#Odric Blood-cursed

[mtg-cards-hourly]

Odric, Blood-Cursed

Artist: Chris Rallis TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

[mtgtips]

Magic the Gathering tip: only build your decks at two in the morning. that's when you're cleverest and make the best decisions.

Magic the Gathering tip: this is how I came up with the flawless idea of odric blood cursed stickers

[eclipsemeteor]

Commander Is Subjective

Magic's becoming a monster of a game, franchise, and corporate beast that's growing and changing beyond comprehension. And further within that scope, Commander is always a contentious hot button topic due to its more lofty, somewhat ambiguous, and vibes focused goals.

Opinions both online and offline span across the entirety of the format and game, and while you can find amicable discussions among friends and collaborators, you'll find the sheer difference from an enfranchised player vs a disconnected one to be head-spinning. Thus, people look for some sort of structure that's concrete and easy to follow to make this disconnect less disorienting. But what else can you do beyond the format's mission statements and ban list?

My name's Cole, I'm a host of the Hero's Blade Vibe Check Podcast and the former host of Uncommon Commander. Playing commander since 2012 or so has given me a lot of perspective and opinions on Magic, but mostly (exclusively) on Commander.

(Of course, this means you should take my opinions as a player and consumer with a grain of salt, but also keep an open mind because what I'm gonna talk about is not based on cold hard facts and statistics, it's solely vibes and feels based. It's how I operate.)

(Thanks Mark Rosewater for this lovely meme template. We will now run with it)

Commander/EDH exists everywhere: Gameplay videos, podcasts, written articles, tweets, Tiktoks and actual games you experience. In most situations, you're always gonna hear or have an opinion on an individual card, a commander, a strategy, a color/color combination, or even on a person, while also hearing about someone's opinion on something you enjoy.

Commander at its core is about creative expression via deck building, how you bling out or customize your decks visual appearance and socialization! With 27,349 unique cards as of this posting (and excluding the ban list), there are many different permutations for self-expression.

(for example, I'm a big believer in Odric Blood-Cursed, and this is the deck that I've been tuning for 2 years. I've had a lot of fun with it, and have made heads turn)

With that many different ways to build a deck, you're bound to run into things you don't like, and sometimes they're not quantifiable.

The reason for this article, and no doubt others have discussed this at length and much better than I, is that Commander is first and foremost a social experience. It's meant for multiplayer, it's Singleton, and the only stakes are what you make. You start adding quantifiable or monetary incentives, you take away the spirit of Commander. If you make a narrower or broader ban list, you take away from the spirit of Commander. You try to enforce or advocate for a separate ban list, rules committee, etc?

You're right, you take away from the spirit of Commander.

What you make Commander is up to you, but it can't be what it's been for people since its inception without participating with other players. You can goldfish all day, but Magic doesn't exist without the Gathering. That means compromise, healthy discussion, an open mind and heart, and a line in the sand to say when an experience isn't for you. We can sit and discuss how social bans make no sense, so why doesn't the Rules Committee ban mass land destruction? Why does Sol Ring get a pass while Mana Vault doesn't?

At the end of the day, despite how we may socially desire structure, hard enforcement of rules might make this beloved format lose its luster. Looking at it with a finite perspective will deny you opportunities for growth and expansion. Looking at Universes Beyond as only a cash grab will deny you the ridiculousness of having a table consisting of Optimus Prime, Gandalf, Chun-Li and Cloud Strife, but also the well designed cards made with care by people.

None of this would exist without people making the cards, illustrating these stories, characters and landscapes. People who made the rules, people who made this format, and the people who sit down and play this format.

People, like you or I, who are flawed, and have expectations and choices that are different than what we want as individuals. They may be people you respect, you admire. They might be people you love, hate, or feel indifferent about. But they are still people who make this game work.

To like everyone you encounter would be a ridiculous ask, but I ask that you give people a chance when you can allow yourself, and know it's ok if you don't. But I think most people are a lot cooler than you think, if given the chance.

Whether you're as enfranchised as I am, or more or less so, what you owe yourself and the others you play with is a genuine enthusiasm for playing and engaging the format. Take chances where you can engage with new people, be patient as new cards enter your view, and try to find and foster friendships so that the next time, the games are even better when you learn about this game better through the lens of friendship and the Gathering.

