#firedrinks

[kaatiba]

The Bone Orchard: A Book Response

I picked this book up on a whim -- or rather, downloaded it from Libby on a whim. I was attracted first by the cover and then by the blurb: psychics, necromancy, magic and alchemy, an Empire on the brink of civil war, and a murder-mystery all in one! Colour me intrigued!

I was even more surprised to find that the book is set in a vaguely Victorian-esque? Regency-esque? era rather than a pseudo-medieval one, although definitely in its own world rather than ours!

As ever, spoilers ahead!

This is a dark book, and rather slow paced until we get closer to the end, when several things happen in quick succession. It deals with trauma, rape, pedophilia, murder, torture, oppression, mental health issues, enslavement, body horror, human experimentation, free will, imperialism, and more...but none of it felt grim for the sake of grimness.

I was deeply drawn into Charm and her boneghosts' lives, their personalities and idiosyncrasies and complexities, their pains and their loves. When I realized that the women of the Orchard House where all facets of one person given form, I was blown away. What a fascinating depiction of dissociative identity disorder! What a heart-breaking coping method! What a cruel, and yet merciful, way to manage, survive, and heal from harrowing suffering!

I especially loved the boneghosts Pride and Pain and their distinct personalities and ways of interacting with the world. Pain-turned-Mercy was a deft conclusion to her story and growth, a beautiful semi-sanctification of a character whose pain only made her kind. It doesn't erase or invalidate or make acceptable her suffering, but it does allow something beautiful to flourish from all that misery. I ached so much for Desire and young Justice. Shame being the first of them to die -- in fact, being introduced to us  as she's dying -- was very clever writing and characterization. And Charm herself was ruthlessly, understandably pragmatic. Her goal was always and ever to survive long enough to be free.

I was also captivated by Charm's relationship with her Emperor - the man who enslaved her but also saved her on some level. The man who promised to give her her freedom and agency, which he'd always had the ability to give back to her and no right to steal from her, in exchange for one last life-threatening task. I wanted to loathe him. On some level I did. And yet Charm thinks fondly of him, and we read from Charm's point-of-view, and it's baffling that she's fond of him, horrifying that she is, but understandable too. It's not just Stockholm syndrome, or rather if it is, it's not only that.

On simpler terms, I adored the Emperor's (latest) wife and the Firedrinkers; they stole my heart and kept it. They are trapped in different ways politically and literally, and they do the best they can with the agency they are permitted to have, and their dignity was profound. The villains were awful and awfully sympathetic, the sundry minor characters felt real and tragic and ultimately human. My only gripe is that some characters -- Major Nathair in particular -- were presented as though they would be pivotal to the plot and then...vanished until the last few pages; the weight of their introduction to the story thus felt unfulfilled.

The only character who irritated me deeply was Lady; she was so cringing, so cowardly, so moralistic! But oh, she was meant to be. I liked Charm so much better than her, and the idea that she was who Charm really was was insupportable, but I was supposed to feel that way. And that was a brilliant stroke of characterization; a wonderful red-herring.

Plot-wise...this book was, as I mentioned, slow going. I wouldn't have minded, as it seemed to me this was a book about the characters more than the events, but certain plot twists were telegraphed pretty early so I got impatient for the reveals, while other plot twists were slipped in so subtly I had to reread some chapters or even lines to make sure I'd caught the implication of a few words.

The courtly intrigues also felt a bit...murky? They were there, but they seemed less complex and more...muddy. As though they wanted to be more layered and fine-drawn, but instead just became a bit muddled and confusing. I powered through, and things became clearer eventually, but that seems like a lot of effort for a reader to be taking. (Even though I'm definitely not one for spelling things out for the reader either).

Finally, the resolution was a bit of a letdown in some ways. While some characters' arcs were concluded in a deeply satisfactory way, others' were -- as I mentioned -- anticipated early on, so I didn't feel that fulfilled by them. But that may have been largely because I wanted...more. More out of this world that offered such fascinating glimpses into it, more out of this horrible empire, more out of the implications of the empire's awfulness and psychic powers and empathy fluid and the bone tree.

​Still, that's beyond the scope of the book which was, in the end, really about Charm healing through the vehicle of her task and gaining her freedom to make her choices. 

