You've set the meeting with your contact, made sure the location is secure. You get to the rendezvous slightly early - you don't want any surprises.
Surprise, however, is what you get. Your contact's body lies on the floor. There's blood everywhere. And something else, the scent of... cheese? your own body tenses, you realize that this is suddenly a very dangerous place to be in. You should leave. Now. But... you want to know what your contact has found.
You know it's most likely whoever killed them has also taken whatever information they had on them, but you've known this person for a long time, and you know where to look. You run your hand over the body, under the arm, behind the neck along the side of the torso. And... bingo! there a hidden pocket hidden inside the tattoo on the victim's back. You pull a think dossier from the pocket. You always felt weird about those magical hidden dimension pockets, but you are grateful for this one. You grab the documents and run.
Back at your headquarters, you take the time to read over what you've found.
How could you be so foolish?
The information within the documents implicates not just one person, but an entire group, working together. You should have known someone of Scarlet Jane's caliber couldn't be taken out by just one person. The documents show the details of the conspiracy. You labor all night decrypting an summerizing, and by sunrise, you end up with a list of names.
You walk to the cupboard, and pour yourself a glass of wine. Things may have not gone exactly how you planned, but you now have what you were looking for. You know who's responsible for Jane's death, and all that's left now is to deal with them.
The question is, how?
The mission:
Team Colleague: The information from your contacts implies that Jane was killed by a group of her own ex-student, their motives vary, and it seems unlikely that so many will turn against a spy from their own side, but the evidence is irrefutable. You need to get rid of them. All of them. But having it known that your side is killing its own would be bad for reputation. You need to keep yourself as removed from the killing as possible. Hire someone to do the dirty work, but keep a close eye in case your victims have even more murderous plans (In other words: Create a creature capable of killing as many of Team Protege as possible, you will critique Team Protege)
Team Protege: The list you've gathered indicates that a group of Jane's ex-lovers have combined their resources in order to murder Jane. Honor and duty require that you avenge Jane's death, but you'll need to use caution. Jane's lovers were always people of influence, and if the were all killed in suspicious circumstances it might attract unwanted attention. You should make it look as though it was an accident or suicide. However, there's no telling what people like that are capable of, so watch out. (In other words: Create a card that will cause the members of Team Lover to die without dealing them damage directly or destroying them. You will critique Team Lover)
Team Lover: You've ended up with a list of Jane's enemies. You might have guessed that Jane had enemies that wanted her dead, but that so many of them collaborate to make it happen is surprising. Regardless, you need to deal with them, and send a message in order to make your vengeance known and warn everyone that hurting people you care about will have dire consequences. Make sure you know what you're getting into first, Jane's enemies are a dangerous bunch. (In other words: Create a card that can kill members of team Nemesis in the most exuberant manner possible, killing more than one in one blow. You will critique Team Nemesis)
Team Nemesis: Your source had amassed information clearly proving that Jane was murdered by a group of her own colleagues. Of course! an inside job! how could you not have seen it coming? You don't doubt that they had a good reason to kill Jane, but they did deny you your vengeance, and you should punish them accordingly. Since they are on the opposite side to you, you have no moral issues with killing them all, but if it came out that too many of the other side's spies have been killed by you, you might end up starting a war. It's better if no one ever found their bodies, so no one could tie you to the murders. Be advised that they'll probably have their own methods of killing, though. (In other words: Create a card to kill as many of Team Colleague as possible, leaving no trace of the crime. You will critique Team Colleague)
This mission will set the true spies from the trainees. Try not to get killed.
Legend: 45+76=121
Noatz 50+48=98
herbert west :cookie:: 0+41=41
Big_Cal: 65+64=129
Random_Nation :cookie::35+12=47
kill-joy: 10+12=22
DRey: 20+12=32
Lordshadow: 15+12=27
Cookies were given to anyone who RPed last round, naturally.
You can get rid of top 3 probation by posting top 3s for the last round. Your window to do so will be closed once the first critique for this round is posted, however.
Deadline for submissions is Tuesday, December 18th @ 23:59, Pacific Time.[/COLOR]
Deadline for critique is Thursday, December 20th @ 23:59, Pacific Time.
Good luck!
The Card Creation League is a monthly contest in which players compete over seven rounds. Each month has an overall theme and/or story, determined by that month's host.
Each round, the host will assign a card creation task to the players. This task may vary between teams or players.
The first three rounds are open to everyone who joined in the sign-up thread, which will be posted near the end of the previous month. After these rounds, the Top 8 players will move on to three elimination rounds to determine a winner.
Rounds usually last three to four days for submissions and about two days for critiques, but the host has final say in making the schedule.
For the first three rounds, players are divided into teams. Four teams is standard, but there may be more or less depending on the number of players. Each team will review another team's cards during the critique period of that round.
Each player must submit a Top 3 ranking for the team he or she critiques at the end of each round. Each 1st place is worth 3 points, 2nd place 2 points, and 3rd place 1 point.
Additionally, each player can receive 2 bonus points per round. One point is awarded for posting a Top 3, and one point for providing critiques for that team's cards.
Suggested areas to critique include creativity, balance, printability, and relation to the overall theme or that player's previous cards.
Players who do not post a card or a Top 3 will be put on "probation." Top 3 violations for a round can be removed by posting or PMing the host with your Top 3 before the end of the next round. Any player that would receive a second violation is disqualified from further competition that month.
At the end of the first three rounds, the Top 8 players will be selected by points (usually the top 2 from each team). In the case of ties, there may be more than 8 players advancing. The suggested scoring method is for each player to critique all remaining players in the same Top 3 style as the first three rounds, with the top half advancing each round, so Top 8, then Top 4, then Finals.
The final round is determined by public poll.
Prior to Top 8, players have a chance of getting a total of 100 points toward their score each Scoring Round. Scores for each Round are determined by the following equation:
Total points of Player A in round N = 100 * X/Y, where:
X = Total number of Scoring Points (Judge Points + Additional Points from Top 3 & Critiques)
Y = Total number of Possible Points (3 * Number of Judges + Additional Points)
3 points are given for a First Place Top 3 finish, 2 points for a Second Place, and 1 point for a Third Place. 1 additional point is awarded if a Top 3 is submitted. 1 additional point is awarded if Critiques are given for all entries to be judged.
This way the grading is more streamlined in the fact that all rounds prior to Top 8 are graded equally, and there is no handicap for any team that has fewer judges.
Each player accumulates points from each Scoring Round until the end of Round 3.
Without a Trace (Uncommon) 3WB
Instant
Exile target creature.
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.) Much to the authorities' chagrin, the only trace of evidence was the glaring absence of it.
For now I'm going to assume each of the people I'm trying to kill is controlled by a different player.
Masked Legion4UU Sorcery (R)
For each player, choose target creature that player controls. You may put a token onto the battlefield that is a copy of that creature. Ask a public official how many Das Scari are out in the general population and they'll tell you practically none. Ask a veteran spy and they'll tell you just how wrong that official was.
In case you're curious, it's worded like this for a reason. Since you choose targets on resolution each player doesn't need to control a creature to cast it. This also means that it doesn't target when it's cast so it can't be fizzled by blowing up it's target.
Khaym, Grave OracleGUB
Legendary Creature - Elf Advisor Wizard (R) 1: Look at the top card of target player's library. You may put that card into that player's graveyard. If you do, put a card from that player's graveyard on the top or bottom of that player's library. "Like our bodies, knowledge lives and dies and lives again. It is a neverending circle."
1/3
Spellplunder FieldGUB
Enchantment (R) 1, Exile a spell you control: Choose target card in a graveyard with converted mana cost less than or equal to that of the exiled spell. Until end of turn, you may play the chosen card without paying its mana cost. "Some are lost in these fields forever, each seed of new thought consumed by the deep roots of memory."
-Khaym, Grave Oracle
Venomous Oracle1BB
Creature - Snake Shaman (R) 2: Target player draws a card and loses 1 life. Any player may activate this ability. 2: Target player who lost life this turn loses 1 life. The true horror of her prophecies can take days to sink in.