Keep an open mind! Be excellent to each other.

[googlyeyesonmagiccards]

May I request Odric, Blood-Cursed and/or Arvad the Cursed?

[thecornwall]

Cornwall's Random Card of the Day #750: Odric, Blood-Cursed

Okay, so noone was telling me that I was misnumbering the last two entries and I don't know how to go back and edit them now.

Odric, Blood-Cursed, is a rare from Innistrad: Crimson Vow. Everyone hated him. After a somewhat beloved original card which cared about keywords in mono-white, people were excited for a white-red vamp version of him, but the payoff for his keyword-requirement was just not that worth it. A shame. Blood tokens are great things, capable of really smoothing draws. I watch one Mtg channel called Daily Draft who has the worst luck with lands, and blood tokens really helped give him a leg up when he inevitably topdecked five lands in a row.

[manfrommars2049]

Odric, Blood-Cursed by Chris Rallis via ImaginaryArmor

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Odric, Blood-Cursed (Showcase Ver) by Anna Pavleeva

[sanguinemsaucius]

[markrosewater]

Why doesn't Odric, Blood-Cursed include Ward to replace Skulk? Then it would have 13 keywords, Innistrad's lucky number.

The number of keywords changed a bunch, so I don't think anyone realized that it was twelve because it was a subtle change over time.

[overgrown-estate]

Vampire Odric's card lets you create a number of Blood tokens equal to various keywords found among creatures you control when Odric, Blood-Cursed enters the battlefield. It's a one-time ETB effect so fill your deck with creatures that have Flying, First strike, Double strike, Deathtouch, Haste, Hexproof, Indestructible, Lifelink, Menace, Reach, Trample, and Vigilance.

[internationalspacehobo]

more mtg storyyyyy under the cut

bc if wizards aren’t gonna give a shit someone has to

==ALARA==

Encounter at the Necropolis (2008)

The Soul of the World (2009)

An Etherium Tale (2009)

Circumnavigation (2009)

The Face of War (2009)

The Day a Vedalken Exploded (2009)

Gold Records (2009)

A Different Kind of Origin (2009)

The Stonekiller; parts 1 & 2 (2012)

All the Cairns of Jund (2015)

==DOMINARIA: Ice Age==

Keeping the Cold; a short story released with the fat packs (2006)

The Horror at Ronom Glacier; a short story released on the old mtg website. A link to an archived version [here] and a link to the transcript on mtg salvation [here].

The Battle of Kjeldor; a short story released on the old mtg website. A link to the transcript on gamelore wiki [here].

Vannemir’s Choice; a short story released on the old mtg website. A link to the transcript on mtg salvation [here].

==DOMINARIA: Time Spiral==

Time Twists and Destinies Interchange (2007)

Destiny; a short story released during Planar Chaos on the old mtg website. An archived version can be found [here], and I’ve also copied onto tumblr over [here].

Preparation (2013)

==FIORA==

The Perfect Gift (2013)

Betrayal (2014)

The Black Rose (2014)

Like Cogwork (2014)

Blood Will Have Blood (2014)

Laid to Rest (2016) (You’ve read this if you’ve read Kaya’s backstory)

Tyrants (2016) (You’ve read this if you’ve read Kaya’s backstory)

Proclamation by Queen Marchesa  (2016)

Proclamation by Adriana, Captain of the Guard  (2016)

Bloody Instructions  (2016)

Leovold’s Dossiers  (2016)

==INNISTRAD==

Liliana’s Mission (2011)

The Saint, the Geist, and the Angel (2011)

The Cursed Blade (2011)

Deathtrap (2011)   

Sorin’s Homecoming (2012)

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed (”card preview article")   (2012)

Odric, Master Tactician (”card preview article") (2012) (You’ve read this if you’ve read Garruk’s backstory) 

The Prison of Silver (2012)

The State of the Faith (2012)

The Guardian, the Witch, and the Angel (2012)

Angel’s Rise and Demon’s Release (2012)

The Lunarch’s Journal (2014)

==KAMIGAWA==

For the Kamigawa block, they released a bunch of short vignettes for all the legends of that set. However, they’re mostly lost to history.

There’s a list with links to the wayback machine. It’s down sometimes, but at least this site has the titles, [here].

