I dislike the...lack of cost of the revolt. Why does the revolt suddenly end after Tezz is removed? The vast majority of people had issues with the government as a whole not a single enemy and yet it stays very intact with only a few additions from the renegade side? Maybe it's petty of me but I feel if you're going to write a story with politics in it you can't handwave the politics away.
Most Renegades didn't want to establish a new government, they wanted reforms. With (presumably) several ex-Renegades among the Consulate leadership now, these reforms are likely going to happen. A lot of people joined the Renegades because of the recent authoritarian bent of the Consulate, like stealing the inventions at the Fair, the curfews and the like. Once Tezz was removed, the Consulate likely stopped these extreme measures.
Hour of Devastation won't be very devastating if the Gatewatch doesn't suffer any major consequences for their hubris in this chapter. If a protagonist dies, I doubt that it'd be Jace (too popular) or Liliana (too much unfinished business). My guess -- based on foreshadowing throughout the current block -- is that a certain reckless pyromancer will endanger herself and Gideon will sacrifice himself to save her thanks in part to his apparently unrequited affection for her.
You actually make a wonderful point I didn't consider initially, Chandra. Just a little fun factoid, Nicol Bolas is down one agent. That agent being Sarkhan who is at his core and is quite content with serving Ugin who is an arch rival to Nicol Bolas.
Perhaps Gideon does some form of self-sacrificing, but wouldn't it be kind of grand if Chandra was made into a pawn for Nicol Bolas? Just think of it. She could have her color identity expanded to or and she wasn't going to go either direction if she had Nissa around her. Her pyromancy becomes much more destructive yet focused under Nicol Bolas's tutelage. As after all who is the one instigated this plan in the first place to attack Nicol Bolas at Amonkhet now of all times? Why, its Chandra.
What does this open the door to? Koth joining the Gatewatch. What does Koth bring to the table? The problem plane of New Phyrexia which means the Phyrexians can take a step into the picture again after Amonkhet and a block for them can be given. Koth is also Elpseth's friend and by that extension is an ally to Ajani and that Koth would help him save Elspeth. Which means he also brings with him, a return to Theros. Saving Elspeth also means that she can join the Gatewatch. And then that means they can start assembling forces to start focusing on the strategics on how to defeat (or at least contain) the Phyrexian threat as Elspeth has massive beef with them.
This also gives Nissa character growth as she has been heavily depending on Chandra for social interaction. As she now has to deal with her support pillar, Chandra, no longer will be there for her.
This also affects Pia Nalaar as her daughter may return to Kaladesh but Chandra won't be the same and she now has to bear a terrible secret from her as Chandra is now basically working alongside Tezzeret, the very same man she helped defeat.
If Gideon is still alive, imagine it. Now he would be so heartbroken about how he has basically lost another close friend and he couldn't save her.
Liliana loses a pawn and little sister figure she liked keeping around.
Jace realizes that without Chandra, they the Gatewatch have lost their main firepower who is also a glass-cannon and has been the lynchpin for 2/3rds of their victories.
This is a very interesting idea, and would open the door to a lot of storytelling possibilities, but since Chandra is supposedly the second most popular planeswalker, I don't see it being very likely. Also, just as Jace was off-focus in Kaladesh because he had just played a starring role in Shadows over Innistrad, I expect Chandra to be off-focus in Amonkhet because of her prominence in Kaladesh. I fully expect Gideon to be the focal character (with another heavy dose of Liliana, due to her demon being present), basically because he seems like he is next in line to take center-stage in a block.
Personally, I agree with the suggestions above that something bad might happen to Gideon - I do like the character and he has hidden depths, but the Captain America / Superman archetype is also one of the hardest for writers to keep from becoming one-note, and - as noted - there are other popular white 'walkers waiting in the wings. Plus, Gideon's removal might be used to advance the Chandra/Nissa plotline (depending upon where WotC ultimately plans on going with it, of course...)
Hmm yes. It also occured to me when I was doing errands, the other plot elements. How would Nicol Bolas make Chandra due to his bidding since its not likely Chandra would stay under his control for long? Browbeat, enslavement, mind control, enchantments, cursed artifact, removed inhibitions etc. Take your pick, I think Nicol Bolas can be quite persuasive. It could even be as good as "I will do unspeakable things to Nissa if you betray me."
1) Chandra isn't just any pyromancer, she is the abbot ( a leader) of a monastery of pyromonks. If Nicol Bolas had that under his grasp it would give him more power.
2) Zendikar and Innistrad would have been unwinnable fights if Chandra didn't leave the monastery and go help in Zendikar. As because of her action to destroy the Eldrazi Titans, she inadvertently saved Innistrad. As if she didn't, Emrakul would not have a reason to rewrite Tamiyo's planar destruction scroll into an abundant mana spell and seal herself inside the moon
3) Chandra beat Sarkhan, one of Nicol Bolas's top agents at that time with Jace at her side. Also because she used the colorless flame spell, she unlocked the Eldrazi Prison which helped Nicol Bolas.
The Gateway just suffers so much harder if Chandra is taken from them during their assault on Amonkhet. As she is basically so valuable and adaptable to her situations, that as an agent of NB, she would be quite formidable opponent for the GW. If there was anyone who would actually be a massive thorn in NB's side aside from Ugin, it would be Chandra. As if you don't deal with her, she could give the Gatewatch more victories. She is also a very strong planeswalker all things considered if her resume were something like:
"Slayed two Eldrazi Gods and forced a third into sealing itself in a moon. Also helped stopped an invading force by using her own pyromancy as a means to destroy a planar portal. Is a leader of a organization of pyromancers. At age eleven, she destroyed an entire foundry by herself on Kaladesh."
