The Gate of Souls is arguably the single most important part of the Cosmology of Krynn, as it governs the River of Souls, and the ongoing cycle of life and death. The Gate of Souls lies in the Outer Planes, and reaches into the Dome of Creation, The Hidden Vale, The Abyss and the Material Plane. The Gate of Souls connects and also maintains a distinct separation between the Outer Planes and the Material Plane, ensuring that mortals cannot easily enter the godly realms, and that the gods cannot bring their heavenly servants onto the world.
All souls that flow along the river must ultimately pass through the Gate of Souls. The god Paladine long served as the guardian of the Gate of Souls, except on two notable occasions when he was otherwise occupied. The first breach occurred during the Cataclysm, when Paladine walked the earth, and Takhisis slipped a number of her dragons through the gate onto the world. The second breach occurred during the Chaos War, when Takhisis pulled the entire realm of Krynn through the Gate, effectively stealing the world and leaving both the other gods and their heavenly domains behind.
With the closure of the War of Souls, the world was corrected back through the Gate of Souls, and the River of Souls once more flows through it again.
References[]
- Dragonlance Campaign Setting, p.117-118