"The countdown to the end continues"

 "The countdown to the end continues"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

 

 

     So when the world didn't end last December I believe that there was a collective sigh of relief all around the globe. It was like a force that stopped the Armaggedon clock from ticking down to the end times. So it was with growing concern that people watched their televisions screen as the Vatican announced that the current Pope would be stepping down on Feb 28 2013.

 

      As of this time there is still talk about how the Pope had suddenly resigned from his post last Feb 28 2013. People all around the world are speaking about certain Pope candidates and there are those who are interested if he would turned out to be the prophecized Peter The Roman who will lead the Catholic Church during these hard times. He is said to usher the end times.

 

     There was a Irish who was canonized as St. Malachi who saw a vision of 112 Popes who would lead to the end times. This is known worldwide as the Prophecy of the Popes. Though its legitimacy is being questioned by the Catholic Church itself there was no denying that the latter popes where clearly described on the publication dating back to 1595.

 

     I would be greatly relieved if the new Pope will not even be distinctly Roman so that this whole mess can be avoided. Of course since the genetic pool of the world is already so mixed up even someone as far away at the Philippines can have Roman blood and not know about which makes everyone of the candidates a possible Roman. So either way the world is screwed.

 

     It seems like the clock to the apocalypse has started once again (or from some peoples point never stopped at all) and in my mind I can hear a thin hand that ticks down the seconds until we are all gone. Nobody knows how the End will start but it will be with Peter the Roman. And here I was thinking that there was still enough time for my plans to come into fruition. Oh well...it is actually the time to make the most of life and just basically go ahead with the plans that we have made. Believe in what you believe and let others believe in what they believe in as well. If the end does come...well it just has.

"Firestarter Month"

"Firestarter Month"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

     March has been dubbed Fire Prevention month which is quite ironic because from all of the Fire Trucks that you hear on the street you would have guessed that there ought to be far fewer fires by now. Not really. Not by a long shot. It sounds like the streets of Silent Hill sometimes with all those blaring sirens.

     This month records the most fires in all of the other months of the year combined and for good reason the government want the general populace to prevent fires but even with the constant warnings and drive the record breaking fires still continue. Even before the Fire prevention month kicked in there were  3 major fires in the Valenzuela area alone that has left hundreds homeless and a horde of impostors who want to take advantage of peoples good will.

     One of my friends in facebook simply dubbed this month Fire Starting Month and I can't argue with him about that because that seems to be more apt than the misleading Fire Prevention month. Of course no straight thinking politician (relatively) would ever want to change the name because Fire Starting Month sounds a lot more fun.

     Then again some might turn it into a fiesta of some sort , We always find a way to turn things like this into a party or celebration one way or another. Lets say we have an excess of Lechon somewhere , we have a Lechon Festival , if we have an excess of Chicken we have Chicken Festivals or Coconuts then we have Coconut festivals. So lets do the same with Fire , there is a relatively cheap way of celebrating it. We just need to set fire to a lot of Garbage dumps. We could even invite Drew Barrymore to make it an official Firestarter month.

     Kidding aside it is really up to the citizenry to be vigilant about fires during this month  , they should be watchful of their neighbors and their own household as well. After all a fire starts when we neglect things like candles , do not turn off leaky gas valves or make our power outlets into an "Octopus".  The Government can only make us aware but it is still up to us to make a difference in our communities.

"Naruto:Looking to the past for the future"

"Naruto:Looking to the past for the future"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

     It is no secret that the current state of the Naruto Manga will inevitably lead to a showdown between the descendants of the powerful Uchiha and Senju clans. Uchiha has Madara in Edo Tensei , the once thought of to be dead Obito and Sasuke the last of the modern Uchiha clan. It seems like Orochimaru is also on the side of the Uchiha in this upcoming battle with 3 or 4 of Konohas Hokages depending on who could overcome the hold of the Edo Tensei (Resurrection technique).

     The Senju has the main protagonist Uzumaki Naruto and the 4 former Hokages of the Hidden Leaf. It is suggested that Hashirama is able to move freely from the Edo Tensei that Orochimaru has used to summon them but the 3 are still under the genjutsu's control. So it might as well be just Naruto and Hashirama facing off with everyone else. With that kind of firepower though you would still expect this to be a lopsided win in favor of the Senju. One of the other things to look out for is the predestined rematch between Orochimaru and his former mentor Sarutobi. The 4th Hokage Minato and his reunion with his son Naruto. Many will find it a heartwarming reunion not unless of course if Naruto will be forced to fight with his Dad. Tragic.

