Throne of Eldraine as Told by Flavor Text

A faerie's glee at her trove quickly fades to contentment, then to boredom, then to an urge to steal more.

"Even when hope is but a small flame fighting the night, I will serve the absent king."

In a castle that prizes loyalty above all, the bond between knight and griffin is unmatched.

At the market, no one heeded Hilda's frantic mooing. The fae curse was turning out even worse than she had feared.

Sometimes a gentle slipper can travel where an armored boot has been dented.

"They have forsaken their vows. The edict of the Circle demands their voices be silenced." ~ Syr Tasdale, knight of Ardenvale

No one is so lost that a faerie can't find them.

"The white fox grinned. 'How about a bet, dragon? If I win, the skies are mine.' After he stopped laughing, the dragon agreed." ~ Tales of the Fae

"To the king, to the Circle, and to the realm! And to not dying."

"What size advantage? They never even see me coming."

Fate will decide whether it's a bed or a tomb.

First among equals.

"Let's begin this conversation again, and this time you will only listen."

"What good is loyalty to the crown if we are not also in service to those less fortunate? I fight for all of us."

"Until my last breath, I will defend the realm."

For good or ill, most fae can't resist meddling in the adventures of any knight they meet.

"With the drum of hooves and a flash of blades, the monster's terrifying roar changed to a cry of fear." ~ Legend of the Gilded Knights

"I wrote these tales with a quill made from a griffin's feather. And the winning of that feather is quite a tale itself." ~ Chulane, Teller of Tales

"If you're as loyal as you claim, now is the time to show it." ~ Queen Linden of Ardenvale

Syr Damon looked at the dragon and saw the faces of every innocent it had devoured. Suddenly, his sword blazed like the sun.

Not all heroes carry swords.

Tempered by fire and united in virtue, the knights of Ardenvale fight with a single, unbreakable will.

Beacons along the borderlands are lit at any incursion from the wilds.

"The realm must never yield to the chaos of the wilds."

"At least up here I have some peace and quiet."

"Be careful, some people deserve their curses." ~ Marawen, barrow witch

"May this blade guide you on your great journey, as it did me on mine."

Every Ardenvale aspirant must step through the flame. Their honor determines whether they burn or shine.

"In the wilds, your true training will begin." ~ Syr Alin, the Lion's Claw

A true puppet master has no need for strings.

Castle Vantress has no locks on its doors, but interlopers rarely make it past the foyer.

"If you're in our home, we expect you to mind your manners."

History may be written by the triumphant, but it's often rewritten by the troublesome.

That gnat was still hovering by the venison, and now both looked delicious.

His name is spoken only in whispers—but he hears just the same.

The boundary between real and imaginary is as thin as the page, and just as easily torn.

Merfolk curiosity usually has dire consequences, but rarely for the merfolk.

"Share your darkest secret and the Mirror will reveal your soul's essence." ~ Ceri, royal mirrorkeeper

The fae raised the turtle from a tiny hatchling. They taught it whom to ferry—and whom to drown.

They comb the shallows of Lochmere for relics of a bygone era. And if they happen upon a lone traveler, all the better.

"Poor, lost mage. Your feet are on land, yet you're in over your head, aren't you?"

"Sometimes the hardest choice is between two wonders." ~ Gadwick, the Wizened

"Virtue is virtue, whatever the heart that nurtures it." ~ Malacan, Vantress exile

Ask a merfolk even a simple question and the answer is a journey beyond the known.

His sword sounded like a silver chime on the glass jar, and the sprite laughed with delight.

"If we didn't guard our secrets, they wouldn't remain secrets for long." ~ Gadwick, the Wizened

Denizens of the wilds don't always seek to harm intruders. Sometimes they simply misplace them.

"Humans are so forgetful. Every page I steal becomes a secret they can't remember."

Rowan and Will exchanged a baffled glance. Could the stag in the vision lead them to their father?

"Someone knows where the king is. They can't expect to keep it a secret from us."

She yearned to walk on dry land so she might take her vengeance there.

It was built by the witch of Lochmere. Most of the wishes it grants are its own.

Mourning shifts seamlessly to celebration as she chooses her next suitor.

"My secret ingredient? Well, I can't tell you that. But here's a hint. It's not love."

"Taste the sweetness, breath for breath. Keep the balance, death for death." ~ Barrow witch incantation

Locthwain knights take pride in being the last ones standing in a fight or on a dance floor.

The Blacklances travel deep into the wilds, sometimes for years at a time, in search of the lost Cauldron of Eternity.

"The faerie plucked an acorn off the ground. One knight's quest was about to come to a bitter end." ~ Tales of the Fae

Every day the cat returns to kill the same mouse, which sinks again into the cauldron's brew.

The dragon had a lot of things going through his mind that day. He didn't expect a sword to be one of them.

"Lord Rankle will see you now—all he asks is a small token of tribute."

"Even as we mourn the last, we look to the next with joy. Hopefully my new suitor will bring the Cauldron home." ~ Ayara, First of Locthwain

Those who say you only live once have never been touched by the Cauldron of Eternity.

