So, the name "Eldritch Moon" always stuck out to me as a very unusual name for a set. Mainly because it is hard to pronounce and spell, which makes it horrible marketing-wise. But also because, while the moon of Innistrad is important, the word "eldritch" (which means strange or eerie. I thought it was some type of name or reference to its mystical qualities until I looked it up) has no specific meaning in Innistrad or MtG in general. As far as I can tell, the only use of the word on any Magic card (including in SOI) is the fairly generic flavor text on Strionic Resonator from M14.
Here is my reasoning beyond it being a weird name:
Wizards has, in the past, concealed a set name to not reveal a story element. I am of course referring to New Phyrexia and Mirrodin Pure.
The name "Eldritch Moon" is an oddly specific name that spoils the mystery of the SOI block. It is obviously all do to the moon.
The moon has not been mentioned at all in SOI. The mystery clearly has more to do with things on (or under) the ground.
There was no set symbol on the announcement page. At least in recent past, this is more or less unprecedented. The conclusion I gather is it would either show the secret to the mystery of SOI and/or not match with the name.
The three-letter code is EMN, which would match up with the set name starting with "Emrakul." The prevailing theory of the mystery is that it is do to Emrakul. So, it makes sense that the set's name would refer to Emrakul (or the Eldrazi). If that is the case, there is a very clear reason to keep it a secret by having a name that fits the three-letter code and is reasonable for the set name.
This isn't Conspiracy. They've already announced Eldritch Moon here.
I know they announced it and have not changed it like Conspiracy. I am just saying that they could announce it as that, but reveal that the set has a different name later. It does make some sense for the name of a set all about a hidden mystery to, in itself, be hidden. And, having a fake name is better branding than referring to it as "Monkeys." (The code name for the set.)
Please also see the card Engulf the Shore. Aside from having a VERY Marit-Lage-like entity on the picture, the flavor text is:
"The tides have begun to ignore the moon." —Tamiyo's Journal
I would LOVE that to be Marit-Lage, but I think it is just a very large octopus, maybe Lorthos's very distant cousin? I guess I should add, I doubt they are going to change the name, but it is interesting that there isn't a set symbol, so I'm guessing it won't be the moon. Unless it will be a round, globe-like symbol with moon patterns on it... Totally unlike Homelands symbol in every way ;-). Maybe they'll tie Innistrad to Ulgrotha, with its Dark Barony, somehow, they can be sister planes or some such nonsense.
I'll admit that the Homelands kick was mostly a joke, but you definitely have a point about the Homelands symbol and a possible moon symbol confusing people.
I also started to think along the lines of sister planes...what if we take the "world is flat" scenario and apply it to some, if not all, mtg planes?
I understand this sounds super crazy, but think of transforming cards and it starts to make a bit more sense. Also Innistrad has some mirror-opposite-similarities to Dominaria (where we last happened to see Marit Lage). The most important one is that moon. Yes, I do know that Dominaria had two moons, one of which was called the Glimmer Moon and it was supposedly a ball of WHITE Mana... I know what you are saying: white mana wouldn't bring out all the monsters to which I respond correct! It wouldn't! A mostly black ball of mana would do that sort of thing. Yes Marit Lage is black in the only rendition that we have seen of her. However ball of black mana, or cloud of black mana, defines the last seen state of another far more prominent character: Yawgmoth...
What if the Glimmer Moon encased Yawgmoth in a whole transmutation sort of bit to flip him to the other side of the plane (yes I am saying the back of Innistrad would be Dominaria) and made him the moon causing all the problems?
Yes I know that Yawgmoth would do absolutely nothing described as "Eldritch" but it is just a little bit of theory.
I'm pretty sure there are business reasons why Wizards won't ever mislead on set names. Like distribution / interacting with supply chain / stores reasons.
Additionally, if there were any other plausible names for the set, surely they would be publicly copywritten by this point...?
Speaking of Homelands, I'd love to see Baron Sengir show up through the Dwarven Gate on Innistrad and have a struggle against Olivia's brood for Vampiric dominance on the plane. It would never happen, but it would be a great throwback for players who have been playing since a million years ago.
Side note, the word 'eldritch' isn't that hard to read or pronounce, like, at all. 8 letters, 2 syllables. It's beyond simple.
Took the words right out of my mouth.
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"You say 'learn from history,' but that does not mean 'learn the same bull***** the people in history learned alongside phrenology and alchemy.'" - The Blinking Spirit
Please also see the card Engulf the Shore. Aside from having a VERY Marit-Lage-like entity on the picture, the flavor text is:
"The tides have begun to ignore the moon." —Tamiyo's Journal
That's Tamiyo, the Moon Sage...
Tamiyo is originally from Kamigawa and her race is called the Soratami Moonfolk. She is not the Sage of the Moon from Innistrad. However, she might be versed in moons in general, maybe attracted by the Silver Moon of Innistrad when she spark-planeswalked to Innistrad.
