Friendship is Card Games: Five Temples and a Wedding · 11:51am Aug 29th, 2021
The centennial issue marks the penultimate entry for the IDW main line. Issue #102, coming out next month, will close out Season 10 and the line as a whole. For now, let’s see how the end begins.
First off, we have an exquisite Andy Price cover. No logos, no embellishments, just the big triple-digit number, the Mane Six in statuary glory… and Spike regretting his life choices. Poor guy.
I also have to appreciate the alternate cover that’s just a cavalcade of comic-exclusive characters, creator OCs, and Celestia’s mortal disguise. I could make a whole blog from that one image. (Note: I will not be making a whole blog from that one image.)
And so we get a look at Celaeno’s homeland, Ornithia. Somewhere between Griffonstone at its height and Canterlot… with a notable birdhouse/birdcage motif. Especially the structures hanging from the undersides of cliffs. Bit on the nose, but it does still look impressive. (Though given how Celeano’s species appears to be flightless, I do have to wonder how the dangling buildings work.)
Oh dear. Signs of a species-based caste system. Hawks and eagles are administrators, and parrots live further down the mountain chain.
The utter contempt on Spitfire’s face when she thinks Dash is excited for the wedding is a sight to behold. (And hey, given how the last wedding Dash attended resulted in an invasion and epic fight scene, I wouldn’t be surprised if she were excited for this one.)
In any case, between her own life and the Daring Do novels, no wonder Dash expects to find a hidden temple. And, to be frank, so are we. Funny how Twilight managed to pinpoint all of these Trees of Harmony by complete accident with her diplomatic delegations. Like calls to like, I suppose.
Nice touch with the Hawkman outfit for the door guard. Also, wow, that’s the most awkward smile I’ve ever seen on a beak. Which you’d think would be a low bar, but Silverstream exists.
Ah. Well. So much for the hidden part of the ancient hidden temple. Given how this appears to be the first official contact between Equestria and Ornithia, I can understand it not coming up until now.
Huh. If Celeano’s practically a sibling to the prince and princess, I assume she was a lot more than just a palace worker’s child back in the day.
Also, some brilliant mythological touches. Aello and Ocypete are the original harpies cited by Hesiod, though Aello was described as female, with Thaumas and Electra, a sea god and an oceanid respectively, as their parents. Celaeno was a later addition by Virgil. The west wind Zephyrus was described by Homer as the mate of Aello, who he called Podarge… and as an added treat, their progeny were horses. Notably swift ones. No wonder two Wonderbolts are in this delegation!
Oh good, someone’s finally saying something about Celaeno’s crystalline peg leg. Not that we’ll ever hear about the details, but that means they’re ours to invent.
Heh. And Ocypete’s fiancé is from a completely different mythology. Huginn presumably has a brother named Muninn.
Huh. Huginn apparently doesn’t think much of ponies. That’s… concerning.
Oh my. Deep lore regarding harmonious magic. I may disregard it, but it’s still intriguing stuff. I’d especially love to see how Cadence interacts with the Elements of Love. I wouldn’t be surprised if she and Shining could match the diarchs’ feat and wield three each.
It’s also interesting to see how the concepts map between sets of Elements. Generosity and Kindness are unaltered, Trust is likely Honesty (though you’d think the latter would still be important,) Protection works as Loyalty (though you’d think the latter would really be important,) and Hope was literally the progenitor of Laughter for the Elements we know best. But that leaves Perseverance as Magic, which isn’t exactly the most intuitive connection.
That said, I’m noticing a marked lack of the bond of friendship among those listed. The closest might be the bond of shared experience, but that doesn’t have quite the same implication to it.
Don’t say it’s spy stuff, Lyra. Try to preserve some plausible deniability.
Oh. Oh. The Everfree Tree of Harmony was the sixth one all along. The one without a temple, possibly because it wasn’t created by the Knights of Harmony. (Also, this marks the heroes’ first direct experience with said Knights.)
Cunabula. Literally “cradle” in Latin, meaning an origin or earliest dwelling place. A suitable name for the kingdom that first discovered applied harmony magic.
Two joined families, with three sons on one side and three daughters on the other? No wonder Cunabula was a harmonious utopia; it was led by the Brady Bunch.
Interestingly Ahuizotl-colored Diamond Dog in old Canina. We may have found the ones who created the guardian beasts. And their raw materials. 
(Alternatively, that’s actually a Lapis Lazuli Lucario.)
And a city in the clouds for the birdfolk, just to underscore the “lost golden age” vibes.
