A Tale of Heroes: A Deck in Five Acts
Standard Competitive GW (Selesnya) GWU (Bant) Midrange Theme/Gimmick WU (Azorius)
Creature (22)
- 4x Elvish Mystic
- 3x Fleecemane Lion
- 4x Loxodon Smiter
- 4x Master Biomancer
- 3x Polukranos, World Eater
- 4x Sylvan Caryatid
Planeswalker (4)
Land (23)
-
4x
Breeding Pool
- 3x Forest
-
2x
Hallowed Fountain
- 4x Mana Confluence
-
4x
Temple Garden
- 2x Temple of Mystery
- 4x Temple of Plenty
Enchantment (4)
Instant (7)
Sideboard
Creature (8)
Enchantment (3)
Instant (4)
Preamble
One day, the clouds parted, the skies wept, and from the tears emerged the powerful, large, Ajani Goldmane .
He was not yet Ajani, Mentor of Heroes though, for, at one point, every mentor was but a pupil. He sought the wisdom, power, and, yes, even Unflinching Courage of the one master he knew he could trust. This was, of course, Master Biomancer. This is their story; one of defeat, loss, and even Deicide .
The First Act - A Destined Meeting
He had finally found the camp. Ajani Goldmane had been on the road for two years, searching for the camp of the legendary Master Biomancer. He had been known to be the greatest mentor in the land, and Ajani Goldmane sought his training.
When the two finally met, Master Biomancer thought Ajani Goldmane to be reckless. He did not want to train him, for he thought the proud lion to be too old and stubborn. Master Biomancer wanted to test him. "Bold Goldmane", bellowed the biomancer, "bring to me the head of Polukranos, World Eater. He is a disciple of Xenagos, the Reveler, and must be destroyed."
The Cloudfin Raptor perched atop Master Biomancer's shoulder shrieked at the mention of Xenagos, the Reveler. "But, master," started Ajani Goldmane, "who is this man? Is he evil?"
Master Biomancer sighed a deep sigh. "Xenagos, the Reveler was a pupil of mine, long ago. He was a bright, young student who was quick to learn, but equally brash. He sought power above all else, and his longings corrupted him. He is more goat than man now, twisted by his own evil desires."
"But master, how will I conquer such a foe?" asked Ajani Goldmane. "So much like him," muttered Master Biomancer to himself. "Maybe I was unwise to train a lion". He raised his voice. "Worry not about Xenagos, the Reveler, young lion, for the challenge at hand is his pet Polukranos, World Eater. He is hungry, and the only thing that will satisfy his great hunger is everything."
"I understand, master. There will be a famine this night." Ajani Goldmane packed his double axe-head bo staff and left Master Biomancer's encampment. A snake-eel-mutant slithered out from under Master Biomancer's cloak and wrapped around his arm. "He will be alright," said the master to his pet, "for I have sent another, in secret".
The Second Act - Recklessness
Ajani Goldmane quickly approached the hydra's lair. It was a quiet night; a lonely night for a lion, but not a hydra, for it has many heads with which good company can always be found. "This will be your end, you great beast," thought Ajani Goldmane to himself as he clomb the great hillside to get a better view of the monstrous creature.
Polukranos, World Eater slept in the open, as if unafraid of the terrors of the world. "Nought but one head!" Ajani Goldmane was intrigued. "Very strange, I was told there would be more. I'd best keep a vigilant eye and a quick foot."
"I'll end this before it begins!" Ajani Goldmane loved a good paradox and so was not about to let this opportunity escape him. He charged at the slumbering beast without thought. He drew his double axe-head bo staff and skillfully severed the hydra's head from its neck.
"BLEEUEUUUUU!" Polukranos, World Eater flailed about in agony until its lifeless corpse lay still. "Child's play," laughed Ajani Goldmane , in a victorious fashion. "World Eater, your hunger has been satisfied. Sleep now, misunderstood giant." He covered the two eyes of the beast with silver coins. "For Athreos, God of Passage."
He turned to walk way, but stopped as he heard a not-so-distant noise. "BLEEUEUUUUU!" was the noise he heard. "A rock, mayhaps? No, rocks don't shout." Fear found his face. "The hydra!"
Where one was once one was now two. Two pairs of angry eyes menacingly stared at the proud lion. "Who disturbs my slumber by cutting off my head? That was my favourite head! Was it you, small cub?"
Ajani Goldmane responded by slicing off the other heads, which, of course, came back as four. "How can I bring my master the head of this hydra if..." Master Biomancer's words echoed in his mind. "Bring me the head of Polukranos, World Eater". He knew this would happen. Ajani Goldmane had already disappointed his master. "This was a challenge for wit, not simply brawn," realized the lion. "To take this beast's head, I must use my own".
