New Planeswalker

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

The other week, Wizards of the Coast had posted a rather interesting survey.  WotC does a rather good job in soliciting fan feedback and to that has a number of such surveys.  This particular survey was interesting in that participants were shown an image and brief story of what was purported to be an unknown Planeswalker.

The exciting part of this is that this has happened before - the previous case was the packaging survey back in December of 2016 in which we were shown yet to be released artwork for Amonkhet, Hour of Devastation, as well as 'Atlazan' and 'Conquest of Power', which, as it happens turned out to be Ixalan, and Rivals of Ixalan. 

As previews had rolled out, one survey item did indeed turn out to be a real card in the upcoming set 'Dominaria'.

TEFERI

The most powerful time mage in the multiverse, Teferi is aging incredibly slowly. Having lived several lifetimes, and father to a daughter who is now older than him, Teferi was forced to save his entire homeland from an invasion by phasing it out of time. Unable to restore it, he is haunted by this act to the present day but deals with his pain through humor. Able to slow down time and manipulate its passage, he is formidable addition to any group.

Here is the very cool mysterious 'Elf' Planeswalker which there has been already quite a lot of conjecture.

VIVIEN

Vivien hails from a tribe of forest dwellers whose homeland was already threatened by encroaching civilization. When her plane itself was destroyed, Vivien managed to escape with the Arkbow, a piece of advanced magical technology capable of "storing" the essence of any creatures Vivien encounters. After seeing the impact of civilization on her home, Vivien now travels the planes, seeking out the essences of new creatures on her mission to ultimately restore balance to the Multiverse.

There is little doubt to us that we will see Vivien as a card very soon, but likely not a Llanowar Planeswalker in Dominaria.  Here are the other Planeswalkers, all of them known to us to some degree which was part of the survey -

ASHIOK

Ashiok's origins - and gender - are unknown. It is even possible there are multiple, identical Ashioks. The one consistent fact is that Ashiok can use powerful nightmare magic to invade people's minds and bring their darkest fears to life. What Ashiok's goals or plans are, anyone can guess, but those who become a part of them quickly learn kindness is never an aspect. 

TAMIYO

A member of the elusive and mysterious moonfolk exclusively found on her home plane, Tamiyo is a scholar and explorer. With a voracious appetite to discover and understand the unknown, Tamiyo travels and documents everything she sees and fines. A master of "story magic," once Tamiyo has recorded an event in her journals, she is capable of rewriting them such that they change the past itself, and, thus the present.

DARETTI

After losing his legs in an experiment of his own making, the goblin Daretti's magical abilities manifested as both a genius engineer and remarkable manipulator of people. Capable of inventing machines more sophisticated than anything otherwise known, he uses his abilities in an ongoing attempt to wrest control of his own plane from humans and install himself, and his kind, in their place.

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Magic Story - The Kraul

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

We love us a good Magic: the Gathering Story and DANG did WotC staffer Alison Luhrs deliver a whopper of a great story today on the mothersite (linked right here).  Pitter-patter and make tracks over there to read - or better yet - LISTEN to this story on Unspoken Realms linked right here.  Previously Unspoken Realms would have the story up in a day or two after being posted by Wizards, but we now learn of a new partnership between the two where the Unspoken Realms episode is posted concurrently with the written piece.

Today's Magic Story is a 'one-off' stand alone fiction piece associated with the upcoming Commander Anthology (please note - not - Commander 2017).  

NEXT WEEK - Rejoice !, as Magic Story is to return to the Plane of Amonkhet with the first installment of the Hour of Devastation story.  The story precedes the official release of the set which is slated for July 14, 2017.  Righto - on to today's story notes -


"Behold, child: Umerilek, Mausoleum of the Erstwhile, the salvation of the kraul and the key to the creation of the Golgari empire." 

- Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest

Did that not just send the shivers down your spine ?  Perhaps if you are a fan of Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord, this may have rustled your jimmies.  What gall the Kraul have to imagine that the Golgari Guildmaster would answer their invitation.  Anywhoos, let's get into what Alison Luhrs served up in today's story 'PRIDE OF THE KRAUL'.

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The secretive Kraul inhabit the Ravnica undercity, and for centuries, had been an unguilded mass of 'insectoid brutes'. Recently, having pledged allegiance to the Golgari Guild, they are still being marginalized by the Golgari and work as their labourers, working the rot fields and maintaining the sewers.

Svogthos, the Restless Tomb by Marina Pilcerova

Mazirek, a death priest and hive-leader of the Kraul and friend to Vraska, the Planeswalker Gorgon.  From this friendship, Mazirek develops a deeper understanding of emotions, not quite natural to his race of insects.  With support from Vraska, Mazirek puts into motion plans which may shift of balance of power of not only the Golgari Guild but perhaps all who may call Ravnica home.

Golgari Rot Farm by John Avon

Sobeslav, Jarad's administrative assistant receives a letter at the Golgari Guildhall, protectively ringed by Korozda, the Maze of Decay.  The letter is from Mazirek inviting Jarad to a meeting.  Sobeslav take it upon himself to answer in person and perhaps put Mazirek in his place.  With a squad of 15 golgari elves, Sobeslav makes a lengthy journey, with each day adding a measure of doubt.

Swamp by Richard Wright

Shortly upon arrival, Mazirek murders the envoy and uses their life energy to fuel a necromantic spell that breaks the seal of an ancient and forgotten vault, the Umerilek, Mausoleum of the Erstwhile.  There is no existing reference to this in Magic Lore yet, and we want more - much more !

Delicate hands draped with lace and beautiful rings removed the lids of their own coffins, and the undead began to rise of their own accord, just as Vraska had told him they would.

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