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?
Wasn't it stated the Titans were still weak in RoE, and Emrakul was the first to regain her strength and left prior to BfZ? She could be a whole lot more powerful now than when we last saw her. ::shudder::
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?
That's assuming that what we're seeing from the Nahiri storyline is happening currently. There's a fair possibility that the story is being told non-sequentially as Jace investigates and Nahiri plot is being told as a series of flashbacks.
Apparently the Wolfir are hunted to near-extinction, considering only the Silverfurs are remaining. Seeing what happened to Avacyn and that Avacyn was the one who cast the Cursemute, I think the Wolfir got backstabbed and got hunted by all parties.
Considering the Wolfir stay in "Werewolf" form permanently and seem to have some sense of restraint, is it likely that their human spirit is infused with the nature spirit, like Arlinn Kord? I'm having difficulty seeing Arlinn solely leading the most of the werewolf packs all the time and considering that only the Silverfurs remain, she could possibly make the pack accept them as lieutenants of some sort? Arlinn most likely will have to planeswalk at some point of time, so I doubt she would just leave the entire pack to run wild.
Perhaps the "Legendary Werewolf" (was it Tovolar?) that can permanently remain in Werewolf form also has the same affliction naturally, except he doesn't have the spark and wasn't under the cursemute either and from Mondronen Shaman, probably commands a large pack by himself, the same way Arlinn does.
I think Tovolar "can" transform back, but actively chooses not to and revels in his transformation. But it's not really clear and that's always just how I've interpreted it. I'm glad there is a mention of Wolfir (though I have a feeling this is the only one in this set at least since the flavor text feels kind of like hamfisted exposition), but maybe other ones include other bits of the story of Wolfir post AVR or simply had too much text to give more explanation) just to acknowledge their existence. I hope the story behind them is expanded on in an Uncharted Realms at some point to give it some context. With this card it can be assumed though that a legendary werewolf commander could just be a Wolfir instead of being Tovolar or something, though.
Wolfir are formed by the fusion of the human spirit and the nature spirit so they don't actually transform at all (since the transformation is, flavorfully, the human flipping between their human nature and instincts and savagery of beasts) and are just creature type Wolves (whereas probably all werewolves that "can" transform, including presumably the hypothetical non-transforming commander would probably still be typed as Werewolf since they'd still have the human spirit and the nature spirit in the same body, but I guess the wolf would simply subdue their humanity? I dunno), so there isn't any relation with the established information we know between them and Arlinn Kord, but it doesn't preclude the possibility.
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.
Apparently the Wolfir are hunted to near-extinction, considering only the Silverfurs are remaining. Seeing what happened to Avacyn and that Avacyn was the one who cast the Cursemute, I think the Wolfir got backstabbed and got hunted by all parties.
Considering the Wolfir stay in "Werewolf" form permanently and seem to have some sense of restraint, is it likely that their human spirit is infused with the nature spirit, like Arlinn Kord? I'm having difficulty seeing Arlinn solely leading the most of the werewolf packs all the time and considering that only the Silverfurs remain, she could possibly make the pack accept them as lieutenants of some sort? Arlinn most likely will have to planeswalk at some point of time, so I doubt she would just leave the entire pack to run wild.
Perhaps the "Legendary Werewolf" (was it Tovolar?) that can permanently remain in Werewolf form also has the same affliction naturally, except he doesn't have the spark and wasn't under the cursemute either and from Mondronen Shaman, probably commands a large pack by himself, the same way Arlinn does.
Seems somewhat logical. I think the card heavily implies that Avacyn has been hunting the wolfir. The implication has always been that werewolves were hunted by angels, the church and the citizenry, but seems that the wolfir are now nearly-extinct as well; and I believe there weren't many to begin with.
As to the Arlinn point, I think it's more likely that the pack she seems to lead is similar to most wolf packs in that the alpha is respected and followed. I doubt there's much in terms of a rigid structure. If she's walking to another plane, the pack probably just defers to a new alpha and follows that lead. I wouldn't be surprised though if Tovolar is the legendary werewolf. He ties in with Arlinn as it was his pack that turned the citizenry of Avabruck into werewolves and likely Arlinn herself. Now as for him never transforming back to human- form, I don't see that as a wolfir condition, but you could be right that it's something similar to Arlinn. God I just want Arlinn to get some good story-time, and not just have Jace shoved down our throats.
