The Andalasian Gate

While many cultures across the stars resort to religious explanations for the seemingly unexplainable, the Xilon pride themselves on total understanding of the universe's vast complexities. They do, however, have their own long-held tradition of storytelling that falls somewhere within the realm of mythology - wild tales that are passed down through the generations as building blocks for understanding the more complicated aspects of existence. These myths are not intended to be taken literally or interpreted as truth, and merely represent a fun way of simplifying the scientific facts of life.

The Andalasian Gate is one such myth, and one of the most important concepts in Xilon culture. It is a creation story, describing the origin of all material existence. This is the alleged place in Xilon lore where everything in the universe originates, from all forms of life to the individual particles of dust that make up each planet. It is most commonly used to describe the phenomenon of childbirth. When a Xilon child is conceived, there is no physical growth inside the carrier. Instead, there is a rapid and extreme buildup of energy within the carrier's body, which grows stronger over the course of a single month. When it is time for the child to enter existence, there is a massive explosion of energy and the child literally breaks free from the parent in a process akin to mitosis (cell splitting). Unlike most species, the Xilon do not emerge as infants but as the equivalent of a preteen, with the ability to walk, communicate and engage in higher order thinking.

To explain the science behind this process, as well as the creation of all forms of matter, particularly to children and less evolved life forms, the story of the Andalasian Gate is used. It is described as a massive archway made of glass, crystal or marble, sometimes said to be clear, other times said to be a range of different colors. Beyond the gate can be seen a bright white light and the pathway to oblivion. The structure rests within a tumble of clouds and mist, with smooth marble stairs leading up to the arch. It is a place of absolute peace and total silence. When something is meant to come into existence, the gate simply opens and that new form of life or matter passes through into the universe.