Post by jilocasin on Jun 17, 2011 13:33:57 GMT -5
In the card design competition we held last spring, Brian Rayburn emerged as the winner with his card "The Scarecrow King".
Here Brian gives us a little insight on the card, lore, background story as well as a deck which runs the Scrarecrow King:
The Scarecrow King:
The creature known as the Scarecrow King was once a forgotten clerk in a small merchant house of the
old Kharzi Empire. He was one of several men chosen to help catalog the contents of an abandoned ship
sold at auction by the city. Working late one evening, he came across an old book, and pocketed it
without even knowing why. Once home he opened it, but could not even identify the language it was
in. The illustrations horrified him, but he was unable to stop paging through the book. Near the end, he
realized he was flipping back and forth, referencing previous pages and chapters. In the cold twilight
dawn he realized he had somehow deciphered parts of the book, and it's secrets were his. Each day he
would return to work, but was there in body only. Going about his dreary routine, he could think only
of the book, desire only to return to it's pages, to decipher another passage, or possibly even the key to
many pages still unknown. Soon he didn't even bother going to work. Finally, after thirteen days of
fevered obsession, he spoke the words aloud. Nothing happened. In despair he flung himself to his bed,
his mind wracked with fear and doubt. Moments later, though, he rose, seeking the source of a
commotion outside. Very soon he found it. Every corpse in the cemetery had risen, and was making
their way towards his house. In terror he thought only of his own life, wishing the monsters would find
anyone but him. At that moment they each turned, and sought out the people of the town. As each
terrified victim fell to the rotting horde, their corpse rose, and joined the attackers. Soon the entire
town was still, quiet, and waiting. Waiting for him. For his command.
The Scarecrow King is an ancient lich. He has existed in one form or another for over two thousand
years. Although his physical form can be destroyed, his spirit will seek out a sentient being nearby, and
slowly take control of it. Although it may take years, or even centuries, he will always return. This is the
reason he destroys a card when he enters play, that creature literally burns away from the inside as it
transforms into the fully regenerated Scarecrow King.
This card is best used in a mono-Earth necromancy deck. Keep in mind that if The Scarecrow King is
brought from the Archive directly into play, his Play Effect does not trigger.
Death Comes Calling:
Banner of the Undead x1
Bone Warrior x3
Earth Ritual x3
Excavate x3
Ghost of the Dead x3
Necromancy x3
The Scarecrow King x1
Scavenging Zombie x3
Unnatural Strength x3
Wall of Bones x2
Earth Stone x12
Power Stone x3
Here Brian gives us a little insight on the card, lore, background story as well as a deck which runs the Scrarecrow King:
The Scarecrow King:
The creature known as the Scarecrow King was once a forgotten clerk in a small merchant house of the
old Kharzi Empire. He was one of several men chosen to help catalog the contents of an abandoned ship
sold at auction by the city. Working late one evening, he came across an old book, and pocketed it
without even knowing why. Once home he opened it, but could not even identify the language it was
in. The illustrations horrified him, but he was unable to stop paging through the book. Near the end, he
realized he was flipping back and forth, referencing previous pages and chapters. In the cold twilight
dawn he realized he had somehow deciphered parts of the book, and it's secrets were his. Each day he
would return to work, but was there in body only. Going about his dreary routine, he could think only
of the book, desire only to return to it's pages, to decipher another passage, or possibly even the key to
many pages still unknown. Soon he didn't even bother going to work. Finally, after thirteen days of
fevered obsession, he spoke the words aloud. Nothing happened. In despair he flung himself to his bed,
his mind wracked with fear and doubt. Moments later, though, he rose, seeking the source of a
commotion outside. Very soon he found it. Every corpse in the cemetery had risen, and was making
their way towards his house. In terror he thought only of his own life, wishing the monsters would find
anyone but him. At that moment they each turned, and sought out the people of the town. As each
terrified victim fell to the rotting horde, their corpse rose, and joined the attackers. Soon the entire
town was still, quiet, and waiting. Waiting for him. For his command.
The Scarecrow King is an ancient lich. He has existed in one form or another for over two thousand
years. Although his physical form can be destroyed, his spirit will seek out a sentient being nearby, and
slowly take control of it. Although it may take years, or even centuries, he will always return. This is the
reason he destroys a card when he enters play, that creature literally burns away from the inside as it
transforms into the fully regenerated Scarecrow King.
This card is best used in a mono-Earth necromancy deck. Keep in mind that if The Scarecrow King is
brought from the Archive directly into play, his Play Effect does not trigger.
Death Comes Calling:
Banner of the Undead x1
Bone Warrior x3
Earth Ritual x3
Excavate x3
Ghost of the Dead x3
Necromancy x3
The Scarecrow King x1
Scavenging Zombie x3
Unnatural Strength x3
Wall of Bones x2
Earth Stone x12
Power Stone x3