New MTG Novel / New Planeswalker

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

As a complete surprise and very unanticipated, we are to be treated to a new Magic: the Gathering novella.  This news from io9 (linked right here) who had broke the news with an official Wizards of the Coast preview of the new work title "Children of the Nameless", penned by the popular author Brandon Sanderson.

Here is the blurb from io9 -

Written in collaboration with the Magic’s story team at Wizards of the Coast, Children of the Nameless invites readers to meet a young girl named Tacenda who is capable of great magic, until tragedy strikes at the worst possible time. But during that tragedy, Tacenda crosses paths with a mysterious new Planeswalker named Davriel, designed by Sanderson himself. Here’s a quick synopsis to whet your appetite:

Since the day she was born, Tacenda has been both blessed and cursed. Blessed by a powerful protection spell of unknown origin, she has warded her family and friends against any number of horrors over her 15 years. Cursed because the horrors which visit her small Kessig village are both numerous and frequent. Then, one night, for no reason she can fathom, her sacred song of protection fails. Seeking revenge on the man she believes responsible for the failure and the consequent destruction of everything she loves, she breaks into the manor of the local lord, a known consorter with demons. There she discovers the beginnings of an even greater mystery… starting with the fact the Lord of the Manor is anything but local . . .

Children of the Nameless will be available for free download starting tomorrow (December12, 2018) from the Magic: the Gathering website.  Until then, we can enjoy this very lovely (and intriguing) cover, illustrated by Chris Rahn.

First chapter was a good read and left us in anticipation of reading all of the subsequent chapters.

Looking past our new Planeswalker Davriel, who we assume is sitting, the gravity-defying towers, halls, and massive buttresses suggest Markov Manor, at a time before a certain Lithomancer (Nahiri) 'redecorated'.  

The seated party does indeed appear human, and this is suggest again with what appears to be a nice hot tea to his right.

The whole Phantom of the Opera thingy with his mask is very mysterious at the moment - and is he hiding the right side of his face ?  Perhaps not - but the mask does have a particular purple 'Liliana' necromancer magic haze around it.  This purple could very well be the type of magic that allows Kaya (the Ghost Assassin) to flow into the incorporeal world.  

All that is known for certain is that 'Whisperers' had de-peopled the village save Tacenda in the first chapter and that it is suggested in the blurb that a visit to the nearby Monor House is in order.  

Insert Kessig Province Problems hashtag.
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Eldritch Moon Full Spoiler

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

All new Magic: the Gathering cards for the upcoming set Eldritch Moon is now up on the mothersite - linky over here.  If today is Friday 8th, we want to know why you are here at MTG Realm and not rolling through all the new cardboard hotness.  

Since you are here, you've come to the right place - that is, you've come to the right place for an MTG Art Fight.  Apologies, but this graphic of Ed Norton in Fight Club and artist Bob Ross may not quite represent what we're doing just right now . . .

Here is the round-up of all reprints in the new Eldritch Moon set.  Do you have a preference ?  Would you pull out the older original card over the new one.  In one case, it is the same artist with a modification to better fit within the updated storyline (example - Dave Kendall's Prey Upon), while in another case, it's the same art (Wayne Reynolds' Hamlet Captain) with updated flavor text - so perhaps not really an art fight.  Here they are - 

Convolute

Ravnica: City of Guilds - Dany Orizio

Eldrtich Moon - Viktor Titov

Rise from the Grave

Commander 2015 - Vance Kovacs

Eldrtich Moon - Kieran Yanner

Prey Upon

Innistrad - Dave Kendall

Eldrtich Moon  - Dave Kendall

Murder

Magic 2013 - Allen Williams

Eldrtich Moon - Tyler Jacobson

Terrarion

Ravnica: City of Guilds - Luca Zontini

Eldrtich Moon - Titus Lunter

Turn Aside

Scars of Mirrodin - Shelly Wan

Eldrtich Moon - Jaime Jones

Hamlet Captain - Wayne Reynolds

Same illustration for Innistrad and Eldrtich Moon, just different flavor text.

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Eldritch Moon Previews 7-06

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

We hope you will excuse our absence yesterday - we were in some pretty thick forests with no cell signal and definitely no wifi signal, so we are catching up with Magic: the Gathering spoilers and previews from yesterday as well as today.  

Of note today in addition to the new Eldritch Moon card previews is the next story installment, this one titled 'Campaign of Vengeance' by Ari Levitch.  We won't be talking about this story just yet so as to allow you to read it in full over on the mothersite at this linky.  For now, here is a round-up of all new cards which we will update as they trickle through from any third-party sites.

