MS: Burn

Lore forum

Posted on Jan. 4, 2017, 11:20 a.m. by AgentGreen

In today's story, the Renegades are basking in the victory of seizing the Aether Hub from Consulate forces. Now, they have to hold the Hub from a consulate counter-attack long enough for the Heart of Kiran to be fueled.

CONTENT WARNING Contains references of suicidal thoughts

AgentGreen says... #2

http://edit.magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/burn-2017-01-04

January 4, 2017 11:21 a.m.

brokendwarf says... #3

January 4, 2017 11:30 a.m.

AgentGreen says... #4

Thanks brokendwarf. I got to find out why I can't post links; even when I use the URL tag in the comment box

January 4, 2017 11:33 a.m.

Phaetion says... #5

This was nice development on Chandra's end. No doubt it will develop further.

As for vendetta list member Baral: I feel vindicated enough. If he escapes, I'll put him back on the list. I like how Dovin backstabs him in the end.

That said, there's a lovely shipping moment between Chandra and Gideon. Romance, maybe?

January 4, 2017 11:35 a.m. Edited.

brokendwarf says... #6

AgentGreen

Put the link name you want in single brackets, [ ], and the URL in single parenthesis after it, ( )

January 4, 2017 11:37 a.m. Edited.

AgentGreen says... #7

Phaetion If he has a ally in Tezzy, I don't think Dovin will live long.

Baral is a dishonorable coward. He fights on HIS terms. Too bad he's still breathing

January 4, 2017 1:45 p.m.

Aztraeuz says... #8

But is it really cowardly to fight on YOUR terms? Or just smart?

January 4, 2017 2:29 p.m.

RicketyEng says... #9

This was such a great story! So much happened and we got to see a number of perspectives. Nissa was a complete powerhouse and I loved Chandra's reaction when Nissa suddenly had a sword and resorted to non-magical combat.

As far as I can tell, I think the gearhulk Gideon took down was probably the Cataclysmic Gearhulk. Can anyone concur or disagree?

Which is the gearhulk with two heads? Edit: ah, Torrential Gearhulk.

January 4, 2017 3:15 p.m. Edited.

Homura_Akemi says... #10

iAzire It is an opinion question. Some would think a fair fight is fair, while others would rather do whatever they have to in order to win. Obviously someone would not want to fight in a fight that they would not win, ie the "fair" and the "unfair" persons in the opposite's battle knowing they would lose.

January 4, 2017 4:47 p.m.

This might be the first love triangle in all of ever that I have not disapproved of wholeheartedly, or felt stupidly forced.

Mostly, I think, because they're very much downplaying the "love" part of the triangle, leaving it largely to hints and subtleties than overt drama.

January 4, 2017 5:39 p.m.

Zaueski says... #12

Chandra has always been my favorite character... This... Just wow.. It actually left me in tears... So beautifully written and gives her so much depth... Just wow... And I always knew she was powerful... But that was a nuke level explosion she almost unleashed... Wow... I've personally had to talk down people like Gideon and Nissa did for her and despite being a really touchy subject I am so impressed with how it was handled...

Also, as much as I hate Baral for all the shit he's done to Chandra and her family... He is the perfect foil to her, I can't help but admire how well done his character is and I definitely hope Chandra gets a rematch on her terms when she's more stable...

January 4, 2017 6:41 p.m. Edited.

Named_Tawyny says... #13

Phaetion, Dovin didn't backstab Baral. Dovin's loyalty is to law and order first and foremost; it was never to Baral. He backstabbed Baral in the same way that a good cop 'backstabs' a crooked cop.

January 4, 2017 8:28 p.m.

Phaetion says... #14

I meant a metaphorical backstab, not a literal one. It's the sting of betrayal. You know.

January 4, 2017 9:30 p.m.

Bovine073 says... #15

I do like the way this story ended. I did not want to see Baral die personally, but his justice was served. Dovin Baan has moved up in my book.

January 5, 2017 3:53 a.m.

sonnet666 says... #16

PhotogenicParasympathetic, what part of this is a love triangle?

I've yet to see any indication that Chandra and Nissa are romantically attracted to each other if that's what you mean.

January 5, 2017 4:10 a.m.

sonnet666 says... #17

Also, did this crack anyone else up?

