Thursday, April 28, 2016

RGD- Ravnica, Guildpact, Dissension

For those new here- these are story compilations, writing describing or compiling the story for the various blocks of plot for Magic: the Gathering.

This is a republished guide from reddit, about the Ravnica, Guildpact, and Dissension storylines!


Ranvica: City of Guilds' novel synopsis:
Major Players:
Ravnica:
Agrus Kos- A wojek veteran.  He’s a good cop, but over 100 years old, and the decimillenial is coming. 
He’s trying to fight the tide.   He’s also an alcoholic.

Feather- A Boros angel, who is serving her punishment with the legion as a wojek officer with her wings bound.  She is Kos’ sometime partner.

Fonn Zunich- A new Selesnya recruit wolf-rider.  She’s protecting the Saint Bayul of the conclave. 

Jarad vod Savo- The Elvish Huntsmaster of Golgari, brother of Savra, the Matka (priestess) of Golgari. 

Savra: Matka priestess leader of the necromantic casting elves of Golgari.

Sisters of Stone Death- The current leaders of Golgari, leading it to decay and decadence.

Szadek- Parun of Dimir, who’s whole guild is supposed to be fake, he’s enlisted Savra to retake Golgari.

Svogthir- The original parun of Golgari, released by Savra to help retake Golgari from the Sisters. 

Mycil Zunich- Kos’ old dead partner.  Now a ghost.  Leads him places.  Father of Fonn.

Borca- Kos’ new parter.   Not a very good cop.


Basic plot:

Ravnica:  23rd of Zuun, 9999.

Argus Kos and partner/deputy investigate some crimes, and show off the world.  Murder, for instance, is not illegal, unless it’s a guild member.   He’s investigating various cases, and has been promoted to a semi-desk job.  Fonn, meanwhile, is protecting Saint Bayul entering the main part of the city (known as the City of Ravnica) for the Decimillenial.  Savra meets her brother Jarad and gives him a mission, then speaks with Szadek to find Svogthir and overthrow the Gorgon sisters of Golgari, by killing 2 of the 3 [Sisters of Stone Death]( http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=83746).   Kos sees the ghost of Mycil Zunich, who leads him to witnesses a bombing attack on Saint Bayul and Fonn at a restaurant, and Kos and Borca are caught in the blast.   Borca and Saint Bayul are killed, and Kos wakes up in a hospital, and is informed of Fonn’s disappearance. 

Three days later Fonn wakes up with her captor, Jarad, who tells her he was hired to save her from the blast.  Jarad and Fonn, while talking, are attacked by harpies, and the last one tells him Savra sent them to kill them both.  Meanwhile, Kos sees Borca’s ghost, who tells him he had a avenger contract in case of his death, that Kos must avenge Borca’s death.  Feather comes back to help Kos, and they set out to a Orzhov friend of Kos’, Pivlic.  Kos and Feather find Fonn and Jarad at Pivlic’s arena restaurant, and they form an alliance when Selesnya quietmen attack the arena.  Kos receives a falcon that the Saint is actually not dead, and they need him/Fonn there.  The Golgari attack the Boros legion’s headquarters, and it’s war.  Fonn hears Saint Bayul’s last words, and learns that Savra was trying to join the Selesnya conclave and to do so, she needed the gem in Bayul’s forehead.   The Dimir Lupul worms attack (similar to a Dimir Doppleganger/Mindleech Mass), and quietmen (Selesnya) fight Wojeks (Boros).  

Savra had been invited with the Devkarin elves to return to Selesnya, since the City tree had become corrupted (Savra was behind the corruption, and so actually controls the quietmen) and is about to join the conclave (and still control Golgari, and eventually all the guilds).  Szadek appears, and tells her it’s time to join the conclave.  She places Bayul’s stone on her forehead, and when she’s part of the conclave, Szadek snaps her neck.  Szadek announces the end of the guildpact, while Jarad gains control of the Lupul with Savra’s staff, and Fonn saves her mount by putting Bayul’s stone in her mount’s forehead.  The battle ends with Kos arresting Szadek for crimes against the guildpact. 
End of Ravnica's book 1.