She basically has bailed out the Gatewatch out of three major planar crises, Which is huge.
Seriously if I was Nicol Bolas I would be most concerned with the redhead that slings fireballs. As this is Chandra who gained her spark post-mending, can you even imagine if she had the power that the pre-mending walkers would have?
Chandra didn't actually play a role in SOI/Emrakul sealing herself. She was only ever able to do what she did to Ula/Kozi because of Nissa's leyline channeling, which Nissa wasn't able to do effectively on Innistrad (as they had become corrupted by whatever method Nahiri had used to lure Emrakul).
It's strongly implied (arguably outright stated) that Emrakul sealed herself because she knew that things weren't happening the way they were supposed to ("There should be blossoms, not barren resentment."), not because she was at all worried about Chandra (the representation of Emrakul in Jace's mind even pointed out that she wasn't even sure Jace et al actually existed, "Communication between us is difficult. I cannot talk to you. I do not even really know you exist. But you, your brain, it is very...adaptable.").
She, Chandra, was still key to their successes on both Zendikar and Kaladesh, though.
Chandra didn't actually play a role in SOI/Emrakul sealing herself. She was only ever able to do what she did to Ula/Kozi because of Nissa's leyline channeling, which Nissa wasn't able to do effectively on Innistrad (as they had become corrupted by whatever method Nahiri had used to lure Emrakul).
It's strongly implied (arguably outright stated) that Emrakul sealed herself because she knew that things weren't happening the way they were supposed to ("There should be blossoms, not barren resentment."), not because she was at all worried about Chandra (the representation of Emrakul in Jace's mind even pointed out that she wasn't even sure Jace et al actually existed, "Communication between us is difficult. I cannot talk to you. I do not even really know you exist. But you, your brain, it is very...adaptable.").
She, Chandra, was still key to their successes on both Zendikar and Kaladesh, though.
She is also the hidden key to the success on Innistrad.
The Butterfly Effect: This effect grants the power to cause a hurricane in China to a butterfly flapping its wings in New Mexico. It may take a very long time, but the connection is real. If the butterfly had not flapped its wings at just the right point in space/time, the hurricane would not have happened.
The Chandra Effect: If Chandra hadn't gained her pyromancy one day on Kaladesh at eleven years old, three Eldrazi Titans would not have been defeated.
To point this out, Emrakul took notice of the fact that her siblings Ulamog and Kozilek were dead and notes that, as put together by Jace: "I am incomplete, unfulfilled, inchoate. There should be blossoms, not barren resentment. The soil was not receptive. It is not my time. Not yet."
Remember that the deaths of two titans are caused by Nissa (who bound them and channeled an entire planes mana) and Chandra (who killed them with said mana). Also remember that Zendikar was doomed on basically a coinflip-like decision by Chandra if she chose NOT to return to Zendikar and decide to actually take on the role of an Abbot at her monastery. If she chose to stay, she wouldn't have saved Nissa, Jace and Gideon from Ob Nixilis who was torturing them at that point.
As even though Nissa tried to channel mana on Innistrad, the cryptolith network setup by Nahiri prevented her from getting the most usage out of the Innistrad's mana and so she had come up short. As even if Emrakul still was trapped inside the moon, without that prior victory on Zendikar, the other Titans would have freed Emrakul anyway and still caused havoc on Innistrad. Do you see what I am talking about? How far Chandra's effects on the story actually reach? I mean, my own mind was blown when I came to that conclusion today.
So... I'm the only one that got the impression that Nissa might be removed from the cast sooner or later?
Dunno but all stories from her perspective feel like a "transcendence" setup to me, where she stops being a PW down the road and becomes something else entirely.
It feels like she's starting to lose her body as her focus point if that makes sense. She could become some kind of benevolent multiverse spirit or whatever.
Its a character trait of hers when she became friends with the elemental Ashaya, the Awoken World. As this is when she started using leylines and it was thanks to Ashaya that she learned to do this and started doing this thing where she could experience nature in the way she does. What I would be interested in however is who will help anchor Nissa to her body.
I hope Bolas screws them up good. Arrogant POSts. i'm still salty about them beating 3 Eldrazi titans...
To be fair, Emrakul allowed herself to be imprisoned, but I agree with the first two.
This chapter is beautiful, I love the emotions here, bittersweet chocolate everywhere, and Yahinni, you will be remembered. Nissa's conversations in this chapter is touching, how she assists Yahinni's passing by letting them know the grander universe they are key to, and how she helps Chandra in handling anger and sadness.
Though when using Dark Intimations as the poster image, one would expect to read about Tezzeret as well. But we have a truckload of time for that until Amonkhet.
I wonder what part was written by whom...
Poor Ajani...swearing his oath and immediately getting into conflict with the rest... though I must admit that their reasoning for immediate action kind of makes some sense.
Yahenni's part was beautifully written. Also the fact that she (they) relinquished her life draining abilities as soon as the revolt was over. And Nissa....:jam:
I second what is said about Amonkhet, impeding defeat and loss.
In my opinion, the most probable candidate for death or enslavement is Gideon. His would be the greatest fall from grace in case of enslavement or corruption, he is also from a Greek-inspired world, where tragic endings of heroes are abound. And with Ajani joining the GW, they would have two physically imposing leader characters. Not to mention that his Cap America/Superman character is hard not to be boring and it is downright asking for something like that.
