Journal Entry #3
Ravnica
Moon Cycle 23-18, 9681
My initial investigation of the mysterious black citadel has proven to be most enlightening. As I approached, I saw a figure standing on its roof. With the help of my spyglass, I saw that it was Liliana Vess, whom I had met previously on Innistrad (see Scroll #131, Silver Twilight). She was wearing the Chail Veil, and I could make out the faint outline of purple magic in her eyes. I suspect that she is responsible for the zombies that I encountered on my arrival and that I have seen throughout the city since.
The structure itself appears to be obsidian, and I could not make out any entrances or windows (see sketch on back of page). If it is meant to house something, there must either be a ground entrance or some manner of unlocking spell. To my surprise, the zombies are nowhere near this structure. Since they bear Amonkhetian cartouches, they are not native to this plane. If they are not coming to and from the citadel, there must be a different nexus of their origin.
I attempted to get a closer look at the building, but as I drew near, I was accosted by a flock of ravens. I must have unwittingly entered their airspace. They seemed rather ornery at the disturbance, and I suspect the black structure disrupted their usual habitation. I tried to appease them with a sample of my Oboron rice cake (thank goodness I packed lunch before this abduction), but they did not seem to enjoy it. I've never seen any creature turn down Genku's cooking before! I received a rather nasty bite on my hand from one of the birds, which I have since treated and dressed. Once I moved out of their way, they flew off, possibly in search of a more palatable meal. I will reserve further observations of the citadel until nightfall. The ravens should be asleep by then.
For now, I will move on and observe the odd dragon statue at the city's center. I do not recall that from my previous visits to the city, and the stonework does not conform to my notes on Ravnican architecture or artistry. Hopefully, I can get close this time without being attacked.
Journal Entry #4
Ravnica
Moon Cycle 23-18, 9687
I have stopped several meters from the statue so that I may observe from a distance. The airways around the statue seem mostly clear of avian interference, so I will approach after an initial observation. I now see that the statue is not of just any dragon, as I previously thought, but of the Elder Dragon Nicol Bolas. I have heard much about him from Ajani, a member of my Story Circle. From what I've been told, I can assume that Nicol Bolas is responsible for the newest structures that I'm observing. I have been told his presence is unmistakable, so since I have not seen or sensed anything that powerful, he must be laying low for the moment. This would also mean that Liliana is under his employ, though I am unsure of how such a partnership came to be. I suspect the citadel may have the answers I seek.
As for the actual statue, my initial hypothesis was correct, as this type of stonework is not native to Ravnica. The base of the stone seems to have been drawn up through the ground, as if raised from somewhere else. I had not realized earlier, but it is sitting in what was once the Transguild Promenade, a neutral zone where, if my memory is correct, such a structure would not be permitted.
It appears to hail from Amonkhet, much like the clothing and weapons I have seen on the zombies. The question remains, then, of how all these creatures came from Amonkhet to Ravnica in the first place. Planeswalking is still impossible at the moment, as I mentioned in Journal Entry #2. I have not observed any behavior in the zombies that would lead me to believe they are planeswalkers, so I do not believe they came here by the same means as I (Note: I need to look into the source of my abduction. Perhaps the citadel is housing the person or device responsible…). If it is neither through planeswalking nor the citadel, then the only place left to investigate for the zombies' appearance is the glowing structure I mentioned in my initial survey of the city. I suspected it was a portal of some sort, and the evidence thus far seems to support my claim.
After looking over the statue once more, I have noticed something peculiar at the top. There seems to be something moving around on the statue's snout. Using my spyglass, I am seeing a small, bipedal creature, no more than a meter tall. I think it has green skin (possibly brown), pointed ears, and a single eye. It is pacing back and forth across the statue's head, and it seems to be very nervous. Occasionally, it looks over the sides of the statue. I wonder if it is trying to get down, or perhaps it is merely watching the scenes below.
Oh, I think the creature has spotted me! Yes, it is waving to me with both hands now. Since I was already going to get a closer look at this Nicol Bolas statue, I will see what this frightened creature wants.
Journal Entry #5
Ravnica
Moon Cycle 23-18, 9691
Having concluded a thorough investigation of the Nicol Bolas statue, I can confirm that it originated from Amonkhet, based on the materials used (green limestone, gold adornments) and artistic style (imperfect smoothing, sharper facial features, inscription at base in Amonkhetian runic language, etc.). The carving is fresh, with a lot of seemingly rushed details, which I have diagramed on the back of this scroll alongside a sketch of the statue. I would assume, then, that the statue was created recently. If I did not know any better, I would say it was made today.
