We covered the new pathway of multi-plane stories last time for the Magic: the Gathering Lore to head towards New Phyrexia. Now new tales not connected to blocks have appeared, and they give rise to more context from past stories, both shown and perhaps forgotten. This article will showcase what the connections and pathways are, and the next steps the story is taking towards New Phyrexia.
in the Streets of New Capenna story, we learned that Urabrask is seeking revolution against Elesh Norn, and for something on New Capenna, with aid from Tezzeret. Tezzeret recruits Vivian Reid to assist this idea of revolution, and Urabrask has heard of another walker, one that Elesh Norn fears.
"Norn fears her. That is all I know." [stated Urabrask]
And an enemy of Elesh Norn was someone Vivien wanted to know.
-From: The Side of Freedom, SNC side story 3.
At the end of the New Capenna story, Vivian has joined with Elspeth and gained information on how Halo was instrumental to defeating the old Phyrexians on New Capenna - and they both go to return to Ajani on Dominaria, with information on Urabrask.
Now a new story has appeared, "A Garden of Flesh", where Elesh Norn discovers she can have nightmares, induced by the planeswalker Ashiok. And who is Norn's nightmare; Elspeth Tirel! Where previously in life Norn knew no fear or uncertainty! Her dedication to the Machine Orthodoxy leads her to determine, that Elspeth must be destroyed. In this tale, we also learn that Elspeth did encounter Norn briefly, in the time of Scars of Mirrodin.
"And Elesh Norn knew then, with the same amount of conviction with which
she worshiped the Machine Orthodoxy, that in order to purge this new
emotion she was feeling, this fear and uncertainty, she would need to
find the human, Elspeth Tirel, and rid the Multiverse of her."
-From A Garden of Flesh, Magic side story
It is unknown what the goals are for Ashiok, but they did not give aid to Norn in this case, nor were compleated. They had learned of New Phyrexia in the Theros Beyond Death (non)story, when Ashiok sought out and aided Elspeth in her quest to escape the underworld, and found there must be delicious nightmares from monsters who themselves are considered nightmares for others across the multiverse.
Images from the Scars of Mirrodin lore comics
Elspeth, in Scars of Mirrodin, was recruited by Koth, a native of Mirrodin, in the war for New Phyrexia, with Venser. The war went unsuccessfully, and Venser gave his life to free and purify Karn.
Now we see Karn has joined with the Gatewatch, to find a way to defeat Phyrexia. And while Jin Gitaxias has compleated Tamiyo, the Gatewatch has both Sylex and Elspeth to fight with them, and a traitorous Phyrexian Preator to fight Elesh Norn.
The second step has moved forwards, and now we return to Dominaria... United!
Welcome to the glitz and
glam, the world of Capenna, featuring the greatest city on the plane,
New Capenna! You can enjoy a dance club or find some life in a bar
with a glass of Halo. As we welcome several planeswalkers to the
plane, we can expect some vivacious times with the five families we
can see here!
Elspeth has returned from death in the Theros underworld, and found her friend Ajani. Meanwhile, the Maestros are concerned about the "Adversary" syphoning resources from all the five families, the Cabaretti are planning their Crescendo party, to 'change the plane'. Vivian arrives on Capenna, and runs into Tezzeret. Suspicious, she follows him from his offer, who leads her to a weakened Urabrask. In Elspeth and Ajani's terse reuinion, he reveals that he found her unknown homeworld, Capenna, and she promises to travel there to investigate how it defeated Phyrexia in the past. She keeps a low profile there, working simple jobs, until she protects her employer from Maestros enforcers. Defeating all of them with no weapons, she is offered a job by Anhelo, and accepts once she notices a Phyrexian depicted in a sculpture.
Elspeth does various jobs for the Maestros, all non-violent. She works directly with Xander, and learns bits of the world's history of Phyrexian invasion. On a dropoff job, she meets Vivian, who recognizes her spark, and promises to meet again, with information since Vivian has met with, and been considering supporting the New Phyrexian preator, Urabrask. Urabrask has come to New Capenna on orders from Elesh Norn, likely seeking Halo. However, he wants freedom from her rule, and hopes to create a revolution to overthrow Elesh, which Vivian feels worthy of support. For Elspeth's next job for the Maestros, she is to infiltrate the Cabaretti, and discover what the Font is, the new source of Halo the Cabaretti have, which she meets Jinnie to begin. Urabrask asks Vivian for Halo, and warns about the Adversary taking control of New Capenna, as he is a demon planeswalker.