Also remember the (noncanonical) Duels of the Planeswalkers trailer some years ago, when Gideon lies broken and defeated on a stone floor with Bolas's shadow looming over him.
It would also make sense that the GW will have to pull back defeated and "leaderless", and Ajani takes up the helm.
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This chapter is beautiful, I love the emotions here, bittersweet chocolate everywhere, and Yahinni, you will be remembered. Nissa's conversations in this chapter is touching, how she assists Yahinni's passing by letting them know the grander universe they are key to, and how she helps Chandra in handling anger and sadness.
I wanted to second this opinion. While I do hope we get an epilogue with Tezzeret and Bolas that gives us some hints as to Bolas's larger scheme, this was the sort of story Eldritch Moon desperately needed to give us some sense of closure on both the characters and the world as a result of the events of the block.
(Also - memo to WotC Re: Future Kaladesh sets: We don't need to always visit a plane in the midst of an apocalypse. Happy endings that were hard-earned (*I know, individual mileage may vary as to how much it was earned) can be allowed to stick, more or less. Return to Ravnica featured a major crisis that was basically rooted in the conflicts innate to the existing society, and I hope the inevitable "Return to Kaladesh" goes the same route, instead of having the Phyrexians invade or the Aether becoming corrupt or Marit Lage or a plague of Homarids or whatever.)
Somewhat off topic - Liliana suggested Amonkhet was created by Bolas. If true, that makes things even more interesting. Did Bolas create the local gods and demons? Is Liliana's Demon #3 one of Bolas's creations? There are many interesting implications here...
Well the Yaheeni parts appear to be all written by Alison Luhrs who also wrote "Born of Aether" and "In The Dead of Night".
The Chandra and Nissa interaction is definitely a Chris L'Etoile piece. He wrote other pieces like "Homesick", "Release" and "Burn".
That is at least what I could tell anyway with "Renewal".
EDIT: I just feel silly now as I made it harder on myself than I needed to as I tried to feel the writing styles and recognize them. Each written piece is in order by the line of authors. So Alison Luhrs piece is the third one and her name is listed as the third one, likewise Chris L'Etoile is the last piece and also the last author listed.
I really enjoyed this week story although I did notice the art book spoiled a few things that they did not reveal or right out spell in the stories;
One is a Ajani having the gatewatch and their allies meet up on Dominaria and the other is that Tezzeret somehow made himself a mini planar bridge.
Chandra- I really like her character arc this story. He came full circle with her origin story. I also cried at the conversation she and her mother had about not having Chandra live on Kaladesh from now on. It reminded me a lot of the conversation with my mother and I had when I was debating not going to college and staying home to help with family issues and it also hit all the right notes for red characters. The Chandra X Nyssa ship certainly got a lot of air in its sails in the story although I do kind a wish to see them develop as friends before they get into a relationship (if that is where they are heading). Sidenote with all the natural mages freeded, the next time we return to Kaladesh we might see more wizard type creatures.
Gatewatch-So many things in this to take part OMG.
I really like that Ajanis oath was shown and given attention. I was afraid that they would do it off screen or just skim through it. It also nicely sets up the direction they're trying to take his character.
Like everyone else I can see that the gatewatch are getting too cocky and honesty with Gideon gun-ho about trying to take on Bolas has a very tragic element to it, considering the last time he let his pride take over and think he could face a "godly" being. History might repeat itself in some form. While I do see some logic in the idea of "hit bolas before he can plan for our downfall", gathering allies would still add a factor of surprise. As for who they might ask for help this is a list of all the walkers the gatewatch knows that might (not saying will or likely) help;
Ugin- known by 4/6 and would be the best ally
Saheeli- Know by all 6, although from the last story she was in, she might be more focused on working out the issues on Kaladesh
Dovin- Known by all 6 and unknown how he feels about them after this block. Might stay on Kaladesh for the same reasons as Saheeli
Tamyio- Know by all 6
Sarkhan- Known slightly by Ajani and might like to help get rid of Bolas
Kiora- Known by all but Liliana, If she found out Bolas was the mastermind behind freeing them i bet she would join up to fight him.
Narset- A part of Tamiyo circle and might be a link between the gatewatch and Sarkhan
Ral- Known by Jace
Sorin- If anyone found him, I'm sure he agree for the same reasons as Kiora
Also I bet if Nahiri knew Bolas helped free the eldrazi she would be eager to help (I really wonder how her interaction wit the gatewatch would be since they did burn up and seal the big 3 but Jace, Chandra and Nissa all have blame in the eldrazi being freed)
Also interesting to note that Liliana doesn't mention her third demon and come to think of it dose anyone in the gatewatch know about her deals? Anyway the victory for the gatewatch might be killing the third demon but then lose to Bolas. Might even be the reason Liliana is agreeing to go fight Bolas, with a quick stop for them to kill a demon.
Also it will be interesting to see if Amonkhet was created by Bolas.
Finally I adore Yehenni and loved thier story arc. It was cool to see another side of black,. Yehenni had black selfish streak, doing what they wanted since it was what they wanted as well the self-identity black has, in not wanting to become a monster and stay as themselves. I hope this is the start of wizards showing more layers and shades of the colors.
On Jay's tumblr he put up his story thoughts and noted that Yehenni might have been reborn from the newly born aether born comment about Nissa eyes. Wizards in a reply confirmed this, which means that Aetherbrn might be able to be able to be reincarnated.
