Pearl placed her hands into the sand. Her eyes turned white and oil poured in droves off of her body. "Kill it!" She screamed. The sarcophagus began to steam as more and more phyrexian oil leaked into the grooves, melting it from the inside out and the outside in. The demon's eyes watered. The smell was unbearable. As Pearl cast her spell, the door to the sarcophagus was blasted open, and the last phyrexian stepped out of the tomb.
Desmodius saw the demon’s focus locked on the sarcophagus. A simple surprise attack might work, but this situation reeked of deeper mysteries. He decided to gamble: disrupt the demon’s ritual and harness the sand’s strange power against it. By manipulating the magic at play, Desmodius could potentially turn the sarcophagus into a weapon—or a trap.
Card:
Sands of Defiance Instant Mana Cost: {2}{B}{R}
Choose one or both:
Destroy target artifact or enchantment. If it was attached to a creature, that creature deals damage equal to its power to any target.
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap it. It gains haste and “Whenever this creature deals damage, exile that many cards from your library. You may play them this turn.”
If a Vampire you control attacked this turn, exile the top two cards of your library. You may cast one without paying its mana cost.
"Feast on power unseen, or be consumed by it."
Outcome: Desmodius stepped into the shadows of the ritual’s sandstorm, his voice a whisper laced with dark magic. He gestured, and the sand swirled around him, weaving his essence into the chaotic flow. As the sarcophagus absorbed the sand, Desmodius redirected the magic, destabilizing the ritual. If the demon wanted to “feed,” it might soon find itself devoured instead—by Desmodius’s cunning plan.
By exploiting the sand’s unknown properties, Desmodius takes a bold risk, aiming to turn the tables in a way neither the demon nor his allies expect.
As Desmodius had just begun to try to manipulate the bit of sand that was lying around the sarcophagus, the sarcophagus lid, which had developed some cracks meanwhile, flew open, a lot more sand fell out of the sarcophagus and out of it arose a humanoid but also draconic creature in ragged clothing that might have been a wizards robe, but it looked very damaged as if it had taken a lot of hits in combat.
The Demon stumbled back and fell over Blather who was still lying on the ground, pretending to be dead. "Eh! Watch your step! Blather is a good boy, not a carpet!", Blather said as he was getting up on his feet.
And meanwhile Johanas, Uliyana and Kaelen had entered the cave as well. Kaelen surrounded again by his razor sharp glass shards and Uliyana inside of Johanas glowing aura of light.
New Quest:
The Situation in this crowded cave seems a bit chaotic. The first one that makes a mistake could easily escalate this situation even more!
New Quest for jpastor:
Your Vampiric longevity has taught you that there is always time for action later, but also that sometime you must act without thinking. Here, you are unsure what to do.
Create a card that represents your choice:
- "Alright, everyone, listen now very carefully. Lets TALK."
- The Demon clearly is the evil one here, attack the demon
- The creature from out of the sarcophagus clearly is the evil one here, attack Pearl
- Kaelen is definetely the evil one here, attack Kaelen
- Blather is definitely the evil one here, attack Blather
- Slowly move back and dont say or do anything that looks threatening
New Quest for Mellow_MC:
Finally free, it is time now to decide for Pearl what to do!
Create a card that represents your choice:
- FREE AT LAST! REVENGE! DIE DEMON! DIE! (attack the Demon)
- Pearl is still a blue dragon wizard! Thought before action. First, analyze the situation!
- Unleash your rage and frustratration upon the Sarcophagus!
Pearl looked around, surveying the scene in front of her. The demon, hunched in the corner. A vampire standing nearby. Some sort of abomination crouching next to her feet, and a trio of humans standing in the entrance of the cave. Pearl stretched. She hadn't been in open space in so long. Then she looked towards the demon. "You." She snarled and grabbed the demon by the head, phyrexian oil leaking from her hands and burning into the demons skull. It whimpered. Pearl grinned. She placed her hand against the demons sternum, and slit the demon's stomach open, grabbing the mess of his organs, and throwing them across the room. Then, she dropped the body, letting it bounce along the stones. Then she looked towards the strange crowd arranged in front of her, and smiled.
