Yaheeni felt like the closest we ever got to a Modern-day Toshiro Umezawa. Sure their motivations were slightly different (Yaheeni was "Live each day to its fullest" and Toshiro was "Live as long as possible and to its fullest while we're at it"), but that's largely chalked to the Aetherborn's lifespan (which is the main reason the entire species felt so close to Toshiro), since "living dangerously" is close enough to "short lifespan" in a way (one just has more direct inevitability). That being said, I doubt they could have switched places - if Toshiro was in Yaheeni's place, given his character, he would most probably choose to feed to survive, whereas if Yaheeni had a naturally longer lifespan, she might not have been as accepting of leaving (Toshiro recognized the inevitability, but he was a whole lot more reluctant when it nearly happened, so I assume Yaheeni might not have fared that much better either).
I always liked it when they emphasized on Nissa's introversion and this is one those articles that did that. I just hope they don't jump the shark and treat it like some sort of scenario where "introversion is the enemy will be overcome" and Nissa gradually becomes an extrovert - it doesn't work that way, introverts will usually stay as introverts, they only turn "extroverted" when they're with someone they're familiar with (Zendikar for Nissa and starting to be Chandra as well). Hopefully someone doesn't screw up and have Nissa talk comfortably with some stranger at any point of time. In fact, I'm expecting Chandra to be Nissa's "Voice" in the future since Zendikar can't do the talking, there's so much potential stories (including internal conflict) that can rise from this development...
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).
I thought that was the point of the unknown R/G god, pre-Xenagos. Whoever they were, they simply ceased to exist, whether because people stopped worshipping them or something else. Unless I'm forgetting that the R/G god never existed in the first place.
I agree that something bad is likely to happen to Gideon, but I think "killing the indestructible guy to show Bolas' power" is too simple. Control magic is a key Bolas ability. If you are faced with a powerful walker who is indestructible, why kill him? Seems like a waste, just take over his mind, make him your servant, and send him back at the gatewatch.
I agree that something bad is likely to happen to Gideon, but I think "killing the indestructible guy to show Bolas' power" is too simple. Control magic is a key Bolas ability. If you are faced with a powerful walker who is indestructible, why kill him? Seems like a waste, just take over his mind, make him your servant, and send him back at the gatewatch.
That would make much more sense than Bolas just killing Gideon or someone else outright. Perhaps forcing the Gatewatch to kill or severely injure him, via Liliana's necromantic magic or Jace's mind magic.
I agree that something bad is likely to happen to Gideon, but I think "killing the indestructible guy to show Bolas' power" is too simple. Control magic is a key Bolas ability. If you are faced with a powerful walker who is indestructible, why kill him? Seems like a waste, just take over his mind, make him your servant, and send him back at the gatewatch.
This is why I would have liked to have read something from Tezzeret's perspective. Sarkhan didn't have Bolas tattoos on his forehead, but he was working for Bolas. Tezzeret has the tattoos, but does that mean the tattoos are magic that keeps him under control and in line?
If so, can Bolas apply those markings to anyone to make them his? That would be a tragic outcome for Gideon that wouldn't require his death.
I agree that something bad is likely to happen to Gideon, but I think "killing the indestructible guy to show Bolas' power" is too simple. Control magic is a key Bolas ability. If you are faced with a powerful walker who is indestructible, why kill him? Seems like a waste, just take over his mind, make him your servant, and send him back at the gatewatch.
This is why I would have liked to have read something from Tezzeret's perspective. Sarkhan didn't have Bolas tattoos on his forehead, but he was working for Bolas. Tezzeret has the tattoos, but does that mean the tattoos are magic that keeps him under control and in line?
If so, can Bolas apply those markings to anyone to make them his? That would be a tragic outcome for Gideon that wouldn't require his death.
I can just imagine it now. One of the Gatewatch members had ended the life of a god on Amonkhet who was meant to be like this god of war. Nicol Bolas takes notice of that and that they have Gideon who is Mr Indestructible. Uses mind control on Gideon in order to come over to his side and then later apply the tattoos. Once the gatewatch are gone, he starts reshaping Gideon into being his new god of war.
Using the word god in italics as I'm not sure if these are god-gods or planeswalkers-posing-as-gods.
