Alluvian Gate
In order to quickly traverse the vastness of space, the Illidans built the Alluvian gate nework. Not every inhabitible world has had a gate placed upon it, and many on the worlds seeded by the Illidians long ago lost their gate to geologic time.
All gates are errected as pointed arches made of Starmetal. Typically, each gate stands around 10 feet tall from floor to point.
When active, a pool of black liquid with shimmering white waves fills the central space. The process for activation starts at the edges of the gate, the liquid flowing into the middle, and then shimmering ripples float across the surface.
For security reasons, each gate activate opens as a one-way passage. In order to activate a gate, the user must posess a Bifrost Key and know the code of the gate they wish to connect. All gates remain connected through extraplanar communication, so moving a gate never changes its code.
An active gate defaults to an opaque black liquid, however the key can be used to transmit light and/or sound either way or both through the active gate. This made the gates an effective means of long distance communication during the height of Illidian expansion.
The Ilidians used the Allugian gate network to travel between worlds within a galaxy and even to other galaxies. Early in The Fourth Universe, the Illidians used their fleet to spread out among the stars. The Gate Network later facilitated exploration and the seeding of countless sentient races throughout the universe.
Discovery
From time to time these gates are unearthed within ancient ruins, however very little is understood about their function and operation. The majority of existing gates that are not buried are located in museum storage while waiting for new clues to their origins.
One group of scientists has discovered the link in design between the gates of several worlds. They continue to study them, with many incorrect theories to their function. Without a Bifrost Key, the gates will lie forever silent.
Complexity
The technology that allows the gate to work is part Physics, part Planer Magic, and part Celestial Song. While one can understand the basic function with two of the three pieces, it takes knowledge of all three and a large amount of refined Starmetal to build a gate and link it into the Network.
Characters who have no experience with Illidian technology will struggle to repair or understand how the gate functions.
Those who are adept at The Celestial Song can activate a gate if they know the pass phrase written into each gate. Speaking one pass phrase and then the other allows a Herald to activate the pathway and step through without a Bifrost Key.
Manufacturing
Only the Illidians have the knowledge to create new Alluvian gates. This is because the creation and operation is part science, part planer magics, and part Celestial Song.
Some races, such as the Gau, have been able to repair a broken gate, but were unsuccessful at creating a new gate and linking it into the Network.