Before it could give Ajani Goldmane a chance to attack, three of the hydra's heads lunged at him. Ajani Goldmane had remembered his quick feet and leapt back with great agility. His folly, however, was that he forgot to keep a vigilant eye on the fourth head, which cornered him into the mountainside he had leapt back into.
He was pinned against the cliff and had no means of escape. "I'm sorry, master, for I have failed you". The hydra laughed and prepared to devour him. "You are but an appetizer", the hydra ridiculed. "Tonight a cub, tomorrow the WORLD!".
Looking up as he struggled to be free, Ajani Goldmane had just realized how strange it was for the sun to be out at night. "What is this madness?" he wondered. The light's intensity grew a thousandfold and he saw a silhouette in the light. Who he mistook for Heliod, God of the Sun himself, was the great heroine Elspeth, Sun's Champion, standing atop the mountain.
Elspeth, Sun's Champion thrust her polearm into the ground and dislodged a boulder so large that the Bearer of the Heavens himself would have difficulty lifting it. Polukranos, World Eater released its grasp on Ajani Goldmane and tried to flee for its life. Its great many heads could not agree on which direction it would flee in. The beast stood at its own grave as it was crushed under the weight of the rock.
Ajani Goldmane was saved! He looked upward to thank his saviour. As her eyes met his deep, lion ones, he noticed her look of disdain. Before he could say anything, she turned and left. The young lion looked at the felled beast with relief and saw the heads he had severed earlier, strewn about the ground. He went to pick one up with his large Ajani paws, but stopped. "The victory today is not mine, and I deserve not its spoils". Ajani Goldmane left with neither a trophy nor his safety, for he did not realize that he was being followed...
The Third Act - A Walk of Shame
Ajani Goldmane hung his head low as he lumbered along the dirt road back to Master Biomancer's encampment. "Oh, Ajani," he whispered to himself with sorrow, "you do not deserve this gold mane of yours this day." He was as hungry as he was sad, and decided to cook himself a meal before continuing his walk of shame.
He hunted a hare and skewered it atop a fire. The rabbit smelled delicious, but he wished he had brought a some chutney for flavour. As he was preoccupied with his longing for chutney, he heared a shrill scream-baa echoing from behind him. He turned to see a hideous goat-man with a bloody polearm through his abdomen.
The satyr's lifeless eyes closed shut as the polearm was removed. He fell to the ground to reveal Ajani, Goldmane's saviour: Elspeth, Sun's Champion. "Twice, now have I saved you," said the heroine to the lion. "You could not even fell Polukranos, World Eater without my assistance. If I am displeased with you, what will our master think?"
Ajani Goldmane was again disappointed. "Master Biomancer sent you? He knew I would not succeed." Elspeth, Sun's Champion grinned. "What did you expect? He is a master, and every master knows the strengths and limits of his pupils."
Ajani Goldmane 's head hung even lower than before. "What do I do now?". Elspeth, Sun's Champion answered, "We go back to him now. Every mistake must be rectified. Do you remember the way?"
"Of course," responded Ajani Goldmane. He knew he could at least do this right.
"Then lead us," commanded the sun's champion.
The Fourth Act - Every Mistake Rectified
The pair traveled by foot and were fast approaching the encampment. As they drew closer, it seemed as though Elspeth, Sun's Champion's pace ever quickened. The encampment was now in sight; they had made record time.
When they stepped through the gateway, Elspeth, Sun's Champion took a deep breath and grinned. Ajani Goldmane grew nervous. "If she is grinning she must do so because she knows the severity of my punishment. I'm ready for anything."
What came after, no one could be prepared for. Master Biomancer stood in the middle of the encampment. He called out to the pair.
"You were foolish to act without thought, pupil. Did you not think your actions would have consequences? You come back here as a disappointment, not a victor."
"I'm sorry, master," interuppted Ajani Goldmane. I used strength without mind; please forgive me."
Master Biomancer drew his snake-hilted longsword. As he did, his Cloudfin Raptor flew from his shoulder and took to the sky with a great shriek. Immediately after, the other members of the encampment emerged from their tents to join Master Biomancer's side. What Ajani Goldmane did not expect, was Elspeth, Sun's Champion to be leading them.
As Ajani Goldmane turned to look beside him, he received a blow to head and fell to the ground. The Elspeth, Sun's Champion at his side no longer looked like she should. Instead, a mighty satyr stood above him, weilding a fiery staff.
"It's been a long time, old friend", Master Biomancer said to the satyr.
"Death is patient," replied Xenagos, the Reveler.
Ajani Goldmane got up and ran over to Master Biomancer's side. "It was through no fault of your own that this occurred," the master said to the lion. "I've been waiting for this for many years."
