Okay, so Seasons of Dusk is pretty far along, but we've apparently hit a few stumbling blocks that's taking some time to clear. It's okay though, nothing that can't be handled from what I gather. Now, there was some talk about doing a Ravnica anthology, but it seems a little unfeasible given the very nature of the formats that were discussed, and besides that, I'm fairly certain everyone is going to be burnt out on Ravnica for some time. In a similar measure as well, we don't have enough about Theros to really tear into it yet, we're just barely into the bread and appetizers (and boy are they making us hungry.) With that possible goal still months away, it's best to just wait on it.
However, I feel like we should still push towards a goal while behind the scenes stuff goes on, so that's why I'm spearheading the next project for the F&S crew. A return to Alara with a mini-anthology! Unlike in Fragments, the previous one, where we focused on periods, this one will instead focus on the individual shards. Ideally, I'd like to shoot for 3-4 stories per shard and possibly a few poems scattered throughout.
Hopefully there will be plenty of time for everyone to submit stories, because I'm setting the deadline at November 1st. So, if there were any cards that leapt out at you that you feel it was a real crime never were expanded upon, now's your chance to take a crack at them. I'm a little wary about using post-conflux cards because of how hard it is to establish where they are from.
If there's enough of a demand for it, I don't mind seeing a fifth section added. I will be contributing myself, and rounding out the Ultimatum series that I began ages ago. So there's that to look forward to. So good luck everyone, and I hope to see some interesting things in the weeks to come.
Aside from that, there were about 5 stories that didn't seem to be based on cards, but just general flavor.
* I wouldn't mind seeing this card used again, particularly if it were told from the homunculus viewpoint.
If we can someone expand our contribution pool to some of the rest of the people around here, that'd be great.
As well, I have a list of cards that I personally would like to see actualized, but I'll post that later.
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At twilight's end, the shadow's crossed / a new world birthed, the elder lost. Yet on the morn we wake to find / that mem'ry left so far behind. To deafened ears we ask, unseen / "Which is life and which the dream?"
By the way, because you were the one who requested it, did you ever see the Sovereigns of Lost Alara poem I wrote? I only put it up in the Poetry Plane, so I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't.
By the way, because you were the one who requested it, did you ever see the Sovereigns of Lost Alara poem I wrote? I only put it up in the Poetry Plane, so I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't.
Nope, never saw it. Incidentally, I did think up two others that I'd like to be rendered unto a poem. Mayael's Aria and Angelsong
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At twilight's end, the shadow's crossed / a new world birthed, the elder lost. Yet on the morn we wake to find / that mem'ry left so far behind. To deafened ears we ask, unseen / "Which is life and which the dream?"
I have a story that's kinda about Demon's Herald and I don't even dislike it. It's floating somewhere on the F&S board, so I'd need to do some spelunking to get it back.
And I'm willing to tackle the Puppet Conjurer from the humunculus' perspective. I'm not sure if I can do it, but it would be fun to write, I think.
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"I'm all for screwing with the natural order. The natural order objectively is awful. The natural order includes death, disease, pain, and starvation." --Sam Keeper
I have a story that's kinda about Demon's Herald and I don't even dislike it. It's floating somewhere on the F&S board, so I'd need to do some spelunking to get it back.
Yeah, toss it up, let's see what we can make of it.
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And I'm willing to tackle the Puppet Conjurer from the humunculus' perspective. I'm not sure if I can do it, but it would be fun to write, I think.
Channel the spirits of Oglor and Fblthp! FOR GREAT JUSTICE!.. Okay, so that isn't right. FOR GREAT TRAGEDY!
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At twilight's end, the shadow's crossed / a new world birthed, the elder lost. Yet on the morn we wake to find / that mem'ry left so far behind. To deafened ears we ask, unseen / "Which is life and which the dream?"
And I'm willing to tackle the Puppet Conjurer from the humunculus' perspective. I'm not sure if I can do it, but it would be fun to write, I think.
Channel the spirits of Oglor and Fblthp! FOR GREAT JUSTICE!.. Okay, so that isn't right. FOR GREAT TRAGEDY!
I've always wanted to write a story about those bunnies they breed in zoos to feed to snakes and eagles. This story would have the same basic framework.