I agree that something bad is likely to happen to Gideon, but I think "killing the indestructible guy to show Bolas' power" is too simple. Control magic is a key Bolas ability. If you are faced with a powerful walker who is indestructible, why kill him? Seems like a waste, just take over his mind, make him your servant, and send him back at the gatewatch.
This is why I would have liked to have read something from Tezzeret's perspective. Sarkhan didn't have Bolas tattoos on his forehead, but he was working for Bolas. Tezzeret has the tattoos, but does that mean the tattoos are magic that keeps him under control and in line?
If so, can Bolas apply those markings to anyone to make them his? That would be a tragic outcome for Gideon that wouldn't require his death.
Using the word god in italics as I'm not sure if these are god-gods or planeswalkers-posing-as-gods.
That would be pretty neat, Bolas' planeswalker pawns living as 'gods' on Amonkhet until Bolas sends them out on a task here or there. I still want to see wildman Ramaz as a card somewhere!
EDIT: It would also be hilarious to have the Gatewatch go there, only to be met by another crew of planeswalkers led by Bolas. "Whoops."
I agree that something bad is likely to happen to Gideon, but I think "killing the indestructible guy to show Bolas' power" is too simple. Control magic is a key Bolas ability. If you are faced with a powerful walker who is indestructible, why kill him? Seems like a waste, just take over his mind, make him your servant, and send him back at the gatewatch.
This is why I would have liked to have read something from Tezzeret's perspective. Sarkhan didn't have Bolas tattoos on his forehead, but he was working for Bolas. Tezzeret has the tattoos, but does that mean the tattoos are magic that keeps him under control and in line?
If so, can Bolas apply those markings to anyone to make them his? That would be a tragic outcome for Gideon that wouldn't require his death.
Using the word god in italics as I'm not sure if these are god-gods or planeswalkers-posing-as-gods.
That would be pretty neat, Bolas' planeswalker pawns living as 'gods' on Amonkhet until Bolas sends them out on a task here or there. I still want to see wildman Ramaz as a card somewhere!
EDIT: It would also be hilarious to have the Gatewatch go there, only to be met by another crew of planeswalkers led by Bolas. "Whoops."
Gatewatch meets Nega-Gatewatch? I would like for a Ramaz card as well among well over a baker's dozen worth of other planeswalkers and named characters.
I remember one of the neat things about Amonkhet is that their is a trial system of sorts. Here is the official blurb for that plane on WOTC product page.
The desert oasis of Amonkhet forges warriors. You have trained your entire life for a chance to face the Trials of the Five Gods and join the elite ranks of the Worthy. Using your strength, speed, and cunning, overcome deadly challenges and rise above the competition to claim an honored place in the Afterlife!
Which gets me into thinking that this "afterlife for the worthy" is actually an undead army that Nicol Bolas has been building for who knows how long and that they play a part in Hour of Devastation. Especially considering one of the test booster packs for Hour of Devastation had what appeared to be a undead pharaoh. Which could be how he deals with the Gatewatch.
Liliana could try to command some, but Bolas has a strong necromantic control over them. They might have Jace and his mind magic, but Nicol Bolas made even Jace quake with Bolas's brand of mind magic. Chandra is a very strong pyromancer, but Nicol Bolas I would assume is much more adept at pyromancy than her and also knows the other tricks to red has like Wild Ricochet. Which leaves two members of the party, Gideon and Nissa. We already know something bad might befall Gideon. Nissa is a bit of a wildcard however.
I agree that something bad is likely to happen to Gideon, but I think "killing the indestructible guy to show Bolas' power" is too simple. Control magic is a key Bolas ability. If you are faced with a powerful walker who is indestructible, why kill him? Seems like a waste, just take over his mind, make him your servant, and send him back at the gatewatch.
This is why I would have liked to have read something from Tezzeret's perspective. Sarkhan didn't have Bolas tattoos on his forehead, but he was working for Bolas. Tezzeret has the tattoos, but does that mean the tattoos are magic that keeps him under control and in line?
If so, can Bolas apply those markings to anyone to make them his? That would be a tragic outcome for Gideon that wouldn't require his death.
Using the word god in italics as I'm not sure if these are god-gods or planeswalkers-posing-as-gods.
