What’s the difference between connotation and denotation ?
Connotation and denotation are easily confused, and the fact that neither word is particularly common in everyday use makes it difficult for many people to get a firm grip on the difference between them. While each of these two words has several possible meanings, they are notably distinct from each other in all senses. Denotation is concerned with explicit meaning, and connotation tends to be concerned with implicit meaning. The word home, for instance, has a denotation of “the place (such as a house or apartment) where a person lives,” but it may additionally have many connotations (such as “warmth,” “security,” or “childhood”) for some people.
By definition, all a dictionary can do (or at least, all they traditionally attempt to do) is give you the denotation of a word. But using a word that's technically accurate without taking into account the connotation of it... well, if nothing else it leads to arguments like this. Every time.
The sources I've already linked you to show that at minimum, no one considers the alternative definitions of "alien" relevant anymore, and at worst, consider them inappropriate. The term is no longer used in at least two states in the US, and the news has stopped using it as well. Again, I'm just saying that as a matter of fact to show the status of the word in actual usage. Similarly, on TVTropes and all other websites I am aware of that talk about fiction, the word "alien" always gets used in an SF context, not fantasy (unless a franchise wants to cross the two genres for whatever reason) let alone more "realistic" genres. That further reinforces that the old definitions no longer apply in 99.9% of all English contexts.
Moreover, the term "alien invasion" is even more specific, to the point that if you look it up on TVTropes, I guarantee you won't find a single example that doesn't come from science fiction.
I don't care about connotation. I can't base my language about subjective prejudice about words.
You should. Language is just a tool for communicating our thoughts, and if you don't care what people think a word means based on their "prejudices" as you call them, you are only setting yourself up for misunderstanding and unwinnable arguments in the future like this one. There is literally nothing more that can be said on the subject. Take it not as a criticism, but as life advice. Language must convey those prejudices, or it would be impoverished in its ability to convey emotion.
So we agree it can't be used to metal coat (lapislazzuli would not even produce a metallic pigment for what I can see). I know you still think it's just painted gauze, but I really think, in-lore, it's a metal plate, metal coating, with "metal" meaning "of metal", not "of metal appearance".
What? Of course it can be used to coat metal, there just isn't any reason to think the Eternals are metal plated based on the artwork on the cards. Again, their bodies look exactly like a mummy without wrappings covering them, and no armor either. The face of a mummy is defined by the bone structure, which tends to be much more angular than the bones + the facial muscles. The issue is that those facial muscles lose most of their mass when they dry out. That plus the blue sheen gives the Eternals a neat look, but their bodies are clearly so thin that if they were covered in metal, it would have the protective value of tinfoil. A sword blow would simply crush their bones even if it couldn't cut through it. And we see that they can, so why argue the point?
"Metallic mineral" explictly indicates a mineral metallic in composition.
Nope, like I said metalloids like silicon are also considered "metallic" because of their properties. Furthermore, to qualify as a mineral it must be a pure chemical composition and almost always crystalline structure. This makes minerals, even minerals containing metals, very different from the pure metal. For instance, what makes pyrite different from iron is the presence of sulfide, which makes it far more brittle. Steel makers always try to remove sulfur impurities from the alloy for this reason. In fact, IIRC metallic minerals almosthave to contain non-metals or metalloids because one of the defining features of metals is their plasticity, or in other words their ability to deform before breaking. This means that only a few metals form crystalline structures, and the rest tend to form amorphous blobs in nature. Which is actually one of the things that makes them so useful-- you can shape them into exactly the forms you need to make tools.
All this applies even if we allow Lazotep to be a completely fictitious material. I'm not saying that its actually Lapis Lazuli, but it does have more in common with it than it does, say, oxidized copper, and nothing WOTC has said contradicts that notion.
Language must convey those prejudices, or it would be impoverished in its ability to convey emotion.
