Bird Maiden

"Four things that never meet do here unite stand, to shed my blood and ravage my heart, a radiant bow and tresses that beguile, and rosy cheeks and a glittering smile"-- The Arabian Nights, Haddawy

Bird Maiden, at first look, it doesn't do much. After all, it's merely a 1/2 for three. However there is something endearing about the card. I remember a certain school yard friend wrote a screenplay called 'The Adventure of the Bird Maiden" inspired about a Bird Maiden, that managed to survive a two hour long game with ten people we all use to play in the day. It's always stayed well into my mind, and when earlier this year I decided to separate the cards I'd sell to the cards I wouldn't, I put aside my AN playset in a heartbeat (along with a well played 4th edition one).

I must of not have been alone. The (now defunct) Encyclopedia Dominia had an entire entry on Bird Maiden, which described their culture, and said all Bird Maidens were female, males were born human (but had incredible luck in life).

I've seen fan art, cosplays, and numerous other things of this otherwise lackluster creature. She is even on the banner of Geocities of Brass! So what is it that is so endearing? Is it the art, the flavor text, the fact it flies? Lets dive in and find out.

Imagine if she costed R.

Playability: There's often a common misconception that Red doesn't get very much flying creatures. That's a lie, in fact, I'd argue after blue, Red has some of the best fliers in the format. Between Basalt Gargoyle, Shivan Dragon, Rukh Token, Dragon Welp, and Goblin Balloon Brigade, red has a plathora of decently costed creatures of the air (not to mention some outliners like Roc). So the fact she has flying isn't that unique to her. Combine this with being a 1/2 for three, and her stats are lackluster to say the least. However, evasion is evasion, and she works well with a bad idea for 'red skies', utilizing Earthquake. Combine this with the fact her current creature type is 'Human Bird', and if you're playing 95 (or a similar variant) she does have tribal synergy with Soraya the Falconer (granted being required to play two colors). The cost is also splashable, costing 2 generic and a red. However, this doesn't help much with such better options out there, 2/5.

Art: Oh, here is the crown jewel of the card. I am going to get ALOT of flack for this, but this card might be Kaja Foglio's best piece. The art has an elaborate array of colors, featuring varying shades of orange, green, blue, and black on the wings. The outfit our maiden is wearing is very, Arabian, to say the least, at least to common pop culture myth (I don't know how common middrift showing was to be honest). Again, the top and pants feature a great array of colors and details, including what I think is an upside down heart. She is even wearing jewelry! Her, hair has a varying degree of white streaks in an otherwise dark black hair, giving it a look of form and texture. Finally this is all complimented with a backdrop of a flight blue, a few clouds, and a endless desert. The flat colors compliment the maiden, and the clouds give a nice sort of small detail so that corner isn't blank. The fact the horizon is on a diagonal angle is also nice, confirming she's in midflight. This is all finished by an adorable smile that says 'cast me, it will be fun'. If 'waifu's' existed in 94, I'm sure she would have been someone's. 5/5

Flavor: Honestly, there isn't much to say about the flavor of the card. The Encyclopedia Dominia claimed Bird Maidens were lucky and swift, which could explain the two toughness. They live in the endless deserts of Rabiah, which explains them being red. They have wings, so they obviously fly. I do like that the Grand Creature Type Update made them 'Human Bird', which is nice bit of flavor, separating them from Harpies. In reality, it's a simple card in that regard, doesn't do much offensive, nor anything spectacular. I can only give it a 3/5. 

5th edition really does the art justice!