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19-03-2001
 The Story Behind The Flavour Text
When you look at the flavour text on cards (The small quotes in italics near the bottom of the card), do you ever pause to think if there is a storyline behind it? Most semi-experienced players would instantly be able to tell you there is an extensive storyline, but there are a large percentage of players that are completely unaware that there is any storyline out there. Are you one of these people?
Do you realize, right at the moment, there is a HUGE plot going on? It is occurring in the "Invasion" cycle: the three sets Invasion, Planeshift and Apocalypse. Are you curious as to what is happening? Firstly, perhaps we should have a little introductory course into the Magic world.
A Magic Storyline Introduction
The series is set in a Medieval type world, except there are super-advanced robots and war machines! The places in the books are set in "Planes". It's like a whole bunch of different dimensions all close together. People like Urza (which I'm guessing you've heard of from the cards) can "planeswalk" - basically like teleport between the different planes. The main one of these is Dominaria, with sets like Prophecy, Invasion, Planeshift, Weatherlight and many more featuring here. Some places in it you may have heard of are Yavimaya, Urborg, Llanowar, Keld, Tolaria and Jamuraa, plus many more!. One of the other main planes is Rath - a plane that was made artificially (created by machines). It was created by the main bad guys of the book - The Phyrexians (which, surprise, surprise, live on the plane of Phyrexia), and is lead by a very ancient evil guy, Yawgmoth. Rath is made mainly from flowstone, which you may have seen on many cards, and places that you may have heard of are SkyShroud, Rootwater, the Stronghold and also the 'Predator'.
So, now what about 'Invasion'? Well, the bad guys I mentioned before, the Phyrexians, have been planning the attack on Dominaria for millennia. Dominaria is rich in magic and mana: and the Phyrexians want it for themselves. Urza, a planeswalker has known of the invasion for a long time, and has constructed powerful artifacts and bred a race of super-beings called the Methran. Also on his side he has Darigaaz, an Elder dragon and several other mortal dragons, plus angels, and the crew of a flying ship that your probably familiar with, the 'Weatherlight'. However the Phyrexians have hundreds of thousands of genetically engineered monsters ready to die for the glory of Phyrexia, and thousands of flying ships with plague bombs galore. And the evil Tsabo Tavoc commands this army, a female altered to look like a metallic queen ant! With these powerful forces, will Dominaria be defeated?
With this info, you must be dying to read the books! They should be at a bookstore near you, so what are you waiting for? You'll have a greater understanding of why the cards are in that certain set, and fully understand and enjoy the flavour text. If you want a reading order of the books, try:
If you have any queries about the storyline, don't hesitate to ask! You should be seeing more of me, with legend bios and casual play story decks....... need I say more?
Travis L.
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