And sure enough, that first and last light, the one I assumed represented the Everfree Tree, was connected to… well, Ocypete says it’s the temple of the Knights themselves, but I suspect it’s the Ornithian one. Not sure why this one wouldn’t be on the detector. It could be that each of the six is keyed to the other five, but that doesn’t explain why the mysterious room from the end of the Zecora arc had a light on to begin with. (Still, if we do include Cunabula, that means that tired cliché though it may be, we’ve been dealing with the seventh Element(s) of Harmony all this time. 
)
Heh. Two combat-oriented characters faced with Knowledge checks. As Dash says, they need a nerd. Though Discord’s silhouette probably doesn’t bode well.
Yeah, Lyra isn’t exactly designed for stealth missions.
They thought the lights going out meant they were in danger. Now they think the lights coming back on mean they’re in danger. Yeesh, make up your minds. (Also, it would’ve been nice for someone to say something about the other contingents helping restore the other temples. Just saying.)
And yeah, trying to complete the Elements of Love with a rushed political marriage seems… ill-advised.
Oh dear. Cover’s blown, girls. Run for it. Assuming the blast didn’t paralyze you.
Ooh, class drama, dreams deferred, ultimatums delivered… It’d be great to see the drama of Celaeno and Ocypete play out instead of hearing about it after the fact, but even this is great stuff. And the forbidden love between pirate and princess? That’s the stuff harlequin romances are made of.
… Huh. So they aren’t flightless. At the very least, Celaeno can glide. It isn’t clear if she can get any lift with those wing-arms, but it’s still neat to see.
Yeah, the background ponies have no problem letting the Wonderbolts do stupid, reckless pegasus things.
I do appreciate both Celaeno’s skill at diving through window and having auxiliary hat and cutlass storage, as any pirate captain worth her salt should.
Bit odd for Spitfire to have a rainbow contrail, but it is a lovely Big Damn Heroes moment.
Heh. As stated, the Bearers of the Elements of Love must, well, love each other. Should’ve known the Lyrabon contingent would have something like this happen.
Also, going by the blue glow on the Throne of Perseverance, it maps to Laughter. Didn’t see that one coming. Hope is Magic then when it comes to love? Too bad for hopeless romantics. 
Ah, and we see the first of the Knights of Harmony. Ceridwen, an almost Wind Waker-style feathered serpent named after a Welsh goddess or enchantress who performed quite a bit of shapeshifting in her own legend. I do have to wonder what Element of Harmony lets you twist bodies like this. Generosity, I suppose?
Also, seems all of Cunabula resents Equestria for some ancient wrong. Probably Discord’s fault. The question lies in the specifics.
Not the most appropriate time for a Princess Bride reference, but i can appreciate it.
Ah. They do lay eggs. Always a question with avian sapients.
I do have to wonder about the complete pterosaur skeleton in the middle of a mountain.
Standard “we didn’t see them earn it” issue with the Bearers channeling the Elements, but less notable this time since five of them had already laid claim to them. Celaeno was the odd one out, and this did make a great trial of Perseverance. It’s still bizarrely hilarious to see an anthropomorphic hawk screech “Kindness!” as he pounces on someone with intent to eviscerate.
Dash going transcontinental is pretty darn epic.
Volume 32 of the diarchs’ assorted secrets? Yeesh. And the cover offers quite a few teases, from other realities (which ones?) to the origin of bat-ponies.
Sunburst, Star Swirl, Stygian, Starlight, all fine choices for Twilight’s research assistants. Trixie presumably opted out, and Sunset’s probably occupied in her own world.
Hmm. Given how the Knights of Harmony seem intent on wiping out the Elements and their Bearers, I can only imagine how they’d react upon learning that there’s yet another set in another world. Or maybe the human world has Knights of its own.
Star Swirl’s design is quite interesting here. Feels like Price is trying to split the difference between the wizard’s appearance in earlier comic arcs and how he looks on the show. Given his reminiscing on numerous comic-specific deeds, it’s no wonder.
Also, the fact there appears to be no historical mention of the Temples of Harmony in Equestria is very interesting indeed. Several possibilities there; we’ll see which ones apply.
And Dash Revere comes in with the warning and concrete data for Twilight to look over. This could prove critical.
And a very cute one-page Katie Cook comic between Rarity and Sweetie Belle. One which actually underscores an interesting dynamic between the sisters. Rarity worked hard to develop her sewing skills, especially since her talent seems tangentially created to the actual manufacture part of fashion. Sweetie’s natural talent is for natural talents. That’s not to say she hasn’t and won’t work hard in the Crusade, but her focus lies in refining preexisting gifts rather than developing new skills outright. I hadn’t thought about it, but it does work for these two.
