Nahiri.... Walker...? She's gone Mad/Bad?
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on Feb. 9, 2016, 10:51 a.m. by Rayenous
Nahiri had been tasked to 'watch over' the 'trapped' Eldrazi on her home plane of Zendikar.
Durring the events that led to the Eldrazi's release, Sorin discovered that Nahiri had gone missing.
Through Uncharted Realms stories, we learn the Nahiri discovered something that upset her and made her leave Zendikar.
We also learn that Sorin believed she could have been willing/able to trap Ugin in the Crucible.
Now:
On the card "Structural Distortion", we have the flavour text...
"As Zendikar has bled, so will innistrad. As I have wept, so will Sorin." -Nahiri
It appears that Nahiri may be responsible, at least in some part, for the events transpiring on Innistrad.
Any speculation as to what she has done and/or why?
GoldGhost012 says... #3
Well, pre-mending walkers used to regularly go insane due to their longevity and absurd power. I think that Nahiri went crazy with betrayal over the fact neither Ugin nor Sorin showed up to help Zendikar when the Eldrazi stirred the very first time.
February 9, 2016 10:55 a.m.
Blackshadow415 says... #4
This block feels like a mystery type book almost. I think that something happened with Avacyn so we could be seeing a Black White Avacyn also if that is the case Sorin maybe trying to retrieve her before she causes to much destruction. Jace is basically a detective trying to locate someone maybe Sorin maybe Nahri I don't know but he's looking for someone.
February 9, 2016 11:29 a.m.
@rorofat - I've actually argued that before. I was shot down.
'Lore' would imply "how it is"... what we are doing is 'speculation' on how it may be.
February 9, 2016 12:47 p.m.
Huh weird Rayenous I've always looked at the spoiler forum as a purely 'this card is good, this card is bad' place... Interesting :)
February 9, 2016 12:50 p.m.
"Nahiri is not necessarily causing trouble. The structural deformations indicate that it was Eldrazi magic. The flavor text could show Nahiri merely commenting on the appearance of Eldrazi on Innistrad.
That said, there is an interesting feminine humanoid figure on the right of the image."
Why I put it in quotations? I've said it before. It still seems pretty clear to me, but everyone else thinks that she's gone and done a 'Nixy (Remorseless Punishment).
In any case, it doesn't feel like Nahiri.
February 9, 2016 2:22 p.m.
That image doesn't look at all like 'Eldrazi'... looks a lot more like a Lithomancer's doing to me.
And saying that the Nahiri flavour quote is a comment on an Eldrazi apearance is quite a stretch. - The structural verbiage is much more in tune with a threat or vengeance than that of sympathy or empathy. - There is clearly 'blame' in those words.
February 9, 2016 2:37 p.m.
Blackshadow415 says... #10
The figure does look like Nahri I think Wizards let us see the hair so we could make predictions another r/w planeswalker besides Ajani Vengeant
February 9, 2016 2:58 p.m.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm not sure if those leaked cards are real...if you look at the reminder text for the ability "skulk", it seems grammatically incorrect (like it should say "...with greater power than this creature"). Also, "investigate", while cool, seems strange somehow, and would Wizards ever say just "-Sigarda" in the flavor text (as opposed to, for example, "-Sigarda, Host of Herons")?
February 9, 2016 3:09 p.m.
Blackshadow415 says... #12
Also that is the Markov Manor in structural distortion so if that is Nahri she's really pissed at Sorin, also the card Pore over the Pages gives hint to this. Sorin was the first person Nahri saw after her spark ignited so that's why she is so mad she trusted Sorin so much and was let down so hard
February 9, 2016 3:10 p.m.
Blackshadow415 says... #13
Ajani@mtg you do have a point they do look grammatically incorrect
February 9, 2016 3:13 p.m.
Blackshadow415 says... #14
Also if this is Nahri she may have killed Avacyn which is why Jace sees Avacyn in the sky it's HIGHLY unlikely that this is the case
February 9, 2016 3:27 p.m.