1/2
Show of ForceXBBG
Sorcery (R)
Target creature gets +X/+X until end of turn. Destroy each creature with power less than that creature's power. "Sometimes the best way to ensure that word does not spread is to crush everything within earshot."
-Khaym, Grave Oracle
The castle on Kranmere Lake, the docks in South Vedderport, the entire hamlet of Agatol. Normally Khaym would pull at a few strings to unravel a knot of lies, but the revelations of the forked-tongue seer still burnt in his mind, and this knot had to be cut. The footprints at each scene of destruction grew larger, the damage more extensive, as Khaym grew nearer to finding Jane's killer...
Tantrums were not part of his repertoire. Though frustration bubbled up inside Olt, he would not let that break his stride. He thoroughly business-minded, to a grave extent. His swath till now was riddled with corpses and further questions. His conclave with professor Kurnast concluded with dissatisfaction, but also a twisted sense of anxiousness.
Now he had purpose to tear the responsible party limb from limb. Before his slaughtering brought him no joy, it was purely out of curiosity. Now he was plagued by necessity.
Would Olt ever find Scarlett Jane? Though it would never entirely sink in to his thick hide that he was wrong about her death, he could at least accept that now he had new proper antagonists to deal with. Anyone willing to murder in cold blood the one contact Olt felt would help him locate Scarlett Jane only reinforced to him that he was on the right path.
Maybe, in some convoluted way, this was evidence he was right about her only disappearing and not expiring. And if she was not yet dead, then her death by the hands of Olt would have to wait. For now, he had to thank the individuals responsible for proving him right or exact out his vexation over being wrong.
Grind Into Pulp2BB
Sorcery
Target creature loses all abilities. Then destroy that creature. If that creature would be put into a graveyard from play this turn, exile it and its owner's graveyard.
Buyback - Tap two untapped creatures you control.
"There is a minuscule space the pavement and the dirt. That will be your heaven." - Olt, Guttercrawler
WUGPhelddagrif GGGOmnath, Locus of Mana BBBXiahou Dun, the One-Eyed RRRAshling, the Pilgrim BBWTeysa, Scion of Orzhov UUUTalrand, Sky Summoner UUBVela the Night-Clad GGBVhati il-Dal RUWRuhan of the Fomori
Zalatraz, Tunnel Master2RR
Legendary Creature - Viashino Rogue {R}
Haste 1RR: Target creature you control gets -X/-0 and is unblockable until end of turn, where X is equal too half its power, rounded down. If he can't find a path to it, then it doesn't exist.
4/4
Informant's Deal(U/B)
Sorcery {U}
As an additional cost to play Informants Deal, sacrifice a non-creature permanent.
Look at the top 5 cards of your library, you may exile any number of them, then put the rest back on top in the same order. You can learn anything, if you are willing to pay the price.
Backstreet Dealer2BB
Creature - Rat Rogue {U}
Whenever Backstreet Dealer deals combat damage to a player, choose one - That player discards a card; or pay 1 life, then draw a card. "I can take his belongings. But if you want them, there's a price."
2/2
It had taken a night of grueling dealing, even with such a high price he was willing to pay, to finally get Blackear to agree to share his best info on what happened. A deal was struck, and a meeting set up for the following day, Blackear needing the time to collect the information into a single file for Zalatraz.
The next day came, and Zalatraz approached the location indicated to meet the dealer, a place in the sewers of course. Before Zalatraz even rounded the corner, he knew something was off, the sewer water running red. He moved quickly, but it seemed he was far to late. Laying there in the waters was Blackear, his throat slit and body ransacked. In the distance, he hears splashes that indicate several people are on there way to this location. Whoever did Blackear in also informed the authorities of the town it would seem. He couldn't go quiet yet though, he knew Blackear kept his best secrets in a hidden pocket, finding the file he needed in there, he quickly departed before he would be spotted.
Once to a place of safety, a safe house of his, and after getting a look at the file, the Viashino was furious, he couldn't believe those that had been taught by Jane would do such a thing, there was a time he would have killed to have been her student instead of her colleague, in fact he did kill to try and earn a place as one of her students.
This was beyond unforgivable, and those responsible deserved a harsh punishment. He could very easily hire someone to handle it, but this deserved a bit of a personal touch. He went to his hidden vault in the nearby sewers to fetch a metallic urn with chains wrapped around it, holding the lid tightly closed. No one knew he had this, the magic held in this urn of the ashes of murderers was rather potent, and a known favorite weapon of a cult that technically had been apparently out of commission for at least three years. He moved to the center of the room, and with a fresh parchment, a dagger, and the metallic urn.
He cut his palm with the dagger, and then, using the blood, transcribed the names of the group that murdered them. Once finished, he folded the paper and pulled the top of the urn up as much as it would allow, before pushing the slip of paper in. It starts to glow and turn red, he smiles, taking the urn and heading back out into the balcony of the safe house, before unlocking the chains on the urn, it instantly sprung open, and a cloud of black and red magical smoke and ash billow outs from the top, serpent eyes appearing as snakes form and slither off in all directions.
Zalatraz smiled a bit, by tomorrow, the ones who wronged Jane will be nothing but withered husks, and a man hunt will start for a cult that to his knowledge no longer exists.
Ashen Viper2RB
Creature - Snake Spirit {U}
First strike, wither
Sacrifice Ashen Viper: Ashen Viper deals 2 damage to target creature. Fangs of brimstone, scales of soot, and venom of blazing fire.
2/2
Darryn, Shadowslider1UB
Legendary Creature - Human Rogue (R)
Intimidate
Whenever you cast a black spell, you may counter target spell that targets you or a permanent you control. U,T: The next spell you cast this turn may be cast as though it had flash. He was a man of shadow, but unlike others who made such claims, he could bring the shadows with him.
3/2
ShadowburstB
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains intimidate until end of turn. If it already has intimidate, it gets +3/+0 and gains haste until end of turn instead. "I can teach you to walk the shadows, but if you already know how, I can teach you something a little more flashy."
—Darryn, Shadowslider
Braddock, Shadowsage1UB
Legendary Creature - Human Rogue (R)
At the beginning of your end step, if you control three or more other creatures and each creature you control dealt combat damage to a player this turn, you may exile Braddock, Shadowsage. If you do, take an extra turn after this one. 1B: Target creature gains intimidate until end of turn. "My time in the shadows is over. But yours is just beginning."
1/3
Blood-Price Ritualist2B
Creature - Human Shaman (R) 2B,T: Target player sacrifices a creature. You lose life equal to the sacrificed creature's converted mana cost. "Everything has it's price, and the price for suffering is suffering."
2/1
Grand Stalker Zuri3BBB
Legendary Creature - Shade Rogue {R}
Intimidate B:Grand Stalker Zuri gets +1/+1 until end of turn. B:Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Only he knows where darkness ends and Zuri begins.
5/5
There's not many memories Zuri kept from his old life. His personal life was boring at times and nonexistent at others. His old employers would make sure he didn't remember any details after a mission was complete. The few that got to know him personally believe he had died under mysterious circumstances, a way he liked to regard his old self as well. He couldn't even remember when or why he got himself blacked out, a procedure as bizarre and dangerous as it is obscure - then again, memory loss was a symptom to be expected. A lot of things like that were to be expected, but that was just fine by Zuri - he preferred to work in the shadows, and as every spy quickly learns, the only way to make it in this line of work is to become your work. Was it Scarlett Jane that once said "do business for pleasure and pleasure for business"?
His first encounter with Jane was the one memory he'd taken care to preserve through this all. It was during a particularly intense heist at Rimport, a city notorious for its many mobs and criminal masterminds who would pay just as handsomely to have something stolen from the wealthy merchants as those merchants would to have their goods protected. Such bounties were often lucrative, as it was not only a matter of breaking in, but also beating other thieves to it. The latest of such bounties was to acquire Lord Blackstone's coveted Key Ruby; the man had a knack for keeping things safe, and even though he flaunted the priceless gem in plain view, he had foiled some of the world's best with his ingenious safeguards. Unsurprisingly, Scarlett Jane managed to steal it within hours of arriving in the city, which was just fine by Zuri - an anonymous client had hired him to track her movements, and kill her once she left the city.