"Gids came down to see how I was, and we started talking, and there was this time he got me arrested for blowing up a museum" YOU ARE SCREWING THIS UP "but actually he didn't want to, and we ended up on a plane where we fought this creepy I'm-a-gentleman-m'lady vampire, and then I was thinking about my mom and"

January 5, 2017 7:38 a.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #18

Why was it necessary to state at the beginning of the story that it had references to suicidal thoughts? Would that not qualify as a spoiler?

This story was awesome; although much occurred within it, it did not feel too cluttered or rushed, and I especially liked the focus on Chandra, as well as her relationship with Gideon; is it safe to presume that the story writers are writing a romance between them, or are they simply really good friends?

I was really hoping that Chandra would kill Baral, but Baan arresting Baral was also quite satisfying. I can hardly wait to see what happens next.

How did Liliana destroy an automaton? Can her necromantic powers affect non-living matter as well as living matter?

January 5, 2017 9:15 a.m.

AgentGreen says... #19

I know we got Chandra's voice in the set trailer, but when I read dialog like that her voice in the trailer and what I'm reading doesn't add up. I'm hearing something like a late teen or early young adult age voice when reading her dialog

Tell me I'm not the only one who thinks like that

January 5, 2017 9:24 a.m.

AgentGreen says... #20

DemonDragonJ It was a Verdurous Gearhulk she crushed

January 5, 2017 9:27 a.m.

Bovine073 says... #21

I do feel that the story is pushing the power of some of the gatewatch members too far. Gideon: "I'm indestructible". Seriously? Liliana brining down a fricken gearhulk, seriously? I'm sick of the Jacetice league, although the story was great this week (and has been for the last while).

January 5, 2017 9:28 a.m.

AgentGreen says... #22

Gideon has always been indestructible, that's his power.

Liliana bringing down a Verdurous Gearhulk is very much possible due to her ability to decay organic life; which is very much require for that gearhulk. Put her up against the other 4 and she may run into problems.

So where's the complaint when The Avengers can overpower a Hydra base when they (The Avengers) are completely outnumbered? Or when The Justice League can subjugate the entire planet with just a small number of individuals with incredible power (to take comic book, TV, or Movie examples)

January 5, 2017 9:44 a.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #23

AgentGreen, how did Gideon become indestructible? I do not remember how he acquired that ability, and does it not reduce any sense of tension and danger in stories that feature him? How does he not automatically win every battle in which he engages? Is there a limit to his indestructibility? How can we, the audience, feel a genuine sense of peril for him if he is indestructible?

January 5, 2017 5:43 p.m.

Zaueski says... #24

DemonDragonJ, his indestructibility has been around since his origin story. As for the danger it is extremely difficult for him to sustain in the manner he did in this story, as we read he was bruised and banged up by the gearhulk. Planeswalkers don't have unlimited mana, Gids can run out when he takes continual damage. In a one on one fight he usually flares the power wherever he gets struck to moderate his mana consumption making him virtually unkillable. What he did in this story was extremely stupid and did almost kill him as sustaining that aura took a lot out of him.

January 5, 2017 5:57 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #25

Zaueski, it has been some time since I read Gideon's origin story, so did the story reveal the origin of his indestructibility?

January 5, 2017 6:07 p.m.

Zaueski says... #26

Its just his heiromancy magic that he learned on Theros

January 5, 2017 6:50 p.m.

RicketyEng says... #27

Gideon's indestructibility was there before we met him. I was about to claim it as part of his heiromancy too but he used it on his first day in jail when he picked a fight with a goon. Gideon also used it a lot during the battles for Zendikar and Innistrad (any time it mentions golden light rippling across his skin). An example of how he can still be defeated even though he is indestructible is his duel with Ob Nixilis. Nixilis was able to subdue Gideon by holding the latter's head under water in a large puddle.

January 5, 2017 7 p.m. Edited.

sonnet666, they've been hinting at a Nissa/Chandra relationship since BFZ. Most of their interactions are awkward and clumsy, in a manner consistent with what I'd expect from Chandra not recognizing a crush she has. Even in this story, when Nissa appears, Chandra feels the need to explain hugging Gideon to Nissa, like she was caught doing something wrong.

January 5, 2017 8:16 p.m.

This discussion has been closed