I was kind of let down that it was just Arlinn and not her being an alpha to her pack. I mean, where the big dog goes, you follow...at least I would think the pack would be interested in her running off solo. I think a whole pack rescuing the town and cathars would have been more impactful. Especially if she's signaling a hunt of some sort? For all the "primal emotion" and "savageness within her" it felt forced and fake by the end. Less human emotion and more wolf tendencies.
I think her former mentor seeing her grow into a powerful, benevolent leader of vicious beasts after her background would drive home the fact the trope of "help comes from unlikely places when you need it most." It could have been a good way to make her seem stronger without focusing on the fight or the inadequacy of a bunch of trains cathars failing to even wound a werewolf who is preoccupied.
This could have been a great opportunity to show wolfir joining her pack, further securing a position as a pivotal plot character after gathering strong allies from different sources. I appreciate the world building, I like the backstory, I enjoy the confrontation...I just feel like they dropped the ball on what could have seemed like a mounting defense for innistrad. Now we have small pockets of resistance spread throughout the land (order of Saint traft, Arlinn and maybe her pack?, maybe the wolfir?, sigarda if she's still alive/relevant?) and as far as we can tell none of them are connected and they are all rushing to protect the same group and stave off the same attackers (except probably the wolfir as I'm not sure what they're up to).
Where was the first art found? I missed that one. Super cool though...the broken cryptolith is surely symbolic of something. And more devils is always an ok thing for me. I actually enjoyed that we saw some in-story devils in this episode and that we saw how powerful they can be when they attack in groups.
As for the story, I agree that Kreines's work is not my favorite. She is indeed quite repetitive and her dialogue is cringe-worthy every single time. However, I didn't hate the story and I really love Arlinn's character and was thrilled to see more of her! I was quite concerned when they introduced her in SOI episode 1 and then we never saw her again. Hopefully she has a larger role this time around. I also always love the chance to read flashback episodes as they really flesh out characters by digging into their backstory. It was nice to actually be able to get the full story of Arlinn's traumatic first planeswalk rather than just a summary of it on her planeswalker page.
As an Arlinn fan I enjoyed seeing her origins story. I really liked how you can see both her red and green aspects a lot more and how it is slightly different from the other GR walkers.
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“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
I enjoyed that Story, lots of character development, and inner conflict with herself. It's nice to see a character go through that and come out being to control a transformation and still believe in the virtues she clung despite going through that turmoil.
Questions: What plane did she travel too? How long was she there? Will she be able to teach werewolves how to control their transformations?
It was a good read, made my cup of Joe that much more enjoyable.
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Standard Arena: Eh? Gruul or Die
Modern: Decks I'm playing right now: G Mono Green Tron (34-10-3 paper record, only SCG/Regionals/PPTQ record) C Eldrazi Tron (9-5) UG Infect RW Burn
I didn't think todays story was that bad and I am excited to see Kimberley actually get a lot better. If you compare her earlier works with the latest ones, there's a huge difference. Not everyone can be good from the start, but it's important to improve.
Anyway, I actually liked today's story and I disagree with the notion that it didn't advance the plot. It told us a lot of things about how the dynamic of Innistrad has changed with Avacyn's death and how the survivors cope with the new situation. Yes, nothing new has been revealed on the Emrakul front, but the angels going mad is just as much part of the SOI block as Nahiri's machinations.
I just really wish to know what happened to the Wolfir. Especially now that Avacyn is dead, do their powers continue? Are they basically just humans in fursuits as far as powers are concerned? Are they mistaken as werewolves by paranoid townsfolk? Did they go into hiding? Do they stay protectors of the innocent? Did they abandon the church, because they feel out of place, now that the source of their blessings has been corrupted? Have they allied with the werewolves? Do they follow their own agenda, cast out yet bound by duty? Goddamnit, I must know! There are so many potentionally interesting stories to tell!
One of the most interesting things about this story to me was the revelation that Arlin was transformed by the Mondronen pack, the one led by Tovolar that destroyed Avabruck. As far as I know they haven't been mentioned at all in SOI and I was beginning to think they'd just kind of been swept under the rug, but now they are connected to two significant events in Innistrad history: the destruction of Kessig's capital and the transformation of one of it's signature PW. Maybe we'll see a larger role for Tovolar, the Unchanging? I can't think he and Ulrich will be interested in joining Arlin's "protect humanity" howlpack so maybe she'll have to engage in an Alpha Brawl?
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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"
I didn't think todays story was that bad and I am excited to see Kimberley actually get a lot better. If you compare her earlier works with the latest ones, there's a huge difference. Not everyone can be good from the start, but it's important to improve.