Guildpact

Major players (carried over from Ravnica):
Agrus Kos- A wojek veteran. He’s a good cop, but over 100 years old, and the decimillenial is coming.
He’s trying to fight the tide. He’s also an alcoholic.
Feather- A Boros angel, who is serving her punishment with the legion as a wojek officer with her wings bound. She is Kos’ sometime partner.
Fonn- A new Selesnya recruit wolf-rider. She’s protecting the Saint Bayul of the conclave.
Jarad- The Elvish Huntsmaster of Golgari, brother of Savra, the Matka (priestess) of Golgari.
Sisters of Stone Death- The current leaders of Golgari, leading it to decay and decadence.
Szadek- Parun of Dimir, who’s whole guild is supposed to be fake, he’s enlisted Savra to retake Golgari.
Svogthir- The original parun of Golgari, released by Savra to help retake Golgari from the Sisters.
Mycil- Kos’ old dead partner. Now a ghost. Leads him places. Father of Fonn.
Borca- Kos’ new parter. Not a very good cop.
New Characters to Guildpact:
Teysa- A Orzhov lawyer, she’s inherting Utvara.
Crix- An Izzet goblin, she gets captured by the Gruul and is a courier.
Zomaj Hauc - A master mage in Izzet
Guildpact

15 MOKOSH 9965 Z.C. (35 years before the end of Ravnica book 1) The Izzet use a mana bomb to wipe out the Utvara area. It was a Kuga plague area, and the mana bomb didn’t quite work, so Selesnyans have cured some of it with a tree. But a Schism was created, and something happened to all of Ravnica.

14 PAUJAL 10012 Z.C. (12 years after the end of Ravnica book 1) Teysa Karlov inherits the Utvara district, and will become baroness once her uncle passes away and joins the Ghost Council. They travel to Utvara and Uncle reveals that he had Hauc drop the mana bomb to destroy all the beings infected by the Kuga in Utvara, thus being allowed to reclaim the valley sooner. Something went wrong though and the explosion created the Schism, a tear in the fabric of existence, and caused the plague to mutate. On the Lokopede train, they are attacked by Gruul, and her uncle dies. The come to the bar where Argus Kos now works with Pilvic under Orzov. Her contract states that she has to clean up Utvara to habitable conditions before a deadline, or it’ll go back to the Selesnyans. Problem is, that there’s a Yore-Tiller Nephilim there from before the Guildpact (10000 years ago). Kos, meanwhile, is still hoping to find the Angels who never showed up 12 years ago. Teysa meets with the Simic doctor Nebun, and finds out that he can cure the Kuga plague and hires him to do so.
Meanwhile, the Ghost Council and someone in Izzet have a deal about Utvara, something with the mana bomb created a Schism in the sky, which both guilds are very interested in.

Kos and Pivlic meanwhile go looking for Crix as they need her courier spell to fix the valley. They get into a fight with Gruul, and get ambushed by a different Nephilim. They escape and run to rejoin the waiting Izzet guild members. Crix’s master, Zomaj Hauc’s plan is to destroy the Guildpact, with the Ghost Council by overthrowing Niv Mizzet, with the three dragon eggs in the cauldron area of Utvara he’s trying to hatch for his master, Niv Mizzet. They are dragon eggs from before the guildpact, as there are no true dragons in Ravnica proper left anymore.

Teysa quickly hires an army of mixed guild members, and heads to the cauldron to stop them from doing whatever it is they’re doing. They attack, and in the chaos, the eggs are hatching. One dragon is killed and Hauc controls the second with his draconic spell. Teysa and crew get the spell from Hauc when Crix quits his services and steals it, and so Teysa gains control of the third dragon. She orders it to attack Hauc and his dragon, and in the fight, both dragons and Hauc die. In the final battle, Argus Kos is killed, and he sees Feather (the angel) just at his death. We learn that ghosts are stuck in Ravnica when people die, because of the Schism in the sky. Feather has returned to speak at Kos’ funeral.
End of Guildpact, Ravnica: City of Guilds Book 2.

Dissension 

 A few new characters are introduced in this novel, mostly guild leaders; this book rushes through everything...

29 CIZARM 10012 Z.C.
A thief steals some of the cerebral fluid of the dead dragons in the Cauldron. Nephilim are feasting on their corpses. Crix (now Crixizix) is watching the Nephilim grow, she alerts Niv Mizzet. Teysa is requested by Feather, now an inmate under Azorius to be her lawyer. She is charged with abandoning Ravnica, Boros, and guild-matricide. Fonn is investigating a murder and has to pick up her son, Myc from Jarad, the Devkarin Guildmaster of Golgari, who is teaching his son to hunt. Niv Mizzet flies to Utvara, and with dragonfire kills two (Witch-maw and Dune Brood). He is injured, but claims to be leaving to let mortals deal with the remaining three, and retreats. Crixizix is disappointed in her guildleader. Fonn and Myc are attacked by Rakdos cultists, and Myc and her companions are taken. Jarad mistrusts Simic’s cytoplast enhancements, and refuses their offer.

