mtg.wtf

"You returned a warrior. . . . Your hair was cut, your eye tattooed with the red triangle of war."
—"Love Song of Night and Day"

Patient and observant, the people of Zhalfir lurked beyond the veil of time until their moment came to finally strike at Phyrexia.

"The Zhentarim are ruthless, unscrupulous, and dishonest. But I must admit, they are effective."
—Commander Liara Portyr

"Only the decadent think magic should be pristine and without cost."

Gurley was the first to domesticate one, though his widow didn't take much solace in that accomplishment.

". . . Jiang Wei alone still strove with might and main: / Nine times more he fought the north—in vain. . . ."

". . . Near death in Baidi, having reigned three years, / Bei sadly placed his son in Kongming's care. . . ."

It lives mainly on fruit, leaves, and the occasional nose.

". . . The world's affairs rush on, an endless stream; / A sky-told fate, infinite in reach, dooms all. . . ."

" . . . Cao Pi, Cao Rui, Fang, Mao, and briefly, Huan— / The Sima took the empire in their turn. . . ."

". . . But the time of Han had run—could he [Kongming] not tell?— / That night his master star fell past the hills. . . ."

"Thrice Xuande's ardent quest led to Nanyang, / Where Sleeping Dragon unveiled Han's partition: . . ."

Shades are drawn to places of power, often rooting themselves in a single area to feed.

"Zombies don't kill. They recruit."
—Braids, dementia summoner

It doesn't need to feed, but still it hungers.

Nothing is sacred to the undead—not even their own kind.

The single-mindedness of a zombie, the cunning of an assassin.

"Removing the encumbrance of useless brain tissue grants several advantages: a slight increase in mobility, a response of revulsion and horror from the enemy, and, in the case of large specimens, room for passengers."
—Zul Ashur, lich lord

The World Spell thawed their icy graves, promising rest in soft, quiet earth at last. But Heidar called them to duty for a twisted cause.

"On the plus side, Throg no longer thinks he's clever."
—Xanathar

The ripe smell of life drifted into Grixis. The dead caught the scent and with reckless hunger followed it back into Jund.

"Pick a shell upon my shore and put it to your ear. That sound isn't the sea, but the whispers of the fallen."
—Crovax

The chains obey her. Everything else would do best to get out of her way.