Anyway, I actually liked today's story and I disagree with the notion that it didn't advance the plot. It told us a lot of things about how the dynamic of Innistrad has changed with Avacyn's death and how the survivors cope with the new situation. Yes, nothing new has been revealed on the Emrakul front, but the angels going mad is just as much part of the SOI block as Nahiri's machinations.
I just really wish to know what happened to the Wolfir. Especially now that Avacyn is dead, do their powers continue? Are they basically just humans in fursuits as far as powers are concerned? Are they mistaken as werewolves by paranoid townsfolk? Did they go into hiding? Do they stay protectors of the innocent? Did they abandon the church, because they feel out of place, now that the source of their blessings has been corrupted? Have they allied with the werewolves? Do they follow their own agenda, cast out yet bound by duty? Goddamnit, I must know! There are so many potentionally interesting stories to tell!
I'm really looking forward to the Innistrad art book as I imagine we will learn much more about all of this.
Good catch, I didn't realize that. We don't have a clear shot of that art yet, though.
Also, love the NOD reference.
How's this? The headers tend to get cropped, so it's not the full art, but it's still deliciously high-rez.
ATTACHMENTS
7egzpGTCdp_header_1
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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
This was a good story told well, IMO, but it was the wrong one to start EMN with. It develops the plot but it doesn't answer any significant questions about what is going on and I think a lot of us were hoping for that.
This was a good story told well, IMO, but it was the wrong one to start EMN with. It develops the plot but it doesn't answer any significant questions about what is going on and I think a lot of us were hoping for that.
Given that we're still a few weeks from official previews, the lack of main plot advancement is likely intentional.
This was a good story told well, IMO, but it was the wrong one to start EMN with. It develops the plot but it doesn't answer any significant questions about what is going on and I think a lot of us were hoping for that.
Given that we're still a few weeks from official previews, the lack of main plot advancement is likely intentional.
The article from last week with all the art hints stated that we'll 'know' on June 20th.
I like the Emrakul hidding in the art though (in the clouds).
Now that you point it out, it's so obvious, I wonder how I missed it at first.
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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
It is curious to think about...none of the artwork from any of the werewolves seem to have any of the "corruption" that every other type of human or beast has suffered. Anyone want to hypothesize why? Do you think it's their relationship to the silver moon?
I was wondering why the moon looked so intact with the same heron head shape as well...
It is curious to think about...none of the artwork from any of the werewolves seem to have any of the "corruption" that every other type of human or beast has suffered. Anyone want to hypothesize why? Do you think it's their relationship to the silver moon?
I was wondering why the moon looked so intact with the same heron head shape as well...
Theyve confirmed that werewolves have been affected by the corruption, just internally for some.
Indeed. Tamiyo's journal discussed a dissection of a werewolf. For starters it didn't revert to a human form and once she started dissecting she found many strange masses, out of place organs and so on. The werewolves are being effected just not visibly...yet.
I haven't read all the discussion, butFlavoracle over on Tumblr posted something interesting about the Hanweir Chronicle.
After rereading the collected Hanweir Chronicles so far, I now believe that something truly revolting is happening to the people of Hanweir. In one of his final entries, Oliver Hayfield decides that “the only solution is to join with the rest of the sinners and wayward souls here in this hapless box we made” and that “coming together is the only option.” At first glance, this sounds like a simple call for unity among neighbors, but a few tidbits from his later letters point towards a more likely theory. First of all, on the Need list is “Coat for 8″. Yes, a coat (singular) for eight people. Then, the last thing we have heard from Hanweir: “This hat does not fit us anymore…” Again, we see a single article of clothing and multiple people. It’s obvious that whatever is affecting Innistrad (*cough* *Emrakul* *cough*) is mutating the residents of Hanweir. Does Hayfield simply mean that everyone in town has mutated enough that the hat doesn’t fit any of them? I don’t think so. I think that the entire town of Hanweir is literally “coming together”. They are becoming a single (Eldrazi) monstrosity.
Thoughts?
That's several good points mentioned there. This would also explain the communal dinners.
I haven't read all the discussion, butFlavoracle over on Tumblr posted something interesting about the Hanweir Chronicle.
After rereading the collected Hanweir Chronicles so far, I now believe that something truly revolting is happening to the people of Hanweir. In one of his final entries, Oliver Hayfield decides that “the only solution is to join with the rest of the sinners and wayward souls here in this hapless box we made” and that “coming together is the only option.” At first glance, this sounds like a simple call for unity among neighbors, but a few tidbits from his later letters point towards a more likely theory. First of all, on the Need list is “Coat for 8″. Yes, a coat (singular) for eight people. Then, the last thing we have heard from Hanweir: “This hat does not fit us anymore…” Again, we see a single article of clothing and multiple people. It’s obvious that whatever is affecting Innistrad (*cough* *Emrakul* *cough*) is mutating the residents of Hanweir. Does Hayfield simply mean that everyone in town has mutated enough that the hat doesn’t fit any of them? I don’t think so. I think that the entire town of Hanweir is literally “coming together”. They are becoming a single (Eldrazi) monstrosity.