Argus Kos is now a spectral guard outside the senate, and he sees Feather go in. The Parhelion (floating Angel Sunhome of Boros) returns, and the Skyjeks notice it, and send word that it is on a collision course with Prahv (the Azorius Guildhall). The Rakdos buy the dragon cerebral fluid, and Lyzolda meets with Szadek, Savra, and Momir Vig. Fonn wakes and alerts Jarad that their son has been kidnapped. They give chase. Feather takes a stand and tells what happened on her 10 year search. She reveals that Ravnica was cut off from the rest of the multiverse, trapping ghosts on the plane. Planeswalkers were kept out. The Parhelion was investigating this, but was trapped in the schism created by Zomaj Hauc in Guildpact, creating Agyrem the Ghost Quarter, where all the ghosts live. She also reports that Razia was killed by the ghost of Szadek.

Kos is called to find and destroy Szadek, and as a ghost is put inside the body of Obez Murzeddi, an Azorius ectomancer. By arresting Szadek twelve years ago, he broke the guildpact, with a paradox (because he was arrested for crimes against the guildpact). Szadek purposefully let down his guard in order to break the guildpact, but because of this, Kos may be the only person able to harm Szadek. A messenger arrives to warn them that there is a plan to destroy the other guilds by Momir, Rakdos, and Svogthir (inhabiting Savra’s body).

Myc’s blood (as the son of a guildleader) and the cerebral fluid are used by Lyzolda to raise Rakdos the demon, who attacks Vitu-Ghazi and kills a Nephilim. The Parhelion crashes into Prahv. Jarad and Fonn fight their way into Rix Maadi, but Jarad is killed by Lyzolda.

Kos, searching for Svogthir in Simic, finds Momir, who is releasing the Kraj. In the fight, Kos’ temporary body is thrown out a window, so he transfers to Savra’s body, and overpowers Svogthir’s mind. The Kraj is activated to stop Rakdos, but Kos kills Momir before he can take control of the Kraj. The Kraj goes nuts, and kills Svogthir (again), and Kos transfers back to Obez’s body. Fonn and her now freed scouts kill a Nephilim. She is reunited with Kos, Pivlic, and her son, Myc who escaped. Feather comes to bring Kos to the Senate.

Kraj vs. Rakdos! Kraj wins by absorbing Rakdos into its body, and putting Rakdos into a coma. The Kraj stops moving, however. Lyzolda is in the middle of the cultist frenzy, and is eaten alive by her own cultists. When Kos and Feather return to the Senate, Augustin has taken martial law over all of Ravnica. Augustin reveals that he killed Szadek in prison, and wants to take full control over all of Ravnica. Kos, horrified, flees to the Parhelion. They mess with the controls for it to explode, and Kos saves Feather, and Teysa from Szadek by trapping him in a grounder. The Selesnyan conclave’s quietmen, tired of this treachery, attack the Senate, and the Parhelion explodes over the Senate as Kos and crew escape. Szadek’s grounder is thrown at Augustin, and when Szadek escapes, his ghost kills Augustin, then flees.

Epilogue Fonn brings Myc to Jarad, now self-reanimated to let him learn to become a Golgari hunter. Crixizix is still waiting for Niv Mizzet to return. Two years later, the new guild leaders have founded a new guild pact, one not based on balancing magic guilds against each other, but more on laws has been founded. Agyrem is now a full section of Ravnica, and Szadek has hidden himself there. Kos is assigned to hunt down Szadek. In the explosion, it is believed that the Schism has been closed, and so Ravnica returned to the multiverse.

Note: There are tons of plot holes, many things were glossed over, but this is the generic plot-line, for those interested in what happened in preparation for Return to Ravnica.

Thank you for reading, Soon there will be a full Return to Ravnica guide for the story compilation here shortly!


Thursday, March 17, 2016

That which drives us



“When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson



Recently, I've taken on a new endeavor, being a co-owner for a small business. A hobby shop.  What a task, a struggle, many think. I get people telling me "congratulations" as if I won an award, instead of risking my credit, thousands of dollars, and my name and social security number on contracts.  I did this to do what was necessary, to help my community, not for any personal achievement, though that will be part of a long term goal.

