Dovin's Research into the Dead Plane

DeadPlaneDovin

Dovin’s Ravnica Office

I’ve been searching for any information on Dovin post Festival of the Guildless and the Azorius haven’t been making it easy. I’ve had to don some disguises and search through hundreds of incomprehensible Azorius legislature documents, but I have managed to uncover the truth of what happened to him. After the Festival of the Guildless he was stripped of his rank and seemingly disappeared from the face of the earth. Very likely, he planeswalked away, to avoid the scrutiny of his superiors following the public outcry against the Azorius due to their intrusion in the festival. After the noise quieted down, and the Azorius spun some tales and diverted public attention, he used his influence in the guild to quietly reassert himself back into his old rank. Blame for the event was carefully shifted and redirected to the point where it is now a matter of contention and any attempted legal action runs into roadblocks and filibusters. In essence he got away with it. The guildless have all but forgotten about the incidenct and legal action within the guild is postponed indefinitely. Dovin is back in his old position, but noticeably more quiet and less assertive within the guild. He is acting very slowly and much more carefully this time around. As for his old office it was appointed to someone else following his disappearance. He evacuated his valuables before that, but the Azorius filed away his office materials. Now that he is back in his former rank he was given a new office which I have successfully infiltrated. Getting in there was no easy task, Dovin spared no expense at creating suitable defensive measures. It took me a lot of time and money, I had to bribe dozens of officials and pull out some of my more precarious contacts, but it is done. I have access, though not for long.

This place appears to be his main base of operations, and is loaded with various magical apparatus whose purpose I can’t even begin to comprehend. He stored his valuables within this chamber. Dovin Baan is a being of logic and a very diligent bookkeeper. I can’t even begin to explain how impossible it would be to find a specific document at random, but luckily his attention to detail means everything is perfectly filed and noted. All I need is to know what I am looking for.

Easier said than done however, as he uses a coded system of filing documents rather than an obvious one. Designations such as “Z30A”, “S21B” and so forth.

I did locate his surveillance thopters. I learned how to extract surveillance data from them and used punch cards to retrieve each thopters final readings. Each of them has a designation which corresponds to a specific folder within his filing cabinet.

Now, I could steal all of them, but he would know I did so. Such a control freak would probably notice a single folder out of line. I prepared for this, and brought magical Indigo paper for copying data, but I only have enough time and resources to copy one of the folders. I need your opinion before I proceed. The data from the four thopters is as follows:

1. 75 °F; g=8.9; 78.08N2, 20.93O2, 0.93Ar; 920hPa; Humid-36%; Grav-1 main, 2 sat
2. 46.4 °F, g=9.8; 80N2,18.9O2, 1.1Ar; 1093 hPa; Humid-61%; Grav-1main,2sat-ANOMALY(Grav off-center); Tele-High level field
3. 81 °F; g=8.9; 78.08N2, 20.93O2, 0.93Ar; 931hPa; Humid-34%; Grav-1 main, 2 sat
4. 28.4 °F, g=9.7; 52N2, 46O2,4Ar; 2100hPa; Humid-91%; Grav-1main, 1 sat

Stealing the second folder

I have selected the folder that you indicated, created a perfect copy of it using magic Indigo and retrieved it from Dovin’s office without incident. The security measures that he implemented here were extensive, though not complete. What I mean by that is, he certainly could have made it more difficult to steal this, he must not be too bothered about protecting these assets. Maybe he has a higher priority vault elsewhere?

Anyway, believe it or not these files are heavily encrypted. Figures. A folder with hundreds of pages and all completely unreadable. I have taken to the task of decrypting the first page, but it is a long and extremely arduous process. (It cost 2 lores to decrypt it, and it will cost 2 lores to decrypt all future pages).

