MS:Renewal
Lore forum
Posted on Feb. 1, 2017, 11:42 a.m. by AgentGreen
http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/renewal-2017-02-01
In today's season finale, the battle is won; the planer bridge is destroyed; and Tezzeret has escaped. Now the Gatewatch expands, and plans their incursion into Amonket to challenge the evil Nicol Bolas
EpicFreddi says... #3
JerichoDarkstar Joke's on you, the new bolas will be Sultai colors because reasons. We couldn't have nice things with Sarkhan, so why have them with Bolas?
jk, i really hope he's grixis. And I hope he wont be shit (I want him arround ugin-level).
I'll be hella mad if the gatewatch just kicks his butt. This needs to be either a draged out fight through different planes or the gatewatch just gets rescuaed last second because they couldnt do shit.
February 1, 2017 11:52 a.m.
So, after defeating Loki, the Avengers are gonna take the Quinjet and fight Thanos head on, right? No wait, wrong universe.
February 1, 2017 1:43 p.m. Edited.
RicketyEng says... #5
This story filled me with so much happiness and calm. Nissa's revelations to Yahenni were so awesome and profound. I wish I could express how good today's story made me feel.
I'm pretty sure that Nissa has finally been cemented as my favourite member of the Gatewatch.
I find it a bit disturbing that barely two minutes after welcoming Ajani into the Gatewatch, the others are all deciding to outright deceive him. That's a pretty poor way to show respect to a member of a team.
February 1, 2017 2:27 p.m.
AgentGreen says... #6
You got it all wrong Ixidron, it's not The Avengers, it's the Justice League; they're going after Darkseid
No...wrong universe...damnit
February 1, 2017 2:29 p.m.
JerichoDarkstar says... #7
I know, right? The Gatewatch seem to be a bit OP. Technically, they've "beaten" every enemy they've come across. Emrakul, the Promised End got Imprisoned in the Moon, but it was what she wanted. They didn't really beat her, but Emrakul didn't beat them either.
Every good super hero story arc needs a villian so powerful that even banding together isn't enough. Like Ixidron and AgentGreen said, Thanos to the Avengers and Darkseid to the Justic League.
Bolas should have gotten a lot more powerful. He should be able to flick the Gatewatch away like flies. I want them to get beaten, go back and seek advice from Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, then return to contain Bolas... but not beat him.
February 1, 2017 2:42 p.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #8
I really liked this story. I mean, I don't like that the gatewatch are already going behind Ajani's back, but the writing was really good, and I loved the Nissa-guides-Chandra-in-meditation scene.
February 1, 2017 3:05 p.m.
Getting Ugin involved in the story again would be really cool actually.
Where do you think he is right now? There was a lot he probably wanted to sort out on Tarkir, but he might have gone off to settle other responsibilities. What does a neutral aligned elder dragon planeswalker do in his free time anyway?
February 1, 2017 3:44 p.m.
RicketyEng says... #10
@sonnet666, Ugin is on Zendikar studying the eldrazi remains and their effects on the plane. He also isn't pleased with the Gatewatch and made it plenty clear that he doesn't care to see them again any time soon.
@PhotogenicParasympathetic I liked that scene too. I'm happy that Nissa and Chandra were finally able to come to an understanding that will help them be less awkward with each other.
February 1, 2017 4:20 p.m.
JerichoDarkstar says... #11
@RicketyEng Which is exactly why I think it would be a good story arc. First, the Gatewatch come crawling back to Ugin. He refuses to help them, so they have to find a way to convince him. I'm not sure how his help would come.
Directly? As in Ugin going to Amonkhet to settle the score with Bolas anyway.
Indirectly? By helping the Gatewatch get stronger. This could also mean newer versions of them in upcoming sets.
Secondly... I'm calling it. Killing Ulamog and Kozilek had bigger consequences than even Ugin feared. Either Ulamog and Kozilek "essence" is going to create something horrifyingly powerful. Or, worse Eldrazi will take their place. But anyway, that could be a foreshadowing of another Eldrazi set later. When they meet Ugin, he could have discovered some significantly bad things about the titans.
February 1, 2017 4:34 p.m.
Homura_Akemi says... #12
This story was perfect. I absolutely LOVE Nissa and Chandra, they're just awesome, well-developed characters.
"Very quietly, Chandra whispered, 'I'mshushingnow.'"
February 1, 2017 6:03 p.m.
The league may be going against Ajani's advice now, but he'll get the last laugh.
Just 'watch. Get it? Ha ha ha ha...I'll show myself out.
February 1, 2017 10:16 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #15
Much happened in this story, so I shall attempt to comment on all of it.
I am glad that a new, less totalitarian, government is being established, and I hope that it does not become corrupt, as did the original consulate. The interactions between Chandra and Pia were great, and I doubt that Chandra will remain on Kaladesh permanently.
I definitely liked how Chandra and Pia finally confronted Baral and relinquished their hatred of him; that was a very nice closure for them.
Yahenni's death was very emotional, and I especially liked how Nissa told them about other planes of existence, and how aether is the substance that connects the entire multiverse.