Today's blog isn't about my personal struggles and goals, here, but on goals and purpose itself.

I have observed so many people in both the oyster world and the gaming industry searching for a drive and purpose. While working as a judge on the Magic: the Gathering Grand Prix circuit events, I see a lot of loyalty, enthusiasm, and hard work being done by people who are by all accounts considered volunteers at best.

What drives people to fly across the country and the world to work for three days among thousands of people in a convention center room?  What is the goal that makes them stand for volunteer work for 10 hours straight and still be smiling at the end of the day?  What makes working that hard worth it?

On the other side of things, oyster work is not the most glamorous of jobs.  We get up early, the work is wet, often cold, and we're cleaning oyster feces, often in slimy or murky tanks.  Oyster work involves a lot of walking and movement around facilities, a high amount of knowledge on how systems work, the ability to scrub tanks, clean systems, fix pumps, make sure things aren't going dry, setting up pvc piping, moving heavy loads of oysters, etc.  We get dirty, covered in oyster slime, deal with rotting objects at the bottom of tanks, and have often wet clothes from the work.



What purpose do people find in growing and producing oysters?  To make a living on these small bivalves that people like to eat so much, despite them growing on the bottom of the sea and coastline? Why work so hard, in smelly wet conditions? 

The answer to both these questions, to both sides of long hours and hard work is multifaceted, but can be distilled down to a few concepts:  Community, Purpose, and Ehrgeiz.

Now some of you may not be familiar with the concept of the German word: Ehrgeiz, so bear with me, I'll explain below.

Community and purpose, the first two drivers for people in these positions, are some of the most important human conditions.  There are thousands, if not millions of people out in the world seeking both purpose in their daily lives, in the meaning behind their existence, and the membership in some form of community.  People want to belong, to be know that there is some greater meaning behind their actions, their lives, and a need for them to personally work together and do good, to do well. 


To be needed in your community, and to be doing work towards a greater goal and ideal is often vital for everyone- it's being seen at even low level jobs, taught to managers of retails stores, explained to construction workers, given to the leaders in a volunteer community, in order to find ways to instill community and idealism into employees- to build loyalty and appreciation for the organization in which people work. 

And now, Ehrgeiz.  The German word for ambition- but it means a little more in in this context.  The form of the word ehrgeiz in this context is used in order to convey a drive towards better things, to have ambition, but not only personal or individual ambition, but ehrgeiz towards a community purpose, towards goals. To strive to higher things within a community group, to improve not only oneself, but the community as a whole is what brings the term ehrgeiz into this context at least.

For volunteers working long hours, this can mean recognition, involvement in larger things, and building a community with like minded people.  For workers in difficult or dirty jobs, this can often mean purpose or striving towards larger goals within the organization and personally.


So how do these concepts lead to you?  It's nice to be able to describe great things for people to strive for, but how does this affect people in their every day lives?

Realistically, that depends on each individual- your beliefs, interests, and location.  Maybe you want to be more part of your church group, or volunteer at humane societies to help animals.  Perhaps it's looking to find more meaning in your daily job.

For any person, find what parts of your life are inspiring, or can help you set goals, and work towards accomplishing those. 

A retail worker may find more love for their work if they see themselves as a part of a community of employees, or a church volunteer sees their connection to the church grow stronger.  Inspiration in every day life can come from small things.

Another part of the judge community which is very important- evaluate yourself and the program!  As you become part of a workforce, watch what work you're doing, what is worthwhile, or what could be done better.  Being able to give constructive suggestions and feedback can make you a valuable part of whatever community you're becoming a part of, and can make you feel more valued within it as well!  Make sure too, that what you're doing fits within your worldview- is the program doing good or causing harm? What about my actions?  These are excellent questions to ask yourself as you join in with something!

But above all:  Do good.  Do well.  Make the world a better place, no matter how small your actions.  If you can seek and find some purpose and belonging in your daily life, in your workplace and community, you will hopefully see and feel a change and greater satisfaction in everything you do.
 

Thursday, March 3, 2016

The Tomes and Lore Shadowing Innistrad

Welcome to the guide for the lore of Shadows over Innistrad block, for Magic: The Gathering.


Follow the clues to reveal the story beneath the shadows looming over the plane.  Updates come as they are released.

Here all the stories, pages, hints and clues will be compiled for your pleasure!

If you want to find the stories from the original Innistrad block, read here:  http://changevoyage.blogspot.com/2016/02/vorthos-guide-to-innistrad.html


Videos:
Teaser Trailer! 



