Portal Seekers

Introduction:

Portal Seekers are daring individuals who navigate the dangers of rift travel, stepping into unstable dimensional gateways that connect Terra to countless other realms. Despite the empire's strict prohibition against such activities, some Seekers obtain licenses to explore under supervision, while many others defy the law entirely, seeking hidden and unguarded rifts to pursue their goals.
Their tools, a combination of cutting-edge Magic and technology crafted by visionary Human and Dwarven inventors, are the only things keeping them stable within the chaotic realms they explore. These tools, however, also make them a target for imperial authorities determined to prevent the reawakening of ancient dangers—namely, the Demons of the Abyss.

Origins:

The Portal Seekers emerged during the aftermath of the catastrophic era when dimensional rifts allowed hordes of demons to flood into Terra. Though the demons have since receded to the Abyss, the empire declared rift travel illegal to prevent future incursions.
Despite this ban, some saw opportunity in the untouched worlds beyond the rifts. Early Portal Seekers, often scholars or desperate adventurers, developed crude tools to navigate these dimensions. Over time, their craft became more refined, aided by secret collaborations with renegade inventors and arcane engineers.

Rift Laws and Licensing:

Rift exploration remains heavily restricted under imperial law. Licenses are granted sparingly, primarily to those with imperial ties or to select guilds tasked with gathering intelligence on dimensional anomalies.
Illegal Portal Seekers circumvent these laws by targeting remote, unguarded rifts far from imperial reach. Some have even discovered hidden rifts unknown to the empire, safeguarding their secrets fiercely. Captured rogue Seekers face harsh penalties, ranging from imprisonment to execution.

Technology of the Seekers:

The tools used by Portal Seekers are masterpieces of magical engineering, combining advanced stabilization matrices with arcane energy conduits.

Rift Stabilizers:

Essential for maintaining temporal and physical stability, these devices allow Seekers to withstand the chaotic forces of dimensional travel.

Anomaly Suppressors:

Portable tools that cloak a Seeker’s presence from imperial sensors and suppress fluctuations that might betray their activities.

Time Anchors:

Prevents the user from falling victim to temporal distortions, ensuring their return to Terra in the same timeframe they departed.
These tools are outlawed for anyone without a license, making their possession a surefire way to attract imperial scrutiny.

Motivations:

Portal Seekers are driven by a range of motivations, including:

Treasure Hunters:

Seeking wealth and artifacts from untouched dimensions.

Scholars:

Exploring rifts for knowledge of other realms.

Rebels:

Defying the empire’s restrictions as an act of rebellion.
While licensed Seekers operate under strict oversight, rogue Seekers enjoy freedom but face greater dangers from both the empire and the rifts themselves.

Hidden Rifts and Underground Networks:

Illegal Portal Seekers rely on secretive networks to locate and access hidden rifts. These underground gatherings are dangerous, as the empire actively hunts rogue Seekers.
Hidden rifts are often fiercely guarded by those who discover them, using traps, wards, and coded maps to ensure their exclusivity. The black market for Rift Stabilizers and dimensional artifacts thrives in places like The Shadowed Bazaar.

Challenges of Rift Travel:

In addition to the risks of imperial capture, Portal Seekers face:

Dimensional Instability:

Unstable environments, time distortions, and hostile inhabitants.

Abyssal Threats:

The Abyss remains a lurking danger.

Internal Factions:

Rival Seekers often clash over unguarded rifts and valuable artifacts.

Public Perception:

Opinions on Portal Seekers are divided. Many view them as reckless outlaws endangering Terra for personal gain, while others see them as pioneers uncovering secrets the empire wishes to keep buried. Legends of heroic Seekers fighting back Abyssal incursions fuel debates about the morality of their work.

Notable Figures:

Vira ‘The Shadow Walker’: A rogue Seeker who evaded imperial forces for decades, credited with discovering the infamous Ebon Gate.
Captain Morthan: A former imperial Rift Guardian turned licensed Seeker, who secretly sympathizes with rogue explorers.
Drenik Forgehand: A Dwarven inventor whose Rift Stabilizers became the standard for both licensed and rogue Seekers.

Fun Facts:

Portal Seekers call unguarded rifts “Echo Gates.”
A group of Seekers working together is known as a “Riftbound Crew.”
Rogue Seekers refer to imperial enforcers as “Ward Hounds.”