Project Unity Viability Testing

UnityContingencyInitiative

Plane AZ#31

Preliminary survey report

Preliminary survey vehicle #1

• Did not return

Preliminary survey vehicle #2

• Did not return (Electromagnetic failure)

Preliminary survey vehicle #3

• Did not return (Electromagnetic failure)

Preliminary survey vehicle #4

• Did not return (Wildlife incident)

Preliminary survey vehicle #5

• Did not return (Electromagnetic failure)

Preliminary survey vehicle #6

• Did not return

Preliminary survey vehicle #7

• Did not return (Unknown mechanical failure)

Preliminary survey vehicle #8

• Did not return (Wildlife incident)

Preliminary survey vehicle #9

• Did not return (Wildlife incident)

Preliminary survey vehicle #10

• Did not return (Unknown mechanical failure)

Preliminary survey vehicle #11

• Successful survey, full report included

Preliminary survey vehicle #11 report

• Temperature: 52°F
• Gravitational force: 9.8 m/s
• Air composition:
  • 80.1 N2
  • 18.8 O2
  • 1.1 AR
  • Breathability: Viable
  • Toxicity: Mild, prolonged exposure could cause respiratory problems
• Air pressure: 1035 hPa
• Humidity: 58%
• Orbital bodies:
  • Satelite SB#01, Elliptical orbit - mean eccentricity 0.7238
  • Satelite SB#02, Elliptical orbit - mean eccentricity 0.0549
• Gravitational tests (3 sources):
  • Main, planetary g=9.78 (Gravitational center alignment off calculation, 13% inaccuracy)
  • Satelite, SB#01 g=1.81
  • Satelite, SB#02 g=1.62
• Telepathic field: 93 Cr, Extremely High (Hazardous levels)
• Viability approximation: Unlikely
• Additional notes:
  • Large swathes of land covered in electromagnetic fields which cause critical system failure
  • Aggressive local fauna
  • Hazardous terrain condition, unknown cause of repeated system failure
  • No sign of intelligent life
  • Unlikely to ever be viable for Project Unity
  • Catastrophic planar conditions indicate plane AZ#31 as a necessary candidate for Contingency Initiative evaluation

SB#03

StellarBody

Stellar Body #03

• Spectral classification: Unclear due to surface conditions (refer to air quality survey), likely G, potentially K
• Mean distance approximation: 1.57 * 10^8 km
• Visual brightness: -24.3 (From surface-refer to air quality survey)
• Absolute magnitude: Calculations lead to widely inaccurate results due to faulty readings
• Approximated volume: 1.38 * 10^18 km
• Approximated mass: 2.21 * 10^30 kg
• Conclusion: Approximated values have very high precision errors due to electromagnetic fields interfering with measuring equipment. Calculations of planetary characteristics approximated with high degree of uncertainty. Planetary characteristics imprecisions make stellar calculations extremely inaccurate as well. Note, air conditions cause additional imprecisions. However, even with these approximated values it is clear that the characteristics of SB#03 are within standard values for life-supported planes. Luminosity and generated temperature values fall somewhere in the lower middle on the life viability scale. Due to air conditions temperature values are slightly lower than average for most life-supported planes. SB#03 has no anomalous properties.

Telepathic Field Research

TelepathicFieldWildlifeSB01

Telepathic field measurements:

• Initial: 93 Cr, Extremely High
• Day 3: 111 Cr, Abnormally High
• Day 6: 81 Cr, High
• Day 9: 73 Cr, Medium High
• Day 11: 65 Cr, Medium
• Day 14: 74 Cr, Medium High
• Day 17: 84 Cr, High

Observations:

• Telepathic field strength seems to be a sine wave, periodically changing values inversely proportional to the distance of SB#01 from the primary planar body.
• The lowest measured telepathic magnitude is 65 Cr, but projections put it at roughly 62.4 Cr when object SB#01 is furthest from the primary planar body
• Highest standard values reach up to 100 Cr
  • The exception are telepathic spikes which occur seemingly randomly during the phases in SB#01’s elliptical trajectory when it is closest to the primary planar body
  • Attempts to find a correlation between these spikes and measured planetary or stellar body activity have been unsuccessful
• Local flora and fauna responds to telepathic stimuli as detailed in the Wildlife Report
• Sentient beings feel unnerved and disturbed by the field as detailed in the Civilization Report
• Contingency Initiative Evaluation: EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS
  • Prevent ALL planar travel to AZ#31
  • Planeswalkers can never truly leave
  • Surveying planes with thopters proved to be vital - I can never travel to the plane personally due to my connection with the multiverse, as I would never be able to escape the telepathic field
    • Any being carrying the spark into the plane would, due to their connection with the Blind Eternities, find themselves intricately connected to AZ#31—the spark’s blessing is also a curse.
    • It is great luck then, that very few people even know of the plane’s existence, and that planeswalkers instinctively avoid it. Should a planeswalker visit the plane they would attune to the telepathic field and remain connected with it indefinitely due to their unique ties to the Blind Eternities.
    • Counter point: The telepathic field could be benign, or not connected to a malevolent sentient being
      • Conclusion: Unlikely