Or I’m overthinking a one-page gag comic, but what fun is that? 
In all, one of the more intriguing bits of Season 10 worldbuilding, and a great lead-in to the thrilling climax. Let’s see how this goes… whenever issue #102 comes out. Next week, we’ll begin the next look into fanworks of yore. All I’ll say for now is that it involves Best Pony… kind of.
Hard Data W
Sorcery
Create a 0/4 colorless Wall artifact creature token with defender.
Investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with "2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)
To avoid damaging the pictograms, the team decided to transport the entire temple.
Halo of Harmony 1W
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 for each color among permanents you control.
Totem armor (If enchanted creature would be destroyed, instead remove all damage from it and destroy this Aura.)
Hopeful Princess 1W
Creature — Harpy Noble
Soulbond (You may pair this creature with another unpaired creature when either enters the battlefield. They remain paired for as long as you control both of them.)
Whenever Hopeful Princess and the creature it’s paired with attack, prevent all damage that would be dealt to them this turn.
2/2
The Knights of Cunabula 1WW
Enchantment — Saga
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — Create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance.
II — Populate. (Create a token that's a copy of a creature token you control.)
III — You gain 2 life for each creature you control.
Castle Guardhawk 2W
Creature — Harpy Soldier
Vigilance
Prevent all damage that would be dealt by creatures that entered the battlefield this turn.
“No running in the palace, citizen.”
3/2
Ornithian Pastor 2W
Creature — Harpy Cleric
When Ornithian Pastor enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a card with soulbond, reveal it, then shuffle and put that card on top.
“Love, true love, will follow you forever. So treasure your love.”
1/4
Hope Elemental 3WW
Creature — Elemental
Flying, vigilance
Hope Elemental can block any number of creatures.
“Hope refuses to even contemplate failure, shining until forcibly snuffed.”
—Mineral MacGuffin, A Guide to the Elements of Harmony, Sixth Edition
2/7
Protection Elemental 3WW
Creature — Elemental
2W: Other creatures you control gain protection from the color of your choice until end of turn. (They can't be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, enchanted, or equipped by anything of that color.)
“Protection is a shield, happily taking blows so others don’t.”
—Mineral MacGuffin, A Guide to the Elements of Harmony, Sixth Edition
3/5
Devoted Seamstress 1U
Creature — Unicorn Artificer
Level up 1U (1U: Put a level counter on this creature. Level up only as a sorcery.)
1/2
Level 1-3: T: Add CC. Spend this mana only to cast artifact spells.
1/4
Level 4+: Artifact spells you cast cost 2 less.
3/5
Tandem Raider 1UU
Creature — Harpy Pirate
Soulbond
At end of combat on your turn, if Tandem Raider and the creature it was paired with dealt combat damage to the same player this combat, gain control of target nonland permanent that player controls for as long as those creatures remain paired.
2/2
Hakka’s Flockmate 2U
Creature — Bird
Flying
When Hakka’s Flockmate enters the battlefield, if it was foretold, scry 2.
Foretell 1U (During your turn, you may pay 2 and exile this card from your hand face down. Cast it on a later turn for its foretell cost.)
Ravens serve their own gods.
2/2
Surreal Counterpart 3U
Creature — Reflection
You may have Surreal Counterpart enter the battlefield as a copy of another creature on the battlefield, except its power and toughness are switched.
The only thing more startling than a good King Sombra was hearing him speak complete sentences.
0/0
Craven Prince 1B
Creature — Harpy Noble
Skulk (This creature can’t be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
Craven Prince can’t block.
Some nobility is anything but.
2/2
Final Frontier 1BB
Sorcery
Target player sacrifices a creature and a Vehicle.
“Some ships crash. Others just vanish across the horizon, off to some unknown shore on the far side of forever.”
—Captain Celaeno
Tablet of the Knights 2B
Artifact
1B, T: Choose one. Activate only as a sorcery.
• Each player who has more life than you loses 2 life.
• Each player who has more cards in their hand than you discards a card.
• Each player who controls more creatures than you sacrifices a creature.
Firstwrought Chiropteron 3B
Creature — Bat Pegasus
Mutate BB (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
Flying
Whenever this creature mutates, target creature an opponent controls gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the number of times this creature has mutated.
3/2
Wonderbolt Live-Fire Squad 3R
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying
You may exert Wonderbolt Live-Fire Squad as it attacks. When you do, you may put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Sacrifice that creature at the beginning of your next end step. (An exerted creature won’t untap during your next untap step.)
3/1
Transcontinental Rush 3RR
Instant
Cast this spell only during your declare attackers step.
