MTG Salvation

".... this isn't nice," she frowned lightly upon seeing the jackal. This... Falout must be some unnatural thing to be able to do such transformations to its inhabitants, and the ground below her, it seemed very much unreal. "...this is the outsideworld then, I must persevere," she decided, reaching into her pocket and feeling the cool surface of one of Reljan's many fragments.
"....but this creature, its condition warrants study, I hope my companions are faring better," she mumbles, waving a hand to try catch the lack of moisture in the air, but soon enough it comes to her, slowly condensing and cooling into


(OOC: Basically, red-centric totem armor. It is enchanting Ialyr)

((This post was meant to be posted 5 hours ago but i lost it and had to rewrite it while being busy with other stuff. Internet provider, you so silly))

Kenfriteri

You discordantly make your way towards:

The Cathedral of Voz: A strange church that seems to have risen from ashes, as no one remembers who build it. The Cathedral is both an institute, a school, a church and a medical center, where devote healers reknit and resucitate heedless of your fame or your economical condition. The church's gold etched glasses and highly manned services do leave a lot of doubts of where their funds come from

Add (2/W)

You arrive to the church's gates to have the doors opened to you, if ever so slightly, in fact, there's almost no transit through the doorways, a strange event for such an used commodity. A human woman, covered in a long, white hooded robe that covers the entirety of her body, welcomes you to the church, although her body language suggests she is shaken from sort of event.

"I....welcome you to the Cathedral of Voz. We apologize for the current inconveniences, there are, some.....inner matters the church has to settle. What do you seek healing for?", she asked, probably clueless about your social standings
---------------------------------
Cassandra Morgana

CHALLENGE!
Escape from the city! (Difficulty 12)
Sky Shift
Design: I get only half of this card and it is the top half, because i do not remember that being a Drake grants you Hexproof in any way or form (0 Results on that), the Sphinx's half is arbitrary but it sounds reasonable. The spell is also somewhat decently costed, but it feels pushed as too many effects are in one 5/10
Flavor: This could technically even be a cycle, it's simple and understandable, if unimpressive, perhaps it would make more sense with types that could stack 8/10
Finesse: Uncapitalized creature types and a bunch of other tidbits means you do not earn Finesse points
Total: 13/Challenge Met, you gain 4 EXP

Your magics and your familiarity with shapes that are not your own allows you to grow the necessary physiology to gracefully take flight. This time, the Mox Wisp seem to respect your need to release yourself from the ground and do not interrupt you as you soar past the city's gilded walls

You add 2

From your aerial vantage, you witness the patchwork utopia that is Mexus. There are a lot of landmarks to visit: Marshes, grasslands, cities, jungles, volcanoes, you can even see floating islands and structures off the horizon! But which of these locations could contain the items needed to craft a masterpiece?

(You are granted the ability to describe the general gist of your destination, whether it is a plains, or a mountain, or whatnot. I'll take care of the details)
-----------------------------
Jegudiel

"Oh no! We are not in danger, no matter! The forest is interesting, actually! Vedalken think more with their brains than with the.....no matter! Hehehe!", the jittery ratfolk updated Jegudiel with the outpost's news. "We've been hiding nothing! Been doing the same thing for a while, 97 double days! Longer that than forest's been there! We were testing a new form of energy generation! Massive batteries if you will! Then that forest grew there and.....no matter! Hehehe! That forest has only 12 double days there!". The rat points out the strange trivia in excitement, forests usually don't appear from morning to evening.

"Some pointy eared dudes've been harassing us to stop whatever we are doing, they think we kill the forest! But it no matter! We were here before forest, forest better move out itself!
----------------------------------------------------
Vishar Nalaar

You leave a stunning impression on the merchant and walk your way to the Corps. You are pretty sure you hear muffled insults in the distance. Now approaching:

Mage Corps Division 3: The Mage Corps is a huge organization splintered into many divisions to take care of diverse activities. Division 3 is in charge of news publishing of inner and outer sources, as well as the handling of contracts both temporal and signed. In short, its a place where both fresh recruits and bounty hunters dole out the paperwork

Add (W/R)(W/U)

The place looks awfully commonplace for being a law enforcement agency, with the main hall being very akin to a waiting room, a bunch of chairs and the occasional weapon or emblem on the walls to remind you where you are. A postboard on the wall has a bunch of relevant information, with the public one being white and the private information marked in pitch black paper and in black ink. It is suprising that anyone can read them but the corps have a way around that.

The relevant headlines in the postboard are:

>CORPS TOURNAMENT STARTS TODAY
>KAISER ATTENDS TO PANTHEOPOLIS CELEBRATION
>HELP NEEDED: LIBRARY REQUIRES TO HUNT DOWN AN INDIVIDUAL
>HELP NEEDED: KORIL OUTLANDS REQUIRE POINT MAN

You know that the first three events take place in the city, but the last location is a known salt marsh that lies just at the boundaries of the city
--------------------------------------
Lukas
Challenge!
Disable the Gatekeeper (17)
Poisoned Bard
Design: It`s like Mugging, except instant speed and more permanent. Seems on par since -1/-1 counters tend to be on the costly side, 9/10
Flavor: A couple of things fall flat here: The flavor text seems to be off, i don`t really know where it comes from. Also, Poisoned Barb sounds like a weapon, rather than a spell. 6/10
Finesse: Your card earns you 2 Finesse Points
total 17 (Challenge Complete, gain 4 EXP)

You shove the gatekeeper, and of course, he doesn`t budges, not even noticing your sly trick. "You are not g-", he is interrupted as he collapses in the ground before you, with a loud thud that shakes the closest tables and earns you a few uninterested looks. "HURTIN! You damn not better be drunk again!", a cranky voice resounds from the back of the pub, followed by a dissapointed sight. You can now happily walk over the minotaur and into the pub

The place is undecorated and full of bedlam, as well as interesting people being dull. As you walk, a knife flies in front of your face, piercingo the clothes of an already pinned goblin, and earning you the apologies of an elf at the other side of the club. "Hey! Ye new here ain`t ya! C`mere! Welcome to the Guillotine! My name`s Siko, I`m in charge here". You hear the same voice again, coming from a gray-skinned ratfolk. He wears an unorthodox vestment with multiple blades sticking haphazardly, as well as wearing several stitches in his flesh, visible even through his fur.

