Watcher's Eye Gate Prime Side

When approaching the coordinates of the Watcher’s Eye Gate in a starship, you might initially see nothing at all. When closed, the gate is completely invisible—an attribute that has led to countless ship collisions over the centuries. However, when disturbed or when it begins to open, it is a sight to behold: a sudden burst of existence that expands outward, filling the space between Nemani and the nearby star.

At first glance, an open gate appears deceptively inviting, as though one could simply fly through its center to the beautiful galaxy visible beyond. Yet a powerful energy veil makes such passage impossible, and many ships have been lost attempting to breach it. In truth, the Watcher’s Eye Gate is no ordinary anomaly—it is an artificial construct, a bridge between two universes: the Prime Universe and Myrios, a pocket universe.

The gate was created 2,500 years ago by the Byni using technology that has since fallen into obscurity. To protect the Nemanoi and other Prime Universe residents from the Itherian Empire, the Byni hid their knowledge of the gates technology, burying its secrets. Volti, the Sovereign of Byn at the time, oversaw the gate’s construction, intending to establish trade agreements with the Prime Universe. He initiated contact with the Nemanoi briefly. However, his plans were cut short when the Itherian Empire seized control, ruling the Myrios Universe for the next 2,500 years.

For millennia, travel through the gate was believed impossible—until an adventurous Byni ship captain named Elendril uncovered an ancient document written by Volti. In it, Volti described the energy veil frequencies required to pass through the gate. What no one else knew, and Elendril discovered, is that the frequency must be adjusted just after crossing the event horizon to survive the immense shear forces of the anomaly.

The Watcher’s Eye Gate has deeply influenced the myths of nearby civilizations, particularly the Nemanoi and the Byni. Both cultures share a legend that Volti—deified by the Nemanoi—created the gate by “poking a hole in the sky” with a ruby-topped magical staff.

On Nemani, daily life is intrinsically tied to the Watcher’s Eye. The day begins and ends “by the Eye,” and the Nemanoi believe Volti sits on a celestial throne, watching over them and ensuring honesty and integrity in their business dealings. Conducting transactions “out from under the Eye” is considered an act of deception, and cheating of any kind is believed to invite Volti’s wrath in the form of bad luck or business failure. Common phrases like “Under the Eye” or “May Volti See All” serve as constant reminders of their god’s watchful gaze.

Proximity to the gate has also caused a unique phenomenon known as Time Slots, which affects both the Nemanoi and the Jimenna—the hunter-gatherer species who share the planet.

Unlike the Nemanoi, the Jimenna regard the Watcher’s Eye Gate with fear and superstition. They teach their children to look away when the gate is open, lest they be “caught by the Eye” and taken to the afterlife. Among the Jimenna, it is a common belief that staring too long at the gate signals despair or a longing for death. The elderly or those wishing for an end to their suffering often spend hours gazing at the Eye, hoping to be chosen. When the gate flashes or sparks—caused by the destruction of a ship attempting to pass through—it is seen as confirmation that someone has died and been taken to the afterlife. Friends and family will often chastise one another for looking too long, equating it to suicidal intent.

Type

Nebula

Location under

Nemani System