"Alright, everyone, listen now very carefully. Let's TALK."
Desmodius understood the delicate nature of chaotic moments like this. With so many powerful entities present—each with their own agendas—one wrong move could doom them all. This situation needed a manipulative mind and a silver tongue to unravel the truth, align potential allies, and ensure he walked out on top.
Card:
Silver-Tongued Diplomacy Enchantment — Aura Mana Cost: {3}{B}{U}
Enchant opponent At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have the enchanted opponent reveal their hand. If you do, choose a nonland card. That player may either discard the chosen card or give you control of a creature they control until end of turn.
Whenever an opponent discards a card or loses control of a creature this way, draw a card.
“In chaos, words can bind stronger than chains.”
Outcome:
Desmodius raised his hand, his voice calm but commanding. "Hold your blades, fangs, and magic, everyone! This cavern has secrets beyond our individual desires. Killing each other now could mean we lose everything." He looked each one in the eyes, gauging their reactions, planting seeds of distrust and cooperation where needed.
Goal: Create a fragile truce, gather information, and prepare for when true betrayal comes.
Your plan worked! Everyone is looking at Desmodius now and chooses to listen or talk.
And the first to do so is the, badly wounded, but still alive, demon, that is laying in a corner, unable to move. And although he has been badly burned and eviscerated, his demonic powers and magic still keep him alive.
*cough* "You, you all. Spare my life, and i will tell you everything i know. Everything about the sarcophagus and who summoned me and bound me to it! Know that, though i enjoyed torturing you, i was bound by my summoner to do so! But you must swear to spare me! Otherwise i will die, only to be reborn in hell and haunt you from there!" *cough*
New Quest for everyone:
"A demonic offer."
Create a card, representing your choice.
- That demon is evil and should be send to hell! (Kill it).
- Although that demon is evil, his information could be very useful. Agree on his terms. (This is a DEMONIC PACT, you cannnot act against or break it or betray the demon.)
- Try to brute force the information out of the demon. (Outcome unsure, but very high chance that the demon dies without giving away information.)
- Ignore what the demon says and instead put HIM into the sarcophagus and close it.
Pearl leaned towards the demon, an almost pitiful expression on her face. "Poor creature," she said, "But phyrexian oil has been coursing through you for minutes on end now. Perfection is imminent. Welcome to phyrexia." She smiled as he began to writhe. Flesh ripped, bone cracked, and the screams of pain turned to euphoric laughs. Phyrexia had claimed its first victim in 1000 years.
Suddenly the ground under the demon turned into bubbling lava and heat and the stench of sulfur filled the air. Then burning hands made out of lava grabbed the demon and dragged him into the small fiery pool of lava where he disappeared while his body dissolved into the lava. The demon of suffering has been reclaimed by hell.
Quest failed! You didnt get any information from the demon!
But what now? Pearl has been freed, the demon is gone, the sarcophagus is damaged, and you still didnt find out anything.
New Quest: Who done it ?
Whoever put Pearl in this box is probaby still out there.
Create the "Detective" or "Investigator" Version of your character!
And
since your characters gained some experience, it should be stronger
than your existing character, because you gained a LEVEL UP!
-
But before we try to find out anything, lets first get to know each
other. Tell the others something about your character. (And create a
fitting card, if you want, optional.)
Pearl turned her head around to look at the others, her hands still covered in blood and oil. "So," She said in her most light, plaintive tone, "What do you want to do?" As the others discussed, the oil around her hands began to grow in to long tendrils, lengthening into a black spike as long as her arm. She readied herself to strike.
Unfortunately, being tortured in the sarcophagus, damaging it, and fighting and killing the demon has used up most of Pearls phyrexian oil. It will take some time until you have regenerated the lost amount. So, until then, you must rely on yourself, abilities and blue magic. And while low on oil, you can make all the decisions a phyrexian wouldnt make and your character has a free will.
