I like the cards here. I do hope you flesh out a background plane for them at some point.
Most of the cards look to be fine. I could easily see them being printed as is or in an Asian-influenced set.
But there are some concerns I had:
-Chant seems possibly too strong. Even two unblocked hits [it currently triggers for every creature] a turn provides a lot of value.
It's not too overpowered a mechanic, but I think it would make for a quite powerful deck archetype if built around, like Bogles. It also depends on what rare Chants there are.
Beast Trainer3R
Creature — Human Warrior (C)
Whenever Beast Trainer attacks, if you control a non-Human, non-Valii creature, Beast Trainer gains first strike until end of turn. Fighting alongside bonded creatures, instead of against deadly ones, has long been a popular pastime in Satura.
4/3
Curving BoltR
Sorcery (C)
Hexproof
Curving Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature. The Saturalians reluctantly turned to the Ixway to trade for new spells.
Exuberant Firestoker2R
Creature — Human Druid Shaman (U)
At the beginning of your end step, if you control a creature with power 5 or greater, you may have Exuberant Firestoker deal 2 damage to target player or planeswalker.
T: Add 1. Passions stirred at the Saturan bonfires are not always easy to contain.
[REPRINT]
Firecall2RR
Instant (C)
Firecall deals 2 damage to each opponent and any planeswalkers they control. A tool to deal with interfering mages, and a way to get the audience’s attention after the intermission.
Igneous Hellion3R
Creature — Elemental Wurm (R)
Trample
When Igneous Hellion comes into play, sacrifice two lands. Those who ventured into the Sieved Mountains learned how they were formed - firsthand.
6/6
Lava Channeler TeamR
Creature — Valii Wizard (U)
You may spend red mana as if it were white or blue mana.
1/1
Master of the Double Axe2R
Creature — Human Warrior (C)
Equip abilities cost 1 less to activate if they target Master of the Double Axe. There were dozens of Masters of this popular style at any one time, but Sahana was the most well-known.
3/2
Mindfire Stalker4R
Creature — Elemental Beast (U)
Trample
When Mindfire Stalker deals combat damage to a player or Planeswalker, target player discards their hand and draws that many cards. It eats memories - and heads in the process.
4/4
Proven To The Goddess 4R
Sorcery (M)
Double target creature’s power. That creature gains trample. For a lucky few, Satura’s blessings became permanent.
Scorching Mirage1R
Enchantment (C)
Flash
When Scorching Mirage comes into play, it deals 2 damage to any target.
When a creature dealt damage by Scorching Mirage this turn attacks, sacrifice Scorching Mirage. If you do, destroy that creature.
Show Wrestler1R
Creature — Human (C)
Put a +1/+1 counter on Show Wrestler each time it attacks alone. “Aaand in this corner...”
2/2
Blazing Visage FighterR
Creature — Valii Warrior (C)
When Blazing Visage Fighter comes into play, it deals 1 damage to target player. The school of The Blazing Visage used directed auras to great effect.
1/1
Overzealous Protection1R
Enchantment — Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/-1, and must block if able.
Clearcut2R
Sorcery (C)
Destroy target land. Add one mana of any color.
Fenced Memories2B
Instant (U)
Target player may pay X, where X is the converted mana cost of target non-creature spell in that player’s graveyard. If they don’t, you may cast that spell without paying its mana cost. You lose X life.
Geistgear Analyst2B
Creature — Valii Wizard (C)
When Geistgear Analyst comes into play, if there are six or more creature cards in your graveyard, draw a card. “Data patterns are predicting troubles to come. What those troubles are... we’re still figuring that out.”
1/2
Harvester CannonB
Legendary Artifact — Equipment (R)
Equipped creature has ‘Sacrifice a non-token creature: Destroy target creature.’.
Equip 5 This sacred Hgali weapon converts life essence into destructive negative energy.
Hgali Welcomer2B
Creature — Zombie Cleric (C)
2, T: Target creature that entered the battlefield from a graveyard this turn gains Haste until end of turn. Most migrants to Hgali are those deeply afraid of dying. The Welcomers are trusted guides and sources of assurance.
1/2
Monsters Beyond Reach4B
Creature — Horror (U)
Monsters Beyond Reach can only be blocked by Horrors.