#book review #bookblr #book response #book recs #writeblr #kaatiba.reads #i am on hiatus but i read this before ramadan and wanted to be writing SOMETHING #and ofc once it was written i wanted to share it #anyway hope ur well #the bone orchard #kaatibawrites

[rhetoricandlogic]

An Intimate Mystery: Sara A. Mueller’s The Bone Orchard

An Intimate Mystery: Sara A. Mueller’s The Bone Orchard

Molly Templeton Mon Apr 4, 2022 2:00pm

One could, if one so desired, probably have a fairly lively argument about whether Sara A. Mueller’s elegant and tempestuous The Bone Orchard is simply fantasy, or if it dips into something more like science fantasy along the way. The story of a madam and her gaggle of “boneghosts” involves mindlocks (which temper and control the tricky power of psychics), vat-grown bodies that are subject to contamination by mold, a valuable substance called “empathy fluid,” and eternal youth in the form of Rejuv, which comes in pill form. All of these things seem to hover on the edge of the permeable boundary between genres, one dainty toe in a pool of magic, one foot resting on slowly turning gears.

The Bone Orchard also feels somewhat historical, for all that it’s set in an entirely fictional world populated with the aforementioned psychics and boneghosts. Mueller’s eye for detail, for building the city of Borenguard and its class-separated inhabitants, makes everything feel as if it’s taking place in a city you know you’ve heard of but can’t quite name. She relies on her readers’ powers of inference and connection, letting her world slowly come into focus—and what a world it is. Divided, sexist, violent, and wracked by the whims of powerful men, Borenguard is all too familiar in some way, though the story Mueller sets within it is fresh and vivid, rich and heartbreaking and deeply intimate.

Charm is a madam; Charm is a witch; Charm is the mistress of Borenguard’s emperor, who can command total obedience thanks to the mindlock in Charm’s temple. The proprietor of Orchard House, her main staff are boneghosts, grown in a vat and given distinctive and relevant names: Pain, Pride, Shame, Justice, Desire. I would really like to tell you more about the boneghosts, about where they come from and how they arrived in this world. But the process of understanding Charm’s relation to them—and to the mysterious Lady—is one of this novel’s primary joys. It’s not a twist or a trick or a bit of cleverness, but the foundation of Mueller’s story, which explores how a woman might change and twist herself in order to endure excessive trauma.

It’s also a mystery. On his deathbed, the emperor summons Charm and gives her a task: find out which of the emperor’s sons caused his death, and ensure the crown goes to “someone deserving.” The mindlock guarantees she has to obey. But it can’t control how she goes about solving this mystery, or all the things that happen as the emperor’s largely horrible children vie for a shred of his power. Charm has to do as her emperor commands, but his instruction takes a backseat to the things Charm learns about herself in the process.

The Bone Orchard is more meandering stream than rushing river, and I loved it all the more for it; this book lets you luxuriate in a sense of place and atmosphere, in the city’s bakeries and dress shops, and the nooks and crannies of Orchard House. It is full of intriguing secondary characters, at least one of which, Major Nathair, deserves a book of their own. The pacing occasionally stumbles; some of Pain’s trips out into the world can feel a little repetitive, and Charm’s contest of wills with the Lady isn’t quite as compelling as it might be. But things pick back up every time Charm steels herself to put on her best smile for a customer; every time Nathair turns up in a different outfit, full of secrets; every time a boneghost faces off with Charm, trying to establish herself and her own wishes within their carefully built existence.

This is a book where magic is a physical, visceral thing, where psychic power can wreak havoc on a person’s mind to the point that imposed control might become preferable. Mueller explores ideas about power and control in ways both familiar and unusual: A madam with great influence isn’t a new concept, though Charm herself is decidedly unique, and Borengard’s Firedrinkers are a fascinating military semi-hive-mind, generally anonymous and under psychic control. (Would I also like a book about the Firedrinkers? I would not say no.)

There are no cannibal nuns here, but some of the feel of Mueller’s magic system reminded me at times of Kerstin Hall’s Star Eater. It’s the way bodies are necessary and yet so fragile, and the way trauma and loss sit in the story’s bones—and also in Mueller’s understanding of how her world runs, what it takes to keep a city ticking, to keep people fed and systems functional. Bone magic stories, too, are a particular kind of tale, and this novel resonates on a necromantic frequency with some other recent books. The Bone Orchard doesn’t overlap with Gideon the Ninth or The Bone Witch on a surface level, but deep in the marrow of all three books, there’s a powerful thread of grief, loss, and what we carry—in our bodies as well as our minds. 