"Although that demon is evil, his information could be very useful. Agree on his terms."
Desmodius, ever the schemer, knew that in the catacombs, knowledge was power. A weakened demon's life could be a small price to pay for unraveling the mysteries of the sarcophagus—and perhaps more. The promise of binding knowledge outweighed the temporary satisfaction of slaying an enemy.
Card:
Infernal Pact of Shadows Enchantment — Pact Mana Cost: {3}{B}{B}
When Infernal Pact of Shadows enters the battlefield, choose an opponent. That player reveals their hand and the top five cards of their library. You may exile one instant or sorcery card revealed this way.
At the beginning of your upkeep, lose 1 life for each creature you control. If you have no creatures, sacrifice Infernal Pact of Shadows.
“Dark secrets always demand a price—but ignorance will cost far more.”
Outcome:
Desmodius met the demon's gaze, his voice smooth and calculating. "Your life will be spared... if you speak the truth. But remember this: break your word, and the hells will seem a paradise compared to what I'll unleash upon you."
Goal: Gain vital information, knowing full well that bargains with demons often have hidden costs. Desmodius's game is long, and this pact is but another piece on the board.
Whoever put Pearl in this box is probaby still out there.
Create the "Detective" or "Investigator" Version of your character!
And since your characters gained some experience, it should be stronger than your existing character, because you gained a LEVEL UP!
- But before we try to find out anything, lets first get to know each other. Tell the others something about your character. (And create a fitting card, if you want, optional.)
Lifelink, Deathtouch Whenever Desmodius, Bloodbound Investigator deals combat damage to a player, you may investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with “{2}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)
{2}{B}, Sacrifice a Clue: Destroy target tapped creature. You gain life equal to its toughness.
{3}{U/B}: Return a creature card from a graveyard to its owner's hand. If that card was exiled, investigate.
“In a world of shadows, secrets are my lifeblood. Let’s unravel the truth... one drop at a time.” 4/5
Character Insight:
Desmodius's long existence has honed his skills beyond brute strength and scheming; he's become a master of unraveling mysteries. His patience is unmatched, and his keen mind sees through deception like a dagger through flesh.
With his vampiric senses and experience in the labyrinthine catacombs, Desmodius can detect subtle clues others miss—smells of ancient blood, the pulse of magical signatures, and the lingering aura of dark intent. He thrives on secrets, and now, it's time to unmask whoever orchestrated Pearl's imprisonment.
yeah unless you're paying some artist to use their artwork on your 800 mtg cards, there's no real bonus to spending hours finding one piece of art that fits your card... i get that ai is possibly putting a few hundred thousand artists out of business, but it's just a picture for a custom magic card
I dont see a problem in using AI art for custom mtg cards. People wouldnt buy "real" art for custom cards anyways. So the art is either "stolen", downloaded for free or AI generated. 99% or more wouldnt pay anyone for custom mtg card art.
If you want some AI art quickndirty use something like this:
MTG Cardsmith Community Forums
Comments
Desmodius’s Choice: Something Totally Unexpected
Desmodius saw the demon’s focus locked on the sarcophagus. A simple surprise attack might work, but this situation reeked of deeper mysteries. He decided to gamble: disrupt the demon’s ritual and harness the sand’s strange power against it. By manipulating the magic at play, Desmodius could potentially turn the sarcophagus into a weapon—or a trap.
Card:
Sands of Defiance
Instant
Mana Cost: {2}{B}{R}
Choose one or both:
If a Vampire you control attacked this turn, exile the top two cards of your library. You may cast one without paying its mana cost.
"Feast on power unseen, or be consumed by it."
Outcome:
Desmodius stepped into the shadows of the ritual’s sandstorm, his voice a whisper laced with dark magic. He gestured, and the sand swirled around him, weaving his essence into the chaotic flow. As the sarcophagus absorbed the sand, Desmodius redirected the magic, destabilizing the ritual. If the demon wanted to “feed,” it might soon find itself devoured instead—by Desmodius’s cunning plan.