"So what brings ya here eh, stranger? The people? The liquor? The chance to beat up Hurtin? He never learns"
-------------------------------
Yol Alok

You quickly head to:

The Library of Alexandria: A boundless pillar that reaches high into Mexus`s sky, yet its top is masked with arcane energies, invisible to not sully the Golden Pillar`s majestic sighting. The Library is an enormous compendium of knowledge, manned by spectres that search the books from the otherwise unreachable shelves. The library is directed by an enigmatic snake known as Jaz`Kheed for unknown, unquestioned reasons

Add (2/U)

The place is as most people described it to you: You can look upwards and not find the ceiling in the grand scale of this building, specially behind the drifting haunts that find the clientelle`s requests. There is an enormously complex of beakers and pipes installed over an ornate desk on the immediate left, perhaps with alchemic purposes. You can make out something moving between them, perhaps the reptile manager you are looking for.
--------------------------------------------
Ialyr Crestfall

Challenge!
Stop the Grizzle Jackals (17)
Snowform Plate
Design: Inviolability tells me the cost is right, but that card is White, the kind of damage preventing, and it only does THAT. The added Orochi-esque ability and the bizarre, singular totem armor feel awfully out of place. Not to mention that, if all damage is prevented, what damage is there to undo? 4/10
Flavor: Ice Armor is a pretty common spell all around, and this is gorkable enough. I`m not a fan of the red trinket text, though. 8/10
Finesse: The card is not technically wrong, but the trinket text is worded so strangelly that it feels like it should go either way. You get 1 point
Iceborn (+1)
Total (14)
Challenge Failure, Mana Spent

You might have quickly adapted to the rapid climates, but your magic hasn´t. Your elemental armor quickly fades and is shattered by the pouncing beast. It tries to finish you off for an early lunch, until it starts levitating into the air. One of the members of your party is in a constant trance, holding all of the savage beasts several feet into the white sky, to then violently drop them in the harsh, sandy floor. The jackals that aren`t unconscious from the shock limp away with broken limbs, and your party regroups.

The importance of your team is now much more apparent, considering that, one by one, the beasts looked imposing and desperate enough to maul through your skin. A quick recount denotes that, there are 5 casualties, which leaves you at 11 members counting yourself. You all regroup and start to brace for more assaults. The team's current hero advises everyone to make preparations

The vista is tricky, the abstract contrast between black land and white sky makes it difficult to tell from shadows to imagination, but there is something else far at the horizon, something you can't quite tell apart from the distance, and something no one else seems to be aware of

Jegudiel's wings folded back again as it adopted a curious expression, though still not a happy one. "Massive batteries... can you point me towards the ones in charge of such an ambitious project?"

Jegudiel watched the rat creature closely trying to make sure it was being genuine. Damnable rodents, I hope I can trust this information.

(OOC: once Jegudiel knows who is in charge/where it will go there))

Cassandra Morgana

CHALLENGE!
Escape from the city! (Difficulty 12)
Sky Shift
Design: I get only half of this card and it is the top half, because i do not remember that being a Drake grants you Hexproof in any way or form (0 Results on that), the Sphinx's half is arbitrary but it sounds reasonable. The spell is also somewhat decently costed, but it feels pushed as too many effects are in one 5/10
Flavor: This could technically even be a cycle, it's simple and understandable, if unimpressive, perhaps it would make more sense with types that could stack 8/10
Finesse: Uncapitalized creature types and a bunch of other tidbits means you do not earn Finesse points
Total: 13/Challenge Met, you gain 4 EXP

Your magics and your familiarity with shapes that are not your own allows you to grow the necessary physiology to gracefully take flight. This time, the Mox Wisp seem to respect your need to release yourself from the ground and do not interrupt you as you soar past the city's gilded walls

You add 2

From your aerial vantage, you witness the patchwork utopia that is Mexus. There are a lot of landmarks to visit: Marshes, grasslands, cities, jungles, volcanoes, you can even see floating islands and structures off the horizon! But which of these locations could contain the items needed to craft a masterpiece?

(You are granted the ability to describe the general gist of your destination, whether it is a plains, or a mountain, or whatnot. I'll take care of the details)

Cassandra Morgana now in her new form heads down to a floating island to discover all of its wondrous secrets that it holds.

Cassandra Morgana 
Artifact Creature - Vampire Shapeshifter Artificer
Flying Hexproof
Cassandra Morgana is all creature types except those of permanents on the battlefield, in addition to its own types.
When ~ attacks draw a card.
3/3
Gold: 10
Inventory: Ephimancer's Cloak
Traits: Ephimeral Artifice(+1.5 Universal Mod roll for permanents that sacrifice themselves) 
Sky Shift Enchantment (Temporary)
Ills:
Experience: 4/20
Mana: 2

Quote from GregarFalzar

((What's with you and eye-squinting names?))

Jemals Dagegen Verstand (W/U)
Creature - Kor Gramarie
You may cast nonland cards with converted mana cost of 1 or less as though as they had Flash
1/1
Gold: 10
Inventory: Gramarie Robes
Traits: Study Spells (You gain additional experience from successful non-combat challenges)
Ills:
Experience: 0/20
Mana: (U/W)(U/W)(U/W)(U/W)
You can still see the island in the sky, your past afloat above an oft drenched wasteland. With exploration in mind, you see the golden horizon in front of you, still visible even without the aerial vantage granted by the floating island. Pantheopolis is the hub of most knowledge and divine magics, but it is certainly not where an educated scholar would go.

You remember being given instructions by an old friend, about certain landmarks that you might be interested in. The Rockhill Summit is a very feisty place that can be found by trekking north, with fire-driven spectacles visible even from the lofty sky lighting up every night as the tribal Viashino practice their lively rituals. Another peculiar direction you were told was to go south, and just keep going until you find the lonely tree. If you gazed south, you couldn't even see a single tree in the horizon from that direction. You were told that this would be the case, and you should just walk there if you wanted to meet high standards of knowledge and fevered intellectual arguments.

East, West, and anything in between are unknown lands as far as your immediate knowledge goes, but you can always look there and find more options.

OOC: The names are simply German words.

Jemals faced a descision. Travel north, to the Rockhill Sumit, where complex rituals and intense magical displays were performed nightly, or south, to the Lonely Tree, where he would see subtler but far deeper changes and acts of magic in a quiet local. Facing north, all the spells being tossed around would provide ample oppurtunity for him to test his hypothesis on conflagutechture and lexicollations, not to mention plenty of uncontrolled magical acts to examine. Facing south, would it not be best to begin a journey with a slightly larger repertoire of principals at his disposal? The sound of the Lonely Tree was that it would be a place of deep scholarly conversations, but would likely center pretty exclusively on geollaborations, dimensiodynamics, and condenetics, which, excluding dimensiodynamics, were topics that gravely bored him.

Turning back to the north, going to Rockhill Sumit would be going to a new culture, which would bring danger of social misunderstandings, which might lead to danger of dismemberment, if the rumors about Viashino were true. Turning south, there was the promise of exploring regions of Gramarie as-of-yet incomplete.

Turning north, he would have great access to dense magical interactions.

Turning south, he would have access to deep natural principals of the world.

North, south, north, south, north, south, north, sou-- "Ah screw it."

The Kor man sat down in the sand and began crafting runes all about him, rearranging magical paths in the immediate world so that spacial reasoning and temporal reasoning would blur together slightly after a slight magical charge is applied. After he was content with that, he performed a simple summoning spell, which, due to his preparations, summoned across time instead of space.

Time Skip 2UU
Sorcery R
Take an extra turn after this one. Skip your next turn after that one.
"I'll be coming back here eventually. Might as well come back to this exact moment as well as location."
-Jemals Dagegen Verstand

Two Jemalses now looked at each other in the middle of the wasteland. With a smile and a wave, one went north, while the other went south.