Search your library for a creature card, put it onto the battlefield tapped and attacking, then shuffle. Exile that creature at end of combat. If it would leave the battlefield, exile it instead of putting it anywhere else.
Draconic Resculptor 4R
Creature — Dragon Artificer
Flying
When Draconic Resculptor enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice an artifact. If you do, reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal an artifact card. Put that card onto the battlefield and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
3/3
Overwhelming Mass 1GG
Sorcery
Destroy all artifacts and enchantments with mana value X or less, where X is the greatest toughness among creatures you control.
All of Ornithia trembled under Huginn’s growing bulk.
Cunabulan Utopia 2G
Enchantment
Permanents not named Cunabulan Utopia have hexproof.
Cunabula’s golden age was a time of perfect harmony, free of all want and strife.
Trust Elemental 3GG
Creature — Elemental
Players can cast spells and activate abilities only during their own turns.
“Trust isn’t knowing the truth, but faith in it.”
—Mineral MacGuffin, A Guide to the Elements of Harmony, Sixth Edition
4/5
Perseverance Elemental 4GG
Creature — Elemental
Indestructible; ward 4
Perseverance Elemental can’t be sacrificed.
“Perseverance doesn’t stop. It doesn’t know how.”
—Mineral MacGuffin, A Guide to the Elements of Harmony, Sixth Edition
4/4
Captain’s Cutlass 3
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets +3/+1 and has first strike.
Equip Pirate 2
Equip 4
If you don’t have a buckler, apply extra swash.
Oceanid Flockmother 2UB
Enchantment Creature — Nymph
Bestow 4UB (If you cast this card for its bestow cost, it’s an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it’s not attached to a creature.)
Whenever Oceanid Flockmother or enchanted creature deals combat damage to a player, create a 1/1 black Harpy creature token with flying.
Enchanted creature gets +3/+3.
3/3
Stop the Wedding 2RG
Legendary Enchantment
When Stop the Wedding enters the battlefield or at the beginning of your upkeep, target creature you control fights up to one target creature you don’t control. When the creature you control wins the fight, put a quest counter on Stop the Wedding. If it has three or more quest counters on it, remove all of them and transform it. (A creature wins the fight if it’s the only one that survives the damage.)
Mountain Temple of Harmony
Legendary Land
T: Add one mana of any color.
1RG, T: Target creature you control gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each creature you control, then fights up to one target creature you don’t control.
A court of love is a fine place for an impassioned strike.
Ceridwen, Fleshshaper 2BGU
Legendary Creature — Bird Snake Knight
Flying, vigilance
X: Another target creature has base power and toughness X/X until end of turn. This ability costs 4 more to activate if it targets a creature you don’t control. Activate only as a sorcery.
“Your end is a gift to those who remain.”
3/4
Fossilized Sunwing 3BR
Creature — Dinosaur Skeleton
Flying
Unearth 1BR (1BR: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step or if it would leave the battlefield. Unearth only as a sorcery.)
The bones long for one last flight.
5/2
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Castle Guardhawk's non-keyword ability is continuous, with "this turn" being whatever turn it currently is. It's still basically trinket text (an ability that will occasionally come up but doesn't affect whether you use it; 3/2 vigilance for 3 is passable in Limited if nothing else).
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: The cost-increase clause on Ceridwen is because X=0 will usually kill even indestructible targets, and its sorcery-speed restriction is to make combat math more reasonable. (Seriously though, an at-will creature kill for 4 mana and nothing else is basically the only part of it that qualifies as black and still something I'd be a bit wary of)
I'm honestly currious where they're going with all these trees. And if somehow this is setting up the events that will lead to G5's segregated society.
For the record, I have blogs and comments putting a Ceridwen into my story before she was introduced into the IDW comics, so I cannot be accused of swiping this from them.
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They'll respond that they promise to stop making MLP G4 comics entirely. (For those playing at home, this would already have been their last time doing so anyway)
This actually makes sense to me. I'm writing a story where the main characters each subtextually embody a somewhat atypical representation of the original Elements. In this case, "Laughter" is in the more general sense of "Optimism". For the character channeling Laughter, this means, he never, ever gives up and always looks for a way out of any situation (in other words, perseveres) because he keeps a positive attitude about his chances. Even if he gets thrown out of a plane mid-flight.
You can't run from the official novella forever!
What does it mean for a creature to "win a fight"?
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Like the reminder text says, it has to survive the fight while also killing the other creature.
Also, I thought I should let our host know that Trust Elemental's power and toughness appear to have gone fishin'...
Now that's a real endgame if I saw one.