If Monsters Beyond Reach would die, instead exile it, then return it to the battlefield on your next end step. There are things in the deepest sewers and mineshafts that make even the oldest souls in Hgali shudder.
3/4
Necroblast1B
Sorcery (C)
Destroy target nonartifact creature with converted mana cost lower than the number of cards in your graveyard. Hgali was a comparatively peaceful nation. But their security forces know how to strike an enemy down if needed.
The Passed Arisen1B
Creature — Zombie (C)
Gravestep (This creature cannot be blocked if there are six or more creature cards in defending player’s graveyard.) In Hgali, they are the innocent patients suffering from the Hunger. Elsewhere, they are undead monsters, feared and hunted.
2/2
Commit to the VoidB
Instant (U)
Counter target white spell.
You lose 2 life. Resisting the white mana that infuses the whole of Annutia takes a toll.
Deathburden Mammu5B
Creature — Elephant Zombie (C) It passed from its natural clan, but arose to find a new one in the drivers and handlers that used it to haul organs, heavy machinery, even cartloads of passengers.
6/6
Organ Dealer2B
Creature — Valii (C)
Sacrifice another creature you control: Put a stock counter on Organ Dealer.
Remove a stock counter from Organ Dealer: Regenerate target creature.
2/1
Prison of the Body2B
Enchantment — Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gains Defender.
Whenever enchanted creature blocks, its controller loses 2 life.
Rattling Iconoclast1B
Creature — Skeleton (C)
If you exiled two or more creature cards from your graveyard this turn, Rattling Iconoclast costs 1 less to play. The Bone Cult was an underground movement in Hgali that touted the supremacy of Skeletal existence.
2/2
Sloughing RaiboB
Creature — Beast Zombie (C)
Fear (This creature can’t be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures.) Even the fluffy livestock Raibo looked quite different in Hgali.
1/1
Hypohemalic PeasantB
Creature - Valii Vampire (C)
First Strike
Whenever a creature dealt damage by Hypohemalic Peasant this turn dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Hypohemalic Peasant.
1/1
Ossic Induction1B
Sorcery (U)
Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature. That creature gains the Skeleton creature type, and “1: Regenerate this creature.” Sel’s followers were stronger and faster than most other Skeletal in Hgali.
Capitol University StudentU
Creature — Human (C)
T: Look at the top card of your library. Most of the Ixway population is involved in academia, one way or another.
1/1
Covert Operative4U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
Covert Operative can’t be blocked. Ixway, Ludia and the Canyonites blamed each other for the attacks, but the Hgali victims suspected them all.
3/2
[REPRINT]
Current Destabilization1U
Instant (C)
Target player may tap two creatures he or she controls that share a color. If he or she doesn’t, counter target spell that player controls. Ixway operatives see physical sabotage and destruction as crude and unnecessary.
Dream Excision1U
Sorcery (C)
Look at the top five cards of target player’s library. You may put any number of them into their owner’s graveyard. Put the remaining cards back on top of that player’s library in any order. “Let’s just get rid of these annoying ambitions, shall we?”
Figment Filcher3U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
When Figment Filcher comes into play, return target artifact or enchantment to its owner’s hand. “Oh sure, let me hold those for you while you try these on. You can trust me.”
2/2
Fuzzy Orbifold2UU
Sorcery (C)
Each player shuffles two cards chosen at random from their hand into their library, then draws two cards.
Shuffle Fuzzy Orbifold into your library.
Intensive CourseUUU
Sorcery (R)
Draw six cards. End your turn. The most expedient form of learning in Ixway is direct neural programming, an operation that leaves the subject immobile for just under an hour.
Weave the Wires2U
Sorcery (C)
Put target artifact with converted mana cost 3 or less from your hand onto the battlefield.
If that artifact is a creature or Vehicle, and R was spent to cast Weave the Wires, it gains Haste until end of turn.
Prison of the Mind2U
Enchantment — Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gains Defender.
Whenever enchanted creature blocks, its controller puts the top three cards of their library into their graveyard.
Spirepeak Hunter3U
Creature - Bird Beast (C)
Flying Just as home nesting on Ixway wind farms as on remote Canyon stacks.