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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.
I think Tovolar "can" transform back, but actively chooses not to and revels in his transformation. But it's not really clear and that's always just how I've interpreted it. I'm glad there is a mention of Wolfir (though I have a feeling this is the only one in this set at least since the flavor text feels kind of like hamfisted exposition), but maybe other ones include other bits of the story of Wolfir post AVR or simply had too much text to give more explanation) just to acknowledge their existence. I hope the story behind them is expanded on in an Uncharted Realms at some point to give it some context. With this card it can be assumed though that a legendary werewolf commander could just be a Wolfir instead of being Tovolar or something, though.
Wolfir are formed by the fusion of the human spirit and the nature spirit so they don't actually transform at all (since the transformation is, flavorfully, the human flipping between their human nature and instincts and savagery of beasts) and are just creature type Wolves (whereas probably all werewolves that "can" transform, including presumably the hypothetical non-transforming commander would probably still be typed as Werewolf since they'd still have the human spirit and the nature spirit in the same body, but I guess the wolf would simply subdue their humanity? I dunno), so there isn't any relation with the established information we know between them and Arlinn Kord, but it doesn't preclude the possibility.
Great explanations. I kind of feel like wizards tried something new with the wolfir, but like most of AVR, it was so disconnected from the rest of the block they're trying to sweep it under the rug.
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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.
I think Tovolar "can" transform back, but actively chooses not to and revels in his transformation. But it's not really clear and that's always just how I've interpreted it. I'm glad there is a mention of Wolfir (though I have a feeling this is the only one in this set at least since the flavor text feels kind of like hamfisted exposition), but maybe other ones include other bits of the story of Wolfir post AVR or simply had too much text to give more explanation) just to acknowledge their existence. I hope the story behind them is expanded on in an Uncharted Realms at some point to give it some context. With this card it can be assumed though that a legendary werewolf commander could just be a Wolfir instead of being Tovolar or something, though.
I think an active decision to stay in Werewolf form requires both spirits to exist while transformed naturally, like Arlinn Kord, which is why I think Tovolar has the same condition as Arlinn does. The cursemute probably "forced" the fusion and as a result, the option to transform back became unavailable.
Arlinn probably transforms back because she's a Goldnight Archmage and I don't think she can use her spells to full power while transformed. If Tovolar is just a brute, there's literally no reason for him to ever transform back, honestly speaking (unless it's for infiltration purposes).
Part of me thinks there's too much going on Innistrad that I won't even mind if Arlinn convinces Tovolar to "turn good" instead, she probably needs a second-in-command since she will probably still planeswalk at some point of time. He could be another "villain" for the Arlinn Story, but considering Ormendahl looks likely to be a side-story villain already and we have multiple unresolved main storylines (Nahiri, Cryptoliths, Sea God, Gitrog Toad, Heron Moon)... an extra serving of Tovolar is probably not going to do him much justice.
I think Tovolar "can" transform back, but actively chooses not to and revels in his transformation. But it's not really clear and that's always just how I've interpreted it. I'm glad there is a mention of Wolfir (though I have a feeling this is the only one in this set at least since the flavor text feels kind of like hamfisted exposition), but maybe other ones include other bits of the story of Wolfir post AVR or simply had too much text to give more explanation) just to acknowledge their existence. I hope the story behind them is expanded on in an Uncharted Realms at some point to give it some context. With this card it can be assumed though that a legendary werewolf commander could just be a Wolfir instead of being Tovolar or something, though.
I think an active decision to stay in Werewolf form requires both spirits to exist while transformed naturally, like Arlinn Kord, which is why I think Tovolar has the same condition as Arlinn does. The cursemute probably "forced" the fusion and as a result, the option to transform back became unavailable.
Arlinn probably transforms back because she's a Goldnight Archmage and I don't think she can use her spells to full power while transformed. If Tovolar is just a brute, there's literally no reason for him to ever transform back, honestly speaking (unless it's for infiltration purposes).
