Many forum posts have already discussed and explained Liliana's absence from the Gatewatch overall. What about the missing, and perhaps most powerful, member from Team Eldrazi? What happened to Emrakul?
I was chatting with a couple guys at FNM who were saying that, except for Garruk's curse which can be considered a minor plot line, pretty much everything in the Innistrad block had been solved. Which means that something monumentally disruptive would have to happen in order for there to be an interesting story there.
Perhaps Emrakul traveled to Innistrad? (I know, many of us are getting kinda tired of Eldrazis, myself included). Also, in the BFZ block, there were no white Eldrazi's. Assuming Emrakul commands the white Eldrazi and he travels to Innistrad, we would have a clash between black (from Liliana) and white, which was the main conflict occurring on the plane before.
Looking back, it is possible however not probable, because of how Wizards likes to change flavor and set mechanics. There also could be clearer answers once more of the short stories are published. But there has to be SOMETHING that creates conflict on Innistrad. What do you think that will be?
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I just can't believe the set name wasn't deliberately chosen as a nod to Lovecraft, and we know Wizards consider the Eldrazi to be their version of Lovecraftian horrors, so I fear Emrakul is very much in line to be our Innistrad antagonist. Add to that we've been told Emrakul now has the gig of distorting living things, and the trailer hinted at distortion and some kind of corruption of Avacyn / the angels. AND we're told the story arc will span blocks a bit more now, so they could see this as a direct continuation of the BFZ / OGW storyline. Maybe the Mad Prophet wasn't so mad after all (if you can think of Emrakul as a 5-legged shrew)?
However, should Emmie not show up, both Raven Man and Ob Nixilis have potential to be present: we know Lili will be in it because Origins 5, and there's always been something a little Innistradi about Raven dude; or we know Ob would dearly love to serve vengeance on Nahiri, and Jace is meant to be Innistrad-bound in search of her and Sorin - could Ob have somehow gleaned that kind of information too? Plus he's a big ol' demon, so he'd fit in nicely. I still think Emrakul is the most likely though.
I don't think it likely that Wizards plays up the same core villain multiple blocks in a row. If I'd had a guess I would say that there is some problem on Innistrad unrelated to Emrakul, more likely something to do with Raven Man or some character that has to do with Lilianas demon pact, perhaps even 'ol Bolas himself.
Chandra, Nissa, Jace and Gideon just took an oath, and although we do not yet know its wording I think it likely to be a vow to protect the entire multiverse from the Eldrazi threat, and not Zendikar (see flavor text of Oath cards). This would mean they are somewhat obligated to show up if Emrakul was to ravage Innistrad and I doubt very much we will see the same cast of characters (and basically the same story) two blocks in a row.
I don't think Emrakul will be hanging about Innistrad either. They seem to be stretching (at least for the moment) the aesthetics of the Eldrazi in BfZ and OGW and I doubt they want to come up with bunch of new ones this soon.
I am predicting that the story will be a classic story of Gothic horror and romance. Maybe an angel, a host of angels or even Avacyne herself have started consorting with a demon/demons (no doubt with Tibalt playing the Faustian matchmaker).
Also first post yay.
Welcome DeRavenox!
I hadn't considered Tibalt as a driving character in Innistrad, but I guess he's still there and still causing mischief. I can totally see him being a major player in SoI. Is Tamiyo still on Innistrad? Haven't been following the story closely before Theros.
I don't think Emrakul will be hanging about Innistrad either. They seem to be stretching (at least for the moment) the aesthetics of the Eldrazi in BfZ and OGW and I doubt they want to come up with bunch of new ones this soon.
I am predicting that the story will be a classic story of Gothic horror and romance. Maybe an angel, a host of angels or even Avacyne herself have started consorting with a demon/demons (no doubt with Tibalt playing the Faustian matchmaker).
Also first post yay.
Welcome DeRavenox!