3/3
Spirepeak ClutchU
Creature - Bird Egg (R)
Spirepeak Clutch cannot attack or block.
When Spirepeak Clutch dies, you may search your library for up to four Spirepeak Hunters and put them onto the battlefield tapped.
0/1
Talon and Wing1U
Instant (U)
Target creature with flying fights another target creature with flying. Hunters and Rocs inevitably fought any time their territories overlapped.
A Calm VoyageW
Sorcery (M)
Spells cannot be cast, abilities cannot be activated, and creatures cannot attack for the rest of this turn and during each player’s next turn.
Players cannot win the game until the next time a creature attacks.
Cliffclimber WoalW
Creature — Beast (C)
Cliffclimber Woal gets +1/+1 if you control both an Island and a Mountain. Woals built nests on ledges and cave openings above the canyon rivers, safe from many bigger predators.
1/1
Damping Field2W
Enchantment (U)
Players can’t untap more than one artifact during their untap steps. Contrary to rumor, the Ludians were sometimes content to simply turn off complex devices rather than destroy them.
[REPRINT]
Destroy the Monsters!1W
Sorcery (C)
Destroy target Zombie, Skeleton or Vampire. The Ludians hunted them more as dangerous perversions of nature rather than evil spirits of any particular creed.
A Duel To Honor The Passed1W
Instant (C)
If a creature you control died this turn, up to two target creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. “We do not prevent death from coming, nor do we grieve. We celebrate a loved one being welcomed into the Goddess’ arenas.”
EraseW
Instant (C)
Exile target enchantment. The nations had become very efficient at pruning their neighbours’ growth.
[REPRINT]
Herald the Ambassador1W
Instant (C)
The next time you cast a creature spell this turn, you may tap up to two target creatures. The horns sounded by the guards are often the first declarations of war.
House FizonW
Creature — Cat (C)
House Fizon gets +1/+0 as long as you control another creature. The mountain felids the Fizon was bred from were notorious pack hunters.
1/1
Sample the Town Market1W
Sorcery (C)
Choose one:
-Untap target creature you control.
-Destroy target enchantment attached to a creature you control.
If U or G was spent to play Sample the Town Market, draw a card.
Scatter to the StreamW
Instant (C)
Remove all cards in target graveyard from the game. The Ludians always burned their dead, and did the same to any Hgali expansion towards them.
Sky Patrol Recruit1W
Creature — Valii Soldier (C)
1: Sky Patrol Recruit gains Flying until end of turn.
Sky Patrol Recruit counts as two creatures when used to Crew a Vehicle.
1/2
Expose the TruthWW
Instant (U)
Destroy target White permanent. Sometimes the white mana on Annutia manifests as strictness, cruelty, or hatred, the very things it usually stands against.
[Cards themselves will be posted very shortly in a reply to this]
This is a set I've been adding to for a little while, and while I'm still adding to it, now there's enough to share and get feedback on.
I've been trying to keep the power level from getting too high, but it hasn't been easy as I tried to explore newish design spaces. Please let me know if any of these would be too overpowered, and I'll try to make them more reasonable.
Annutia: Prelude
Annutia is a large plane, filled with high magic and some impressive technology.
While there are thousands of outlying islands, Prelude and it's sequel set, War, would focus on the two main continents, Talut and Reza.
Reza is home to Benazra, the nation of intelligent, warlike unicorns, who've subjugated and spread across their entire continent, and are now planning to conquer distant Talut as well.
Talut is home to five main regions, along with several smaller city-states. Each nation vies for power and influence. Humans and the tough, semi-insectoid humanoids known as 'Valii' make up most of the sentient species on Talut.
Satura is a heavily religious kingdom, that is all about strength [inner and outer], combat, working with nature, and helping one's fellows to improve. They do not shy away from using technology and magic like some of the other nations, but very much look down on using so-called 'tricks' during combat.
This kingdom represents the red-white-green wedge.
The Great Canyon is a massive, branching river and canyon system that bisects the entire continent.
The Canyonites are technologically advanced, but also unpretentious, provincial and more peaceful than its neighbours. A democratic and lawful country, with effective local police and an even stronger military.
