Aboroth

[Xanzurth]

If you have {Aboroth} out with {melira, Sylvok outcast} do you not have to pay the upkeep?

[Fenster]

Im thinking in the terms of this: Cumulative upkeep is a cost, putting a counter on him would be paying a cost, Melira would prevent you from being able to pay that cost, cant pay the cost = dead creature.

[Inconnu]

Interesting..my take works this way:
Upkeep- add counters which you can't so counters stay at zero. Then pay upkeep costs which is the counters currently on the creature so Zero. End of upkeep step all is good.
This is a case were can't wins over the normal rules becuase it prevents the counts being added.
IMHO.

[Maximo]

Can't pay the cost, can't have the creature

[scarsabrex]

can't pay can't own.