Wildlife Report

WildlifeTelepathicFieldSB01HazardousTerrainLX-04GravitationalAnomalyCivilization

Geographical survey report

• Climate
  • Air composition:
    • 80.1 N2
    • 18.8 O2
    • 1.1 AR
    • Breathability: Viable
    • Toxicity: Mild, prolonged exposure could cause respiratory problems
  • Air pressure: 1035 hPa
  • Humidity: 58%
  • Temperate climate, moderate rainfall
  • Anomalies detected in the operation of the biosphere
    • Toxicity caused by excretions of wildlife specimens of type 4 and higher
      • These excretions seem to cause wildlife specimens of type 3 and lower to naturally gravitate towards higher class specimen
    • Substance LX-04, as detailed in the Hazardous Terrain Survey
    • Electromagnetic Fields in areas with high concentration of LX-04, as detailed in the Electromagnetic Field Survey
  • Estimated location: Roughly 48 degrees in latitude, north of the planet’s equator
    • Calculation inaccuracy likely severe due to gravitational anomalies as detailed in Gravitational Anomaly Research
    • Location isn’t necessarily indicative of conditions across the globe, but harsh conditions make recon in different biomes impossible
      • Addendum: Information acquired in the Civilization Report seems to indicate that the local populace believes the investigated biome to be “a harsh wasteland”—whether this indicates that they believe that there are fairer climates or are just lamenting their miserable state is unknown

Wildlife Classification

• Type 0
  • Type 0H - Plant life
  • Type 0I - Insects
  • Type 0M - Microfauna
• Type 1
  • Non-sentient, half the standard size
• Type 2
  • Non-sentient, standard size
• Type 3
  • Non-sentient, twice the standard size
• Type 4
  • Non-sentient, four times the standard size
• Type 5
  • Non-sentient, eight times the standard size
• Type 6+
• Classification t - high reactivity to the telepathic field as detailed in The Telepathic Field Research

Types 0I, 0M - normal amounts, seemingly unaffected by SB#01 Type 0H - low amounts, affected by high toxicity and harsh climate conditions Types 0It, 0Mt, 0Ht - high amounts, thrive on toxicity caused by beings of type 2 and higher, natural rhythms based not upon the seasons but the waxing and waning of SB#01 Type 1 - very low amount, standard animal life exists but in decreased numbers Type 2 - low amount, standard animal life exists but in decreased numbers Type 3 - extremely low amounts Type 4 - not found Type 5 - not found Type 6+ - not found Type 1t,2t,3t - large amounts, extreme aggression tied to high strength of telepathic field and proximity of SB#01, largely docile during periods of SB#01 absence and lower telepathic field strength, naturally gravitate towards beings of Type 4t,5t,6t+ Type 4t,5t - medium amounts, vile amalgamations of flesh—sometimes formed from multiple type 1t, 2t, and/or 3t creatures, aggression tied to high strength of telepathic field and proximity of SB#01, largely docile during periods of SB#01 absence and lower telepathic field strength, more docile than types 3t and lower, even during periods of high telepathic activity (NOTE: aforementioned information might be misleading, there are MANY exceptions) Type 6t+ - low amounts, extreme toxic excretions, orbited by large number of lower types, affected by the telepathic field but change in activity wasn’t observed related to telepathic field strength, slow movement due to large energy expenditure Type 9t - Largest type spotted Shared traits of all class t creatures: wild, unpredictable, aggression tied to telepathic field and SB#01 proximity, sometimes cannibalistic, seem to be capable of merging into larger types though this process doesn’t seem to be common nor has it been observed, larger types more docile, apparent immunity to the harmful effects of LX-04 (unconfirmed-the substance’s harmful effects take a long time to manifest), entities commonly exude various amounts of LX-04 (larger entities more likely)

