Locations
We’re back, Planeswalkers! Last time, we decided as a community to leave behind the musical aspect of our plane so that we could focus on the concept of a world created within a dream. We decided that the nightmares invading our world should exist across the colors blue, black, and red. We also decided that within our world there exists a magical race of yet-to-be-named elemental incarnations representing the multiple aspects of the sleeping Planeswalker’s personality. These elemental incarnations will exist through all five of the colors of Magic in our world. All of these decisions and more are now present on our Live Google Doc. And when I say more, I mean MORE.
James Arnold sent me this beautiful piece in an e-mail simply titled “Basic Land Art For You”:
When I opened it, I could not have been more awestruck. This piece! There’s so much going on, and there are so many little details, all of which feel extremely ethereal and dreamlike. It’s a perfect piece for the world we are all building together. When I first started this project, I had hoped that some community members would supply some of their own designs and drawings to help paint a picture of the plane we would create together. What I could not even imagine was that this project would produce actual art. In my excitement, I requested that James send four more images so that we had a cycle of basic lands.
To James’s credit, he responded kindly and explained that, while he would be more than willing to contribute a creature or artifact design down the line, a full set was too much to ask. James, let me just say that this artwork is beautiful and more than enough; thank you so much for contributing to our project!
I decided that I wanted to create a mockup of James’s art in an actual Magic card frame just to see what it would look like on an actual card. In doing so, I realized that it was possible to create all five basic lands from this single piece by only showing different zoomed-in portions and thus altering the perspective. I sent some mockups to James, and with his blessing, I present to you our first complete set of basic lands for our world:
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Inhabitants of a Dream
A couple of weeks ago, I asked you all to submit ideas for the five iconic creatures in each of the five colors for our plane. This week, I would like to look at the possible choices we have from those submissions and vote on what you all think should be the iconic creature for each color. Now, before we begin, I have a quick disclaimer:
Anyway, let’s get started, shall we? As a quick refresher on what an iconic is supposed to be, the five staple iconics of Magic are:
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| Angel | Sphinx | Demon |
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| Dragon | Hydra |
White Iconic
Guardians
These beautiful creatures have the head and body of a powerful lion, the scales and claws of a reptile, and the plumage of an exotic bird. Gliding through the dream world on six massive and prismatic wings, these fearsome creatures are able to fly at breakneck speeds and tear their prey to ribbons with massive claws. The Guardians will stop at nothing to ensure peace and stability for the plane.
Angels
The Angels of this world are beautiful creations of the dream. Mighty warriors fighting in the name of justice, these creatures can be seen flying through the skies as they watch over the world below. The Angels’ billowing robes trail behind them as they search the land for any who would try to cause chaos or destruction on their plane. In some corners of the plane, large battles have broken out between squads of Angels and the Nightmares plaguing the world.
Archons
Riding through the skies on their winged lion-like mounts, the Archons are protectors of the fundamental laws of the plane. They take the nightmare invasion personally and will stop at nothing to see the interlopers wiped off the face of the plane. Each Archon is dressed in brilliant gold armor, their mounts equally covered in intricate gold plating. Beneath the glittering armor, sapphire and emerald feathers can be seen coating the gigantic winged beasts, whose massive blue and white wings cast an unsettling shadow over evildoers unlucky enough to be beneath them.
Lammasu
These ancient creatures can be seen soaring through the realm on a pair of enormous, eagle-like wings. Beneath that large span of feathers is a powerful body resembling a cross between a ram and a bull. The Lammasu’s head is humanlike in appearance, surrounded by a thick mane of black hair, and with two curling, ram-like horns. Devastating in combat, the creatures are known to dive out of the sky from impossible heights, slamming into unsuspecting foes with their horned heads and the full weight of their enormous bulk.
White Iconic Vote
[poll id="393"]
Blue Iconic
Sphinx
The beautiful Sphinxes of the world spend most of their time sleeping within their island homes. These creatures have heads and upper bodies of beautiful, blue-skinned humans, with fore claws and bodies of fierce lions. Two large, parrot-like wings and long, feathered tails showcase a stunning array of blue, silver, purple, and gold feathers. It is said that if one is chosen to sleep next to a Sphinx, the mighty creature will grant the lucky individual with a prophetic dream showing all of the sleeping individual’s possible futures. Others who have witnessed these mighty creatures in battle warn of the powerful sleep magic they use to subdue their prey. They warn that to seek out a sphinx is to willingly search for death.