After my inspection, I went to the statue's head to see why that odd creature was hailing me. As it turns out, he is a homunculus native to the city (note: Ravnican homunculi differ from Alaran or Innistradian homunculi. See Scroll #19, Construct or Conscience). His name is (Fibblethip) Fblthp (see Scroll #19 for proper homunculus naming conventions. Fblthp is unlettered, so he was unable to spell his name for me), and he hails from the New Prahv section of the city. That is Azorius territory, and though he claims to be affiliated with the guild, he does not seem to be a typical lawmage or arrester. He bears no clothes or markings of the Azorius, but based on his demeanor, I have to assume that Ravnican homunculi do not normally wear clothing. I will provide a sketch of Fblthp on the next scroll for reference.
As for why Fblthp tried to get my attention, he needed my help to get down from the statue. Apparently, he has a fear of heights. When I asked why, then, he would decide to climb a statue, or even how such a small creature could do so, he said that he did not know. In his own words (which are very few and hard to understand. The homunculus speech patterns are most intriguing, I will have to investigate them further once this is over), he has a tendency to get lost in the city without realizing it, eventually popping up in most unexpected places. He is extremely distraught by this, understandably so, but I found my curiosity piqued by Fblthp's predicament. According to him, he has been all over the city and seen almost everything it has to offer. I have been to Ravnica before (see Scroll #37, The City of Guilds and Scroll #66, The Dragon's Maze), but this kind of first-person account of daily life across the plane seems like a perfect opportunity. I asked Fblthp if he would be willing to share his stories with me, and he agreed to tell me once he was safely back home. Luckily, his home is very close to the portal that I wanted to observe next. I told him I will take him home after I look into this, and he seemed amenable to this (I believe I heard something about watering the Grand Magister's plants). So, now I will escort Fblthp home after an investigation of the portal.
Journal Entry #6
Ravnica
Moon Cycle 23-18, 9693
It seems that my timing is even more serendipitous than I thought! After setting my agreement with Fblthp, I picked him up from the statue's head. He seemed uncomfortable with riding on my shoulders, since he would be unfastened while flying, so I have made room for him in my scroll bag. Luckily, he does not take up much space, and he promised to not disturb any of the papers. I was sure to move the important scrolls to the side pockets, just in case.
Once he was comfortable, I turned away from the statue to head over to New Prahv. Not ten seconds after I start leaving, I hear something crash into the statue behind me! I was afraid somebody was firing something at us and simply missed their mark. I turned around just in time to see a most peculiar sight. The impact kicked up a sizable cloud of green dust from the statue's newly pulverized surface, but once it cleared, I saw that it was not some wayward projectile that had crashed into Nicol Bolas' snout, but two planeswalkers. And not just any planeswalkers, but two that I recognized. It was Sorin Markov and Nahiri, both of whom I met during my most recent sojourn to Innistrad (see Scroll #131). I suppose this confirms another recent hypothesis: I am not the only planeswalker to be ripped from across the Blind Eternities today.
When I first realized that it was two individuals that I knew who had smashed into the statue, I moved to greet them. I was hoping to ask them about what they had seen and felt so far today. I was especially interested to talk to Sorin, since I, when last saw him, he was completely encased in stone. However, once I saw their faces, I knew I should stay quiet. They both looked extremely angry, certainly not the right mood for me to interview them. I also noticed that both were covered in wounds, mostly fresh and still dripping. So, I felt it prudent to stay quiet and simply watch from afar.
That turned out to be the smartest decision I could have made. After the initial shock of their "landing" wore off, Sorin and Nahiri began attacking one another. Their relationship from my previous encounter was contentious, so I must assume that this is a result of those very same grudges. Sorin made the first move and attacked Nahiri with some kind of glowing red magic, which I would guess to be sangromancy, a common type of spellcraft among vampires of Innistradian descent. It latched around her and began to siphon her energy, seemingly draining her own reserve of mana. She swung her blade to sever the spell, but it did not work. Before too much of her energy was stolen, however, she used her lithomancy to raise a portion of the statue's surface. It caught Sorin in the pelvis with enough force to send him stumbling back a few steps and disengage his attack. Nahiri did not hesitate and rushed in with her sword. Sorin recovered in time, managing to catch her blade with his own (note: Sorin appears to be wielding The Parasite Blade, though I recall it returning to Olivia Voldaren's possession after my last encounter. I wonder when he got it back…). My ears are still ringing from their clash.
After their swords locked, Sorin kicked Nahiri in the stomach, which created some distance. Sorin then rushed at her head-first. She did not react in time, and he caught her in the chest with his shoulder, pinning her sword-wielding hand to her side. That hit sent them both flying off the statue's head, but not before slamming into one of the horns and dislodging a chuck of masonry. They seemed to keep fighting in midair, and I believe I saw Sorin bite Nahiri her abdomen through her leather armor. I watched their trajectory as long as I could, but I lost sight of them somewhere over the Rakdos sector of the city.
