Friendship is Card Games: Legends of Magic #3 & #4 · 12:02pm Jan 27th, 2019
We return to the Legends of Magic miniseries, with the other two "Campfire Tales" lead-up issues. Let's see what tales lie forgotten.
Issue #3: Mistmane and the Mystery of the Castle
I’m going by Starswirl’s titles for these first six issues, especially given how the first one is more about the royal sisters than the Bearded One himself. The previous blog’s been amended to fit that.
Huh. I wonder what Sunburst has been up to in Canterlot if he hasn’t had time to read between the tale of Rockhoof and now.
Starswirl keeping someone else from reading something until they get some fresh air seems like just the sort of hypocrisy I’d expect from him. Implanting a simulacrum of his consciousness to enforce that hypocrisy? Especially fitting.
Heh. All Sunburst needs is sequins stitched into his hat reading “UNNICORN” and he’ll hit full Rincewind.
We never did get an answer for why Mistmane’s mane does that.
Very curious to see that Canterlot Castle appears to be under construction in the middle of the woods. Of course, if the town built up around the castle, then the location would certainly be subject to change.
Hmm. I wonder if Starswirl had a purpose in mind with those blueprints.
Very interesting to see how no one recognizes Mistmane. I suppose even if her reputation preceded her, it would be for her more beautiful state.
Heh. You know, the thought occurs that Mistmane’s ethereal mane inspired Luna (and, in turn, Celestia) to adopt the same style.
Also, there’s a particular irony to Luna interrupting someone appreciating the beauty of the night.
Hmm. Luna has her cutie mark. I hadn’t thought to look, but both sisters do in the first issue. If I recall correctly, that means they’re already moving the sun and moon.
I’m pretty sure this is the first time an official bit of pony material used the term “warlock.”
Yeeeah, between Luna’s natural inclinations and Starswirl’s tutelage, she’s not exactly open to the whole “quiet contemplation” thing.
This is a very reasonable bear. I like him.
Hmm… I knew the Journal of the Two Sisters had some issues, but Luna being surprised by sunrise makes it especially suspect, at least in relation to this comic. Still the idea that she designed both Castle Canterlot and the palace gardens? I like it. I like it quite a lot. Not the design I’d expect from Luna, but still.
Also, the thought occurs that Luna has incredible night vision. This comes as no surprise, but it’s nice to get confirmation.
Hmm. Given Celestia’s doubt, I’m not sure when this takes place in relation to that first issue. I do wonder if she thought of this moment when she first heard about Fluttershy.
Ah. Starswirl just wanted to protect the princesses. He does have his moments.
Also, Celestia’s reaction to the plans is fantastic. She hasn’t stayed in that place just because Luna designed it. 
So, how did the foreman react when he learned that they’d be moving the construction site to the side of a mountain?
From the sound of it, Starswirl and Mistmane had met before this. I do wonder about the chronology of all of this.
Heh. Foreshadowing.
This is a suitably serene story given the lessons it seeks to teach, and those lessons are good ones. Look around you. Look around you. Observe. Reflect. Consider. Find the solution rather than leaping like a starving tiger on the first possibility you see.
Issue #4: Flash Magnus and the Royal Legion
When Starlight Glimmer threatens property damage, you know she means it. I especially love how this is apparently a habit of hers. I wouldn’t be surprised if she did it when they were kids. Stellar Flare might have appreciated the excuse to install the latest fashions in molding.
Argh. Why do people always do this. You wouldn’t say “unicorns aristocracy.” You wouldn’t say “earth ponies tradition.” “Pegasi folktales” is wrong.
Okay, grammar rant over.
Starlight draping herself on Sunburst’s bed… This isn’t so much a ship tease as a cough and a significant glance at the drydock.
Wait, wait, wait. So when Starswirl recorded this legend, the Royal Legion was already the old Royal Legion? The way this is phrased, it sounds like Flash Magnus was before Starswirl’s time, which, of course, makes zero sense. Hopefully the second half of the mini-series clarifies this.
Note: Do not look at Cloudsdale from directly below. All the meteoro-industrial waste has to come out somewhere. (To say nothing of the other kinds of waste… 
)
The Royal Legion does seem to signify rank through the number of hoofboots you’re allowed to wear.
Hmm. The mention of chocolate milk rain raises the question of just what Discord was up to at this point in time. That ponies know what chocolate is is a bit curious, but there is a Mesoamerican jungle to the south.
I do like how scuffed up the legionnaires are. Everyone seems to have a scar, a missing bit of ear, or at least some major helmet damage. It gives them a sense of actual combat experience.
I wonder how weather production technology at the time compares to the modern-day equipment. I especially wonder where that factory was if the storm came from there and is en route to Cloudsdale.
Oof. Poor Grimhoof. “I will specifically call out how you are the least qualified among us but leave the other three’s ranks unmentioned.”
Also, probable ancestor of Rainbow. It’s not like most family names persist over the generations, but the attitude is definitely there.
Yeah, that’s definitely Rainbow’s ancestor.
Yowza. That’s an air elemental waiting to happen.
I can understand Blackbeak’s hostility. Ponies come in, casually offer to control the weather, something you can barely wrap your head around in terms of sheer scale of what they could do (assuming griffons don’t have weather magic of their own, something we don’t have a lot of data on,) and now a superstorm sweeps in. I’d probably suspect the grass-burners too.
Yeah, definitely not evidence in favor of griffon meteoromancy.
Hey, you said it yourself, Ironhead. As long as Flash is acting independently, it’s not on the Legion’s head. Mind you, the others never quit, but actually saving the town will provide quite a bit of diplomatic capital.
Hmm. On the other hand, the pegasi may just have more experience with this sort of thing. Also, rather amusing reversal: This time Flash Magnus and his allies have to solve the problem by breaking up a giant storm rather than putting one together.
I do love how the illustrations are much more dignified than the reality.
Apparently griffons and pegasi training together is an old tradition. You’d never think it based on what we’ve actually seen… except for the griffon contingent at the Equestria Games. I suppose what I’m saying is that I want more catbirds in MLP.
Starlight, you’ve torn apart the timeline because you never figured out how to use the post office. You don’t get to call anything unrealistic.
Another nice story, and an interesting taste of a deeper conflict that it sadly didn’t have time to delve into.
Now, let's see what bolts the inspiration roiling through my brain fired off this time:
Stonepecker W
Creature — Bird
Flying
Whenever Stonepecker deals combat damage to a player, choose target artifact or enchantment that player controls. That player sacrifices that permanent unless they pay X, where X is its converted mana cost.
1/1
Grand Palisade 1W
Enchantment
Creatures you control get +0/+1.
4W: Double the toughness of each creature you control until end of turn.
After nearly losing them to a world of darkness, Star Swirl wanted nothing more than to keep the young alicorns safe.
Royal Legionnaire 2W
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying
Skirmish 1W (Whenever this creature attacks, you may pay 1W. If you do, create a token copy of it that’s tapped and attacking. Exile the token at end of combat.)
Legionnaires never flew alone.
2/2
Construction Corps 3W
Creature — Unicorn Soldier
Battalion — Whenever Construction Corps and at least two other creatures attack, return target artifact card from your graveyard to your hand.
"Building a castle is a lot like a siege, only in reverse."
3/3
Cloistered Scholar 2U
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
Flash
When Cloistered Scholar enters the battlefield, counter target green spell.
“The closest I want to come to nature is reading a bestiary.”
2/1
Engram of the Bearded One 2UU
Creature — Unicorn Illusion
When Engram of the Bearded One enters the battlefield or dies, draw a card.
"It exists solely to berate those it sees as less intelligent. Just as Star Swirl intended, no doubt."
—Princess Luna
2/2
Mistmane’s Guidance 4U
Enchantment
If you would draw a card, instead look at the top three cards of your library, then put one into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
"Think first. All else follows from there."
Stormbreaker Squad 4UU
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flash
Flying
When Stormbreaker Squad enters the battlefield, if you cast it from your hand, counter all spells and abilities.
No matter how much magic goes into a storm, enough coordination can dispel it.
3/3
Curse of Catastrophes 2BB
Enchantment — Aura Curse
Enchant player
The first spell enchanted player casts each turn costs an additional “Sacrifice a creature or pay 4 life” to cast.
Cries of anguish and agony soon filled the forest.
Owl Saboteur 3BB
Creature — Bird
Flying
When Owl Saboteur enters the battlefield, target player loses 3 life unless they sacrifice a nonland permanent or discard a card.
Every night, sourceless malice tormented the unbuilt castle.
3/2
Whispers of Discord 1R
Sorcery
Exile the top card of your library. If a red card was exiled this way, repeat this process. You may play cards exiled this way until your next turn.
”Rumor has it there’s something indescribable out there. I think somepony had one too many and spooked a jackalope.”
—Flash Magnus, Pillar of Bravery
Bluster Flock 1R
Creature — Griffin Warrior
Flying
Bluster Flock attacks each combat if able.
Skirmish 1R
2/1
Persistent Sabotage 1G
Sorcery
Destroy target artifact or enchantment.
2G: Return Persistent Sabotage from your graveyard to your hand. Activate this ability only if an opponent controls three or more artifacts and/or enchantments.
Quiet Observation 1G
Sorcery
Look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a permanent card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
It's amazing what the world can teach you when you bother to listen.
Essence of the Untamed 3G
Creature — Spirit
Whenever you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell, you may destroy target artifact or enchantment.
Some believed the forest itself did not want to see the castle completed.
2/3
Rubble Bruin 3G
Creature — Bear
Trample
Whenever Rubble Bruin becomes blocked by one or more artifact creatures, double its power until end of turn.
"Bears need a personal touch."
—Fluttershy, Bearer of Kindness
4/3
Beauty-Bound Tome 3
Artifact
5, T: Draw a card. This ability costs 1 less to activate for each enchantment you control.
Some books can be surprisingly picky about their readers.
Set an Example RW
Instant
Until end of turn, target attacking creature gets +3/+3 and other attacking creatures get +1/+1.
Flash Magnus urged forward with such conviction that the others had no choice but to follow in his wake.
Legion Elite 1RW
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying, first strike
Skirmish 1(rw), skirmish 1(rw) (Whenever this creature attacks, you may pay 1(rw) up to two times. For each time you do, create a token copy of it that’s tapped and attacking. Exile the tokens at end of combat.)
2/1
Nefarious Warlock 2BR
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
Lifelink
BR, T, Sacrifice another creature: Nefarious Warlock deals 2 damage to any target.
"In the days of old, many trotted terribly dark paths to power. The sister have done well in blocking them."
—Mistmane, PIllar of Beauty
2/3
Legion Commander 3RW
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying
You may pay 0 rather than pay skirmish costs for creatures you control.
At his command, a thousand armored wings took to the sky as one.
3/3
Howling Supercell 4UR
Creature — Elemental
Flying
Whenever you cast a blue spell, tap target creature you don’t control.
Whenever you cast a red spell, Howling Supercell deals 1 damage to any target.
Those who can control natural disasters can also call up unnatural ones.
5/4
Stormbreaker Squad is stupid with Deadeye Navigator.
I thought it was interesting how Mistmane keeps going unnoticed, or appearing as a shadow on the edge of someone's vision. It made me wonder if she had given up not just her beauty but her entire material presence, and was now almost more of a ghost than a physical pony.
I think what I appreciate the most about the Mistmane comic is just how relaxed it is. A lot of the other LOE comics have their characters going on rip-roaring adventures, something that Mistmane's deteriorated condition wouldn't allow as easily. Letting her kindly nature help guide the Sisters towards action is thematically appropriate, as well as showing why they need to consider their actions before following through with them (an important lesson for upcoming monarchs).
The Flash Magnus comic was similarly entertaining, showing why sometimes its more moral to violate laws/commands than follow them (a "break the letter, not the spirit" situation). The fact Flash does risk his entire career in the Legion just to save a people who aren't his definitely shows just how great of a hero he is, and I like that it implies this is what led to griffons and pegasi being close in the present-day (it may even explain why Gilda was at Rainbow's flight camp).
All in all, both fine lessons for kids and adults alike. Now I'm just waiting for your reaction to Mage Meadowbrook's... interesting characterization in her own issue.
Also, Sunburst as Pony Rincewind..... why did I not see this before, and now I shall never unsee it.
5003226
1) "if you cast it from your hand" is important there.
2) Really, lots of things are stupid with Deadeye Navigator. It's almost as bad as Intruder Alarm.
Of course, given Sunburst's implied mental breakdown and his habit of inmediately pitching any letters addressed from Sire's Hollow...
I think the first four issues of Legends of Magic were probably the best. I wasn't fond of the latter half of the series, and the Somnambula and Meadowbrook issues didn't impress me, but the first four issues I generally liked quite a lot. My favourite is probably Star Swirl's, with Rockhoof's a close second, for the reasons libertydude outlined in his comment here, but the Mistmane and Flash Magnus stories were also fairly solid, I thought.