There is literally no reason to thing that Drownyard Temple has anything to do with the toad. According to it's own flavor text it's the center of whatever the cryptoliths are doing. The blurb about next week's story however does point to the toad. Nephalia is bigger than just one stretch of beach after all. Which means well probably get the toad's card next Wednesday as well.
Also, the blurb for next week's UR talks about a lake in the Nephalian highlands. The drownyard is on the coast, so if it is the Toad next week, then it won't be coming out of that cryptolith ring. Something else will be coming from the dark depths of Innistrad's seas
On the back side, you can see his face covered by the same substance that Thraben Inspector is examining.
Does this strengthens the Emrakul theory, weakens it, or makes no difference at al?
Either way, that thing requires some explanation.
On the back side, you can see his face covered by the same substance that Thraben Inspector is examining.
Does this strengthens the Emrakul theory, weakens it, or makes no difference at al?
Either way, that thing requires some explanation.
I'd be inclined to say strengthen, because it looks like the start of what happened to this guy Rush of Ice but at the same time those lanterns are scuttling around and Emrakul doesn't affect non-living matter so it sort of weakens the emrakul theory as well.
Agree that Ormendahl is likely just a side antagonist for Lili, or just a background character since the skirsdag and demons needed a new leader/figurehead to fill the void left by Griselbrand
Also, I am positive the Gitrog Toad is not what is being summoned in the Drownyard, I think it is going to be the lake monster we hear about in next week's story.
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My Decks:
UG Merfolk RG 8-Whack BWG Abzan midrange GRB Living End UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin" RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!" BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
On the back side, you can see his face covered by the same substance that Thraben Inspector is examining.
Does this strengthens the Emrakul theory, weakens it, or makes no difference at al?
Either way, that thing requires some explanation.
It is hard to tell from the picture on the card, but the thing on the face of this guys seems to be the branches/vines in his unflipped picture (wich would imply something different from Thraben's Inspector, where it looks more like seaweed). Meaning the plants took hold of him somehow (and no idea why the lanterns became alive, but whatever), and this is just another random 'horror' type card. I will say that it is interesting his 'transformation' turned him from a rogue into a wizard. Maybe whatever happened to him granted magical powers, and he is the one responsible for conjuring the little lantern guys.
Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
Flavour text:
"This is it! All the cryptoliths point here!" Jace Beleren
So... do all the cryptoliths literally point to there? Or does he mean figuratively? Is that the singular focus of all Nahiri's handiwork? Because if so, I'm *definitely* back in the Marit Lage / Sea-God camp again rather than Emrakul.
On a different note, I am exhausted from all this jumping from one side of the fence to the other and back!
Actually, if you ask me, it's the opposite. I don't think Nahiri was involved with the sealing of Marit Lage, but she definitely participated in the luring of the 3 Eldrazi Titans back then. I don't think she knows what she's summoning exactly (depending on whether she's aware that Emrakul left Zendikar), there's a possibility that she's just setting up the lure and doesn't really care what entity comes through.
Plot Twist: Marit Lage breaks from the Moon, the Sea God awakens and Emrakul moves to Innistrad at the same time (either that or Marit Lage awakens, Emrakul arrives and a third force breaks from the Moon), forming a new trio to replace the original three since Ulamog and Kozilek have bid farewell. Ugin would approve.
At this point of time, Ormendahl is likely to be just a side-story "big-bad" at best, considering he's probably in to fill the void that Griselbrand left behind.
Agreed on your Ormendahl assessment. I think it's extremely unlikely the main, big-bad of the set is spoiled on a Thursday on French website with no other fanfare. Wizards has been really milking the Innistrad mystery, and I sincerely doubt they'd lessen that by giving the preview to another site. We also know the demon is summoned by a random group of cultists and appears to have nothing to do with cryptos.
On the back side, you can see his face covered by the same substance that Thraben Inspector is examining.
Does this strengthens the Emrakul theory, weakens it, or makes no difference at al?
Either way, that thing requires some explanation.
It pretty much excludes Emrakul, as she only affect living matter. No reason for those lanterns to come alive.
We don't know enough about Marit Lage to say either way, but I'm pretty much on 'something new' at this point.
Uuuh...I'm not very well versed in the storyline, but is there something that rules out the possibility of another Eldrazi titan aside from Emrakul to be causing all this mess? From what I understand, Kozilek is loosely affiliated with Blue, Ulamog with Green, and Emrakul with Black: could it be possible that all this was being cause by something like the Red titan, considering that madness and stuff like that has usually been connected with the color?