Once they were gone, I expressed my intrigue to Fblthp, only to realize that he had hidden away in my scroll bag for the brief duration of the scuffle. He seems rather worked up at the moment, so I will try and figure out a way to calm him down on our way to New Prahv.
Journal Entry #8
Ravnica
Moon Cycle 23-18 9715
We have nearly made it to New Prahv, but I have halted my progress for the moment. Fblthp had continued telling me about his week at the Juri Review as we travelled, but I think it prudent that he pause his story now that the odd portal is within observational distance (which is a shame, as I am most curious to hear what this Exava character had planned for two hellsteeds, a bundle of razorwire, and a stolen vat of Simic mutagen). I have retrieved my spyglass from the bag, and after a thorough cleaning of the lens (it seems that, while Fblthp enjoyed the lunch that Genku prepared, he is not the cleanest of eaters), I will begin my initial investigation. There appears to be a storm brewing over the portal, but it should not interfere with my ability to observe the scene.
I can see now that the portal is just that, as I can see the zombies exiting from it into the streets. Though the façade appears purple at a distance, I can now see the plane of Amonkhet from the other side. Remarkable! I was not aware that such a device existed, something that can transport non-planeswalkers between planes. I would love to talk to the inventor of this wondrous technology, but if it is being operated to usher zombies onto Ravnica, I doubt they would be willing to answer my questions. I am guessing the device is not completed, though, since the zombies exiting the portal seem to move at a slowed rate. Perhaps it is from the time displacement between planes…
It seems that the portal cut through the surrounding buildings when it was established, so I surmise it came about around the same time as the citadel and the statute. I asked Fblthp if his home was still intact, and once I loaned him the spyglass, he said that he could still see it standing from here. He sounded quite relieved, so I guess he was not home when the portal arrived.
Though the square around the portal is mostly occupied now by these zombies, I can several non-zombified individuals fighting against them. In the air, there is a red dragon, but it curiously has the facial structure and flame incandescence of a Tarkirian dragon (see Scroll #75, Draconic Codex). On the ground, I can see several mages engaging in combat. Most are utilizing ranged attacks, which seems safer, but I also see one using a mana-diffused blade. Their clothing seems to pull from various other planes I have visited, so I suspect these are more planeswalkers. I suppose some feel the need to fight against the threat. I will try and interview them on their experience once this is over.
Oh, I have identified one of the planeswalkers as Jace Beleren (see Scroll #131). I should not be surprised that he is here, and I can only assume the rest of his organization (Plane Watch? The Floodwatch?) is around as well. Perhaps all these planeswalkers are new recruits. Hopefully they know that Liliana Vess is the one controlling the zombies.
While I was proceeding with these observations, it seems Fblthp made some of his own. He alerted me to a presence behind us (nearly tugging my ribbons off in the process) that seemed to scare him. I turned to see a warship descending from the clouds and bearing directly towards the portal. It has the seal of the Boros on the front, so I am guessing it is some manner of troop transport, though it appeared over the Simic section of the city. It will be upon us soon enough, so I should find a new vantage point so as not to interfere with the proceedings.
Journal Entry #10
Ravnica
Moon Cycle 23-18, 9731
As the battle in front of the portal continued to unfold (the Boros seem to be winning at the moment. They've pushed the advancing zombies back towards the portal and somewhat cleared the skies), I suddenly sensed something new. It felt as though a shadow had just fallen over the city. I couldn't quite pinpoint the sensation, but it seemed to originate from the black citadel I investigated earlier. I asked Fblthp if he felt this, but he said that he did not.
I flew to a better vantage point, and with my spyglass, I turned to see if anything had changed. I looked just in time to see that, on the top of the citadel, a large aperture had opened in its center. It looks like something is coming out of the structure. It appears to be a large gold dragon. If I'm not mistaken, that must be Nicol Bolas. I suppose this rather frightening aura is his doing. I cannot believe that this kind of power was being shielded by that black structure this whole time. It's utterly fascinating.
Upon further observation, Nicol Bolas appears to be channeling some kind of magic spell from the citadel's rooftop. I do not recognize what kind of magic it is, but it appears to be very old. Perhaps this is what Elder Dragon magic looks like? I will need to get closer if I am to make more thorough observations. I asked Fblthp if he would be okay with the slight detour. He seemed hesitant, but after a promise of preparing him some more Kamigawa cuisine once we're back in New Prahv, he acquiesced. I'm glad, as this is sure to be the first written report of an Elder Dragon for the archives. The tower keepers should be most pleased.