Part of me thinks there's too much going on Innistrad that I won't even mind if Arlinn convinces Tovolar to "turn good" instead, she probably needs a second-in-command since she will probably still planeswalk at some point of time. He could be another "villain" for the Arlinn Story, but considering Ormendahl looks likely to be a side-story villain already and we have multiple unresolved main storylines (Nahiri, Cryptoliths, Sea God, Gitrog Toad, Heron Moon)... an extra serving of Tovolar is probably not going to do him much justice.
Like I said, it's wholly possible there is a relation, just that I don't feel strongly that there's a hint to a connection between the two yet in terms of their abilities. I've interpreted Arlinn Kord's ability to flip between forms as sort of a mechanical consolation to make her work as a planeswalker (you can't really do the werewolf transformation style on a planeswalker, and the inabaility to transform after her first walk is probably a way to justify her possibly not transforming into a werewolf or back into a human in blocks that don't feature the mechanic), but maybe they tie it more into the story, only Tovolar uses the ability to control his transformation to remain in one form permanently instead of combining them for the best of both like Arlinn. I just justified the difference in my mind that it's probably a lot easier to maintain wolf form than human form since it probably mostly requires you to only "give in" to the more powerful, savage nature of the wolf instead of fighting it like most humans do which always inevitably results in failure.
I still think Tovolar is the best choice for a werewolf commander if flipping between 2 legendary creature sides is still an issue and I'm strongly expecting to see him here in the block somewhere, but since Wolfir are now able to support other wolves and werewolves mechanically now I think it's probably less 100% in stone to be Tovolar than it was in my opinion before.
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.
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?
That's assuming that what we're seeing from the Nahiri storyline is happening currently. There's a fair possibility that the story is being told non-sequentially as Jace investigates and Nahiri plot is being told as a series of flashbacks.
If Emrakul is part of the story, itshe is already on Innistrad and causing the mutations we've been seeing.
I think Tovolar "can" transform back, but actively chooses not to and revels in his transformation. But it's not really clear and that's always just how I've interpreted it. I'm glad there is a mention of Wolfir (though I have a feeling this is the only one in this set at least since the flavor text feels kind of like hamfisted exposition), but maybe other ones include other bits of the story of Wolfir post AVR or simply had too much text to give more explanation) just to acknowledge their existence. I hope the story behind them is expanded on in an Uncharted Realms at some point to give it some context. With this card it can be assumed though that a legendary werewolf commander could just be a Wolfir instead of being Tovolar or something, though.
I think an active decision to stay in Werewolf form requires both spirits to exist while transformed naturally, like Arlinn Kord, which is why I think Tovolar has the same condition as Arlinn does. The cursemute probably "forced" the fusion and as a result, the option to transform back became unavailable.
Arlinn probably transforms back because she's a Goldnight Archmage and I don't think she can use her spells to full power while transformed. If Tovolar is just a brute, there's literally no reason for him to ever transform back, honestly speaking (unless it's for infiltration purposes).
Part of me thinks there's too much going on Innistrad that I won't even mind if Arlinn convinces Tovolar to "turn good" instead, she probably needs a second-in-command since she will probably still planeswalk at some point of time. He could be another "villain" for the Arlinn Story, but considering Ormendahl looks likely to be a side-story villain already and we have multiple unresolved main storylines (Nahiri, Cryptoliths, Sea God, Gitrog Toad, Heron Moon)... an extra serving of Tovolar is probably not going to do him much justice.
That's not entirely true. Tovolar was described well before the Cursemute as being the head of the Mondronen pack and not being seen in human form. I could be off on this but the curse of lycanthropy embeds the host with two souls. It takes training and focus and willpower to control the human one over the wolf one, but it can be done to an extent. Plus to remain in wolf form seems like it'd just be giving in to the wild soul. Not a merging of the two.
Arlinn's ability to control the transformation is tied entirely to her spark as described by her walker profile. She could keep the transformation at bay by practicing goldnight rituals, bUT it eventually overwhelmed her. Her spark igniting and her traveling to a new world is where the souls fused together. She and Tovolar are very different cases.
Sorry. Not trying to come across as rude or critical. Just trying to help out with info. Werewolves are one of my bif fanboy areas.
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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.