I would love to see The Bone Orchard among prestige TV’s epic fantasy adaptations—all these rich costumes! Charm with her colorful hair! Intrigue and court politics! The boneghosts and Firedrinkers and streets and gates of Borenguard! Until that happens, though, I suggest you prepare to sink into this one—let it take its time, and take your time with it. It’s an orchard worth strolling through, admiring every branching tree and tempting fruit.

Mueller is exactly as clear as she needs to be about the nature of that trauma. The Bone Orchard is set in a world at war, and neither nation is faultless when it comes to abusing its psychics, or its leaders abusing their power. There are a lot of ugly things in here, from child murder and sexual abuse to violent beatings and psychic torment. But Mueller is never sensational. Her story is about choices and survival, grief and fear and how a person might be able to grow and take power even under the worst possible circumstances.

#Sara A. Mueller #The Bone Orchard #mahreviews #long post

[ethereal-woodlands]

Day 7: Firedrinkic- A gender based on sitting around a fire and drinking hot chocolate

#wintercoins #december coins #aemogai #the forest coins

[inventors-fair]

Chimeric Entries 18-25 of 25

@railway-covidae - Firedrinker Specter (Firedrinker Satyr + Abyssal Specter)

@reaperfromtheabyss​ - Lavabrink Summons (Ojutai’s Summons + Lavabrink Venturer)

@snugz - Volatile Fluxwurm (Panglacial Wurm + Averna, Chaos Bloom)

@spooky-bard​ - Determined Muckrakers (Village Bell-Ringer + Larder Zombie)

@squeezyboi - Form of the Skeleton (Form of the Dragon + Reassembling Skeleton)

@stareyedesper​ - Liturgy of the Conclave (Isolate + Evangelize)

@wolkemesser​ - Orgg, Will Be One (Trained Orgg + All Will Be One)

@yd12k​ - View From Above (Sixth Sense + Flight)

Thank you all for your entries this week!

#mtg #magic the gathering #Inventor's Fair #custom Magic card #Fusion Contest #entries

[mrvavelsky-blog]

First DJ party at Mr. Vavelsky and we are soooo excited to see everyone have sooooo much fun! 😎🕺🍺🍸🍹 Watch the video in the post to see for yourself !!! [Sound on pls] #publife #pubwkrakowie #krakownightout #krakowpubcrawl #krakowcrawl #mrvavelsky #djkrakow #djmario #drinkingkrakow #firstpartykrakow #firstparty #firedrinks (w: Mr. Vavelsky) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxndnt1lUBq/?igshid=vbfwflbevock

#publife #pubwkrakowie #krakownightout #krakowpubcrawl #krakowcrawl #mrvavelsky #djkrakow #djmario #drinkingkrakow #firstpartykrakow #firstparty #firedrinks

[halepelepdx]

We’re ready for the weekend at @halepele! . . . #halepele #tropical #pdxnow #instapdx #spirits #pdxdrinks #imbibegram #tiki #tikidrinks #portlandbars #imbibe #tikibars #tikilife #craftcocktails #cocktails #pdxnow #travelpdx #pdxbars #pnwlife #pnwbars #libations #portlandbars #tikitime #drinklocal #drinkpdx #firedrinks #weekendvibes (at Portland, Oregon)

#pdxbars #firedrinks #spirits #drinklocal #portlandbars #tikibars #libations #tiki #tropical #tikidrinks #cocktails #drinkpdx #pdxdrinks #tikilife #imbibegram #pnwbars #halepele #travelpdx #tikitime #imbibe #pdxnow #instapdx #weekendvibes #craftcocktails #pnwlife

[jollybartender]

Cafe Royale

I really like the wake-up kick and rich brulee cognac flavor of the Cafe Royale! This drink requires the slightly risky step of flaming sugar cubes covered in brandy over a hot cup of coffee. 

The coffee has to be pretty hot and you need to leave the cognac and sugar cubes balanced above the coffee on the rim of the mug so that the alcohol begins to evaporate. Wait about 2 minutes before igniting. It is pretty and rich and just makes you swoon!