I hadn't considered Tibalt as a driving character in Innistrad, but I guess he's still there and still causing mischief. I can totally see him being a major player in SoI. Is Tamiyo still on Innistrad? Haven't been following the story closely before Theros.
Tamiyo would apparently be still in Innistad, unclear for Tibalt. He escaped inquisitors when they came for him thanks to his spark awakening, but it's not said if he actually left the plane completely.
We know for a fact that Jace is going to Innistrad to look for Sorin and ask him about leads on Emrakul. Because of that, and because I don't believe WOTC would do back to back Eldrazi and Gatewatch shenanigans, I am of the belief that Emrakul will not be appearing on Innistrad. Now, what am I hoping for specifically? To see Nahiri and Tibalt(hopefully better now), to see Sorin take his Oath and become the leader of the Gatewatch, and to see Avacyn as a villain.
Because we know that Lilliana's motives right now are very specific(killing her remaining demon masters and ridding herself is the Chain Veil) I see no reason for her to be on Innistrad either. It would be bad writing for Liliana to have already killed Griselbrand and then, while on the search for her next target, find out that her next demon master was there the entire time and be forced to turn her proverbial car around.
I believe and hope that Shadows Over Innistrad will have a new, mostly self contained story without Lili or the Eldrazi.
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Because we know that Lilliana's motives right now are very specific(killing her remaining demon masters and ridding herself is the Chain Veil) I see no reason for her to be on Innistrad either. It would be bad writing for Liliana to have already killed Griselbrand and then, while on the search for her next target, find out that her next demon master was there the entire time and be forced to turn her proverbial car around.
I believe and hope that Shadows Over Innistrad will have a new, mostly self contained story without Lili or the Eldrazi.
There may not be an obvious in-world reason for Lili to be on Innistrad, but as the only one of the Origins 5 to be absent from Zendikar, there is a compelling real-world reason: those 5 are going to be the focus of the story arc for a while now. We've just spent time with four of them - it's almost certain we'll have to see the fifth now for marketing reasons. And since Jace has linked Lili to Innistrad during his conversation with Ugin, on top of the link being reinforced by Origins, we know it's very much there in the mind of Creative. Something will be concocted to make her come back, though I expect it to be unrelated to the demon-slaying quest. More likely Raven Man, Jace, or just the fact they've made it a plane she feels at home on.
That could be. If anything, I think the Raven Man would be the most interesting way to do it. Regardless, I feel that she may appear as the star of the block after SOI on track with one of her main goals.
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"Pop in, find a dragon, roast a dragon."
-Chandra Nalaar
After reading the portion on Emrakul in the art book it seems very likely that she will be making an appearance on Innistrad. But who knows, I could be wrong. Her warping Magic seems to be exactly what's happening to the Avacynian symbol in the trailer. Plus Emrakul's power includes transforming creatures into Eldrazi-like monstrosities, which could be what happens to the angels (and demons). And it makes sense as to why the Gatewatch would go there next. Their main priority is going to be stopping Emrakul.
I think the shadows over Innistrad block will feature garruk as an antagonist. He last left off an ice planeswalker envoy of Avacyn tried to take garruk back to Innistrad to heal him but was unfortunately killed. I believe garruk headed to Innistrad and killed Avacyn.
The Demon from the Duel decks looked it was all twisted.
The worst outcome i can see is that Emrakul is in innistrad and they beat ehr by making the Moon into a giant hellvaut/prison for Emrakull.Now its Sorin problem been the guardian now
The implication is that the Helvault released something. Between that and the Moon, which is ALREADY implied to have shape changing powers, I don't think we need Emrakul this block.