• Due to decreased wildlife activity during distant phases of SB#01’s elliptical trajectory, such phases are recommended for recon missions due to lower chance of wildlife-related thopter failure

Civilization Report

WildlifeSB01TelepathicFieldLX-04

Sentient races discovered - Human, halfling

• Noted lack of racial diversity, likely due to the specific geographic location or due to the stochasticity of racial distributions in the multiverse
• Potential race - “halflings”, humans of stunted growth - as observed on Catagon

Sentient civilization exists only in traces, in small survivor groups travelling across the endless wastelands in search of fictional safe havens. Survivors sometimes construct settlements in remote areas, but they hardly seem to last. Traces of former “villages” can be found on hilltops and mountainsides, and in hard to reach places of the valleys. They are almost always abandoned, or destroyed.

In this region life is unforgiving, every journey is fraught with peril, and the populace is well aware of this fact. However, due to the movements of monstrous behemoths they have no choice but to be on the move or hide in caves hard to reach places of the world. Talk sometimes emerges of a walled city with magical defenses which the specimens believe to be a safe haven from the perils of the wasteland. It is unclear if this settlement truly exists, but information on it has been compiled in the Settlement-07 folder.

LX-04 appears to be dangerous to human beings or they avoid it due to superstition. The multitudes of animal carcasses found in areas with large concentrations of LX-04 indicate the former. Refer to the report on LX-04.

The people are sensitive to the telepathic field and react strongly to the proximity of SB#01. In the periods during which SB#01 is close and the field is powerful the survivor specimens describe an overwhelming sense of dread. During these periods they feel strongly a sense of impending doom, and some have described an aura of hate permeating from SB#01. During these periods especially the specimens avoid eye contact with SB#01 at all costs due to either a superstitious belief that gazing upon SB#01 might cause their demise, or due to learned behavior perpetuated by a very real danger of looking at the sky. More surveillance is required to determine which is which and what the negative effects of looking at SB#01 might be, but it is safe to say that it causes great psychological distress.

During periods when SB#01 is distant and the telepathic field is weak the human population operates under more standard living conditions. They face less danger in the wilds due to the wildlife being more benign and docile, and their psychological state is better as well. During these periods the specimens could be observed making plans for the future, travelling, gathering food and even harboring hope.

Hope that would quickly be washed away, come the next arrival of SB#01.

Following are the reports on observed survivor groups: …SG-36 (deceased) SG-37 (deceased) SG-38 (deceased) SG-39 SG-40

SB#02

Moon

SB#02 is the planet’s natural satellite, orbiting around the planet with a mean eccentricity of 0.0549. The gravitational force of the stellar body is estimated to be around g=1.62. Average distance - 240000 miles (rough estimation)

Composed primarily of rocky material, its surface exhibits a diverse array of geological features shaped by impacts, volcanic activity, and the gradual weathering effects of space.

As the planet’s only natural moon it is safe to say that it has existed long before the arrival of SB#01.

The moon appears to have the standard characteristics for a natural satellite orbiting a populated planar body, with the usual standard deviations as expected due to multiversal stochasticity.

The only distinctive feature of SB#02 that goes beyond the standard expectations for orbiting stellar bodies is the massive crack along it’s surface, roughly 1000 kilometers in length. By observing the enhanced images of the moon’s surface it becomes apparent that the massive ravine is more recent in the moon’s geological history, a fact proven by the existence of craters caused by asteroid impacts beneath certain areas of the ravine as well as by the fact that the crack would have been significantly altered by tectonic activity given enough time. What created the enormous gorge is unclear.