Long story short, they ran into each other a few days later. In tried and true spy fashion, they discussed business over pleasure, a night he never would forget. Zuri learned that Lord Blackstone himself had hired Jane to fool Rimport's criminals into thinking the ruby was gone, and he in turn let slip someone had paid him to follow and eventually kill her. They fell asleep in each others' arms, but by the time Zuri woke up she was already gone. Later in the day, he found a note under his door from Jane - she'd been doing some detective work, and it turned out Zuri's mystery client was none other than Lord Blackstone. He feared that once she'd finished the fake heist, she'd steal the ruby for herself and vanish. As chance would have it, she had already done so, and one of her proteges was now far outside the city with the Key Ruby. The final line on the note simply said "South Gate at Dusk."
They met at the southern gate that evening. It would've been easy, but Zuri couldn't bring himself to kill her, and she knew it. With one last kiss and a sly wink, she vanished into the night. Their paths would cross once or twice later, but never anything he found worth remembering.
Now the rumor is Scarlett Jane is dead. She had made a lot of powerful enemies in her time, but Zuri had a hunch Lord Blackstone wasn't one to leave a job unfinished. Of course, the only other person who knows she has that ruby at all was one of her old proteges; she mentioned his name once, but that's gone now too.
Although gone isn't entirely accurate.
One thing Zuri learned over the last few years is that memories and death aren't that different. It was one reason necromancers could raise the dead, but could never reverse death itself - they only brought back what the dead were, not who they were. He, however, had learned a few tricks on how to get the dead to talk. And if he can stir the memories of the dead, he can stir dead memories.
Dread RecallB
Sorcery {U}
Kicker 3G
Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand. If Dread Recall was kicked, return target noncreature card from your graveyard to your hand.
Exile Dread Recall.
The past nine days have been rife with failure and frustration for Zuri. He managed to track down Jane's student quite easily, an elf girl who went by the moniker of Celia Gray. Unfortunately, that's where his investigation hit a dead end. Celia hadn't been in touch with Miss Scarlett since the incident at Rimport, and although she was following her own trails, Zuri sensed she wouldn't get very far. He did, however, manage to get away with one intriguing tidbit - she was on her way to Merasca, where she had sold the Key Ruby. The trail reeked of irrelevance to Zuri; nonetheless, determined to make the most of that knowledge, he headed east to Meruvi Market.
At the base of the namesake mountain, Meruvi Market was the heart of the region's commerce. The mountain was a literal gold mine, spewing forth cartloads of precious metals and gems every day. Eodon ranches and vineyards littered the countryside, and Meruvi Harbor was only two hours south. Bands of travelling merchants and artisans would pass through Meruvi, replenishing their stock before returning to the larger cities. However, concealed in the busy stalls and makeshift shacks, there thrived a much more novel trade. Several years ago, the vedalken scribe Ist had set up a network of spies, thieves and street urchins to collect every rumor, story and scrap of information that passed through the streets of Meruvi. He will sell many rumors, but good, hard information comes at a premium. A good deal of his paying customers were disreputable at best, and any information given to him would invariably end up in the wrong hands. Zuri always regretted consulting him for leads, but he didn't have much choice this time.
Secret Peddler1UB
Creature - Vedalken Mercenary {U}
When Secret Peddler enters the battlefield, each player may discard two cards. Each player who does draws three cards. "I trade knowledge for knowledge. Who you are and why you want it is of no interest to me."
2/2
Blood Peddler2BR
Creature - Ogre Mercenary {U}
When Blood Peddler enters the battlefield, each player may pay 2 life. For each player who does, Blood Peddler deals 2 damage to another creature of that player's choice. "Blood is blood. Show me who you want dead."
3/3
Tusk Peddler1BG
Creature - Elf Mercenary {U}
When Tusk Peddler enters the battlefield, each player may sacrifice a creature other than Tusk Peddler. Each player who does puts a 3/3 green Elephant creature token onto the battlefield. "Times are tough in this line of work. If you want the goods, you'll have to provide something in return."
2/2
Soul Peddler2WB
Creature - Spirit Mercenary {U}
When Soul Peddler enters the battlefield, each player may exile a creature card from his or her graveyard. Each player who does may return a creature with with converted mana cost 3 or less from his or her graveyard to the battlefield. "Quality souls are hard to find these days. Neither of us can afford to be picky."
3/3
Drown in Blood1BB
Instant {U}
Multikicker 1B
Destroy target nonblack creature. Its controller sacrifices another creature for each time Drown in Blood was kicked.
Brain Drain
Sorcery (R)
When you cast Brain Drain you may discard any number of cards from your hand at random. If you do, copy this spell for each card you discarded this way. You may choose new targets for the copies.
Target creature’s controller draws a card, then it gets -X/-X until end of turn where X is equal to the number of cards in its controller’s hand.
Massacre Girl3BR
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Deathtouch, haste 1BR,T: Massacre Girl fights target creature.
Whenever a creature dies, untap Massacre Girl and put a +1/+1 counter on it.
4/3
Soya Sen :symu::symw:
Legendary Creature - Advisor [R]
As Soya Sen enters the battlefield, choose a color.
Soya Sen is the chosen color, and has protection from the chosen color.
:symtap:: Counter target spell of the chosen color unless it's controller pays :1mana:.
1/1
Reminiscence
Enchantment [R]
When Reminiscence enters the battlefield, put your graveyard on top of your library in any order.
You can’t search or shuffle your library.
:1mana::symu:, Sacrifice Reminiscence: Shuffle your library.
“Like all fiction, memories should be enjoyed in moderation.” - Soya Sen
Viax, Secretmonger :symu::symu::symu:
Legendary Creature - Cephalid Advisor [M]
:1mana:: Look at target player’s hand, sideboard and face-down cards.
:1mana:: Players and permanents lose hexproof and shroud until end of turn.
:1mana:: Creatures lose landwalk and unblockable until end of turn.
0/5 ”I know the answers. You don’t even know the questions.”
Master Stroke :xmana::2mana::symb::symb:
Instant [R]
Destroy X target tapped creatures.
Gerolf, Behemoth Poacher1GUB
Legendary Creature - Elf Rogue (M) GB,t: Destroy target creature with power 5 or greater. GU,t: Return target creature card from a graveyard to its owner's hand. Each of its owner's opponents draws X cards, where X is that creature's power. Many fine dignitaries are willing to pay a fortune to get their hands on a behemoth pelt. And my deluded beast-worshipping brethren will tell me right where I can find one.
-Gerolf, Behemoth Poacher
2/1
Scarlet Thread1
Artifact t: Put target card from a graveyard onto the bottom of its owner's library. G,t, Sacrifice Scarlet Thread: put target card from a graveyard on top of its owner's library. I take a hair from each deadly beast I encounter as a memento. The most dangerous animal I've ever seen used to leave one of hers as a calling card.
-Gerolf, Behemoth Poacher
Barath, Colosseum Pitmaster3BB
Legendary creature - Human Wizard (R) t, Sacrifice a creature: Search your library for a card with converted mana cost X, where X is the sacrificed creature's power, reveal it and put it into your hand. Shuffle your library afterward. "You'd be surprised what kind of animals you'll see in my fighting pits. Even more surprised at who can be found watching from my 'private' viewing booths."
-Barath, Dark Pitmaster
2/2
What a dissapointing encounter. Barath is dead, one of my best sources of secrets and income is gone, and all I have to show for it is a list of names. I had better set someone up to run the colloseum soon. Perhaps I could hire a shapeshifter to take his place until I find a suitible replacement. But I seem to be getting ahead of myself. First I should deal with the culprits. Send out the message that no one messes with my assets.
