Elf gate

From PathfinderWiki
An elf gate...
...or aiudara as the elves call them.

Elf gates, or aiudara as the elves call them, are magical local transportation devices located in Kyonin, across Golarion,1 and on Castrovel.2 Some elves only use the term aiudara, as they consider the term "elf gate" to be vulgar.34 Elf gates appear as sculpted stone arches, and when activated instantly transport anyone to another specific elf gate.1

Writings on the rituals for activating and repairing broken aiudara can be found in places such as the libraries of Kyonin and the Mordant Spire, and writings that also cover the maintenance of the local gates can be found among the Ekujae and Ilverani elves.4

Powerful magical members of the Lantern Bearers can use the power of the aiudara in order to teleport themselves to a specific gate that they have extensively studied from seemingly any other location.56 A ring of retreat can be attuned to a specific gate to periodically accomplish the same thing.7

History

The aiudara network on Golarion is believed to have been created during the Age of Legend by the legendary elven hero Candlaron the Sculptor, inspired by the magical non-elven gate that linked Golarion to Castrovel, beginning with the portals known as Alseta's Ring.8910 The secret of their creation was lost when Candlaron vanished through a mysterious archway.11 He also created the Sovyrian Stone, and used the artifact to power all of the elf gates.1

The creation of the aiudara network on Castrovel was also allegedly established by Candlaron.12 Some of the largest Sovyrian cities such as El and Telasia contain multiple aiudara that can help transport elves all across Castrovel with ease. However, due to the return of many elves to Golarion and to a subsect of Castrovelian elves moving to Ukulam, Sovyrian has seen a notable decline in population and some gates have become unused and fallen into disrepair.13

Before Earthfall, the elf Varliss served as a member of the Winter Council as an advisor to the Spindle Solution. He gave them insights into elven magic and helped merge it with Azlanti innovations in order to create something similar to the aiudara, such as the lunar gate in hidden Azlanti compound known as the Compass14 which leads to the Moonscar on Golarion's moon.15

It is suspected that a similar blending of ideas led to the Azlanti trying to create teleportation devices in Zanas-Tahn for opening portals between many planets, something which the elves at the time suspected was only possible due to stealing the methodology from the Sovyrian Stone itself. However, Earthfall would occur before the portals could be finished. As the meteors began falling, some priests tried to use the device anyway in order to escape, but only succeeded in summoning two hounds of Tindalos, killing all who were present.16

To this day, back on Castrovel, many lashunta rely extensively on the aiudara network on that planet for travel, and have a good relationship with the elves not only for the use of the networks, but also for traveling to Golarion in order to explore and repair the networks on Golarion as well.17

Missing Moment

The Missing Moment was a paranormal event on 21 Erastus 4722 AR in which an unknown number of people entered strangely behaving aiudara. Many never returned, and those who did were physically marked and changed by the experience. Those affected became known as gatewalkers.18

Travel

Elf gates are activated using a key, which can be a physical token but might also be a password, piece of music, spell, or stellar conjunction. Some gates have multiple keys, each linked to another specific elf gate. Most elf gate keys have been forgotten over the millennia, and, therefore, some elf gates have been abandoned.11920

Only the first traveler in a group needs a key; the rest can follow to the same destination. Travel through an elf gate is instantaneous,21 and because of this, elf gates represent a significant part of the elves' historic power, as it allows them to move people and goods with incredible speeds across vast distances.1

A gate can lead to another specific elf gate, or to a hub that connects several possible locations. The system of elf gates is sometimes referred to as the aiudara network.214

Elf gates (other than the Sovyrian Stone) do not allow travel between planets or planes, unlike the incredibly ancient or naturally occurring portals that they resemble. These interplanetary portals predate the elves, and perhaps even all life in the solar system.22

The elves have done their best to seal any gates leading to the Tanglebriar due to horrible danger.10

Religious significance

Alseta observes elves passing through an elf gate.

The elves consider Alseta, goddess of doorways, to be the unofficial patron deity of elf gates.2324

Part of the edicts of the champions of Yuelral include protecting elven magical knowledge such as that which powers the aiudara.25 Champions of Alseta also swear themselves to defend the gates.26

A highly radical group within the Harbingers of Fate believe that Aroden can be found alive on another planet far from Golarion, and clues within the Book of 1,000 Whispers can show them how to overload and manipulate the aiudara network in order to reach this mysterious world.27

Known elf gates

The following aiudara are known to exist on Golarion, although not all of them continue to be active to this day:

There are also many dozens gates on Castrovel that connect many places across Sovyrian and the lashunta city-states together. In general they are well known and used freely.4546 Specific gates include:

  • The Arch of Refuge, a hub of a dozen smaller gates that connects the capital city of El to Iadara, said to be where the elves escaped to Castrovel during Earthfall46
  • The gate in Qabarat that connects to somewhere on Golarion47
  • Four other gates are also in Qabarat, including one that connects to Akiton48
  • The Dragon's Gate, originally a gate between Castrovel and the First World49