==LORWYN==

Lorwyn Survival Guide (2007)

The Sapling of Colfenor (2008)

The Seer's Parables (2008)

Spark (2008)

Following a Dream (2008)

==MIRRODIN==

Phyrexia and the Vaultlord (2010)

A Tale of Two Clone Shells (2010)

Corrupted Conscience (2011)

Phyrexia: The Strong and the Scattered (2011)

==RAVNICA==

Krenko, Mob Boss (2012)  (”card preview article")

The Shadows of Prahv; Part 1 & 2 (2012) (You’ve read this if you’ve read Jace & Vraska’s backstory)

Epic Experiment (2012)

In Praise of the Worldsoul; Part 1, 2, & 3 (2012)

Slaughter Games (2012)

The Great Concourse (2012)

The Azorious Ten most Wanted (2012)

The Seven Bells; Part 1 & 2 (2012)

Rogue's Passage (2012)

Gruul Ingenuity (2013)

The Fathom Edict (2013)

The Absolution of the Guildpact (2013)

Persistence of Memory (2013)

The Burying; Part 1 (2013) (You’ve read this if you’ve read Domri’s backstory)

The Greater Good (2013) (You’ve read this if you’ve read Gideon’s backstory)

The Guild of Deals (2013)

Experiment One (2013)

Fblthp (2013)

The Burying; Part 2 (2013) (You’ve read this if you’ve read Domri’s backstory)

Bilagru Will Come For YOu (2013)

The Hard Sell (2013)

Behind the Black Sun (2013)

Ruric Thar (2013)

Teysa Karlov (2013) (You’ve read this if you’ve read Jace & Vraska’s backstory)

Barrin's Tall Tale (2013)

Expectations (2013)

The Pursuit; Part 1 (2013)

Life in the Ring (2013)

The Pursuit; Part 2 (2013)

The One Hundred Steps (2013)

Last Day (2013)

Paper Trail (2013)

Battle for the Ninth (2013) (You’ve read this if you’ve read Gideon’s backstory)

Ravnica High (2013)

Under the Cover of Fog (2018)

Testing the Dark Waters (2018)

Clans & Legions (2018)

Death’s Precious Moments (2018)

Bound and Bonded (2018)

The Illusions of Child’s Play (2019)

Rage of the Unsung (2019)

The Principles of Unnatural Selection (2019)

The Ledger of Hidden Fortunes (2019)

The Ascension of Reza (2019)

==SHANDALAR==

Xathrid Gorgon (2012)  (”card preview article")

Talrand, Sky Summoner (2012)  (”card preview article")

Prisoner of the Skep; or, How I Encountered the Slivers—and Lived to Tell the Tale! (2013)

The Path of Barvery (2013)

Zurbit’s Day (2013)

The Bard and the Biologist (2014)

==THEROS==

The Lost Confession  (2013) (You’ve read this if you’ve read Ajani & Elspeth’s backstory)

Prince Anax; Part 1 & 2 (2013)

Nymphs of Theros (2013)

The Consequences of Attraction (2013)

Tragedy (2013)

I Iroan (2013)

The Sea God's Labyrinth; Part 1 & 2 (2013)

Building Toward a Dream; Part 1 & 2 (2013)

Asphodel (2013)

The Nature of Identity (2014)

Cowardice of the Hero (2014)

Emonberry Red (2014)

Kiora's Followers (2014)  (You’ve read this if you’ve read Kiora’s backstory)

Dance of the Flitterstep (2014)

The Walls of Akros (2014)

The Hero of Iroas (2014)

The Oracle of Ephara (2014)

Seasons in Setessa (2014)

Ajani, Mentor of Heroes (2014) (You’ve read this if you’ve read Ajani & Elspeth’s backstory)

Desperate Stand (2014)

Dreams of the City (2014)

Thank the Gods (2014)

The Path or the Horizon (2014)

Kruphix's Insight (2014)

==ZENDIKAR==

Monument to a Lost Age (2009)

The Journal of Javad Nasrin (2010)

Consortium Report: "The Incident at the Eye" (2010)

The Look of an Awakening World (2010)

The Battle of Fort Keff (2010)

The Tale of Tuktuk (2010)

==UNKOWN PLANES & RANDOM STORIES==

Thick-Headed Mage (2007)