"Stromkirk. Unwilling to take part in the political and social machinations of Stensian vampires, those of the Stromkirk line chose to concentrate their power in Nephalia instead. As a result their disguising glamers are more powerful and more sophisticated. Stromkirk's progenitor, Runo Stromkirk, was a high priest in life who worshipped a pre-Avacynian god of the sea and storms, and Stromkirk vampires still feel a slight affinity with the coast. Some Stromkirk elders have achieved the ability to transform themselves into mist."
Not sure if new, but interesting. Makes sense with Drownyard Temple.
That's not entirely true. Tovolar was described well before the Cursemute as being the head of the Mondronen pack and not being seen in human form. I could be off on this but the curse of lycanthropy embeds the host with two souls. It takes training and focus and willpower to control the human one over the wolf one, but it can be done to an extent. Plus to remain in wolf form seems like it'd just be giving in to the wild soul. Not a merging of the two.
Arlinn's ability to control the transformation is tied entirely to her spark as described by her walker profile. She could keep the transformation at bay by practicing goldnight rituals, bUT it eventually overwhelmed her. Her spark igniting and her traveling to a new world is where the souls fused together. She and Tovolar are very different cases.
Sorry. Not trying to come across as rude or critical. Just trying to help out with info. Werewolves are one of my bif fanboy areas.
I'm just drawing from Mondronen Shaman that Tovolar can indeed understand and process human language while transformed and therefore has his human soul conscious while transformed, like Arlinn. I've probably used the word "fused" too casually, so I apologize for that. It's implied that if you train the Human Soul to remain conscious, you inhibit/reverse the transformation (which is what most werewolves initially attempt to do, including Arlinn then, I think), but Tovolar managed to train his Human Soul to remain conscious and yet remained transformed doing so.
It's possible that Mondronen Shaman was talking to an untransformed Tovolar and Tovolar is simply capable to suppressing his Human-Side for extraordinarily long periods of time in favor of the Wolf-Side, but since he was never seen untransformed, I'm more inclined to believe he achieved "fusion" (the capability to dominate using the Human Spirit without regressing the Wolf Spirit's powers).
I'm just drawing from Mondronen Shaman that Tovolar can indeed understand and process human language while transformed and therefore has his human soul conscious while transformed, like Arlinn. I've probably used the word "fused" too casually, so I apologize for that. It's implied that if you train the Human Soul to remain conscious, you inhibit/reverse the transformation (which is what most werewolves initially attempt to do, including Arlinn then, I think), but Tovolar managed to train his Human Soul to remain conscious and yet remained transformed doing so.
It's possible that Mondronen Shaman was talking to an untransformed Tovolar and Tovolar is simply capable to suppressing his Human-Side for extraordinarily long periods of time in favor of the Wolf-Side, but since he was never seen untransformed, I'm more inclined to believe he achieved "fusion" (the capability to dominate using the Human Spirit without regressing the Wolf Spirit's powers).
Oh, I know for me I just kind of assume that werewolves can probably at least understand what people say even in werewolf form. I never really gave it much thought I suppose. I never really considered if werewolves maintain what they know as humans. I assume they probably do. I think werewolves remember what they do in wolf form whilst in human form but I forget. I think it actually kind of flip flops.
Remembering how sweet and information the Zendikar artbook was, I can't wait for the Innistrad one. Maybe it'll finally tell us how the heck you become a werewolf in the first place.
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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.
That's not entirely true. Tovolar was described well before the Cursemute as being the head of the Mondronen pack and not being seen in human form. I could be off on this but the curse of lycanthropy embeds the host with two souls. It takes training and focus and willpower to control the human one over the wolf one, but it can be done to an extent. Plus to remain in wolf form seems like it'd just be giving in to the wild soul. Not a merging of the two.
Arlinn's ability to control the transformation is tied entirely to her spark as described by her walker profile. She could keep the transformation at bay by practicing goldnight rituals, bUT it eventually overwhelmed her. Her spark igniting and her traveling to a new world is where the souls fused together. She and Tovolar are very different cases.
Sorry. Not trying to come across as rude or critical. Just trying to help out with info. Werewolves are one of my bif fanboy areas.