Thoughts?
That's several good points mentioned there. This would also explain the communal dinners.
It's a good theory, and explains a lot. Like all the twins (possibly conjoined?) in that one article.
I think her former mentor seeing her grow into a powerful, benevolent leader of vicious beasts after her background would drive home the fact the trope of "help comes from unlikely places when you need it most." It could have been a good way to make her seem stronger without focusing on the fight or the inadequacy of a bunch of trains cathars failing to even wound a werewolf who is preoccupied.
This could have been a great opportunity to show wolfir joining her pack, further securing a position as a pivotal plot character after gathering strong allies from different sources. I appreciate the world building, I like the backstory, I enjoy the confrontation...I just feel like they dropped the ball on what could have seemed like a mounting defense for innistrad. Now we have small pockets of resistance spread throughout the land (order of Saint traft, Arlinn and maybe her pack?, maybe the wolfir?, sigarda if she's still alive/relevant?) and as far as we can tell none of them are connected and they are all rushing to protect the same group and stave off the same attackers (except probably the wolfir as I'm not sure what they're up to).
Where was the first art found? I missed that one. Super cool though...the broken cryptolith is surely symbolic of something. And more devils is always an ok thing for me. I actually enjoyed that we saw some in-story devils in this episode and that we saw how powerful they can be when they attack in groups.
As for the story, I agree that Kreines's work is not my favorite. She is indeed quite repetitive and her dialogue is cringe-worthy every single time. However, I didn't hate the story and I really love Arlinn's character and was thrilled to see more of her! I was quite concerned when they introduced her in SOI episode 1 and then we never saw her again. Hopefully she has a larger role this time around. I also always love the chance to read flashback episodes as they really flesh out characters by digging into their backstory. It was nice to actually be able to get the full story of Arlinn's traumatic first planeswalk rather than just a summary of it on her planeswalker page.
Isn't the header image for the article also new? The one with all there werewolves on it.
Also, I haven't read it yet, but I'm glad to see more devil's.
(Also, I don't think that land is a wastes, they're not supposed to be routine)
Also, love the NOD reference.
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
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
Questions: What plane did she travel too? How long was she there? Will she be able to teach werewolves how to control their transformations?
It was a good read, made my cup of Joe that much more enjoyable.
Modern: Decks I'm playing right now:
G Mono Green Tron (34-10-3 paper record, only SCG/Regionals/PPTQ record)
C Eldrazi Tron (9-5)
UG Infect
RW Burn
Anyway, I actually liked today's story and I disagree with the notion that it didn't advance the plot. It told us a lot of things about how the dynamic of Innistrad has changed with Avacyn's death and how the survivors cope with the new situation. Yes, nothing new has been revealed on the Emrakul front, but the angels going mad is just as much part of the SOI block as Nahiri's machinations.
I just really wish to know what happened to the Wolfir. Especially now that Avacyn is dead, do their powers continue? Are they basically just humans in fursuits as far as powers are concerned? Are they mistaken as werewolves by paranoid townsfolk? Did they go into hiding? Do they stay protectors of the innocent? Did they abandon the church, because they feel out of place, now that the source of their blessings has been corrupted? Have they allied with the werewolves? Do they follow their own agenda, cast out yet bound by duty? Goddamnit, I must know! There are so many potentionally interesting stories to tell!
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"
I'm really looking forward to the Innistrad art book as I imagine we will learn much more about all of this.
How's this? The headers tend to get cropped, so it's not the full art, but it's still deliciously high-rez.
"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
Yeah, so that werewolf in the foreground on the left is suffering some Emrakul mutation around its jaw...
I'm not certain about that. It looks like it could simply be an artifact of the piece's rougher technique to me.
Given that we're still a few weeks from official previews, the lack of main plot advancement is likely intentional.
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
Interesting to note that the moon still has the heron and looks none the worse for wear.
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
Now that you point it out, it's so obvious, I wonder how I missed it at first.
"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
I was wondering why the moon looked so intact with the same heron head shape as well...
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
That's the only visible mutation I've spotted so far.
EDIT: Lone Wolf of the Natterknolls has lattice work scarring on his side.
That's several good points mentioned there. This would also explain the communal dinners.
(Also known as Xenphire)
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
(In a more serious note, this is a pretty good catch, wonder if there's anything else like this in the cards?)
Modern - Cheeri0s (building), Belcher (building), Lantern (building), UW Control (building)
RIP Magic Duels. Wizards will regret what they did to you.