SB#45-SB#89

Stellar bodies #45 through #89 are unexpected, unique features of AZ#31. These appear to be objects roughly 10-50 meters in diameter located in the orbit of AZ#31. Due to their size they are not visible to the naked eye and take telescopic or electromagical equipment to detect.

It is likely that there is a far greater number of these bodies due to how difficult they are to detect. Furthermore, it is impossible for our equipment to detect objects of sizes smaller than 10 meters in diameter at this distance, so there is also the possibility of a vast amount of smaller objects to also exist in the planet’s orbit fully undetectable to our sensors.

Some of the objects appear to be space rocks or meteors, suspended in orbit.

A majority of them, however, appear to be of human make. They have intricate designs that could only be made by sentient creatures, though their location so far in the planet’s exosphere makes this a logical improbability.

What purpose they serve or once served, and whether they are truly manmade is unknown.

SB#89-SB#496

Stellar bodies #89 through #496 as seen through the advanced imaging of AZ#31’s night sky appear to have no anomalous properties.

Positioning of the stars has been mapped and is included within this folder, following are the designations of perceived constellations, to be used later for determining movement of stellar bodies in the night sky through different seasons, should they exist on AZ#31.

#93 through #101 Constellation C-01 #106 through #112 Constellation C-02 #128 through #132 Constellation C-03…

Hazardous Terrain Survey

ElectromagneticFieldLX-04Wildlife

Repeated thopter failure has been a significant obstacle in the mapping of AZ#31, and still prevents recon operations of the wider geographical area. In order to alleviate the issue and create a sustainable plan for thopter operations it is necessary to map out all terrain-related hazards. Note: Wildlife hazards will not be mentioned in this chapter. The wildlife does cause significant problems for recon operations, but these issues can be alleviated with proper timing, as described in the Wildlife Report.

Hazards:

• Electromagnetic fields - Significant issue for thopters, can cause engine failure
• Clouds of high toxicity - Can cause corrosion of the thopters outer shell, and in extreme cases engine failure due to internal component decomposition
• Sludge pools - Deposited by decomposing carcasses of class t wildlife, as well as excretions of class t wildlife. These corrosive pools are an immense peril to the local populace, but not to thopters (so long as they avoid the toxic fumes produced by the sludge)
• LX-04 - Perilous for sentient creatures and non-class t wildlife. It is unclear if it causes engine failure or if failure is caused by the accompanying electromagnetic fields
• Toxic rain - Can cause corrosion of the thopters outer shell, and in extreme cases engine failure due to internal component decomposition. Use atmospheric readings to anticipate weather.
• Natural gas clouds and mist - Not hazardous for thopters. Visibility issues.

LX-04

ElectromagneticField

LX-04 is a substance found only on AZ#31—large scale exploration and search for LX-04 on other planes has so far yielded no results.

To call it a substance is somewhat misleading as it is uncertain whether it is truly a substance or a form of materialized parasitic mana, since it behaves as either depending on the situation. Furthermore, it could also be neither or both, or something else entirely.

Mana emanation testing:

• Green: 30.3%
• Black: 41.16%
• Blue: 26.5%
• Red: 0.01%
• White: 2%
• Colorless: 0.03%

The substance, or mana manifestation, appears to be primarily green, black and blue in form, after accounting for impurities. During mana testing the substance behaves as pure mana, such as mana drawn from the Aether on Kaladesh, albeit with a greater degree of impurity.

During physical testing, however, it behaves somewhat similar to how you would expect particles to behave but with marked differences. It isn’t a fluid, it isn’t a gas, nor is it a solid. It can’t be contained, it passes straight through solid material and can’t easily be measured.

To be truly honest, I have no idea what it is.

The local population seems to know of it’s existence and even has the ability to detect it’s presence, by using specialized equipment beyond our current understanding. They are at least somewhat aware of it’s adverse effects as they have systemized fear of it through religion and oral tradition, where they refer to it as “The Glow”.

It’s adverse effects on living tissue are many and varied, and can sometimes be as extreme as total cellular decomposition. Despite it’s potency, however, there is no need to research the substance any further as it doesn’t seem to be reproducible and can’t be moved due to it’s incorporeal nature.

