CONSPIRACY TIME
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on April 14, 2020, 4:29 p.m. by ZendikariWol
How gone is Bolas, really? Take a look at these cards, torn consecutively from each of the standard sets proceeding War of the Spark.
What do these cards have in common? The horns- Bolas's horns. What does this mean? Probably nothing. But to this purveyor of wild tinfoil-hat speculation, it smells like something is afoot.
Let's talk about Ugin. When Zendikar was imperiled, when Nicol Bolas had (though indirectly) freed the Eldrazi, what was Ugin's response? To do nothing. More than that, look at how he greets Jace.
"I hope you didn't come alone. My preparations are nearly complete. Hmm," said the dragon, frowning. You're not who I was expecting."
"You released the Eldrazi," said Ugin.
"I—" said Jace. "Yes. There were three of us. We fought. The chamber—"
"I know," said Ugin. "You, a pyromancer, and a dragonspeaker. Planeswalkers all. You opened the Eye."
How did he know that?
"You cannot kill Ulamog," said Ugin.
Here we have Ugin greeting Jace suspiciously, knowing things that he had no reasonable way of knowing, and lying to Jace's face.
Now, one could argue Ugin refers, in the first passage, to Sorin, but he could just as well be referring to any number of Bolas's minions. In fact, I think Ugin was on Bolas's side from the beginning!
What if Ugin knew that someday the Eldrazi would provide a useful distraction? He canned them, saving them for the day that Bolas finally decided to put a grand plan into motion.
But if Ugin was in kahoots with Bolas, why did he trap Bolas in the meditation realm? He didn't. Bolas isn't trapped, he's waiting- biding his time, knowing that Ugin has convinced the general population that he's no longer a threat. Bolas has plans, and this time I think it spans the entire multiverse. What are his aims? Who knows, but I guarantee we have not seen the last of this dragon duo.
MindAblaze says... #3
I have also never trusted Ugin despite the stories of his conflict with Bolas.
I could see this as being some nice bonding time for the brothers while they’re in isolation.
April 14, 2020 7:22 p.m.
Bolas has always been my favorite MTG Villain/antagonist so I am always interested/rooting for his return.... I like the artwork cookie crumb foreshadowing of his revival theory... but I think it would be a bit of a stretch and it bad plot twist for ugin and bolas teamup under those circumstances.... I chalk up the wierd dialog to just poor writing rather than some star wars rise of Skywalker "it was the plan all along to bring back the emperor!"
April 15, 2020 12:07 a.m.
Only Blood Aspirant might have some horns that are similar to those of Bolas. However, they are more likely to be reminiscent of the horns on Xenagos, the Reveler. Kinnan has a device for catching beasts, which in outr world is used for reptiles like snakes. While the Prophet has antlers.
April 15, 2020 10:12 a.m.
Yeah, as said above, Blood Aspirant has Xenagos' horns.
Ugin wasn't working with Bolas; it goes against the backstory they specifically established for both of them pre-War. Ugin is being slightly more compassionate and sympathetic towards Bolas because he still loves him like a brother, but he still recognizes that he's an egomaniacal interplanar threat, and treats him as such. The punishment dealt to him in the meditation realm is a cruelty worthy of an Elder Dragon--Bolas isnt just trapped with his brother for eternity, It in stripped him of his names, his soul and identity as an Elder Dragon. There is no worse punishment when combined with revoking his spark.
Ugin isn't a good being by any means. He is neutral; colorless. But he is, if nothing else, anti-Bolas taking over the multiverse.
April 15, 2020 12:31 p.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #7
Ugin and Azor were in Cahoots making a plan to trap Bolas. Perhaps that's who he was expecting, though I'm not sure who Azor would come with? Could have also been referring to Sorin/Nahiri as they worked together before.
The 'Eye' referred to is likely the 'Eye of Ugin' so one can assume he has a direct connection to it. One could also assume being the twin of Bolas he may have some measure of telepathic ability himself giving him access to information he was not witness to.
In any story though Dragons are fickle creatures. Though they may seem good or bad their purpose is generally self aligned for their own gain, whatever it may be.
April 15, 2020 12:59 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #8
Okay for the sake of clarity, I'm aware of all this. I know that my conspiracy has numerous gaping plot holes (primarily Tarkir, I'm sure I could cook up an elaborate cover-up story for anything other than Bolas literally killing Ugin); this post was mostly just me putting on my tinfoil hat and trying to inspire some creativity with a wildly improbable (and, yes, totally counter to WotC's intentions) theory.
Not designed to be believable, but designed to make you think (and as story-spinning practice for me)!
Yisan says... #2
I noticed the similar artwork on those cards as well and thought the same thing.
April 14, 2020 6:34 p.m.