"Another angry mob? When will they learn to leave me be?" ~ Terryn, Edgewall outcast

"I will find the king if I have to ride from summer to winter and back again."

Even death cannot diminish the persistence of the knights of Locthwain.

He has slain a dozen witches, luring each with a promise of fresh children's bones.

In the wilds, the ravens steal far more than baubles.

"Into amethyst, I pournEnvy's shadow, sorrow's gleam.nLure the one whose scorn I borenThat I may hear one final scream." ~ Barrow witch incantation

Syr Tasdale declared that he never wanted to see the witch Ygretta again. Her familiars quickly granted his requested.

"My quest? Why, to marry Ayara. Or die trying."

"Imagine having your skeleton extracted through your ear, one bone at a time." ~ Corliss the Wanderer

"Murder clad in crimson beauty, An end to life and love and duty." ~ Barrow witch incantation

"Some are born to greatness. You were born to scrub greatness's floors."

The hex swept through the village, its citizens falling one by one.

The giant had heard of locks, but he had yet to discover a door he couldn't open.

"Build a moat. If we're lucky, it can't swim." ~ Syr Branigan, knight of Ardenvale

"You think these walls will protect you?nMy, you have a dim view of the power of the wilds" ~ Marawen, barrow witch

Not every tale ends in glory.

"For every scar I've received, I've given ten back."

"The deal was struck and the favor had been done. And so, under the cover of night, the debt was paid." ~ *Tales of the Fae*

"After the death of her mother, Cassia found that things that appear fragile can be very strong indeed." ~ *Beyond the Great Henge*

"The king would die for the realm. I would not hesitate to do the same for him."

"Courage is the only shield I need."

Knights who excel in tournaments sometimes underestimate threats beyond the realm.

2018 World Champion Javier Dominguez

"Just tell us how many you want and get out of the way."

Giants believe that tossing redcaps at knights is the best way to deal with both.

The greatest challenge isn't the stifling heat but the crushing weight of those who failed before.

"Fear of fire is a sensible instinct. If I were you, I'd be terrified."

"Life is a tournament that rewards the bold." ~ Syr Layne, knight of Embereth

"Gather round and tell me all from the courts and castles."

"Buying old, worn-out junk. Selling marvels of real value."

Knights kept returning from Ogre's Pass wearing nothing but bruises, so they decided to just pretend it was on their side.

Many tales of redcap terror begin with two simple things: bloodlust and stolen steel.

At first, Syr Fenwick scoffed when he saw his opponents for the final match.

"I admire their courage as much as I despise their savagery." ~ Syr Carah, the Bold

As the blaze raced towards her, Syr Ameril closed her eyes and pictured Castle Ardenvale so her last thoughts would be of home.

It emerged from the coldest depths of Lochmere only to face the fires of Irencrag.

"The gleam of rubies and my brothers and sisters by my side . . . what more could I want?" ~ Brognold the Third

The ogre crashed through the massive door. The winged folios scattered like frightened birds.

The purest virtue burns brighter than the sun and hotter than dragonfire.

"Duty and honor are reasons enough, but beating you will also be a pleasure."

"Remember all those great heroes who were careful and never did anything risky? Me neither." ~ Syr Carah, the Bold

A dwarf's grudge runs deeper than the mountains' roots.

"I would rather cast myself into the abyss than let my blood stain the cap of those monsters." ~ Syr Alin, the Lion's Claw

"It's gingerbread, like Mother makes. What is there to be afraid of?"

"Warmth. Safety. A fully-stocked larder. You'll find nothing like Edgewall Keep in the wilds, I promise you that!"

"A keen eye and steady hand are essential for defeating most foes, including hunger." ~ Syr Grenphire, knight of Garenbrig

When the realm has laws, the wilds there are other ways of balancing power.

The middle blade was just right.

Countless knights of Garenbrig owe their lives to his peerless craftsmanship.

"Find him a weapon as big as his dreams." ~ Yorvo, lord of Garenbrig

They look tasty, but best to plant them.

"Only the lion knows more stories than I do." ~ Chulane, Teller of Tales

His mind chose solitude, but his heart disagreed.

They both hunger for battle.

The elves remember every secret path from the days when they ruled the realm.

"The curse is broken."

"Long after the magic wore off, the mice still dreamed of glorious galloping." ~ Tales of the Fae

"Old battlefields make great gardens. So rich from the blood of the fallen."

After years of taunts and aerial assaults from Rankle's minions, the witches of Maraleaf Forest acquired new familiars.

"Words are pointless. It's what you do with your hammer that counts."

He realized a bit late that he was supposed to *plant* the magic beans.

"Right now you are a feeble stick, but I will help you grow some rings."

"This one was wearing shoes made of glass. She'll be no ordinary prey."

"The monster was gaining on them. Twice it had found them. There was only one place let to hide." ~ *Tales of the Fae*

In the end, death usually has its way.

The guards kindled the hearth and locked the door to Ellwen's chamber. By morning, the fire was out and Ellwen was gone.

Its wide-reaching roots draw more than water.