"....I'm beginning to dislike the lack of clarity in this place," she frowned, squinting her eyes quite a bit in order to peer better into the horizon.

"...." she stood for a moment and decided to replicate a phenomenon back home, there may not be much solar wind striking this place, but she was quite sure she could enforce the thing. Maybe. Picking up the ice crystal in her pocket, she focused light into and out of it.

Previously:
Knef's voice carries an odd chill behind it when she reply's to the woman
----

Intonation of Despair :1mana::symw::symb:
Instant
Target creature gets -1/-1 and cannot attack or block until end of turn.
"Words have the ability to heal or harm. I generally prefer harm."

----
" I have no requirements of your service woman! You, however have need of my services as an arbiter and civil servant. Retrieve your superior at once and provide us a room to speak in. Also, provide me a glass of your finest vintage I am thirsty."

Knef taps her foot in an impatient manner waiting for a reply to her demands.

((The spell is an attempt to bully the woman into doing my bidding))

Vishar proceeds towards the poster board, his hulking mass moving briskly. His eyes dart down the poster board's options and then abruptly walks towards the the first sign up for the Corps Tournmanent that he sees, his fish clenched.

He then slams his fist on the recruit's desk. "I need into that crops tournament. Pronto. Urgent business." Vishar is harsh and rude, as usual, but has a calm tone to his voice. "Appreciate it." he says as he leaves to go wait for the Corps Tournament to begin.

Vishar Nalar(R/W)
Creature - Ithok Warrior
Vishar Nalar must attack or block if able
2/2
Gold: 10
Inventory: Leather Harness
Traits: Initiative (+1.5 Universal Mod Roll for any challenge that you begin)
Ills:
Experience: 0/20
Mana: (R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(U/W)

Sneering at the downed minotaur as he passed him toward the bar, he managed to move out of the way before the knife found a home in his cheek, instead it striking the goblin he had noticed tied up. As the ratfolk owner of the establishment came to greet him, Lukas laughed at his last statement and then said

" A drink, and perhaps you might know some leads for a rambler looking for some work." he said more than confident that an owner of an establishment such as this, knew exactly what kind of "work" he was talking about.

Dimithkarjic (G/W)
Creature - Treefolk Shaman
Defender
1/3
Gold: 10
Inventory: None
Traits: Patience (+0.5 stacking universal roll for each post that did not include a challenge, up to +2)
Ills:
Experience: 0/20
Mana: (G/W)(G/W)(G/W)(G/W)

Flora and fauna alike are disappearing around you, in what to an ancient tree feel like minutes. The fear of losing the sacred grove surrounding you finally has you taking action, but the action to take is rather fuzzy.

Through the canopy, from your high seat that is your bodily height, you can see the beckoning pillar of the golden city in the horizon, in fact, in two of the horizons. The strange form of the plane makes the city always visible in the far sky, but only when at the farthest, it can be seen more than once. Your distance to the city would make it difficult to arrive there timely. You'd have to either find a way to reach the city very rapidly, or find the cause of this malnourishment and patch it.
---------------------------------------------
Jegudiel

"Oh yes yes, sure! Eh-....", the edgy shopkeeper waded its head around, trying to find the leader of the operation in the scarcely occupied outpost. "Ah-! There-! Jefka!". He hopped in place, pointing at a sizable, chromatic apparatus, and the engineer handling it. "Just-Just be clear, 'ight? Jefka doesn't likes interruptions, like how she once h-No matter!"

Jefka was a Vedalken woman, wearing an outfit braided with gems of different colors, knowing their race, this was most likely for practical purposes. "This better be a new shipment, an update from the veil, or something actually relevant and not handouts or complaints", she preemptively interrupts the angel

Approaching the enormous battery puts you under its influence, granting you X
------------------------------------
Cassandra

You reach up to:

Miracle Falls: At ground level, the Miracle Falls might look like a common lake, but it hold a strange mystery, as water actually circulates upward into the sky, and down back again, creating a two-way waterfall between the ground and the island above. There is an entire ecosystem of watery life in the lake, but the island of the top remains a mystery. It holds a cave that springs the water upwards and downwards with no apparent explanation, and very few feel compelled to traverse it.

Add GU

You may arrive to the lower lake surrounded by forests, or to the upper island which holds a series of caves that torrent the water around in its strange phenomenom
-----------------------------------------
Jemals
Challenge!
Bend the laws of reality (20)
Time Skip
Design: This is what Final Fortune would look like if it were Blue. Laconic, reasonable design with adequate cost and resonant effect. 10/10
Flavor: I'm going what you Skip is the part where you come back and go the other way? I understand you are pretty much editing time to synch something, but the name could've gone better, 8.5
Finesse: You earn your 2 Finesse Points
Final: 20.5 (Challenge Complete! You get 8 EXP, Study Spells nets you an additional 3 EXP)

Impatient, and lusting for knowledge, you cut your future and stitch it with your present to create two different presents, experiencing two different possibilities

(As a result of this time contortion, each you will earn individual mana. Additionally, XP you gain will be accumulated instead of awarded until your future gets back where it belongs and will be slightly reduced.)

The Northen you heads to:

Panfire Forest: A humid, hot jungle where big game and lithe hunters are abound. The Viashino from the Rockhot Summit respect the forest as a natural ground, a testament that wilderness trumps civilization. Thus, they are very eager to challenge explorers to defeat their hungry ecosystem.

You can see the large rock upon which the reptilian civilization is build, but you will first need to traverse its obstacle course. The forest blesses you, granting you X(G/W)(R/G)

It takes little time for the forest to take that back though, as a small creature challenges you from the trees:

Spitfire Rootwalla 1GR
Creature - Lizard
When Spitfire Rootwalla becomes blocked, it deals damage to target creature blocking it equal to its power.
1G: Spitfire Rootwalla gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Activate this ability only once each turn.
1/1

The creature is willing to assault you, but the dense foliage makes it difficult to properly engage. You are in a combat situation as a blocker, but all combat damage dealt by both parties is prevented

The south-bound you heads to:

Calming Nowhere: This golden plains is well known for being a paragon of still beauty. There is a single, slightly slanted pathway that walks into nowhere, only granting an unsullied view of both half and full sunsets.

Add (2/W)

The environment is soothing without a doubt, giving the future you a well deserve respite, but that's about it. Even after minutes of walk, you still draw a blank on what there is around this place, you can't even see the described lonely plant. However, as you traverse deeper in these so pure lands, you start to sense a strangling, growing presence, a continuous influx of strange magic. This irradiation grants you (U/B), but you have no idea where its coming from
-----------------------------------------------
Ialyr Crestfall

Challenge!
Defy the Abstract Sky (16)
Avowing Aura
Design: Recursive scrying is WAAAY too powerful, not to mention at that cost. A small effect could've gotten you away with the lithe enchantment, but the mana cost docks you points. 6.5/10
Flavor: However, it is exactly what you intend to do. The name fits with what you are trying to achieve and has a simple design. Could've used better flavor text, though, 9.5/10
Finesse: You earn your 2 Finesse points
Total: 18 Points. Challenge complete, you get 4 Experience

The light from within your small trinket reflects in the sky, creating a coat of prismatic light that spreads through the Fallout. The spell reveals that the land is, indeed, pitch black, which is no trick of the eye, but the changing sky does give your team a greater sense of orientation, and of forewarning as well.