There are so many words that already represent different shades of concepts and emotions that I find rather laughable the fact we should change the meaning of ancient words with well established meanings, and to consider this even an improvement...
What? Of course it can be used to coat metal
I just now understood I've been using "metal coat" in an improper way, for this I must excuse. It seems it's not "covering a surface with a layer of metal" in english, but that's what I meant.
Again, their bodies look exactly like a mummy without wrappings covering them, and no armor either. The face of a mummy is defined by the bone structure, which tends to be much more angular than the bones + the facial muscles. The issue is that those facial muscles lose most of their mass when they dry out. [...]their bodies are clearly so thin that if they were covered in metal, it would have the protective value of tinfoil. A sword blow would simply crush their bones even if it couldn't cut through it. And we see that they can, so why argue the point?
It depends on the characteristics of the lazotep alloy after it is cooled. And I can't really consider (in the realistic context I talked about - RavnicaVSDreadhorde) the artwork of cards that are, for plot needs, representing people annihilating armored zombies. But we have cards which imply a certain capacity of lazotep of protecting the eternals.
Nope, like I said metalloids like silicon are also considered "metallic" because of their properties.
They are not considered metallic, they are considered metalloid because they have certain properties that are considered of metals and certain properties of non-metals. They still would not be called metallic minerals if they did not contain metals.
Super-digression on metals
I don't understand the need for this digression on the nature of metals, but deformability is an intrinsic property of metallic elements and most metallic elements generate crystalline structures on their own (there are not that many amorphous metals).
All this applies even if we allow Lazotep to be a completely fictitious material. I'm not saying that its actually Lapis Lazuli, but it does have more in common with it than it does, say, oxidized copper, and nothing WOTC has said contradicts that notion.
Lapislazzuli is not even a mineral and lazurite is not a metallic mineral, I think melting it and making it drip like God-Pharaoh's gift would be a terrible idea for lapislazzuli or lazurite.
Lazotep, on the contrary, is a metallic mineral. I don't see inspiration apart from its color, its name and the use in egyptian culture.
Also, do you think that if eternals had diamond-nano-carbon-tubes-super-duper-technological-graphene armor (exaggeration about invincible armors) artists wouldn't still represent Ravnicans beat eternals' asses with swords and the "power of love" if the plot needed that?
I mean, presumably Wizards wouldn’t make it be indestructible armor then. You’re trying to talk up Lazotep as though it’s meant to be something impressive, but the lore doesn’t support it as being all that strong. From what I can tell the lore is being perfectly consistent. Given Eternalize caps out at 4/4 and Lazotep Plating only adds one +1 counter it doesn’t seem like it mechanically is all that impressive either.
I mean, presumably Wizards wouldn’t make it be indestructible armor then. You’re trying to talk up Lazotep as though it’s meant to be something impressive, but the lore doesn’t support it as being all that strong. From what I can tell the lore is being perfectly consistent. Given Eternalize caps out at 4/4 and Lazotep Plating only adds one +1 counter it doesn’t seem like it mechanically is all that impressive either.
Not that I dislike EPIC SENTIMENTAL WINS, but even in the case of something like Ulamog and Kozilek it was a situation in which the "power of love"(sort of) made it possible to kill things it would have not been possible to. They would create something incredibly strong and then beat it with something not thought of...
Eternalize still added even +3/+3 on the normal power constitution. Still double the power of a normal zombie, retaining battle and magic abilities. In the case of some cards it basically said "It's as if it was alive, just two times stronger because we put it in a blue armor". It's difficult for me to think eternalizing was just painting gauze of blue if it boosted power and constitution. Without Weakness make it seem like it does confer some protection and yes, lazotep plating gives just 1 amass, but also hexproof for a turn which is technically kind of a protection. Then we have flavour texts like the one on Primordial Wurm, which indicates at least a little more resistance is intrinsic to the lazotep plates.
