EPT
Stork's Path of Ascension
“ The prophecy of the Terran Emperor will come true, and when it does, I’ll be sitting back and smiling ear to ear. We’ve seen flash in the pan players come out of nowhere to steal a title and inevitably fall victim to one “curse” or another, but not Stork. You’re going to see him coming. When he gets his status as a champion, and he will, it will be built upon a string of wins a mile long and a reputation as the hardest working Progamer in the sport today.”
- Manablue, from The Little Protoss that Could
Starcraft is a cruel mistress. Whether its watching Savior crumble, or seeing the likes of Nal_rA and iloveoov retire, in recent times, the progaming scene has hurt many fans. What's even worse, perhaps, is the realisation that the old has gone, and the new has come. The former greats barely qualify for the individual leagues, while new players like Jaedong and Flash, with their insane mechanics and stunning game sense, continually push the boundaries of the game.
We look to the past, and see that titans like Boxer, iloveoov, Nal_rA and Savior played a very different kind of Starcraft. Call it panache, call it style, call it whatever you want – but Boxer-esque play has been missing from many recent games. Then again, we often look at the present and see Jaedong, Best and Flash completely dominating with their faultless play. They may not be as entertaining as the old guard, but they do get the job done.
Today, we look back on the history of Starcraft, and see the new, the old, and the gap between them.
On Saturday, Stork stood in this divide, and bridged it.
Foretold as a great Protoss by The Emperor himself, Song Byung Goo is where the old and the new meet. With terrific mechanics and mind blowing macro Stork embodies the new. On the other hand, Saturday's OSL final showed us that Stork is as much a part of the old as anyone in the pro scene today.
The Story of Stork
+ Show Spoiler +
![[image loading]](http://www.nofomos.kr/board/issue/1225460200_3.jpg)
Here are LosingID8's translations for this strip that was put together by nofomos before the finals.
+ Show Spoiler +
Stork has always shown strong play and high skill. The result is that he advances to the finals yet again.
His opponent: the ultimate weapon, Flash. Although he is a strong opponent, Stork was confident that he could beat Flash.
A lot of signs, they aren't fancy but they show the dedication of his fans.
Even the booth girls were watching, and could feel how much Stork wanted to win in the finals.
However once the game started, his cheer placard showed a smiling Stork, but in reality his expression was worried.
The result was a previously unheard of 3-0 complete loss.
Of course all the attention went to the winner, Flash.
Stork had tears falling from his eyes.
And then, he receives a letter.
It's from Kim Carrier (the OGN commentator that sits on the left). It didn't even say "you will win". It said "sincere congratulations on your win".
Even with "Kim Carrier's curse[1]", Stork was able to beat many strong opponents and make it into the finals.
The legend of fall.
The protoss players who qualified for the ro32 in this Incruit Starleague. He is the last remaining Protoss. He will be attempting to perpetuate the legend of fall.
Stork once said "I guess I didn't win in the past so that i could win in this fashion".
"Stork, BE THE LEGEND"
[1]Apparently, in every OSL, Kim Carrier picks a favourite to win, and this player usually loses. This is his “curse”.
His opponent: the ultimate weapon, Flash. Although he is a strong opponent, Stork was confident that he could beat Flash.
A lot of signs, they aren't fancy but they show the dedication of his fans.
Even the booth girls were watching, and could feel how much Stork wanted to win in the finals.
However once the game started, his cheer placard showed a smiling Stork, but in reality his expression was worried.
The result was a previously unheard of 3-0 complete loss.
Of course all the attention went to the winner, Flash.
Stork had tears falling from his eyes.
And then, he receives a letter.
It's from Kim Carrier (the OGN commentator that sits on the left). It didn't even say "you will win". It said "sincere congratulations on your win".
Even with "Kim Carrier's curse[1]", Stork was able to beat many strong opponents and make it into the finals.
The legend of fall.
The protoss players who qualified for the ro32 in this Incruit Starleague. He is the last remaining Protoss. He will be attempting to perpetuate the legend of fall.
Stork once said "I guess I didn't win in the past so that i could win in this fashion".
"Stork, BE THE LEGEND"
[1]Apparently, in every OSL, Kim Carrier picks a favourite to win, and this player usually loses. This is his “curse”.
Thanks LosingID8 for the translations.
Jokingly called the Perennial Silver Medalist, the new Yellow, Stork stepped up and showed the world that he was the Heir to the Protoss Throne, and indeed the 2008 Incruit OnGameNet Starleague was his Path of Ascension.
![[image loading]](http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/2280/storkstreakmz8.png)
(13 – 4) The march of the monarch, on his way to the throne.