See the recipe and safety tips on my website.

#coffeedrinks #cognacplease #firedrinks

[lemming28]

Take me back to fun nights on Hollywood Blvd! . . . #lemtravels #lonohollywood #tikibar #firedrinks #dancetilthesuncomesup (at LONO Hollywood) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4XoUXwAf7_ftXHo8AjbSFNXMLKF3NyVlkLdmM0/?igshid=1bgimqgcvbmka

#lemtravels #lonohollywood #tikibar #firedrinks #dancetilthesuncomesup

[mtg-cards-hourly]

Firedrinker Satyr

Attending a satyr revel requires a high tolerance for pain.

Artist: Anthony Palumbo TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

#mtg #magic the gathering #tcg #$0.17 #anthony palumbo #firedrinker satyr #theros #creature #satyr #shaman

[5ecardaday]

Firedrinker Satyr

If you’d like to support what I do, find free pdf’s for my content, get insight into my design process, and get access to other exclusive homebrew content, feel free to check out my Patreon, whose link can be found on my page.

#dnd #dnd 5e #mtg #dnd homebrew #5e monsters #mtg ths #theros set #theros block #monster #cr 2 #fey #creature #firedrinker satyr

[farittali]

#firedrink #lamborghini #lamborghinidrink #cinnamon #cinnamondrink #lightpaintingphotography #copas #shootingphoto #showdrinks #lifeofphotography #redblackmultimedia #lifeofphotographer #fireworks #fire #drink #drinks🍹 #show #alchol #alcohol #canon70 #pasionporlafotografia #bebidasalcoolicas #bebidas #bebidascalientes #showdebebidas (en Morelia, Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0PL1teAZ78/?igshid=mfj22s2x3d0l

#firedrink #lamborghini #lamborghinidrink #cinnamon #cinnamondrink #lightpaintingphotography #copas #shootingphoto #showdrinks #lifeofphotography #redblackmultimedia #lifeofphotographer #fireworks #fire #drink #drinks🍹 #show #alchol #alcohol #canon70 #pasionporlafotografia #bebidasalcoolicas #bebidas #bebidascalientes #showdebebidas

[alleynejay1981]

Having a cold one #lit #thc #laguanitas #firedrink #medical #chill #positivevibes #cbd #cannibisconnoisseur #medicalmarijuana #medicalpatient #weedoverpills #weedoveralcohol #drinkyouredibles #fridayvibes #831 #santacruzlife #lovelife #cannalife #centralcoast (at Santa Cruz, California) https://www.instagram.com/jjay831/p/ByKAfPhlYY5/?igshid=1u10dmmv426fa

#lit #thc #laguanitas #firedrink #medical #chill #positivevibes #cbd #cannibisconnoisseur #medicalmarijuana #medicalpatient #weedoverpills #weedoveralcohol #drinkyouredibles #fridayvibes #831 #santacruzlife #lovelife #cannalife #centralcoast

[frogtownhobbies]

Let’s start with the top 10 and get to the honorable mentions and longshots after….

Top 10:

10. Tectonic Giant

(Frequency = Low, Impact = Low) Possible Homes: Temur Elementals

A hard-to-deal-with threat that an opponent must deal with has possible applications in Pioneer but 4 mana is lot for most of the decks that might want this. Temur Elementals is one possible home but I would definitely expect that if I do see this card it will be paired with green accelerants.

9. Woe Strider

(Frequency = Low, Impact = Medium) Possible Homes: Aristocrats (of some color combination)

Aristocrats is a deck that is perpetually on the fringe of playable in both Modern and Pioneer. There are already more than enough playable cards for the archetype in BR, BRW, BGW or even some more obscure color combinations so the thing that will make the deck better is finding cards that can double up on roles to increase the card quality. Woe Strider fills the two most important roles in an Aristocrats deck; extra bodies in the form of goats and a sac outlet as well as also providing some reach and card selection. I feel sure enough about Woe Strider making Aristocrats playable that I moved it from the “If…then…” section to my top 10. Depending on the best color combination for the deck, Slaughter-Priest of Mogis and Alirios, Enraptured may also see some play.