Xander sends Anhelo in his stead to the Crescendo, expecting the attack by the Adversary. At the Crescendo, Elspeth is working for the Cabaretti, and meets Giadia, who is revealed in a (poorly decided) performance to be the Font; she can create Halo by her own magical ability. Ob Nixilis, the Adversary, attacks and kills Xander. The Adversary's men atttack the Cabaretti at the Crescendo to kidnap Giadia. Elspeth protects her, and they escape the party with help from Vivian. The city seems to be in some revolt spurred by the Adversary's efforts to turn members of every family into overthrowing the heads. Elspeth, Vivian, and Giadia hide from the violence.
The next day, things are quieting, when Jinnie finds the trio. She captures them and take them to an Obscura hideout they're using, working with that family. Jetmir is gravely wounded, and Jinnie asks Giadia to try to heal him with Halo. The hideout is attacked (betrayed by Obscura adversary followers, Riveteer adversary followers attack), Vivian, Elspeth, and Giadia try to escape, but are defeated, and Elspeth is wounded. Giadia creates some Halo for Elspeth healing her, and Jinnie, Kamiz, and all the others escape in an Obscura tunnel. However, Kamiz leads them to an Obscura adversary follower trap.
Elspeth, Vivian, and Giadia flee into a cathedral, where Giadia hears angelsong, but the Adversary appears; Ob Nixilis arrives to kill or capture Giadia. Ob defeats Elspeth with ease, until Giadia ascends to Angelhood, blasting him and his goons back. Giadia transforms Elspeth's sword from Xander into a Halo infused blade, and she defeats Ob with it, who planeswalks away.
Later, Anhelo is the new Maestros head, and meets Elspeth and Vivian, granting them access to the Maestros' archives on Phyrexia.
"The angels tried to stop the invasion, but the threat was too great for
them to face alone. In desperation, they formed an alliance with the
Demon Lords. In the face of the Phyrexians, Capenna's own rivalries were
petty; however, those rivalries would not be forgotten. The demons
ultimately betrayed the angels, trapping them in a kind of stasis from
which they could convert the angels' bodies into Halo, an essence
that—as Xander had told her—could be taken to help protect the city. It
was messy, but it worked. The Demon Lords used Halo to defeat the
Phyrexians and then disappeared themselves."
Elspeth also finds a cache of Halo in the Archives, and will take it to Dominiaria and the Gatewatch and Ajani. Vivian explains Urabrask's plan to Elspeth, and she agrees to follow Elspeth to join up with the Gatewatch.
"When it comes to the finer things, The Maestros are elite in every way.
The undead have a way of doing that. This vampiric family runs the
Museum of New Capenna. A gathering place for the elite, galas are held
at the museum frequently; a curtain of glitz and gold to hide the nature
of these ruthless assassins. Winning always has a price, but let
someone else pay it."
"Fun and frivolous, The Cabaretti flirt with danger and strangers alike.
Known for their raucous parties and overall glamour, this druid family
values loyalty from their followers…or else. Newcomers welcome! Fun
isn't free, but as long as the cash keeps flowing the halo keeps coming."
"This city was built on the backs of The Riveteers. So why shouldn't they
run it? The Riveteers are tough as nails and run the streets as a
brute-force known for their intimidation measures. Industrious artisans
by trade, this family has both the skills to construct a city, and the
cleverness to channel its wealth to their own."
"Break the rules with The Obscura, a family of visionaries who operates
in the darkest corners of New Capenna. Information is power, and
gathering it by any means necessary has built The Obscura into a force
to be reckoned with (despite being labeled meddling gossips). To keep it
that way, this family makes sure no other faction gets too strong—or
asks too many questions. Balance no matter the cost."
Obscura dossier on the Adversary, Ob Nixilis. Sent as a promotion.
"Hiding behind the public law offices of New Capenna, The Brokers are a
family that has yet to show their hand…publicly. Dug deep behind piles
of paperwork and mundane legal matters this faction can often be
mysteriously spotted at crime scenes, almost as if they appeared out of
nowhere. With sharp suits and sharper intellect, it would be wise for
anyone dealing with them to remember to read the fine print."