I'm just drawing from Mondronen Shaman that Tovolar can indeed understand and process human language while transformed and therefore has his human soul conscious while transformed, like Arlinn. I've probably used the word "fused" too casually, so I apologize for that. It's implied that if you train the Human Soul to remain conscious, you inhibit/reverse the transformation (which is what most werewolves initially attempt to do, including Arlinn then, I think), but Tovolar managed to train his Human Soul to remain conscious and yet remained transformed doing so.
It's possible that Mondronen Shaman was talking to an untransformed Tovolar and Tovolar is simply capable to suppressing his Human-Side for extraordinarily long periods of time in favor of the Wolf-Side, but since he was never seen untransformed, I'm more inclined to believe he achieved "fusion" (the capability to dominate using the Human Spirit without regressing the Wolf Spirit's powers).
He very well might have. That explanation makes sense. Unfortunately werwolves are still a little fuzzy in terms of how the souls interact. Outside of the wolfir description and Arlinn, we don't know much. Tovolar's ability was referred to as very unique among the pack leaders, but all we know is that he had the ability before the Cursemute. He very well may have learned to control his wolf soul. His plan to perform a blood ritual to cast lycanthropy throughout Avabruck certainly seems very complex for a wild mind.
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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.
I really doubt it's related to the release of Ormendahl. But I suspect it's part of whatever after effect of what's going on in Nephalia at Nahiri's hand. No one constructs a temple and redirects a plane's mana unless it's something huge. Not saying it's Emrakul, but it's Emra... just kidding. But Griselbrand didn't change the weather forecast when the Helvault shattered, so I doubt Ormendahl would.
Either way, as a weather nerd/storm chaser all I see is tornadoes missing cows flying through them as an homage to Twister. I'm so adding cows.
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.
I really doubt it's related to the release of Ormendahl. But I suspect it's part of whatever after effect of what's going on in Nephalia at Nahiri's hand. No one constructs a temple and redirects a plane's mana unless it's something huge. Not saying it's Emrakul, but it's Emra... just kidding. But Griselbrand didn't change the weather forecast when the Helvault shattered, so I doubt Ormendahl would.
Either way, as a weather nerd/storm chaser all I see is tornadoes missing cows flying through them as an homage to Twister. I'm so adding cows.
It would be hilarious if it was an interplanar portal designed to bring a titan from Zendikar to Innistrad, but Nahiri doesn't know that Koz and Ula are dead and Em is gone.
On the Tovolar discussion: In original Innistrad it is stated that he is never seen to transform back to a human, and also that he and the Mondronen pack practice bloodmagic (the use of blood magic was how they were finally able to break through the protective wards of Avabruck) This implies to me that he actually retains a large degree of intelligence in his werewolf form and is not just a ravaging brute, as he can conduct, and direct his followers in conducting, rituals and spell-casting all while never being seen to take his human form.
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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"
I hope it turns out the moon is being used to radiant insanity and corruption like the Infinite Tsukuyomi from Naruto. So Jace has to go all Piccolo and blow up the moon.
Why is everyone assuming that there is one thing behind all the insanity and cryptoliths? Isn't it just as likely that there are several big bads all attempting to carry out their plots? Because I currently see 4 threads that may or may not be connected: cryptoliths, vampire insanity, human mutation/corruption, angel madness.
I find it amusing how many people were like "There's not going to be any werewolves in SOI because they got turned into Wolfir." And now it's the Wolfir that are almost gone.
I hope it turns out the moon is being used to radiant insanity and corruption like the Infinite Tsukuyomi from Naruto. So Jace has to go all Piccolo and blow up the moon.
The most insane part of that theory is Jace blowing up the moon, we already know he is mono blue still so no access to Land Destruction.
Wasn't it stated the Titans were still weak in RoE, and Emrakul was the first to regain her strength and left prior to BfZ? She could be a whole lot more powerful now than when we last saw her. ::shudder::
That's assuming that what we're seeing from the Nahiri storyline is happening currently. There's a fair possibility that the story is being told non-sequentially as Jace investigates and Nahiri plot is being told as a series of flashbacks.
Apparently the Wolfir are hunted to near-extinction, considering only the Silverfurs are remaining. Seeing what happened to Avacyn and that Avacyn was the one who cast the Cursemute, I think the Wolfir got backstabbed and got hunted by all parties.