If there were meant to be a color theme to the Eldrazi I don't think they wouldn't have gone through so much trouble to hide it.
Uuuh...I'm not very well versed in the storyline, but is there something that rules out the possibility of another Eldrazi titan aside from Emrakul to be causing all this mess? From what I understand, Kozilek is loosely affiliated with Blue, Ulamog with Green, and Emrakul with Black: could it be possible that all this was being cause by something like the Red titan, considering that madness and stuff like that has usually been connected with the color?
Could be. It'll be mentioned in the next Archive Trap, but the Zendikar Art book mentions that the three Titans are the known Eldrazi, leaving open the possibility of more.
@Clod5: That seems to be what happened, but at this point I think it could be anything, and the way the strange things are being presented doesn't really line up with what we know about Emrakul.
Uuuh...I'm not very well versed in the storyline, but is there something that rules out the possibility of another Eldrazi titan aside from Emrakul to be causing all this mess? From what I understand, Kozilek is loosely affiliated with Blue, Ulamog with Green, and Emrakul with Black: could it be possible that all this was being cause by something like the Red titan, considering that madness and stuff like that has usually been connected with the color?
I've been wondering about that myself. Might better explain Sorin's initial motivation for dealing with the Eldrazi if he already trapped one of them on Innistrad.
On the back side, you can see his face covered by the same substance that Thraben Inspector is examining.
Does this strengthens the Emrakul theory, weakens it, or makes no difference at al?
Either way, that thing requires some explanation.
so I've been getting Bloodborne vibes all throughout this block and this card just kind of cements it (due to his resemblance to the default Hunter character from Bloodborne).
Bloodborne is a game that starts off very gothic horror-ish with werewolves and vampires and witches, but it quickly becomes apparent that greater powers are working behind the scenes. Low and behold eldritch abominations from the sea are actually driving everybody crazy and mutating them. At the end of the game you know what the final boss and thing that's behind most of the events name is? The Moon Presence.
on a more mechanical level this Daring Sleuth goes from a rogue to a wizard after learning something. In Bloodborne there's a system of Insight which is gained from discovering or learning of things from beyond our world (Investigating, some would say), after a certain amount of Insight you begin to see things that normal people shouldn't see, and npcs that would have a lot of insight are typically spellcasters as their knowledge grants them the ability to call upon the power of old gods they've learned so much about. Though high insight also makes you much more susceptible to going nuts from all that's happening around you
these similarities should prolly be obvious as both SoI and Bloodborne take their inspirations from the same source, but I feel like maybe a few people on the design team were huge fans of the game
On the back side, you can see his face covered by the same substance that Thraben Inspector is examining.
Does this strengthens the Emrakul theory, weakens it, or makes no difference at al?
Either way, that thing requires some explanation.
so I've been getting Bloodborne vibes all throughout this block and this card just kind of cements it (due to his resemblance to the default Hunter character from Bloodborne).
Bloodborne is a game that starts off very gothic horror-ish with werewolves and vampires and witches, but it quickly becomes apparent that greater powers are working behind the scenes. Low and behold eldritch abominations from the sea are actually driving everybody crazy and mutating them. At the end of the game you know what the final boss and thing that's behind most of the events name is? The Moon Presence.
on a more mechanical level this Daring Sleuth goes from a rogue to a wizard after learning something. In Bloodborne there's a system of Insight which is gained from discovering or learning of things from beyond our world (Investigating, some would say), after a certain amount of Insight you begin to see things that normal people shouldn't see, and npcs that would have a lot of insight are typically spellcasters as their knowledge grants them the ability to call upon the power of old gods they've learned so much about. Though high insight also makes you much more susceptible to going nuts from all that's happening around you
these similarities should prolly be obvious as both SoI and Bloodborne take their inspirations from the same source, but I feel like maybe a few people on the design team were huge fans of the game
To quote Micolash: "Kos, do you hear our prayers? Grant us eyes, grant us eyes."
A theory that I've been rolling around today is that there might be 2 corruption-based old Gods in this block. What if Nahiri thinks she is summoning Emrakul or something ancient and powerful to Innistrad, but the residents and cultists along the coast believe she is summoning the old sea God the Stromkirk's worship? Some ancient see deity that awakens due to the mana meant to summon either the wayward Emrakul or something else?
