Chronicle of Bolas: A Familiar Stranger
Lore forum
Posted on Aug. 1, 2018, 3:12 p.m. by YaBoyScoot
In which Yasova and her granddaughters venture to the grave of the spirit dragon, and Ugin returns to his home plane.
Source: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/chronicle-bolas-familiar-stranger-2018-08-01
Now hold on a moment...I thought Bolas didn't know Ugin survived. It was even confirmed...
Anyway, I think Bolas's attempt isn't going to pull through. Why? Maybe an Ugin ex machina? idk how, but I doubt Navia would be put through stasis then dropped onto Ravnica.
August 1, 2018 6 p.m.
where was it confirmed that Bolas didn't know Ugin survived? Phaetion
August 1, 2018 9:01 p.m.
huh. i'm curious if bolas caught the briefest moment jace remembered ugin, which prompted him to do more research about his twin. I'm also curious to see how bolas obtains his spark and if he's ever humbled, knowing that his twin was right about being the multiverse. Well written story imo
August 1, 2018 9:55 p.m.
landofMordor says... #7
So, this takes place in FRF, right? Several hundred years before the "present"...a present in which Jace and co. meet Ugin in the ethereal flesh (Ugin's Insight, Hedron Archive, etc). So there's a 0.00% chance Naiva succumbs to Bolas's temptations, because Ugin is alive in the future.
The real question is...did Bolas somehow forget he knew about Ugin in the future? Hm...
The story this week was on point, though, in terms of characterization and writing quality.
August 2, 2018 6:50 a.m.
I just realized how they can make the Bolas-Ugin disconnect relevant. Maybe Ugin wiped Bolas's mind of him somehow? Idk how he could fight back while in stasis, but Navia and co. can't defeat Bolas alone.
August 2, 2018 8:33 a.m.
landofMordor says... #9
Phaetion, I think you nailed it! That seems to fit all our data and also get our heroes out of their pickle.
Maybe this is when Ugin’s spirit becomes freed, given that his PW card was from FRF.
August 3, 2018 7:56 a.m.
landofMordor says... #10
Also, why would Bolas, an amazingly powerful illusionist, not think to himself “hey, humans touch the ground when they walk, maybe I should include that in my illusion”? Rookie mistake (:
August 3, 2018 7:58 a.m.
I think Bolas takes Naiva’s mind and Naiva kills baishya. The parallelism between nai/Bolas and bai/Ugin are pretty striking. Since Ugin has been trying to talk to baishya, maybe bai’s death is what shocks Ugin awake, and Ugin puts Bolas in his place.
One way or another, I’m 90% sure the twins die, which will foreshadow the ultimate fate of Ugin/Bolas.
August 3, 2018 3:27 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #12
I shall agree with the majority of users here in saying that I thought that Bolas was unaware that Ugin was still alive, but Bolas obviously will not succeed in killing Bolas, since Ugin is alive in the present.
Why did Bolas disguise himself as a pregnant woman? What reason could he possibly have had to choose such a disguise?
I also very much dislike the idea of Ugin being the progenitor of dragons on Tarkir, as it makes them seem less special in that way; it would be better if dragons coincidentally evovled on every plane, as seems to be the case with humans, elves, goblins, and so forth. I also really hope that this does not give any credibility to the idea that Sorin may be the progenitor of vampires on Zendikar, as that would make them less unique, as well.
August 4, 2018 12:57 a.m.
RicketyEng says... #13
DDJ, it was said all along that the Tarkir dragons were birthed out of the Dragon tempests which stopped after Ugin's death (Khans time-line). That seems like pretty good evidence that Ugin was their source. Now we just have confirmation that Ugin acted upon Tarkir in a similar way that the Ur Dragon acted upon Dominaria (and maybe other planes).
August 4, 2018 2:27 a.m.
landofMordor says... #14
DemonDragonJ, it seemed like Ugin created most (if not all) of life on Tarkir, in his most recent vision. Kinda like how Karn created Mirrodin. Its just something the old walkers could do (but there's a reason a Mending happened, because godlike powers don't make for good stories).
Also, Sorin is a totally different Vampire, artistically speaking, than the ones on Zendikar, Mirrodin, and Ixalan. This is the first I've heard of theories that he may be roving around creating vampires.
Finally, the pregnant woman -- my guess is he wanted to seem totally unthreatening. Obviously it didn't work, because he forgot to stop floating and asking bizarre questions, but it was worth a try(:
August 4, 2018 1:32 p.m.
YaBoyScoot says... #15
DemonDragonJ The vampires of Zendikar were born from the Eldrazi's corrupting influence on Zendikar. Sorin was not involved in their creation.
August 4, 2018 7:06 p.m.
YaBoyScoot says... #16
DemonDragonJ If you're interested:
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/memories-blood-2015-09-16
August 4, 2018 7:13 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #17
YaBoyScoot, I am very pleased to hear that.
landofMordor, I have been reading the Artifacts cycle, and Urza is certainly very powerful in those books, but he is definitely not omnipotent, so he still is a very interesting character.
August 5, 2018 8:28 p.m.
landofMordor says... #18
DemonDragonJ good point -- I suppose "near-omnipotence" is a better term(: but my point was that creation of planes, or shaping the evolution of planes, was by no means out of their reach. Let me know how you enjoy the books!
August 6, 2018 5:21 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #19
landofMordor, I have enjoyed them very much; Planeswalker and Bloodlines were somewhat slow and boring, but The Brother's War was amazing, and I wish that it would be adapted into a film.
August 6, 2018 9:42 p.m.
landofMordor says... #20
DemonDragonJ, I haven't gotten to them yet, but I'll take your recommendations when I do! I imagine it's a little like reading the old Star Wars novels of the 80s -- very hit-or-miss.
YaBoyScoot says... #2
The Indomitable Hunter Show
I'm not really sure what this implies. Is it possible Naiva is going to play a greater role in the future? If so, how? She would normally age and die before she could be used in Bolas' plan. Perhaps she becomes some type of Eternal? No clue, just thought it was an interesting line.
August 1, 2018 3:18 p.m.