Campaign of Vengeance
Chaos Reveler
Cryptbreaker
Dark Salvation
Falkenrath Reaver
Fortune's Favor
Grim Flayer

Lashweed Lurker
Mercurial Geists
Mind's Dilation
Mirrorwing Dragon
Mournwillow
Nahiri's Wrath
Permeating Mass
Ride Down
Spell Queller

The unofficial translation for the foreign-language card -

Chaos Reveler, 6RR
Creature - Devil Horror, Rare
Chaos Reveler costs 1 less to cast for each instant or sorcery card in your graveyard
Prowess
When Chaos Reveler enters the battlefield, discard your hand and draw 3 cards
illus. Jama Jurabaev # 118/205

3/4
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Eldritch Moon Spoilers 6-28

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

Day Two of official Eldritch Moon previews is underway with the lion's share coming from the mothersite and few others from further afield.  One from French news website Le Monde, specifically the 'Pixels' gaming section.  The other from the Wizards EU Twitter account has a wonderful continuation of the Delver of Secrets back-story - let's just say that the tables are now turned for that researcher. 

On the mothersite, the Eldritch Moon Card Image Gallery is now up and populated with new preview cards from the previous day.  Ken Nagle, WotC lead designer for Eldritch Moon writes about some EMN concepts and theme including 'meld' and Blake Rasmussen showcases the Eldritch Moon Intro Pack rares.  Lots of cardboard goodness going on, so let's dive in -

Today's new reveals include :

Assembled Alphas

Docent of Perfection // Final Iteration

Emrakul's Influence

Galvanic Bombardment

Grizzled Angler // Grisly Anglerfish

Lone Rider // It That Rides as One

Niblis of Frost

Noosegraf Mob

Sanctifier of Souls

Take Inventory

Ulvenwald Observer

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Eldritch Moon Spoilers 6-27

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

Big day today for Magic: the Gathering players as Wizards of the Coast kick off with the first day of official Eldritch Moon previews.  For your 'to do' list today - 

• Watch the second episode of Access Magic
'Twisted Innistrad' with host Jimmy Wong has guest Jeremy Jarvis and Jenna Helland on to speak on to the story and art side to Eldritch Moon.  The big preview card delivered by Community Manager Dan Barrett (who looks absolutely dead tired?) delivers a whopping EMN preview, which we've covered below.

• Eldritch Moon Mechanics
MTG Rules Guru Matt Tabak goes over the new mechanics / themes in this post linked here for the new set which also include demonstrative previews of the set's cards (again summarised below).  MTG Realm will have a separate post tomorrow hopefully with comments on the new mechanics.  The new tech to expect are as follows - 

New mechanics - Meld, Emerge, Escalate

Returning mechanics - Double-faced Cards, Madness, Delirium

• Over the Moon, part 1
Mark Rosewater in his regular column of 'Making Magic' goes over the concept and design team details as well as delivering a preview.

On to today's Eldritch Moon previews !

Unsubstantiate
Cemetery Recruitment
Blessed Alliance 

Brisela, Voice of Nightmares

Bruna, the Fading Light

Gisela, the Broken Blade

Dawn Gryff

Wretched Gryff

Long Road Home

Hanweir, the Writhing Township

Hanweir Garrison

Hanweir Battlements

Midnight Scavengers

Graf Rats

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Eldrtich Moon Spoilers 6-23

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

Today we have two proper Eldrtich Moon spoilers, smuggled out of Spain.  Many Bothans perished to bring us these Magic: the Gathering cards.  As such, the cards are of course in Spanish and our poor attempt at providing such translation should be realised.  Again, as always, please refer to only official previews on the mothersite for final card names and text.

Thalia, Heretic Cathar, 2W
Legendary Creature - Human soldier, Rare
First Strike.
Creatures and non-basic lands your opponents control come into play tapped.
The Lunarch Council cannot guarantee salvation. It must be earned; by the sword if necessary.
3/2
046/205 / Buy-A-Box Promo / Johannes Yoss

Thalia is back as a 3/2 for 3 CMC.  This is a rather powerful 'Blind Obedience' effect and a solid card all around.  We would imagine that players across multiple formats will have interest in this.  The Hatebears archetype will benefit, and players with a fetchland in hand will think twice about a lost advantage.  Those Human decklists that were all the rage at the beginning of the new standard format may also want to pick up on this.  The only downside is that of the legendary status.
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Identity Thief, 2UU (perhaps Supplant Identity?)
Creature - Shapeshifter, Rare
Whenever Identity Impersonator attacks, exile target nontoken creature. If you do, Identity Impersonator becomes a copy of that creature until the end of turn. Return the exiled card under to the battlefield under its owners control at the beginning of the next end step. 
0/3

This is an interesting one.  There are some possibilities when this card turns sideways.  Blinking an opponent's biggest threat and landing some solid damage is one.  Perhaps you want a second shot of a good 'enters the battlefield' effect with one of your own creatures - perhaps a Goblin Dark-Dwellers or something that brings along tokens.
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Eldritch Moon Spoilers 6-22

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

Another Eldrtich Moon preview has slipped onto the interwebs today - this time courtesy of ZiggyD Gaming who we confess we've not heard of, but apparently a digital gamer of some note.  We can confirm that this Magic: the Gathering spoiler / preview is real and not scuttlebutt as the Wizards MTG twitter account did re-tweet.