You feel an enormous presence below you, as if a creature were tunneling from below the entire expedition. While it cannot be seen or heard, something else can, as a rising avalanche of black sand is rising against you:

Fallout Surge 7BR
Sorcery (M)
Fallout Surge can't be countered
Wither
Fallout Surge deals 7 damage to each creature and each player
The odd white powder found in the Fallout is not sand, but bleached bone, turn to dust in seconds

Your remaining party start channeling magic, mana churning from their concerted efforts. You have a challenge difficulty of 19, however, for this challenge, thanks to the concerted effort of the other 10 members of your team, you gain UWWGG
-------------------------------------------
Yol Alok

Jaz'Kheed can be found as always, slithering between the complex pipe system above its desk. He welcomes you from above, hissing at you to call your attention, as you might have been expecting someone larger. The snake nods at your order, and you immediately feel a chilling presence behind you as the dedicated spectral staff goes to attend your order.

"Sadly, I am not in charge of the Kaiser's visit, so i can't fix you with a date with him. All I can tell you is you might find some wisdom in the Viashino's traditions to capitalize his visit." He informs you, curious as why would you think the library needs help, even though it does.

"Well you see, the library values its knowledge, and of course, some people think they value it more than us. A human of Ill-manered past known as Nole lately got away with taking a particular scroll. On its own its of no value but without it, the complete collection is meaningless, because of its rather volatile magics. We fear that he might attempt to tap into it, causing major city damages in name of the Library, not good for public relationships, you see? He was last seen at the market, and a bunch of other prospects went for his hunt already. Feel free to go fetch him, if you feel lucky, though. The books you want will probably be here by then"
-------------------------------------------
Knefriteri
Challenge!
Sublimate the Cleric (14)
Design: This is really overcosted an also falls flat on the issue the previous Instant-speed Mugging done in this game. You could've made this an aura and i wouldn't have batted an eye, but as an instant it feels rather jarring. 7/10
Flavor: I do like the flavor here, a sort of nightmarish, imposing tone telling you that you will kill someone in such detail that he is actually anxious for the moment. The flavor text still feels off, though, could've been more relevant since there's no mention of healing here. 8/10
Finesse: No rarity and some awkward wording means you only get half a Finesse point
Total: 15.5 (Challenge Complete! Add 5 EXP)

The woman stutters uncontrollably, walking backwards as you punish her with words. "Uh-h.....Yes! I'll get him to yo-, i mean, yes i'll get Brother Artus to talk to you and....Eh, we don't serve vintage drinksBUT DONT WORRY!-....I'll-....I'll arrange something!". The lady scrams over between the hallways, letting you enter to the church.

You observe an enormously well tended interior, filled to the brim with decorations and symbols. There are several gargoyles perched atop the church's artistic architecture, working as the place's security measure. You see the woman rapidly walking back towards you. "Brother-*pant*, *pant*. Brother Artus is ready to meet you, please come this way". She then leads you to a very cramped room, like a confession chamber

You Add (B/U)

A man is waiting for you in an ornate chair, you figure this is Atlus. He's a slender, young man wearing black robes with golden ornaments, complementing his pitch black hair and round glasses as he watches you with very little apparent interest, odd traits for a man of healing. He waves you at a similarly cushioned, high quality chair to sit down, crossing his arms over his knees. "Our humble church doesn't usually gets these kind of visits from members of the higher caste, what is it that brings you here, arbiter?"
-------------------------------------------
Vishar Nalar

You are returned your rudeness in kind and directed to the:

Mage Corps Splinter Division 6: The Mage Corps are a highly diverse organization, splitting all of their operations in diverse centers. Division 6 is in charge of management of information, items and most public relations. Its large space doubles as warehouse for evidence or items required by the corps, as well as a spacious area to host the events of the institution

The first thing that could be seen from the distance was a large line of audience, the Corps initially didn't allow spectators, as their tournaments were more of a culling method of determining new possible recruits, but all forms of controlled combat calls curious citizens like carrion calls the crows. Thankfully, the entrance for the "to-be" contestants was quiet visible, made brighter with the assistant of a young cadet, to prevent the large lines to be of distraction.

The participants line was almost empty, there was but one elf with a paper and feather marking all the attendants. She wore a pronounced red armor with sharp, gilded edges. Her weapon was strapped to her back, but from that angle, it was small, sharp, and had no visible handle, which suggested it was meant for throwing. There was a human warrior (Kon-Sen) queueing up for the combat as well, but the corps should be able to multitask, and thus tersely ask Vishar the same question

"Your name and your reason for joining this tournament, please"
-------------------------------------
Lukas

You slip several coins through the counter, but the rat simply slides them back. "First one's the house, bud, hehe". He places a dubious drink on the table, it looks green and murky, but you should be able to pick off the scent of blood on it, the house seems to be very attentive of its clientele's tastes.

"Anyways, i don't know why people think I'm some sort of bounty board, people aren't very talkative down here. I just know the guys over there got mad with some goblin that was booking for their little card game and got away with the pot. And gambling without money ain't gambling, is it? The whelp headed to the swamps, he won't last there, and some rat will probably loot the prize money. Would be a shame, wouldn't it?"

Previously:
Knef takes a sniff of her drink and returns it to the table leaving it untouched. "I am of the understanding that things are...strained between your temple and another party. The 'higher caste' is sympathetic to such plights and I am willing to offer my services to solve your...ahem...issue. I will of course exempt an arbitration fee since you are..." Knef flashes a disquieting smile "public servants after all. All that I would ask is that my....generosity does not go unforgotten Brother Atlus. Knef puts her finger in her drink and stirs the contents softly waiting for a reply.

"This isn't good," Ialyr commented at the abrupt rumbling. The situation was taking a turn for the worst so her compatriots tried to counteract it, pooling mana to form a defensive bubble.

"It won't work!" she yelled at her allies. The land would be annihilated as well leaving them to a probably gristlier fate. She dashed on, running towards them and repurposing the mana into something.... something... ah, she knew it. A miracle that happened once, a few years back. Trying her best to imitate such power, , she focused on the world around her.

"I am Vishar Nalar. I wish to join to prove my worth to the Corps, make money and acquire a job afterwards. That is all I have to say."

After Vishar signed up for the Mage Corps tournament, he patiently waits for it to begin, eager for a fight.

Vishar Nalar(R/W)
Creature - Ithok Warrior
Vishar Nalar must attack or block if able
2/2
Gold: 10
Inventory: Leather Harness
Traits: Initiative (+1.5 Universal Mod Roll for any challenge that you begin)
Ills:
Experience: 0/20
Mana: (R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(U/W)

Cassandra

You reach up to:

Miracle Falls: At ground level, the Miracle Falls might look like a common lake, but it hold a strange mystery, as water actually circulates upward into the sky, and down back again, creating a two-way waterfall between the ground and the island above. There is an entire ecosystem of watery life in the lake, but the island of the top remains a mystery. It holds a cave that springs the water upwards and downwards with no apparent explanation, and very few feel compelled to traverse it.