Korin, Marta, Rylai, Rogath, etc. Unsurprisingly, this is a list of Jane's enimies. It looks like everyone who hated Scarlett Jane finally got what they wanted. What's worse, they seem to have teamed up to do it. Teams are dangerous. Especially ones of this size. Especially in this line of work. And Especially ones that you don't know what they're up to. For all I know they could be planning a coup to tear down this game of spies and build a criminal empire. That wouldn't be any fun at all. They are useful people yes, but only when kept in check by Jane. Now, without a leash, These loose cannons present a threat that needs to be dealt with.
Let's see what we have to work with. Thanks to my now deceased contact, I have a list of names. That's a good start. I have my targets, but I don't have any way of killing them yet. The only spell I know that can affect this many people at once will only make them stronger, and I hardly want that. Hmm, maybe that's not such a bad thing. After all, killing powerful things is my specialty. Maybe I could weave a little death magic into the spell. How to work it in... Ah, here we are. The greed one feels when presented with such power should provide a suitable entry point for corruption. And once the spell has it's hooks in them, it's a simple task to turn all that energy to poison. This is turning out to be one flashy bit of magic, but I guess there's little reason in being subtle at this point. It's going to be quite a show.
Team Nemesis:
Lord Salamancer (Rare) 4U
Legendary Creature - Salamander Adviser
3/5 U,T: Exchange control of two target creatures. If politics was a game of cards, I would be the dealer. - Lord Salamancer
Kurasas, the Insider :1mana::symw::symu:
Legendary Creature - Human Spy (R)
When Kurasas enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Kurasas has protection from the chosen creature type.
:1mana::symu:: Target creature you control can't be blocked by creatures of the chosen type until end of turn. "We have our best man in with the Orians, friend. Just say the word and you can be sipping their king's finest wine while you scrutinize his every policy decision of the last twenty years." - Faridas, Paltic Director of Intelligence.
2/3
Gi, Sin Stalker1BGW
Legendary Creature - Gorgon Rogue (M)
Hexproof
You may choose not to untap Gi, Sin Stalker during your untap step. T: Until the beginning of your next upkeep, if target creature attacks, blocks, or activates an activated ability, destroy it. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
4/4
]Olt, Guttercrawler 2GG
Legendary Creature - Ooze Rogue
Prowl - Discard a card.
When Olt, Guttercrawler dies, you may pay any amount of green mana. Put X 1/1 green Ooze tokens into play where X is the total amount of mana spent in this way.
Sacrifice an Ooze: Return Olt, Guttercrawler from your graveyard to your hand.
"Novice agents don't understand the benefits of leaving a meticulous trail."
3/4
Marta of the Vendilion1UB
Legendary Creature - Faerie Spy (M)
Flying
When Marta of the Vendilion enters the battlefield, search target opponent’s library for up to three instant or sorcery cards and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library. X,T: You may cast a card with converted mana cost X exiled with Marta without paying its mana cost.
1/1
Korin, Extortion Operative1WB
Legendary Creature-Human Rogue (M)
First strike
Whenever Korin, Extortion Operative deals combat damage to a creature, destroy that creature, unless its controller pays 3 life He’ll get what he wants, one way or another.
3/2
When ~ attacks, choose a creature you don't control. ~ becomes a copy of that creature until end of turn.
1/2
Rylai, the blood Aethermage UR
Legendary creature - Veldaken Rogue
Haste
Whenever Rylai, the blood Aethermage deals combat damage to a player, put a +1+1 counter on it and you may return target creature to his owner hand.
1/1
2BR: Search target opponent's library for a creature card with a converted mana cost less than or equal to Rogath, Cruel Deceiver's power. Put that creature into play under your control, it is a black red spy in addition to it's other types. At the beginning of your upkeep each spy you control deals 1 damage to it's owner.
3/4
Overwhelming PowerXGW
Sorcery (M)
Kicker B(You may pay an additional B as this spell is cast.)
Creatures target player controls get +X/+X until end of turn. Then, if Overwhelming Power was kicked, destroy each creature with power 5 or greater. "Death is drawn to power like flies to a corpse."
- Gerolf, Behemoth Hunter
I'm calling it right now- worst rare in the set. Even good limited players will find better bombs at common and uncommon no sweat. Worst. Episode. Ever.
I really do predict this to be our worst rare in set award winner. I'd be happier opening a jar of eyeballs, so I think anything worse is highly unlikely. This card wont just have zero constructed potential, but not be significantly better than a mass of ghouls in a draft.
So, the challenge must be fulfilled taken in consideration each teammate's avatar creature?
I've already answered this in the discussion thread. While I thought about making you try and come up with a card to murder each of the opposing teams' avatar, I'm not insane. You really just need to create one card that kills creatures in general, depending of course of the limitation of each team. Since you're pretty likely to end up with a card that can kill many of the other teams' avatars anyway, the difference is small.
Voodoo Necromancer 3BBB
Creature - Demon Shaman (M) T, Sacrifice a nonland permanent: Put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield.
Whenever a creature you control dies, each other player sacrifices a creature.
2/4
Sunstorm deals 3 damage to each creature. If a creature dealt damage this way would die this turn, exile it instead. Exile Sunstorm. Isn't the sun a tad too strong today?
The game is not being dumbed down. Control is doing fine; Draw-Go is not the only kind of control. Aggro is doing fine; Red Deck Wins is not the only kind of aggro. Creature combat is an important core concept and belongs in every color. Mythic rarity is not destroying the game. People whine too much for no good reason. Magic is more popular than ever, so keep calm, brew some decks and play some damn cards.
Just as he suspected, there was evidence of a conspiracy to kill Jane and more spies besides her. Meeri had proven his hunch at the cost of her life. He bowed his head in brief prayer and mourned his contentious young friend, cut down in the prime of her life. After shutting Meeri's eyelids for the last time, he retrieved the evidence he needed from the place only he and Meeri knew she would be hiding it - one last trick up the rogue's sleeve.
Then there was the matter of bringing the perpetrators to justice. As a scholar of the law, Follutt thought he'd need to consult his books for a while... and as a religious acolyte, he thought the same for an entirely different reason.
---
"There shall come a day when the enemies of the Hand That Dwells Above will strike at the faithful with impunity. 'Is your god so righteous now?' they will mock. 'Does he really bring the world to balance? It looks like your Hand has had his fingers broken!'
And the Hand will show them." - Retribution, index 5 verses 8-10
Firewind Intercessor4WW
Creature - Archon (M)
Flying 2W: Destroy target permanent that dealt damage to you or a permanent you control this turn.
When Firewind Intercessor dies, you may return any number of other target permanent cards in your graveyard that were put there this turn to the battlefield.
4/4
Dead. Old, sweet... er, "that guy" is dead. I never tried to learn the names of my subordinates, but I remember his face well -well enough to recognize it even when little of it is left. He was one of my most skilled "irregulars", a true artist of his trade. A mummer actor by day, a spy of many faces by night. His homely, honest face allowed him to pass here as a chimney-sweeper, there as a clueless guard, all while keeping his eyes and ears sharp for bits of discarded information, the kind talked freely about around those believed to low to understand it. It's clear that he got too close to the right trail and paid for it, but not before securing for me the information I was looking for.
So, everything points to her ex-apprentices as Jane's murderers and I'm not surprised one bit. I remember them, a bunch of good-for-nothing, barely pubescent adolescents fawning over her as though she was a goddess instead their teacher, all of them wanting to emulate her, bed her or both. Now, some years later they have moved up in the world and maybe became disillusioned with their former master now that they know better? Seems quite petty, but whatever the reason is, this is a blight on the good name of our organization and we are instructed to take measures when it happens.
One of the most secret practices of our profession (indeed, known to only the elite among us) includes dealing with... unsavory beings from the nether zones. They are always eager for a way into our world and the chances to drag with them some fresh flesh to replace their old playthings, which -as twisted a desire as it is- some times aligns with the needs of the organization. Only then, we are allowed to summon them under strict conditions. This is most definitely one of those cases.