Shadows over Innistrad Trailer.

 



Eldritch Moon Trailer.


There are things happening in Hanweir
Read the Hanweir Chronicle AR game story.  This tells the fate of Hanweir during Shadows over Innistrad. 
You can find the original tumblr page here:  Hanweir Chronicle.
Hanweir Recap on 5/31: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/hanweir-chronicle-recap-2016-05-31


Main story:

Shadows over Innistrad

We start with two trackers, searching for a werewolf. 

Avacyn begins to hear a buzzing noise which leads quickly to darker things.

Jace arrives in the plane, and finds his way to an old 'friend'.

The Gitrog menace.

Jace delves into the mystery of Markov Manor.

Following the clues in the journal, Jace finds his way to the Drownyard Temple.

Having discovered Markov Manor, Sorin visits Castle Voldaren, where he remembers the past

Jace returns to visit Liliana for some accusations.

Gisa and Geralf revisit their....relations as siblings.

Stories and Endings.  Jace and Tamiyo finally meet.

Conclusions:  Sorin is anguished in his decisions.

Full (SOI) story compilation as a ebook:  http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-story/magic-story-shadows-over-innistrad-e-book-collection-2016-06-01

Eldritch Moon

Warped Landscape, art by Cliff Childs

In the absence of an angel, new alliances must begin, with the Archmages of Goldnight.

Nahiri, for 1000 years.

The true villain RISES!


Innistrad's last hope!


A fight to end friendships.



Thalia rallies to battle for Thraben, in order to retake the city for humanity. 

The battle of Thaben for the Gatewatch! 

The planeswalkers come together and form the full Gatewatch.

The end??


In person events: 

Grand Prix Detroit had an interactive Thraben Cathedral game, to survive and escape! 

Recap video of all three escape rooms around the world!

Side stories:
A map has been found of Innistrad. Dare you explore it's paths?

Planeswalkers:  Arlinn Kord, a walker from Innistrad.

Guides: The Ecology of the Vampire

Story pages:
Shadows over Innistrad

Eldritch Moon



As always, please comment if there are any errors, or things to be added to the guide. The aim is to be a complete guide to the lore, world, and stories of Innistrad. 

Friday, February 19, 2016

The Plane of Fiora, a place to conspire

This day, we tell you the tale of a far off plane, known as Fiora.  Home to Dack Fayden, and containing a city on pillars, the elite conspire against each other.   Welcome to the conspiracy!


With the new King Brago "Betrayal" Story, we have a new link to the puzzle right at the top: Nik Davidson authored:
Far from Theros, on the plane of Fiora, the High City of Paliano is home to countless intrigues and plots. The high lords of the city vie for supremacy. Move is met with countermove, and trust with betrayal, all under the auspices of the immortal King Eternal. But the king was a living man, once, and a friend to the elf explorer Selvala...


So Paliano is the city on the world of Fiora, the same as Dack Fayden's homeworld. We've seen it in
the comics once or twice, both a live town and Drakeston, the now ghost town of Dack's origins.
http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Fiora

 Announcing! GVYJTHQXGR


(conspiracy)

Another interesting connection, which was suspected from the Dack Fayden card reveal code type in article: The Perfect Gift, in which is mentioned a character, "The Black Rose". In it, the revelation comes that Sydri, too, is on Fiora, which would match the renaissance architecture of the world, similar to the Fiora we saw in the Dack Fayden comics.  

The Black Rose, being referenced, is the underworld figure of Marchesa, whom we see the machinations of in the rivals of the Black Rose.

A week later, a University meeting is called to order with a movement made by Professor Muzzio to gain what he feels he rightfully has earned.

But from betrayal come consequences, and we find that Selvala was arrested for regicide.  She finds herself in prison. What is Selvala to do, but trust Grenzo, the dungeon warden.
And so we set the stage to conspire!








A new conspiracy announcement was made!  There are goals now to take the crown. Come to Conspiracy: Take the Crown.


Other tales and characters: 
Daretti: On his home plane of Fiora, Daretti was known as a goblin of uncommon intellect, talent, and ambition. His goal was both simple and audacious: to become a master artificer at the Academy in the High City of Paliano. As he rose through the ranks, the city’s mage elite tittered, then scoffed, then protested. In the end, it was not their plotting but Daretti’s own experiments that proved his downfall.