How Many Eyes? (2007)

Gentlemen's Duel (2007)

The Mana Bond (2008)

Roreca's Tale (2008)

Chronomaton (2012)  (”card preview article")

Threadbare (2012)

The Armor of the Crypt (2013)

Pride Cometh (2013)

A Blessed Life (2013)

Comin’ Through! (2014)

[mtg-cards-hourly]

Odric, Blood-Cursed

Artist: Anna Pavleeva TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

[mtgdays]

『イニストラード：真紅の契り』新カード情報：自軍の生物の持つ能力に応じて血トークンを生成する、吸血鬼となったオドリック

日本時間の11月5日、Polygonより、11月19日に発売する通常セット『イニストラード：真紅の契り』に収録されるカード《Odric, Blood-Cursed》が公開されました。 公開カード   《Odri […] Source: イゼ速。：Izzet MTG News Flash

[frozenfallenuniverse]

Artemia Falkenrath

Age 22

45 questions to flesh her out that @odric-master-swagtician did like 5 eons ago but hey

1- What do you know about this character now that she doesn’t yet know?

She will eventually be accepted and loved.

2- What is this character’s greatest flaw?

She has a lack of self confidence and thinks she is not as good as she actually is.

3- What do you know about this character that she would never admit?

She’s a lot stronger and braver than she would ever believe.

4- What is her greatest asset?

Her magic is up there. With a weakened version of emrakul’s distortions, she almost has a solution for every problem.

5- If she could choose a different identity, who would she be?

Someone who isn’t regarded as an abomination

6- What music does she sing to when no one else is around?

She knows a lot of bardic lyrics by heart and tried to learn how to sing when she was younger.

7- In what or whom does she have the greatest faith?

The only thing she has faith in now is herself and what she can do. Other people are either weak or liabilities.

8- What is her favourite movie?

No movies in the multiverse.

9- Does she have a favorite article of clothing? Shoes?

Her distorted armor of the eldritch rose makes her feel safe whenever she wears it. She says it's one of the few good things she got from her curse.

10- Does she have a vice? Name it.

Her anger can overtake her but it is very rare. For a while after her brother’s death and during her time with the legion of dusk, she was listless and had difficulty finding pleasure in anything.

11- Name this character’s favorite person (living or dead.)

Hector Falkenrath. Her brother who sired her into the vampire family. Both were born humans.

12- What is this character’s secret wish?

She wants to wear an extremely extravagant dress to a party she is invited to.

13- What is this character’s proudest achievement?

Beating the legion of dusk soldier in combat. It was the first time she was able to use her powers without killing someone. That and it made her beautiful armor.

14- Describe this character’s most embarrassing moment.

15- What is this character’s deepest regret?

That she couldn’t save her brother and her home. Another regret was that she couldn’t save her parents.

16- What is this character’s greatest fear?

That she will never be in control of her powers and kill someone she loves.

17- Describe her most devastating moment.

Seeing her brother die in her hands after turning her into a vampire. His wounds were deep and he choose to let his sister live instead of stealing her life for his.

18- What is her greatest achievement?

Her new armor and the personality that is spoken of in rumors has caused a ton of people to regain their hope.

19- What is her greatest hope?

That she’ll be able to understand how to have full control over her powers.

20- Does this character have an obsession? Name it.

Learning about plant life. Her mother was an alchemist and she wanted to follow that path until her mother died. The more plants she learns about, the more possible alchemical formulas she could create.

21- What is this character’s greatest disappointment?

The legion of dusk. They are too hyper focused on taking back the immortal sun to fully understand how to fix their problems without it. They sacrificed actual humane qualities for their own wants.

22- What is this character’s worst nightmare?

That her powers get stronger without her ever being able to control them. She misses the feelings of others and refuses to touch them unless she is fully in control.

23- Whom does she most wish to please? Why?

The memory of her family. She was extremely talented in alchemy and without someone to push her on, it stagnated and her ability diminished.

24- Describe this character’s mother.

Artemia’s mother was a well known alchemist that lived out of the Kessig woods. She used to be a priest of avacyn and knew a multitude of basic emblems and chants to prevent spirits from attacking their home. She and artemia’s father were both killed by a werewolf with 6 limbs.  

25- Describe this character’s father.