This is for Jane and for... that guy.
Nether ReaperBBB
Creature - Horror (R)
Deathtouch 1BB: Regenerate Nether Reaper 3BB,T, exile Nether Reaper and another creature you control named Nether Reaper: Destroy all creatures target player controls.
2/2
I'm calling it right now- worst rare in the set. Even good limited players will find better bombs at common and uncommon no sweat. Worst. Episode. Ever.
I really do predict this to be our worst rare in set award winner. I'd be happier opening a jar of eyeballs, so I think anything worse is highly unlikely. This card wont just have zero constructed potential, but not be significantly better than a mass of ghouls in a draft.
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Episode Three - The Pointing Finger
You've set the meeting with your contact, made sure the location is secure. You get to the rendezvous slightly early - you don't want any surprises.
Surprise, however, is what you get. Your contact's body lies on the floor. There's blood everywhere. And something else, the scent of... cheese? your own body tenses, you realize that this is suddenly a very dangerous place to be in. You should leave. Now. But... you want to know what your contact has found.
You know it's most likely whoever killed them has also taken whatever information they had on them, but you've known this person for a long time, and you know where to look. You run your hand over the body, under the arm, behind the neck along the side of the torso. And... bingo! there a hidden pocket hidden inside the tattoo on the victim's back. You pull a think dossier from the pocket. You always felt weird about those magical hidden dimension pockets, but you are grateful for this one. You grab the documents and run.
Back at your headquarters, you take the time to read over what you've found.
How could you be so foolish?
The information within the documents implicates not just one person, but an entire group, working together. You should have known someone of Scarlet Jane's caliber couldn't be taken out by just one person. The documents show the details of the conspiracy. You labor all night decrypting an summerizing, and by sunrise, you end up with a list of names.
You walk to the cupboard, and pour yourself a glass of wine. Things may have not gone exactly how you planned, but you now have what you were looking for. You know who's responsible for Jane's death, and all that's left now is to deal with them.
The question is, how?
The mission:
Team Colleague: The information from your contacts implies that Jane was killed by a group of her own ex-student, their motives vary, and it seems unlikely that so many will turn against a spy from their own side, but the evidence is irrefutable. You need to get rid of them. All of them. But having it known that your side is killing its own would be bad for reputation. You need to keep yourself as removed from the killing as possible. Hire someone to do the dirty work, but keep a close eye in case your victims have even more murderous plans (In other words: Create a creature capable of killing as many of Team Protege as possible, you will critique Team Protege)
Team Protege: The list you've gathered indicates that a group of Jane's ex-lovers have combined their resources in order to murder Jane. Honor and duty require that you avenge Jane's death, but you'll need to use caution. Jane's lovers were always people of influence, and if the were all killed in suspicious circumstances it might attract unwanted attention. You should make it look as though it was an accident or suicide. However, there's no telling what people like that are capable of, so watch out. (In other words: Create a card that will cause the members of Team Lover to die without dealing them damage directly or destroying them. You will critique Team Lover)
Team Lover: You've ended up with a list of Jane's enemies. You might have guessed that Jane had enemies that wanted her dead, but that so many of them collaborate to make it happen is surprising. Regardless, you need to deal with them, and send a message in order to make your vengeance known and warn everyone that hurting people you care about will have dire consequences. Make sure you know what you're getting into first, Jane's enemies are a dangerous bunch. (In other words: Create a card that can kill members of team Nemesis in the most exuberant manner possible, killing more than one in one blow. You will critique Team Nemesis)
Team Nemesis: Your source had amassed information clearly proving that Jane was murdered by a group of her own colleagues. Of course! an inside job! how could you not have seen it coming? You don't doubt that they had a good reason to kill Jane, but they did deny you your vengeance, and you should punish them accordingly. Since they are on the opposite side to you, you have no moral issues with killing them all, but if it came out that too many of the other side's spies have been killed by you, you might end up starting a war. It's better if no one ever found their bodies, so no one could tie you to the murders. Be advised that they'll probably have their own methods of killing, though. (In other words: Create a card to kill as many of Team Colleague as possible, leaving no trace of the crime. You will critique Team Colleague)
This mission will set the true spies from the trainees. Try not to get killed.
Team Colleague:
Arcel :cookie:: 23+55=78
KoolKoal (card probation): 30Maokun :cookie:: 30+40=70
void_nothing :cookie:: 34+40=74
Ninja_Caterpie: 38+70=108
Saagn :cookie:: 12+25=37
Team Protege:
HatterofMad: 10Small Child: 60+30=90Socrates: 15+65= 80
EtR: 10Prophylaxis: 20+50=70
schtingah: 15+30= 45
Cythare: 15Icarael :cookie:: 55+55=110
Vexing Arcanix: 45+5=50
Team Lover:
Oculus 15+70=85
TacticalCelebrant :cookie:: 38+41=79
Gerrard's Mom :cookie:: 34+53= 87
Rudyard: 77+36=113
aurorasparrow :cookie:: 23+12= 35
Igmhorus: 8+24=32
Team Nemesis:
Legend: 45+76=121
Noatz 50+48=98
herbert west :cookie:: 0+41=41
Big_Cal: 65+64=129
Random_Nation :cookie::35+12=47
kill-joy: 10+12=22
DRey: 20+12=32
Lordshadow: 15+12=27
Cookies were given to anyone who RPed last round, naturally.
You can get rid of top 3 probation by posting top 3s for the last round. Your window to do so will be closed once the first critique for this round is posted, however.
Deadline for submissions is Tuesday, December 18th @ 23:59, Pacific Time.[/COLOR]
Deadline for critique is Thursday, December 20th @ 23:59, Pacific Time.
Good luck!
Y = Total number of Possible Points (3 * Number of Judges + Additional Points)
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I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
Mastermind Edict 3B
Sorcery (R)
Choose target creature you don't control. Its controller sacrifices it.
Overload 6BBB
Without a Trace (Uncommon)
3WB
Instant
Exile target creature.
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Much to the authorities' chagrin, the only trace of evidence was the glaring absence of it.
For now I'm going to assume each of the people I'm trying to kill is controlled by a different player.
Sorcery (R)
For each player, choose target creature that player controls. You may put a token onto the battlefield that is a copy of that creature.
Ask a public official how many Das Scari are out in the general population and they'll tell you practically none. Ask a veteran spy and they'll tell you just how wrong that official was.
In case you're curious, it's worded like this for a reason. Since you choose targets on resolution each player doesn't need to control a creature to cast it. This also means that it doesn't target when it's cast so it can't be fizzled by blowing up it's target.
Generals meant to be drafted first in a single pack of 6 cards.
And here is the actual cube, meant to be drafted in 4 regular sized packs. (60 card decks)
Legendary Creature - Elf Advisor Wizard (R)
1: Look at the top card of target player's library. You may put that card into that player's graveyard. If you do, put a card from that player's graveyard on the top or bottom of that player's library.
"Like our bodies, knowledge lives and dies and lives again. It is a neverending circle."
1/3
Spellplunder Field GUB
Enchantment (R)
1, Exile a spell you control: Choose target card in a graveyard with converted mana cost less than or equal to that of the exiled spell. Until end of turn, you may play the chosen card without paying its mana cost.
"Some are lost in these fields forever, each seed of new thought consumed by the deep roots of memory."
-Khaym, Grave Oracle
Venomous Oracle 1BB
Creature - Snake Shaman (R)
2: Target player draws a card and loses 1 life. Any player may activate this ability.
2: Target player who lost life this turn loses 1 life.
The true horror of her prophecies can take days to sink in.
1/2
Sorcery (R)
Target creature gets +X/+X until end of turn. Destroy each creature with power less than that creature's power.
"Sometimes the best way to ensure that word does not spread is to crush everything within earshot."