Canyonites pioneered the development of flying ships and advanced firearms, as well as hydrodynamic and lava-steam power, which power most of their towns. This region represents the red-white-blue wedge.
Ludia is a kingdom of people who distrust advanced technology and advanced magics, to the point they've outlawed such things and readily seek to destroy them. They are traditionalists and pastoralists, and use passed down druidic magic to help their crops and catches.
Ludia is white-green-blue.
Hgali, the 'Gravecradle', is a region where death is hard to come by, yet decay is everywhere. Structured around either not dying or being resurrected, and harvesting the byproducts of that, Hgali is quite unlike any other nation on the continent. There are no militia, no standing army – but as comes in the second set, many thousands step forward as volunteer soldiers – and only spotty advanced infrastructure, but people find their roles easily. The Evercaring Mothers, angel-like constructs created by the necroficiers, inspire and awe the people as they are one of the few who can restore an individual to perfect health.
The secretive Worm Council are the closest thing Hgali has to a top level government, as they advise the Evercaring Mothers and oversee many other aspects of Hgali life.
Hgali is green-white-black.
Lastly, Ixway is a parliamentary nation centred on the acquisition and preservation of knowledge. They have the highest technology and magic on the plane. As the level of one's knowledge and education greatly influences one's status, Ixway citizens always strive to learn more.
Ixway has little direct military strength – but they have many large, advanced tanks and robots at their disposal if trade, negotiations, saboteurs or covert sniper teams fail.
It is the highest honor for an Ixwayan to be Uploaded – converted to data and become free to 'live' forever and continue to learn and improve themselves beyond their mortal shell's span. Failing this, many people opt for cybernetic implants to enhance or lengthen their lives.
Ixway represents the blue-black-white wedge.
THEMES & MECHANICS
So far, I haven't been inspired to create many new mechanics for this set. Beyond 'Gravestep', a mechanic unique to the Hgali, most cards simply evoke their flavour through simpler effects.
However, there are some strong themes that have already emerged as I've added cards:
-Politics and International Rivalry
-Anti-Magic Attitudes
-Secrets and Deception
-Differing Viewpoints
-Creature Presence Matters
-Multiplayer Nods
There are also the five Signature Enchantments that capture the flavor of and [mostly] play to the styles of their wedge's realm: Mortis Abeyance, Lex Saturali, Artifice Suppression Zone, Self-Maintaining Archive, and Canyon Wind Shears. They are so signature that ideally they'd be distributed in a way to make them a bit less rare than other rares – maybe getting a prerelease copy, depending on what realm you chose.
Most of the cards look to be fine. I could easily see them being printed as is or in an Asian-influenced set.
But there are some concerns I had:
-Chant seems possibly too strong. Even two unblocked hits [it currently triggers for every creature] a turn provides a lot of value.
It's not too overpowered a mechanic, but I think it would make for a quite powerful deck archetype if built around, like Bogles. It also depends on what rare Chants there are.
-Disturb a Dragon seems much too powerful for a common. Compare it to Char, Flames of the Blood Hand, and Bathe In Dragonfire/Bombard. 4 to any target should be an uncommon at least, and with an upside a rare.
Beast Trainer 3R
Creature — Human Warrior (C)
Whenever Beast Trainer attacks, if you control a non-Human, non-Valii creature, Beast Trainer gains first strike until end of turn.
Fighting alongside bonded creatures, instead of against deadly ones, has long been a popular pastime in Satura.
4/3
Curving Bolt R
Sorcery (C)
Hexproof
Curving Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature.
The Saturalians reluctantly turned to the Ixway to trade for new spells.
Exuberant Firestoker 2R
Creature — Human Druid Shaman (U)
At the beginning of your end step, if you control a creature with power 5 or greater, you may have Exuberant Firestoker deal 2 damage to target player or planeswalker.
T: Add 1.
Passions stirred at the Saturan bonfires are not always easy to contain.
[REPRINT]
Firecall 2RR
Instant (C)
Firecall deals 2 damage to each opponent and any planeswalkers they control.
A tool to deal with interfering mages, and a way to get the audience’s attention after the intermission.