Link: http://vorthosjay.tumblr.com/post/156676235331/lets-talk-about-renewal
To find the reply just click on the notes at the bottom and scroll through them
Also, what is this "style themselves gods" - the Theros gods literally are gods.
1) He could have been saying this about Bolas and B) If you wanna get nitty-gritty the gods are just overly powerful Nyx-born, who change anijhud vanish over time and where created by Theros and not the other way around. Also as Ajani points out they don't act like gods or at least how he beielves they should. So I can see why to Ajani the gods of Theros are as much as a god as Elesh Norn or Tezzeret.
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Although I agree with Jiv's sentiment re: handwaving of the politics of revolution, and although the Gatewatch members other than Ajani acting like a bunch of morons really wants me to see them get the crap kicked out of them in the next block, I think this was a pretty good story. Yahenni was wonderful, and Nissa was enjoyable all the way through, both with Yahenni and later with Chandra.
The Gatewatch stuff... so, what sort of teamwork is it to blow off the new member's advice and plan to throw themselves into danger behind Ajani's back to try to show how bad-ass they are without him? Element of surprise? Maybe Bolas will be surprised they're this stupid, maybe not. Sure, this is obviously setting them up for a fall, but their choice is so obviously a stupid one that it's hard to really care much what happens next. I just them getting their comeuppance is depicted in a dramatic and entertaining way. I don't think a member of the team "needs" to die, or want that, but if it is going to happen, Gideon is the obvious choice. Stupid as they're written here, the whole lot of them deserves to end up as Slaves of Bolas, really.
The gods of Theros are literally gods. The elements and mana of Theros itself bend at their will. Their metaphysical interaction with the plane is undeniable. Even the mechanics of the game classify them officially as gods.
I can just imagine it now in the story articles for Amonkhet or Hour of Devastation. Nicol Bolas's dialogue with the Gatewatch just dripping with archenemy references when he schools them on Amonkhet. Like just the flavor text from My Wish Is Your Command and you just keep mostly the same things in the artwork, but you replace the generic red dragon with Nicol Bolas and the generic mage with Chandra. It makes me giddy just thinking about it.
"Indulge me. Just one spell. One potentially fatal spell gone horribly awry."
- Nicol Bolas to Chandra
The gods of Theros are literally gods. The elements and mana of Theros itself bend at their will. Their metaphysical interaction with the plane is undeniable. Even the mechanics of the game classify them officially as gods.
Ajani has yet to meet any being labelled or labeling themselves god that: he could not kill ("gods" of Naya; gods of Theros); did not betray him (Marisi, who had been near deified; Heliod, who killed Elspeth out of hubris); or who were not just straight up monsters (Bolas).
I don't blame the guy for looking at any being labelled god and going "Yeah, that's bull."
The gods of Theros are literally gods. The elements and mana of Theros itself bend at their will. Their metaphysical interaction with the plane is undeniable. Even the mechanics of the game classify them officially as gods.
Ajani has yet to meet any being labelled or labeling themselves god that: he could not kill ("gods" of Naya; gods of Theros); did not betray him (Marisi, who had been near deified; Heliod, who killed Elspeth out of hubris); or who were not just straight up monsters (Bolas).
I don't blame the guy for looking at any being labelled god and going "Yeah, that's bull."
The Theros pantheon is stabilized with the gods believing in one another. Medomai confirmed this. Ajani can't "kill" the Theros gods. Even Kiora admits to Thassa's divinity. Sure he's turning their followers against them, but given Theros's traditions and the fact it's Greek myth based, I doubt his plan will succeed. It may re-spawn a god of love, but it won't kill any gods. People need to stop applying the Christian concepts of a god being benevolent to villains in MTG or to Greek-inspired entities, who are not benevolent but are essentially divine meddling mages.
The gods of Theros are literally gods. The elements and mana of Theros itself bend at their will. Their metaphysical interaction with the plane is undeniable. Even the mechanics of the game classify them officially as gods.
Ajani has yet to meet any being labelled or labeling themselves god that: he could not kill ("gods" of Naya; gods of Theros); did not betray him (Marisi, who had been near deified; Heliod, who killed Elspeth out of hubris); or who were not just straight up monsters (Bolas).
I don't blame the guy for looking at any being labelled god and going "Yeah, that's bull."
The Theros pantheon is stabilized with the gods believing in one another. Medomai confirmed this. Ajani can't "kill" the Theros gods. Even Kiora admits to Thassa's divinity. Sure he's turning their followers against them, but given Theros's traditions and the fact it's Greek myth based, I doubt his plan will succeed. It may re-spawn a god of love, but it won't kill any gods. People need to stop applying the Christian concepts of a god being benevolent to villains in MTG or to Greek-inspired entities, who are not benevolent but are essentially divine meddling mages.
They can be physically killed. They've tried to kill each other. Purphoros or Heliod might have succeeded, were it not for Kruphix separating the two. Elspeth killed God Xenagos.
And I'm not applying anything, dude. I'm just pointing out Ajani's experience with gods.
Xenagos was still mortal in his "god" state and it required a massive amount of mana to retain his form. Oddly enough, his downfall was partially caused by talking ***** to Nylea.
A lot of credit being given to Chandra.
She was completely beat down and could have been easily killed by a disfigured, non_planeswalking counter mage.
Don't wanna throw shade here but .......
With so many options at W, hard to see Gideon making it through, especially with a honor sacrifice being totally inline with his thinking. Although I'm curious how exactly to kill him? He did just get smashed by a geahulk and dropped himself into the winding mechanisms just to literally say " don't worry, I'm indestructible"
A lot of credit being given to Chandra.