I think there are a few notable problems with War of the Sparks story and honestly, most of them are the kind of mess ups I'd expect from someone making a saturday morning cartoon show to promote a toy line.
1) It's not made clear why Bolas picked now to do an invasion. Lazotep plated zombies probably have a life span, but at the same time if his minions have not perfected the embalming process after doing it on multiple generations of people I'd be at a loss for words. Also, I'm not even going to start with how many different engineering improvements my Ravnica DnD playgroup already thought up on how to build better eternals.
2) Bolas not foreseeing Liliana's betrayal a mile away when he was able to manipulate Kefnet and entire civilizations. That's just them not wanting to kill their cash cow.
3) Supposedly the Eternals and the Statue don't matter, yet they are strategic pieces in the game to reclaim his pre-mending powers. How he can't fathom that losing the statue would bolster the morale of the opposing force and that more morale = bad for me is a little bit much.
I think the teams handling of Ravnica uniting is pretty interesting to see, though.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Ulamog and Kozilek got taken out by a combination of unique factors that were kind of a special deal, and no one had previously tried to kill them that way. Emrakul couldn’t be killed that way, and even her sealing was by her design, so it’s not like they can get casually taken out.
+3 to power and toughness is a 2G Enchantment which isn’t even Uncommon in rarity. Thinking of Oakenform (might be off on the name, on phone and not sure how to reference cards). I’m not saying Lazotep does nothing, but it’s not something that is remotely unbeatable. It’s one of a few factors that makes the Eternals something that resembles a threat. If they were just an ordinary zombie invasion it would be pretty unremarkable really, though maybe they’d get points for being able to turn people, something that doesn’t seem to be an issue.
Short of it is that the Eternals aren’t that impressive, and nothing really indicates they’re that big in the grand scheme of things.
The protection offered by Lazotep to the Eternals in the novel isn't that spectacular. It does well against weaker weapons like knives, but heavier weapons like swords seem to deal with it rather easily.
The most important function Lazotep has is that organic matter can't pass through the Planar Bridge and the Lazotep coating allows the Eternals to pass through it.
This is the second time I’ve seen you talking about what’s in or not in the novel. Care to explain?
I think there are a few notable problems with War of the Sparks story and honestly, most of them are the kind of mess ups I'd expect from someone making a saturday morning cartoon show to promote a toy line.
1) It's not made clear why Bolas picked now to do an invasion. Lazotep plated zombies probably have a life span, but at the same time if his minions have not perfected the embalming process after doing it on multiple generations of people I'd be at a loss for words. Also, I'm not even going to start with how many different engineering improvements my Ravnica DnD playgroup already thought up on how to build better eternals.
2) Bolas not foreseeing Liliana's betrayal a mile away when he was able to manipulate Kefnet and entire civilizations. That's just them not wanting to kill their cash cow.
3) Supposedly the Eternals and the Statue don't matter, yet they are strategic pieces in the game to reclaim his pre-mending powers. How he can't fathom that losing the statue would bolster the morale of the opposing force and that more morale = bad for me is a little bit much.
I think the teams handling of Ravnica uniting is pretty interesting to see, though.
One problem I have with these type of comments is that while thinking about stuff like this can be fun, people often just use the Doylean interpretation (i.e. this inconsistency is there because the author screwed up) instead of trying to find a Watsonian interpretation (i.e. trying to find an in-universe reason). Stories aren't perfect. Even the best authors can't keep everything consistent, that's what suspension of disbelief is for after all. So let me try to find an in-universe reason for these three problems:
1) That's easy, because he simply doesn't want to wait any longer. He personally believes that the time is right, that's why he initiated the Hour of Devastation on Amonkhet. He feels like he has waited long enough for the return of his godly powers and with Vraskas' acquisition of the Immortal Sun he has everything he needs for his plan, so why should he wait any longer? Obviously his plan is not subjugating Ravnica totally (well, not before he becomes a god obviously, after which it should be a trivial task in his mind), the Eternals are there to harvest planeswalker sparks for the Elder Spell and keeping the locals busy while he finishes his plan. People seem to forget that he wiped out all adults of Amonkhet in an instant when he had his oldwalker powers, so it's very likely he will pull something like this again once he gets them back. Even a smaller scale spell would probably be enough to conquer Ravnica and after that everything else.