Her father was a great hunter who slew a multitude of vampires, zombies and werewolves that invaded their home. His blade is still lost to this day but Artemia has pledged to find it.

26- If she had to choose, with whom would this character prefer to live?

She would choose her mother since she lived with her more often anyway.

27- Where does she fall in birth order? What effect does this have?

She is the first daughter and youngest of two siblings. She was babied more often and up until her parents passed away, she was the trophy child. She still struggles to do things by herself.

28- Describe this character’s siblings or other close relatives.

Hector, her older brother, was a hunter in training with his father but fell in love with a vampire. The vampire sired him and Hector protected his sister after their parents died. When the dronepack came, he sacrificed himself to keep artemia alive.

29- Describe this character’s bedroom. Include three cherished items.

The bedroom she had as a child was neat and tidy but fairly minimal. Her most treasured possessions within it were her mother’s gloves, that were slightly too big for her, a knife her father brought her and a silver necklace her brother got her. Due to the vampirism, she can never wear it again.

30- What is this character’s birth date? How does this character manifest traits of his/her astrological sign?

I’m going off normal calendar so bear with me. She was born on the equivalent of december 30th. She’s condescending, expects the worst out of every situation, disciplined and unforgiving to herself.

31- If this character had to live in seclusion for six months, what items would she bring?

Several sets of warm clothes and a basic tent. She knows how to live alone and finds it relaxing for a few weeks. She’s learned to do basic distortions so food isn’t as much of a problem.

32- Why is this character angry?

She’s been treated like garbage, her home and brother are both dead, everyone assumes she is weak and her powers are usually a problem to everything.

33- What calms this character?

Tea. Although blood is the main source of life, she had tea a lot as a kid which helps her to rest her nerves.

34- Describe a recurring dream or nightmare this character might have.

The monstrous roar of the 6 limbed werewolf, the blood that coated the walls of her home, the faces of her dead parents, her decision to leave the house.

35- List the choices (not circumstances) that led this character to his/her current predicament.

Joining the legion of dusk, Learning about her power instead of fearing it with all of her being and her willingness to live longer than her brother.

36- List the circumstances over which this character has no control.

Nahiri bringing Emrakul to Innistrad, the legion of dusk’s organization and the way she was brought up.

37- What wakes this character in the middle of the night?

See 34.

38- How would a stranger describe this character?

Closed off, Distant, quiet, a wallflower.

39- What does this character resolve to do differently every morning?

She always says she will use her power more today to control it but still refuses to use it.

40- Who depends on her? Why?

The remaining normal sects of the falkenraths treat her as a protector and several people on innistrad think she is actually a human knight who lives to destroy the corruption of emrakul.

41- If she knew she had exactly one month to live, what would she do?

Destroy as much of the eldrazi corruption on Innistrad as she possibly could.

42- How would a dear friend or relative describe this character?

Reserved, steadfast, slow to anger.

43- What is this character’s most noticeable physical attribute?

Her silver eyes. First thing most people see.

44- What is this character hiding from him/herself?

An answer won’t fall into her lap, she has to go out to other planes to learn how to control her abilities. She has to talk to other people to learn.

45- Write one additional thing about your character.

Artemia is 5’8” and tries to avoid wearing anything with heels.

[planar-echoes]

Chapter 1.) Odric, Master Tactician (Innistrad) By Jenna Helland (6/27/12)

A town crier hollered the evening news on the cobblestone street below the open window. "Execution at Bloodless Wall! Tomorrow at sunrise! The Healers of Heron are at Child's Wall tomorrow..."

When Odric last looked out the window, it had been early afternoon. Now a cold mist had settled on Thraben, and the city was cloaked in evening shadows. Where is the moon? Odric's arm jerked involuntarily, nearly upending his ink jar. No, he reminded himself. It no longer matters. The phases of the moon were no longer predictors of life and death now that Avacyn had returned and cleansed the world. Or at least begun to... He glanced across the oak table at Grete, his lieutenant, who looked surprised by his sudden movement. Sir Odric, Master Tactician, Commander of the Gavony Riders and Recipient of the Moonsilver Accommodation didn't startle easily. "Sir?" Grete asked. "Darkness fell," he told her. She glanced out the window, and he saw similar emotions play across her features. We've spent too many years as prey. Too many years spent cowering in the shadows.