-Khaym, Grave Oracle
The castle on Kranmere Lake, the docks in South Vedderport, the entire hamlet of Agatol. Normally Khaym would pull at a few strings to unravel a knot of lies, but the revelations of the forked-tongue seer still burnt in his mind, and this knot had to be cut. The footprints at each scene of destruction grew larger, the damage more extensive, as Khaym grew nearer to finding Jane's killer...
Tantrums were not part of his repertoire. Though frustration bubbled up inside Olt, he would not let that break his stride. He thoroughly business-minded, to a grave extent. His swath till now was riddled with corpses and further questions. His conclave with professor Kurnast concluded with dissatisfaction, but also a twisted sense of anxiousness.
Now he had purpose to tear the responsible party limb from limb. Before his slaughtering brought him no joy, it was purely out of curiosity. Now he was plagued by necessity.
Would Olt ever find Scarlett Jane? Though it would never entirely sink in to his thick hide that he was wrong about her death, he could at least accept that now he had new proper antagonists to deal with. Anyone willing to murder in cold blood the one contact Olt felt would help him locate Scarlett Jane only reinforced to him that he was on the right path.
Maybe, in some convoluted way, this was evidence he was right about her only disappearing and not expiring. And if she was not yet dead, then her death by the hands of Olt would have to wait. For now, he had to thank the individuals responsible for proving him right or exact out his vexation over being wrong.
Grind Into Pulp 2BB
Sorcery
Target creature loses all abilities. Then destroy that creature. If that creature would be put into a graveyard from play this turn, exile it and its owner's graveyard.
Buyback - Tap two untapped creatures you control.
"There is a minuscule space the pavement and the dirt. That will be your heaven." - Olt, Guttercrawler
B Infect
BW Death & Taxes
UBR Affinity
R Burn
UBR Sac Land Tendrils
UBRG Oops, All Spells
WUG Phelddagrif
GGG Omnath, Locus of Mana
BBB Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed
RRR Ashling, the Pilgrim
BBW Teysa, Scion of Orzhov
UUU Talrand, Sky Summoner
UUB Vela the Night-Clad
GGB Vhati il-Dal
RUW Ruhan of the Fomori
Legendary Creature - Viashino Rogue {R}
Haste
1RR: Target creature you control gets -X/-0 and is unblockable until end of turn, where X is equal too half its power, rounded down.
If he can't find a path to it, then it doesn't exist.
4/4
Sorcery {U}
As an additional cost to play Informants Deal, sacrifice a non-creature permanent.
Look at the top 5 cards of your library, you may exile any number of them, then put the rest back on top in the same order.
You can learn anything, if you are willing to pay the price.
Creature - Rat Rogue {U}
Whenever Backstreet Dealer deals combat damage to a player, choose one - That player discards a card; or pay 1 life, then draw a card.
"I can take his belongings. But if you want them, there's a price."
2/2
The next day came, and Zalatraz approached the location indicated to meet the dealer, a place in the sewers of course. Before Zalatraz even rounded the corner, he knew something was off, the sewer water running red. He moved quickly, but it seemed he was far to late. Laying there in the waters was Blackear, his throat slit and body ransacked. In the distance, he hears splashes that indicate several people are on there way to this location. Whoever did Blackear in also informed the authorities of the town it would seem. He couldn't go quiet yet though, he knew Blackear kept his best secrets in a hidden pocket, finding the file he needed in there, he quickly departed before he would be spotted.
Once to a place of safety, a safe house of his, and after getting a look at the file, the Viashino was furious, he couldn't believe those that had been taught by Jane would do such a thing, there was a time he would have killed to have been her student instead of her colleague, in fact he did kill to try and earn a place as one of her students.
This was beyond unforgivable, and those responsible deserved a harsh punishment. He could very easily hire someone to handle it, but this deserved a bit of a personal touch. He went to his hidden vault in the nearby sewers to fetch a metallic urn with chains wrapped around it, holding the lid tightly closed. No one knew he had this, the magic held in this urn of the ashes of murderers was rather potent, and a known favorite weapon of a cult that technically had been apparently out of commission for at least three years. He moved to the center of the room, and with a fresh parchment, a dagger, and the metallic urn.
He cut his palm with the dagger, and then, using the blood, transcribed the names of the group that murdered them. Once finished, he folded the paper and pulled the top of the urn up as much as it would allow, before pushing the slip of paper in. It starts to glow and turn red, he smiles, taking the urn and heading back out into the balcony of the safe house, before unlocking the chains on the urn, it instantly sprung open, and a cloud of black and red magical smoke and ash billow outs from the top, serpent eyes appearing as snakes form and slither off in all directions.
Zalatraz smiled a bit, by tomorrow, the ones who wronged Jane will be nothing but withered husks, and a man hunt will start for a cult that to his knowledge no longer exists.
Creature - Snake Spirit {U}
First strike, wither
Sacrifice Ashen Viper: Ashen Viper deals 2 damage to target creature.
Fangs of brimstone, scales of soot, and venom of blazing fire.
2/2
Artist: //gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&artist=[%22Daniel%20Ljunggren%22">"]Daniel Ljunggren
Darryn, Shadowslider 1UB
Legendary Creature - Human Rogue (R)
Intimidate
Whenever you cast a black spell, you may counter target spell that targets you or a permanent you control.
U,T: The next spell you cast this turn may be cast as though it had flash.
He was a man of shadow, but unlike others who made such claims, he could bring the shadows with him.
3/2
Shadowburst B
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains intimidate until end of turn. If it already has intimidate, it gets +3/+0 and gains haste until end of turn instead.
"I can teach you to walk the shadows, but if you already know how, I can teach you something a little more flashy."
—Darryn, Shadowslider
Braddock, Shadowsage 1UB
Legendary Creature - Human Rogue (R)
At the beginning of your end step, if you control three or more other creatures and each creature you control dealt combat damage to a player this turn, you may exile Braddock, Shadowsage. If you do, take an extra turn after this one.
1B: Target creature gains intimidate until end of turn.
"My time in the shadows is over. But yours is just beginning."
1/3
Blood-Price Ritualist 2B
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
2B,T: Target player sacrifices a creature. You lose life equal to the sacrificed creature's converted mana cost.
"Everything has it's price, and the price for suffering is suffering."
2/1
Grand Stalker Zuri 3BBB
Legendary Creature - Shade Rogue {R}
Intimidate
B:Grand Stalker Zuri gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
B:Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
Only he knows where darkness ends and Zuri begins.
5/5
There's not many memories Zuri kept from his old life. His personal life was boring at times and nonexistent at others. His old employers would make sure he didn't remember any details after a mission was complete. The few that got to know him personally believe he had died under mysterious circumstances, a way he liked to regard his old self as well. He couldn't even remember when or why he got himself blacked out, a procedure as bizarre and dangerous as it is obscure - then again, memory loss was a symptom to be expected. A lot of things like that were to be expected, but that was just fine by Zuri - he preferred to work in the shadows, and as every spy quickly learns, the only way to make it in this line of work is to become your work. Was it Scarlett Jane that once said "do business for pleasure and pleasure for business"?
His first encounter with Jane was the one memory he'd taken care to preserve through this all. It was during a particularly intense heist at Rimport, a city notorious for its many mobs and criminal masterminds who would pay just as handsomely to have something stolen from the wealthy merchants as those merchants would to have their goods protected. Such bounties were often lucrative, as it was not only a matter of breaking in, but also beating other thieves to it. The latest of such bounties was to acquire Lord Blackstone's coveted Key Ruby; the man had a knack for keeping things safe, and even though he flaunted the priceless gem in plain view, he had foiled some of the world's best with his ingenious safeguards. Unsurprisingly, Scarlett Jane managed to steal it within hours of arriving in the city, which was just fine by Zuri - an anonymous client had hired him to track her movements, and kill her once she left the city.