     All of this is coming to a head as the 1st Hokage Hashirama tells the tale of his and Madara's friendship while they were still young. This will undoubtedly draw parallels to the friendship and Bonds that Naruto and Sasuke share. The positive outcome of the war will undoubtedly  rely on the resolution of the issues between these two. I still wish for peace in the life of Obito and I expect some belief altering revealation regarding the death of his beloved Rin. My prediction is that Obito will betray Madara who has this insane plan of controlling everything with his Infinite Tsukoyumi.Its kind of like when Hal Jordan went insane and tried to make the world right by...well destroying it. With Madara's plan all he wants is to put everyone in a Matrix like state where you are alive but actually living in an enchantment. Much like the matrix without the technology.

     Sasukes talk with Hashirama can be parallel to Naruto's talk with Nagato/Pain as he was attacking Konoha. These are both young people who are seeking out truths and seeking to strengthen their resolve before their battles. Naruto has found his resolve a long time ago and Sasuke who has been bred in hatred seeks to question his own and seeks to find a new one by talking to the one person who could shed light on his clan and his probably destiny.

     It seems like this particular flashback involving Hashirama and Madara will most likely take a couple of weeks and it will be another break from the fighting  , although it does involve a lot of fighting as well much to the enjoyment of those who follow the manga diligently. Let the past clear Sasukes mind and let him decide if he wants to fight and on who's side. All we need to do now is wait as the story continues to unfold.

"Planeswalker Awakenings: Jaime Lannister Awakens"

"Planeswalker Awakenings: Jaime Lannister Awakens"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

In a different plane , a different time , a spark awakens and a new planeswalker is born...

The battle seemed to rage on forever. Hundreds lay dead and yet the fighting continues day and night. In the midst of Battle , an armored steed emerges , its rider clad from head to toe with steel. Armor imbued with potent magic and in a blink of an eye it pulsates into a brilliant white and red light that rallies those around him to fight on and sends a wave of fear towards his enemies. The Kingslayer , Jaime Lannister has joined the fray and hundreds cower before him.

Jaime Lannister will surely be made up of Red and White mana. Here are the reasons why.

Red: Among all the Knights that are feared on the battlefields of Westeros is the Kingslayer , Jaime Lannister. Entire strategies were built around him and it was his headstrong nature that got him captured by Robb Stark. It was with passion that he had made 3 children with his twin sister Cersei and with passion that he hurled Bran Stark out of a tower window. 

High Battle Damage and volatile nature. Both Red staples.When Jaime still had his right hand he was a force to be reckoned with in battle and has cut down countless men who dare stood against the Lannisters advance. Like Achilles he was born to end lives and his most famous/infamous act is that he has ended the life of the King he was sworn to protect , the Mad King Aerys which made him a traitor but on the side of Good or at least the greater good. The people of Westeros despise Oathbreakers but here is one that seemed really justified to break his oath at the time.

White: In the end of the series Jaime seeks to have order over the areas that the Lannisters have taken over. Most importantly he has made pacts with the kingdoms in the Riverlands. He has also tried to regain his lost honor by being head of the Kingsguard rather than the Heir of Casterly Rock and the head of the Lannisters after his Father Tywin. The Bloodless resolution in the riverlands also attests to Jaime's sense of Honor as he held on to the promise he has made to Catelyn Stark.He grows fond of dispensing Justice and who knows where his character will turn in the next books.

As a Planeswalker his first skill would be a +1 tapping ability.His reputation always precedes him and the mention of his name alone makes men pause before they attack. His second skill would be a -2 Condemn like effect that might or might not kill a creature but does neutralize them and give benefits to their controllers much like how Jaime dealt with the Riverland disputes. His final skill of - 8 is a Massive Condemn  effect that raises life but also disables any enemies. Such a mighty Knight indeed.

The last of his enemies surrender and yet he still hungers for more. With the mana he felt coursing through his body he has regenerated his right hand and healed the wounds that he has succumbed in the last battle. With a wave of his hand he opened a portal to a world he has never seen before. He spurred his steed toward the portal and began his journey to more battles and more to give justice to the countless planes of existence.

