Eternal Gate
The Eternal Gate is an impenetrable barrier of pure Eternal Essence, erected by The One at the moment of the Calamity to imprison The Seven within the Eternal Plane. It is the most powerful seal in existence, a construct beyond mortal or immortal comprehension, and a testament to The One’s ultimate authority over creation.
Origins and Purpose
The Eternal Gate was created in the immediate aftermath of the Calamity, a cataclysmic event that shattered the Eternal Universe. In his judgment, The One deemed that The Seven—once his most powerful creations—had failed in their divine duty, allowing the Eternal War to escalate into a conflict that threatened all of existence. To prevent further destruction, The One sealed The Seven within the Eternal Plane, ensuring they could never again interfere with the universe.
Unlike ordinary barriers or magical wards, the Eternal Gate is not a physical construct but a metaphysical boundary that transcends time, space, and magical laws. It is an absolute force, one that no known entity has ever breached or even weakened.
Structure and Manifestation
Though the Eternal Gate has no definitive form, those who have attempted to perceive it describe it in different ways, as if its nature shifts based on the observer’s understanding of reality. Some accounts depict it as an endless wall of radiant energy stretching across infinity; others claim to see a swirling vortex of cosmic light, a perfect equilibrium of order and chaos.
Despite its abstract nature, the Eternal Gate is not invisible—it radiates an overwhelming presence, filling the Eternal Plane with an aura of absolute finality. Those who have glimpsed it from afar report feeling an immense weight pressing against their souls, as if the very concept of escape is being erased from their minds. Scholars who have attempted to study the Gate speak of an unsettling sensation—some describe an almost divine reverence, others an oppressive dread, as though the barrier itself imposes a silent will upon those who dare to question its existence.—it radiates an overwhelming presence, filling the Eternal Plane with an aura of absolute finality.
Effects and Consequences
The Imprisonment of The Seven
The primary function of the Eternal Gate is to confine The Seven within the Eternal Plane. Even with their immense power, The Seven are unable to cross this barrier. Their imprisonment has left the universe without its original divine caretakers, forcing mortals and remaining immortals to chart their own destiny.
However, some Magisters speculate that while The Seven cannot physically escape, they may still exert influence upon the universe in more subtle ways. There are accounts of visions, cryptic prophecies, and unexplained anomalies that suggest The Seven might be reaching beyond their prison. Some believe they communicate through dreams, omens, or shifts in the Eternal Essence itself, subtly shaping events from afar. While this theory remains unproven, the possibility that The Seven are not entirely powerless continues to be a subject of great debate among scholars and mystics alike.
The Isolation of the Eternal Plane
Prior to the Calamity, the Eternal Plane was a central hub of creation, where The Seven and their Servants shaped reality. Now, with the Eternal Gate sealing it off, the plane has become a place of exile, disconnected from the flow of the Eternal Universe. It remains a prison of unfathomable scale, where even time itself behaves differently.
The Forbidden Boundary
The Eternal Gate is an absolute barrier—not even the most powerful mages or cosmic entities have found a way to breach it. Attempts to probe its structure have yielded nothing; even Eternal Essence itself seems unable to interact with it. Some theorists propose that the Gate is not merely a seal but a fundamental law of existence, a concept made real by the will of The One.
Over the centuries, various Magisters and scholars have attempted to study or even bypass the Eternal Gate through complex magical experimentation. Some have tried using high-level planar magic, attempting to create interdimensional rifts to peer beyond the barrier. Others have channeled immense reserves of Eternal Essence in hopes of disrupting its structure. None of these efforts have produced any tangible results, with many experiments failing outright or leading to unintended consequences, such as magical backlashes or distortions in localized reality.
One of the most infamous attempts occurred in 874 AC, when a group of radical Magisters sought to weaken the Gate by manipulating echoes of the Eternal Plane. Their efforts ended in catastrophe, as the experiment caused a violent magical surge that destroyed an entire Enclave and permanently altered the fabric of reality in its vicinity, creating an unstable rift that remains hazardous to this day.
These repeated failures have only deepened the mystery surrounding the Eternal Gate. Some scholars now argue that the very act of attempting to interact with it is futile, as it operates beyond conventional magical principles. Still, the desire to uncover its secrets remains strong, and despite the risks, there are always those who continue their quest to unlock the truth behind this impenetrable boundary.
Theories and Speculation
Despite its seemingly unbreakable nature, scholars and Magisters continue to study the Eternal Gate, seeking to understand its properties. Among the many theories, a few stand out:
- The Gate is Growing Weaker – Some Magisters believe that over time, the Eternal Gate may erode or shift, potentially allowing The Seven to return.
- A Key Exists – Ancient texts hint at the possibility that The One created a fail-safe—a way to open the Gate should the universe ever require the return of The Seven.
- The Gate is Alive – Some speculate that the Eternal Gate is not merely a static seal but a conscious entity, ensuring that The Seven remain imprisoned as long as it wills it.
The Eternal Gate in the Present Age
Though the Eternal Gate remains sealed, its presence casts a long shadow over the Eternal Universe. Some fear that if it were ever broken, the return of The Seven could either restore balance or unleash a catastrophe even greater than the Calamity. Others see it as the ultimate test, a challenge meant to be solved by those who seek the deepest truths of existence.
Whatever the truth may be, one fact remains certain: as long as the Eternal Gate stands, the universe is safe from the return of its most powerful exiled beings. But should it ever fall, the consequences would be beyond imagination.
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