Alara Part 2: The Storying
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on Jan. 31, 2020, 5:42 p.m. by ZendikariWol
I have a pretty good idea of where I want Alara Reborn to go, but I want you folk to proofread and do some helping.
The first set is going to center around two somewhat parallel storylines; Kaalia and Tezzeret.
Tezzeret, after his defeat on Ravnica, retreats to Alara and murders his way up Esper's hierarchy. However, he didn't finish the job. A couple of Esper's geniocrats escaped, and eventually they come back and take Tezzeret down.
Kaalia does her best to rally the survivors remaining on Grixis. She succeeds and with Eliza as her benefactor, the survivors challenge a lower-level demon, defeat its cult, and take the demon down. From there, though, they decide to go straight for Nefarox. Not having realized until too late how far they were in over their heads, Kaalia and the survivors are massacred.
Now I have a couple questions to answer.
1) Who is the noble that defeats Tezzeret?
2) One of three things happens when Kaalia confronts Nefarox; either she escapes, Nefarox lets her live, or Kaalia dies. She's a fan favorite character and if she dies, I want it to serve a purpose to the narrative. Which means that I have the following stories ahead of me:
1) Nefarox lets Kaalia live because he's an asshole and he has now killed her family twice, he no longer perceives her as a threat. She eventually lives to either help her people in Bant or challenge Nefarox again and win.
2) Kaalia's spark ignites and she has a long talk with Sarkhan about what it is to have your goals and perceptions shattered and how to pick up the pieces.
3) Kaalia's spark ignites and she has a long talk with Ajani about what it is to let your hatred control you.
4) Kaalia dies, but her spirit lives on, somehow. Perhaps in a friend who shares her goal, perhaps in someone who was taught a valuable lesson by Kaalia's arrogance. Idrk yet.
What do you think, folks? Where do I go?
ZendikariWol says... #3
Mj3913, thanks a lot for the help!
I have considered that Ral is chasing after Tezzeret, and I considered Silas being the one to come back for Tezzeret, but considering Tezzeret’s sadistic streak, I see him finishing the job thoroughly when it comes to Silas. As for Ral... heck, I don’t really know. I think he’s just far enough behind that he doesn’t appear in this set/block. If he does appear, well, idk.
With Kaalia, I am stumped. On the one hand, I really like having planebound characters that people can identify with. Not everyone has to be a walker. But also, I really like the idea of Kaalia talking to Sarkhan.
I think the two of them would talk about things they allowed to rule their lives (dragons and demons) and how it drove them both mad (though Sarkhan more literally). I see Kaalia losing black in that exchange.
February 1, 2020 1:44 a.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #4
If my knowledge of Planeswalkers is correct they can sense other walkers across the universe, or think of them and go to the same place. If Ral is behind it's either in preparation or some self turmoil thing I'd think... What other nobles are there? I only know basics from some online sources, no novels or anything. Are Sen Triplets considered Nobles?
What if Sarkhan were to revisit Alara at this time and they run into each other. Win/win?
February 1, 2020 7:36 a.m.
ZendikariWol says... #5
Okay that's definitely something I forgot, but now that I think about it you're right. So maybe Ral is stuck somewhere else on-world tryna find where Tezzerret is??
Also, I'm using "nobles" pretty generously here, as anyone who wields enough authority or actual power or prowess that they would be a threat to Tezzeret on their own.
The biggest problem with putting Sarkhan on Alara now is why? Why is he there? Honestly what is Sarkhan's motivation at this point? I think maybe he wants to rediscover his passion- what drives him. Now, without a dragon to look to, he feels free, but a blank page is the most intimidating thing in the world; what does he do from here? It would make sense that he visits home, trying to discern from there what to do.