One of Daretti’s famed creations exploded, apparently killing him. In reality, the shock ignited Daretti’s latent Planeswalker spark, and he planeswalked to relative safety.
His legs were gone, but he was alive—and now had many worlds of knowledge and artifice to explore. He built himself an elaborate cogwork conveyance and continued his experiments in artifice, both on Fiora and beyond. 



Dack Fayden: Dack grew up on Fiora, in a small town: Drakeston.  While he was away on thieving adventures, a planeswalker named Sifa Grent came to Drakeston with an army of vampires and wiped out the entire population.  This began the comic story saga, with Dack hunting after Sifa.  He has rarely returned to Fiora in the comics. 

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Vorthos Guide to Innistrad

art by James Paick, (c) Wizards of the Coast

We saw many questions about the story/flavor behind the cards, well, here's everything compiled!


Welcome to the new site for the complete collection of all the stories for the Innistrad block, and stories relating to the plane.  For those that don't know, Innistrad is a Gothic horror setting of a world, one with werewolves, zombies, ghosts, vampires, and humans.  Dread is at every corner, and the moon rules all. 

Planeswalkers guides to Innistrad:
Mountain, by James Paick (c) Wizards of the Coast
Introduction to Innistrad

Gavony and Humans

Kessig and
Werewolves


Nephalia and the Undead

Stensia and Vampires


Set up for the Dark Ascension

Planeswalker's guide to Avacyn Restored:
Avacyn Restored: Angels (part 1)

Avacyn Restored: Humans (part 2)

Devils


Swamp by James Paick (c) Wizards of the Coast
Trailers:

Innistrad's trailer

 Dark Ascension's Trailer

Avacyn Restored Trailer

Lore and Planeswalkers:This section covers the lore of the Innistrad card set block, from the rise of the monsters to the dark ascension, to Garruk hunting down Liliana to remove his curse, to the fight between Liliana and Thalia, and the release of Avacyn!

The Dark Ascension

Art by Ryan Yee, (c) Wizards of the Coast
Liliana’s Mission  Liliana solves problems, and her latest problem brings her to Innistrad.

Sorin's Homecoming  Sorin returns to the Innistrad he knew, but things have changed. 

Cathars (and Liliana vs. Garruk) Repeated from above, this article tells the story of the confrontation between Garruk and Liliana. 


The Prison of Silver 
Here is the tale of the Helvault, and how Avacyn began collecting Demons to be trapped inside- and what became of her final attempt at it. 

The Church’s response  Mikeaus, the Lunarch of the Church of Avacyn, makes a hard decision on what to do, having seen Avacyn defeated and imprisoned in the Helvault.

The Fall of Mikeaus (Gisa vs. Geralf)  Gisa and Geralf are having a war of zombie-calling, and decide to take the fight directly to Innistrad's greatest city, Thraben. 

The Guardian, the Witch and the Angel  The fight between Liliana and Thalia, in front of the Helvault.

Avacyn Returns and Griselbrand’s Release This story covers how Avacyn and Griselbrand are released.  Liliana faces off with Thalia, to break the Helvault.



Stories from 2013:

Odric, master Tactician, and the fate of Garruk (part 1) Odric encounders a planeswalker. 

Sorin, while cleaning up Innistrad, has come across Tibalt, and the duel begins!

Stories from 2014:
Garruk awakens from his curse
(part 2).  What is not described in the lore anywhere is the plotline of the Duels of the Planeswalkers 2015 version.  In the game, you follow Garruk's murders and hunts of other planeswalkers, eventually meeting Jace, who removes the sealing hedron from Ob Nixilus (on Zendikar), to implant it into Garruk (on Shandalar), stifling the curse from the Chain Veil.  Garruk, thereafter, sees himself as a monster.   Ob Nixilus, begins his journey to reignite his spark. 


Vronos, Planeswalker Cathar
Vronos, and Avacyn's mission  Avacyn sends one of her best Cathars after the cursed Garruk. 

Avacyn, restored, is cleaning up her areas, and asks a Cathar, Dovid, to help restore part of a loft. 


2016: The Shadows gather over Innistrad. See the new blog post!

The "world of" Articles:

The Plane of Innistrad, a quick comprehensive look-in for the world and its denizen.

Archived:  The world of Innistrad articles.



Stories: (Individual lore set on Innistrad)

The Journal of Raben, Cathar. Image of the "Bloodletter"
The Cursed Blade: Raben, the AR Game, and the Bloodletter
(AR game explained) [Both links are dead, please instead use the reprinting link here:
https://changevoyage.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-cursed-blade-retelling-arg-game.html

Death Trap  A story set in Innistrad. 