8. Ashiok, Nightmare Muse

(Frequency = Low, Impact = Medium) Possible Homes: UBx Control

Makes the list on the power of having a plus ability that makes blockers to protect it while threatening an ultimate in only two turns. If you play Ashiok while ahead you will probably win the game. It’s closest competition is probably The Scarab God, and in parity and while ahead this card is close to that power level. Its worse when you’re behind but has less deck-building restrictions so overall I like this card and I can’t wait to win some games with my opponents’ stuff.

7. Staggering Insight

(Frequency = Low, Impact = Medium) Possible Homes: UW aggressive flying decks like Spirits

I feel like people are sleeping on this card but as Curious Obsessions number 5-8 that also grant lifelink I think it’s pretty good. Mono-red doesn’t want to see this on a spirit if you also have Selfless Spirit in play and I know that control decks don’t want to get hit by it. The card on this list that’s probably most likely to miss (along with Tectonic Giant) but I think it will see some play.

6. Storm’s Wrath

(Frequency = Medium, Impact = Medium) Possible Decks = Jeskai Fires, RB Control

Great rates on red’s Wrath of God that also hits Planeswalkers means you will be seeing this card. It does come with some heavy deckbuilding constraints but the value is there for those who can fit it in to their strategy.

5.  Phoenix of Ash

(Frequency = Medium, Impact = Medium) Possible Decks = Phoenix, Mono-red agro, Dredge

A recursive hasty threat is just what many mono-red decks want as the top-end of their threats and it also plays nicely with a lot of the cards in UR Phoenix, although it fights with Treasure Cruise. Making sure you can interact with graveyards is starting to seem like a priority in Pioneer just like it is in older formats.

4. Kunoros, Hound of Athreos

(Frequency = Medium, Impact = Medium) Possible homes: BW midrange, Abzan Midrange, 5c Niv to Light

This set’s best “pile of abilities creature”, Kunoros packs a lot of punch into a 3/3 for 3. Having a bunch of abilities on a creature doesn’t always lead to a successful Magic card (see: Savage Knuckleblade), but Having abilities that are particularly good against two disparate kinds of decks makes Kunoros intriguing. If 3 toughness in Pioneer is truly akin to 4 toughness in Modern (outside the range of the most common removal) then I think Kunoros will be giving aggro decks and graveyard decks fits for the foreseeable future.

3. Polukranos, Unchained

(Frequency = Medium, Impact = Medium) Possible Homes: Hardened Scales, Escape Strategies (Sultai?), BG Midrange Strategies

Polukranos provides a lot of undead beef for its mana cost, both at cmc=4 and cmc=6. I expect to see the big Zombie Hydra augmenting an already good Hadened Scales plan of attack as well as enabling a few other midrange strategies to finish off their game plans. Bonus points if you can utilize the counter aspect or give Polukranos trample and/or Haste but even by itself this is a fine creature.

2. Heliod, Sun-Crowned

(Frequency = Medium, Impact = High) Possible Homes = Mono-White Devotion, Soul Sisters, Collected Company Decks, Hardened Scales Decks, Any deck that already plays Walking Ballista

The boogie man cometh. Heliod is a card so scary that lots of people are already talking about a Walking Ballista ban in Pioneer’s future. While the combo is obviously scary and something you have on your radar any time you’re playing Pioneer I don’t think it’s quite to that level. Outside of winning the game on the spot, Heliod slots in nicely next to Benalish Marshall in a White Devotion/Beatdown strategy, perhaps utilizing other Theros cards; Favored of Iroas and Taranika, Akroan Veteran (which are both soldiers as well). The other white devotion deck possibility is probably more of a “pillow fort” kind of deck utilizing white’s many enchantments that make it hard for your opponent to win. That deck has the added benefit of wanting to play Walking Ballista alongside Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx already and also likes the lifegain Heliod can provide.

1. Uro, Titan of Nature’s Wrath

(Frequency = High, Impact = High) Possible Homes = UG Ramp Strategies (including Devotion), 5c Niv to Light, Escape Strategies, Maybe Soulflayer

My pick for the card that will have the biggest impact in Pioneer, Uro packs a lot of value into one card. UG ramp strategies with and without devotion will love this card and it slots perfectly into Niv to Light as a ramp spell which also gains you some life early and gives you more reach late. Uro will probably also spawn some new strategies all by itself like UGx control or some sort of escape deck that includes some self-mill. Expect to see a lot of this card going forward and expect to die to it eventually if you can’t deal with it permanently.