By exploiting the sand’s unknown properties, Desmodius takes a bold risk, aiming to turn the tables in a way neither the demon nor his allies expect.
"You." She snarled and grabbed the demon by the head, phyrexian oil leaking from her hands and burning into the demons skull. It whimpered. Pearl grinned. She placed her hand against the demons sternum, and slit the demon's stomach open, grabbing the mess of his organs, and throwing them across the room. Then, she dropped the body, letting it bounce along the stones. Then she looked towards the strange crowd arranged in front of her, and smiled.
Desmodius’s Choice:
"Alright, everyone, listen now very carefully. Let's TALK."
Desmodius understood the delicate nature of chaotic moments like this. With so many powerful entities present—each with their own agendas—one wrong move could doom them all. This situation needed a manipulative mind and a silver tongue to unravel the truth, align potential allies, and ensure he walked out on top.
Card:
Silver-Tongued Diplomacy
Enchantment — Aura
Mana Cost: {3}{B}{U}
Enchant opponent
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have the enchanted opponent reveal their hand. If you do, choose a nonland card. That player may either discard the chosen card or give you control of a creature they control until end of turn.
Whenever an opponent discards a card or loses control of a creature this way, draw a card.
“In chaos, words can bind stronger than chains.”
Outcome:
Desmodius raised his hand, his voice calm but commanding.
"Hold your blades, fangs, and magic, everyone! This cavern has secrets beyond our individual desires. Killing each other now could mean we lose everything." He looked each one in the eyes, gauging their reactions, planting seeds of distrust and cooperation where needed.
Goal: Create a fragile truce, gather information, and prepare for when true betrayal comes.
Desmodius's Choice:
"Although that demon is evil, his information could be very useful. Agree on his terms."
Desmodius, ever the schemer, knew that in the catacombs, knowledge was power. A weakened demon's life could be a small price to pay for unraveling the mysteries of the sarcophagus—and perhaps more. The promise of binding knowledge outweighed the temporary satisfaction of slaying an enemy.
Card:
Infernal Pact of Shadows
Enchantment — Pact
Mana Cost: {3}{B}{B}
When Infernal Pact of Shadows enters the battlefield, choose an opponent. That player reveals their hand and the top five cards of their library. You may exile one instant or sorcery card revealed this way.
At the beginning of your upkeep, lose 1 life for each creature you control. If you have no creatures, sacrifice Infernal Pact of Shadows.
“Dark secrets always demand a price—but ignorance will cost far more.”
Outcome:
Desmodius met the demon's gaze, his voice smooth and calculating.
"Your life will be spared... if you speak the truth. But remember this: break your word, and the hells will seem a paradise compared to what I'll unleash upon you."
Goal:
Gain vital information, knowing full well that bargains with demons often have hidden costs. Desmodius's game is long, and this pact is but another piece on the board.
Desmodius's Detective Evolution:
Desmodius, Bloodbound Investigator
Legendary Creature — Vampire Detective
Mana Cost: {4}{B}{B}
Lifelink, Deathtouch
Whenever Desmodius, Bloodbound Investigator deals combat damage to a player, you may investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with “{2}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)
{2}{B}, Sacrifice a Clue: Destroy target tapped creature. You gain life equal to its toughness.
{3}{U/B}: Return a creature card from a graveyard to its owner's hand. If that card was exiled, investigate.
“In a world of shadows, secrets are my lifeblood. Let’s unravel the truth... one drop at a time.”
4/5
Character Insight:
Desmodius's long existence has honed his skills beyond brute strength and scheming; he's become a master of unraveling mysteries. His patience is unmatched, and his keen mind sees through deception like a dagger through flesh.
With his vampiric senses and experience in the labyrinthine catacombs, Desmodius can detect subtle clues others miss—smells of ancient blood, the pulse of magical signatures, and the lingering aura of dark intent. He thrives on secrets, and now, it's time to unmask whoever orchestrated Pearl's imprisonment.
By any chance I could join?
Will this do?
Hail Foxes