I just get the feeling that based on the presence of corruption already, it wouldn't be Emrakul. Wouldn't she need to be on the plane to influence the biology of the citizens? Further, if it's mostly buildings were seeing covered in this corruption and briar-thicket type stuff, that doesn't fit Emrakul's biological corruption mo; well, at least for the buildings. What if Nahiri spends all her effort to lure something otherworldly but Innistrad's old monster takes it as an offering to itself to awaken? It seems just so....awkward to have an entire vampire family worshiping an ancient deity for no reason, that also happens to be sea-related, when most of the corruption seems to be occurring around Nephalia, the Hanweir chronicle mentions Nephalia as a cultist haven and the drownyard is the location of this odd ringed-crypholith formation. Just seems to me that the best laid plans of (kor wo)men so often go awry.
Also, pirate ship at the drownyard reaaaaaallllllly makes me hope we get some Davey Jones type ancient deity figure. That'd be great.
Sorry if any of this has been brought up before. Been off the forums for a week or so.
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Vorthos-player with way too much time on his hands and a love of thematic decks.
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
Flavour text:
"This is it! All the cryptoliths point here!" Jace Beleren
So... do all the cryptoliths literally point to there? Or does he mean figuratively? Is that the singular focus of all Nahiri's handiwork? Because if so, I'm *definitely* back in the Marit Lage / Sea-God camp again rather than Emrakul.
On a different note, I am exhausted from all this jumping from one side of the fence to the other and back!
While I'm tired of theorizing without new information (I think literally every possibility of a returning character has been covered), I'm really excited to see what comes out. Sea God ahoy!
One note though: the land specifically allows you to return it to play, which makes me think whatever it summons will sacrifice lands.
Personally, I interpreted the ability of Drownyard Temple to be that the land (or Temple in this case) "rises up" from the sea, which would mean the cryptoliths are probably not themselves where or what whatever Nahiri is the harbinger of will come from, but a temple of some sort that maybe heralds whatever's return. But like I said, that was just my interpretation. It could be both though, of course. My interpretation doesn't necessarily mean whatever Nahiri wants summoned can't sacrifice lands just to have the nice synergy with the Temple.
EDIT: Just realized but I'll almost be disappointed if the temple's architecture, if we ever see it, isn't cyclopean.
They didn't care that he was the savior of Fort Keff, the great hunter of Ondu, the champion of Kabira. To them, he was just another piece of flesh, a thing with life to be drained away.
The card has a very strong "Go mad from the revelation" vibe, so that is a pretty big set of points in favor of what's going on being something on/from Innstrad, rather than Nahiri bringing something to the plane. Although there was some implication in Memories of Blood that finding out about the Multiverse from the Eldrazi can drive someone mad, so, it could also be suddenly being connected to whatever is being summoned.
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Cyme we inne frið, fram the grip of deaþ to lif inne ðis smylte land.
these similarities should prolly be obvious as both SoI and Bloodborne take their inspirations from the same source, but I feel like maybe a few people on the design team were huge fans of the game
Bloodborne was released March 2015. By that time art for SoI was being commissioned and the style guide was done for a good while.
Besides that, the general aesthetic style is kind of drawn from the same source as well, and the world of Innistrad and its designs are obviously much older than Bloodborne as well. Doesn't preclude the designers from being fans of the game, but as far as looks go, Innistrad has had it established for a long time comparatively, and if the plot revolves around eldritch horror, then I think coincidentally similarities are just going to happen.
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They didn't care that he was the savior of Fort Keff, the great hunter of Ondu, the champion of Kabira. To them, he was just another piece of flesh, a thing with life to be drained away.
if it's mostly buildings were seeing covered in this corruption and briar-thicket type stuff, that doesn't fit Emrakul's biological corruption mo; well, at least for the buildings.
It does if the buildings are made of wood and not stone, which I think every shot of them has been. Wood is still biological.
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Cyme we inne frið, fram the grip of deaþ to lif inne ðis smylte land.
if it's mostly buildings were seeing covered in this corruption and briar-thicket type stuff, that doesn't fit Emrakul's biological corruption mo; well, at least for the buildings.
It does if the buildings are made of wood and not stone, which I think every shot of them has been. Wood is still biological.
Agreed, but on Thraben Investigator , we see the sponge-tentacley corruption on stone and wood. Further, wouldn't Emrakul still have to be on Innistrad for her corruption to take hold? If she was powerful enough to affect biological beings from the Blind Eternities or another plane, why wasn't everyone on Zendikar immediately corrupted once she was free?
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Vorthos-player with way too much time on his hands and a love of thematic decks.
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
It does if the buildings are made of wood and not stone, which I think every shot of them has been. Wood is still biological.