Anywhoos, here's what ZiggyD had to say -

 Magic: The Gathering - The Fate of Hanweir REVEALED! (Card Reveal) Strange things have been happening in the Township of Hanwier of late… And now the town’s true nature reveals itself! Thanks to Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro for affording me the opportunity to reveal this awesome new card and give some answers to the ongoing mystery reported by the Hanweir Chronicle. This card is part of the upcoming expansion “Eldritch Moon” in the Shadows Over Innistrad block.

Hanweir, the Writhing Township, Rare
Legendary Creature - Eldrazi Ooze
Trample, haste
Whenever Hanweir, the Writhing Township attacks, put two 3/2 colorless Eldrazi Horror creature tokens onto the battlefield tapped and attacking.
7/4

Dang !!  As we are only shown the 'sunny-side-down' side of the card, we cannot ascertain casting cost, colour, card type, or how difficult we can flip from sunny-side-up.  This could be a land for all we know and some activation cost to get to this lovely juicy side.  Eldrazi Horror creature tokens with a 3/2 body appear to be on tap for this set and this monster of a DFC looks really strong - crossing fingers that this resides somewhere between unplayable junk rare to OMGawd way too OP.

In other news, WotC also revealed the full art from Vincent Procee - weird and beautiful !

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Eldritch Moon Spoilers 6-21

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

After yesterday's revelations for Eldritch Moon, we needed to take some time to re-read the Emrakul Rises story and the Eldrazi threat to the Plane of Innistrad in the form of Emrakul, the Promised End.  We've also watched the Eldritch Moon Trailer a few times to let it all settle in and trying to wrap our noodle around how Liliana,  and perhaps not the Oath of the Gatewatch Planeswalkers (Gideon, Jace, Chandra and Nissa) may be Innistrad's last hope.  

Which brings us to an interesting point.  On the Wizards Play Network, geared toward supporting Magic: the Gathering retailers, if one were to select Portuguese and view the large poster choices for retailers, you can see the one poster with the name "Liliana, a Última Esperança".  This translates to Liliana, the Last Hope - perhaps the proper card name when finally previewed.  

Anywhoos, we do have to catch up with yesterday's news.  There were two additional Eldritch Moon cards previewed in addition to that of Emrakul - here they are now -

Coax from the Blind Eternities, 2U
Sorcery
You may choose an Eldrazi card you own from outside the game or in exile, reveal that card, and put it into your hand.
At Nahiri's call, Emrakul traversed the vast emptiness between the planes and arrived on Innistrad.
illus. Jaime Jones # 51/205

Kimberly Kreines preview.  Very appropriately flavoured card when paired with her story 'Emrakul Rises' posted yesterday.  Very interesting Eldrazi fetch card - Just keep your binder within reach and you are good to go.  Seems good for standard format, but when you open this up to Modern or other formats, you are cooking with gas.  At this point, you can now grab Eldrazi non-creature spells - tribal spells, such as Eldrazi Conscription or All Is Dust.  Very powerful indeed.
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Ulrich of the Krallenhord, 3RG
Legendary Creature - Human Werewolf
Whenever this creature enters the battlefield or transforms into Ulrich of the Krallenhorde, target creature gets +4/+4 until end of turn.
At the beginning of each upkeep, if no spells were cast last turn, transform Ulrich of the Krallenhorde.
illus. Slawomir Maniak # 191/205
4/4
//
Ulrich, Uncontested Alpha
Legendary Creature - Werewolf
Whenever this creature transforms into Ulrich, Uncontested Alpha, you may have it fight target non-Werewolf creature you don't control.
At the beginning of each upkeep, if a player cast two or more spells last turn, transform Ulrich, Uncontested Alpha.
illus. Slavomir Maniak # 191/205
6/6

Twitter @wizards_magic preview.  The ship has come in for Magic: the Gathering players who were pining after a legendary werewolf.  Card looks good and time will tell is Standard likes it or an EDH player will go for a red / green 'Fight' decklist with Ulrich here as Commander.  We have dreams of Ulrich transforming with Xenagos, God of Revels on the field and swinging in as a hasty 12/12.


Speaking of Ulrich, here is a lovely art from Josu Hernaiz for Ulrich's Kindred from Shadows Over Innistrad

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Eldritch Moon - Emrakul

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

The inaugural first episode of Access Magic went up today and as promised by Mark Rosewater and Jimmy Wong, we were treated to the first Magic: the Gathering Eldritch Moon spoiler.  The video not only contained a preview card but also the Eldritch Moon video trailer.  If you want to just watch the Eldritch Moon Trailer only, click on over here.
  