He is also not an engineer, and the dreadhorde is not his ultimate weapon, but a tool. In fact they seem to have to self-destruct while channeling planeswalker sparks, making them more durable wouldn't help much.
2) Well, that's also not that hard to explain: Once again it's his massive ego and lack of true empathy that causes this. He believes to know Lilliana and that while she would obviously betray him the instance she thinks she can get away with it, she wouldn't risk her life for anything else. He thinks she would never put her life on the line (not unreasonably so, up until very recently Lilliana was always only interested in herself and often stated that she doesn't understand how someone could be stupid enough to sacrifice themselves for others, that's why she followed his commands in the first place instead of taking a stand right then and there).
In short: He thinks that Lilliana is as egocentric as he is, when in fact that's not entirely the case anymore (which is a characteristic of many sociopaths in the real world).
3) Again, Bolas is a sociopath and a narcissist. The statue isn't really that important, since he only build it as another way to glorify himself (which he did in Amonkhet as well, with all the horn-motives). He doesn't really think about it apart from that or really about bolstering morale. His origin story showed that he sees others only as pawns to control as he pleases, and doesn't put much thought into morale or something like that. And the eternals are only important for as long as they are harvesting sparks for him and disrupt anyone from stopping him prematurely. Other than that they are completely disposable.
I mean, are we sure the book is even out? I wouldn't really take someone saying they read the book at face value, it feels like something that would be more heavily leaked if so. Pics or it didn't happen is a good line in the sand to draw.
...his massive ego and lack of true empathy that causes this. He believes to know Lilliana and that while she would obviously betray him the instance she thinks she can get away with it, she wouldn't risk her life for anything else. He thinks she would never put her life on the line (not unreasonably so, up until very recently Lilliana was always only interested in herself and often stated that she doesn't understand how someone could be stupid enough to sacrifice themselves for others, that's why she followed his commands in the first place instead of taking a stand right then and there).
In short: He thinks that Lilliana is as egocentric as he is, when in fact that's not entirely the case anymore (which is a characteristic of many sociopaths in the real world).
Let me guess. Jace will sacrifice his life for a "trap card". After Bolas kills most planewalkers, collects many sparks, and casts the Elder Spell, Jace will fuel his spell with those sparks to kill Bolas. Jace's plan depends on many planewalkers dying... you know, like Urza and the soulbombs.
Ugin's card shows him in Bolas' Meditation Realm, which to me implies that the gatewatch and friends will not kill Bolas, but only banish him off Ravnica, probably back into the Meditation Realm, where Ugin will follow and either imprison Bolas for good or sacrifice himself somehow for the greater good of the multiverse.
My personal theory is that, being twins, Ugin's and Bolas' sparks are connected and Ugin can snuff out his own spark to also remove Bolas', which would strand both of them in Bolas' Meditation Realm, where Bolas will probably kill his twin out of seething rage but still leave him unable to do anything.
If what Jh216 is saying is true, the story is a bit underwhelming and once again betrayse the premise of the precedent sets (the Vraska bit)... Nothing new for Wizards, basically.
So if that’s the case I wonder if the “brand new plane” in the fall will be the Meditation Plane...it would align with the release of the supposed second book that’s coming out in a November and written by the same author.
It’s the kind of poetic ending a near omnipotent villain would suffer in a traditional Hollywood-esque/literary setting. From powerful to plebeian and pathetic, a former and fading reflection of himself. Fitting.