Agreed, but on Thraben Investigator , we see the sponge-tentacley corruption on stone and wood. Further, wouldn't Emrakul still have to be on Innistrad for her corruption to take hold? If she was powerful enough to affect biological beings from the Blind Eternities or another plane, why wasn't everyone on Zendikar immediately corrupted once she was free?
Well... the real and probably unflattering reason is that her powers hadn't been as fleshed back during the original Zendikar block, and apparently she was "long gone" and not a part of the BFZ block for there to show much affect. In both instances anyway, we do see her spawn which is supposed to be the result of extended corruption. I think it's also implied to not be an "immediate" thing. And despite being more fleshed out her suite of abilities is still not really very well defined so we really just don't know all the technicalities.
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They didn't care that he was the savior of Fort Keff, the great hunter of Ondu, the champion of Kabira. To them, he was just another piece of flesh, a thing with life to be drained away.
It does if the buildings are made of wood and not stone, which I think every shot of them has been. Wood is still biological.
Agreed, but on Thraben Investigator , we see the sponge-tentacley corruption on stone and wood. Further, wouldn't Emrakul still have to be on Innistrad for her corruption to take hold? If she was powerful enough to affect biological beings from the Blind Eternities or another plane, why wasn't everyone on Zendikar immediately corrupted once she was free?
Well... the real and probably unflattering reason is that her powers hadn't been as fleshed back during the original Zendikar block, and apparently she was "long gone" and not a part of the BFZ block for there to show much affect. In both instances anyway, we do see her spawn which is supposed to be the result of extended corruption. I think it's also implied to not be an "immediate" thing. And despite being more fleshed out her suite of abilities is still not really very well defined so we really just don't know all the technicalities.
Fair enough. I'm hoping Emrakul - despite obviously being one of the biggest forces in the multiverse - doesn't just end up being given the ability to corrupt from off-world. That seems like a can of worms no one wants to open.
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Vorthos-player with way too much time on his hands and a love of thematic decks.
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
On the back side, you can see his face covered by the same substance that Thraben Inspector is examining.
Does this strengthens the Emrakul theory, weakens it, or makes no difference at al?
Either way, that thing requires some explanation.
Standard
BWC Eldrazi
UBR Grixis Tutelage
Modern
UR Storm
Legacy
Landless Dredge
Pauper
U Delver
Commander
UR Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind
I'd be inclined to say strengthen, because it looks like the start of what happened to this guy Rush of Ice but at the same time those lanterns are scuttling around and Emrakul doesn't affect non-living matter so it sort of weakens the emrakul theory as well.
Agree that Ormendahl is likely just a side antagonist for Lili, or just a background character since the skirsdag and demons needed a new leader/figurehead to fill the void left by Griselbrand
Also, I am positive the Gitrog Toad is not what is being summoned in the Drownyard, I think it is going to be the lake monster we hear about in next week's story.
RG 8-Whack
BWG Abzan midrange
GRB Living End
UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin"
RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!"
BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
Agreed on your Ormendahl assessment. I think it's extremely unlikely the main, big-bad of the set is spoiled on a Thursday on French website with no other fanfare. Wizards has been really milking the Innistrad mystery, and I sincerely doubt they'd lessen that by giving the preview to another site. We also know the demon is summoned by a random group of cultists and appears to have nothing to do with cryptos.
We don't know enough about Marit Lage to say either way, but I'm pretty much on 'something new' at this point.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
If there were meant to be a color theme to the Eldrazi I don't think they wouldn't have gone through so much trouble to hide it.
@Clod5: That seems to be what happened, but at this point I think it could be anything, and the way the strange things are being presented doesn't really line up with what we know about Emrakul.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
I've been wondering about that myself. Might better explain Sorin's initial motivation for dealing with the Eldrazi if he already trapped one of them on Innistrad.
so I've been getting Bloodborne vibes all throughout this block and this card just kind of cements it (due to his resemblance to the default Hunter character from Bloodborne).
on a more mechanical level this Daring Sleuth goes from a rogue to a wizard after learning something. In Bloodborne there's a system of Insight which is gained from discovering or learning of things from beyond our world (Investigating, some would say), after a certain amount of Insight you begin to see things that normal people shouldn't see, and npcs that would have a lot of insight are typically spellcasters as their knowledge grants them the ability to call upon the power of old gods they've learned so much about. Though high insight also makes you much more susceptible to going nuts from all that's happening around you
these similarities should prolly be obvious as both SoI and Bloodborne take their inspirations from the same source, but I feel like maybe a few people on the design team were huge fans of the game
To quote Micolash: "Kos, do you hear our prayers? Grant us eyes, grant us eyes."