I really really want to agree, and no-one will be happier than me if Emrakul is absent from SoI, but the arguments for her appearance have increased by one with this snippet found by Silver_Spellthief over in the Rumour Mill version of this thread:
Ignore the poor, punctuationless copy-and-paste of Thalia's quote from Burden of Guilt, that makes her sound like she's become the winged terror, but the later text includes this bit:
"... your entry into a world beset by terrible evils on all sides and betrayed by the hope it held most dear. Tread lightly as you follow the heroic Planeswalkers of the Vanguard (sic) as they investigate these dark mysteries, for the nightmare they will uncover is a threat to the whole Multiverse." (Emphasis mine)
'Betrayed by hope' certainly implies Avacyn has been corrupted, but whatever the cause is - Helvault releasee or otherwise - it has to be something capable of inter-planar activity, not just limited to Innistrad, because of that bolded bit. I think that rules out massed ranks of demons, Olivia Voldaren, Edgar Markov etc. from the list of possible main antagonists. Still leaves any other planeswalkers (Garruk, Ob, Raven Man) as candidates though, alongside Emmie.
Or something new to give the gatewatch more storylines to go through. Out of the big bads we have Bolas, the eldrazi and phyrexia the gatewatch only knows about eldrazi and somewhat through Jace and Chandra, Bolas. Plus we could always use a new big baddy since;
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I was chatting with a couple guys at FNM who were saying that, except for Garruk's curse which can be considered a minor plot line, pretty much everything in the Innistrad block had been solved. Which means that something monumentally disruptive would have to happen in order for there to be an interesting story there.
Perhaps Emrakul traveled to Innistrad? (I know, many of us are getting kinda tired of Eldrazis, myself included). Also, in the BFZ block, there were no white Eldrazi's. Assuming Emrakul commands the white Eldrazi and he travels to Innistrad, we would have a clash between black (from Liliana) and white, which was the main conflict occurring on the plane before.
Looking back, it is possible however not probable, because of how Wizards likes to change flavor and set mechanics. There also could be clearer answers once more of the short stories are published. But there has to be SOMETHING that creates conflict on Innistrad. What do you think that will be?
UW Caw-Blade
GW Bogles
U Delver
GBTolarian Community College's/Turn One Thoughtseize's $2 Dredge
UR DrakeRUG Murasa Tron
UWR TwinGW BoglesB 8-Rack (budget)UWR Delver/GeistUW Gifts TronUR Bedlam DelverWRG Burn
UBR Death's Shadow
UR Artifacts(~M15)UW Heroic(~Theros)WBR Warriors(~KTK)R Aggro(~Origins)RUG Wombo-Combo Energy (~Kaladesh)
My (upgradable) $150 Modern budget UR Delver (possibly outdated): http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/modern/budget-modern/738332-ur-bedlam-delver
My Pauper Cube: http://www.cubetutor.com/viewcube/69019
However, should Emmie not show up, both Raven Man and Ob Nixilis have potential to be present: we know Lili will be in it because Origins 5, and there's always been something a little Innistradi about Raven dude; or we know Ob would dearly love to serve vengeance on Nahiri, and Jace is meant to be Innistrad-bound in search of her and Sorin - could Ob have somehow gleaned that kind of information too? Plus he's a big ol' demon, so he'd fit in nicely. I still think Emrakul is the most likely though.
Chandra, Nissa, Jace and Gideon just took an oath, and although we do not yet know its wording I think it likely to be a vow to protect the entire multiverse from the Eldrazi threat, and not Zendikar (see flavor text of Oath cards). This would mean they are somewhat obligated to show up if Emrakul was to ravage Innistrad and I doubt very much we will see the same cast of characters (and basically the same story) two blocks in a row.
UR Mizzix of the Izmagnus ~~~ Build your own win-condition: Finite Spellslinging
UR Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer ~~~ We are the Borg. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.
WUB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic ~~~ A Guide to dying slowly
UBR Marchesa, the Black Rose ~~~ Marchesa's undying Marionettes
RGW Mayael the Anima ~~~ All Hail the Big Chungus
GWU Chulane, Teller of Tales ~~~ Permanents Only ETB Shenanigans
BGU Sidisi, Brood Tyrant ~~~ Sidisi's Restless Servants
WUBRG The Ur-Dragon ~~~ Dragons eat your face
Welcome DeRavenox!