So, Ajani has now formally joined the Gatewatch, I see; their plan to strike as Bolas is very bold, and I hope that it does not succeed, since they have succeeded at nearly everything that they have done, thus far. While it is true that Zendikar and Innistrad were badly damaged by the battles against the eldrazi, and that there were many causalities in the fight against the Consulate on Kaladesh, no character of major importance has died, thus far, nor have any of the members of the Gatewatch suffered from any significant and long-lasting losses. I am not saying that the death of a major character will automatically improve the story, but I do wish for them to experience a severe defeat or other failure, forcing them to retreat and question themselves, giving them an opportunity for character development. The fact that the second set of the Amonkhet block shall be called Hour of Devastation seems to imply that it shall not end well for its protagonists, and I really hope that not all six of the current members go to Amonkhet, as that would be too much exposure in four consecutive blocks.
I wonder where Baan went? He obviously will eventually return, but will he be a friend or foe of the Gatewatch when he does?
February 2, 2017 1:05 a.m.
Oh, yeah, another thing:
Baral is going to get executed! YAYYYYY!!!!!
Also, DemonDragonJ,: here are my thoughts on Hour of Devastation:
Reflect back to Serra's Realm for a minute. That was a world that was created by a planeswalker (i.e. Serra). However, it became very unstable and collapsed (the Phyrexian invasion accelerated that). Right now, there are two other planes that were created by 'walkers: Mirrodin and (now) Amonkhet.
Mirrodin (aka New Phyrexia) was created by Karn, who had mastery of all 5 colors at the time. Thus, this world is stable and not prone to collapse.
Then, what about Amonkhet? We now know it was created by Nicki Minaj...I mean Bolas himself. Bolas, though, only has three colors in his repertoire. Meaning that Amonkhet is more stable vs. Serra's Realm being centered around one color. Also, it was mentioned that the inhabitants of Amonkhet were awaiting the return of Bolas. This screams the Apocalypse, as it reflects a Second Coming sort of scenario. My guess is that Amonkhet will be drastically altered by the end or totally destroyed by whatever ensuing conflict the 'Watch gets involved in. Amonkhet may be stable-r than Serra's Realm, but that does not mean it's completely stable unlike Mirrodin/New Phyrexia is.
February 2, 2017 9:17 a.m.
RicketyEng says... #17
Baral thought he would be executed but he isn't being executed. I will be forced to live out his pitiful existence instead of having the satisfaction of turning someone else into a tool of destruction such as himself.
February 2, 2017 10:38 a.m.
AgentGreen says... #19
Phaetion Oh he definitely will. What does he have left? He is nothing now, and the Nalaars don't want him dead. Chandra did not give into revenge, and instead did something far worse for Baral; she let him live. He is going to suffer big time because he is nothing now, a disfigured blue mage with no power, no authority, and nothing left to live for.
A fate worse than death is in Baral's future; simply being alive as a nobody
February 2, 2017 11:09 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #20
I notice that Baral's fate in this story is very similar to Ozai's fate in Avatar: the Last Airbender, because both are imprisoned and powerless. I do not like that, because I believe that no one, no matter what they have done, should ever have to suffer. I would have preferred it if Baral had had an epic death in the middle of a battle, so that he could be remembered as a badass, not as a pathetic shell of his former self, wasting away in prison for the remainder of his life.
February 2, 2017 2:03 p.m.
RicketyEng says... #21
But the whole point is that our judgement of him is that he was a horrible person who committed what we might consider war crimes. Someone like that should not be glorified. Being executed or falling in battle is an ending on his terms but being imprisoned robs him of that. If you disagree with that as a fair sentence then I probably can't convince you.
February 2, 2017 10:51 p.m.
I don't know why but I like how Grandma Pashri is just shipping Nissa and Chandra super subtly. Also Yahenni's end is heartbreaking for me since he's my favorite character from this set by far.
Now onto the great discussion what are the gatewatch thinking right now. And my guess is they aren't. Jace and Liliana both know better. Gideon should listen to them and not want to go charging in. Nissa can probably sense it from all of the above plus ajani that Nicol Bolas is bad news. Only Chandra should be willing to just charge in head first. Especially when they have powerful people they can go to (Saheeli who'd want revenge on tezzeret and in extension bolas, Sorin if they decide to track down and free him on innistrad who'll feel the need to beat up on Bolas since it was his plotting bag freed the eldrazi to wreak havoc on his plane, Tamiyo because she wants the multiverse left alone and Bolas is a threat to the multiverse in its entirety, Ugin cause well Bolas left him for dead messing up he equilibrium of his home plane messing with his life's work of imprisoning the eldrazi, and let's not forget whatever allies/ weapons Ajani can muster we don't know of yet) who can definitely help out in this fight.
February 3, 2017 10:31 a.m.
Ej1997: And don't forget Sarkhan, who defected from Bolas and wants revenge. Perhaps Narset will tag along once she knew the truth.
February 3, 2017 1:08 p.m.
Homura_Akemi says... #24
Narset will be great when her time comes. Hopefully she is the first Jeskai Planeswalker!!!!
February 3, 2017 2:18 p.m.
Phaetion my point exactly. There might be half a dozen walkers at least all of whom would have some reason or another to challenge Bolas. The question is why doesn't the gatewatch utilize that fact
JerichoDarkstar says... #2
I can't wait for a new Nicol Bolas planeswalker. Grixis is my colors, and I hope he is super destructive and super playable.
I also can't wait to see him in the story. I hope he's gotten a lot more powerful than before. I kinda want to see the Gatewatch to get their butts kicked.
February 1, 2017 11:45 a.m.