Also, weird, as I'm writing this, a song you once recommended pops up. (Something by Frank Turner)
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"I'm all for screwing with the natural order. The natural order objectively is awful. The natural order includes death, disease, pain, and starvation." --Sam Keeper
I liked the Demon's Herald story, personally. That was solid work. I think it needed a bit of polishing, but I was hoping to scoop that into an Anthology somewhere.
I wonder, should we do this as a separate release, or should we revise Fragments to incorporate new material--like a re-release? Probably the first, I guess, especially if we're going with such a different structure.
Barinellos, are you writing an Ultimatum story for each shard?
I wonder, should we do this as a separate release, or should we revise Fragments to incorporate new material--like a re-release? Probably the first, I guess, especially if we're going with such a different structure.
I'm way more comfortable with a sequel than just a re-release.
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Barinellos, are you writing an Ultimatum story for each shard?
Yes. I already have three and a half written. Violent Cruel Brilliant and some of Titanic
Brilliant's release has been marred by both the apocalypse and the fact I... kinda can't think of a name for the viewpoint character.
Yxoque wrote:
Also, weird, as I'm writing this, a song you once recommended pops up. (Something by Frank Turner)
I knew Prufrock before he was famous.
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At twilight's end, the shadow's crossed / a new world birthed, the elder lost. Yet on the morn we wake to find / that mem'ry left so far behind. To deafened ears we ask, unseen / "Which is life and which the dream?"
Brilliant's release has been marred by both the apocalypse and the fact I... kinda can't think of a name for the viewpoint character.
Does the character need one?
Pretty much. I've just been using the short hand "V.S." as a stand in.
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At twilight's end, the shadow's crossed / a new world birthed, the elder lost. Yet on the morn we wake to find / that mem'ry left so far behind. To deafened ears we ask, unseen / "Which is life and which the dream?"
Fair enough. I'd be happy to throw out some suggestions, if you'd like.
Well, the names I already have are Travius and Boras, as well as Silas Renn and Tezzeret. There's a definite roman naming theme to the entire shard of Esper, so I've been trying to channel that, but a lot of the names don't have the right character or inflection for the person in the story.
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At twilight's end, the shadow's crossed / a new world birthed, the elder lost. Yet on the morn we wake to find / that mem'ry left so far behind. To deafened ears we ask, unseen / "Which is life and which the dream?"
So, Angelsong and the other things should probably be collected here. Thanks again to Raven for putting those together.
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At twilight's end, the shadow's crossed / a new world birthed, the elder lost. Yet on the morn we wake to find / that mem'ry left so far behind. To deafened ears we ask, unseen / "Which is life and which the dream?"
Okay, then. Here are the five Alara-themed poems I've written: Angelsong, Mayael's Aria, Sovereigns of Lost Alara, Lord of Extinction, and Tainted Sigil. I don't know which of these we will eventually want to use, but at least they're all in one place for when we decide.
Against the beasts which stalk the ground, Or soldiers’ steel made razor sharp And strong, The sweetest respite can be found, Amidst the dulcet angel’s harp, And song.
A troubled mind and fiery heart, Which burn in time to warfare’s cry Of strife, Can play a calmer, peaceful part, And give a warm, contented sigh, For life.
Those souls so wracked with doubt and fright, Whose harsh assaults upon their mind Won’t cease, Can be, with mercy, bathed in light, The Angelsong can help them find Some peace.
The Angelsong’s a living thing, A constant swirling thought that’s lent A form. Those few who hear the Angels sing Are blessed to feel their heart content And warm.
More holy than the staunchest priest, The angels’ gift extends to all That’s there. The clash of sword and cry of beast, Fall mute when angels sound the call To prayer.
As the song is released to the jungle so deep, And the famine of strife melts away into feast, All the evil that creeps with the axe or the knife, Toward the innocent priest of the land fall asleep, As the blessing of life is conferred on each beast.
That sweet song is a rite and a most sacred sound, Which provides us a piece to our puzzling plight, And we listen, astounded, as terrors decrease, While the odious blight is restricted and bound, And the darkness can cease to enfold us in night. Now the day’s warming light can be joyously found As the sweetest release makes the world seem alright, Let us gather around like a gaggle of geese To the warmest and brightest spot there on the ground, And then bask in the peace we have won from their might.