Flying Whales
Drifting through the skies of the dream are schools of massive, whale-like creatures that are truly a sight to behold. The fins and tail of these beautiful creatures are covered in a thin layer of fluffy down-like, feathers. It is believed that these creatures use their fins and tails not as a means to keep aloft, but to maneuver their massive bodies through the skies. How these creatures are able to keep themselves floating through the clouds is somewhat of a mystery, as it is extremely rare to find them anywhere near solid ground. Denizens of the plane can sometimes hear the Whales singing to one another when the animals fly close enough to the solid portions of the plane. Some believe that the songs actually are an ancient language of the whales and contain within them prophecies and dire warnings from the ancient creatures.
Watchers
The Watchers are an extremely secretive race of large, sentient, gorilla-like beings with dark silver fur and long tails coated in a fluffy, white, wool-like hair. These beings sit along the beaches of their distant island homes like gigantic stone statues, gazing out onto the horizon. It is believed by many that there is no limit to the distance that the watchers are able to see and that they gain their name because they sit and watch the world live. Some believe that the watchers are not just watching, but are looking for something or someone. What they will do once they find that for which they search is as mysterious as the beings themselves.
Djinn
The great Djinn live out their lives within beautiful palaces among the rolling clouds of the plane. Representations of the wishes and hopes of the sleeping Planeswalker, these great and powerful beings are seen as a key to obtaining your fondest desires. Many seek out the creatures for the chance to be granted a wish. Some proclaim that the Djinn are evil creatures, tempting those faint of heart with the promise of wishes. They tell tales of those who have spent fortunes in order to have their dreams granted, only to find the wish came true at an even greater cost.
Blue Iconic Vote
[poll id="394"]
Black Iconic
Demons
The Demons of this world are the embodiments of the sleeping Planeswalker’s inner demons, taking on forms representing forgotten memories of a distant past. Though rarely seen, some have been unfortunate enough to have come face to face with these horrible creatures. Spending their days corrupting the thoughts and memories of the sleeping Planeswalker, the Demons have little interest in the Nightmares that seem to be ravaging the plane. The way they see it, the Nightmares are keeping the Angels busy, allowing them more freedom to corrupt the innocent.
Wendigo
These gruesome creatures are gangly humanoid monstrosities with animal-like heads and a pair of large antlers. It is whispered that the Wendigo are created from dark memories the sleeping Planeswalker wished to forget long ago. Now these creatures roam the dream world, searching out other memories to feast upon. Always hungry, the Wendigo are destined to suffer as they continuously eat away for all eternity. Some claim that the Wendigo were human once and that their current form is a curse due to committing a despicable act.
Nightstalkers
Twisted horrors have started creeping up from the bowels of the plane. These shadowy fiends are physical representations of dark memories that had been suppressed by the dreamer. Many say these creatures only started to appear with the arrival of the nightmares, but there are some who say that the Nightstalkers were always hidden deep in the darkest corners of the plane, waiting for the perfect time to rise up and take control over the world. Seemingly composed entirely of shadow, these dark creatures can strike fear into the soul of any unlucky enough to encounter them out in the dark.
Specter
These scythe-wielding death spirits can be seen soaring through the night skies of the dream world, hunting down memories that the sleeping Planeswalker wishes to forget. Their powerful mounts resemble a demonic fusion of reptile and bat, borrowing the most terrifying aspects of each creature. They locate their targets with high-pitch echolocation that only their targets can hear. They are known to circle the skies, calling out to their prey, inducing a state of paranoia and terror that eventually drives them out into the open in a fit of madness. Recently, the Specters have begun hunting more than just those memories wished to be forgotten. Some believe that if they are not stopped, the entire plane could be in danger of falling beneath their dark scythes.
Black Iconic Vote
[poll id="395"]
Red Iconic
Lammasu
The Lammasu of the dream world are the embodiments of pure emotion. Impulsive creatures, the Lammasu are known to erupt into a deadly rage at seemingly little to no provocation. Gigantic creatures, the Lammasu have a large, lion-like body covered in rippling orange and yellow fur. Its body is supported by six powerful legs ending in sharp claws. Large, bonelike protrusions extend out of the creature’s back and flank, serving as both weapons and as protection. Incredibly fast, the Lammasu charge into battle, goring unsuspecting prey with their three large horns surrounding their faces. Their heads and necks are coated in a thick, wool-like hair that is coveted by many; however, few will dare to take the fur off a Lammasu, dead or alive.
