The Battle of Dagger Falls - Bradley Simpson (1/6/2009)

Trevor looks up from his historical text with digust and slams it shut. He looks over at his grandfather quietly reading a tome nearby. The blonde-haired boy of fifteen years whines to his mentor, ‘I hate this! it is so droll. Why do I need to learn about ancient societies and religions anyways?’

Trevor’s grandfather merely pulls down his spectacles a fraction of an inch and gives the boy a cool stare, ‘When we are in my library I expect you to use a respectful tone of voice. This is not a barbarian drinking contest nor a written exam. You will learn what you are directed to learn. It may save your life one day.’

Trevor decides to sucker his grandfather into telling a story to get out of studying for a few minutes. ‘How could it save my life grandpa Gerrard

Gerrard
	Set: Vanguard Sub Type: Character Rarity: X Number: 2 Artist: Douglas Shuler Power: -4 Toughness: +0 Text: During your draw phase, draw an additional card.

? I don’t understand.’

Gerrard

Gerrard
	Set: Vanguard Sub Type: Character Rarity: X Number: 2 Artist: Douglas Shuler Power: -4 Toughness: +0 Text: During your draw phase, draw an additional card.

chuckles dryly considering his grandson is trying to outsmart him, ‘Okay then. I suppose a quick tale is not out of sorts.’

‘Ages ago, the wars of survival here on Darkeworld caused many folk to forge alliances they would ordinarily shrink from in fear. One such alliance occurred at the battle of Dagger Falls. One of the local petty demon lords decided to lay waste to the countryside with a flock of rabid griffins for some variety. The shattered forces of the nearby communities made a stand at the severe dropoff of the cascading waterfall to limit the approach of their aerial foes. Among the warriors were Jared the Black, a relentless murdering fiend, and Meela the Blessed, a pious holy priestess. The combination of their differing styles of magic was potent enough to win the day.’

‘Again Grandpa. How does that help me?’

Gerrard

Gerrard
	Set: Vanguard Sub Type: Character Rarity: X Number: 2 Artist: Douglas Shuler Power: -4 Toughness: +0 Text: During your draw phase, draw an additional card.

smirks at his errant grandson, ‘You tell me. That is what you are suppose to be studying.’

Trevor frowns with careful concentration, ‘The Battle of Dagger Falls was won by Jared bringing the power of Pestilence

Pestilence
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 4 Color: Black Type: Enchantment Rarity: C Artist: Jesper Myrfors Text: B: Do 1 damage to each creature and to both players.If there are no creatures in play at the end of any turn, Pestilence must be discarded.

to the battlefield and Meela’s capacity to keep it there. Pestilence

Pestilence
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 4 Color: Black Type: Enchantment Rarity: C Artist: Jesper Myrfors Text: B: Do 1 damage to each creature and to both players.If there are no creatures in play at the end of any turn, Pestilence must be discarded.

dies away when there are no creatures around but a multitude of folk and walls with Protection from Black like Cemetery Gate

Cemetery Gate
	Set: Homelands Cost: 3 Color: Black Type: Creature Sub Type: Wall Rarity: C Artist: Melissa A. Benson Power: 0 Toughness: 5 Text: Protection from black

, Death Speakers

Death Speakers
	Set: Fifth Edition Cost: 1 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Speakers Rarity: C Artist: Andrew Robinson Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: Protection from black

, Nightwind Glider

Nightwind Glider
	Set: Mercadian Masques Cost: 3 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Rebel Rarity: C Number: 31 Artist: Randy Gallegos Power: 2 Toughness: 1 Text: Flying, protection from black

, Soltari Monk

Soltari Monk
	Set: Tempest Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Cleric Rarity: U Artist: Janet Aulisio Power: 2 Toughness: 1 Text: Protection from black; shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)

, and White Knight

White Knight
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Knight Rarity: U Artist: Daniel Gelon Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: Protection from black, first strike

allow the enchantment to stick around. A healthy amount of healing magic from Meela such as Ivory Tower

Ivory Tower
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 1 Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: R Artist: Margaret Organ-Kean Text: During your upkeep phase, gain 1 life for each card in your hand above four.

, Recumbent Bliss

Recumbent Bliss
	Set: Eventide Cost: 3 Color: White Type: Enchantment Sub Type: Aura Rarity: C Number: 13 Artist: Todd Lockwood Text: Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't attack or block. At the beginning of your upkeep, you may gain 1 life.