 "There's still no sign of Ludevic," Grete continued, scanning the parchment. "A miller spotted him near Estwald, but he'd moved on before the cathars could detain him. So the hunt continues." Just the thought of the mad alchemist made his headache. Odric leaned back and pressed his palms against his temples. This was a temporary assignment—one he had requested in hopes of getting an angel's-eye view of Innistrad. Every regiment sent in daily dispatches of what they encountered in the field. From these reports, Odric was piecing together where the Church's power was still being threatened. But he didn't enjoy sitting in a leather chair in a cathedral chamber. He was a battlefield man, much better suited to combat maneuvers than negotiating the politics of the Avacynian Church. "What of your friends around Hanweir?" Odric asked and was rewarded with a slight smile from the deadly serious Grete. She'd led an assault against a legion of ghouls ravaging the moorlands, a success that had earned her the promotion to second in command.

 "We're hunting down the last stragglers. Gisa is being transported from the Rider's Lock up to Thraben next week." "Triple the escort," Odric said. "She's caused enough trouble in my lifetime." Grete nodded and scanned the last dispatch. Only a few more days, and Odric's administrative duties in Thraben would be done. His time here had been valuable. He knew that demons were still on the loose, but Avacyn herself was focused on the Helvault escapees. Necromantic activity still plagued the moorlands, but nothing like the heyday of Gisa and Geralf's tyranny. Sigarda's forces were hunting the perpetrators of the Nephalia Massacre. The vampires had all but slunk back to Stensia. Someday soon, I will purge that province myself, but first I must be sure that Avacyn's blessings hold. "The mayor's son in Torbach tumbled down a river bank and broke his leg." Odric sighed. "Does the mayor of Torbach truly request the Church's assistance to fix a boy's leg?" "It says he fell fleeing a... werewolf. He later died of a fever and gangrene." As Odric pushed himself to his feet, it felt as if a steel trap had closed around his stomach. Every morning since the Cursemute had rid the land of the lycanthrope curse, he'd fallen to his knees praising Avacyn's blessing. But in his heart, he doubted. What if the wolfir reverted to a murderous state? What if the abominations that had slaughtered so many of his kin returned? "Rouse our regiment," he told Grete. "It seems our days in Thraben have come to an abrupt end."

 The Mayor of Torbach was a pompous, red-faced administrator who took power after Avacyn returned. A sheep in fancy clothes, Odric thought. Not a leader during the darkest hours. The mayor had been ranting at them since they arrived in his chamber. Grete shifted uncomfortably beside Odric, no doubt wondering why he was letting this tirade go on so long. "I demand to know! What is this new devilry? Werewolves walk even during the half moon? Did you not promise that this curse was lifted from us? These wolfir may slaughter us even during the daylight?" "Sir, there is no reason to believe that a wolfir—" Odric said. "It slaughtered the widow of Bitterheart Hill!" the mayor interrupted. "Destroyed her cottage just last night! And took its time under her roof. Maybe it slumbered a bit? Going to cook a hock of meat in her fireplace?" "The creature was in her cottage?" Odric asked. "This vile creature is terrorizing my village. Where are the angels? The cathars waste time building bridges and trimming apple trees and..." "One more question," Odric interrupted. "Has it attacked other cottages? Or just the widow's?" "Cottages, no. But my son! He was just a boy...." Odric laid his hand on the mayor's shoulder. At his touch, the man abruptly stopped speaking, and tears brimmed in his brown eyes. "We will find the monster that killed your son and put its head on a pike," Odric assured the mayor, who had lost his bluster and seemed to have no more words for them. Odric and Grete found their own way back to the street where their horses waited. "He acted as if all it was our fault," Grete said angrily. "He's a grieving man," Odric replied. A man who has lost a son to a werewolf, he thought. Just as I have.

