Some more on the alliance.

Alliance Holes: These are places where alliance members seems to be able to just disappear into. The more notable ones tend to be buildings that are owned by alliance members (normally they tend to be normal business owners who don't mind making some money on the side helping underground organizations and getting some protection from them) that are designed with places to hide alliance members or have gates designed to help them escape. They usually have a few other alliance holes they are linked to, and will have different gates to go to different ones. The gates are usually small (often less the 4' by 4'), and can be activated and deactivated on command (usually unique to the gate). many now have the ability to be closed and made unusable for a set number of days. It is also not uncommon to have other features tied to them such as being able to make a changeable room's door slam shut and lock when used (just in case there are guards close behind and you want to throw them off). Some alliance holes even have gates built into the doors of some rooms so that if opened the right way it makes a gate until closed.
When alliance holes first started being found, it was considered a highly punishable offense to own one. However, the alliance realized this and stated having alliance holes made in the homes and businesses of those who opposed them, as well as random businesses. Due to this, the punishment for having alliance holes has gone away, though attempts are made to record where they are (a feat made more complicated by fake ones being made as well).

Alliance Builders: Alliance builders are the ones who make alliance holes. it tends to be a rather lucrative job, though is rather risky as it has come to be treated as a crime as bad or worse than murder depending on the area (by the government, not as much the people). Alliance builders usually work as builders or mages for other groups. However, every so often either at the alliances command or at the request of the owner of an alliance hole, they will make the workings for an alliance hole in one of their jobs. The builders work the physical parts into the construction, while mages (if contacted in the case that a real one is being made and not just a fake), will come by later and add the enchantments to make it work.
This has lead to it being almost impossible to tell what places might have alliance holes or not. It also makes it much worse if you make the alliance want you dead, as you never know where you can go without worrying about cut-throats coming after you. Even in a locked room you might suddenly find a panel sliding away for a group of alliance member to come finish you off. It is also for this fact that alliance builders and knowing alliance hole owners will rarely go back on their deal with the alliance.

Owrtho