She was completely beat down and could have been easily killed by a disfigured, non_planeswalking counter mage.
Which is apt for Chandra. She has routinely gotten her butt kicked by blue mages in the story (Jace included). They are usually a good foil for her as she doesn't exactly do well against mages that rely on misdirection and negation.
Don't wanna throw shade here but .......
With so many options at W, hard to see Gideon making it through, especially with a honor sacrifice being totally inline with his thinking. Although I'm curious how exactly to kill him? He did just get smashed by a geahulk and dropped himself into the winding mechanisms just to literally say " don't worry, I'm indestructible"
I can imagine it like Gideon uses his protective magics like usual to protect the group from one of Nicol Bolas's spells as he takes the hit but before Gideon's protective spell completes, it just crumbles away like sand and Gideon takes a critical blow. Then Nicol Bolas laughs and says some witty remark as he had stopped Gideon's magic.
Nicol Bolas's magic becoming the Krpytonite to Gideon being Superman.
They can't win on Amonkhet. They just can't. It makes zero narrative sense. If Tezzeret tells him about the gatewatch, and he will, Bolas is going to be prepared. He is sure to know the results of Planeswalkers working together: The trio on Zendikar, the Nine Titans, and so on. The Eldrazi were powerful, sure, but their intelligence was alien and unknowable. Bolas has a terrible, deeply malign intelligence. There's no doubt in my mind that he has a plan to combat a group of planeswalkers working together against him.
They can't win on Amonkhet. They just can't. It makes zero narrative sense. If Tezzeret tells him about the gatewatch, and he will, Bolas is going to be prepared. He is sure to know the results of Planeswalkers working together: The trio on Zendikar, the Nine Titans, and so on. The Eldrazi were powerful, sure, but their intelligence was alien and unknowable. Bolas has a terrible, deeply malign intelligence. There's no doubt in my mind that he has a plan to combat a group of planeswalkers working together against him.
I 100% agree with you. Its basically a trap and he didn't even have to set bait for them. He is refined yet very cruel in his means with which he plans to deal with others. Even someone like Niv-Mizzet is a second-fiddle to someone like him.
If they have a victory and its anything more a pyrrhic victory, I would be very disappointed. As lets say they deal with Liliana's demon on Amonkhet, they do some other do-gooder stuff as well, but if they don't get royally schooled by Nicol Bolas and chased off his plane, battered and bruised and maybe even worse, than I would not be happy with the storytelling.
Nissa and Chandra want to be JUST friends. Nissa mentions it in the latest story. She is very reserved and has a hard time opening up to people, outgoing and carefree people like Chandra are the easiest kind to open up to. Same with Yahenni, very talkative although more controlled than Chandra. That's why she's getting closer to Chandra. Nothing beyond that
Nissa and Chandra want to be JUST friends. Nissa mentions it in the latest story.
I thought so, too, but then she drooped Chandra's head across her lap. That's, like, second base in Magic. Third base is whenever a creature blocks or is blocked by Armada Wurm.
Nissa and Chandra want to be JUST friends. Nissa mentions it in the latest story. She is very reserved and has a hard time opening up to people, outgoing and carefree people like Chandra are the easiest kind to open up to. Same with Yahenni, very talkative although more controlled than Chandra. That's why she's getting closer to Chandra. Nothing beyond that
Now before I get started, when I refer to intimacy between the two, its a bit of a catch-all. As an intimate relationship can be platonic, romantic, or a physical attraction and each of those three have an emotional element to them. As its of closeness and belonging. For true intimacy their needs to be transparency, dialogue, vulnerability and reciprocity. Without these it would not be as strong and both characters have demonstrated these four traits, not constantly however due to how they been stumbling to understand the other. I won't pretend to know what way the river goes for this ship but is obviously a budding relationship and the only one who could say on exactly would be the author Chris L'Etoile.
Now with that out of the way lets get started.
You are half true. That is very much the case with Nissa as her only real friend before Chandra was Ashaya who is the living embodiment of Zendikar itself. Nissa is a socially awkward lady that is not sure how to act human around people like Chandra. For Nissa, Chandra doesn't really hide her feelings from her and is very passionate but also kind to her. Nissa is used to a wordless-touchless intimiate relationship with Ashaya as she perfectly understood the elemental. She often feels confused however by Chandra with her chaotic nature.
The half that is not true is with Chandra. She is trying to sort out her personal feelings for Nissa as the only person she had strong feeling of intimacy is Gideon. These feelings of intimacy for Nissa happened to Chandra because Nissa touched her while also channeling an entire planes mana and because of that, for a few moments, were effectively one entity as their souls were merging. Because of that event, Chandra has trouble understanding these feelings she has such as if they are merely platonic, romantic or physical for Nissa. She often feels confused however by Nissa's tranquil and sometimes seemingly aloof nature.
Personally I enjoy them being together whether platonic or romantic as their is value in both kinds of relationships.
The gods of Theros are literally gods. The elements and mana of Theros itself bend at their will. Their metaphysical interaction with the plane is undeniable. Even the mechanics of the game classify them officially as gods.
Ajani has yet to meet any being labelled or labeling themselves god that: he could not kill ("gods" of Naya; gods of Theros); did not betray him (Marisi, who had been near deified; Heliod, who killed Elspeth out of hubris); or who were not just straight up monsters (Bolas).