References

Paizo published a Pathfinder Adventure Path about aiudara titled Gatewalkers. The Age of Ashes adventure Broken Promises also features aiudara and takes place in part within Alseta's Ring.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 James Jacobs, et al. Kyonin” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 95. Paizo Inc., 2011
  2. James L. Sutter. “Chapter 1: The Solar System” in Distant Worlds, 10. Paizo Inc., 2012
  3. Hal Maclean & Jeff Quick. Kyonin: Kingdom of the Elves” in Elves of Golarion, 18. Paizo Inc., 2008
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Robert Brookes, et al. “Rituals and Idols” in Occult Realms, 54. Paizo Inc., 2015
  5. Paizo Inc., et al. Lantern Bearers” in Adventurer's Guide, 111. Paizo Inc., 2017
  6. Benjamin Bruck, et al. Paths of Prestige, 33. Paizo Inc., 2012
  7. Paizo Inc., et al. Lantern Bearers” in Adventurer's Guide, 115. Paizo Inc., 2017
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Logan Bonner, et al. “Adventure Toolbox” in Hellknight Hill, 75. Paizo Inc., 2019
  9. Amanda Hamon. “Hellknight Hill” in Hellknight Hill, 4. Paizo Inc., 2019
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Benjamin Bruck, et al. “Chapter 1: Common Races” in Inner Sea Races, 81. Paizo Inc., 2015
  11. 11.0 11.1 Hal Maclean & Jeff Quick. Elves of Golarion” in Elves of Golarion, 13. Paizo Inc., 2008
  12. James L. Sutter. “Lost Aiudara” in Against the Scarlet Triad, 71. Paizo Inc., 2019
  13. James L. Sutter. “Adventures on Castrovel” in The Seventh Arch, 69. Paizo Inc., 2023
  14. Thurston Hillman. “Beyond the Veiled Past” in Beyond the Veiled Past, 28. Paizo Inc., 2018
  15. Thurston Hillman. “Beyond the Veiled Past” in Beyond the Veiled Past, 22. Paizo Inc., 2018
  16. Mikko Kallio. “The Flooded Cathedral” in The Flooded Cathedral, 21. Paizo Inc., 2017
  17. Benjamin Bruck, et al. “Chapter 3: Rare Races” in Inner Sea Races, 185. Paizo Inc., 2015
  18. 18.0 18.1 Patrick Renie. “Gatewalkers: A Campaign Introduction” in The Seventh Arch, 5. Paizo Inc., 2023
  19. Joshua J. Frost, et al. Lantern Bearers” in Faction Guide, 27. Paizo Inc., 2010
  20. F. Wesley Schneider. “Roads to Hell” in The Inferno Gate, 63. Paizo Inc., 2016
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 JD Wiker. “A Memory of Darkness” in A Memory of Darkness, 19. Paizo Inc., 2009
  22. James L. Sutter. “Chapter 2: Stellar Adventures” in Distant Worlds, 53. Paizo Inc., 2012
  23. Sean K Reynolds. “Other Gods” in Gods and Magic, 45. Paizo Inc., 2008
  24. Sean K Reynolds, et al. Inner Sea Gods, 175. Paizo Inc., 2014
  25. Alexander Augunas, et al. “On Virtue” in Divine Anthology, 20. Paizo Inc., 2016
  26. Robert Brookes, et al. Alseta” in Inner Sea Faiths, 12. Paizo Inc., 2016
  27. Saif Ansari, et al. Harbingers of Fate” in Disciple's Doctrine, 10. Paizo Inc., 2018
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Logan Bonner, et al. “Adventure Toolbox” in Hellknight Hill, 71. Paizo Inc., 2019
  29. Ron Lundeen, et al. Tomorrow Must Burn, inside back cover. Paizo Inc., 2019
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 JD Wiker. “A Memory of Darkness” in A Memory of Darkness, 19–22. Paizo Inc., 2009
  31. Luis Loza. “Broken Promises” in Broken Promises, 4–5. Paizo Inc., 2019
  32. Luis Loza. “Broken Promises” in Broken Promises, 17–19. Paizo Inc., 2019
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 James L. Sutter. “Lost Aiudara” in Against the Scarlet Triad, 71–75. Paizo Inc., 2019
  34. James Jacobs. “Dreamers of the Nameless Spires” in Dreamers of the Nameless Spires, 38. Paizo Inc., 2023
  35. James Jacobs. “Dreamers of the Nameless Spires” in Dreamers of the Nameless Spires, 8. Paizo Inc., 2023
  36. Ryan Costello. The Elven Entanglement, 3–4. Paizo Inc., 2013
  37. Jason Keeley. “They Watched the Stars” in They Watched the Stars, 4. Paizo Inc., 2023
  38. Joshua J. Frost, et al. Lantern Bearers” in Faction Guide, 26. Paizo Inc., 2010
  39. F. Wesley Schneider. “Endless Night” in Endless Night, 40. Paizo Inc., 2008
  40. Paizo retroactively removed drow from the Pathfinder campaign setting as part of the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project. A canon replacement for drow in this context might not exist. See Meta:Drow.
  41. Matt Duval. The Cosmic Captive, 6. Paizo Inc., 2016
  42. Hal Maclean & Jeff Quick. Kyonin: Kingdom of the Elves” in Elves of Golarion, 21. Paizo Inc., 2008
  43. Dave Gross. Queen of Thorns, 124. Paizo Inc., 2012
  44. Dave Gross. Queen of Thorns, 267. Paizo Inc., 2012
  45. James L. Sutter. “Chapter 1: The Solar System” in Distant Worlds, 11. Paizo Inc., 2012
  46. 46.0 46.1 James L. Sutter. “Chapter 1: The Solar System” in Distant Worlds, 12. Paizo Inc., 2012
  47. Adam Daigle, et al. “Bestiary” in The Divinity Drive, 80. Paizo Inc., 2015
  48. James L. Sutter. “Chapter 1: The Solar System” in Distant Worlds, 13. Paizo Inc., 2012
  49. James L. Sutter. “The Seventh Arch” in The Seventh Arch, 42. Paizo Inc., 2023