Igneous Hellion 3R
Creature — Elemental Wurm (R)
Trample
When Igneous Hellion comes into play, sacrifice two lands.
Those who ventured into the Sieved Mountains learned how they were formed - firsthand.
6/6
Lava Channeler Team R
Creature — Valii Wizard (U)
You may spend red mana as if it were white or blue mana.
1/1
Master of the Double Axe 2R
Creature — Human Warrior (C)
Equip abilities cost 1 less to activate if they target Master of the Double Axe.
There were dozens of Masters of this popular style at any one time, but Sahana was the most well-known.
3/2
Mindfire Stalker 4R
Creature — Elemental Beast (U)
Trample
When Mindfire Stalker deals combat damage to a player or Planeswalker, target player discards their hand and draws that many cards.
It eats memories - and heads in the process.
4/4
Proven To The Goddess 4R
Sorcery (M)
Double target creature’s power. That creature gains trample.
For a lucky few, Satura’s blessings became permanent.
Scorching Mirage 1R
Enchantment (C)
Flash
When Scorching Mirage comes into play, it deals 2 damage to any target.
When a creature dealt damage by Scorching Mirage this turn attacks, sacrifice Scorching Mirage. If you do, destroy that creature.
Show Wrestler 1R
Creature — Human (C)
Put a +1/+1 counter on Show Wrestler each time it attacks alone.
“Aaand in this corner...”
2/2
Blazing Visage Fighter R
Creature — Valii Warrior (C)
When Blazing Visage Fighter comes into play, it deals 1 damage to target player.
The school of The Blazing Visage used directed auras to great effect.
1/1
Overzealous Protection 1R
Enchantment — Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/-1, and must block if able.
Clearcut 2R
Sorcery (C)
Destroy target land. Add one mana of any color.
Fenced Memories 2B
Instant (U)
Target player may pay X, where X is the converted mana cost of target non-creature spell in that player’s graveyard. If they don’t, you may cast that spell without paying its mana cost. You lose X life.
Geistgear Analyst 2B
Creature — Valii Wizard (C)
When Geistgear Analyst comes into play, if there are six or more creature cards in your graveyard, draw a card.
“Data patterns are predicting troubles to come. What those troubles are... we’re still figuring that out.”
1/2
Harvester Cannon B
Legendary Artifact — Equipment (R)
Equipped creature has ‘Sacrifice a non-token creature: Destroy target creature.’.
Equip 5
This sacred Hgali weapon converts life essence into destructive negative energy.
Hgali Welcomer 2B
Creature — Zombie Cleric (C)
2, T: Target creature that entered the battlefield from a graveyard this turn gains Haste until end of turn.
Most migrants to Hgali are those deeply afraid of dying. The Welcomers are trusted guides and sources of assurance.
1/2
Monsters Beyond Reach 4B
Creature — Horror (U)
Monsters Beyond Reach can only be blocked by Horrors.
If Monsters Beyond Reach would die, instead exile it, then return it to the battlefield on your next end step.
There are things in the deepest sewers and mineshafts that make even the oldest souls in Hgali shudder.
3/4
Necroblast 1B
Sorcery (C)
Destroy target nonartifact creature with converted mana cost lower than the number of cards in your graveyard.
Hgali was a comparatively peaceful nation. But their security forces know how to strike an enemy down if needed.
The Passed Arisen 1B
Creature — Zombie (C)
Gravestep (This creature cannot be blocked if there are six or more creature cards in defending player’s graveyard.)
In Hgali, they are the innocent patients suffering from the Hunger. Elsewhere, they are undead monsters, feared and hunted.
2/2
Commit to the Void B
Instant (U)
Counter target white spell.
You lose 2 life.
Resisting the white mana that infuses the whole of Annutia takes a toll.
Deathburden Mammu 5B
Creature — Elephant Zombie (C)
It passed from its natural clan, but arose to find a new one in the drivers and handlers that used it to haul organs, heavy machinery, even cartloads of passengers.
6/6
Organ Dealer 2B
Creature — Valii (C)
Sacrifice another creature you control: Put a stock counter on Organ Dealer.
Remove a stock counter from Organ Dealer: Regenerate target creature.
2/1
Prison of the Body 2B
Enchantment — Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gains Defender.