It would be grammatically incorrect to say "This creature cannot be blocked by creatures with greater power than this creature." - They way it is worded is actually grammatically correct.
I see nothing wrong with 'Investigate'. - Other than perhaps it seems a little "too" Lovcraftian... I was hoping for more subtle hints and symbolism.
If Sigarda were no longer "Host of Herons" (possibly due to the downfall of the Angels), she would simply be 'Sigarda', no title, no last name.
February 9, 2016 3:38 p.m.
I could see the story being more of - Nahiri went in search of Sorin. - Upon arriving on Innistrad, the became affected by the Moon. - When this is all cleared up by Jace (again), and Tamiyo's research, she will be back to herself.
February 9, 2016 3:40 p.m.
There are a lot of big questions for this block. I'm not sure how I feel about RW Nahiri, though.
February 9, 2016 3:58 p.m.
Topdeckermtg2016 says... #18
I agree with Rayenous. Why would Nahiri be mad and vengeful at Sorin when she clearly helped trap the eldrazi on Zendikar in the first place. It was the only answer and there should be no one to put blame on. I think the moon might be affecting the inhabitants of innistrad making them mad (madness effect). I was hoping Nahiri and Tamiyo would sculpt a giant Hedron out of the moon of innistrad and trap Emrakul and the other Eldrazi on the plane or transport the moon to zendikar to do the same thing. I feel like one plane is going to have to be sacrificed to hold the eldrazi in place but then again the goal is also for Jace and other walkers to destroy them entirely.
February 9, 2016 4:14 p.m.
Topdeckermtg2016 says... #19
You probably need more than one hedron so a bunch of giant hedrons Nahiri could sculpt using the moon orbiting the plane.
February 9, 2016 4:19 p.m.
I think that it's reaching to say that it's Nahiri doing it. Like I originally said, Eldrazi. The distortion shown looks like Kozilek's magic. The land or artifact is exiled, not destroyed.
What's a dead titan's magic doing on Innistrad? Eldrazi summoners and/or sympathisers. This also explains why it isn't devoid and Rosewater himself said that something similar would have happened with IoK.
February 9, 2016 6:16 p.m.
That looks nothing like Kozilek's distortion.
Kozilek's distortion is symmetrical and does not have blast patters.
Exiling is not limited to Eldrazi, and will inevitably be used in a set following Zendikar for the mechanical purpose of having sets flow together for Standard.
If you look at this card and feel a need to post about how it must be Eldrazi, you are either trolling, or are so focused on Eldrazi that you must think Anafenza, the Foremost must be an Eldrazi... she causes creatures to be exiled, after all... and look, there's something smooth and metallic looking over her head... must be Kozilek distortion.
February 9, 2016 6:36 p.m.
It's hard to determine whether or not it is Kozilek's distortion because the things aren't perfectly perpendicular to the view given. Likewise, there are many ways to explain the distortion having different effects- the unpredictability of Kozilek's magic (to us, at the very least), or the fact that the user doesn't cast the spell in the same way, or even just the fact that the caster isn't an Eldrazi.
The spell being cast sure isn't lithomancy.
Of course, exiling isn't limited to Eldrazi, but it's one of their key themes. If Eldrazi are on Innistrad (and there are lots of factors which hint that they are), then it is likely that the spell is an Eldrazi spell.
I could mention that Nahiri's flavor text does not indicate that she is 'turning red'. It is just one interpretation. We've had flavor text similar to this before, where a person could be interpreted as being 'evil' or 'corrupt', but it isn't actually like that.
And she isn't necessarily red even if she is annoyed at Sorin for not helping.
February 10, 2016 2:01 a.m.
Reading the flavour text shows some interesting links. I you can accept Structural distortion is Markov Manner as the picture suggests it is most likely Nihiri is responsible.