I hadn't considered Tibalt as a driving character in Innistrad, but I guess he's still there and still causing mischief. I can totally see him being a major player in SoI. Is Tamiyo still on Innistrad? Haven't been following the story closely before Theros.
UR Mizzix of the Izmagnus ~~~ Build your own win-condition: Finite Spellslinging
UR Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer ~~~ We are the Borg. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own.
WUB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic ~~~ A Guide to dying slowly
UBR Marchesa, the Black Rose ~~~ Marchesa's undying Marionettes
RGW Mayael the Anima ~~~ All Hail the Big Chungus
GWU Chulane, Teller of Tales ~~~ Permanents Only ETB Shenanigans
BGU Sidisi, Brood Tyrant ~~~ Sidisi's Restless Servants
WUBRG The Ur-Dragon ~~~ Dragons eat your face
Tamiyo would apparently be still in Innistad, unclear for Tibalt. He escaped inquisitors when they came for him thanks to his spark awakening, but it's not said if he actually left the plane completely.
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/checking-planeswalkers-2015-2015-08-19
We know for a fact that Jace is going to Innistrad to look for Sorin and ask him about leads on Emrakul. Because of that, and because I don't believe WOTC would do back to back Eldrazi and Gatewatch shenanigans, I am of the belief that Emrakul will not be appearing on Innistrad. Now, what am I hoping for specifically? To see Nahiri and Tibalt(hopefully better now), to see Sorin take his Oath and become the leader of the Gatewatch, and to see Avacyn as a villain.
Because we know that Lilliana's motives right now are very specific(killing her remaining demon masters and ridding herself is the Chain Veil) I see no reason for her to be on Innistrad either. It would be bad writing for Liliana to have already killed Griselbrand and then, while on the search for her next target, find out that her next demon master was there the entire time and be forced to turn her proverbial car around.
I believe and hope that Shadows Over Innistrad will have a new, mostly self contained story without Lili or the Eldrazi.
-Chandra Nalaar
There may not be an obvious in-world reason for Lili to be on Innistrad, but as the only one of the Origins 5 to be absent from Zendikar, there is a compelling real-world reason: those 5 are going to be the focus of the story arc for a while now. We've just spent time with four of them - it's almost certain we'll have to see the fifth now for marketing reasons. And since Jace has linked Lili to Innistrad during his conversation with Ugin, on top of the link being reinforced by Origins, we know it's very much there in the mind of Creative. Something will be concocted to make her come back, though I expect it to be unrelated to the demon-slaying quest. More likely Raven Man, Jace, or just the fact they've made it a plane she feels at home on.
-Chandra Nalaar
- ace is involved (why else would he continue to leave Ravnica into chaos?)
- Emrakul is the titan of corruption, whose mark is blood and rotten flesh, which explains what's happening in the trailer.
- The very name, which is a Lovecraft refference (albeit admitely to a story not involving what Emrakul is supposed to be an analogue of)
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The worst outcome i can see is that Emrakul is in innistrad and they beat ehr by making the Moon into a giant hellvaut/prison for Emrakull.Now its Sorin problem been the guardian now
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Ignore the poor, punctuationless copy-and-paste of Thalia's quote from Burden of Guilt, that makes her sound like she's become the winged terror, but the later text includes this bit:
"... your entry into a world beset by terrible evils on all sides and betrayed by the hope it held most dear. Tread lightly as you follow the heroic Planeswalkers of the Vanguard (sic) as they investigate these dark mysteries, for the nightmare they will uncover is a threat to the whole Multiverse." (Emphasis mine)
'Betrayed by hope' certainly implies Avacyn has been corrupted, but whatever the cause is - Helvault releasee or otherwise - it has to be something capable of inter-planar activity, not just limited to Innistrad, because of that bolded bit. I think that rules out massed ranks of demons, Olivia Voldaren, Edgar Markov etc. from the list of possible main antagonists. Still leaves any other planeswalkers (Garruk, Ob, Raven Man) as candidates though, alongside Emmie.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"