Add UG

You may arrive to the lower lake surrounded by forests, or to the upper island which holds a series of caves that torrent the water around in its strange phenomenon.

WIP

Cassandra Morgana finally done with flying abandons her sky Shift Enchantment and heads out to the Magical Falls on foot.

Cassandra Morgana 
Artifact Creature - Vampire Shapeshifter Artificer
Cassandra Morgana is all creature types except those of permanents on the battlefield, in addition to its own types.
1/1
Gold: 10
Inventory: Ephimancer's Cloak
Traits: Ephimeral Artifice(+1.5 Universal Mod roll for permanents that sacrifice themselves) 
Ills:
Experience: 4/20
Mana: 2GU

"Indeed a shame." Lukas said with a smirk as he hefted the drink in mock salute and then downed the dubious drink. Finishing it off in one long swig he sets the drink down and nods to the rat "Thanks for the drink." as he gets up from the stool and barring any more drunken challengers, he makes his way toward the door and out into the swamp.....in search of a large cash prize in the form of a very unlucky goblin.

Quote from GregarFalzar

Jemals
Challenge!
Bend the laws of reality (20)
Time Skip
Design: This is what Final Fortune would look like if it were Blue. Laconic, reasonable design with adequate cost and resonant effect. 10/10
Flavor: I'm going what you Skip is the part where you come back and go the other way? I understand you are pretty much editing time to synch something, but the name could've gone better, 8.5
Finesse: You earn your 2 Finesse Points
Final: 20.5 (Challenge Complete! You get 8 EXP, Study Spells nets you an additional 3 EXP)

Impatient, and lusting for knowledge, you cut your future and stitch it with your present to create two different presents, experiencing two different possibilities

(As a result of this time contortion, each you will earn individual mana. Additionally, XP you gain will be accumulated instead of awarded until your future gets back where it belongs and will be slightly reduced.)

The Northen you heads to:

Panfire Forest: A humid, hot jungle where big game and lithe hunters are abound. The Viashino from the Rockhot Summit respect the forest as a natural ground, a testament that wilderness trumps civilization. Thus, they are very eager to challenge explorers to defeat their hungry ecosystem.

You can see the large rock upon which the reptilian civilization is build, but you will first need to traverse its obstacle course. The forest blesses you, granting you X(G/W)(R/G)

It takes little time for the forest to take that back though, as a small creature challenges you from the trees:

Spitfire Rootwalla 1GR
Creature - Lizard
When Spitfire Rootwalla becomes blocked, it deals damage to target creature blocking it equal to its power.
1G: Spitfire Rootwalla gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Activate this ability only once each turn.
1/1

The creature is willing to assault you, but the dense foliage makes it difficult to properly engage. You are in a combat situation as a blocker, but all combat damage dealt by both parties is prevented

The south-bound you heads to:

Calming Nowhere: This golden plains is well known for being a paragon of still beauty. There is a single, slightly slanted pathway that walks into nowhere, only granting an unsullied view of both half and full sunsets.

Add (2/W)

The environment is soothing without a doubt, giving the future you a well deserve respite, but that's about it. Even after minutes of walk, you still draw a blank on what there is around this place, you can't even see the described lonely plant. However, as you traverse deeper in these so pure lands, you start to sense a strangling, growing presence, a continuous influx of strange magic. This irradiation grants you (U/B), but you have no idea where its coming from

North

Jemals went north, enjoying the scenery and poking every bush and tree he passed, looking for dimensiondynamic influential patterns in bark and nodal or bifracturing biostructures in the underbrush. Just having a wonderful time out in the real world. He grabbed a few winds and coaxed them to roam out a ways, pick up a few interesting smells, then bring them back to him. He got sulfur on the first go, apple pie on the second, and something he couldn't identify on the third. As he walked, he kept out a journal and a quill, taking note of everything and anything which might be useful or prudent to remember, and blazing through pages in the process.

It was as his head was bent that he bumped into the lizard, unfortunately, but as he looked up and saw it staring back at him, he immediately knew what to do. All he needed was a little bit of a alchemetrical lensing to boost him up.

Of course, with the unseemly pressure of combat, he wouldn't be able to do anything, so, with a wave of his hand and a whispered word, he attempted to pluck a lower string of reality:

Dictum of Peace W
Instant R
End combat.
Words are wind, and wind can stop people in their tracks.

Or

Absence of the Many W
Instant R
Exile each creature with converted mana cost 3 or less. Return them to the battlefield under their owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
"It's a strange thing to be alone."
--Jemals Dagegen Verstand

OR

Empty Ward (2/W)
Enchantment - Aura U
Enchant white creature
When Empty Ward enters the battlefield, choose two colors other than white.
Enchanted creature has protection from the chosen colors.

Spending the X on this, and supposing it works, Jemals will proceed with his alchemetrical lensing:

Energy Bloom GR
Instant C
Add three mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool.
"Pollen from one flower meets another flower, which then drops a seed. The seed then grows into a third flower. Where once were two plants, there are now three."
-Jemals Dagegen Verstand

Adding WUG to cast:

Companionform GWU
Enchantment - Aura R
Enchant creature
You control enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature is a 1/1 Bird creature and has flying.
"Here birdy!"
-Jemals Dagegen Verstand

Spending WUG on that, leaving him with 0.

Content with his new companion alighting on his arm, the Gramarist will continue on his way.

South

It's quite as the alternate Jemals walks through the wastes. Not a strange silence, or a pressing one, just the comfortable void of sound in which a walking mind can analyze information long since swallowed whole. Presently, he was going over a paper on zephyltering leyline patterns which would result in higher concentrations of air elementals wandering around in their immediate vicinity. The logic was sound, except that he thought he had found a minor flaw, where the author assumed certain baseconduit genusculations and the condenetics of a newly formed air elemental would act in similar ways. It was only theoretical work, however, until someone found a zephyltering leyline pattern of the appropriate size and shape to either price or dis- what was that?

Looking about in mild surprise and confusion, Jemals tries to find the source of the magical interference. It felt like a self-superiorational lexicollation, but for some visual evidence implied that it existed without kaliedomatic influences, which would be odd. Perhaps he was missing something. He would need to expand his gaze. So, as he continued walking, he shaped up a cognimachination pattern and started thinking about where that radiation might have come from:

Cognitive Investment (G/U)
Sorcery R
You may choose a card you own from outside the game and put it into your library, third from the top. Exile Cognitive Investment.
Many young warlocks learn to keep track of small thoughts, for they tend to… grow.