Phoenix
The brilliantly-colored phoenixes can be seen soaring through the skies, giving off brilliant colors that show through every spectrum. Their beautiful feathers seem to ripple as their bodies continuously display changing colors and patterns. Each phoenix is believed to be born of a powerful emotion experienced by the sleeping Planeswalker. It is said that when a Phoenix dies that emotion will be impossible to be felt on the plane until the Phoenix returns, born again in a great eruption of passion and flame. Do not be fooled by their beautiful appearances—when endangered or enraged, the Phoenixes are known to burst into a violent explosion of flame that coat their entire bodies, and they skillfully use this as a tactical advantage in combat.
Dragons
These beautiful creatures are the embodiment of the sleeping Planeswalker’s creativity. The Dragons are covered in beautifully intricate scale patterns from head to tail. These silver scales are special in that they reflect every color of light in the visible spectrum, causing the patterns to look as if they are composed of rainbow-colored light. Even more than their vibrant scales, these Dragons are known for their prismatic breath. A flaming, sparking, smoking cone of rainbow fire, these Dragons’ breath weapons have been reported to be able to melt through an arm’s length of solid steel.
Manticore
These fearsome creatures represent the powerful emotions latent in all beings. Where people seek out the Sphinx in order to gain knowledge, others dare to stand before the Manticore for revelations of the heart. Manticores are able to coax intense feelings of love, rage, lust, and wrath out the hearts of their prey. Manticore magic may be deep and powerful, but it is far from the only line of defense these fearsome creatures have at their disposal. Two powerful, bat-like wings allow the creature to fly at lightning speeds, while powerful claws and a poison tail can be used to pin their foes to the ground. Their mouths are lined with rows of shark-like teeth that can easily rend flesh from bone.
Red Iconic Vote
[poll id="396"]
Green Iconic
Treefolk
Deep within the dream forests of this world live massive Ents composed of the forest itself. These creatures are fierce protectors of their homes, stopping at nothing to ensure the safety of the forests. They have been spotted engaging in fierce battles with the nightmares attempting to overrun their homes. These fearsome entities represent the power of an idea. No matter how small they may start out, the Treefolk continue to grow until they are strong enough to fend for themselves.
Hydra
The Hydras of this world are fierce creatures who only desire one thing: growth. Continuously gorging on anything within reach of their gaping maws, these ravenous creatures are never truly sated. Unlike most Hydras, these creatures do not regrow heads when they are cut off. Instead, these creatures grow a new head with every finished meal, along with an additional stomach, adding to their constant hunger. The Hydras on this world are a covered in brilliant emerald scales, with spiraling patterns of sapphire, ruby, and onyx. Few know what created the Hydras, and fewer still know what to do when one decides you will be its next meal.
Colossi
Giants composed entirely of pure elemental nature, these primeval figures represent the physical representation of the plane itself. The quiet beings slowly walk from place to place, tending to the land and any creatures they find in need along the way. Their bulky, rocklike bodies are coated in thick layers of vines and moss. Families of small rodents and birds have been known to make their homes on these slow-moving and gentle beings. It is believed by many that to be healed by the hands of a colossus will add a hundred years to your lifespan. Because of this, some spend their entire lives searching for the wandering Giants.
Wurm
Coiling through the massive forests of the dream world are massive Wurms capable of unparalleled destruction. These winding monstrosities are feared for their single-minded ferocity. The Wurms were not always a part of this world. As the plane continues to become more unstable, larger and larger Wurms can be seen rampaging across the plane. The Wurms’ scales are a deep, mossy green color and are extremely thick. Many seek these scales to use in creating powerful suits of armor.
Green Iconic Vote
[poll id="397"]
Origin of the Nightmare
Finally, I want to leave you all with another challenge. On the #GMWMTP subreddit, we have been discussing the origin of the plane and what caused the sleeping Planeswalker to do this to itself. There is a lot of great discussion going on, and I would like to keep that going for another week. What I would like to also do is start a discussion on the origin of the nightmare and exactly what you all think is creating these creatures that are invading the dream world. Post your thoughts and ideas here, and we can get this discussion going as well.
Again, please feel free to continue submitting any concept art or ideas you may have for depicting our basic lands. I am still accepting (and will be for some time) all submissions for them.
Thank you so much to everyone who has been involved in this project so far. The content we are generating is more than I could have hoped for, and as always, I look forward to seeing the results of these polls and the world we will ultimately create together.
—Ant
