For Halloween, we've decided to delve into a spooky one-shot adventure set in the halls of Duskmourn! Jay and Brian are joined by a special (returning?) guest as they open some doors and find themselves in a malicious escape room designed by a maniacal clown. Will they make it out alive? Probably! Will they make it out unharmed? Definitely not.If y…

Did you know this year was a special anniversary for Magic? It's the 30th anniversary of the Magic novel line, which began with Magic, the Gathering: Arena (not the digital game client) in 1994. For this episode, we're exploring the history of Magic novels, their rise and fall, and some of the surrounding circumstances that led to the world of web …

This week we're joined by the #1 Fan of Jace Beleren, Radley! He's here to talk to us about the enigmatic wielder of mysteries, including delving into some of his current motivations in the story and some larger themes that surround one of Magic's longest running characters. If you don't follow Radley online, you can find him at @SpaceBeleren on Tw…

Duskmourn is one giant, flavorful homage to horror movies of the modern age. This week we're diving into our favorite flavor gems of the set, including the very clever designs of the story's main characters and the best references to the horror movies we all love (except for Chris, who is on record for not really loving horror movies).If you'd like…

It's time to welcome Seanan McGuire home to the podcast for another interview to discuss all things Duskmourn. We cover character choices, world building, and influences for this terrifying House. Come step into the parlor, take a seat, and enjoy listening to our conversation. Pay no attention to the way the chair won't let you go...Please go read …

The twisting halls of Duskmourn contain many cautionary tales and grim nightmares, and today we're talking about these side stories that help flesh out the walls of the House. Children born into a world with no dawn or dusk, lost travelers who find no comfort in a moment of respite, elves who can only watch as their world is enclosed in eternal nig…

We conclude the main story of Duskmourn this week with our heroes coming face to facade with the elder demon of the house, Valgavoth. Do they all escape the House? And if they do escape, at what cost? Also, we discuss what it means for the narrative of Magic to have planeswalkers when there are paths between planes for non-planeswalkers to walk.As …

We slip once more through the halls of the House this week as our survivors face their greatest fears and terrible monsters. Not all of them do a very good job of surviving these episodes...Duskmourn story can be read for free on the Magic website at magic.wizards.com/en/story and you can find Mira Grant's DVD Extras on Seanan McGuire's blog at sea…

On August 27th, 2014, the first official Magic Story web fiction was published: The Madness of Sarkhan by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes. This story was the first chapter in the Khans of Tarkir story, which would be the first time the main story for a Magic set was published entirely online and for anyone to read it. This year, to mark it's 10th anniversar…

It's time for our journey into the House to begin. The story for Duskmourn gave us a jumpscare with a release a full week earlier than anticipated, so we're going to start our coverage a full week early, too! But we haven't forgotten our promise of worldbuilding details, so every week we will also include a little bit of the Planeswalker Guide for …

This week we've activated the special interests of Jay and Loreley to talk about horror movies, and specifically how Duskmourn is informed by the rich history of scares on the screen! We're breaking down the big subgenres, the movies you may want to be familiar with, and how they play into the world design of Duskmourn.If you like our show, conside…

The world of Bloomburrow is vast, colorful, and furry. This week we're looking at the worldbuilding of this brand new plane, from the landscapes of the valley to the people who inhabit those lands and to the history they all share.If y'all like this kind of worldbuilding episode, let us know! We cover a lot of the basics of the plane in this episod…

It's time to dig into the many treats on offer from Bloomburrow! We're talking legends, baguettes, and fistfighting giant pandas on this installment of our flavor gems series! I promise it all makes sense if you listen!If you like our show, consider subscribing to our Patreon at Patreon.com/TheVorthosCast, where $1 a month gets you access to our Di…

We're welcoming back Valerie Valdes this week to talk about her work on writing the Bloomburrow set story! Valerie has been on the show before to talk about writing the story for Lost Caverns of Ixalan, and this week she's back to talk about the very different experience in writing Bloomburrow, including her influences for the story that combines e…

The story of Bloomburrow is only five episodes long, but they're five great episodes and give us a lot to talk about! This week we're wrapping up the set's story and sharing our thoughts on this start of a new arc, the world of Bloomburrow in a wider Magic context, and where things might go from here.You can find all episodes of the Bloomburrow sto…

We're back from our vacation to start talking all things Bloomburrow story! This week we're covering the first three episodes of the story by Valerie Valdes, what we think about the first glimpse of this new world, and what animalfolk we think the Lorwyn Five and friends would be on this plane!You can find all episodes of the Bloomburrow story righ…

Thank you Wizards of the Coast for our free preview cards for Bloomburrow! We're happy to introduce the world to our two all-star uncommons, Mabel's Mettle and Quaketusk Boar!You can find full images of the cards and art on our Twitter at Twitter.com/TheVorthosCastBy The Vorthos Cast