((I won't try to explain because at this point i don't feel like you want an explanation))

Klauder Mauder (W/R)
Creature - Dwarf Knight
(W/R)(W/R),T: Exile target artifact with converted mana cost of X or lower, where X is Klauder Mauder's power
1/1

What is there to Mexus but the city? Pantheopolis expands almost as fast as the plane itself, but even then, those who shun its peace and quiet are still in the high numbers. You confirm this belief by noticing conflict in the near distance, you can't tell by far who's winning or losing, or who is even engaging, but continued observation would make apparent that the skirmish is at a standstill

Of course, there are always other paths. You have heard of an "Adventurers Guild" being somewhere near this location, a fine place to obtain reinforcements. You could also go to your old home, and try to reclaim what was lost to nature

Knefriteri

"I understand such affairs and interests, members of such high caste have little use for peasantries." Atlus spoke with a tone of arrogance, strange traits for a healer. "Alright, then i think we can discuss the issue at hand, Alfred". He called a name out, probably someone at the other side of the room. A small, hidden window opened to the side of the room,leading to a strange room, decorated in esoteric black and white patterns. There was a human strapped to the floor, struggling against the steel bindings, muttering unreadable words from the highly muffled screen.

"You see, this man claims he's a Demon, and actually wishes us to exorcise him from his mortal shell so he can rule again. Thing is, he isn't, our seers have confirmed so. Demon exorcism is a brutal procedure, even for our standards, lesser souls shatter and perish against it, thus we use our better judgment to determine if someone is deserving of it, and forbid ourselves on using it on normal, unpossesed citizens. However, this man has knocked up so many times here, and the Civil Corps will just haul him back with his unbearable barking, so we cannot exorcize him or let him go.

I'm not sure if your diplomatic approaches can help, but we need a third party to deal with this issue. I'm sure your generosity will not be forgotten"

You now know the dilemma the church is facing, and must somehow deal with it. You can Rig the case in favor of the church or against it, however, Rigging the case against the church will have a higher difficulty and most likely get you ousted of the place if you fail

Ialyr Crestfall

Challenge!
Defeat the Fallout (19)
Freeze into Oblivion
Design: I love me some laconic, straightforward effects, except when they are pushed this hard. While the mix-up is great here, the white aspect, mainly because Exiling any permanent at instant speed is too much to ask for. Split second also makes very little sense here, 7/10
Flavor: Because the spell name is so resounding and the effect so solid, my answer will be similar: "Yes", 10/10
Finesse: It's hard to mess up something as simple as this, 2/2
Iceborn +1
Total: 20 (Challenge Met! You gain 6 EXP)

The imposing force of nature that faced you now was held still in a cryogenic stasis from both time and space, exiled from this existence. Your concerted efforts felled a great obstacle, however, that looming presence still lingered, remaining invisible to your basest senses, but striking fear at your basest levels. The dangers of this place were not unknown, but your team pushed onward.

The dark sands provide no insight, the only objects you stumble upon are fossils and useless relics, unrecognizable by the appraisers of your team, which picks their interest as they start collecting them. You sense the jackals surrounding you, hoping you to take a misstep, but the light cast from your magic refrains them from attacking without the element of surprise.

The influence of Leylines does not expand on its own, so there is something under these sands that keeps pushing the sands forward. Your team suspects it is the influence of the large force that caused the surge that threatened their lives, and reach a consensus of investigating. You must track the underground source that's pushing the Leyline torwards the Glacier, this has a difficulty of 18, however, Your spell will be responded with

Opportunity Ambush 1RRR
InStant
Split Second
Cast Opportunity Ambush only during your turn
Damage can't be prevented this turn
Choose target spell. Put X 2/2 red and black Jackal creatures tokens with Haste on the battlefield, where X is that spell's converted mana cost
Dead people can't call you a swine without honor

Whatever spell you cast Must also resist the impeding jackal assault, your concerted efforts once again grant you UUWWG

Vishar Nalaar

"Hmph, at least you are honest, most people try to pull the Knightdom card on me. Go ahead". The guard lets you pass into the tournament waiting room, a well lit, decorated space with hanged weapons and banners, muffled from the public's cries of excitement to avoid breaking your concentration. You observe the contestants that litter around the place, finding the usual stereotypes you might have guessed: Knights in shining armor and lithe myrmidons, although there are some figures that don't match.

You notice a Vandal ratfolk loitering in the corners, wearing large clothes in which you could hide several hundred implements, a difficult find in an event of discipline. There is also a Vedalken taking notes, even in the silence of the arena, by his vestments, he is obviously not a member of the Corps. But of course, most importantly, the shining figure at the left, a prismatic spirit shining in the barracks, it was a Mox Wisp, the immortal, almost omnipotent guardians of the city, whose presence nobody seems to question, is ushering the other fighters for a divine, unknown purpose

Perhaps it is the time to ask some questions

Dimithtarjic

Challenge!
Find the cause of the problem (17)
Deep Roots
Design: It's like a hybrid between CUltivatE and ExPloSivEVEGEtation, which is nice since Rebound is a good mechanic on mana fixing, it's well balanced around its concept, even if its cost probably should've been 1GG, 9.5/10
Flavor: This is a little over the place, the name doesn't evokes a very good mental image, and the flavor text feels mismatching, but since it's not contradicting, it feels passable, 8/10
Finesse: Earned dem 2 points
Total: 19.5 (Sucess! 6 EXP earned)

Your connections spread through the forest, making contact with all of the plants within it, except one makes contact back. This strange influence stings you as you reach it, breaking your trance with a bizarre sensation, granting you (G/B)(G/B).

This strange presence seems to be a tree, of almost equal size and girth as yourself, if not bigger. It's of natural birth, but its purpose seems to be more sinister, and lacks the sentience granted to your kin. However, the forest seems to be petrifying around it, withering against its noxious, imposing aura. The tree is eastbound from here, at about 40 meters distance. You know exactly where it is, how tall it stands, and what it is doing, thus, you can decide your next action.

Cassandra

You arrive to the waterfalls, watching its waters graciously fall downwards....except you find yourself upside down. There are two waterfalls in the island, one following the rules of gravity from the top of the mysterious island, and the other surfacing from the bottom of the lake and rocketing upwards, both start and end in bodies of water, thus approaching them from foot doesn't seems feasible

You keep your flight form for now, and you must choose to investigate in the lower lake or the upper island first

Yol Alok

Jaz'Keed bids you adieu as you head torwards:

The Marketplace: Whatever you need, it is here...somewhere. A sprawl of multiple marketplaces connected into one for convenience, it is said that this place spans the entire city on a loop. Whether it is an object, a spell, or an idea you are looking for, it is here, somewhere, be it on the legal businesses or the obscure corners

You add X

You arrive to the marketplace with plenty of awareness, which is cut short by the enormous crowd, but even to you, this sounds unusual. You don't hear commerce or gossip, but hushed whispers, low enough to be incomprehensible, but numerous enough to drown the sounds of actual commerce. It seems like the large amount of prospects the Library had gathered went to the same place, and probably started making open, indiscreet questions. Nole has probably caught wind of this blunt research, and is probably skulking somewhere

With all of this noise and interference of the investigation, the chances of you, or anyone, of finding the rogue are heavily diminished. You can cast spells to interact with the crowd to earn information, or perhaps quell the competition, but whichever your approach, the difficulty is lower the more people you target

