Arlin being such a dominant alpha is probably just pushing more werewolves to prey on monsters than humans. As far as I can tell devils are the small chaotic servants of the more powerful and scheming demons, they are certainly very different entities. As for the vampires I heard somewhere that there numbers were in decline and that Nahiri was rumored to be the cause, but I'm not sure it that is confirmed yet or just hearsay running around the forums.
RG 8-Whack
BWG Abzan midrange
GRB Living End
UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin"
RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!"
BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
Minor correction: The Devil's Breach has been there before, but it split significantly wider open after the Helvault's desctruction.
Great find. It is just a HD art of Structural Distortion, but that itself is kickass. Good to know that the flying stones that resembled sharp and thin hedrons are actually fragments of the manor flying around
It is also worth noting that at the map, the manor is floating in the sky in its ruined state. Whatever Nahiri had done to it, I am curious how it keeps afloat.
EDIT:
Markov Manor is open now:
Ewwww...
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
"the forms and figures of vampires jut out from the building, melded with the structure itself." I got such a great 'melding plague' Alastair Reynolds vibe from that bit. Very cool
The three characters that rotate in the background for the Manor are Heir of Falkenrath, Olivia and... is that Stromkirk, or is it Edgar?
It is not Olivia, IMO. The only thing that the vampire has in common with her are the spikes on forearms, and red hair, that is quite common. I would guess a Voldaren vampire, but not Olivia.Okay, upon closer inspection, this actually MIGHT be Olivia. The dress is different, less revealing, but the collar is there, as well as the spiral "tattoos" on her cheeks
I would say (Runo) Stromkirk for the third one, it has blue and silver hues that you would expect in Nephalia. On the other hand, the known Stromkirks preferred red-gold-black clothes, so who knows. Definitely giving a more "former priest of an anciend god of storms and tides" than "former master alchemist" vibe.
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
Do you have some insider info, or is this another of your brilliant predictions being presented as a fact?
You don't say? ...
For example, Stromkirk?
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
The source code for the interactive map has text for each area. The Cathedral says:
"You stand at the doorway to what was once a bastion of light against the many horrors of Innistrad. Clearly, something has gone wrong at Thraben Cathedral. Will you explore the haunting ruins?"