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Writers Note:

Planeswalker Awakenings is like a "what if" series...where we try to put a character from a Book , TV series or movie into the context of a planeswalker from Magic:The Gathering.

"Planeswalker Awakenings: Daenarys Targaryen Awakens"

"Planeswalker Awakenings: Daenarys Targaryen Awakens"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

In a different plane , a different time , a spark awakens and a new planeswalker is born...

Dany loved her dragons and though they were lost to her at the moment she dreamed that they were with her. She was surprised when she opened her eyes to look at the volcanic ash filled sky. The grass she was lying on felt rough but comfortable. She felt the energy of this place flowing through her. It was nature at its wildest . uncontrolled and free. The plane seemed to speak to her. It had a name. Its name was Jund.

Then she felt someone else near her. A mass of energy so strong that it threatened to overwhelm her. She had never felt anything like this power before. "who are you?" She asked

A man with a rough voice answered. " I am Sarkhan Vol."

Daenerys Targaryen , the Mother of Dragons has captivated fans all around the world. There are those who believe that she will be the ruler of Westeros in the end. Though exiled and as of the book A Dance with Dragons she has been struggling to take control of her Kingdom and her dragons. If she became a planeswalker this would be her color:

Red: Aggression. Passion. Hard headedness. Impatience. There is no denying that the Mother of Dragons is all these. A mere child of 13 she has been thrust into power too fast and too soon. Her speed and power of taking 3 Cities in sucession is something that marks her as a very red planeswalker. The Dragons represent a lot of Aggressive power in magic  , although she has not been able to use them to her advantage as of yet in the battlefield. They have saved her on occasion. They represent potential that could be key in winning the battle for Westeros. Dany as she is known also has the touch of fire to incite and inspire those that follow her. Her natural charisma flows through everyone around her and regardless of reason( love or loyalty) they have followed this child Queen wherever she went.

She is a fire that will burn everything in her path and she will change the course of history for all of Westeros but she needs to take control of her cities and her dragons first. Only time can tell how...

Dany was so amazed with what she was seeing. The Dragons of this plane were following Sarkhan Vol. His mind was totally unknown to her but she was beginning to sense them as well.

"I can sense that you have questions about my Dragons." Sarkhan asked. "I will teach you about these beautiful creatures."

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Writers Note:

Planeswalker Awakenings is like a "what if" series...where we try to put a character from a Book , TV series or movie into the context of a planeswalker from Magic:The Gathering.

"The Dark Impostor"

"Me an unsung hero? nah..."

"The Dark Impostor"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

One of the things that I got in my Avacyn Restored Packs during the Pre-release was a Tamiyo , Moon Sage and the card that I would love to talk about today. The Dark Impostor. While I am not a fan of vampires in general I am a fan of this guy. I never got to play him in the Pre-release because I went with the more Aggressive White Humans with Riders of Gavony and Goldnight Commander leading the way. So this guy went into the pile that did not see any action that night. I have been hearing that his skill was good but it took quite awhile in order to activate it and with a lot of Pillar of Flames making the rounds in the Pre-release it seemed like a waste to have a card that would be easily exiled by a very cheap removal spell. The pre- release ended and it was a thrilling way to spend midnight till Dawn. I forgot about this vampire for awhile.

A few months passed and I was making my Dimir EDH Deck with Circu , Dimir Lobotomist at the helm. He was a card that I would love to play around with. So I looked at the pile of cards in my room (And there are a lot of card pillars in my room because I ran out of binders a long time ago) and one of the things that I saw in these piles was again this 2 Colorless and 1 Black mana vampire that was just begging to be played to show its true worth. I decided that my Dimir Deck would be a Milling one  but I haven't decided on the final roster. I added this creature as an afterthought and it would prove its might in a recent match in our house.

I love Underplayed and Undervalued cards. And this guy has the nifty ability to remove a creature from the game , have a +1/+1 counter put on it as well as that exiled creatures activated abilities. The ability to remove from the game and not just put in a players graveyard negates any positive gain from having an Undying Creature on the Battlefield and was designed to counter the ultra aggressive Vorapede and Strangleroot Geists that littered Standard during that time. For me though Dark Impostor stood out when my friend Mark and I were the last men standing after eliminating our team mates Aj , Nolan and Gino. He was able to eliminate my brother Aj with his aggressive Gruul Deck that had the Legendary Stonebrow giving each attacking creature with +3/+3 so it was no surprise that after eliminating my brother he was gearing up to trample on me as well. Dark Impostor and a lot of mana was the difference. At the end of his turn I was able to exile Stone Brow and another creature for 12 mana. He did the math and at this rate I could exile more creatures faster than they could deal damage to me. He conceded and decided to buy a Dark Impostor as well for his other decks.