Lukas Rakaro

"Yah, sure, see you again soon!". The cranky rat waves goodbye, fully expecting you not to return if you do find the stacked money. You walk over the minotaur-mat once again to head to:

Swamps of Lisga: An ecosystem poisoned by the most obscure, treacherous beasts. Once the home of the Vandals, an absent-minded race of ratfolk, the place is now run by an autocracy of humans which have enslaved the previous owners of the land. Tribes of aggresive folk litter the place, followed by equally merciless predators

You don't even have time to appreciate the environment before something springs to assault you

Hostile Nest GB
Enchantment
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield, choose an opponent of that creature's controller. That player puts a 1/1 green and black Snake token on the battlefield, then those creatures fight

You are in normal casting mode, however, because of the bogs putrid mana, Non-black spells cost an additional 1

Northen Jemals

Combat Challenge!
Vs Spitfire Rootwalla

Dictum of Peace: Here's the thing: This card does nothing? Much like Time Stop, you need a large explanation of what the words "End Combat" means, because like that, this card literally doesn't do anything, and that's troublesome. 1/10


1+10=11 (Whiff, no mana spent)

Absence of the Many: I like the name, it is making a picture in my mind of how the spell works. The effect sounds simple and balanced, so that's a 10/10

10+12=22 (Pass! Mana spent, 2 EXP gained)

You oust the creature from company, eliminating its threat as both of you fade into an ethereal timeout. When you do come back, both of your are initially dissoriented, breaking the rest of your focus and giving you a brief reprieve from the critter's visage. No more spells are cast and no mana is spent, however, a Grammarie's virtue is patience, "You can stick around and try to cast them again"

If you keep trudging forward into the forest, you'll be led to what seems to be a natural spring. Creatures both large and small are flocking to drink from its clean water, including strange mixes of docile elks, herd-driven wildebeests and imposing Baloths, probably suggesting that this place has a form of calming presence, that quells the predator's natural ire. However, should you approach the spring, a very distinctive territorial growl from the large beast would be the easiest signal to tell that you are not wanted in this place. You can continue moving forward towards your final destination or Approach these peculiar springs. Your vast knowledge of magic allows you to identify this soothing presence.

Coexistence W
Enchantment
Creatures can't attack
Whenever a player controls a creature that does not share a creature type with any other creature, sacrifice Coexistence.
Nature doesn't really abhors

Southern Jemals

Challenge!
Find the Source (18)
Cognitive Investment
Design: I like these colors, it sounds like these are the colors that would do this (And I'm not saying this just because Research is a thing). Sorcery speed and rarity are spot on for a symbolic one-drop. 10/10
Flavor: Unfortunately, for this challenge, remembering doesn't works as well as learning. I like the approach you are taking for this though, so you get points for it, 6/10
Finesse: You earn your 2 finesse points.....wait
Total 18 (Challenge Complete, you earn 2 EXP, Study Spells doesn't earns you any additional EXP off this spell)

You start to mentally backtrack your findings, digging through your understanding of the laws of magic, as well as your interaction with this influence. With this slow remembrance, you now can tell where the radiation starts and ends as you walk through it, effectively allowing you to triangulate its source.

You turn to the direction you calculated, and suddenly, it appears.....a withered tree. You remember being told of this, but this withered tree couldn't be the source of such a powerful magical influence. Something is amiss, the powerful influence comes from here, it surrounds you with even more energy, granting you with an additional (U/B), but is that all there is?

Dena Vere G

Creature - Human Bard
Whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield, you gain 2 life.
"Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music" ~ Legendary Songsmith
1/1




Gold: 10
Inventory: Elegant Robes
Traits: Free Spirit (+1 Universal Spell Mod on the first
challenge of a location)
Ills:
Experience: 0/20
Mana: GGGGG

From booze and shady figures to putrid swamps and dangerous wildlife. Lukas wasn't wasn't which was the worst. Though the snake that suddenly sprang up from it's mucky nest to challenge him definitely was putting the swamp in the lead.

"Charming locale." Lucas said his voice laden with sracasm as he extended his hand and made a crushing gesture as some of the more wild mana in his system sprang out and crushed the snakes nest. However the spell wasn't done as from the crushed next an inky black cloud shot out and the snake rotted away from the:


Assuming the spells success, Lukas will continue further into the swamp looking for any indications of where the goblin might have gone.

Previously:
Knef looks down at the strapped man with a mixture of disgust and curiosity. Leave me alone with him and allow me to speak with him. I will see what I can gain from his rambling. She lifts her hand in a dismissive gesture to Atlus.

"You there, Vedalken! What insight do you have about his tournament? It does not seem like a place you would want to be, but if you want to get smashed to a pulp, it's your choice. I'm just looking for information." Vishar thinks for second after what he says, then reconsiders. "Now, I would be willing to assist you in the tournament if you so wish. You look like you could use a helping hand."

Vishar struggles to hold back from laughing at himself for wanting to help the Vedalken, but he manages and awaits a response.

Vishar Nalar(R/W)
Creature - Ithok Warrior
Vishar Nalar must attack or block if able
2/2
Gold: 10
Inventory: Leather Harness
Traits: Initiative (+1.5 Universal Mod Roll for any challenge that you begin)
Ills:
Experience: 0/20
Mana: (R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(U/W)

((Yes, yes, i forgot to give you a trait))



((Update later))

2nd Edit: Wow i was tired back then, here you go

Gold: 10
Inventory: Battered Armor
Traits: Magebane (+1.5 where there's an opponent spell involved)
Ills:
Experience: 0/20
Mana: (W/R)(W/R)(W/R)(W/R)

Dene Vere G
Creature - Human Bard
Whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield, you gain 2 life
1/1

Gold: 10
Inventory: Elegant Robes
Traits: Free Spirit (+1 Universal Spell Mod on the first challenge of a location)
Ills:
Experience: 0/20
Mana: GGGGG

It is said that one could wander the city for all of their life, and never know there is actually something outside the golden bastion. There's no physical destiny to a soul of the arts, so more than stumbling across boundless opportunities within and without. Large events are taking place in the city, including the Viashino's Kaiser visiting Pantheopolis, as well as one of the many tournaments hosted by the Mage Corps which require to be staffed by more than raw muscles. The difference commerce districts of the city always have willful ears and able goods, and of course, the Thousands Theater; a museum of the acted arts to serve as a definite inspiration.