Every hovering bee or each bird in the sky Hears the song and is freed in response to their plea. There’s no coin that can buy it, no fruits of your greed Can be used as a key to the lock of her eye As her pupils recede to wherever they flee. But I think you’ll agree that you’d have to be sly, If you want to proceed with your chosen decree, For I doubt you can lie to her, cover your deed So she will not foresee what you’re doing and why, Like a ravenous weed in the root of a tree. No, there are only three things a person could try, And the curse of your creed makes me think it would be All for nothing, like dry, barren sand to a seed, Or a small, hopeless flea who is jumping too high. You should not have decreed that you’ll buy what is free. We can’t say what she’ll see as she whispers goodbye, But our hearts may well bleed to hear one such as she. Our fight ends with a sigh, for there is no more need For a murderous spree or for brothers to die When we all can concede to her sweet melody.
It’s a memory scattered by winds of the Ages, Those Sovereigns that destiny crossed. And the skies are their prison, the clouds are their cages, While seeking the world that was lost.
There are few who remember what once had existed, When fate would deal happier cards, But these monarchs had ruled a whole world that consisted Of lands later sundered in shards.
They had given their lives for the rule of their charges, And death was an honored release, In the sea of the Heavens they drifted on barges Of clouds, and they knew only peace.
But since Time has a way of corrupting a blessing, That peace must be destined to fail, And the Shards of Alara kept emperors guessing At ways to escape from their jail.
And the ages were countless that kept the kings captured, While watching in silence above, But the kingdom of Bant left these nobles enraptured, And gave them a land they could love.
When the force of the Maelstrom brought lands back together, Alara was fiercely reborn, But the spirits of Sovereigns had no idea whether They’d gotten the rose or the thorn.
It was true that their kingdom of old had recovered, Regaining its grandeur and name, But it wasn’t so long till those souls had discovered, The land would be never the same.
It was now only Bant that would stand as remembered, And she was accosted by all, The corruption of Esper, the Grixis dismembered, And Jund licked its lips for her fall.
They desired the foes of the righteous be halted, And knew there was no time to wait, Their great names would go forward, recalled and exalted, To barter a happier fate.
As their champions rose to the threats of oppressors, They blessed them, no matter the cost, And those warriors of Bant proved most noble successors, To kings that Alara had lost.
In the wake of the Maelstrom that melded the Shards, In the dusk of the old ways of life, Came the monstrous beings, undreamt by the bards, On the edge of reality's knife.
From the darkness of lifelessness spurred up this beast, 'Till it grew to be monstrously tall As it fed off the souls of the lost and deceased, And may soon come devour us all.
Every corpse in the graveyard was ally and friend To this being of vile delight, And just watching their strength put to that creature's end Was indeed a most sickening sight.
It was not merely death on which this giant fed, Or the tears of those able to cry, It could never be sated by souls of the dead, Or by causing a people to die.
No, this being of malice wished all things to cease, Not just life, but their relics and spells, It's a most hated foe to proponents of peace, May it suffer all possible hells!
For it feeds off the endings of things we hold dear, And it's earned the most horrid distinction, It inspires a sharp, indescribable fear, And is truly the Lord of Extinction!
When the Shards of Alara were fused into one, By the Maelstrom's insidious bite, Then the kingdom of Bant, always blessed by the sun, Was infused with the shadows of night.
The nobility found in those lush, endless fields, Granted purpose to soldier and saint, But the night presses on as humanity yields, And injects its most venomous taint.
The truths of a world can be changed by the eyes Of the people who see it from birth. Here the honor of angels bestowed on a prize, Give untold and unspeakable worth.
But the sigils they craft for the strong and the sure, Are but objects, ornate fancy dress, They can never be righteous, as brave or as pure, As the heroes they're destined to bless.
And as shadows of Grixis descend on the land, Those of Jund and of Esper, as well, Even gifts from the heavens fall into the hand Of the sinister forces of hell.
As the tendrils of darkness begin to take hold, Of that sigil that's valued so high It will tarnish the blessing much more than the gold, And will make that distinction a lie.
The corruption, like sails on the breeze, is unfurled And the bearer can now realize, That he sees the full scope of a much darker world, Through the lenses of much darker eyes.
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