Please also see the card Engulf the Shore. Aside from having a VERY Marit-Lage-like entity on the picture, the flavor text is:
"The tides have begun to ignore the moon." —Tamiyo's Journal
That's Tamiyo, the Moon Sage...
Tamiyo is originally from Kamigawa and her race is called the Soratami Moonfolk. She is not the Sage of the Moon from Innistrad. However, she might be versed in moons in general, maybe attracted by the Silver Moon of Innistrad when she spark-planeswalked to Innistrad.
I think it's been well-established that Tamiyo's original appearance on Innistrad (Tamiyo, the Moon Sage) was to study its moon. Hence Tamiyo's Journal and the seemingly central role she plays in the story of Shadows over Innistrad.
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I might point out that Tamiyo's Journal from today's journal expressly references that 'an eldritch moon' is what appears to be the focus of the Drownyard.
There is an interplanar gate under Castle Sengir that, as far I recall, has never been explained. Why couldn't it connect with Innistrad? Next set would be Return to Ulgrotha... and could feature Liliana, who is from Dominaria. Marit Lage is also from Dominaria. I don't know of a better speculated connection between Marit Lage and Innistrad. Plus this area is crawling with vampires- but that would be three blocks in a row to feature vampires. It could be like Time Spiral but feature Modern+. This also would allow Wizards to recall flavor from some of the planes featured in Origins that won't get a block feature for several years.
There is an interplanar gate under Castle Sengir that, as far I recall, has never been explained. Why couldn't it connect with Innistrad? Next set would be Return to Ulgrotha... and could feature Liliana, who is from Dominaria. Marit Lage is also from Dominaria. I don't know of a better speculated connection between Marit Lage and Innistrad. Plus this area is crawling with vampires- but that would be three blocks in a row to feature vampires. It could be like Time Spiral but feature Modern+. This also would allow Wizards to recall flavor from some of the planes featured in Origins that won't get a block feature for several years.
From the wiki: Ulgrotha, whose name means "Garden", was a small backwater plane, far from Dominaria, sometimes called the "Homelands" by its inhabitants.
While the portal is an excellent point, it would not necessarily connect Dominaria to Innistrad.
I think I've learned to treat Magic cards like baseball cards: keep 'em in a binder in numerical order, don't play with 'em, try to finish the set and just keep my head down.
Whatever the disturbance is on Innistrad (Emrakul), it's behaving like its own moon, turning the tides, causing even greater madness in already mad species (werewolves, for example), gravitational alterations. So really, it's an Eldritch Moon.
Here is my reasoning beyond it being a weird name:
I know they announced it and have not changed it like Conspiracy. I am just saying that they could announce it as that, but reveal that the set has a different name later. It does make some sense for the name of a set all about a hidden mystery to, in itself, be hidden. And, having a fake name is better branding than referring to it as "Monkeys." (The code name for the set.)
"The ravings of the mad are laced with eldritch knowledge."
"The tides have begun to ignore the moon." —Tamiyo's Journal
That's Tamiyo, the Moon Sage...
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I also started to think along the lines of sister planes...what if we take the "world is flat" scenario and apply it to some, if not all, mtg planes?
I understand this sounds super crazy, but think of transforming cards and it starts to make a bit more sense. Also Innistrad has some mirror-opposite-similarities to Dominaria (where we last happened to see Marit Lage). The most important one is that moon. Yes, I do know that Dominaria had two moons, one of which was called the Glimmer Moon and it was supposedly a ball of WHITE Mana... I know what you are saying: white mana wouldn't bring out all the monsters to which I respond correct! It wouldn't! A mostly black ball of mana would do that sort of thing. Yes Marit Lage is black in the only rendition that we have seen of her. However ball of black mana, or cloud of black mana, defines the last seen state of another far more prominent character: Yawgmoth...
What if the Glimmer Moon encased Yawgmoth in a whole transmutation sort of bit to flip him to the other side of the plane (yes I am saying the back of Innistrad would be Dominaria) and made him the moon causing all the problems?
Yes I know that Yawgmoth would do absolutely nothing described as "Eldritch" but it is just a little bit of theory.
Team Lage.
Additionally, if there were any other plausible names for the set, surely they would be publicly copywritten by this point...?
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Took the words right out of my mouth.
"You say 'learn from history,' but that does not mean 'learn the same bull***** the people in history learned alongside phrenology and alchemy.'" - The Blinking Spirit
Tamiyo is originally from Kamigawa and her race is called the Soratami Moonfolk. She is not the Sage of the Moon from Innistrad. However, she might be versed in moons in general, maybe attracted by the Silver Moon of Innistrad when she spark-planeswalked to Innistrad.
I think it's been well-established that Tamiyo's original appearance on Innistrad (Tamiyo, the Moon Sage) was to study its moon. Hence Tamiyo's Journal and the seemingly central role she plays in the story of Shadows over Innistrad.
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From the wiki: Ulgrotha, whose name means "Garden", was a small backwater plane, far from Dominaria, sometimes called the "Homelands" by its inhabitants.
While the portal is an excellent point, it would not necessarily connect Dominaria to Innistrad.
|| 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 ||