MTG Story Wednesday

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

As it seems to have become our habit each Wednesday, we here at MTG Realm turn our attention from the regular round-up of Magic: the Gathering news and other frivolities to the new Magic Story posted on the mothersite.  Last week's story was 'The Archmage of Goldnight' and a intriguing background on Arlinn Kord, the newest double-sided Planeswalker.  We will sheepishly admit that we are still uncertain as to how this human actually became a lycan.

Anywhoos, today's story by kelly Digges' article 'Stone and Blood', details the falling out of Nahiri, the Zendikar Kor Planeswalker with Sorin Markov, the Vampire Planeswalker of Innistrad.  

The story was pretty damn awesome.  Very tense reunion of the two (former) friends, resulting confrontation and the consequences.  Long story short, Sorin is a moody elitist, Zendikar suffered in Nahiri's absence and now the stage is set for the devastation of Markov Manor and it's vampire residents which was shown to us when the Shadows Over Innistrad teasers started.

Kelly Digges delivered big in his description of Nahiri's imprisonment within the Helvault.  We were sort of expecting a tea room crammed with demons and other devilry all moaning how much it sucks that there were stuck, made even more awkward when Griselbrand and Avacyn join the party.  Instead, Kelly perfectly describes a void of infinite blackness where one's somatic presence appears to be absent.  A horrifying confinement of a mind or essence until the Helvault is destroyed by Thalia, tricked into this by the Planeswalker Liana Vess who had business with one of the imprisoned demons.

Scooch on over to the Wizards of the Coast Magic Story installment and catch the latest game flavour.

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Cho-Arrim

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Happy Wednesday MTG,

Today's Magic Story installment was titled 'All That Came Before' and was penned by Leah Potyondy.  The fiction today was fabulous and was timed rather well with the upcoming Eternal Masters set.  The one card which was fairly central to the story was Ancestral Mask - we posted this very kewl art to the MTG Realm Tumblr blog earlier today.

We did not start playing Magic: the Gathering until Lorwyn block and really did not know very much of the storyline in the Masques block (Mecadian Masques, Nemesis, Prophecy) from back in 1999-2000.  Today's story was focuses on the Cho-Arrim, a group of humans residing with the massive Rushwood forest.  These people share some traits with the common notion of Elves in that they are a mystical and spiritual folk with a deep sense of appreciation for nature and specifically the (magical) Rushwood forest which which in turn protects them.

There is a threat to the Cho-Arrim from Mercadia City which wants to assert its authority over the forest and its peoples.  A sickness or plague overcomes many within the Cho-Arrim village and Mercadia is suspect in this.  This very well written story wraps ups with the main character, Cho-Akhan gaining an old power which may provide a defense against the Mercadians. 

 

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Shadows Over Innistrad - The War of Angels

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

If you are just coming back from school or work, we need you to stop your routine right now so you can read today’s official Magic Story fiction, wonderfully written up by Ken Troop over on the mothersite.  You will not be disappointed - this story rocked the socks off untold numbers of Magic: the Gathering players waiting for the next story from Shadows Over Innistrad.

Do NOT read onward - - - don't worry, we'll wait until you get back.

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Back ?  Dang!! What a story right ?

Righto - today's post - about about dem Angels and we'll want to do the storyline background, so let's go -

Avacyn
Avacyn is an archangel who inhabits Innistrad, and is the central figure of the Church of Avacyn, who gives the humanity of that plane the faith to fight for survival.  The vampire planeswalker Sorin Markov created her and tasked her with protecting the plane. Through her, the magic of faith would create true power to fend off the darkness. The Church of Avacyn rose from the power Sorin invested in her.  The demon Griselbrand defiantly came to the Helvault and challenged Avacyn to combat. Avacyn and Griselbrand battled for days, out of view of all but Avacyn's host, the Lunarch, Mikaeus, and his most trusted bishops. Finally, in an act of desperate effort, Avacyn used all of her remaining strength to drive Griselbrand into the Helvault. As his final act, Griselbrand threw his spear and impaled his angelic nemesis. The binding spell backlashed as she was impaled, and Avacyn was drawn into the Helvault along with the demon. Avacyn was imprisoned in the Helvault alongside every other demon that was trapped within. Liliana Vess visited Innistrad in the hopes of destroying Griselbrand, with whom she had made a demonic pact that would result in her soul's enslavement.  She opened the Helvault which released of both the demons and Avacyn, restoring mankind's defence against the darkness.

The Flight of Goldnight
These angels are associated with the sun, in contrast with Avacyn herself. Once a year during the Harvest Moon season, the sun will not dip below the horizon for two full days, and during this time the moon isn't visible. Known as the Feast of Goldnight, this is the holiest day for the humans. It is the time when the Avacynian enchantments are strongest throughout Innistrad. Angels from this flight are the most battle oriented among the flights. They also oversee the training of cathars.  The messenger for Flight Goldnight is Gisela.

The Flight of Alabaster
These angels personify the Blessed Sleep and are associated with the Hunter's Moon season. They provide magic that wards against the desecration of dead humans. In the absence of Avacyn they remained the most active and continued on to reinforce wards that protected the human populations.  The messenger for Flight Alabaster is Bruna.

The Flight of Herons

These are the angels of birth and purity and are associated with the New Moon season. Their magic is said to ward humans against harm in life (as opposed to the Alabaster host, which wards against harm in death). Most of the angels from this flight helped in the efforts of humans against the werewolves.  The messenger for Flight Herons is Sigarda.

In today's story, 'A Gaze Blank and Pitiless', Sigarda had not yet been 'turned' or corrupted.  Her art clearly shows 'no blood on her wings' but just look into her eyes - is it an Angelic Power or the same evil (thinking Lithomancer shenanigans here) which took Avacyn and Sigarda's sisters ? ? ? ? ?
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Innistrad Story 3-02

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

Here in our City, we received a wallop of snow and cold temperatures making us wonder if Odin really banish all of the Frost Giants.  Anywhoos, things may be cool outside, but are definitely heating up over on the mothersite with the very first installment of official Magic Story . . .

INNISTRAD STORY

Madness descends. Mysteries await. 

The story of Innistrad begins today!

The Innistrad Story Page has not only today's short, but also a sneak peak via a title and summary of next week -

EPISODE 01: UNDER THE SILVER MOON
By Kimberly J. Kreines
Halana and Alena are protectors of the Ulvenwald, Innistrad's ancient forest. They hunt the horrors of the woods so the townsfolk can live without fear. But when there's a death in Gatstaf, the pair worries that one of the Ulvenwald's werewolves has found a way past their defenses.

EPISODE 02: A GAZE BLANK AND PITILESS

Humans are on the brink of a new golden age for Innistrad, ushered in with the loving guidance of the powerful angel Avacyn, who has for centuries been the protector of humans everywhere.
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Kim Kreines story submission was brilliant today and has whetted our appetite for MOAR.  We strongly suggest you make your way over to this fantastic read.  

We also do not want to give anything away - but just cannot contain ourselves with this huge bomb - - SPOILER ALERT -

There is now a new Planeswalker on Innistrad - 

ARLINN KORD

Arlinn Kord is a tormented werewolf, originally from Avabruck, who has a gift unique among her kind: she is a Planeswalker.

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