Considering the Wolfir stay in "Werewolf" form permanently and seem to have some sense of restraint, is it likely that their human spirit is infused with the nature spirit, like Arlinn Kord? I'm having difficulty seeing Arlinn solely leading the most of the werewolf packs all the time and considering that only the Silverfurs remain, she could possibly make the pack accept them as lieutenants of some sort? Arlinn most likely will have to planeswalk at some point of time, so I doubt she would just leave the entire pack to run wild.
Perhaps the "Legendary Werewolf" (was it Tovolar?) that can permanently remain in Werewolf form also has the same affliction naturally, except he doesn't have the spark and wasn't under the cursemute either and from Mondronen Shaman, probably commands a large pack by himself, the same way Arlinn does.
Wolfir are formed by the fusion of the human spirit and the nature spirit so they don't actually transform at all (since the transformation is, flavorfully, the human flipping between their human nature and instincts and savagery of beasts) and are just creature type Wolves (whereas probably all werewolves that "can" transform, including presumably the hypothetical non-transforming commander would probably still be typed as Werewolf since they'd still have the human spirit and the nature spirit in the same body, but I guess the wolf would simply subdue their humanity? I dunno), so there isn't any relation with the established information we know between them and Arlinn Kord, but it doesn't preclude the possibility.
But the people behind the barrier knew.
Seems somewhat logical. I think the card heavily implies that Avacyn has been hunting the wolfir. The implication has always been that werewolves were hunted by angels, the church and the citizenry, but seems that the wolfir are now nearly-extinct as well; and I believe there weren't many to begin with.
As to the Arlinn point, I think it's more likely that the pack she seems to lead is similar to most wolf packs in that the alpha is respected and followed. I doubt there's much in terms of a rigid structure. If she's walking to another plane, the pack probably just defers to a new alpha and follows that lead. I wouldn't be surprised though if Tovolar is the legendary werewolf. He ties in with Arlinn as it was his pack that turned the citizenry of Avabruck into werewolves and likely Arlinn herself. Now as for him never transforming back to human- form, I don't see that as a wolfir condition, but you could be right that it's something similar to Arlinn. God I just want Arlinn to get some good story-time, and not just have Jace shoved down our throats.
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
Great explanations. I kind of feel like wizards tried something new with the wolfir, but like most of AVR, it was so disconnected from the rest of the block they're trying to sweep it under the rug.
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
I think an active decision to stay in Werewolf form requires both spirits to exist while transformed naturally, like Arlinn Kord, which is why I think Tovolar has the same condition as Arlinn does. The cursemute probably "forced" the fusion and as a result, the option to transform back became unavailable.
Arlinn probably transforms back because she's a Goldnight Archmage and I don't think she can use her spells to full power while transformed. If Tovolar is just a brute, there's literally no reason for him to ever transform back, honestly speaking (unless it's for infiltration purposes).
Part of me thinks there's too much going on Innistrad that I won't even mind if Arlinn convinces Tovolar to "turn good" instead, she probably needs a second-in-command since she will probably still planeswalk at some point of time. He could be another "villain" for the Arlinn Story, but considering Ormendahl looks likely to be a side-story villain already and we have multiple unresolved main storylines (Nahiri, Cryptoliths, Sea God, Gitrog Toad, Heron Moon)... an extra serving of Tovolar is probably not going to do him much justice.
Like I said, it's wholly possible there is a relation, just that I don't feel strongly that there's a hint to a connection between the two yet in terms of their abilities. I've interpreted Arlinn Kord's ability to flip between forms as sort of a mechanical consolation to make her work as a planeswalker (you can't really do the werewolf transformation style on a planeswalker, and the inabaility to transform after her first walk is probably a way to justify her possibly not transforming into a werewolf or back into a human in blocks that don't feature the mechanic), but maybe they tie it more into the story, only Tovolar uses the ability to control his transformation to remain in one form permanently instead of combining them for the best of both like Arlinn. I just justified the difference in my mind that it's probably a lot easier to maintain wolf form than human form since it probably mostly requires you to only "give in" to the more powerful, savage nature of the wolf instead of fighting it like most humans do which always inevitably results in failure.