Of course, no more notes can possibly be drawn by waltzing in circles, and the horizon beyond the golden gates is boundless, even compared to its divine bounds
---------------------
Dimithmarjic

You slowly work your way towards this apparently hallowed tree, the wake of its destruction made apparent as the flora around you grows weaker around your vicinity. You arrive to notice it is a normal tree, sound, healthy, run-of-the-mill, and yet its blooming. Around its roots are some of the most beautiful flowers you've ever seen of this grove, surrounded by acid-etched glass as they spread its caustic essence through the forest

This plant is not evil in nature, it's just a predator on it's own right, mysteriously taking over your forest. You can interact with the tree in whichever waywith a difficulty of 18. However, you feel a still presence, watching your every move. "It feels like they will lash out at any attempt against the tree"
--------------------------------
Lucas
Challenge!
Against the Nest (17)
Aura Poison
Design: Black's take on Aura Mutation, which sounds balanced enough. It gets two-for-ones but its conditional enough to pass the test. 10/10
Flavor: You fall flat here a little, since the Enchantment is so mostly for game purposes, so the card feels very skewed flavor-wise for the purposes of felling a snake and its nest. 6/10
Finesse: To the rescue with your two points
Total: (18, Challenge Complete! 4 EXP gained)

The assaulting reptile felt victim to the sluiced essence of its own bloodline, withering before you. Now that you can finally catch your breath and admire the putrid miracle of this swamp, you gain 2B.

If you were to look for footprints, you'll notice a matching pair of shoeprints that scampered through the swamps, but your easy efforts would be flustered as these get lost within an obviously disturbed marsh, whose heavy waters suggest struggle, an where these tracks end. There are no predators in the immediate vicinity; they would have assaulted you. One of the many rogue Vandal bands must have taken him away, which means that the goodies he carries might be spoiled to the scrounging race.

You have a difficulty of 18 to track the goblin, and you have 2 turns to find him before the Vandals make off with the reward
-----------------------------------------
Klauder

You arrive to the battlegrounds to find an astounding, glorious.....stalemate?

Crusade's Boundary: An eternal battlegrounds where the Nertuls, the elementals of wood that protect their sacred Heart-Tree, and the Icewilled, the noble aven knights that control the Ice Stronghold, fight epic battles for unknown reasons. The conflict has lasted for centuries, and it is said that it has claimed less lives that it has lasted years.

Add (G/U)(U/W)

You don't understand how this is possible. Spells are flying, barricades are being risen from thin air, arrows are hailing towards both sides, and cavalry and infantry alike are clashing in an unbelievable brawl, and yet after minutes of observation for your position, not a single individual has been slain. Incredible defenses and complex stratagems are so abundant that there are no tolls being taken for either team, each one unable to flank the other's defense. Is there no side to pick? Is there really not a loser in this conflict as it is?

You can probably divine where these soldiers are coming from in this quasi-symmetrical war, as two large structures pop out from your position. A skyscrapping tree and an equally imposing fortress of ice. The battle will most likely not be upset by a single individual, unless that individual doesn't fears being harmlessly exiled for the next year. Perhaps there is more insight to be gained from outside the battle at this moment
------------------------------------
Knefriteri

"You are our guest, Alfred"

The priest calls for the name of his assistant once again, now opening what seemed to be a hidden window, letting a myriad of muffled cries pour into the confession chamber. "Do whatever you are legally entitled to do, Arbiter, he's in your hands at this moment", Artus cleans his hands on you, allowing you to enter the madman's chamber.

As you enter, there is no much to speak or reason. You are allowed to remove the gags from his mouth, but it would probably result in bitten teeth, and his words are clearly gibberish from how loud he is pushing these archaic bindings. He's at your mercy, and the sanctity of the confession room is being held for only you and Atlus.
------------------------------------
Vishar Nalaar

The Vedalken glances at you the moment you speak, visibly opening a new page on his notes, most likely jotting information of the latest arrival. "Judge", he tersely speaks at visibly no one, "Permission for harmless imposition of force", he continues, words that confuse everyone in the room, except of course the Wisp stationed in the room, nodding at his quandary.

You suddenly find yourself with your face on the floor without explanation, and the slight pain in your head suggest that you somehow tripped while standing still. "You have no authority to call me by race, Contestant. I'm ill interested in your name, and now, I'm ill interested in your prowess as well". He explains nonchalantly while making his way through a small corridor, suggesting he knows his way through the arena. Everyone else is silent, very likely not wanting to push the Judge into action.

"Attention participants, please go to your selected chambers", a loud voice rings out for you as the hallway you just saw being used opens into a wide corridor, with several capsules being at the end of the hallway. Everyone quickly sprints towards them in an effort of getting picks for unknown reasons. Your current experience with the floor robs you of your head-start, but the calm Vandal rat had too stayed behind, giving you a helping hand to stand up.

"I don't kick the man that's not down by my hand, so go ahead, choose", his words don't make sense, both from the sense that he's helping you and the meaning behind an option, but as you approach the three remaining hallways before you, you feel a strong essence emanating from each corridor, hauling with mana from all over Mexus

You can choose one of the three corridors glowing with energy, and you will be granted mana for this tournament:

Predator Pathway: BRRRG
Progress Pathway: WUUUB
Prismatic Pathway: XXX
-----------------------------------
Yol Alok
Challenge!
Find the Truth (22-4=18)
Secrets of the Bazaar
Design: This reminds me of Blasphemous Act: It's an effect that scales off creatures twice. It's not as amazing as the former and its cost seems pretty low, but it does have such a splashy ability while providing card selection. I also love how uncontrolled rumors lead you to milling yourself, 10/10
Flavor: The flavor text is not brilliant, but the flavor on the card's name and effect are pretty powerful. There's more to hear, and more to filter, the more creatures there are out. 9/10
Finesse: "controlled by target opponent" and the wording of the Draw/Discard components are off, which is why i must deny you your Finesse points
Proud Lineage fails to boost your roll
Total: (19, Complete! 4 EXP Granted)

Singling out a small group of individuals was a difficult focus, but it sure draws less attention, and useful one at that. It seems like you have wounded up with a band of thieves, trafficking information about underground dealings, most likely involving Nole. You hear he's at a nearby bar waiting for a Vandal courier for business, although whether it is related to the scroll or not is unknown.

The bar you are looking for is not far from here, you can literally see it from here, however, you are definitely not a 4 feet tall rat to sneak in in its stead, and you don't even know how Nole looks like, so you'll either need better leads or a way to somehow keep track of an expert swindler. It did help to find individuals with this kind of expertise; you inadvertently picked up some tips for not very legal actions from those folks over there, granting you (U/B)(U/B)

"Ugh. Unexpected. Thank you." Vishar says quickly and almost embarrassed to the rat rogue. "I hope that you have the best of intentions for staying behind. I am willing to help you later on." Vishar concludes with, then proceeds down the Predator Pathway.

Vishar Nalar(R/W)
Creature - Ithok Warrior
Vishar Nalar must attack or block if able
2/2
Gold: 10
Inventory: Leather Harness
Traits: Initiative (+1.5 Universal Mod Roll for any challenge that you begin)
Ills:
Experience: 0/20
Mana: (R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(R/W)(U/W)BRRRG

Previously:
Knef considers the raving man for a moment If it really is some kind of demon I am not impressed. she mused. After minutes of study a small smile comes across her face as she commands the man to cease gibbering.

Caustic Command :symu::symb:
Sorcery (U)
Target creature doesn't untap during it's controllers next untap step. That creatures controller loses 3 life.
"Sometimes to subjugate a minion you have to let their boss know you mean business."

Whether or not you are some otherworldly power or not you will treat my station with respect and answer my questions! Stop Gibbering and allow me to remove your gag so you will answer my questions!