I don't blame the guy for looking at any being labelled god and going "Yeah, that's bull."
The Theros pantheon is stabilized with the gods believing in one another. Medomai confirmed this. Ajani can't "kill" the Theros gods. Even Kiora admits to Thassa's divinity. Sure he's turning their followers against them, but given Theros's traditions and the fact it's Greek myth based, I doubt his plan will succeed. It may re-spawn a god of love, but it won't kill any gods. People need to stop applying the Christian concepts of a god being benevolent to villains in MTG or to Greek-inspired entities, who are not benevolent but are essentially divine meddling mages.
Jenrik, I do not know where you got the bolded part. It was explicitly said that without followers and faith, the Theros gods can wither and cease to exist. Ajani cannot kill a Theros god directly, but if he convinced Therans that someone is not worth worshipping, it would effectively "kill" the said god until he or she is remembered and started being worshipped again.
And as said above, they can kill one another (Heliod vs. Purphoros).
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Former Fact Prospector of the Greek Alliance.
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
The gods of Theros are literally gods. The elements and mana of Theros itself bend at their will. Their metaphysical interaction with the plane is undeniable. Even the mechanics of the game classify them officially as gods.
Ajani has yet to meet any being labelled or labeling themselves god that: he could not kill ("gods" of Naya; gods of Theros); did not betray him (Marisi, who had been near deified; Heliod, who killed Elspeth out of hubris); or who were not just straight up monsters (Bolas).
I don't blame the guy for looking at any being labelled god and going "Yeah, that's bull."
The Theros pantheon is stabilized with the gods believing in one another. Medomai confirmed this. Ajani can't "kill" the Theros gods. Even Kiora admits to Thassa's divinity. Sure he's turning their followers against them, but given Theros's traditions and the fact it's Greek myth based, I doubt his plan will succeed. It may re-spawn a god of love, but it won't kill any gods. People need to stop applying the Christian concepts of a god being benevolent to villains in MTG or to Greek-inspired entities, who are not benevolent but are essentially divine meddling mages.
Jenrik, I do not know where you got the bolded part. It was explicitly said that without followers and faith, the Theros gods can wither and cease to exist. Ajani cannot kill a Theros god directly, but if he convinced Therans that someone is not worth worshipping, it would effectively "kill" the said god until he or she is remembered and started being worshipped again.
Medomai in Godsend. Bear in mind I also stated that given Thero's long held traditions and its source material, I doubt Ajani's plan could succeed.
Most Renegades didn't want to establish a new government, they wanted reforms. With (presumably) several ex-Renegades among the Consulate leadership now, these reforms are likely going to happen. A lot of people joined the Renegades because of the recent authoritarian bent of the Consulate, like stealing the inventions at the Fair, the curfews and the like. Once Tezz was removed, the Consulate likely stopped these extreme measures.
Chandra didn't actually play a role in SOI/Emrakul sealing herself. She was only ever able to do what she did to Ula/Kozi because of Nissa's leyline channeling, which Nissa wasn't able to do effectively on Innistrad (as they had become corrupted by whatever method Nahiri had used to lure Emrakul).
It's strongly implied (arguably outright stated) that Emrakul sealed herself because she knew that things weren't happening the way they were supposed to ("There should be blossoms, not barren resentment."), not because she was at all worried about Chandra (the representation of Emrakul in Jace's mind even pointed out that she wasn't even sure Jace et al actually existed, "Communication between us is difficult. I cannot talk to you. I do not even really know you exist. But you, your brain, it is very...adaptable.").
She, Chandra, was still key to their successes on both Zendikar and Kaladesh, though.
The Chandra Effect: If Chandra hadn't gained her pyromancy one day on Kaladesh at eleven years old, three Eldrazi Titans would not have been defeated.
To point this out, Emrakul took notice of the fact that her siblings Ulamog and Kozilek were dead and notes that, as put together by Jace: "I am incomplete, unfulfilled, inchoate. There should be blossoms, not barren resentment. The soil was not receptive. It is not my time. Not yet."
Remember that the deaths of two titans are caused by Nissa (who bound them and channeled an entire planes mana) and Chandra (who killed them with said mana). Also remember that Zendikar was doomed on basically a coinflip-like decision by Chandra if she chose NOT to return to Zendikar and decide to actually take on the role of an Abbot at her monastery. If she chose to stay, she wouldn't have saved Nissa, Jace and Gideon from Ob Nixilis who was torturing them at that point.
As even though Nissa tried to channel mana on Innistrad, the cryptolith network setup by Nahiri prevented her from getting the most usage out of the Innistrad's mana and so she had come up short. As even if Emrakul still was trapped inside the moon, without that prior victory on Zendikar, the other Titans would have freed Emrakul anyway and still caused havoc on Innistrad. Do you see what I am talking about? How far Chandra's effects on the story actually reach? I mean, my own mind was blown when I came to that conclusion today.
Its a character trait of hers when she became friends with the elemental Ashaya, the Awoken World. As this is when she started using leylines and it was thanks to Ashaya that she learned to do this and started doing this thing where she could experience nature in the way she does. What I would be interested in however is who will help anchor Nissa to her body.
To be fair, Emrakul allowed herself to be imprisoned, but I agree with the first two.
This chapter is beautiful, I love the emotions here, bittersweet chocolate everywhere, and Yahinni, you will be remembered. Nissa's conversations in this chapter is touching, how she assists Yahinni's passing by letting them know the grander universe they are key to, and how she helps Chandra in handling anger and sadness.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Though when using Dark Intimations as the poster image, one would expect to read about Tezzeret as well. But we have a truckload of time for that until Amonkhet.