Honourable Mentions

Playable Removal Spells:

Eat to Extinction and Drag to the Underworld will both compete with the format’s best removal and will see some play but I don’t think they are appreciably better than Fatal Push, Abrupt Decay, Vraska’s Contempt, Murderous Rider or even Murderous Cut. Keep in mind that Drag to the Underworld’s upside is a one mana break on Murder, have you ever thought about playing Murder in Pioneer?

Cards to Help you Out Against Mono-Red:

Erebos’s Intervention, Shadowspear and Setessan Petitioner provide more ammunition for decks that have trouble with mon-red or other aggressive decks. The Petitioner is definitely a sideboard card whose cmc probably makes it an upgrade over Nylea’s Disciple. The other two may be maindeck cards in the right deck (perhaps UR Ensoul for Shadowspear) but probably also head to the sideboard.

“If _________________ is a good deck then this card will probably see play in it.”

Callaphe, Beloved of the Sea is a good body for blue Devotion strategies along with Thassa, whose blink effect is proving to be better in testing then I expected. Green devotion decks may want Omen of the Hunt and some will probably try Nyxbloom Ancient but that card definitely screams “win more!” to me.

Longshot Squad

Could any of these have a chance? Probably not, but crazier things have happened.

Gaalia of the Endless Dance

Firedrinker Satyr, Satyr Hedonist, Boon Satyr and the new Careless Celebrant….You’re right, those are not the cards a good Pioneer deck are built around but it’s too bad, this card is efficient and a cool effect to have in an aggressive tribal deck. Maybe when we go to Theros next time we’ll be able to complete this deck. Gaalia might just be good enough to get there on its own in a Gruul agro deck but usually if you’re attacking with three or more creatures in that kind of deck you’re already winning anyway.

Dalakos, Crafter of Wonders & Nyx Lotus

There isn’t a precedent for a three cmc mana-producing creature to be good in the format but I can’t help but wonder if this card can do something with Paradox Engine. Nyx Lotus could go in that deck as well. Maybe mostly blue with a red splash and including Emry, Dalakos, Saheeli, Mox Amber (Which Dalakos helps out), Nyx Lotus, Paradox Engine….

Storm Herald & Mantle of the Wolf

Could Storm Herald spawn an aggressive combo deck? Prodigious Growth and Spectra Ward are probably the two best creature auras to use with Storm Herald and you probably need something like Battle Mastery and/or one of the lifelink enchantments. We have a lot of red rummaging effects like Cathartic Reunion, Tormenting Voice and the new Thrill of Possibility as well as perhaps Thirst for Meaning out of blue to set things up. It’d be nice to be able to bring back Control Magic effects and enchant your opponent’s creatures but, c’est la vie, there may be something here.

Nadir Kraken

Look man, I don’t know why I like this card, but there’s just something about it. Maybe because Squirrel Opposition is my all-time favorite deck and this card makes me nostalgic for constant token generation. I’m at least 95% sure this won’t be a playable card in Pioneer but I’m also 95% sure I will own too many foils of it for the chance that it becomes playable.

Underworld Breach, Aphemia, Calix & Kroxa

What do we do with these cards? I don’t know, but someone is going to try. Underworld Breach obviously has the most potential but may need the larger card pool eternal formats to really shine. If you squint really hard Aphemia has Bitterblossom potential. Calix is a really interesting build around for enchantment-heavy strategies. Kroxa might want someone to introduce them to Davriel to really make opponents miserable.

            - Stephen K Timmons

#articles #staff #mtg pioneer #pioneer #mtg

[teerapote]

All time favorites. #b52 #firedrinks (at Brick Bar)

#firedrinks #b52

[mixxxology]

Doing big things in #rva ! #thegreektaverna @thegreektaverna @toulapanos #mixxxology #mixology #cajun #spanish #italian #irish #wpb #nova #nola #greekfood #craftcocktails #smoke #firedrinks #liquor #liqueurs #spirits #barlyfe #greekrestaurant #fusioncocktails #cheftender

#firedrinks #mixology #nola #italian #greekfood #nova #mixxxology #irish #barlyfe #craftcocktails #rva #spanish #cajun #spirits #liqueurs #smoke #wpb #liquor #thegreektaverna #greekrestaurant #cheftender #fusioncocktails

[slippery-blogle]

Where's Historic Anthology 6?