Whenever enchanted creature blocks, its controller loses 2 life.
Rattling Iconoclast 1B
Creature — Skeleton (C)
If you exiled two or more creature cards from your graveyard this turn, Rattling Iconoclast costs 1 less to play.
The Bone Cult was an underground movement in Hgali that touted the supremacy of Skeletal existence.
2/2
Sloughing Raibo B
Creature — Beast Zombie (C)
Fear (This creature can’t be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures.)
Even the fluffy livestock Raibo looked quite different in Hgali.
1/1
Hypohemalic Peasant B
Creature - Valii Vampire (C)
First Strike
Whenever a creature dealt damage by Hypohemalic Peasant this turn dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Hypohemalic Peasant.
1/1
Ossic Induction 1B
Sorcery (U)
Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature. That creature gains the Skeleton creature type, and “1: Regenerate this creature.”
Sel’s followers were stronger and faster than most other Skeletal in Hgali.
Capitol University Student U
Creature — Human (C)
T: Look at the top card of your library.
Most of the Ixway population is involved in academia, one way or another.
1/1
Covert Operative 4U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
Covert Operative can’t be blocked.
Ixway, Ludia and the Canyonites blamed each other for the attacks, but the Hgali victims suspected them all.
3/2
[REPRINT]
Current Destabilization 1U
Instant (C)
Target player may tap two creatures he or she controls that share a color. If he or she doesn’t, counter target spell that player controls.
Ixway operatives see physical sabotage and destruction as crude and unnecessary.
Dream Excision 1U
Sorcery (C)
Look at the top five cards of target player’s library. You may put any number of them into their owner’s graveyard. Put the remaining cards back on top of that player’s library in any order.
“Let’s just get rid of these annoying ambitions, shall we?”
Figment Filcher 3U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
When Figment Filcher comes into play, return target artifact or enchantment to its owner’s hand.
“Oh sure, let me hold those for you while you try these on. You can trust me.”
2/2
Fuzzy Orbifold 2UU
Sorcery (C)
Each player shuffles two cards chosen at random from their hand into their library, then draws two cards.
Shuffle Fuzzy Orbifold into your library.
Intensive Course UUU
Sorcery (R)
Draw six cards. End your turn.
The most expedient form of learning in Ixway is direct neural programming, an operation that leaves the subject immobile for just under an hour.
Weave the Wires 2U
Sorcery (C)
Put target artifact with converted mana cost 3 or less from your hand onto the battlefield.
If that artifact is a creature or Vehicle, and R was spent to cast Weave the Wires, it gains Haste until end of turn.
Prison of the Mind 2U
Enchantment — Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gains Defender.
Whenever enchanted creature blocks, its controller puts the top three cards of their library into their graveyard.
Spirepeak Hunter 3U
Creature - Bird Beast (C)
Flying
Just as home nesting on Ixway wind farms as on remote Canyon stacks.
3/3
Spirepeak Clutch U
Creature - Bird Egg (R)
Spirepeak Clutch cannot attack or block.
When Spirepeak Clutch dies, you may search your library for up to four Spirepeak Hunters and put them onto the battlefield tapped.
0/1
Talon and Wing 1U
Instant (U)
Target creature with flying fights another target creature with flying.
Hunters and Rocs inevitably fought any time their territories overlapped.
A Calm Voyage W
Sorcery (M)
Spells cannot be cast, abilities cannot be activated, and creatures cannot attack for the rest of this turn and during each player’s next turn.
Players cannot win the game until the next time a creature attacks.
Cliffclimber Woal W
Creature — Beast (C)
Cliffclimber Woal gets +1/+1 if you control both an Island and a Mountain.
Woals built nests on ledges and cave openings above the canyon rivers, safe from many bigger predators.
1/1
Damping Field 2W
Enchantment (U)
Players can’t untap more than one artifact during their untap steps.
Contrary to rumor, the Ludians were sometimes content to simply turn off complex devices rather than destroy them.
[REPRINT]
Destroy the Monsters! 1W
Sorcery (C)
Destroy target Zombie, Skeleton or Vampire.
The Ludians hunted them more as dangerous perversions of nature rather than evil spirits of any particular creed.