[quote from="Ulgrim »" url="/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-storyline/804097-ravnica-allegiance-rna-and-war-of-the-spark-war?comment=521"][quote from="Jh216 »" url="/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-storyline/804097-ravnica-allegiance-rna-and-war-of-the-spark-war?comment=517"]I crossed out the name of the store on the receipt to make sure they don't get any trouble in case they made a mistake.
That makes no sense whatsoever but at this point I'm really not expecting anything different.
Did Bolas also magically forgot that he is a dragon who can fly and breathe fire?
So how does Bolas actually get defeated? Was the whole Blackblade prophecy a fake out? What exactly is the plan that Jace, Ral, and Vraska come up with? And what was going on with Niv Mizzet, how did he get killed and how did he come back?
Also, do they ever explain Dovin's motives anywhere? Dovin has always been about preserving peace and law and order, it seems out of character for him to support a violent and destructive invasion.
On the subject of the guild leaders, does Kaya play a major role? Do the non-planeswalker guild leaders like Rakdos do anything important? Who's left in charge of each guild at the end of the story?
Yes you literally are. To quote Webster itself:
By definition, all a dictionary can do (or at least, all they traditionally attempt to do) is give you the denotation of a word. But using a word that's technically accurate without taking into account the connotation of it... well, if nothing else it leads to arguments like this. Every time.
The sources I've already linked you to show that at minimum, no one considers the alternative definitions of "alien" relevant anymore, and at worst, consider them inappropriate. The term is no longer used in at least two states in the US, and the news has stopped using it as well. Again, I'm just saying that as a matter of fact to show the status of the word in actual usage. Similarly, on TVTropes and all other websites I am aware of that talk about fiction, the word "alien" always gets used in an SF context, not fantasy (unless a franchise wants to cross the two genres for whatever reason) let alone more "realistic" genres. That further reinforces that the old definitions no longer apply in 99.9% of all English contexts.
Moreover, the term "alien invasion" is even more specific, to the point that if you look it up on TVTropes, I guarantee you won't find a single example that doesn't come from science fiction.
You should. Language is just a tool for communicating our thoughts, and if you don't care what people think a word means based on their "prejudices" as you call them, you are only setting yourself up for misunderstanding and unwinnable arguments in the future like this one. There is literally nothing more that can be said on the subject. Take it not as a criticism, but as life advice. Language must convey those prejudices, or it would be impoverished in its ability to convey emotion.
What? Of course it can be used to coat metal, there just isn't any reason to think the Eternals are metal plated based on the artwork on the cards. Again, their bodies look exactly like a mummy without wrappings covering them, and no armor either. The face of a mummy is defined by the bone structure, which tends to be much more angular than the bones + the facial muscles. The issue is that those facial muscles lose most of their mass when they dry out. That plus the blue sheen gives the Eternals a neat look, but their bodies are clearly so thin that if they were covered in metal, it would have the protective value of tinfoil. A sword blow would simply crush their bones even if it couldn't cut through it. And we see that they can, so why argue the point?
Nope, like I said metalloids like silicon are also considered "metallic" because of their properties. Furthermore, to qualify as a mineral it must be a pure chemical composition and almost always crystalline structure. This makes minerals, even minerals containing metals, very different from the pure metal. For instance, what makes pyrite different from iron is the presence of sulfide, which makes it far more brittle. Steel makers always try to remove sulfur impurities from the alloy for this reason. In fact, IIRC metallic minerals almosthave to contain non-metals or metalloids because one of the defining features of metals is their plasticity, or in other words their ability to deform before breaking. This means that only a few metals form crystalline structures, and the rest tend to form amorphous blobs in nature. Which is actually one of the things that makes them so useful-- you can shape them into exactly the forms you need to make tools.
All this applies even if we allow Lazotep to be a completely fictitious material. I'm not saying that its actually Lapis Lazuli, but it does have more in common with it than it does, say, oxidized copper, and nothing WOTC has said contradicts that notion.