Then the flavour text on pore over the pages
"I'm certain that the fate of Markov Manor is connected to these cryptoliths...' This Tamiyo was on to something".
cryptolith [kripto-lith] a concretion or stone in a pit or blind tube of the body.
So first stone could link to lithomancer and a cryptolith is not healthy so could be a way to kill people. The fact that the destruction of Markov mannor and the cryptoliths being linked also lends credence to the linking factor being Nihiri. Also of note the comment Tamiyo was onto something means that Tamiyo has gone but left after the issue with the cryptoliths started.
Then the other Jace flavour on pieces of the puzzle
"The clues have begun to reveal a truth I hesitate to accept."
could point towards the corruption of Nihiri. Also notice in the picture jace has his hand to a rock seeking information (again rocks= Nihiri).
These are just theories I believe most likely with the presented information but either way we have what seems to be a mystery if not murder mystery style set.
February 10, 2016 2:03 a.m.
being bitten by sorrin and vampirised is the best theory I heard. Also it would probs make her angry enough to blow up his house/world
February 10, 2016 2:13 a.m.
Blackshadow415 says... #26
She is a Elder Walker they have Immortality which is why Sorin's still alive along with Ugin and Nicol Bolas this is canon
February 10, 2016 12:06 p.m.
Blackshadow415 says... #27
This is directly from the wiki mtg salvation
It has been confirmed by Sorin Markov that Nahiri is still alive, however they seem to have had a falling out, probably as a result of Nahiri's meeting with Sorin after the Eldrazi's first awakening on Zendikar.When Sorin first heard that Ugin had been involved in a battle with another planeswalker, he initially suspected that it was Nahiri. He later discovered that this other planeswalker was Nicol Bolas, but his suspicion about her involvement suggests that her largely benevolent persona had changed at some point.
February 10, 2016 12:09 p.m.
I've come to a complete understanding that "wiki" = "some random interpretation". - Not that that's not what we do here... but wiki likes to make things sound like fact, when it's often not the case.
That being said, I have read (all/most?) the 'Uncharted Realms' which deal with Nahiri/Sorin/Ugin. - The interpretation seems fairly accurate... except the part where it says "probably as a result of Nahiri's meeting with Sorin". I don't recall any mention of the stories of Nahiri meeting up with Sorin. Just a statement about a 'discovery' that Nahiri made during her time keeping watch over the trapped Eldrazi, but no hint as to what the discovery was.
February 10, 2016 12:22 p.m. Edited.
Blackshadow415 says... #29
It basically says Nahri is pissed at Sorin and Ugin for not coming to help her
February 10, 2016 12:23 p.m.
Blackshadow415 says... #30
Also kozilek's distortions looks a lot like bismuth nothing in structural distortions looks nothing like bismuth
February 10, 2016 12:38 p.m.
Pre-mending walkers lost their immortality with the mending, right? Maybe she took some Nicol Bolas steroids.
The notion that Nahiri is insane is far more convincing than the notion of Nahiri being vindictive, I must say.
February 10, 2016 1:06 p.m.
Maybe this is just all part of the mystery theme.......!!
February 10, 2016 3:05 p.m.
Blackshadow415 says... #33
Now we have to fiqure out how Nahri is alive because pre mending walkers lost their immortality so either she pulled a lil or their something not right here also eldritch moon we get new lil we get new Jace in shadows hopefully
February 11, 2016 9:54 a.m.
Possible 'theoretical' reasons (all or in part):
Kor may have long life-span's. - We do not know what the expected life-span of a Kor is. As such we cannot say that she has lived beyond her normal life span.
Planeswalkers, though no longer 'nearly immortal', may still have extended lives.
A spell may have been used to extend her life. - As Planeswalkers were never 'truly' immortal, Ugin may have realized that Nahiri, who was takes with watching over the Eldrazi's slumber, could eventually die. - He could have cast a spell, similar to the one cast on Liliana, to extend her life beyond her normal life span.