He watches the Jundians bow to tyrants, he watches the Nayans bow to unconcerned titans, he watches the Bantians bow to the angels, he watches the Esperites bow to genius, and he watches the Grixians bow to nothing but power. I think Sarkhan sees a culture enslaved, and I think he tries going back to his real home: Tarkir. I just... idk, I feel like he doesn't stay long. Unless he somehow gets wrapped up in trying to liberate the Grixians?
February 1, 2020 11:03 a.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #6
I suppose Sarkhan would need a legitimate reason for being there wouldn't he. Was he not a part of the conflux? (After some reading seems only slightly on Jund) Maybe now that Bolas is gone (deposed) he's trying to repair things across the multiverse? He could help in the effort to re-establish order to New Alara. In this line of thought Kaalia remains planebound and gets her meeting with Sarkhan.
As for Ral, Alara has had plenty experience now with Planewalkers what with the Conflux and such so maybe he appeared on Bant and was detained by the authorities there which inhibits his quest to track Tezzeret. Sets nowadays seem to have 3 walkers... 2 known, 1 new so Tezzeret, Ral, and a freshly sparked Kaalia could fit into that mould. So following this train; Ral is stuck, Tez is being thwarted by Esper (Who though?), and Kaalia...? How does she ignite, positively (victory?) or negatively (near death experience or major emotional trauma)?
Gunna try seeing if I can learn a bit more about who's still alive on Alara/Esper and see if we can't figure out who's hampering ol'Tez.
February 1, 2020 6:13 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #7
If it helps, I do have a list somewhere of every named character on Alara and a brief description.
February 2, 2020 2:34 a.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #8
Could prove useful, I'm not finding many names just groups so far but no names of the leaders or players in those particular factions. I have a little drawn up at the moment, still working on it bit by bit.
February 2, 2020 9:13 a.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #9
Here's what I've come up with so far...
Ethersworn & Seekers of Carmot - 'The Noble Work' which is basically making all living things part etherium could be a driving force for them. Now that everything is connected they may want to spread this further than Esper. However, etherium supplies dwindle (supposedly) so it may not be a realistic task. Unless of course they were to find a lot of carmot somewhere. Not sure how this would tie in with Tezzeret without knowing the names of leaders and such, unless he succeeds in killing Silas Renn and someone else decides to take revenge... apparently Tezz already had a scrap with Silas at some point and tore some of his Etherium parts off.
Crucius 'The Mad' - Returned Walker? Or just out of hiding? Wrote book on 'How to Etherium' and encrypted it. Perhaps he and Tezzeret have like goals of destroying Esper but while Tezzeret wants to Usurp the throne so to say, Crucius wants it all destroyed including Tezzeret.
Aether lich(s) - Are beings that take the 'Noble Work' too far and forsake flesh altogether. Perhaps they gain traction in the chaos and mess things up? I like the idea of one lich in particular learning of Tezzeret being a Walker and wanting to try and take that power/energy from him. I have no names of existing Aether Liches so... new character?
Sharuum - Mate of Crucius, if he is indeed a Walker and she has deduced as much she could get in Tezzeret's way for information purposes on Crucius' whereabouts. On another note, they have a disfigured son that hides in a Maze if that is of any relevance.
This is just focusing on Esper, I'm unsure if any outside forces other than Ral would want to stop Tezzeret's succession to the top of the Esper food chain.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #2
Have you accounted for the fact that Ral Zarek was tasked to hunt Tezzeret? Perhaps he shows up and throws a proverbial wrench in his kingmaker scheme. Silas Wren was a part in Tezzeret's previous fall on Alara so it is safe to assume he could best him again. Also safe to say he is a Seeker or better by now, so Noble status achieved?
Kaalia is tougher... I like the idea of a spark happening, not a fan of the dying part. If Kaalia escapes I say she loses White completely, and doubles down on the revenge effort. If she ignites, I would think Sarkhan is the better option opposed to Ajani. If she dies... she's gotta become a Spirit/Shade and again, really devote herself to revenge.
Well there's a couple cents for ya, hope it helps.
January 31, 2020 9:25 p.m.