This week's story, continuing our break from Innistrad to focus on tales from the worlds referenced in Eternal Masters, is "All That Came Before". Like last week's story, this one is tied to a card from EMA: Ancestral Mask.
It's also a return to a plane I didn't expect us to revisit any time soon: Mercadia.
I like this piece. It was nice to have references to the Cho-Arrim, the river, Rushwood. Nostalgic, but then again I started playing the game in Masques.
I'm wondering when it takes place. I thought there were vague Phyrexian hints (like the black sickness) and the Cho-Manno shamanism thing seemed interesting.
I did like that we see a bit into the Cho culture and that same-sex couples/relationships are represented. It was nice to see two moms, and that this was after the bio-mom had a husband, who was deceased.
Yeah Rebels was one of my first constructed decks I worked on, it was nice to see Mercadia. Not sure why everyone alive is named Cho-something but there was some nice worldbuilding and attempts to show a believable culture. I liked "kept three dogs and no husbands." The ending was touching as well.
Mercadia certainly has historical connections to the Phyrexian conflict that could be developed more. Would be nice to see it at least get a cameo spot if we ever get some kind of set spanning an interplanar war against Phyrexia.
Todays story was pretty well done and it was interesting to see Mercadia as a player who didn't play during that set. I liked the two moms detail as well
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“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
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So, one thing I noticed is that last week's story was based on Prodigal Sorcerer with its original printing set on Dominaria (presumably), while this week's story's card, Ancestral Mask was originally a card from Mercadia. Aditionally, both cards got new art for EMA. Could this mean that there's a pattern? Could we narrow down the possibilities for the next stories?
I'm wondering when it takes place. I thought there were vague Phyrexian hints (like the black sickness) and the Cho-Manno shamanism thing seemed interesting.
So, one thing I noticed is that last week's story was based on Prodigal Sorcerer with its original printing set on Dominaria (presumably), while this week's story's card, Ancestral Mask was originally a card from Mercadia. Aditionally, both cards got new art for EMA. Could this mean that there's a pattern? Could we narrow down the possibilities for the next stories?
We're back to Innistrad next week.
The Shadows over Innistrad storyline will resume on June 8. Until then, check back in the next two weeks for new tales from around the Multiverse.
So, one thing I noticed is that last week's story was based on Prodigal Sorcerer with its original printing set on Dominaria (presumably), while this week's story's card, Ancestral Mask was originally a card from Mercadia. Aditionally, both cards got new art for EMA. Could this mean that there's a pattern? Could we narrow down the possibilities for the next stories?
We're back to Innistrad next week.
The Shadows over Innistrad storyline will resume on June 8. Until then, check back in the next two weeks for new tales from around the Multiverse.
So we get two EMN stories before the big reveal on the 20th? Mmh, weird, but okay.
Oh well, I was actually enjoying this breather. Continuous stories are fine I guess, but personally I tend to find the glimpses of other places and characters away from the main story more interesting.
This story was okay. It was hard to understand what was going on at times but I liked the setting. I wonder why there weren't any references to Cho-Manno though. And wasn't Mercadia City already destroyed by the Weatherlight in Mercadia's Downfall?
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Modern RGTron UGInfect URStorm WUBRAd Nauseam BRGrishoalbrand URGScapeshift WBGAbzan Company WUBRGAmulet Titan BRGLiving End WGBogles
This story was okay. It was hard to understand what was going on at times but I liked the setting. I wonder why there weren't any references to Cho-Manno though. And wasn't Mercadia City already destroyed by the Weatherlight in Mercadia's Downfall?
The issue is, it could be hundreds of years after the Weatheright Saga, or it could be before. There is no real way to tell (for instance, Mercadia city could have just been rebuilt).
I thoroughly enjoyed this week's story. I had no problem keeping up and it was quite well written. It gave just enough detail to inform you while not skimping on the great extras, like My Two Moms. I felt her helplessness and desire to do more and was happy she found her way.
I don't believe it was anything Phyrexian. It seemed like it was just a gaggle of black mana users from Mercadia proper who were instigating a disease amongst the Cho. Maybe a variation on Phthisis?
Solid story. I have some difficulty in not confusing this made-up names, but aside from that I didn't feel any problem with the wording per se (then again, I'm not an english native speaker).
It had a good concept for a story about a random enchantment card, and I think it had a surprisingly good level of emotional depth, though I think in the beggining it may have been compromised in the set up (felt a little too slow).
I would give it a B.
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Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
That might be a long time before the Weatherlight. There's no mention of the Magister, Caterans and Goblins and it's been a while since I read the books but Mercadians soldiers wouldn't go into the Rushwood, Caterans would. But in any case I give this piece a 5/7 for the flavor and nostalgia alone. I didn't expect to see Mercadia again, which is to me a criminally underused plane
That might be a long time before the Weatherlight. There's no mention of the Magister, Caterans and Goblins and it's been a while since I read the books but Mercadians soldiers wouldn't go into the Rushwood, Caterans would. But in any case I give this piece a 5/7 for the flavor and nostalgia alone. I didn't expect to see Mercadia again, which is to me a criminally underused plane
I think part of that is that Mercadia has been replaced by Fiora. They can do basically any of the stories they would want to do on Mercadia on Fiora instead, without the baggage.
It's also a return to a plane I didn't expect us to revisit any time soon: Mercadia.
I like this piece. It was nice to have references to the Cho-Arrim, the river, Rushwood. Nostalgic, but then again I started playing the game in Masques.
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Special thanks to Serrot_29 for Catbug'mrakul!
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
Mercadia certainly has historical connections to the Phyrexian conflict that could be developed more. Would be nice to see it at least get a cameo spot if we ever get some kind of set spanning an interplanar war against Phyrexia.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
Scars of Mercadia block confirmed?
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
We're back to Innistrad next week.
Bottom of this page: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/i-am-avacyn-2016-05-18
So we get two EMN stories before the big reveal on the 20th? Mmh, weird, but okay.
Oh well, I was actually enjoying this breather. Continuous stories are fine I guess, but personally I tend to find the glimpses of other places and characters away from the main story more interesting.
RGTron
UGInfect
URStorm
WUBRAd Nauseam
BRGrishoalbrand
URGScapeshift
WBGAbzan Company
WUBRGAmulet Titan
BRGLiving End
WGBogles
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
Meh.
It had a good concept for a story about a random enchantment card, and I think it had a surprisingly good level of emotional depth, though I think in the beggining it may have been compromised in the set up (felt a little too slow).
I would give it a B.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath