Thursday, December 24, 2015

Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the Arcane Lighthouse, not a creature card was stirring, not even a Germ. The Stocking Tigers were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Mark Rosewater soon would be there.

Arcane Lighthouse    




The Children of Korlis were nestled all snug in their beds, while Visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And Mother of Runes in her 'kerchief and I in my Jester's Cap, had just settled in for a long Winter's Night nap. When out on the roof there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a Flash, tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.

Children of Korlis  Visions  Mother of Runes
Jester's Cap  Winter's Night  Flash

The Blood Moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below, when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but an Arcum's Sleigh and ten giant dragons. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be Saint Traft.

Blood Moon  Arcum's Sleigh  Geist of Saint Traft

More rapid than a Storm Crow, his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

Storm Crow

"Now Dromar! Now Darigaaz! Now Crosis! Now, Treva and Rith!

Dromar, the Banisher  Darigaaz, the Igniter  Crosis, the Purger
Treva, the Renewer  Rith, the Awakener

"On, Oros! On, Vorosh! On, Teneb! On, Intet and Numot!

Oros, the Avenger  Vorosh, the Hunter  Teneb, the Harvester
Intet, the Dreamer  Numot, the Devastator

"To the top of the porch! To the top of the Steel Wall!

Steel Wall

"Now Wipe Away! Force Away! Whisk Away all!"

Wipe Away  Force Away  Whisk Away

As dry Healing Leaves that before the wild Hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the Skycloud Expanse so up to the house-top the dragons they flew, with the sleigh full of cards, and Mark Rosewater too.

Healing Leaves  Hurricane  Skycloud Expanse

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, the prancing and paying of each Dragon's Claw. As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney Maro came with a Rebound.

Dragon's Claw  Maro  Rebound

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot and his clothes were all tarnished from ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back and he looked like a Nightshade Peddler just opening his pack. His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like Lotus Petals, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a Heart-Piercer Bow and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.

Nightshade Peddler  Lotus Petal  Heart-Piercer Bow

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke it encircled his head like a Wreath of Geists. He had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly Sunblade Elf.

Wreath of Geists  Sunblade Elf

I laughed when I saw him in Spite of myself, a wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me a know I had nothing to Dread.

Spite // Malice  Dread

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work and filled all the stockings then turned with a jerk and laying his Pointy Finger of Doom aside of his nose and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and Far and Away they all flew like the down of a thistle, but I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight...

Pointy Finger of Doom  Far // Away

Merry Spoilers to all and to all a good Night.

Night // Day

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