That would be pretty neat, Bolas' planeswalker pawns living as 'gods' on Amonkhet until Bolas sends them out on a task here or there. I still want to see wildman Ramaz as a card somewhere!
EDIT: It would also be hilarious to have the Gatewatch go there, only to be met by another crew of planeswalkers led by Bolas. "Whoops."
The god talk is rather interesting but I think people are missing exactly how Ajani views gods. I love it because it's so in line with my own beliefs. It's simply a Feast or Famine view of the term where a god that allows or commits such atrocities, a god capable of envy, a god that uses power and fear to bring supporters, is not a god worth believing in.
Away from that now as its so likely to bring about arguments not meant for this discussion that I don't want to continue. I loved this story. Yahenni came to be a personal favorite this block and that amazes me as I don't often find black aligned characters that I like. Her death was sad but not a death to grieve over and the writing for her is so good about this. The concept of Aetherborn death is something truly impressive and creative did a wonderful job on the life and death of the Aetherborn. Seeing a hint of that knowledge passed on through the Aether is a wonderful moment.
Chandra interactions with Pia were very nice and the fact that there also exists a momnument to Chandra was a cool little thing. I felt very connected to the characters as I've felt trapped in a circumstance like that.
The gatewatch was the Gatewatch. I like the Gatewatch and think this was an excellent set up to hubris being a down fall. The punishment I would love to see and would actually bring about character growth would be if they became connected with some citizens on the Plane and when Bolas has them beaten and bruised instead of killing them, he kills all these people with the view that he owns the plane and they are his ti do with as he pleases. That would be great motivation for the Gatewatch.
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).
I thought that was the point of the unknown R/G god, pre-Xenagos. Whoever they were, they simply ceased to exist, whether because people stopped worshipping them or something else. Unless I'm forgetting that the R/G god never existed in the first place.
Kydele didn't even know the domain of love ever had a god. Which implies whenever the R/G god did exist, it was before the pantheon stabilized with intra-god devotion. Medomai confirms this when he says the change began when the gods started believing in each other. The beauty of all this is that gods got overthrown in Greek mythology before, and the titans were as well. But eventually the pantheon stabilized into the Olympians as the ruling crowd. Point is, the gods are a lot more hardy these days, and frankly, convincing an entire plane to abandon belief in literal embodiments of domains as obvious as the sun and sea themselves with the elements bending at the will of such beings is a long shot. Let's face it, these gods literally manifest physically on Theros and meddle around. You piss one off, a tidal waves crashes into the shore of your polis and ruins civilization for a decade. Theros isn't about to forget its gods.
@Tiro of Meletis: Would it be possible for the mortals to create the concept of a R/G or even W/R/G god that actively cared about mortals and sought to be protective of them from the harm of the other gods? As all Nyxborn are either the manifestations created by the deities, those who ascended like Xenagos or are from the combined consensus of mortals, yes?
@Tiro of Meletis: Would it be possible for the mortals to create the concept of a R/G or even W/R/G god that actively cared about mortals and sought to be protective of them from the harm of the other gods? As all Nyxborn are either the manifestations created by the deities, those who ascended like Xenagos or are from the combined consensus of mortals, yes?
It is possible. I think that is what Ajani's mission will ultimately accomplish. Through Elspeth and Daxos's story, Theros will remember love, and a RG god of love will be born. One that will probably create an Elysian Fields compliment to the Underworld, where all those that have been good, been loved and been favored by the gods will go (including the Returned, who Ajani was trying to find a solution to). Daxos's Eidolon will be reunited with his Returned form and he and Elspeth will reside there. I do think Elspeth will be rescued from the Underworld though, leaving Daxos behind to be with his mother in the Theros Elysian fields until she returns and is ready to pass away again.
That's how I see it playing out. Theros has too much of itself tied to the gods to abandon them. Then again, Avacyn. So who knows.
Avacyn wasn't the creative draw for Innistrad sadly, it was horror. Avacyn dying is sad, but I don't think it really means much with regards to ghr Gods of Theros. Time will tell, but I think a new RG God is likely, I think Creative knows that being missing is annoying.
