The Equinoctial Threshold

One of eight portals to the world of the Fae, the Equinoctial Threshold is tucked into a large grassy hill in the center of a forest. Among the roots of an ancient tree, keen-eyed travelers will spot the stone door which leads inside. Enchanted by Boggart magics, it will only open for a brief window each night, sealing mortal and Fae alike inside each day.

Long ago, the Threshold served as the garrison of the vicious warlord Laidre the Duskkiller and his herd of Satyr Bullies. His rapacity drew the attention of the Saint of Boundaries, Ste. Brumaire, and the battle which followed would leave her slain and him cursed forevermore. It has been many years since, but it is said Laidre still rants and weeps within the heart of his former holdfast, never again to leave its halls.

With their lord little more than a husk, the Satyr Bullies found a sort of work with the other denizens of the Threshold: the goblin merchants of the Night Market. Said to carry everything anyone has ever wanted or will want, the Night Market does not trade in coin. Rather, they exact prices in more esoteric currencies - luck, faces, time, and talents.

Your adventurers may be here acquire a peculiar item from the Night Market, or perhaps to plunder Laidre’s vault, following rumors of a legendary artifact called The Gloomblade. They could be here to avenge the death of Ste. Brumaire, acting on behalf of the Church. Perhaps they seek passage from the mortal world to that of the Fae, or to destroy the Boundary Stone, thus sending the Threshold and its Night Market away.

There are as many reasons to come to the Threshold as there are visitors, and once you’ve entered there’s little to do but find what you seek.

This work is AI free and licensed under CC-BY-SA 4.0.

Written by Marlowe Rehac
Edited by Dylan Garofalo
Compatible with Cairn 2E
Maps made with Dungeon Scrawl