I wonder what part was written by whom...
Poor Ajani...swearing his oath and immediately getting into conflict with the rest... though I must admit that their reasoning for immediate action kind of makes some sense.
Yahenni's part was beautifully written. Also the fact that she (they) relinquished her life draining abilities as soon as the revolt was over. And Nissa....:jam:
I second what is said about Amonkhet, impeding defeat and loss.
In my opinion, the most probable candidate for death or enslavement is Gideon. His would be the greatest fall from grace in case of enslavement or corruption, he is also from a Greek-inspired world, where tragic endings of heroes are abound. And with Ajani joining the GW, they would have two physically imposing leader characters. Not to mention that his Cap America/Superman character is hard not to be boring and it is downright asking for something like that.
Also remember the (noncanonical) Duels of the Planeswalkers trailer some years ago, when Gideon lies broken and defeated on a stone floor with Bolas's shadow looming over him.
It would also make sense that the GW will have to pull back defeated and "leaderless", and Ajani takes up the helm.
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
I wanted to second this opinion. While I do hope we get an epilogue with Tezzeret and Bolas that gives us some hints as to Bolas's larger scheme, this was the sort of story Eldritch Moon desperately needed to give us some sense of closure on both the characters and the world as a result of the events of the block.
(Also - memo to WotC Re: Future Kaladesh sets: We don't need to always visit a plane in the midst of an apocalypse. Happy endings that were hard-earned (*I know, individual mileage may vary as to how much it was earned) can be allowed to stick, more or less. Return to Ravnica featured a major crisis that was basically rooted in the conflicts innate to the existing society, and I hope the inevitable "Return to Kaladesh" goes the same route, instead of having the Phyrexians invade or the Aether becoming corrupt or Marit Lage or a plague of Homarids or whatever.)
Somewhat off topic - Liliana suggested Amonkhet was created by Bolas. If true, that makes things even more interesting. Did Bolas create the local gods and demons? Is Liliana's Demon #3 one of Bolas's creations? There are many interesting implications here...
The Chandra and Nissa interaction is definitely a Chris L'Etoile piece. He wrote other pieces like "Homesick", "Release" and "Burn".
That is at least what I could tell anyway with "Renewal".
EDIT: I just feel silly now as I made it harder on myself than I needed to as I tried to feel the writing styles and recognize them. Each written piece is in order by the line of authors. So Alison Luhrs piece is the third one and her name is listed as the third one, likewise Chris L'Etoile is the last piece and also the last author listed.
I really enjoyed this week story although I did notice the art book spoiled a few things that they did not reveal or right out spell in the stories;
Chandra- I really like her character arc this story. He came full circle with her origin story. I also cried at the conversation she and her mother had about not having Chandra live on Kaladesh from now on. It reminded me a lot of the conversation with my mother and I had when I was debating not going to college and staying home to help with family issues and it also hit all the right notes for red characters. The Chandra X Nyssa ship certainly got a lot of air in its sails in the story although I do kind a wish to see them develop as friends before they get into a relationship (if that is where they are heading). Sidenote with all the natural mages freeded, the next time we return to Kaladesh we might see more wizard type creatures.
Gatewatch-So many things in this to take part OMG.
I really like that Ajanis oath was shown and given attention. I was afraid that they would do it off screen or just skim through it. It also nicely sets up the direction they're trying to take his character.
Like everyone else I can see that the gatewatch are getting too cocky and honesty with Gideon gun-ho about trying to take on Bolas has a very tragic element to it, considering the last time he let his pride take over and think he could face a "godly" being. History might repeat itself in some form. While I do see some logic in the idea of "hit bolas before he can plan for our downfall", gathering allies would still add a factor of surprise. As for who they might ask for help this is a list of all the walkers the gatewatch knows that might (not saying will or likely) help;
Ugin- known by 4/6 and would be the best ally
Saheeli- Know by all 6, although from the last story she was in, she might be more focused on working out the issues on Kaladesh
Dovin- Known by all 6 and unknown how he feels about them after this block. Might stay on Kaladesh for the same reasons as Saheeli
Tamyio- Know by all 6
Sarkhan- Known slightly by Ajani and might like to help get rid of Bolas
Kiora- Known by all but Liliana, If she found out Bolas was the mastermind behind freeing them i bet she would join up to fight him.
Narset- A part of Tamiyo circle and might be a link between the gatewatch and Sarkhan
Ral- Known by Jace
Sorin- If anyone found him, I'm sure he agree for the same reasons as Kiora
Also I bet if Nahiri knew Bolas helped free the eldrazi she would be eager to help (I really wonder how her interaction wit the gatewatch would be since they did burn up and seal the big 3 but Jace, Chandra and Nissa all have blame in the eldrazi being freed)
Also interesting to note that Liliana doesn't mention her third demon and come to think of it dose anyone in the gatewatch know about her deals? Anyway the victory for the gatewatch might be killing the third demon but then lose to Bolas. Might even be the reason Liliana is agreeing to go fight Bolas, with a quick stop for them to kill a demon.
Also it will be interesting to see if Amonkhet was created by Bolas.
Finally I adore Yehenni and loved thier story arc. It was cool to see another side of black,. Yehenni had black selfish streak, doing what they wanted since it was what they wanted as well the self-identity black has, in not wanting to become a monster and stay as themselves. I hope this is the start of wizards showing more layers and shades of the colors.
