Final Planeswalkers & Campaign Illustrations

The last two planeswalkers of our party joined the game after the first session. If you’ve been reading the Manaburst session write-ups you’ve already met Nero. Ibrand appeared in the following session, and is the final member of the group. I’ve also started doing something a little bit different with the planeswalkers’ images as seen below, so have included the original planeswalkers a second time with their updated portraits.

Ada

Ada’s original conception was that of a construct capable of aiding its master in research and ritual.  She quickly became  indispensable  to his experiments, able to observe and record all that transpired while his concentration was elsewhere.

Many years after her creation, Ada was given sentience when a powerful spell cast by her master  inadvertently  bound a being of primordial magic within her shell.  The reaction not only destroyed the ritual but also flung Ada from the plane, sending her careening through the Blind Eternities for the first time.

Concept of Magic: Flow of Aether

Although all but incapable of creating sorcerous effects on their own, Ada’s nature is uniquely suited to enhancing (or diminishing) others’ abilities to cast spells.  She also has enough knowledge of the principles of magic to duplicate or dispel arcane energies.  Her summons of choice are constructs  fashioned  from raw mana, as opposed to  simulacrum  of actual living things.

Gaeleth

Gaeleth hails from a plane of high ideals which views itself as the model of civilization.  As a judge and  arbiter, it was Gaeleth’s responsibility to punish those unable to abide by its laws.  She excelled in that role, so much so that when her superiors detected the unignited planeswalker spark within her, they immediately  began  training her on how to unlock its potential.

Since then it has been Gaeleth’s duty to wander the  multiverse  and bestow her justice upon those whom require it.  Sometimes is it through quiet consultation,  other times  it is by her burning wrath.  No matter the methods necessary, her justice will be done.

Concept of Magic:  Lux Eterna

Gaeleth leads light to calm, defend, and heal those whom need her protection.  When her commanding  presence  or a calm word fails to disarm a situation, Gaeleth can summon forth angelic soldiers to  dispense  justice on her behalf.

Grrrk

For most of his early life, Grrrk personified the title of ‘minion.’  He never had the desire or motivation to lead on his own, so dutifully followed whomever had the power to protect him.  He was a miner and a tunnelguide for his warren until his powers manifested.

After a short (and fatally unsuccessful) attempt at using his powers to lead a small group of his fellow goblins, Grrrk has fallen back to his original nature,  shrugging  off responsibility and hiding guilt by having someone else make the difficult decisions.

Concept of Magic:  Seismic  Might

At tiny Grrrk’s will, mountains shake.  His magic is that of the earth itself; bending, breaking, and shaping stone to do his bidding.  He is even able to infuse the earth with elemental sentience, creating servitors to assist him.

Ibrand

After witnessing the destruction of his people at the hands of demonic invaders, Ibrand took the fear and terror he felt and forged it into rage and hate to fuel is already potent pyromantic abilities.  Now he directs his abilities towards  hunting  down those that destroyed his homeland.

Ibrand has already proven he’s been willing to wreak massive destruction to get at his enemies; there’s no telling how far he will go in the name of vengeance.

Concept of Magic:  Wrath of Flame

Fire is the harbinger of Ibrand’s will, burning and consuming everything and everyone between him and his revenge.  The fury of his magic constantly rages at the edge of control but Ibrand’s will is formidable and he wields it with uncanny skill.

Nero

Son of a planeswalker and a demon, Nero was abandoned by both parents soon after his birth.  Found as an orphan he was raised and conditioned to be a remorseless killer.  By the time he discovered the truth of his heritage, he had already to turn his talents against the demonic horde invading the planes.

Concept of Magic:  Shadow Magic

Although not as skilled in raw sorcery as most of his fellow planewalkers, Nero does possesses  some ability to summon and manipulate shadows.  Primarily used to obscure and obsfucate, Nero’s magics have served him well in his chosen profession.  In addition he can, when pressed, weave shadows into minor entities bound to his will.

Nika

As the only sentient entity in the plane called Eden, what could be called Nika’s childhood was unique, to say the least.  Her education came through the experience of living at one with the wilderness around her.  She didn’t realize that her ability to influence the living network of the forest was a form of magic until a planeswalker, an explorer named Kolorghu, came to her sphere.

Kolorghu’s  good nature and Nika’s inquisitiveness were a natural match, and while he explored her plane, she traveled with him, learning about what it meant to be a planeswalker.  Some time later when Kolorghu left Eden, Nika decided to journey with him and see what else was out there.  The two have since parted ways, but Nika’s undying curiosity has survived.  She continues to seek new experiences, new things, and new places.

Concept of Magic: Biotic Gestalt

Nika’s magic draws upon the complex network of  organisms  in the wild, coaxing it to produce the desired effect.  Whether it’s shaping plants to her will or summoning swarms of tiny creatures, Nika is able to insinuate her will into an ecosystem and influence it from within.

Torvolis

Torvolis was born into a nomadic tribe where he reluctantly followed his father’s footsteps.  His father, the tribe’s chief hunter, would leave big shoes for this son to fill, and Torvolis was nowhere near skilled enough to do so.  His true skill didn’t manifest until otherworldly demons attacked his people and his spark ignited  catastrophically, creating tornado-strength winds when he tried to defend the tribe.

Instead of being thankful, the  survivors  exiled Torvolis from their land for practicing witchcraft.  Shocked and angry, he did them one better and planeswalked away, never to look back.

Concept of Magic: The Windswept Plains

Torvolis’ magic is that of the great winds that swept across the plains where he grew up.  When in need of aid, he calls upon creatures native to his homeland; from the birds over head to the beasts that roam the land.

* * * * *

The custom magic cards (created with Magic Set Editor) have also been appearing in the campaign write ups so far.  For anyone who plays magic out there worrying about balance, don’t.  They’re not meant to be played.  The cards started as a joke, but turns out the group really enjoys meta-humor in them.  It was fun seeing their antics re-imagined using MtG rules, so I’ve kept it up.

Hopefully by the end of the campaign I’ll be able to  post a WotC-styled “visual spoiler” page with all of the cards.  I don’t think all the in-jokes will translate but we’ll see.  🙂