, Soul Link

Soul Link
	Set: Apocalypse Cost: 3 Color: Multicolor Type: Enchant Creature Rarity: C Number: 120 Artist: Jeff Easley Text: Whenever enchanted creature deals or is dealt damage, you gain that much life.

, and Soul Warden

Soul Warden
	Set: Exodus Cost: 1 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Cleric Rarity: C Number: 21 Artist: Randy Gallegos Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: Whenever any other creature comes into play, gain 1 life.

aided their cause. The blending of the magics was aided by Doubling Cube

Doubling Cube
	Set: Fifth Dawn Cost: 2 Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: R Number: 116 Artist: Mark Tedin Text: 3, Tap: Double the amount of each type of mana in your mana pool.

, Initiates of the Ebon Hand

Initiates of the Ebon Hand
	Set: Fifth Edition Cost: 1 Color: Black Type: Creature Sub Type: Clerics Rarity: C Artist: Heather Hudson Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: 1: Add B to your mana pool. If 4 or more is spent in this way during one turn, bury Initiates of the Ebon Hand at end of turn. Play this ability as a mana source.

, Manaforge Cinder

Manaforge Cinder
	Set: Shadowmoor Cost: 2 Color: Multicolor Type: Creature Sub Type: Elemental Shaman Rarity: C Number: 191 Artist: Izzy Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: 1: Add B or R to your mana pool. Play this ability no more than three times each turn.

, and Orzhov Signet

Orzhov Signet
	Set: Guildpact Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: C Number: 155 Text: 1, T: Add WB to your mana pool.

. The last combo that won the day was Wall of Glare

Wall of Glare
	Set: Urza's Destiny Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Wall Rarity: C Number: 25 Artist: Patrick Ho Power: 0 Toughness: 5 Text: (Walls can't attack.) Wall of Glare may block any number of creatures each combat.

and Glyph of Doom

Glyph of Doom
	Set: Legends Cost: 1 Color: Black Type: Instant Rarity: C Artist: Susan Van Camp Text: All creatures blocked by target wall are destroyed at the end of combat.

. A blinding light followed by the deadly glyph crushed a deadly land assault. Wall of Glare

Wall of Glare
	Set: Urza's Destiny Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Wall Rarity: C Number: 25 Artist: Patrick Ho Power: 0 Toughness: 5 Text: (Walls can't attack.) Wall of Glare may block any number of creatures each combat.

of course is able to block any number of creatures and Glyph of Doom

Glyph of Doom
	Set: Legends Cost: 1 Color: Black Type: Instant Rarity: C Artist: Susan Van Camp Text: All creatures blocked by target wall are destroyed at the end of combat.

destroys all creatures blocked by target wall. The alliance remained together for many years dealing defeat after defeat to the monster races in and around Dagger Falls. The lesson Grandfather is that opposing forces can on occasion be vital and potent when brought together.’


Battle of Dagger Falls deck

1 Absolute Grace

Absolute Grace
	Set: Urza's Saga Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Enchantment Rarity: U Number: 1 Artist: Jeff Miracola Text: All creatures gain protection from black.

1 Akuta, Born of Ash

Akuta, Born of Ash
	Set: Saviors of Kamigawa Cost: 4 Color: Black Type: Legendary Creature Sub Type: Spirit Rarity: R Power: 3 Toughness: 2 Text: Haste At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have more cards in hand than each opponent, you may sacrifice a Swamp. If you do, return Akuta, Born of Ash from your graveyard to play.

1 Aura Fracture

Aura Fracture
	Set: Prophecy Cost: 3 Color: White Type: Enchantment Rarity: C Number: 2 Artist: Rebecca Guay Text: Sacrifice a land: Destroy target enchantment.

2 Auramancer

Auramancer
	Set: Odyssey Cost: 3 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Wizard Rarity: C Number: 5 Artist: Rebecca Guay Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: When Auramancer comes into play, you may return target enchantment card from your graveyard to your hand.

2 Bottomless Vault

Bottomless Vault
	Set: Fifth Edition Color: Land Type: Land Rarity: R Artist: David Seeley Text: Bottomless Vault comes into play tapped.You may choose not to untap Bottomless Vault during your untap phase and put a storage counter on it instead.tap, Remove X storage counters from Bottomless Vault: Add an amount of B equal to X to your mana pool.