There are so many words that already represent different shades of concepts and emotions that I find rather laughable the fact we should change the meaning of ancient words with well established meanings, and to consider this even an improvement...
I just now understood I've been using "metal coat" in an improper way, for this I must excuse. It seems it's not "covering a surface with a layer of metal" in english, but that's what I meant.
It depends on the characteristics of the lazotep alloy after it is cooled. And I can't really consider (in the realistic context I talked about - RavnicaVSDreadhorde) the artwork of cards that are, for plot needs, representing people annihilating armored zombies. But we have cards which imply a certain capacity of lazotep of protecting the eternals.
They are not considered metallic, they are considered metalloid because they have certain properties that are considered of metals and certain properties of non-metals. They still would not be called metallic minerals if they did not contain metals.
I don't understand the need for this digression on the nature of metals, but deformability is an intrinsic property of metallic elements and most metallic elements generate crystalline structures on their own (there are not that many amorphous metals).
Lapislazzuli is not even a mineral and lazurite is not a metallic mineral, I think melting it and making it drip like God-Pharaoh's gift would be a terrible idea for lapislazzuli or lazurite.
Lazotep, on the contrary, is a metallic mineral. I don't see inspiration apart from its color, its name and the use in egyptian culture.
Also, do you think that if eternals had diamond-nano-carbon-tubes-super-duper-technological-graphene armor (exaggeration about invincible armors) artists wouldn't still represent Ravnicans beat eternals' asses with swords and the "power of love" if the plot needed that?
Not that I dislike EPIC SENTIMENTAL WINS, but even in the case of something like Ulamog and Kozilek it was a situation in which the "power of love"(sort of) made it possible to kill things it would have not been possible to. They would create something incredibly strong and then beat it with something not thought of...
Eternalize still added even +3/+3 on the normal power constitution. Still double the power of a normal zombie, retaining battle and magic abilities. In the case of some cards it basically said "It's as if it was alive, just two times stronger because we put it in a blue armor". It's difficult for me to think eternalizing was just painting gauze of blue if it boosted power and constitution.
Without Weakness make it seem like it does confer some protection and yes, lazotep plating gives just 1 amass, but also hexproof for a turn which is technically kind of a protection. Then we have flavour texts like the one on Primordial Wurm, which indicates at least a little more resistance is intrinsic to the lazotep plates.
1) It's not made clear why Bolas picked now to do an invasion. Lazotep plated zombies probably have a life span, but at the same time if his minions have not perfected the embalming process after doing it on multiple generations of people I'd be at a loss for words. Also, I'm not even going to start with how many different engineering improvements my Ravnica DnD playgroup already thought up on how to build better eternals.
2) Bolas not foreseeing Liliana's betrayal a mile away when he was able to manipulate Kefnet and entire civilizations. That's just them not wanting to kill their cash cow.
3) Supposedly the Eternals and the Statue don't matter, yet they are strategic pieces in the game to reclaim his pre-mending powers. How he can't fathom that losing the statue would bolster the morale of the opposing force and that more morale = bad for me is a little bit much.
I think the teams handling of Ravnica uniting is pretty interesting to see, though.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
+3 to power and toughness is a 2G Enchantment which isn’t even Uncommon in rarity. Thinking of Oakenform (might be off on the name, on phone and not sure how to reference cards). I’m not saying Lazotep does nothing, but it’s not something that is remotely unbeatable. It’s one of a few factors that makes the Eternals something that resembles a threat. If they were just an ordinary zombie invasion it would be pretty unremarkable really, though maybe they’d get points for being able to turn people, something that doesn’t seem to be an issue.
Short of it is that the Eternals aren’t that impressive, and nothing really indicates they’re that big in the grand scheme of things.
This is the second time I’ve seen you talking about what’s in or not in the novel. Care to explain?
