Greetings, I'm glad you're all here.
Let's get to the point. My patron is a
greedy, selfish, demanding and egoistical five-headed monster, each head seemingly more unpleasant than the last.
If I can get him a specimen worthy of his attention, I will be awarded a generous commission, you'll receive your cut, and a promise of future work.
If I fail, I'll be eaten by the green-aligned head, and you'll receive jack-squat.
Now, let see what you've brought me.
Mergatroid_Jones wrote: ↑3 years ago
Canopy Pitchers G
Creature- Plant Wall (U)
Defender, Reach
When Canopy Pitchers blocks a creature with flying, tap that creature, and put two -1/-1 counters on it. It doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
0/3
Nepenthic Growth W
Enchantment (R)
You may choose not to untap one or more forests you control during your untap step.
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put a growth counter on target forest you control. For as long as it has a growth counter on it, it gains "
T: Exile target attacking creature with power less than or equal to the number of growth counters on this land until this land becomes untapped."
Carnivorous Forest
Land- Forest (U)
(T: Add G.)
Carnivorous Forest enters the battlefield tapped unless an opponent controls a creature with flying.
G,
T: Target attacking creature with flying gets -3/-1 until end of turn.
IIW: Rural Kaladesh
A strong beginning. Here we have a Nepenthes draped like a liana in the upper canopy, specializing in arboreal and aerial prey. Most Nepenthes pitcher-plant have two different pitcher morphologies; lower pitchers, produced on the basal shoots, and upper pitchers, produced when the plant starts vining.
The upper and lower pitchers often differ greatly in both structure and color, likely an adaptation for different types of prey encountered in different levels.
This particular species, however, seems to have eschewed lower pitchers altogether. I will tentatively name it
Nepenthes aerophila, "air-lover".
Oh, there are whole forests comprised of Nepenthes? That's sure to interest my patron, but here's some personal advice; keep the location to yourself, and negotiate a higher price. You now have a bargaining-chip, and leverage over the dragon, but be careful.
However, if you do not wish to deal with him directly, then I will gladly broker a deal between you two, for a sufficient cut of course.
Very interesting that the denizens of the plane also utilize these forests to protect their homes; my patron would like to see to see that in-person, or rather in-dragon.
A good entry by Mergatroid, a strong contender, and a nice little bit of world-building that I appreciate very much. I like how all three mechanically evoke the feel of carnivorous plants.
The first is basically flyer-hate, a cornerstone of green, and I think the second has w to justify the banishment effect. I myself don't mind creature-only banishment as tertiary in green, but I can understand why some, including Mr. Rosewater himself, feel that green shouldn't get it.
Megiddo wrote: ↑3 years ago
Ravenous Pitcher 1G
Creature — Plant {R}
Dormant 2
(This creature enters the battlefield tapped with 2 rest counters on it and doesn't untap as long as it has any on it. Remove one at the beginning of each of your upkeeps.)
Reach
At end of combat, destroy each creature blocked by Ravenous Pitcher. If a creature was destroyed this way, tap Ravenous Pitcher and put two rest counters on it.
0/5
IIW: one half of a two-card combo (do not post the other half)
A gluttonous plant, but with slow digestion. Its feeding strategy is that of snakes; consuming large prey infrequently with long periods of digestion in between.
I will name
Nepenthes ophiomorpha, "snake-form".
Interesting specimen. This species appears to have more potent digestive liquids than other species. Usually, if pitchers become overloaded with prey items, they will begin to putrefy, but this species doesn't have that problem.
The digestive juices appear sufficient to prevent decay of food before digestion is complete. My patron will want to hybridize with his other strains,
A call back to the original Carnivorous Plant, and possibly a reference to the Chomper from Plants vs Zombies series. Seems a bit underpowered though for a rare; this can't block the turn it comes into play, and can't block the turn it loses the last counter because the untap step has already passed by then.
Ulka wrote: ↑3 years ago
Lava Pitcher 3RG
Snow Creature - Elemental Plant (U)
Whenever a creature becomes blocked by Lava Pitcher, destroy it.
2R: Target nonsnow creature attacks this turn if able. Activate this ability only once per turn.
"Many seek the heat it gives off in the cold wastes of Kaldhiem, but few survive to talk about it."
0/3
IIW: Oozes
Now this is strange! Nepenthes are mostly a tropical genus, but many of the more spectacular species grow at high elevations; where even in the tropics temperatures can be very cold.
But this specimen originates from a primarily snow-covered plane, and appears to have adapted to utilizing geothermal energy to allow to survive freezing temperatures.
My patron will not want this housed with his other specimens, but he will be very interested in its adaptions that allow it to withstand the extreme heat.
I will name it
Nepenthes pyrophila, "fire-lover".
Kaldheim?! A strange choice for a tropical plant, but like I mentioned above, a lot of the more famous species grow in the highlands; I know one grower who has to keep his Nepenthes villosa in a modified refrigerator.
I initially felt that the plant should be nonsnow, and its ability should target snow creatures, but then I realized that the plant was luring prey with the promise of warmth; hence why it targets a nonsnow creature.
Flatline wrote: ↑3 years ago
Monkey Cups 4g
Creature — Plant (U)
t: Monkey Cups deals damage equal to its toughness to target creature an opponent controls. When that creature dies this turn, put a +0/+1 counter on Monkey Cups.
Its appetite grows with its size.
0/1
IIW: A black bordered MCU card.
Huh, young specimen, but apparently fast-growing. My patron usually likes to know what he's getting, but he's known to take a chance and grow out young specimens to see what they will become.
I will name
Nepenthes glotonoria, "glutton".
Nepenthes are indeed known as "monkey cups" in their countries of origin. And apparently primates do occasionally take a sip.
Card seems fine for an uncommon, but very slow. Might even be too slow for Limited, but of course that depends on the environment.
TacticalCelebrant wrote: ↑3 years ago
Towering Pitcher Maw 3gg
Creature - Plant Giant (U)
Reach
Whenever a creature dealt damage by Towering Pitcher Maw dies, exile it and put a +1/+1 counter on Towering Pitcher Maw.
Remove a +1/+1 counter from Towering Pitcher Maw: Target creature attacks this turn if able.
3/5
IIW: Card name included your favorite word.
Oh my, an impressive specimen! Aggressive and very mobile too.
It's morphology is unique as well. Is it a giant that has been parasitized by an aberrant species of Nepenthes, or is it a Nepenthes that mimics a giant. Worthy of further study.
It seems its sickly fragrance causes creatures to attack recklessly; possibly some sort of pheromone or mind-altering agent. My patron will be very interested in this ability and its applications.
I will name it
Nepenthes titanomachia, "war of the titans".
Nepenthes as a beatstick, but again with the ability to provoke and attack to emulate the quality of attracting prey.
While I like the "Vampire" ability of eating creatures via exile and growing, I feel the provoke should have necessitated a splash of a second color.
I will be taking these specimens to the dragon. If I don't come back, run.
Ok,
@Ulka ? He'll take the Lava Pitcher. Good job.
And
@Mergatroid_Jones? He'll take the Canopy Pitchers. And he wants to have an audience with you. Good luck.
HM: Ulka
Winner: Mergatroid_Jones
Next Prompt:
Rural Kaladesh