Long story short, they ran into each other a few days later. In tried and true spy fashion, they discussed business over pleasure, a night he never would forget. Zuri learned that Lord Blackstone himself had hired Jane to fool Rimport's criminals into thinking the ruby was gone, and he in turn let slip someone had paid him to follow and eventually kill her. They fell asleep in each others' arms, but by the time Zuri woke up she was already gone. Later in the day, he found a note under his door from Jane - she'd been doing some detective work, and it turned out Zuri's mystery client was none other than Lord Blackstone. He feared that once she'd finished the fake heist, she'd steal the ruby for herself and vanish. As chance would have it, she had already done so, and one of her proteges was now far outside the city with the Key Ruby. The final line on the note simply said "South Gate at Dusk."
They met at the southern gate that evening. It would've been easy, but Zuri couldn't bring himself to kill her, and she knew it. With one last kiss and a sly wink, she vanished into the night. Their paths would cross once or twice later, but never anything he found worth remembering.
Now the rumor is Scarlett Jane is dead. She had made a lot of powerful enemies in her time, but Zuri had a hunch Lord Blackstone wasn't one to leave a job unfinished. Of course, the only other person who knows she has that ruby at all was one of her old proteges; she mentioned his name once, but that's gone now too.
Although gone isn't entirely accurate.
One thing Zuri learned over the last few years is that memories and death aren't that different. It was one reason necromancers could raise the dead, but could never reverse death itself - they only brought back what the dead were, not who they were. He, however, had learned a few tricks on how to get the dead to talk. And if he can stir the memories of the dead, he can stir dead memories.
Dread Recall B
Sorcery {U}
Kicker 3G
Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand. If Dread Recall was kicked, return target noncreature card from your graveyard to your hand.
Exile Dread Recall.
The past nine days have been rife with failure and frustration for Zuri. He managed to track down Jane's student quite easily, an elf girl who went by the moniker of Celia Gray. Unfortunately, that's where his investigation hit a dead end. Celia hadn't been in touch with Miss Scarlett since the incident at Rimport, and although she was following her own trails, Zuri sensed she wouldn't get very far. He did, however, manage to get away with one intriguing tidbit - she was on her way to Merasca, where she had sold the Key Ruby. The trail reeked of irrelevance to Zuri; nonetheless, determined to make the most of that knowledge, he headed east to Meruvi Market.
At the base of the namesake mountain, Meruvi Market was the heart of the region's commerce. The mountain was a literal gold mine, spewing forth cartloads of precious metals and gems every day. Eodon ranches and vineyards littered the countryside, and Meruvi Harbor was only two hours south. Bands of travelling merchants and artisans would pass through Meruvi, replenishing their stock before returning to the larger cities. However, concealed in the busy stalls and makeshift shacks, there thrived a much more novel trade. Several years ago, the vedalken scribe Ist had set up a network of spies, thieves and street urchins to collect every rumor, story and scrap of information that passed through the streets of Meruvi. He will sell many rumors, but good, hard information comes at a premium. A good deal of his paying customers were disreputable at best, and any information given to him would invariably end up in the wrong hands. Zuri always regretted consulting him for leads, but he didn't have much choice this time.
Secret Peddler 1UB
Creature - Vedalken Mercenary {U}
When Secret Peddler enters the battlefield, each player may discard two cards. Each player who does draws three cards.
"I trade knowledge for knowledge. Who you are and why you want it is of no interest to me."
2/2
Blood Peddler 2BR
Creature - Ogre Mercenary {U}
When Blood Peddler enters the battlefield, each player may pay 2 life. For each player who does, Blood Peddler deals 2 damage to another creature of that player's choice.
"Blood is blood. Show me who you want dead."
3/3
Tusk Peddler 1BG
Creature - Elf Mercenary {U}
When Tusk Peddler enters the battlefield, each player may sacrifice a creature other than Tusk Peddler. Each player who does puts a 3/3 green Elephant creature token onto the battlefield.
"Times are tough in this line of work. If you want the goods, you'll have to provide something in return."
2/2
Soul Peddler 2WB
Creature - Spirit Mercenary {U}
When Soul Peddler enters the battlefield, each player may exile a creature card from his or her graveyard. Each player who does may return a creature with with converted mana cost 3 or less from his or her graveyard to the battlefield.
"Quality souls are hard to find these days. Neither of us can afford to be picky."
3/3
Drown in Blood 1BB
Instant {U}
Multikicker 1B
Destroy target nonblack creature. Its controller sacrifices another creature for each time Drown in Blood was kicked.
[Clan Flamingo] Tier Archivist
[15:21] <@CC> Remember, if you argue, you are an idiot.
Untrophied Wins:
Perfect MCC Scores: 2
---------------------------------------------------------------
Sorcery (R)
When you cast Brain Drain you may discard any number of cards from your hand at random. If you do, copy this spell for each card you discarded this way. You may choose new targets for the copies.
Target creature’s controller draws a card, then it gets -X/-X until end of turn where X is equal to the number of cards in its controller’s hand.
Signup Round 1 Round 2
Massacre Girl 3BR
Legendary Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Deathtouch, haste
1BR,T: Massacre Girl fights target creature.
Whenever a creature dies, untap Massacre Girl and put a +1/+1 counter on it.
4/3
You got 99 attackers but I'm blocking with 1.
The Winner is Judge | 7
This Winner is Also Judge | 6
Club Flamingo | Lots
Team Lover
Legendary Creature - Advisor [R]
As Soya Sen enters the battlefield, choose a color.
Soya Sen is the chosen color, and has protection from the chosen color.
:symtap:: Counter target spell of the chosen color unless it's controller pays :1mana:.
1/1
Reminiscence
Enchantment [R]
When Reminiscence enters the battlefield, put your graveyard on top of your library in any order.
You can’t search or shuffle your library.
:1mana::symu:, Sacrifice Reminiscence: Shuffle your library.
“Like all fiction, memories should be enjoyed in moderation.” - Soya Sen
Viax, Secretmonger :symu::symu::symu:
Legendary Creature - Cephalid Advisor [M]
:1mana:: Look at target player’s hand, sideboard and face-down cards.
:1mana:: Players and permanents lose hexproof and shroud until end of turn.
:1mana:: Creatures lose landwalk and unblockable until end of turn.
0/5
”I know the answers. You don’t even know the questions.”
Master Stroke :xmana::2mana::symb::symb:
Instant [R]
Destroy X target tapped creatures.
4th place at CCC&G Pro Tour
Chances of bad hands (<2 or >4 land):
21: 28.9%
22: 27.5%
23: 26.3%
24: 25.5%
25: 25.1%
26: 25.3%
Gerolf, Behemoth Poacher 1GUB
Legendary Creature - Elf Rogue (M)
GB,t: Destroy target creature with power 5 or greater.
GU,t: Return target creature card from a graveyard to its owner's hand. Each of its owner's opponents draws X cards, where X is that creature's power.
Many fine dignitaries are willing to pay a fortune to get their hands on a behemoth pelt. And my deluded beast-worshipping brethren will tell me right where I can find one.
-Gerolf, Behemoth Poacher
2/1
Scarlet Thread 1
Artifact
t: Put target card from a graveyard onto the bottom of its owner's library.
G,t, Sacrifice Scarlet Thread: put target card from a graveyard on top of its owner's library.
I take a hair from each deadly beast I encounter as a memento. The most dangerous animal I've ever seen used to leave one of hers as a calling card.
-Gerolf, Behemoth Poacher
Barath, Colosseum Pitmaster 3BB
Legendary creature - Human Wizard (R)
t, Sacrifice a creature: Search your library for a card with converted mana cost X, where X is the sacrificed creature's power, reveal it and put it into your hand. Shuffle your library afterward.
"You'd be surprised what kind of animals you'll see in my fighting pits. Even more surprised at who can be found watching from my 'private' viewing booths."
-Barath, Dark Pitmaster
2/2
What a dissapointing encounter. Barath is dead, one of my best sources of secrets and income is gone, and all I have to show for it is a list of names. I had better set someone up to run the colloseum soon. Perhaps I could hire a shapeshifter to take his place until I find a suitible replacement. But I seem to be getting ahead of myself. First I should deal with the culprits. Send out the message that no one messes with my assets.