A Duel To Honor The Passed 1W
Instant (C)
If a creature you control died this turn, up to two target creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.
“We do not prevent death from coming, nor do we grieve. We celebrate a loved one being welcomed into the Goddess’ arenas.”
Erase W
Instant (C)
Exile target enchantment.
The nations had become very efficient at pruning their neighbours’ growth.
[REPRINT]
Herald the Ambassador 1W
Instant (C)
The next time you cast a creature spell this turn, you may tap up to two target creatures.
The horns sounded by the guards are often the first declarations of war.
House Fizon W
Creature — Cat (C)
House Fizon gets +1/+0 as long as you control another creature.
The mountain felids the Fizon was bred from were notorious pack hunters.
1/1
Sample the Town Market 1W
Sorcery (C)
Choose one:
-Untap target creature you control.
-Destroy target enchantment attached to a creature you control.
If U or G was spent to play Sample the Town Market, draw a card.
Scatter to the Stream W
Instant (C)
Remove all cards in target graveyard from the game.
The Ludians always burned their dead, and did the same to any Hgali expansion towards them.
Sky Patrol Recruit 1W
Creature — Valii Soldier (C)
1: Sky Patrol Recruit gains Flying until end of turn.
Sky Patrol Recruit counts as two creatures when used to Crew a Vehicle.
1/2
Expose the Truth WW
Instant (U)
Destroy target White permanent.
Sometimes the white mana on Annutia manifests as strictness, cruelty, or hatred, the very things it usually stands against.
This is a set I've been adding to for a little while, and while I'm still adding to it, now there's enough to share and get feedback on.
I've been trying to keep the power level from getting too high, but it hasn't been easy as I tried to explore newish design spaces. Please let me know if any of these would be too overpowered, and I'll try to make them more reasonable.
Annutia: Prelude
Annutia is a large plane, filled with high magic and some impressive technology.
While there are thousands of outlying islands, Prelude and it's sequel set, War, would focus on the two main continents, Talut and Reza.
Reza is home to Benazra, the nation of intelligent, warlike unicorns, who've subjugated and spread across their entire continent, and are now planning to conquer distant Talut as well.
Talut is home to five main regions, along with several smaller city-states. Each nation vies for power and influence. Humans and the tough, semi-insectoid humanoids known as 'Valii' make up most of the sentient species on Talut.
This kingdom represents the red-white-green wedge.
The Canyonites are technologically advanced, but also unpretentious, provincial and more peaceful than its neighbours. A democratic and lawful country, with effective local police and an even stronger military.
Canyonites pioneered the development of flying ships and advanced firearms, as well as hydrodynamic and lava-steam power, which power most of their towns. This region represents the red-white-blue wedge.
Ludia is white-green-blue.
The secretive Worm Council are the closest thing Hgali has to a top level government, as they advise the Evercaring Mothers and oversee many other aspects of Hgali life.
Hgali is green-white-black.
Ixway has little direct military strength – but they have many large, advanced tanks and robots at their disposal if trade, negotiations, saboteurs or covert sniper teams fail.
It is the highest honor for an Ixwayan to be Uploaded – converted to data and become free to 'live' forever and continue to learn and improve themselves beyond their mortal shell's span. Failing this, many people opt for cybernetic implants to enhance or lengthen their lives.
Ixway represents the blue-black-white wedge.
THEMES & MECHANICS
So far, I haven't been inspired to create many new mechanics for this set. Beyond 'Gravestep', a mechanic unique to the Hgali, most cards simply evoke their flavour through simpler effects.
However, there are some strong themes that have already emerged as I've added cards:
-Politics and International Rivalry
-Anti-Magic Attitudes
-Secrets and Deception
-Differing Viewpoints
-Creature Presence Matters
-Multiplayer Nods
There are also the five Signature Enchantments that capture the flavor of and [mostly] play to the styles of their wedge's realm: Mortis Abeyance, Lex Saturali, Artifice Suppression Zone, Self-Maintaining Archive, and Canyon Wind Shears. They are so signature that ideally they'd be distributed in a way to make them a bit less rare than other rares – maybe getting a prerelease copy, depending on what realm you chose.