Electromagnetic Field Research

LX-04GravitationalAnomaly

(After a large section listing various measurements of the planetary magnetic field) ..The differences in the planet’s magnetic field are therefore within standard deviation values for planetary bodies of this size. Other than the marked differences in planetary magnetic axis due to the gravitational anomaly the field behaves as expected.

Another unique aspect of AZ#31 is the presence of a large number of smaller electromagnetic fields scattered on the planet’s surface. The positioning of these pockets of mana is semi-random and has proven to be a great obstacle for the operation of survey thopters.

The only common factor in the placement of these fields, and the only way we can predict their locations with some degree of accuracy, is the fact that their presence tends to be almost synonymous with the presence of LX-04.

Gravitational Anomaly Research

SB01SB02GravitationalAnomaly

Calculations have revealed that the entire planet’s gravitational center is misaligned. Approximations have revealed that this planet’s internal density is roughly 5.30 g/cm³, and given the dimensions of the planet which have been calculated with some degree of precision the gravitational center is off by roughly 700 kilometers.

This calculation includes the approximated effects on the gravitational field of the planet by the presence of stellar bodies SB#01 and SB#02.

Additional measurements and extensive investigation of this problem have revealed multiple points of contention where certain estimates were used to determine the values used in calculation:

1. Planetary density - No planet has uniform density at all points across it’s core, but it is possible that AZ#31 has extreme variations in local density which would explain the anomaly. If the density of the western hemisphere was significantly higher than that of it’s eastern hemisphere the gravitational center would be misaligned.
2. Density of SB#02 - It is possible, however highly unlikely, that density calculation is wrong for planetary body SB#02. Due to it being entirely visibly and likely composed of known materials this point of contention is the least likely
3. Density of SB#01 - Very likely. Density calculations of SB#01 contain the highest degree of uncertainty due to complete lack of knowledge about the body’s composition. It is possible that whichever materials it is composed of have extreme density outside of estimated ranges, which would explain the misalignment perfectly.
4. Distances of bodies SB#01 and SB#02 - Unlikely
5. Presence of another, unseen, massive body on the western hemisphere of the planet or in orbit of the planet. - Conjecture

SG-40-02

SG-40EvelynZebediahCarenProjectReclamationSettlement07

Specimen information:

• Designation: “Evelyn”
• Race: Human
• Sex: Female
• Age: Middle-aged, 30-35
• Group: SG-40
• Relationships:
  • SG-40-01 “Zebediah” (Deceased) - Husband
  • SG-40-03 “Caren” - Daughter

Since event SG-40-E04 specimen SG-40-02 has become the de facto leader of group SG-40. Specimen displayed great emotion at death of SG-40-01, but has nonetheless been able to guide group SG-40 effectively, with the aid of SG-40-05. Following event SG-40-E04 she has continued searching for the rumored safe haven designated as Settlement-07.

Long-term observation has indicated a high level of skill and technical knowledge, as well as proven the hypothesis of high technological development of pre-apocalyptic event civilization.

Project Reclamation - Continue monitoring individual and group to ascertain possibility of reverse-engineering of advanced technologies. Despite the dire situation of AZ#31 there is advanced technology here like nothing I’ve ever encountered on Kaladesh or Ravnica.

Air Quality Survey

• Particulate Matter (PM2.5): 65 µg/m³
• Particulate Matter (PM10): 110 µg/m³
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2): 70 ppb
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): 35 ppb
• Carbon Monoxide (CO): 800 ppb
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 150 ppb

Translated Chapter Headings

I have translated some headings so that we know what to decrypt next. As we read through these chapters and we decrypt words within them related to other still encrypted headings we will add new headings to this list. (That way we can see which entries are linked and decrypt thoughtfully)

(Chaptes with S are shorter than others and only cost 1 lore to decrypt)

• Settlement-07 (S)
• SG-38 (S)
• SG-39 (S)
• SG-40
• SG-40-01 (Deceased) (S)
• SG-40-03 (S)
• SG-40-04 (S)
• SG-40-05 (S)
• SG-40-06 (S)
• Technology Report
• SB#01