State of suspended animation. - Much of Nahiri's time 'watching' the Eldrazi was spent in a slumber within the Eye of Ugin. - Her time spent there may have caused there to be little to no aging during that period, extending her life by the amount of time spent there (and possibly more)
February 11, 2016 11:09 a.m.
Blackshadow415 says... #35
It does say Nahri went into a state of suspended animation while gaurding the eldrazi
February 11, 2016 11:28 a.m.
Yup. Much about Nahiri can be gleaned from the Uncharted Realms story - STIRRING FROM SLUMBER!
Even the title mentions her slumber.
February 11, 2016 11:37 a.m. Edited.
Yes I believe Elder Planeswalkers lost their Immortality. Nicol Bolas has a long life span probably due to the fact of how powerful he is. Although he was semi killed, his life force remained and he plotted his rebirth. Kruphix, God of Horizons views Bolas as one of the three largest threats to Theros. Kruphix believes Bolas is on the same power level as the Phyrexians and the Eldrazi, those two being the other two threats.
Ugin was killed by Nicol Bolas but Sarkahn changed the time line so Ugin is alive today.
Sorin is alive because he is a Vampire and thus he really doesn't age.
Rayenous has given us the most likely reasons Nahiri could still be alive. It is hard to tell how long an Elder Planeswalkers lifespan is now.
I think a likely scenario could be that Nahiri became angry with Ugin and Sorin because they didn't return to help her with the Eldrazi threat. It could have been her proximity and/or battling the Eldrazi that drove her mad. Like battling the Eldrazi quite literally made her insane and now she wants revenge on those that didn't help her.
February 18, 2016 3:11 a.m.
bennybubbles says... #38
Dragons also have much longer lifespans than humanoid species, so it is reasonable to assume that Bolas would be alive even if he wasn't a planeswalker due to his being a dragon.
February 18, 2016 6:10 a.m.
I agree bennybubbles but what I was saying is even with their long life spans we don't know how much of that has to do with their power and especially because both of our Dragon Planeswalkers have been killed in the storyline and come back to life. Once they are killed and brought back, there is no saying what their life expectancy is.
Sorin is our other only example, (that I can think of), and he is a legitimate immortal. He can obviously still be killed but he doesn't age due to being a Vampire.
At the end of the day we really don't know what the life expectancy for an Elder Planeswalker is. We only know that they aren't immortal like they used to be. Power level seems to play a part though. I was under the impression that Nahiri wasn't that powerful, in comparison.
February 18, 2016 12:05 p.m.
I would like to point out that vengeance is not exclusively in the color pie of red. That is, Nahiri may very well still be a mono-white planeswalker.
For example, look at Akroma. I'm not going to link every Akroma card, but here's one: Akroma's Vengeance. Akroma is getting on red, but not quite- this is supported by the fact that Akroma's alternate reality version is mono-red.
Rayenous says... #2
Oddly, this is the first piece of flavour that I feel may slightly point to Emrakul.
If, and only if, Sorin/Ugin lured the Eldrazi to Zendikar to be trapped, Nahiri would be upset with them. - Discovering how they did this, she now plans on using this method to lure Emrakul to Innistrad.
I still don't think this is likely the plot Wizards has developed for this Block, but it's a small possibility.
Other things strongly make me think it's not the case... mainly Jace reading over Tamiyo's research to discover what is going on... if Tamiyo's research has anything to do with what is going on, then it has nothing to do with Emrakul, who (I believe) was on Zendikar at the time Tamiyo was studying the moon of Innistrad.
Note: "Really Wizards!" Jace has to study someone else's research... AGAIN... to attempt to fine a solution to the problems affecting a Plane.
Go to Seagate.
Find Jori En.
Go to Eye go Ugin.
Talk to Ugin.
...come on Jace, figure something out for yourself!
February 9, 2016 10:55 a.m. Edited.