We have our resident Assassin's Creed expert, Jay Annelli, here to tell us all about the flavor gems of the Universes Beyond: Assassin's Creed set! Who better to tell us the ins and outs of this special booster release than a loremaster who worked on the creative text team for the set and also has a long, documented history as a sociopathic murdere…

We've made it to 300 episodes, and to thank you, our dear listeners, we're answering your questions! We've got the full roster of co-hosts to answer the hard-hitting questions, like "Does Bolas know about the Fomori?" and "What's Kellan's fursona?"Seriously, though, thank all of you so much for your years of support, all the way to 300 episodes! We…

Thank you to Wizards of the Coast for our free preview card for Universes Beyond: Assassin's Creed! This is a deep cut character from the lore, so of course Jay had a lot to say about him!By The Vorthos Cast

It's our Pride special! This week we're talking about queer characters in Magic story, where you can read more about them, and how Wizards of the Coast has done with representation in their stories and cards. Things get real gay.If you want to support the podcast, you can sign up to our Patreon at Patreon.com/TheVorthosCast, where $1 a month provid…

Our second part of what turned out to be a two-part series of Flavor Gems from Modern Horizons 3! We cover new legends, deep-cut callbacks, and cute mechanical references to Magic's past.Thank you for listening, and if you think we missed any incredible Flavor Gems you can always reach out to us on Twitter, @TheVorthosCast, or through email, TheVor…

This is our first of (maybe) three episodes exploring the flavor gems of Modern Horizons 3! Modern Horizons sets have always been full of the deepest lore references and a place for old characters to get new cards. This time around is no different, and we've dedicated an entire episode just to legends from the past returning or premiering in this s…

Modern Horizons 3 previews are underway, and as with previous Modern Horizons sets there are so many deep lore references and stories to be told! This week we're tackling the five transforming planeswalker cards from the set and what we know about these characters and how their sparks ignited.If you want to support us as we continue to make weekly …

This is a special free preview episode of the Vorthos Cast for Modern Horizons 3 featuring our preview card, Ajani Fells the Godsire!You can find the full card on our Twitter at https://twitter.com/TheVorthosCastBy The Vorthos Cast

We're taking one last look back into the sunset as we wrap up all discussions about Outlaws of Thunder Junction in an interview with the author herself, Akemi Dawn Bowman! You may remember Bowman's work back in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, where she wrote about a young man trying to find someone he'd lost while getting wrapped up in a multi-planar story…

With the end of Outlaws of Thunder Junction, we also finished the first story arc since the end of March of the Machine! We've got Roy Graham, Story Lead at Wizards of the Coast for Magic, on the podcast this week to talk about leading the story through the omenpaths and into a new era, including creating and growing Kellan, setting up the BIG reve…

With Modern Horizons 3 on, well, the horizons, we're turning our vast and endless eye upon the story of the Eldrazi, cosmic horrors from the blind eternities whose purpose--if it exists--remains unknown. To know your enemy, you must know their history, and this week we'll discuss the story of the Eldrazi in Magic, as well as what we know to be true…

We're rustlin' up some grub with the flavor gems of Thunder Junction! Were you wondering about some of these Western tropes, curious about how many of these legends have been seen round these parts before, or just want to know where you can get some Halo out on the range? Bring your own tin can and we'll serve up some answers on this week's episode…

The ending has come to Outlaws of Thunder Junction, and it brings with it the start of something new. This week we're covering the two-part epilogue to the Outlaws of Thunder Junction story and the real ending of the Omenpath Arc of Magic Story, finally getting answers for Jace and Vraska's escape from Phyrexian influence and their plans for the fu…

The main story of Outlaws of Thunder Junction is finished, but before we can watch our outlaws ride off into the sunset, we have to tell tale of Annie Flash with "Blood Is Thicker Than Venom" by H. E. Edgmon. Then we see what happens when you put the most untrustworthy scoundrels of the multiverse together for one big job, and you know it ain't a h…

The train's pulling up to the station and you have to face the choice: Do you listen to us discuss episodes 3 and 4 of the main story and the side story "A Pleasant Family Outing," or do you tuck tail and run away? We're continuing our discussions of the Outlaws of Thunder Junction stories by Akemi Dawn Bowman this week with the two main story epis…

We have to free previews from Outlaws of Thunder Junction, including one plot-pivotal story spotlight that doubles as a nasty removal spell (we always have to get one) and one very sharp-dressed and sharp-clawed desperado!You can see full cards and art on our Twitter @TheVorthosCast!By The Vorthos Cast

What's this? A special bonus episode of The Vorthos Cast? That's right! We had the incredible opportunity to invite Isaac Fellman, author of "No Tells," the side story for Outlaws of Thunder Junction that introduces Yuma and his little cactus baby Kirri to Magic! We talk all about the experience of writing for Magic as an outsider to the IP, our fa…

