Is it just me, or does seeing a place called Creve Couer make you hungry for fancy named desserts that are way too expensive for anyone but Richie Rich to afford?  My first stop was at a store called The Zone, and I must say that the players and store owner provided me with much entertainment over the course of the day.  It was certainly a great feeling after having a three hour flight delay and a two and a half hour drive the night before. I had to brave what can only be described as the scene in Twister where vehicles and a cow start flying through the air, but it’s all in the name of gaming.

Before this event I was relatively inexperienced with Sealed Deck, so not only was I able to have fun, but I also learned a thing or two along the way.  My first foray into the March of the Legion and Servants of the Betrayer Sealed event brought me the following:

Kil’zin of the Bloodscalp

Allies – 17
Vindicator Belian
Captain Swash
Vindicator Kaldel
Hulok Trailblazer
Seamus Somerset
Sha’kar
Vindicator Agran
Tatulla the Reclaimer
Marksman Eowan
Hota the Bloodsoaked
Ossandran, Crematorium Master
Bulvai of the Watch
“Acid Hands” McGillicutty
Silea Dawnwalker
Groundshaker Earnheart
Darynus
Delrach the Vile

Abilities – 4
Death Shock
2 Stoneclaw Totem
Life Cycle

Equipment – 4
Choker of Vile Intent
Stormshield of Renewal
2 Reflex Blades

Quests – 7
The Formation of Felbane
Leader of the Darkcrest
The Sigil of Krasus
Survey the Land
The Spirit Polluted
Meeting with the Master
The Name of the Beast

Round 1 – Nick Hulva – Mythen of the Wild

Before our match began, Nick and I chitchatted a bit about what he thinks about the World of Warcraft TCG and what a few of his favorite cards are.  Listening to Nick rattle off his favorite cards,I was reminded that he was running a Druid which probably meant the arrival of Earth Mother’s Blessing. 

After winning the die roll and having the always awesome Kil’zin Flip power, I figured that I would be safe from the savage beatings at the hands of the Earth Mother.  As turn three came around, everything that I had previously told myself went out the door as I convinced myself that playing my Stormshield of Renewal was a good thing to do as he has Archanist Dayvana on the field.  I ended my turn and Nick saw an opening and took the opportunity to bless his Archanist turning it into a 6/4 on turn 3, which was now out of Kil’zin’s range to kill.  I tried to play catch up and thought I could make it out with my Reflex Blades on 5, but Nick promptly used The Natural Order to keep his board in tact.  The final blow came on turn eight was Nick went for the jugular by dropping Highlord Bolvar Fordragon.  My only out was the Death Shock that I had yet to see which I tried to dig for with The Name of the Beast, only to see Nick chuckling.  After scooping I asked him what was so funny, and he amusingly revealed that he had put my Death Shock on the bottom of my deck on turn one with his Archanist Lyronia.  Needless to say I was speechless, but after discussing it with some of the other players, they came to the conclusion that this was nothing more than a blatant display of savagery.

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Round 2 – Steve Fouts – Chancellor Velora

After having packed up numerous Crafting Redemption Program cards for Steve over the last few months, it was nice to finally see a face behind the envelopes.  Having learned nothing from my previous encounter, I again reminded myself to watch for Melt Face, but I decided to over-extend on turn three and put down a Stoneclaw Totem for no reason to keep his Shadala from attacking my Ally.  Steve quickly played Melt Face with Shadala on the field, destroying my Stoneclaw Totem leaving my ally helpless against Melt Face.  Everything after that is a blur of another Melt Face against my Darynus, a Tatulla against my second Stoneclaw Totem, and an attempt to dig with The Name of the Beast for an Ally this time, only to pass my Reflex Blades and Stormshield to end up with some weak Ally that didn’t help.  The other players decided to give me the benefit of the doubt and attribute this lost EA Varimathras to another display of savagery.

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Round 3 – Tony Crum – Taheo Skyspeaker

I didn’t get a chance to talk to Tony much as he seemed anxious to keep me pinned down with my current 0-fer record.  Tony had most of the board advantage until around turn five when I was able to kill his Cerrick Bloodawn with my Reflex Blades.  Tony tried to swing the game in his favor by playing Marka Addington for some big beats, but I got a Stoneclaw Totem down on turn six to have Marka take a total of six damage before she could do anything.  Tony tried to flip Taheo to heal Marka on turn seven so she wouldn’t die, but I responded and flipped Kil’zin to finish Marka off.  I had Groundshaker Earnheart and my Reflex Blades to push through a victory and Tony couldn’t stabilize after that.  Finally, I was able to weather the storm to sneak in a win.

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Round 4 – Jacky Lam – Marlowe the Felsworn

Jacky was probably the most excited person to play against me at any of my three stops.  I won the die roll for the fourth time and we went on to trade some allies at the start, but on turn four I was looking to really put the pressure on.  I dropped Bulvai of the Watch and ran Hurlok Trailblazer into his Blademistress Lyss to set it up so that Bulvai could kill her if she attacked or Hurlok could kill her on the next turn.  I felt confident this could really put me over if he had nothing to help, but that confidence soon turned to despair as Jacky played Soul Inversion on my Bulvai to turn him from a 3/5 into a 5/3.  With three resources left he played Devil-Stitched Leggings and then ran Lyss into Bulvai to ready all of his resources. Of course that set up using the Leggings to bring  Bulvai to 0 health.  I was lucky enough to pull Tatulla on five and get rid of the Leggings, but Jacky got Apocanon and the Arcanium Signet Band out.  I got my Reflex Blades out next and had to take out Apocanon with an attack and Hurlok.  Jacky got Stella Forgebane out to destroy my Blades.  Tatulla traded with Stella on seven and Jacky dropped the Gabble to put the pressure on me.  I decided not use Name of the Beast after my previous unlucky streak.  I flipped Kil’zin to get Sha’kar out with ferocity to hopefully get some pressure and a Stoneclaw Totem.  I locked Gabble out for a turn, but with the Arcanium Bands preventing damage and letting his low ATK allies double their damage against more formidable opponents on my side, I couldn’t keep up and Gabble was my undoing.  Jacky cheered.  I frowned.  Varimathras cried.

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