Elspeth, Sun's Champion and her army charged at the satyr. Before they could strike their target, Xenagos, the Reveler cast a large Wall of Fire to block their path. From behind the flames, a dissonant horn was sounded. Xenagos, the Reveler emerged from the flames with an army of satyrs at his back.
Elspeth, Sun's Champion yelled to Ajani. "Make yourself useful, lion, and fight with us!" Ajani Goldmane drew his double axe-head bo staff and charged with the army to meet the other one. He intented to rectify his mistake; he struck hard and true, slaying many satyrs and causing many scream-baas.
As the two armies fought, Xenagos, the Reveler approached Master Biomancer. "Give me the key, old man," commanded the satyr to his old master. "I've a use for it".
"It is a key to a lock which you've no right to open," retorted Master Biomancer. Xenagos, the Reveler engaged Master Biomancer. The battle was magnificent. Each strike was met with a parry; it was as though each knew the exact move the other would make.
Elspeth, Sun's Champion and Ajani Goldmane fought together as if they had been doing so for years. They used a back-to-back formation and battled as though they were a single unit. Despite their best efforts however, Elspeth, Sun's Champion's army of 1/1 soldiers proved to be no match against Xenagos, the Reveler's army of hasty 2/2 satyrs. Elspeth, Sun's Champion and Ajani Goldmane were surrounded.
"We're finished!" cried Ajani Goldmane . What he didn't know was that Elspeth, Sun's Champion had one last trick up her sleeve. WIth her army decimated, she was free to use the Ratchet Bomb she had been hiding for emergency. She unleashed it; Xenagos, the Reveler's army of satyrs were destroyed and the two heroes were left unharmed. They sprinted to their master's aid, but as they drew near, Master Biomancer put up a Sphere of Safety to isolate him and his old pupil .
Elspeth, Sun's Champion desperately struck her blade against the barrier. She could find no fault with it, but continued to strike with all of her strength. Her eyes welled with tears as Ajani Goldmane put his strong paw on her shoulderpad. "This fight was never meant to be fought by us," persuaded Ajani Goldmane . They could do nothing but watch.
As the battle raged on, it appeared as though Master Biomancer was starting to get the upper hand. He landed a blow across Xenagos, the Reveler's chest and drew blood. As he clutched his chest, the satyr thrust his staff into the sphere and destroyed it.
"Now's our chance!" screamed Elspeth, Sun's Champion as she ran to aid her master.
"Elspeth, no!" yelled Ajani Goldmane . His warning landed on deaf ears as she ran to attack the wounded Xenagos, the Reveler. Instead of being struck, the satyr turned and hoof-kicked the heroine to the ground. Immediately afterward, he summoned Bramblecrush to choke Elspeth, Sun's Champion and hinder Ajani Goldmane.
"One more move and she dies!" shouted Xenagos, the Reveler to Master Biomancer. "Now drop your blade and hand me my key."
Master Biomancer looked towards Elspeth, Sun's Champion, who had tears in her eyes. He knew she was willing to sacrifice her life so he could live; he also knew that he could never let that happen. He pulled the key out from under his robe and walked slowly towards his enemy.
"You've won," admitted Master Biomancer. "Take what you desire". He was now face-to-face with the satyr.
"As you wish," laughed Xenagos, the Reveler as he drew a dagger from his sash and thrust it deep into Master Biomancer's heart. The master fell backwards to the ground. As his life drained from his body, he turned towards the choking Elspeth, Sun's Champion and his pet snake-eel-mutant slithered out from under his cloak and fled into the forest.
"Flee while you can, but there's no escaping once I return." The satyr grinned and used his magic to summon a great lock in the sky. "The Bramblecrush has tasted your flesh and wants more," said Xenagos, the Reveler to Ajani Goldmane and Elspeth, Sun's Champion. "I would not deny it its wishes".
Once again, the two heroes could only watch events unfold before them. Xenagos, the Reveler shot the key into the lock, opening a large portal in the sky. "I wouldn't pray for help, for I will be the only god listening." The reveler entered the portal and began his journey into Nyx.
The Final Act - Where Gods Tread
Coming soon!
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| Top Ranked |
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| Date added | 10 years |
| Last updated | 10 years |
| Legality | This deck is not Standard legal. |
| Rarity (main - side) | 15 - 0 Mythic Rares 35 - 8 Rares 3 - 3 Uncommons 4 - 4 Commons |
| Cards | 60 |
| Avg. CMC | 3.05 |
| Tokens | Emblem Elspeth, Sun's Champion, Knight 2/2 W w/ Vigilance, Soldier 1/1 W, Wurm 5/5 G w/ Trample |
| Folders | Story, Cool decks, bant midrange, Interesting Decks, Possible decks |
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