Summary
The Volanen flight from their homeworld begins when Shaylang's advance and the wider war force them through a hidden gate to Orbos. *1 *2
Volanen ancestors fled through a hidden gate when Shaylang's advance made Volan untenable. They stepped from one war into another on Orbos, and the gate was sealed behind them to keep the enemy from following. Over time the exile becomes more than a military retreat: it hardens into a long communal promise that Volan will one day be reclaimed. *3 *4
The exile defines Volanen identity in the present day and gives the later return story its emotional core. It also binds Volan's fate to Orbos from the beginning, with elders such as Erlayan carrying the memory of that flight and the duty to recognize the promised allies when they arrive. *4 *3