Here it is now in full -

Yep !! That's and Eldrazi.

As many had suspected (we did - check here), Wizards of the Coast has this big-arse'd tentacled freak (properly named Emrakul, the Promised End) pop up on Innistrad.  I imagine if The Hanweir Chronicle had a video interview with the denizens of that Plane, it would sound a lot like Antoine Dobson's 'hide yo kids' messaging.

Anywhoos, here are the crit stats for the big fella -

Emrakul, the Promised End, 13
Legendary Creature - Eldrazi
Emrakul, the Promised End costs 1 less to cast for each card type among cards in your graveyard.
When you cast Emrakul, you gain control of target opponent during that player's next turn. After that turn, that player takes an extra turn.
Flying, trample, protection from instants
An enigma as vexing as life itself.
illus. Jaime Jones # 006/205
13/13  

It's a good card, likely to be enjoyed by Standard and Commander players alike.  Some were hoping for a lot more, such as hexproof or indestructibility, but we are just fine as is.  This thing can come out early with a delirium-like ability to shave a bit off your casting cost.  Should it land on the game table without being countered, then the opponent's very next turn is nerf'd.  The flying, trample and 'protection from instants' all add up to rather admirable abilities as well.  We suggest you pick up cards such as Clip Wings and Stasis Snare before all the copies are purchased at your local gaming store.  

Wrapping up, we also suggest you pop on over to the mothersite, if you have not already done that, and read Kim Kreines Magic Story - 'Emrakul Rises' to coincide with today's Eldritch Moon preview.

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Shadows Over Innistrad Previews 3-22

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

Hey Planeswalkers !  Did you drop by for some Shadows Over Innistrad spoilers and previews ?  Good, we've rounded them up here and will be on the look out for moar.  Here is the offerings for your review today -

Goldnight Castigator, 2RR
Creature - Angel, Mythic Rare
Flying, haste
If a source would deal damage to you, it deals double that damage to you instead.
If a source would deal damage to Goldnight Castigator, it deals double that damage to Goldnight Castigator instead.
4/9

Mothersite preview.  This is the evil twin to Gisela, Blade of Goldnight.  Likely a decent sideboard against control or perhaps (stretching it a bit) an 'all-in' aggro strategy.  If you are going for the latter and do not want to feel the sting of the serious down-side of this, we suggest pairing with Assault Formation, so we can get the Castigator starting a very fast clock with 9 evasive damage.
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Hanweir Militia Captain, 1W
Creature - Human Soldier, Rare
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control four or more creatures, transform Hanweird Militia Captain.
2/2
//
Westvale Cult Leader
Creature - Human Cleric
Westvale Cult Leader's power and toughness are each equal to the number of creatures you control.
At the beginning of your end step, put a 1/1 white and black Human Cleric creature token onto the battlefield.
*/*

ARS Technica UK preview.  Solid flavour here.  This appears to be able to flip reasonably quickly, especially going with red / white human (tribal) with the likes of Pia and Kiran Nalaar in standard.  We love us some token generators.
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Triskaidekaphobia, 3B
Enchantment, Rare
At the beginning of your upkeep, choose one -
• Each player with exactly 13 life loses the game, then each player gains 1 life.
• Each player with exactly 13 life loses the game, then each player loses 1 life.

LoadingReadyRun preview.  This fear is the extreme superstition regarding the number thirteen and this card demonstrates why.  We have a soft spot for alternate win conditions.  If you are serious about playing this, tread carefully - otherwise a totally mad-crazy-fun card.  By the way - how many things of '13' can you find in the card art? :)
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Fevered Visions, 1UR
Enchantment, Rare
At the beginning of each player's end step, that player draws a card. If that player is your opponent and has four or more cards in hand, Fevered Visions deals 2 damage to him or her.

BrainStormBrewery preview.  If you are a fan of the tall stacks, we suggest dropping this into your 99 along with Nekusar, the Mindrazer as Commander / General.
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Avacyn's Judgment, 1R
Sorcery, Rare
Madness XR (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)
Avacyn's Judgment deals 2 damage divided as you choose among any number of target creatures and/or players. If Avacyn's Judgment's madness cost was paid, it deals X damage divided as you choose among those creatures and/or players instead.

Mothersite preview.  Nice burn spell but will likely see only the sideboard against tokens perhaps.  As for the art - it looks like Tamiyo is helping Jace out of a tight spot.
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Other non-rare Shadows Over Innistrad previews out today include -
• Angelic Purge • Nahiri's Machinations
• Stonewing Antagonizer
• Thraben Gargoyle

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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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