Dancing-Sword's Very Unassuming Blog

"As a tree broke through the realms, so too did a girl's heart."

Out of all the images to do after not having the time and/or energy to do art for so long, this was a nice one to do.

I can't remember when or if was an rp or lore post, but at some point I made mention that on Halona's home plane, she made friends with a large old tortoise that lived near her hometown. Her glimmer moves much faster than the one she knows, but its light reminds her of her family and her friends and gives her courage on Duskmourn.

As for fears, while Valgavoth's power might have trouble finding it given Halona's anti-magic would provide some defence, her fear would probably sit between the cards of immobility and issolation. I think her's would be indecision stemming from her homeplane's hidden nature and how the post-omenpath multiverse has shaken her resolve some showing her both the good and the bad of strongly connected planes. The person who sort of embodies choice, freedom, and wanderlust being confronted with consequences and only bad choices.

Nireta's glimmer would be an object rather than an animal and I think it'd be something akin to her first book/scroll. Something that represent the first step of growth in her youth. I think it's actually suprising to her since she wouldn't have assumed she had any good memories from that time.

Taking inspiration from the cards for abduction and being hunted, I know I've mentioned at some post years ago about Nireta's herophobia stemming from the would-be hero that she was set up to be the monster for them to slay. I think it'd also suprise her to find out how much quicker she is at overcoming it than she would have thought. Having been inspired by Gideon during the War of the Spark (and headcanoned interactions between her and the Gatewatch) and her having to step up during the Phyrexian invasions, she's stronger than she gives herself credit for.

Catrina's just being put next to Duskmourn is almost funny in a way. A being like Valgavoth, something consuming and subsuming a plane, wouldn't be new to her and realistically she's killed things like or even greater than him. That and given how Valgavoth killed or weaken all the other demons on the plane, there is not really anything other than Val to even get close to hurting her.

Halona would be an otter if we're sticking with the animals that fit the Bloomburrow aesthetic. I considered her maybe a frog for color pie purposes or making her something more themed to her plane/real-world inspiration like a Philippine tarsier, but I don't want to draw either of those and I think an otter is much cuter.

I'd think she'd have a hard time reconciling the fact that the creatures her umbras are based on would terrify most residents of Bloomburrow. Most of them are similar animals to the calamity beasts (i.e. predator or at least territorial) and even scaled down, her hellion umbra would still be closer to the calamity beasts' sizes than not.

Nireta for obvious reasons would be a bird. Originally I was thinking something coastal/aquatic like the sandwich tern (a absolutely hilarious name), but a lot of her siren features feal more raptor like. I ended up going with the eurasian magpie. She could also probably go more cardinal like to fit more in with the plane's vibe, but I think it fits her better.

She'd at first be dissappointed losing her hands even if she'd get used to using her feet quickly, but she'd be annoyed when Halona 1) started hanging her new height over her and 2) spent their entire time on the plane using as many animal puns as she could possible.

Catrina would be a badger. Originally I thought she'd be a squirrel, possible with mange, if only for the comedy of a hilarously strong character put inside a tiny body, but a badger actually fits her personality much better.

For Halona, I really like the explore sub-theme I gave her when I did the Chandra M19 inspired set since it represented her origin story of sailing and exploring. I think for her creature side, it'd keep track of every land she explores to a max of 3, probably using the noting system like Long List of the Ents. I'm not sure what would trigger the flip, probably when she sees a land on exploring, but after she flips she gains more loyalty for each land she explored and maybe draws for each +1/+1 counter (or tutors for an aura based on the number of counters) she had when she flips.

For Nireta, I made most of one, but I'm not sure I ever posted it. She'd be a 1/2 for UB flier with "Tap: Put a scavenge counter on her and draw a card." and "An opponent could put two counters on her and have a creature they control fight her. Only opponents may activate this ability, and only as a sorcery." If she would die with any scavenge counters on her, she'd flip and come in with that many loyalty. I like how it worked in her plundering and eventual near-death igniting. I didn't have any real notes for her back half though.

Nireta tasks Halona with getting their mounts. A choice she regret immediately.

but, dead-ass, seeing the fucking Bloomburrow art being anounced and getting furry Ral and Jace is so funny with the implication that planeswalkers either need a disguise or are transformed on the plane is hilarious.

Omen: Enchanted creature has "Creatures dealt combat damage by enchanted creature are sacrifice during the next end step."

I really want to stick with names that could work inside fairytale and really try to hit the archetypes.

I think Halona's could be "Trickster" since the name and themes behind it fit her to a T, but the mechanics are a little tough. They already used ward for Royal and hexproof is too strong for a common enchantment. I think to fit in with other cards with trickster in the name it could be "Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has 'Tap: Tap or untap target permanent you don't control.'"

I think something like "Outcast" would fit Nireta. It wouldn't encapsulate her newer changes, but it does fit her core themes. I don't know if it would gain any power or toughness, but it would definitely have at least "Enchanted creature has skulk."

The name "Oracle" doesn't fully capture Pahandi, but I think it's a broad enough name that it could be used as a card. Scry would be the correct choice for this, but the Sorcerer role already does what I want so I think it would just be whenever enchanted creature attacks, do Ponder without the draw.