"Does it matter what it is? Take it and be grateful!"

"I agreed to light his way as long as he always had my back." ~ Squill, Mistford pixie

"I fight for my daughter, who may not set foot on a battlefield for many years. Remember who you fight for."

Neither hostile nor friendly, pixies flit through the forest seeking the treasures of the wilds.

None of the other villagers dare venture into the wilds, so she feeds the whole hamlet herself.

"A traditional lance is fine for the Burning Yard, but in the wilds you need a nastier bite." ~ Kenver, Embereth weaponsmith

"As she reached the pinnacle, lightning flashed and her eyes blazed with newfound power." ~ Legend of the Gilded Knights

"A good steed will carry you home. A great steed will carry you to glory." ~ Syr Alin, the Lion's Claw

"Headed to the wilds? Beware the dead riders who serve the Shadow Queen." ~ Scalan, Edgewall innkeeper

Nothing remains of his foes but the gripping story of their downfall.

He endured the white-hot blaze of the Circle and the sweltering heat of the Irencrag, and he emerged victorious.

Despite its ferocity, its favor can be won with a gift of something it's never seen before.

"He has strength and courage—just way, way too much of both." ~ Syr Faren, the Hengehammer

"Respect the wilds? Certainly. Fear them? No."

While humans hear only a deafening roar, the fae hear music of breathtaking beauty.

Some are annoyed by the constant ticking as they clean the cobbles, but to the castle custodians, there's no sweeter sound.

"The Northern Beacon flared, and even before the drawbridge finished its descent, the knights charged out." ~ Legend of the Gilded Knights

The unlabeled vial was not vanilla extract after all.

Everything that inhabits Garenbrig is affected by the wild magic flowing through the Great Henge.

"The strings were gone, but he still felt the pull of invisible forces tugging at his mind." ~ *Beyond the Great Henge*

"Don't let it fool you. Many of us got our first scars from Syr Nobody." ~ Syr Layne, knight of Embereth

"As the traitor hurried across the courtyard, its eyes snapped open. It was time to pay the queen a visit." ~ Beyond the Great Henge

Syr Branigan always remembered to kiss his good luck charm, having lost his foot to wolverines the last time he forgot.

It frequently predicts imminent death by devouring.

"It wandered slowly across the landscape, calling out in its lonely voice, but no other castles answered its cries." ~ Beyond the Great Henge

"It's a witch's trick, this cauldron full of pain. I wouldn't dump it on any but the wicked."

"The young squire gripped her sword as the clanking stranger emerged. It was no knight that had come to challenge her." ~ Beyond the Great Henge

"Accursed scarecrow! Sending folk in every direction is the same as sending them nowhere at all." ~ Corliss the Wanderer

"Reynald wished for an army to sweep away his enemies. The fae king smiled." ~ Beyond the Great Henge

"Though long forgotten, the wheel continued to turn, spinning fate from a dusty attic." ~ *Beyond the Great Henge*

Cast out of Garenbrig for his crimes, Ennor turned to fae magic to fashion the perfect weapon for his revenge.

No weapon stays on the rack for long in the Burning Yard.

The wafting smells are both scrumptious and suspicious.

Without Ardenvale's loyalty, the realm would greedily devour itself.

Without Embereth's courage, the realm would falter and fall.

Without Garenbrig's strength, the realm would succumb to the wilds.

Without Lochthwain's persistence, the realm would stagnate and die.

Without Vantress's knowledge, the realm would lose itself in darkness.

From here, the path to anywhere may be found.

Every hero's journey starts somewhere.

No one knows when the tournament began. All they know is that it will never end.

The keen-eyed guardians of Ardenvale are ever on alert.

"This sword is Sunrise. The other is Dawn. They mark the beginning of my days but the end of yours."

They function as everything from assassins to jesters in the name of their fae king.

No matter the cruelty of Oko's jokes, he's always guaranteed the sycophant's laughter.

"My advisors recommend I let them eat you." —Oko

The throng flitted from castle to castle, leaving a trail of star-crossed love, damaging rumors, and missing heirlooms in their wake.

The indigo dragon gladly traded a bit of its hoard for everlasting moonlight.

"Fear not what's under the bed. The toys are watching." ~ *Beyond the Great Henge*

"Hone the knife and mourn the least. Three chimes to sound the sweet, grim feast." ~ Barrow witch incantation

"We fight with valor in our hearts and fire in our veins!"

Many an ancient treasure has been reduced to jagged caltrops by its snapping jaws.

It will come to the defense of all wild things, from the shivering wren to the towering giant.

"Rankle's pranks are child's play. My games will topple kingdoms."

"By hoof, wing, or paw. For the realm!" ~ Syr Gwyn, Hero of Ashvale

Transformed at his own wedding, he promptly ate the banquet, the gifts, and the guests.

Squires throughout the realm aspire to her mix of panache and martial prowess.

It started as a mere drop of water. The Magic Mirror crystallized it into much more.

"Approach my tower on bended knee or depart from it as ash upon the wind." ~ Gadwick, the Wizened