The Tale of Saint Traft

The Fall of Mikeaus (Gisa vs. Geralf)


Post Cards from Innistrad (part 1)

Post cards from Innistrad (part 2)

Worldbuilding descriptions of Dark Ascension:

The darkness rises against the humans, in Dark Ascension. 

Sorin Markov returning to Innistrad.

Specific points of plotline in Avacyn Restored:
Thalia vs. Liliana and the Helvault  This (at the bottom) article tells the tale of Thalia facing off against Liliana, and why Liliana wants to see the Helvault destroyed.


Tamiyo the Moon Sage Tamiyo's Biography, and what she's doing on Innistrad.

Tibalt the Fiend blooded  Tibalt's biography, a native of Innistrad.


Other random clips and look ins:

The Champion of the Parish  A side tale.


Inboxing Day: Dark Ascension- some explanations of faith and angels.


Character Blurbs from supplementary sets and releases:
"Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge – Commander (2013 Edition).  Back before Avacyn was restored (yay Avacyn!), the good folk of Nephalia often served as lunch for the not-so-good folk of Nephalia. Even today, after the Helvault was opened, Jeleva remains a constant threat to the province."

From the 10 commanders tales:  The name of Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge, invokes terror in Innistrad. Known to play cruel games of cat and mouse, she preys on her victims' minds before devouring their blood. She spends her days sequestered in an opulent mansion in Nephalia, but by night, her merciless predations know no bounds. No one's throat is safe from Jeleva, but it's the minds of archmages that she truly craves. She targets the most renowned personalities of Innistrad, intent on stealing their knowledge for herself. The powerful Church of Avacyn has put a price on her head, and monster hunters from across Innistrad track her through the dark province of Nephalia. Jeleva welcomes them. She likes the blood of monster hunters, and will happily steal their minds as spoils in her private war against the Church.

2013: Dack Fayden visited Innistrad in his chase after the planeswalker, Sifa Grent.  She was controlling vampires with a dagger artifact known as the "Ancient Fang", which Dack found on Ravnica.  After saving some townsfolk and Cathars (Ingrid) from Vampires, they help him track down Sifa's base, but she had just left.  The vampires are horrified to find that Dack brought the dagger, and Sifa takes Hermann, the Cathar Ingrid's father, hostage along with the entire town using zombies.  In the ensuing battle between Dack and Sifa, Dack summons a Sturmgeist to defeat the zombie, saving most of the townsfolk, but Sifa escapes.  Tracking her off world, Dack eventually loses the trail, and returns to Innistrad.  Meeting with Hermann and Ingrid, Dack gets some clues as to a "Malfegor" and is about to tell them about planeswalkers, but the two Innistrad natives are suddenly frozen- by Sorin Markov.  Sorin demands the Ancient Fang from Dack, in exchange for sparing Ingrid and Hermann, but also gives Dack the location of Sifa's homeworld, Grixis. 



Updated 7/6/16- Links and cleanup.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Better things, and oysters

So about 6 years ago, I started getting into oysters.  Many people (landlubbers!) will think that shellfish are gross, slimy, and odd animals to eat.  And while one of those things is true (the slimy!), there's a huge movement going on right now of people enjoying oysters.

What is an oyster, and why are people excited about it? 

Oysters are bivalve (two-shells) molluscs, like snails or octopus, that attach themselves to a surface and filter feed algae from the water.   They're like grazers of the sea, except instead of moving around, the food floats by them.

Because oysters are filter feeders, sometimes their flavor changes by the location they're grown, which means you can sample different and interesting tasting oysters depending on where they came from.  This is part of the excitement of oysters right now. 

(Side note- This can also mean that if the farmer isn't careful, the oyster could also make you sick. Always ask where your oysters come from, and check your local health reports.)

These are the basics.  There's so much more to talk about!

Oysters for markets, flavor, and economies

Now oysters are growing in the food industry, which means you'll likely start seeing more places have them on their menu.  Getting a dozen oysters as an appetizer may be more than likely at a future gathering of yours.  

So why are oysters also exciting in the market place?  Well, you can support local farms, depending on where you're at.  Along both the US East and West coasts, there's plenty of farms growing oysters and other shellfish, and they're also just as excited about their varieties and types of shellfish that they can bring to the table!