1 Carom

Carom
	Set: Dissension Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Instant Rarity: C Number: 6 Artist: Alex Horley-Orlandelli Text: The next 1 damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn is dealt to another target creature instead. Draw a card.

2 Cemetery Gate

Cemetery Gate
	Set: Homelands Cost: 3 Color: Black Type: Creature Sub Type: Wall Rarity: C Artist: Melissa A. Benson Power: 0 Toughness: 5 Text: Protection from black

3 Death Speakers

Death Speakers
	Set: Fifth Edition Cost: 1 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Speakers Rarity: C Artist: Andrew Robinson Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: Protection from black

3 Doubling Cube

Doubling Cube
	Set: Fifth Dawn Cost: 2 Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: R Number: 116 Artist: Mark Tedin Text: 3, Tap: Double the amount of each type of mana in your mana pool.

1 Feldon’s Cane
1 Gate to Phyrexia

Gate to Phyrexia
	Set: Antiquities Cost: 2 Color: Black Type: Enchantment Rarity: U Artist: Sandra Everingham Text: Sacrifice one of your creatures during your upkeep to destroy any one artifact. You may not sacrifice a creature that is already on its way to the graveyard.

3 Glyph of Doom

Glyph of Doom
	Set: Legends Cost: 1 Color: Black Type: Instant Rarity: C Artist: Susan Van Camp Text: All creatures blocked by target wall are destroyed at the end of combat.

1 Greater Auramancy

Greater Auramancy
	Set: Shadowmoor Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Enchantment Rarity: R Number: 7 Artist: Chuck Lukacs Text: Other enchantments you control have shroud. Enchanted creatures you control have shroud.

1 Holy Day

Holy Day
	Set: Legends Cost: 1 Color: White Type: Instant Rarity: C Artist: Justin Hampton Text: Creatures attack and block as normal, but none deal any damage. All attacking creatures are still tapped. Play any time before attack damage is assigned.

1 Initiates of the Ebon Hand

Initiates of the Ebon Hand
	Set: Fifth Edition Cost: 1 Color: Black Type: Creature Sub Type: Clerics Rarity: C Artist: Heather Hudson Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: 1: Add B to your mana pool. If 4 or more is spent in this way during one turn, bury Initiates of the Ebon Hand at end of turn. Play this ability as a mana source.

1 Ivory Tower

Ivory Tower
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 1 Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: R Artist: Margaret Organ-Kean Text: During your upkeep phase, gain 1 life for each card in your hand above four.

1 Manaforge Cinder

Manaforge Cinder
	Set: Shadowmoor Cost: 2 Color: Multicolor Type: Creature Sub Type: Elemental Shaman Rarity: C Number: 191 Artist: Izzy Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: 1: Add B or R to your mana pool. Play this ability no more than three times each turn.

4 Nightwind Glider

Nightwind Glider
	Set: Mercadian Masques Cost: 3 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Rebel Rarity: C Number: 31 Artist: Randy Gallegos Power: 2 Toughness: 1 Text: Flying, protection from black

2 Orzhov Signet

Orzhov Signet
	Set: Guildpact Color: Colorless Type: Artifact Rarity: C Number: 155 Text: 1, T: Add WB to your mana pool.

3 Pestilence

Pestilence
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 4 Color: Black Type: Enchantment Rarity: C Artist: Jesper Myrfors Text: B: Do 1 damage to each creature and to both players.If there are no creatures in play at the end of any turn, Pestilence must be discarded.

1 Phyrexian Debaser

Phyrexian Debaser
	Set: Urza's Legacy Cost: 4 Color: Black Type: Creature Sub Type: Carrier Rarity: C Number: 59 Artist: Mark Tedin Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: Flying tap, Sacrifice Phyrexian Debaser: Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.

10 Plain
1 Recumbent Bliss

Recumbent Bliss
	Set: Eventide Cost: 3 Color: White Type: Enchantment Sub Type: Aura Rarity: C Number: 13 Artist: Todd Lockwood Text: Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't attack or block. At the beginning of your upkeep, you may gain 1 life.

1 Rolling Stones

Rolling Stones
	Set: Stronghold Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Enchantment Rarity: R Number: 111 Artist: John Matson Text: Walls can attack as though they were not Walls.