Korin, Marta, Rylai, Rogath, etc. Unsurprisingly, this is a list of Jane's enimies. It looks like everyone who hated Scarlett Jane finally got what they wanted. What's worse, they seem to have teamed up to do it. Teams are dangerous. Especially ones of this size. Especially in this line of work. And Especially ones that you don't know what they're up to. For all I know they could be planning a coup to tear down this game of spies and build a criminal empire. That wouldn't be any fun at all. They are useful people yes, but only when kept in check by Jane. Now, without a leash, These loose cannons present a threat that needs to be dealt with.
Let's see what we have to work with. Thanks to my now deceased contact, I have a list of names. That's a good start. I have my targets, but I don't have any way of killing them yet. The only spell I know that can affect this many people at once will only make them stronger, and I hardly want that. Hmm, maybe that's not such a bad thing. After all, killing powerful things is my specialty. Maybe I could weave a little death magic into the spell. How to work it in... Ah, here we are. The greed one feels when presented with such power should provide a suitable entry point for corruption. And once the spell has it's hooks in them, it's a simple task to turn all that energy to poison. This is turning out to be one flashy bit of magic, but I guess there's little reason in being subtle at this point. It's going to be quite a show.
Team Nemesis:
4U
Legendary Creature - Salamander Adviser
3/5
U,T: Exchange control of two target creatures.
If politics was a game of cards, I would be the dealer. - Lord Salamancer
Legendary Creature - Human Spy (R)
When Kurasas enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Kurasas has protection from the chosen creature type.
:1mana::symu:: Target creature you control can't be blocked by creatures of the chosen type until end of turn.
"We have our best man in with the Orians, friend. Just say the word and you can be sipping their king's finest wine while you scrutinize his every policy decision of the last twenty years." - Faridas, Paltic Director of Intelligence.
2/3
Legendary Creature - Gorgon Rogue (M)
Hexproof
You may choose not to untap Gi, Sin Stalker during your untap step.
T: Until the beginning of your next upkeep, if target creature attacks, blocks, or activates an activated ability, destroy it. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
4/4
]Olt, Guttercrawler 2GG
Legendary Creature - Ooze Rogue
Prowl - Discard a card.
When Olt, Guttercrawler dies, you may pay any amount of green mana. Put X 1/1 green Ooze tokens into play where X is the total amount of mana spent in this way.
Sacrifice an Ooze: Return Olt, Guttercrawler from your graveyard to your hand.
"Novice agents don't understand the benefits of leaving a meticulous trail."
3/4
Legendary Creature - Faerie Spy (M)
Flying
When Marta of the Vendilion enters the battlefield, search target opponent’s library for up to three instant or sorcery cards and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library.
X,T: You may cast a card with converted mana cost X exiled with Marta without paying its mana cost.
1/1
Legendary Creature-Human Rogue (M)
First strike
Whenever Korin, Extortion Operative deals combat damage to a creature, destroy that creature, unless its controller pays 3 life
He’ll get what he wants, one way or another.
3/2
Legendary Creature-Human Rogue [R]
Shroud
When ~ attacks, choose a creature you don't control. ~ becomes a copy of that creature until end of turn.
1/2
Rylai, the blood Aethermage UR
Legendary creature - Veldaken Rogue
Haste
Whenever Rylai, the blood Aethermage deals combat damage to a player, put a +1+1 counter on it and you may return target creature to his owner hand.
1/1
Rogath, Cruel Deceiver 2BBR
Legendary Creature-Demon Advisor [M]
2BR: Search target opponent's library for a creature card with a converted mana cost less than or equal to Rogath, Cruel Deceiver's power. Put that creature into play under your control, it is a black red spy in addition to it's other types. At the beginning of your upkeep each spy you control deals 1 damage to it's owner.
3/4
Overwhelming Power XGW
Sorcery (M)
Kicker B (You may pay an additional B as this spell is cast.)
Creatures target player controls get +X/+X until end of turn. Then, if Overwhelming Power was kicked, destroy each creature with power 5 or greater.
"Death is drawn to power like flies to a corpse."
- Gerolf, Behemoth Hunter
Holding for Godot
Mass Murder 3BB
Instant (U)
Destroy up to one target creature of each color.
I've already answered this in the discussion thread. While I thought about making you try and come up with a card to murder each of the opposing teams' avatar, I'm not insane. You really just need to create one card that kills creatures in general, depending of course of the limitation of each team. Since you're pretty likely to end up with a card that can kill many of the other teams' avatars anyway, the difference is small.
Host, December 2015: A Winter Wonderland? - R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL April 2014: A Game of Fate - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinal|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL December 2012: Spy Games - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL November 2010: The Perfect Crime - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL August 2009: A Commander's Journey: Signups|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
Creature - Demon Shaman (M)
T, Sacrifice a nonland permanent: Put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield.
Whenever a creature you control dies, each other player sacrifices a creature.
2/4
Sunstorm RRW
Sorcery (R)
Sunstorm deals 3 damage to each creature. If a creature dealt damage this way would die this turn, exile it instead. Exile Sunstorm.
Isn't the sun a tad too strong today?
Mythic rarity is not destroying the game. People whine too much for no good reason. Magic is more popular than ever, so keep calm, brew some decks and play some damn cards.
Round 1
Round 2
Sometimes, Follutt hated being right.
Just as he suspected, there was evidence of a conspiracy to kill Jane and more spies besides her. Meeri had proven his hunch at the cost of her life. He bowed his head in brief prayer and mourned his contentious young friend, cut down in the prime of her life. After shutting Meeri's eyelids for the last time, he retrieved the evidence he needed from the place only he and Meeri knew she would be hiding it - one last trick up the rogue's sleeve.
Then there was the matter of bringing the perpetrators to justice. As a scholar of the law, Follutt thought he'd need to consult his books for a while... and as a religious acolyte, he thought the same for an entirely different reason.
---
"There shall come a day when the enemies of the Hand That Dwells Above will strike at the faithful with impunity. 'Is your god so righteous now?' they will mock. 'Does he really bring the world to balance? It looks like your Hand has had his fingers broken!'
And the Hand will show them." - Retribution, index 5 verses 8-10
Firewind Intercessor 4WW
Creature - Archon (M)
Flying
2W: Destroy target permanent that dealt damage to you or a permanent you control this turn.
When Firewind Intercessor dies, you may return any number of other target permanent cards in your graveyard that were put there this turn to the battlefield.
4/4
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Dead. Old, sweet... er, "that guy" is dead. I never tried to learn the names of my subordinates, but I remember his face well -well enough to recognize it even when little of it is left. He was one of my most skilled "irregulars", a true artist of his trade. A mummer actor by day, a spy of many faces by night. His homely, honest face allowed him to pass here as a chimney-sweeper, there as a clueless guard, all while keeping his eyes and ears sharp for bits of discarded information, the kind talked freely about around those believed to low to understand it. It's clear that he got too close to the right trail and paid for it, but not before securing for me the information I was looking for.
So, everything points to her ex-apprentices as Jane's murderers and I'm not surprised one bit. I remember them, a bunch of good-for-nothing, barely pubescent adolescents fawning over her as though she was a goddess instead their teacher, all of them wanting to emulate her, bed her or both. Now, some years later they have moved up in the world and maybe became disillusioned with their former master now that they know better? Seems quite petty, but whatever the reason is, this is a blight on the good name of our organization and we are instructed to take measures when it happens.
One of the most secret practices of our profession (indeed, known to only the elite among us) includes dealing with... unsavory beings from the nether zones. They are always eager for a way into our world and the chances to drag with them some fresh flesh to replace their old playthings, which -as twisted a desire as it is- some times aligns with the needs of the organization. Only then, we are allowed to summon them under strict conditions. This is most definitely one of those cases.
This is for Jane and for... that guy.
Nether Reaper BBB
Creature - Horror (R)
Deathtouch
1BB: Regenerate Nether Reaper
3BB,T, exile Nether Reaper and another creature you control named Nether Reaper: Destroy all creatures target player controls.
2/2