Two worlds collide in this episode of the unofficial Magic story podcast, The Vorthos Cast, as we have on the hosts of the official Magic Story Podcast, Harless Snyder and Natalie Kreider! We talk all about making a Magic story podcast, what makes Magic story so incredible, and how important it is to provide access to the stories that make Magic gr…

We got caught unawares out on the trail as a whole band of Outlaws showed up from the brush, thunder rifles drawn. We're here this week to cover the first two episodes of the main story of Outlaws of Thunder Junction, by that dastardly Akemi Dawn Bowman, and no lawman or outlaw is going to keep us from doing it.Read the first episode here: https://…

We're heading into the wasteland today (not the Tempest one) to talk all about the CRAM-packed flavor gems of the Fallout commander decks! Here's all you need to know about the biggest flavor bombs of the set, including a lot of backstory for the Fallout franchise that may help you appreciate the retro-futuristic sci-fi post-apocalypse dark comedy …

A little over a week ago, The Vorthos Cast was in Chicago for MagicCon Chicago! We did a full live episode you can now watch on YouTube called WANTED: Scoundrels of the Multiverse! It's a good one! Go watch it and share it with all your friends.Here's a link to it: https://youtu.be/721mpoC5aC8This week's episode is a recap of our time in Chicago, i…

With our trip to MagicCon Chicago only days away, we sit down to talk about the short epilogue to the Murders at Karlov Manor story, as well as a broad discussion on ways to grow Magic story and make it more popular to a broader audience of Magic players.If you're reading this on the day of release, it's probably too late to decide to go to MagicCo…

This week we're joined once again by the incredible Seanan McGuire, author of the Murders at Karlov Manor story! She answers our questions about writing a murder mystery, the importance of planeswalker friendships, and killing your darling planeswalkers and friends.If you'd like to support The Vorthos Cast, check us out on Patreon at Patreon.com/Th…

This week we return with our favorite flavor gems from Murders at Karlov Manor! We discuss references to 90-year-old mystery novels, famous TV detectives, and '90s era anti-drug school programs. It's a bit all over the place, honestly.If you'd like to support us with money, you can do that! You still get all the episodes we release even if you don'…

With the killer revealed, we know the who and how but not the why... In this episode, we discover what misguided beliefs may have led one of the speakers for the world soul of Ravnica itself to lash out with malice against the guildmasters (and goblin) with murderous intent. We also discuss our overall feelings of this set's story, and why we all r…

Thank you to Wizards of the Coast for our three free preview cards for Murders at Karlov Manor! We were given three excellent story spotlights from the newest story, which you can (and should!) read here: https://magic.wizards.com/en/storyFor full images of our cards, including alternate arts, check out our Twitter! https://twitter.com/TheVorthosCa…

As the case heats up, our plucky detectives fight their way through moss-eating assailants, Rakdos assassins, and Gruul mole gods. In the end, the clues fall into place and the identity of the killer is revealed. Who could be responsible for such brazen assassinations? And will the Guildpact survive if the killer of guildmasters is a guildmaster al…

Karlov Manor, the home of esteemed Orzhov guildmaster Teysa Karlov, is the site of the party of the year... and also of two terrifying murders. As the mystery deepens, it's up to Ravnica's Most Famous Detective (a very real accolade) Alquist Proft and former Orzhov guildmaster Kaya Cassir to lead their own independent investigations into the heart …

In the Ravnica justice system, the people are represented by, well, actually it's kind of complicated. Are the people represented? How are laws made? Is murder actually legal? The answer may surprise you! Or it won't, considering this is Ravnica we're talking about, and crimes really depend on your guild affiliation... This week we're covering ever…

We've made it to the end step of the year! Now it's time to cleanup with our thoughts and feelings about all things Vorthos in the year 2023. The end of a multi-year arc, the start of a whole new world of stories, and so many products we couldn't even dare cover them all. We'll see you all in 2024 for a jam-packed year of murders, cowboys, and ador…

Magic now has its own multiverse spanning collection of delicious recipes! Cuisines of the Multiverse by Victoria Rosenthal and Jenna Helland released recently and we sat down to read not just the incredible recipes created by Victoria Rosenthal, but also the wealth of lore blurbs written by Jenna Helland. This book contains 12,000 words of real fl…

We take a relaxed stroll through the market of Ixalan and pull out some tasty flavor gems from the set that show off the new lore and genre tropes of the world.Support us on Patreon at Patreon.com/TheVorthosCast, where $1 a month gets you access to our Discord server and $3 a month gets you early access to the podcast as it's being recorded!…

This week we had the absolute privilege of interviewing Valerie Valdes, author of the Lost Caverns of Ixalan story! This interview covers a wide range of topics, including how to approach writing a story with multiple points of view, honoring and respecting the histories of people whose stories you are telling, the insidious reaches of imperialism …