I still think Tovolar is the best choice for a werewolf commander if flipping between 2 legendary creature sides is still an issue and I'm strongly expecting to see him here in the block somewhere, but since Wolfir are now able to support other wolves and werewolves mechanically now I think it's probably less 100% in stone to be Tovolar than it was in my opinion before.
But the people behind the barrier knew.
If Emrakul is part of the story, itshe is already on Innistrad and causing the mutations we've been seeing.
That's not entirely true. Tovolar was described well before the Cursemute as being the head of the Mondronen pack and not being seen in human form. I could be off on this but the curse of lycanthropy embeds the host with two souls. It takes training and focus and willpower to control the human one over the wolf one, but it can be done to an extent. Plus to remain in wolf form seems like it'd just be giving in to the wild soul. Not a merging of the two.
Arlinn's ability to control the transformation is tied entirely to her spark as described by her walker profile. She could keep the transformation at bay by practicing goldnight rituals, bUT it eventually overwhelmed her. Her spark igniting and her traveling to a new world is where the souls fused together. She and Tovolar are very different cases.
Sorry. Not trying to come across as rude or critical. Just trying to help out with info. Werewolves are one of my bif fanboy areas.
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
"Stromkirk. Unwilling to take part in the political and social machinations of Stensian vampires, those of the Stromkirk line chose to concentrate their power in Nephalia instead. As a result their disguising glamers are more powerful and more sophisticated. Stromkirk's progenitor, Runo Stromkirk, was a high priest in life who worshipped a pre-Avacynian god of the sea and storms, and Stromkirk vampires still feel a slight affinity with the coast. Some Stromkirk elders have achieved the ability to transform themselves into mist."
Not sure if new, but interesting. Makes sense with Drownyard Temple.
I'm just drawing from Mondronen Shaman that Tovolar can indeed understand and process human language while transformed and therefore has his human soul conscious while transformed, like Arlinn. I've probably used the word "fused" too casually, so I apologize for that. It's implied that if you train the Human Soul to remain conscious, you inhibit/reverse the transformation (which is what most werewolves initially attempt to do, including Arlinn then, I think), but Tovolar managed to train his Human Soul to remain conscious and yet remained transformed doing so.
It's possible that Mondronen Shaman was talking to an untransformed Tovolar and Tovolar is simply capable to suppressing his Human-Side for extraordinarily long periods of time in favor of the Wolf-Side, but since he was never seen untransformed, I'm more inclined to believe he achieved "fusion" (the capability to dominate using the Human Spirit without regressing the Wolf Spirit's powers).
Oh, I know for me I just kind of assume that werewolves can probably at least understand what people say even in werewolf form. I never really gave it much thought I suppose. I never really considered if werewolves maintain what they know as humans. I assume they probably do. I think werewolves remember what they do in wolf form whilst in human form but I forget. I think it actually kind of flip flops.
Remembering how sweet and information the Zendikar artbook was, I can't wait for the Innistrad one. Maybe it'll finally tell us how the heck you become a werewolf in the first place.
But the people behind the barrier knew.
He very well might have. That explanation makes sense. Unfortunately werwolves are still a little fuzzy in terms of how the souls interact. Outside of the wolfir description and Arlinn, we don't know much. Tovolar's ability was referred to as very unique among the pack leaders, but all we know is that he had the ability before the Cursemute. He very well may have learned to control his wolf soul. His plan to perform a blood ritual to cast lycanthropy throughout Avabruck certainly seems very complex for a wild mind.
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, what do we all think about this? Does this point to anything (or away from anything)?
What a Plot Twister
Either way, as a weather nerd/storm chaser all I see is tornadoes missing cows flying through them as an homage to Twister. I'm so adding cows.
(Also known as Xenphire)
Clap clap
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
It would be hilarious if it was an interplanar portal designed to bring a titan from Zendikar to Innistrad, but Nahiri doesn't know that Koz and Ula are dead and Em is gone.
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
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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"
The most insane part of that theory is Jace blowing up the moon, we already know he is mono blue still so no access to Land Destruction.
Dragons of Legend, Lead by Scion of the UR-Dragon
The Gitrog Monster
Gonti, Lord of Luxury
Shogun Saskia
Hive World
Atraxa hates fun
Abzan