1 Soltari Monk

Soltari Monk
	Set: Tempest Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Cleric Rarity: U Artist: Janet Aulisio Power: 2 Toughness: 1 Text: Protection from black; shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow.)

3 Soul Link

Soul Link
	Set: Apocalypse Cost: 3 Color: Multicolor Type: Enchant Creature Rarity: C Number: 120 Artist: Jeff Easley Text: Whenever enchanted creature deals or is dealt damage, you gain that much life.

1 Soul Warden

Soul Warden
	Set: Exodus Cost: 1 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Cleric Rarity: C Number: 21 Artist: Randy Gallegos Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: Whenever any other creature comes into play, gain 1 life.

1 Spirit

Spirit
	Set: Divine vs Demonic Cost: 0 Color: Colorless Type: Creature Sub Type: Spirit Rarity: C Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: Flying

en-Kor
1 Strength of Isolation

Strength of Isolation
	Set: Torment Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Enchant Creature Rarity: U Number: 17 Artist: Jerry Tiritilli Text: Enchanted creature gets +1/+2 and has protection from black. Madness W

12 Swamp

Swamp
	Set: Oversize Cards Color: Land Type: Land Rarity: X Artist: Tony Roberts Text: T: Add B to your mana pool.

1 Teysa, Orzhov Scion

Teysa, Orzhov Scion
	Set: Guildpact Color: Multicolor Type: Legendary Creature Sub Type: Human Advisor Rarity: R Number: 134 Power: 2 Toughness: 3 Text: Sacrifice three white creatures: Remove target creature from the game. Whenever another black creature you control is put into a graveyard from play, put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying into play.

1 Valor

Valor
	Set: Judgment Cost: 4 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Incarnation Rarity: U Number: 32 Artist: Kev Walker Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: First Strike As long as Valor is in your graveyard and you control a Plains, creatures you control have first strike.

1 Vault of Whispers

Vault of Whispers
	Set: Mirrodin Color: Land Type: Artifact Land Rarity: C Number: 286 Artist: Rob Alexander Text: (Vault of Whispers isn't a spell.) T: Add B to your mana pool.

1 Vengence
3 Wall of Glare

Wall of Glare
	Set: Urza's Destiny Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Wall Rarity: C Number: 25 Artist: Patrick Ho Power: 0 Toughness: 5 Text: (Walls can't attack.) Wall of Glare may block any number of creatures each combat.

2 Wall of Swords

Wall of Swords
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 4 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Wall Rarity: U Artist: Mark Tedin Power: 3 Toughness: 5 Text: Flying

1 White Knight

White Knight
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 2 Color: White Type: Creature Sub Type: Knight Rarity: U Artist: Daniel Gelon Power: 2 Toughness: 2 Text: Protection from black, first strike

Putting together this white/black deck was pretty fun. I decided to play around with Pestilence

Pestilence
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 4 Color: Black Type: Enchantment Rarity: C Artist: Jesper Myrfors Text: B: Do 1 damage to each creature and to both players.If there are no creatures in play at the end of any turn, Pestilence must be discarded.

and try to find combos within white that were compatible. Ages ago I remember facing my first Pestilence

Pestilence
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 4 Color: Black Type: Enchantment Rarity: C Artist: Jesper Myrfors Text: B: Do 1 damage to each creature and to both players.If there are no creatures in play at the end of any turn, Pestilence must be discarded.

deck. He had the whole gambit of Nightmare

Nightmare
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 6 Color: Black Type: Creature Sub Type: Nightmare Rarity: R Artist: Melissa A. Benson Power: * Toughness: * Text: Flying Nightmare's power and toughness both equal the number of swamps its controller has in play.

s, Royal Assassin

Royal Assassin
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 3 Color: Black Type: Creature Sub Type: Assassin Rarity: R Artist: Tom Wänerstrand Power: 1 Toughness: 1 Text: T: Destroy any tapped creature.

s, and Drain Life

Drain Life
	Set: Revised Edition Cost: 2 Color: Black Type: Sorcery Rarity: C Artist: Douglas Shuler Text: Drain Life does 1 damage to a single target for each B spent in addition to the casting cost. Caster gains 1 life for each damage inflicted. If you drain life from a creature, you cannot gain more life than the creature's current toughness.

s. Absolutely classic. My latest creation pulls together portions of that archetype deck and melds it with more modern cards. I hope my creation here inspires ideas for other players.

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