Kozilek confirmed?
I just get the feeling that based on the presence of corruption already, it wouldn't be Emrakul. Wouldn't she need to be on the plane to influence the biology of the citizens? Further, if it's mostly buildings were seeing covered in this corruption and briar-thicket type stuff, that doesn't fit Emrakul's biological corruption mo; well, at least for the buildings. What if Nahiri spends all her effort to lure something otherworldly but Innistrad's old monster takes it as an offering to itself to awaken? It seems just so....awkward to have an entire vampire family worshiping an ancient deity for no reason, that also happens to be sea-related, when most of the corruption seems to be occurring around Nephalia, the Hanweir chronicle mentions Nephalia as a cultist haven and the drownyard is the location of this odd ringed-crypholith formation. Just seems to me that the best laid plans of (kor wo)men so often go awry.
Also, pirate ship at the drownyard reaaaaaallllllly makes me hope we get some Davey Jones type ancient deity figure. That'd be great.
Sorry if any of this has been brought up before. Been off the forums for a week or so.
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
B Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief B - Fear of the Dark
WG Sigarda, Heron's Grace WG - Strength in Numbers
RG Xenagos, God of Revels RG - Fullmoon (It's werewolves)
RW Archangel Avacyn // Avacyn, the Purifier RW - The End is Nigh
60 Card Kitchen Table Decks
WUB Avacyn, Spirit Ferrier
RG Arlinn Kord's Howlpack
"Ahhh, Koz, or some say Cosi... Do you hear our prayers?"
Personally, I interpreted the ability of Drownyard Temple to be that the land (or Temple in this case) "rises up" from the sea, which would mean the cryptoliths are probably not themselves where or what whatever Nahiri is the harbinger of will come from, but a temple of some sort that maybe heralds whatever's return. But like I said, that was just my interpretation. It could be both though, of course. My interpretation doesn't necessarily mean whatever Nahiri wants summoned can't sacrifice lands just to have the nice synergy with the Temple.
EDIT: Just realized but I'll almost be disappointed if the temple's architecture, if we ever see it, isn't cyclopean.
But the people behind the barrier knew.
Besides that, the general aesthetic style is kind of drawn from the same source as well, and the world of Innistrad and its designs are obviously much older than Bloodborne as well. Doesn't preclude the designers from being fans of the game, but as far as looks go, Innistrad has had it established for a long time comparatively, and if the plot revolves around eldritch horror, then I think coincidentally similarities are just going to happen.
But the people behind the barrier knew.
It does if the buildings are made of wood and not stone, which I think every shot of them has been. Wood is still biological.
Agreed, but on Thraben Investigator , we see the sponge-tentacley corruption on stone and wood. Further, wouldn't Emrakul still have to be on Innistrad for her corruption to take hold? If she was powerful enough to affect biological beings from the Blind Eternities or another plane, why wasn't everyone on Zendikar immediately corrupted once she was free?
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
B Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief B - Fear of the Dark
WG Sigarda, Heron's Grace WG - Strength in Numbers
RG Xenagos, God of Revels RG - Fullmoon (It's werewolves)
RW Archangel Avacyn // Avacyn, the Purifier RW - The End is Nigh
60 Card Kitchen Table Decks
WUB Avacyn, Spirit Ferrier
RG Arlinn Kord's Howlpack
Well... the real and probably unflattering reason is that her powers hadn't been as fleshed back during the original Zendikar block, and apparently she was "long gone" and not a part of the BFZ block for there to show much affect. In both instances anyway, we do see her spawn which is supposed to be the result of extended corruption. I think it's also implied to not be an "immediate" thing. And despite being more fleshed out her suite of abilities is still not really very well defined so we really just don't know all the technicalities.
But the people behind the barrier knew.
Fair enough. I'm hoping Emrakul - despite obviously being one of the biggest forces in the multiverse - doesn't just end up being given the ability to corrupt from off-world. That seems like a can of worms no one wants to open.
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
B Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief B - Fear of the Dark
WG Sigarda, Heron's Grace WG - Strength in Numbers
RG Xenagos, God of Revels RG - Fullmoon (It's werewolves)
RW Archangel Avacyn // Avacyn, the Purifier RW - The End is Nigh
60 Card Kitchen Table Decks
WUB Avacyn, Spirit Ferrier
RG Arlinn Kord's Howlpack