Old Stickfingers

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Old Stickfingers
Aval, the Vine Lord of the Hearth
Macath
The Destroyer
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Old Stickfingers.jpg}}|250px]]
Details
Race Horror
Birthplace Lambholt, Kessig, Innistrad
Lifetime Mending Era
Colors
{B}{G}

Old Stickfingers is a horror from Innistrad. It is an ancient creature thousands of years old, with thousands of names including Aval, the Vine Lord of the Hearth, Macath, and The Destroyer.

Description

Old Stickfingers was once a nature god but has since been forgotten.[1] He is considered a "hearth spirit", an entity summoned to protect a certain area (e.g. a property or a house). He is summoned through a ritual using a wooden mobile and "sacrifice" from an animal (where the animal must be delivered to him).

Thin as an alder, taller than a man, skin stretched tight against small bones, fingers like twigs. A creature of nightmare, of every child's imagination. At his feet, everywhere he stepped, hoarfrost bloomed and mushrooms grew. His face was more deer skull than human flesh, embers dripped from his jaws like blood, and he had more antlers than any natural beast of any natural forest. He had too many eyes. Every moment, the number seemed to change, and each glowed with pale green fire, and each one was watching you. He was there and he wasn't there, you could look right at him and be sure he was creeping up on you. He has super strength and affinity with animals, being able to bark like deer and dogs, and his blood is white.[2]

History

Old Stickfingers was invoked by Arinos to protect the farmer's property. However the ritual was not completed properly, causing Old Stickfingers to kill several people across the village of Lambholt. The cathar Rem Karolus and the archmage Vadrik were called in to investigate the mysterious deaths. After investigating, Vadrik, together with Arinos' daughter, Ariosa, managed to contain Old Stickfingers by completing the ritual.[2] Looking back on the events, Vadrik had a hunch that Arianos wasn't killed by Old Stickfingers but may rather have been possessed by him.

Traditional rhyme

“  Old Stickfingers

Terror-bringer
Knows when children disobey

If you're slacking
He's attacking
Did you do your chores today?

Old Stickfingers'
Presence lingers
Inside every hollow tree

Don't sneak out
Or you'll shout
And no one will remember thee

 ”

—— Children's rhyme[3]

Ariosa adds the line: "Every time you break my skin, I will break another man." She summons Old Stickfingers with the rhyme, "Tall man, long man, will you guard this home? Protect the one who calls, who dwells here all alone? Old Stickfingers, of the alders, take this goat in lieu of me. Aval vine lord, old destroyer, harm you none without my plea."

Later, another variation of the rhyme is given:

“  Sticky Stick

He killed Vik
Don't go near
Don't go near

Mister Sticks
Has lots of tricks
He can hear
When you fear

Old dame Hilgin
Lost her children
Where've they been
Where've they been

Old Stick Buddy
In the muddy
Dragged them in
Wears their skin

 ”

—— Children's rhyme[2]

Story appearances

Title Author Publishing date Set Setting (plane) Featuring
His Eyes, All of Them Margaret Killjoy 2021-09-17 Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Innistrad Vadrik, Hailin, Rem Karolus, Malynn, Old Stickfingers, Ariosa

Trivia

  • An interesting fact about Old Stickfingers is that he is right behind you.[3]

In-game references

Represented in:

References

  1. Jay Annelli (2022). Magic: The Gathering - The Visual Guide, DK. ISBN-13 978-0744061055.
  2. a b c Margaret Killjoy (September 17, 2021). "His Eyes, All of Them". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. a b Ari Zirulnik and Grace Fong (September 16, 2021). "The New Legends of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021.