It was in the late game where people predicted that this guy would shine and he did so for me. It was one out of many memorable games but it did showcase how one lone creature could hold off a horde of trampling Gruuls. He was the difference and I like cards like that who when given a chance really do shine.

"Dimir EDH: Transmuting to Victory"

"Dimir EDH: Transmuting to Victory"

by:

Virgilio F. De leon Jr.

     When Magic:The Gathering first visited the Cityscape of Ravnica they showcased the secretive Blue/Black Mana Aligned Dimir Guild. The mechanic that was introduced for them was Transmute. For a set amount of 3 Mana usually in combination 1 Colorless Mana and 2 Black Mana or 1 Colorless Mana and 2 Blue Mana , you could pay this cost and discard the card that has transmute in it (only any time you could play a sorcery) and look for a card in your library that has the same converted mana cost as the card you have discarded. It is important to remember that it is the discarded cards converted mana cost that would be searched and not the transmute cost of the card which is consistent in all the cards that has transmute.

     Admittedly during the time of Ravnica I was on my Magic Hiatus so I was not able to fully appreciate the full awesomeness of this mechanic. It was now in my EDH mode that in my attempt to improve my Dimir Deck that I have found this mechanic and found it to be one of the best mechanics to use in a 100 card deck.  Consider for a moment that any thing from Zero cost to 9 mana cost spells can be found and put in your hand from your library.

     The repercussions are staggering. In Standard during Ravnica the Dimir could pull off a lot of combinations because they could literally find the pieces they were looking for at a measly cost of 3 mana.  One combo was that of Infinite Mana Involving Dimir Aqueduct , Freed from the Reel and Tidewater Minion which finished off opponents with a Massive Consuming Spirit or Mill them out with Lethal Pyschic drain.  All the parts can be found and once connected is always 100% Lethal.

     In a 60 Card deck this seems very efficient because you are assured to have multiple copies of that one spell that you need. It gets a bit complicated when you apply it to EDH standards of 100 card decks. In a deck that has at least 64 individual cards and 36 lands the ratio of getting your combo piece is 1/100. Transmute increases those odds to 2/100 because you can now have 2 copies of that spell that you need. It seems like an insignificant thing but the ability to fetch the card that you need at the time that you need it is actually a game breaker.

     Consider that you are in an EDH game and you are in a bind. Your opponents now have considerable board position and is threatening to overwhelm you in the next turn with a massive attack. You have 7 open mana and Clutch of the Undercity in your hands. So what do you do? You transmute and find a 4 Converted mana cost Board Sweeper and as you look at your library you find just the one you need. A Damnation.

     In the same context if you already have great board position and you believe that it will be your opponents doing the board sweeping  , you could transmute using a Muddle the Mixture or Dimir Infiltrator to look for a Counter spell to show your opponent that you are not taking that Board Sweep lying down and that you have an answer for it should they try.

     Sometimes in a game you just need that extra card so that victory would be within your grasp. Let us say you already have your creatures ready to attack but in EDH 40 life seems like an eternity away even with creatures at 6/6 or 7/7. Well with an ethereal usher you could transmute to a Good solid Sorin Markov , have him reduce one of your opponents to 10 life and attack for the finish. The trick in this build is to know what you need to finish with and its correct converted mana cost.

     The great thing about Transmute just like Cycling it is not considered as a spell and as such it cannot be countered. It can also bypass annoying Control Enchantments like Rule of Law or Curse of Exhaustion that limits a player to one spell per turn. With Transmute you could find solutions that would have escaped your grasp and to have a solution is to have one at each Converted Mana Cost. A Counter spell at 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 Mana assures that you could fetch at least one per Transmute card that you have in your EDH deck. The same goes for Removal or Creatures or Planeswalkers. The card Extract could be fetched and you could take away your opponents winning combo right off the bat. Evil right? So Dimir.

     Transmute offers a world of possibilities to Blue/Black decks and a lot of those possibilities include winning at every turn should the transmuting be right.