Walking through Bisu, and Best, the other two Protoss princes, Stork showed that he was ready to claim what was rightfully his. Second for too long, Song Byung Goo was ready to go to the top. The finals arrived, and Stork felt right at home. He had been here twice before, only to be robbed of the title on both occasions. He had lost, he had learnt, and he was ready to take what was his.
![[image loading]](http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/2483/storklookingbackxh0.jpg)
Stork, looking back in order to get ahead.
All over the world, his fans tuned in, fingers crossed, waiting for the moment. Smart, precise, and aggressive to the extreme, the BirdToss was on fire from the word go. From a gutsy opening proxy in Game 1, to some insane (I don't think I've ever seen so many LOLs in #teamliquid) mine dragging and DT play in Game 2 (some would call it a DT harass clinic, but I'd say it was more of a hospital), Stork stepped up and performed brilliantly under pressure.
![[image loading]](http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/1673/storkminessa0.png)
"This is dangerous. I walk the mindfields,so watch your head rock."
Stork's Dark Templars, quoting Prodigy to Fantasy.
Naysayers had a field day when Fantasy took Game 3 with some beautiful sniping , and went on to completely own Stork in Game 4 with a very smart build order. Stork was mentally down, and we could see it. Gasping as his reavers were sniped, and frowning to himself as Fantasy's vultured crawled all over him, Stork typed out in both games, and SKT1 fanboys everywhere high fived each other, and said it was over.
Stork's Silverasim was kicking in. He was broken. It was done.
Choke.
Choke.
Choke.
The last battle was upon us, and Starcraft fans everywhere gulped. Finally, an OSL final like those of old.
Breath, Stork. Take it easy. Just one more, same map as before, the map you beat Bisu on. You beat Bisu, you beat Best, and now this last hurdle before your name goes down in Starleague history.
This was it.
He could choke, and become the Perennial Silver Medalist, or he could step up, embrace the inevitable, and walk away with his first OSL title. The battle, in essence, was not between Fantasy and Stork, the latter had already proven his PvT supremecy. The battle was between Stork and Song Byung Goo, the BirdToss was squaring off against the Heir to the Protoss Throne.
![[image loading]](http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8452/storkcalmeh7.png)
Stork, staring down his fiercest rival – himself.
Game 5 began, and from the moment he spawned, Song Byung Goo showed that he was, without a doubt, the best Protoss in the world. With beautiful map control, excellent micro and sniping, and some magic star sense, Stork strolled around Chupung-Ryeong like it was his back garden. There was a moment of panic on IRC as it appeared Stork had not seen Fantasy's 9 o' clock expo (STORK WTF SCOUT SHUT IT DOWN was the general appeal in the channel), but it later transpired that the King didn't care(tm).
He was in the zone, walking the road, and though it may not have been Royal, it was still a very pleasant one. Marching up Fantasy's ramp in that final game, the monarch walked in to the hearts and minds of Starcraft fans everywhere. We may forget many things, but we will certainly remember the day Song Byung Goo showed the world that he could.
![[image loading]](http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/4448/storkceremonyaf0.jpg)
Stork, King of the Hill.
Complementing old school panache with the new macro oriented style in play today, Stork gave us one of the most entertaining OSL finals of recent years. From Reavers, to Dark Templar this Protoss brought together the Light and the Dark, uniting the Protoss world, and crushing the hope of Terrans everywhere. I'm certainly still not a Protoss fan by any means, but I'll be if this guy didn't almost make me one.
A pure psychological battle between foes from different Ages of Starcraft, the 2008 Incruit OSL Finals showed once for all that Stork has the micro, macro, and most of all, the strength of mind, to hold it together when everything is on the line. In the process, he has shown the Starcraft community what hard work, perseverance, and the right attitude can do for a player.
His message reaches everyone - from the hopefuls trying to get past courage, to the D players on ICCUP. You may not win all the time, and sometimes, it may seem like you're in one place. When this happens,you just have to keep on trying. Talent is rare, but staying power is even rarer. Beaten again and again, Stork licked his wounds, and returned to stomp and stun his critics into silence. As the saying goes - never hurt what you can't kill.
Reach, Kingdom and Nal_rA are no more. Their legacy will never be forgotten, but the Protoss race has moved on. The reigns of Anytime and Pusan, being next in lineage, are over as well, and only one Protoss of old stands firm. Certainly, Bisu and Best are to be feared, but this weekend, one player showed that he was indeed the only one worthy of the crown.
The kings of old are dead. Long live the King.
so good 
