The King Arthur tale that influenced Magic: The Gathering’s Wilds of Eldraine
The King Arthur tale that influenced Magic: The Gathering's Wilds of Eldraine
The Once and Future King: An Inspiring Tale for Magic: The Gathering’s Wilds of Eldraine Expansion
Image: Ryan Pancoast/Wizards of the Coast
If you thought King Arthur was just a stuffy old legend, think again! The upcoming Magic: The Gathering expansion, Wilds of Eldraine, draws inspiration from one of the most political tales of King Arthur – T.H. White’s The Once and Future King. Roy Graham, the lead writer at Wizards of the Coast, spilled the beans to GameTopic at MagicCon Minneapolis about how this story influenced the whimsical and darker sides of the mystical plane of Eldraine.
In 2019, Magic players were first tantalized by the courtly life of Eldraine in Throne of Eldraine. Now, in the newest expansion, the focus shifts to the untamed wilderness of this fictional land, teeming with elves, fairies, and goblins. And while you might wonder how Arthurian legends and European fables mix, fear not, because White’s retelling of King Arthur’s saga in The Once and Future King provides the perfect template for this magical journey.
White’s novel introduces us to a young King Arthur, known as Wart, who starts off as an orphan boy. The story primarily revolves around his early education, which surprisingly delves into various political systems. In one fascinating section, Merlyn transforms Wart into different animals to teach him valuable lessons about politics. These books were written during and after World War II, making them not only enchanting but also filled with relevant and biting political messages that still resonate today. And Roy Graham couldn’t agree more.
“I’m a huge King Arthur fan,” Graham excitedly shared with GameTopic. “The beginning of the book is like a charming, whimsical adventure where Arthur gets turned into a bird by Merlyn to learn about fascism. But then, the second half takes a dark turn – Arthur’s ultimate demise and betrayal by his closest comrades.”
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In the Wilds of Eldraine, we follow the journey of Will Kenrith and his twin sister, Rowan, as they try to unite a land cursed by the witch, Eriette, following the death of their father, Eldraine’s king. Much like Wart, Will wields his father’s sword to rescue their homeland, while Rowan believes in harnessing her magical powers to undo the witch’s evil. This story unfolds in serialized bits of fiction by K. Arsenault Rivera on the Magic website and parallels the emotional rollercoaster experienced in White’s Arthurian legend retelling:
“But there is something else coming along with the anger, the sorrow. Something new and terrible. Rowan knows it not, yet like poison it courses through her veins, setting her afire.”
According to Graham, this delightful blend of whimsy and darkness aligns perfectly with Eldraine’s duality. It was a challenging task to strike the right balance between the expected silliness and the serious tones that GameTopicers adore. The story in Wilds of Eldraine is undoubtedly darker and more intense than the previous visit to this fantastical plane.
“But fear not,” Graham assured, as hope still springs eternal. “I can’t reveal too much because the story hasn’t been released yet, but Will and Rowan’s tale represents the darker side. There is another character, yet to be unveiled, who brings the whimsical fairy tale element to Eldraine. And we all know, fairy tales generally have happy endings – at least the versions we’re taught as Americans.”
Get ready to immerse yourself in the magical realm – Wilds of Eldraine will be available digitally for Magic: The Gathering Arena on Sept. 5, with the physical release soon following on Sept. 8. If you can’t wait to journey to Eldraine, you can head over to the Magic website to read more of K. Arsenault Rivera’s captivating story. And don’t forget, you can download The Phyrexian Arc, the previous Magic: The Gathering narrative arc, as a free ebook.
Now, grab your swords and wands and prepare for an adventure like no other! Eldraine is waiting for you, and the realm needs your magic to triumph over evil. Are you up for the challenge?