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I always liked it when they emphasized on Nissa's introversion and this is one those articles that did that. I just hope they don't jump the shark and treat it like some sort of scenario where "introversion is the enemy will be overcome" and Nissa gradually becomes an extrovert - it doesn't work that way, introverts will usually stay as introverts, they only turn "extroverted" when they're with someone they're familiar with (Zendikar for Nissa and starting to be Chandra as well). Hopefully someone doesn't screw up and have Nissa talk comfortably with some stranger at any point of time. In fact, I'm expecting Chandra to be Nissa's "Voice" in the future since Zendikar can't do the talking, there's so much potential stories (including internal conflict) that can rise from this development...
I thought that was the point of the unknown R/G god, pre-Xenagos. Whoever they were, they simply ceased to exist, whether because people stopped worshipping them or something else. Unless I'm forgetting that the R/G god never existed in the first place.
That would make much more sense than Bolas just killing Gideon or someone else outright. Perhaps forcing the Gatewatch to kill or severely injure him, via Liliana's necromantic magic or Jace's mind magic.
This is why I would have liked to have read something from Tezzeret's perspective. Sarkhan didn't have Bolas tattoos on his forehead, but he was working for Bolas. Tezzeret has the tattoos, but does that mean the tattoos are magic that keeps him under control and in line?
If so, can Bolas apply those markings to anyone to make them his? That would be a tragic outcome for Gideon that wouldn't require his death.
I can just imagine it now. One of the Gatewatch members had ended the life of a god on Amonkhet who was meant to be like this god of war. Nicol Bolas takes notice of that and that they have Gideon who is Mr Indestructible. Uses mind control on Gideon in order to come over to his side and then later apply the tattoos. Once the gatewatch are gone, he starts reshaping Gideon into being his new god of war.
Using the word god in italics as I'm not sure if these are god-gods or planeswalkers-posing-as-gods.
That would be pretty neat, Bolas' planeswalker pawns living as 'gods' on Amonkhet until Bolas sends them out on a task here or there. I still want to see wildman Ramaz as a card somewhere!
EDIT: It would also be hilarious to have the Gatewatch go there, only to be met by another crew of planeswalkers led by Bolas. "Whoops."
Gatewatch meets Nega-Gatewatch? I would like for a Ramaz card as well among well over a baker's dozen worth of other planeswalkers and named characters.
I remember one of the neat things about Amonkhet is that their is a trial system of sorts. Here is the official blurb for that plane on WOTC product page.
Which gets me into thinking that this "afterlife for the worthy" is actually an undead army that Nicol Bolas has been building for who knows how long and that they play a part in Hour of Devastation. Especially considering one of the test booster packs for Hour of Devastation had what appeared to be a undead pharaoh. Which could be how he deals with the Gatewatch.
Liliana could try to command some, but Bolas has a strong necromantic control over them. They might have Jace and his mind magic, but Nicol Bolas made even Jace quake with Bolas's brand of mind magic. Chandra is a very strong pyromancer, but Nicol Bolas I would assume is much more adept at pyromancy than her and also knows the other tricks to red has like Wild Ricochet. Which leaves two members of the party, Gideon and Nissa. We already know something bad might befall Gideon. Nissa is a bit of a wildcard however.
Great, it's the InJacetus League.
Away from that now as its so likely to bring about arguments not meant for this discussion that I don't want to continue. I loved this story. Yahenni came to be a personal favorite this block and that amazes me as I don't often find black aligned characters that I like. Her death was sad but not a death to grieve over and the writing for her is so good about this. The concept of Aetherborn death is something truly impressive and creative did a wonderful job on the life and death of the Aetherborn. Seeing a hint of that knowledge passed on through the Aether is a wonderful moment.
Chandra interactions with Pia were very nice and the fact that there also exists a momnument to Chandra was a cool little thing. I felt very connected to the characters as I've felt trapped in a circumstance like that.
The gatewatch was the Gatewatch. I like the Gatewatch and think this was an excellent set up to hubris being a down fall. The punishment I would love to see and would actually bring about character growth would be if they became connected with some citizens on the Plane and when Bolas has them beaten and bruised instead of killing them, he kills all these people with the view that he owns the plane and they are his ti do with as he pleases. That would be great motivation for the Gatewatch.
Excellent story and I was glad to read it.
|| 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 ||
That's how I see it playing out. Theros has too much of itself tied to the gods to abandon them. Then again, Avacyn. So who knows.
|| 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 ||