One problem I have with these type of comments is that while thinking about stuff like this can be fun, people often just use the Doylean interpretation (i.e. this inconsistency is there because the author screwed up) instead of trying to find a Watsonian interpretation (i.e. trying to find an in-universe reason). Stories aren't perfect. Even the best authors can't keep everything consistent, that's what suspension of disbelief is for after all. So let me try to find an in-universe reason for these three problems:
1) That's easy, because he simply doesn't want to wait any longer. He personally believes that the time is right, that's why he initiated the Hour of Devastation on Amonkhet. He feels like he has waited long enough for the return of his godly powers and with Vraskas' acquisition of the Immortal Sun he has everything he needs for his plan, so why should he wait any longer? Obviously his plan is not subjugating Ravnica totally (well, not before he becomes a god obviously, after which it should be a trivial task in his mind), the Eternals are there to harvest planeswalker sparks for the Elder Spell and keeping the locals busy while he finishes his plan. People seem to forget that he wiped out all adults of Amonkhet in an instant when he had his oldwalker powers, so it's very likely he will pull something like this again once he gets them back. Even a smaller scale spell would probably be enough to conquer Ravnica and after that everything else.
He is also not an engineer, and the dreadhorde is not his ultimate weapon, but a tool. In fact they seem to have to self-destruct while channeling planeswalker sparks, making them more durable wouldn't help much.
2) Well, that's also not that hard to explain: Once again it's his massive ego and lack of true empathy that causes this. He believes to know Lilliana and that while she would obviously betray him the instance she thinks she can get away with it, she wouldn't risk her life for anything else. He thinks she would never put her life on the line (not unreasonably so, up until very recently Lilliana was always only interested in herself and often stated that she doesn't understand how someone could be stupid enough to sacrifice themselves for others, that's why she followed his commands in the first place instead of taking a stand right then and there).
In short: He thinks that Lilliana is as egocentric as he is, when in fact that's not entirely the case anymore (which is a characteristic of many sociopaths in the real world).
3) Again, Bolas is a sociopath and a narcissist. The statue isn't really that important, since he only build it as another way to glorify himself (which he did in Amonkhet as well, with all the horn-motives). He doesn't really think about it apart from that or really about bolstering morale. His origin story showed that he sees others only as pawns to control as he pleases, and doesn't put much thought into morale or something like that. And the eternals are only important for as long as they are harvesting sparks for him and disrupt anyone from stopping him prematurely. Other than that they are completely disposable.
Care to spoil part of the story under a spoiler tag?
Unless someone somehow bought a copy from a bookstore that put it out way ahead of schedule, no one on these forums could have read it yet.
Read Jace, Wielder of Mysteries again. No cards in library. Represents defeat.
Let me guess. Jace will sacrifice his life for a "trap card". After Bolas kills most planewalkers, collects many sparks, and casts the Elder Spell, Jace will fuel his spell with those sparks to kill Bolas. Jace's plan depends on many planewalkers dying... you know, like Urza and the soulbombs.
My personal theory is that, being twins, Ugin's and Bolas' sparks are connected and Ugin can snuff out his own spark to also remove Bolas', which would strand both of them in Bolas' Meditation Realm, where Bolas will probably kill his twin out of seething rage but still leave him unable to do anything.
One, just one, please
What happens to the god eternals?
does bolas die or get trapped in the realm?
anyway i new card called planar celebration pretty much gives 95% unmasking that bolas will lose
It’s the kind of poetic ending a near omnipotent villain would suffer in a traditional Hollywood-esque/literary setting. From powerful to plebeian and pathetic, a former and fading reflection of himself. Fitting.
‘buster
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset.
Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
cool thanks
That makes no sense whatsoever but at this point I'm really not expecting anything different.
Also, do they ever explain Dovin's motives anywhere? Dovin has always been about preserving peace and law and order, it seems out of character for him to support a violent and destructive invasion.
On the subject of the guild leaders, does Kaya play a major role? Do the non-planeswalker guild leaders like Rakdos do anything important? Who's left in charge of each guild at the end of the story?