Lost but Not Forgotten Many Historic players have really been begging the question now...we've had Jumpstar add dozens of staples and Jumpstar "Horizons" add dozens of more. But where is the follow up in the meta focused "Antholgy" series? Antholgy 5 was considered lackluster, and with close to three sets having passed and the introduction of Alchemy...is it safe to say Historic needs a new Antholgy? Yeah, I think it's pretty say...So with that being said, let's talk about some cards I think we the format needs and some I think it could honestly benefit from. On top of all that, I'd like to add that obviously with the introduction of a digital space, any of these cards can easily face a rework, buff, or rebalance as we've seen with the new T3feri. #1 Smuggler's Copter Yup, you heard me right. With all of the new vehicle support and Affinity on the rise, I honestly believe Copter has a home in Historic. The powerful 3/3 for 2 (Crew 3) defined a standard meta. Eating top 8 after top 8 before facing ban after ban. Mardu Vehicles making a dramatic return could also be quite the interesting turn of nostalgia. With Neon Dynasty giving us Isshin, Two Heavens as One, doubling our "when attacks" triggers, Copter has a chance to provide MAJOR draw advantage while filling the Graveyard to feed any sort of Delerium requirements. #2 Tooth and Nail / The Entwine mechanic Yup...you heard me right again...Mono Green Stompy and even Mono Green Tron have a sort of presence in Historic that puts them in a sort of Rogue tier. Both decks hold up fairly well on both ladder and events, and for ages now have depended entirely on either using elves to ramp into Ulamog or Ugin or Craterhoof. So why not just mix things up? Provide an option for Simic ramp to drop Coma and friends, maybe even Bant Zoo style decks dropping some iconic Ixalan Elder-Dinosaurs? While we're at it, bring in other Entwine pieces, cards like Betrayal of Flesh and Barbed lighting. #3 Firedrinker Satyr A classic staple from OG Theros. Firedrinker Satyr isn't just a 2/1 for 1 that that bounces back damage that it's delt that can pump itself, it can do all that WHILE being a Shaman, which in this context just means another card to throw into the slowly decaying Gruul Shaman pile, but ultimately at the end of the day a notable 1 drop for midrangeish red decks, Gruul Aggro, and mono red in general. #4 Griselbrand / Other Big beefy Doomslayers Yeah Griselbrand is kind of an insane example of power creep in a format, but isn't that what Historic needs? A better target to reanimate? A big dreadful daddy to save the day for Sultai and Golgari gamers? If not Griselbrand why not another handsome demon boy, prehaps Desecration Demon? One of my all time favorite standard beaters. A 6/6 beater for (2)BB who forces your opponent to sac creatures or deal with incoming missile strikes. #5 Volrath's Stronghold (1)B (t) = put creature from the bin onto the top of your library? Sounds like a fairly decent utility land in a format where Scooze and pals can potential interfer with the yard. Being able to play a game of holding priority AT priority speed is a fairly strong tool when it comes to pressuring an opponent to race face or deal with the potential recycling of problem creatures #6 Unban the Mysthical Archive cards. All of them. Seriously, just unban them. Bolt, Path, whatever. If they're not to powerful to be legal for Alchemy via Key to the Archive than they should be totally reasonable. Even if they demand an "Alchemy" rework. Let us have these, please. #7 Everlasting Torment / An End to Life Gain Everlasting Torment is a (2) Hybrid Rakdos enchantment that prevents players from gaining life while preventing damage from being prevented. Lifegain is a problem in historic. Vortex and Ferocidon honestly don't do enough to stop it. Archfiend of Despair seems a little to wonky for Historics pace, but unfortunately a lot of "can't gain life" cards are only in black / red. In The

Making There you have it I guess. A little more than 7, but basically 7 cards I think we could and probably should see in an upcoming Historic Antholgy series or even released via a Jumpstart Style draft? Who knows. Honestly, Historic needs some life injected into it. Either via Alchemy reworks, Antholgy 6, or Jumpstar. turtlebox was here

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