 As they rode toward the edge of the village, the red sun dropped low to the horizon. Above, a sliver of pale moon appeared in the indigo heavens. The phases of the moon once had been Odric's guiding hand. The shape of the moon would figure into his battle tactics as much as supply lines and the morale of his cathars. Odric spent years watching the night sky, noting how the moon touched the world in unexpected ways. Some seemed trivial. The leaves of the maple curled downward during a full moon. Others were crucial to survival. Ghouls moved quicker during a new moon. A waxing moon brought unnatural fighting among the rank and file. With Avacyn's Cursemute, Odric secretly felt he had lost one of his tactical advantages. The moon was playing new games, and Odric had yet to learn the rules. "What are your thoughts?" Grete asked over the thud of the horses' hooves. "I knew of the widow who was killed. They called her the Bitterheart Witch. Remember how he said it stayed in her cottage? Something about her attracted the monster. We'll set a trap near there." As they quickened their horses and made toward camp, Odric's eyes fixed on the pattern of mist around the meek sliver in the sky. Whatever evil was now manifesting itself, it would stop in the shadow of the widow's' cottage. He would mount its head on the gates of Thraben.

 By midnight, there was no moon at all. He and Grete lay in the undergrowth at the edge of a clearing. The only light came from a witchbane's orb, a magical ward against curses that hovered at the edge of the trees. The spell was the widow's handiwork, from a time before she'd been outcast by the villagers as a witch. Odric had poured the blood of the widow on the ground below the orb. Blood he'd taken from her lifeless corpse in the catacombs of the local church. The strange thing was that when he'd viewed her corpse, he'd seen no signs of violence on her. There was no evidence she'd been killed by a werewolf attack, which Odric had assumed after talking with the mayor. She looked peaceful enough to have died of old age.

 A hooting call broke the night's silence. He recognized it as a cathar's signal that something had passed through the perimeter of scouts he'd placed around the grove. He glanced at Grete, and she silently stood up and disappeared into the shadows. Odric moved into a crouching position, waiting for the second signal, which would confirm if it was natural or unnatural... The signal came again, urgently. Unnatural, then. Odric saw it before he heard it. A shadow—much taller than an average man—stretched across the clearing. He'd fought countless werewolves and none had moved with such quiet deliberation. Odric glanced up at the inky sky, suddenly doubting his strategy. But the monstrosity had entered the clearing and was loping toward the scent of the widow's blood. Whatever was approaching, there was no time to question the plan. Fear holds no place in faith's battle plan. Odric shouted to the cathars in the treetops, who cast down the heavy net, sending the creature's massive bulk onto the forest floor. Odric sprinted toward it as it struggled under the ropes. He unsheathed his sword as he ran, ready to slice through ropes and neck in one blow. "Wait!" screamed Grete, attempting to intercept her commander. "Wait! It has an axe!"

 Odric froze, seeing the massive weapon on the ground behind the monster. Then he saw the arm—a human arm—a hand, and human eyes, peering out of a haggard face crisscrossed with sickly black veins. "In Avacyn's name," Odric thundered. "What are you?" "I'm weakened, cursed, and no threat to you," it said. "I'm Garruk Wildspeaker..."

  The guttural voice infuriated Odric. Every corpse that had been mutilated by a werewolf flashed through his memory. He would never forget the raw carnage of the attacks and the senseless rage that left human bodies in bloody tatters. The only way Odric could comprehend those murders was if they were done by mindless beasts. Mindless beasts don't have language or a voice to speak it. And never a name.

Garruk Wildspeaker.

Even when Odric killed werewolves in human form, he never spoke their names. In his mind, the curse stripped them of any human identity they once possessed.

Odric bashed the blunt end of his sword against the monster's temple, hearing the crack of skull as it shattered under the weight of his blow. It slumped to the ground. He yanked the net off the monster and grabbed a handful of its long matted hair. He yanked it back to expose the bare throat where lifeblood still pulsed through its unnatural veins.

"Wait!" Grete was at his shoulder.

Odric lifted his sword.

One blow to sunder the head from the body.

"It's not a werewolf! Sir, Avacyn's blessings didn't fail us."

He wanted its head.

I'll throw it at the feet of Avacyn and scream the name of every person murdered in her absence.

"Let us bring it to Thraben—alive. Leave the days of slaughter behind us. It's a new day in Innistrad."

He wanted to scream at her, too. She'd fought the same wars and lived in the same grisly world as he. But unlike him, her conscience was untarnished.

She's still hopeful.

Grete's compassion would kill her someday.

Someday soon.

Odric let go of the monster and sheathed his sword.

"Drug him and tie him down. It's a long road back to Thraben. Let Avacyn measure the worth of his life."

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Odric, Blood-Cursed by Chris Rallis