41 Gateways into other dimensions provide all of the magical energy of the Earth dimension. Each of these portals, invisible and unknown to the vast majority of the populace, has a guardian – gifted mystics of many backgrounds and schools of thought on the mystic arts, that both serve to protect the gateways from interference by those of this world that would sieze the power of the gates for their own, and protect the Earth dimension from invasion by powers from the myriad destinations the gateways reach into. Each is aided by an artifact, a Gateway Key, a means to help harness and use the magical energies of each guardian’s home gate.

Such is the power of these guardians that decades, sometimes centuries pass without challenge to even one of their number. The most dangerous time is during a transition – when a new guardian has to take over for a previous Gatekeeper, most often when one of the 41 dies, or becomes unfit to handle the heavy burdens of the gates. As the old wards, illusions, and all manner of other protections fade, the Keys take time to truly adapt to new hands. In these times, the Gateway Key, the Gateway, and the new, often young and untested Gatekeeper are all vulnerable.

This is one such time of transition. The Guardian of the gateway near San Francisco has died after over 3 centuries of warding the dimensional doorway, leaving the key in the hands of his apprentice.