Link:
http://vorthosjay.tumblr.com/post/156676235331/lets-talk-about-renewal
To find the reply just click on the notes at the bottom and scroll through them
1) He could have been saying this about Bolas and B) If you wanna get nitty-gritty the gods are just overly powerful Nyx-born, who change anijhud vanish over time and where created by Theros and not the other way around. Also as Ajani points out they don't act like gods or at least how he beielves they should. So I can see why to Ajani the gods of Theros are as much as a god as Elesh Norn or Tezzeret.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
The Gatewatch stuff... so, what sort of teamwork is it to blow off the new member's advice and plan to throw themselves into danger behind Ajani's back to try to show how bad-ass they are without him? Element of surprise? Maybe Bolas will be surprised they're this stupid, maybe not. Sure, this is obviously setting them up for a fall, but their choice is so obviously a stupid one that it's hard to really care much what happens next. I just them getting their comeuppance is depicted in a dramatic and entertaining way. I don't think a member of the team "needs" to die, or want that, but if it is going to happen, Gideon is the obvious choice. Stupid as they're written here, the whole lot of them deserves to end up as Slaves of Bolas, really.
I look forward to the Gatewatch being shown their rightful place: broken, at Bolas' feet.
Modern - Cheeri0s (building), Belcher (building), Lantern (building), UW Control (building)
RIP Magic Duels. Wizards will regret what they did to you.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
"Indulge me. Just one spell. One potentially fatal spell gone horribly awry."
- Nicol Bolas to Chandra
Ajani has yet to meet any being labelled or labeling themselves god that: he could not kill ("gods" of Naya; gods of Theros); did not betray him (Marisi, who had been near deified; Heliod, who killed Elspeth out of hubris); or who were not just straight up monsters (Bolas).
I don't blame the guy for looking at any being labelled god and going "Yeah, that's bull."
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
They can be physically killed. They've tried to kill each other. Purphoros or Heliod might have succeeded, were it not for Kruphix separating the two. Elspeth killed God Xenagos.
And I'm not applying anything, dude. I'm just pointing out Ajani's experience with gods.
"Kiora is the Aquaman of planeswalkers."
"Useless and everyone pretends to like her?"
She was completely beat down and could have been easily killed by a disfigured, non_planeswalking counter mage.
Don't wanna throw shade here but .......
With so many options at W, hard to see Gideon making it through, especially with a honor sacrifice being totally inline with his thinking. Although I'm curious how exactly to kill him? He did just get smashed by a geahulk and dropped himself into the winding mechanisms just to literally say " don't worry, I'm indestructible"
I can imagine it like Gideon uses his protective magics like usual to protect the group from one of Nicol Bolas's spells as he takes the hit but before Gideon's protective spell completes, it just crumbles away like sand and Gideon takes a critical blow. Then Nicol Bolas laughs and says some witty remark as he had stopped Gideon's magic.
Nicol Bolas's magic becoming the Krpytonite to Gideon being Superman.
I 100% agree with you. Its basically a trap and he didn't even have to set bait for them. He is refined yet very cruel in his means with which he plans to deal with others. Even someone like Niv-Mizzet is a second-fiddle to someone like him.
If they have a victory and its anything more a pyrrhic victory, I would be very disappointed. As lets say they deal with Liliana's demon on Amonkhet, they do some other do-gooder stuff as well, but if they don't get royally schooled by Nicol Bolas and chased off his plane, battered and bruised and maybe even worse, than I would not be happy with the storytelling.
Now before I get started, when I refer to intimacy between the two, its a bit of a catch-all. As an intimate relationship can be platonic, romantic, or a physical attraction and each of those three have an emotional element to them. As its of closeness and belonging. For true intimacy their needs to be transparency, dialogue, vulnerability and reciprocity. Without these it would not be as strong and both characters have demonstrated these four traits, not constantly however due to how they been stumbling to understand the other. I won't pretend to know what way the river goes for this ship but is obviously a budding relationship and the only one who could say on exactly would be the author Chris L'Etoile.
Now with that out of the way lets get started.
You are half true. That is very much the case with Nissa as her only real friend before Chandra was Ashaya who is the living embodiment of Zendikar itself. Nissa is a socially awkward lady that is not sure how to act human around people like Chandra. For Nissa, Chandra doesn't really hide her feelings from her and is very passionate but also kind to her. Nissa is used to a wordless-touchless intimiate relationship with Ashaya as she perfectly understood the elemental. She often feels confused however by Chandra with her chaotic nature.
The half that is not true is with Chandra. She is trying to sort out her personal feelings for Nissa as the only person she had strong feeling of intimacy is Gideon. These feelings of intimacy for Nissa happened to Chandra because Nissa touched her while also channeling an entire planes mana and because of that, for a few moments, were effectively one entity as their souls were merging. Because of that event, Chandra has trouble understanding these feelings she has such as if they are merely platonic, romantic or physical for Nissa. She often feels confused however by Nissa's tranquil and sometimes seemingly aloof nature.
Personally I enjoy them being together whether platonic or romantic as their is value in both kinds of relationships.
Jenrik, I do not know where you got the bolded part. It was explicitly said that without followers and faith, the Theros gods can wither and cease to exist. Ajani cannot kill a Theros god directly, but if he convinced Therans that someone is not worth worshipping, it would effectively "kill" the said god until he or she is remembered and started being worshipped again.
And as said above, they can kill one another (Heliod vs. Purphoros).
Let this great clan rest in peace (2001-2011)
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||