As I mentioned above in the intro, oyster sometimes get different flavors from their individual bays, sea beds, and river mouths where they grow.  A Hamas Hamas will taste far different from a Olympia, or from a Kumamoto.  There are some amazing guides to oysters out there, on flavor, style, and location.

As for economy, oysters, if you can find out where they're from, support local farmers a lot of the time.  Oysters grown here in America adds to our local economies, jobcols, and eogical maintenance in terms of keeping bays clean from toxic substances which could harm people, fish, and oysters!  Oysters also accumulate calcium carbonate from the water, reducing CO2 in our oceans.  Their shells also make great homes for other ocean critters. 

A quick guide for oysters; the basics:

So there are varieties upon varieties of oysters.   Let's get started on some of the basics.

Most oysters people eat are among only a few species, even with the regional and water differences.  This makes things easier, depending on where you live and where your oysters came from.

Crassostrea gigas - The Pacific Oyster
The Pacific oyster originally came from Japan, and it's often larger than other oysters.  That "gigas" in its name is similar to "gigantic".  It's widely grown on the west coast, and its popular to be eaten raw or made into stews and chowders- often due to their size.  Most pacific oysters are eaten while they're smaller, raw.  A full grown one can be over 6 inches long! 

Crassostrea virginica - The Eastern Oyster
The Eastern oyster is one that's mostly grown, well, on the East coast.  The tastes for these oysters is more varied by the area where they grow leading to a terroir style of taste interest.  The shell is more uniform in shape than other oyster species- it's a lot flatter than the Pacific oyster.  People eat these raw or cooked, depending on size.




Crassostrea sikamea - The Kumamoto Oyster
The Kumamoto oyster is a small oyster originating from Japan.  Their flavor and size has drawn the musings in tastebuds across America, making it extremely popular.  This species of oyster is very small, but has a sweeter, mild flavor.  This is the oyster species that will make an oyster fan out of you!


Ostrea lurida - The Olympia Oyster
The Olympia oyster is the native oyster growing around the Pacific Northwest coastline; it's grown in small quantities by a few companies.  Very small, this oyster doesn't get much larger than a small chicken egg, but the scarcity and flavor of the oyster can make it a nice treat for people trying oysters for the first time. 

Ostrea edulis - The European Flat Oyster
This is the oyster mostly grown in Europe on the Atlantic coast.  People often favor this oyster for its taste- the salty, lingering taste can remain with you even after you've enjoyed your meal.  Lots of people enjoy this oyster raw, without any extra seasonings. 


As said, these are just a sampling of oyster types, but certainly the most commonly found at your local oyster bar.  Happy eating! 




Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Want Not, Waste Not

It's a phrase I've been considering and trying to measure with my life for a few years now:
"Want Not, Waste Not."

"Wait!" you cry, "that's backwards! The phrase goes: Waste not, want not!".

Before you jump to that conclusion, consider that the phrase is not just backwards, but a different philosophy entirely.

When you argue for less waste, the idiom goes to the idea that you will have saved more, and not be hurting in the long run. But what if you lived your life differently? We're in the 21st century, and most of media, advertising, and entertainment are filled with adds to increase things you want, to buy, to need- but in reality, to only fulfill that first one: To Want.

Quick notice here: I don't mean that you shouldn't enjoy yourself in life. We all need things, and food, friends, and things to make our lives better shouldn't be excluded by any means. Just hear me out.

To want is where we may be going overboard in life. Do we need the newest music, or TV show? Do we need to own that movie on Bluray, with a 50 inch HD TV, with our fully stocked liquor cabinet, and ford F150, and...and...and... Or do we only want it? Measuring not what advertisers say we Need, and gauging what we actually want, may be what many of us aren't looking at right now. If we can measure what things and enjoyments we actually want, and bring that a little bit, even, to what we need, then perhaps we will realize too, that we're wasting a little less.

We may be wasting a little less of our "hard-earned income", or wasting a little less time browsing the internet and spending a little more time with what we actually care about.


Admittedly, this is a simple thing to say, but also not as simple in practice, especially considering the vast population and culture differences all over the world.  But someone said another lifestyle quotation to me lately, which I feel fits in well here in order to balance things out. 

"If you're not happy with where you live or the car you drive, you'll never be happy."

So this isn't to mean with "want not, waste not" that you shouldn't strive to be happy.  But there are many things in life that we want, that we really don't need.  And reducing that use can save us a little money and resources here and there, but also produce a bit less waste in the world.